Most of the research conducted to date on the phytoestrogens has been on the lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), which is converted to the mammalian lignans enterolactone and enterodiol.
Promising links have been made between increased dietary lignan intake and reduced risk of a wide range of conditions, most notably breast cancer, prostate cancer, and reduced hair loss.
China-based BioGin launched the highly concentrated flax lignan in February in a move that was said to raise the bar on SDG concentrations of flax lignans.
Archer Daniel Midland introduced its 35 per cent SDG BeneFlax in the US last week after having completed new dietary ingredient (NDI) notification.
Frutarom's LinumLife (formerly from Acatris Health) is standardised to 20 per cent SDG.
The company claims that an in-house test showed that the Alalife flax lignans were 100 per cent water soluble, a result it linked to the special manufacturing process.
Alalife flax lignans are mainly extracted by water, said the company, thereby keeping the lignan in its natural state.
Speaking to NutraIngredients.com recently, BioGin's Cherry Qiu said that there are understood to be several other flax lignan manufacturers in China, but according to BioGin they are only operating on a small scale.
BioGin has the capacity to produce ten tons of AlaLife per month, but because the market is not yet mature it is presently producing two to three tons.
Qiu said that the price of BioGin's AlaLife flax lignans would be competitive, but that higher concentrations can command higher prices.