Sabinsa exec flags liver health boosting qualities of new natural ingredients blend

03 Aug 2020 --- Sabinsa has delivered a new liver function boosting ingredient to “a category teeming with dated, generic products,” according to the company. As a blend of three of Sabinsa’s existing natural ingredients, LivLonga offers oxidative stress relief and reduced inflammation. This launch comes as the COVID-19 pandemic heightens the focus on Ayurvedic products that take a holistic approach to boosting immunity.

“While the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising at a steady rate globally, there are currently no drugs on the market for managing this condition. LivLonga is specifically designed for liver health,” Shaheen Majeed, President of Sabinsa, tells NutritionInsight.

“An example of the dire need for supporting this vital organ is the proliferation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a progressive form of NAFLD. NASH, characterized by fat deposition in the liver worsened by cellular damage and inflammatory infiltration, can further progress to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer,” he continues.

Curcumin cultivation for Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 Complex brand.NASH is estimated to affect 3 to 5 percent of the global population, most suffering from several comorbidities, according to an Adis Journal study.

A trifecta for liver health
To provide liver health support, LivLonga provides a blend of three Sabinsa natural ingredients, protected by US Patent No 10653643 for Liver protectant compositions and therapeutic applications. 

• 250 mg of Curcumin C3 Complex Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Extract.

• 50 mg Livinol Kokum Butter Tree (Garcinia indica) Extract.

• 5 mg of BioPerine Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Extract.

“All these potent, plant-derived and standardized bioactives work in a complementary fashion at various levels. Thus, LivLonga is designed to improve gut health and to aid in healthy liver function and normal metabolic functions,” Majeed highlights.

Curcuminoids are well-known bioactives that have been clinically evaluated to support healthy joint, gut, and liver functions. Livinol is a standardized extract of kokum fruit used as an Ayurvedic remedy for stomach and liver ailments. 

Moreover, garcinol, the major bioactive component of kokum fruit, is a potent antioxidant that offers multiple health benefits, of which liver protection is the most validated. The addition of BioPerine is used as a nutrient bioavailability enhancer. 

The nutrient bioavailability enhancer BioPerine is one of three of LivLonga’s key ingredients. (All photo credits: Sabinsa)LivLonga can be used as a dietary supplement in the form of capsules, powder premixes, tablets, sugar-coated tablets, effervescent tablets, instant drink granules, and both soft and hard gelatin capsules. 

The rise of Ayurvedic during COVID-19
Majeed has noted how Ayurveda has moved from traditional households to the global market, especially during the ongoing pandemic. Moreover, the company’s Ayurvedic portfolio has witnessed increased demand considering most of its ingredients, along with providing specific health benefits, also have benefits in improving general health.

“In light of the pandemic, the importance of various Ayurvedic remedies that can be prepared at home with common culinary ingredients has gained much importance, particularly in India and the surrounding area. When movement is restricted, common ingredients, such as turmeric powder and tulsi extracts, [as well as] spices such as clove, cumin and cinnamon are being [used] to ameliorate mild conditions of fever, cough, pain and allergies,” Majeed explains. 

As one of the oldest health care systems in the world, it has long been established that Ayurvedic treatments can provide a range of health benefits, “but not necessarily why or how,” Majeed further highlights. “Studies over the past few decades have validated the medicinal uses of many Ayurvedic plants and preparations for treating a wide range of human ailments. This validation, along with the developments in how information is communicated, has resulted in steeply increased awareness of the safety and effectiveness of Ayurvedic components, thus increasing demand.” 

A three-year-long study on 100 healthy adults published last November determined how ginseng can present a means to help US adults prevent cardiovascular disease. Expanding research in turmeric, amla and ashwagandha over the years in pushing consumer demand for these ingredients. Ashwagandha specifically is being touted as playing a significant role within the gut-brain axis link.

NutritionInsight recently spoke with Majeed on how eleven of Sabinsa’s ingredients, including Curcumin C3, Livinol and BioPerine, obtained non-GMO Project Verification. 

By Anni Schleicher