Pterostilbene is chemically related to resveratrol, and reportedly holds promise for improving cardiovascular health, glucose levels, and cognitive function.
Research on the properties and potential of pterostilbene has been conducted by a group of scientists at the University of Mississippi and the ARS – a scientific research arm of the US Department of Agriculture. The University of Mississippi is also the site of the first human clinical trial to evaluate pTeroPure in patients with lipid (cholesterol) disorders.
ChromaDex has licensed patents from the University of Mississippi and the USDA related to cholesterol control, diabetes, and oxidative stress.
The new agreement provides Cott with access to ChromaDex's pTeroPure platform. Cott Beverages is a subsidiary of Cott Corporation, reportedly the world's largest private label beverage company.
Synergies
“For IP related purposes, right now the only blend is the one being utilized in the University of Mississippi cholesterol clinical trial; a 2:1 ratio of the proprietary ShanStar Grape Extract (from Cott’s Star PhytoNutrients Division) and pTeroPure pterostilbene,” said Jeremy Bartos, PhD, product development manager, pTeroPure.
“The whole purpose of adding this arm to the clinical studies is to determine if the synergies between pterostilbene and grape polyphenols such as resveratrol and proanthocyanins can make a significant difference in the measures clinical outcomes of certain cardiovascular markers,” explained Dr Bartos.
“There have been peer-reviewed publications detailing the synergistic effects of pterostilbene and resveratrol in reducing oxidative stress in vitro. It is also known that the half-life of stilbenes in the blood improve in the presence of additional polyphenols, which should positively affect the bioavailability as well,” he added.
When?
Speaking with NutraIngredients-USA, Dr Bartos explained that the product is planned to launch officially at Supply Side West 2011 in Las Vegas, but the proprietary blend could be provided sooner for select customers who contact Cott directly.
Excitement
"We are excited to partner with ChromaDex, a name synonymous with both quality and science, and license its technology as part of our commitment to offering novel, best-in-class ingredients to our customers,” said Doug Lynch, VP Business Development of the Star PhytoNutrients division of Cott.
"For ChromaDex, this agreement represents a great opportunity to license our growing portfolio of intellectual property to a recognized market leader in the consumer goods industry," said Bill Spengler, ChromaDex president.
"Cott's market presence, distribution strength, consumer experience, and commitment to products with enhanced functionality and health benefits make it an exceptional partner as we continue to commercialize our pipeline of technology."