"We have made significant improvements to the formulation of Cholesstrinol HP and Cholesstrinol HPe. We renamed the ingredient Cholesstrinol because we thought it communicated the benefits of the ingredient better to the customer," SourceOne CEO Jesse Lopez told NutraIngredients-USA.
Chicago-based SourceOne Global Partners has a number of studies conducted with the precursor ingredient that was branded Sytrinol and was manufactured and distributed by SourceOne from 2003-2008. The largest study, a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol with 120 subjects, resulted in significant improvements in total cholesterol (-30%), LDL (-27%), and triglycerides (-34%), compared to placebo. In addition, HDL levels increased 4%, resulting in a significant 29% improvement in the LDL:HDL ratio. The company has additional research results on the new formulation, Lopez said.
Sourcing the concentrated PMFs was a challenge
One of the challenges in developing the new formulations was nailing down a source for the concentrated citrus PMFs and lemon flavonoids. That’s where joint venture partner Ingredients by Nature (IBN), based in Montclair, Calif. comes in. IBN has an 80-year history of extraction experience and analytical expertise.
“The science was very compelling on the benefits of the citrus polymethoxylated flavones,” Lopez said.
“But the availability of a high quality, consistent source for those materials made it more challenging to manage a supply chain.”
With the help of IBN, Lopez said, “we have focused on the selection of the raw materials based upon stage of harvest to ensure the most bioactive components are formulated into the final Cholestrinol formulation.”
"We have super concentrated the standardized citrus flavonoid complexes found in Cholesstrinol beyond levels ever conceived. Additionally, commercial quantities of high-purity eriocitrin complexes have never been available until we developed breakthrough techniques for isolating and concentrating these lemon-derived flavonoids," said Rob Brewster, president of Ingredients by Nature.
The Cholesstrinol HPe formulation features the addition of standardized levels of eriocitrin, a powerful flavonoid found in lemon (Citrus limon) extract. Eriocitrin has been shown to support the body's natural anti-inflammatory responses, according to IBN.
With the new ingredient’s stellar science results comes a challenge. Lowering high cholesterol levels is one of the things that drugs do, so what can a dietary supplement customer say about the ingredient’s benefits?
“We have structure function claims that can be used as a point of reference,” Lopez said. “But we certainly suggest our brand partners seek legal council in regards to labeling guidelines.”
Colloidal delivery system offered with new ingredients
The new ingredients can be combined with SourceONe’s recently patented VESIsorb colloidal droplet delivery system. This self-assembling system greatly increases the bioavailability of the ingredients it is used with, Lopez said, meaning either smaller capsules for the same activity, or more room for additional ingredients in the same size capsule.
Lopez said SourceOne is interested in developing custom formulations pairing the new ingredients with additional ingredients for tailored health benefits. For example, he said using the VESIsorb system could allow the addition of a concentrated omega-3 source to yield a “super heart healthy” finished product.
The new formulations are ideal for dietary supplement applications, Lopez said. But the ingredients’ good stability profile means they could be placed in functional foods, too. And pairing the new ingredients with the VESIsorb system with its emulsifying capability means a functional beverage application is also a possibility.