Weekly Roundup: Lycored’s tomato complex beneficial to blood pressure; Sugar reduction crucial to preventing childhood obesity, says WHO

30 Aug 2019 --- In nutrition news this week, a new study linked Lycored’s tomato nutrient complex to a beneficial effect on blood pressure, while Excelvite received a new sustainable sourcing certification, in line with sustainability goals set by the Malaysian government. The Global Nutrition Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) called for further sugar reduction to prevent childhood obesity. Meanwhile, the British Nutrition Foundation launched a series of guides containing advice on proper hydration for different age groups, while the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) noted that African countries can benefit from Japan’s knowledge and consumption of healthy foods.

In brief: Research and studies
Lycored’s tomato nutrient complex has been shown to be linked to a beneficial effect on blood pressure, according to a new study published in Nutrients. In the double-blind randomized study, tomato phytonutrients were shown to have a beneficial effect in maintaining blood pressure within normal range, but lycopene alone was not. Part of Lycored’s heart health clinical program, the research adds to an existing body of evidence for the safety and efficacy of the company’s tomato nutrient complex. Treatment with the tomato nutrient complex containing 15 or 30mg of lycopene was associated with statistically significant reductions in blood pressure. However, similar effects were not observed for any of the other treatments. Lycored’s heart health clinical program helped it create Cardiomato, its cardio-optimized carefully calibrated patented composition. Cardiomato is specifically designed to support holistic cardio-metabolic wellness, healthy blood pressure and cellular calmness over time. “This study provides tangible evidence supporting the dose of tomato phytonutrients, and specifically of lycopene, that we recommend to deliver benefits for cardio-metabolic health,” says Dr. Karin Hermoni, Head of Science and Nutrition at Lycored.

The BFN series of guides contain advice on drink choices for different age groups.In brief: Awards and certifications
Palm phytonutrients and palm methyl ester producer ExceclVite has obtained the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Supply Chain Certification Standard (MSPO SCCS) certification. The approval came after an extensive audit by Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM). The implementation of the MSPO SCCS is mandatory for all palm oil processing facilities and the Malaysian government has imposed an implementation deadline of January 1, 2020, for companies to be in line with the government’s commitment to producing certified sustainable palm oil. The certification process is under the purview of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme. The move underscores Excelvite’s commitment towards ensuring that the entire value chain and production of palm oil is sustainable via the company’s Sustainability Initiative. “The market has a negative perception on palm oil. The fact is that the palm oil smallholders are innocent and caught in between. We hope that this MSPO SCCS certification and our sustainability initiative will bring forth the realization that not all palm oil or palm phytonutrient is created equal,” says Bryan See, Business Development Manager at ExcelVite. The company now features the MSPO SCCS logo on its packaging and companies should look for it to identify sustainably sourced palm phytonutrient products. 

In brief: Calls to action and policy recommendations
More sugar reduction is crucial to prevent childhood obesity, according to the Global Nutrition Director of the WHO Dr. Francesco Branca. The WHO executive called for an action to further reduce sugar in food products to add to the prevention of overweight and non-communicable diseases. The call was presented in a video message at the Choices International symposium at the Asian Congress on Nutrition (ACN) 2019 in Bali. Government policies should nudge the food industry in this direction by enforcing measures such as nutrition labeling, restriction of marketing to children and fiscal policies, he stresses. “Easy-to-understand nutrition labels will positively influence consumer choices. Food manufacturers will adapt their recipes to get a positive logo or avoid a red flag”, he notes. Currently, four countries (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Brunei) have successfully implemented a positive front-of-pack nutrition logo, i.e. the Healthier Choice logo program. Additionally, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam are planning to put this program in action soon. Their governments trust the logos will have a substantial impact on both consumers’ purchasing behavior and food product reformulation. The experience with 18 years of the Healthier Choices logo in Singapore shows a substantial decrease in sugar levels in different product categories.

The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) is highlighting the importance of healthy hydration through the life course, with the launch of a series of guides containing advice on drink choices for different age groups. This includes two new guides, one for children aged 1-4 years and one for older people with poor appetites, as well as updated resources for teens and adults, and children aged 5-11 years. Developed by the BNF’s team of nutrition scientists and available free to download from the BNF’s website, the four guides outline the effects of different drinks on health and which drink choices are best at different stages of life. Sara Stanner, Science Director, BNF notes, “For most adults and children it’s important to avoid consuming too many drinks like hot chocolate, fruit juices or smoothies as this can lead to excess intake of calories and sugar. But, for older people who have poor appetites and may be losing weight, these drinks can actually be really helpful – both for hydration and providing important nutrients.” The BFN says that keeping well-hydrated is important for everyone and advises to aim for six to eight drinks a day, but those with a poor appetite or who are worried about losing weight may also choose drinks that provide energy and nutrients as well. Good hydration is important because it can help prevent constipation, urine infections and other ailments. With old age, sense of thirst may reduce so it’s especially important to hydrate regularly throughout the day, the BFN notes.

The newly appointed Qu Dongyu highlighted the need for innovative approaches focused on pro-poor actions in Africa.African countries can benefit more from Japan’s knowledge and culture of healthy foods and diets, according to the FAO Director-General. The newly appointed Qu Dongyu highlighted the need for innovative approaches focused on pro-poor actions in Africa. In their fight to end hunger and improve nutrition, African countries have the opportunity to tap into Japan’s knowledge of smart technologies, agricultural machinery and marketing, as well as from the East Asian nation’s high food safety and nutrition standards, and culture of healthy foods and diets, Qu Dongyu notes. The Director-General also expressed appreciation for the fruitful FAO-Japan collaboration in Africa, which has led to the development of efficient and inclusive rice value chains, a better measurement of food loss and waste among food industries, and the strengthening of small and medium enterprises. “We continue to count on Japan’s generosity in scaling up its support to the improvement of nutrition in Africa,” he adds. Qu made the remarks at a NEPAD-JICA event focused on improving nutrition across Africa through the Initiative for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa (IFNA). “Fighting hunger and all forms of malnutrition is, and will continue to be, FAO's main priority in Africa,” Qu reaffirms.

In brief: Launches and releases
Japan-based Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients (MIFI) is presenting its mitochondria-activating, energy-enhancing ingredient BioPQQ at SupplySide West 2019 in Las Vegas, Oct. 15- 19. Mitochondrial health is a key component in the regulation of cognitive function, memory, energy and mood. However, mitochondrial function begins to decline as people age, leading to a decrease in overall health of the brain, heart and other organs. Manufactured in Japan by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc through a proprietary fermentation process, BioPQQ is clinically proven to boost cognitive health by enabling mitochondrial biogenesis, the process of increasing and dividing mitochondria within cells. This process is critical to regulating mitochondria levels, and in return enhancing energy and decreasing stress. One animal study published in Biochemistry showed that BioPQQ stimulates mitochondrial production at a rate 500 to 1,000 times higher than other ingredients known to support mitochondrial function. “BioPQQ is a safe, natural ingredient that can be used by any manufacturer who is looking to target cognitive health by promoting the creation of new mitochondria and nerve growth factor,” says Shoji Matsukawa, General Manager, Organic Chemical Sales and Marketing for Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou