The ingredient, which is being launched at the upcoming SupplySide West show in Las Vegas, is a blend of seven plant-based ingredients: Green coffee bean extract, green tea extract, turmeric extract, tart cherry, blueberry, broccoli, and kale, said Andrew Wheeler, corporate director of marketing for Van Drunen Farms / FutureCeuticals.
“S7 is unique in that it does not fit into the traditional “NO boosting” space since it is nitrate-free,” explained Wheeler. “S7 is a product that has created a new NO category; boosting endogenous NO production.”
Data published in the journal Free Radical Research supports the efficacy of the ingredient. The small (pilot) study showed that S7 increased nitric oxide (NO) levels in humans by 230% over baseline.
The research also found that the ingredient inhibited the generation of mitochondrial and cellular reactive oxygen species by as much as 9.2 or 17.7%.
Nitric oxide
There has been a surge in interest in NO-boosters over the past decade from nutraceutical and sports nutrition consumers. Nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator that is produced by the endothelium. By boosting nitric oxide, the blood vessels relax and blood flow improves. In addition, there are studies supporting the potential for nitric oxide (often using nitrate-rich products) to manage performance and fatigue in strength training or aerobic states.
This has led to a raft of nitrate-rich products hitting the market, led by ingredients such as beetroot extracts.
FutureCeuticals claims its ingredient can triggers the body's own nitric oxide production at a dose of only 50mg.
“The problem and solution rest in the fact that our bodies can produce a substantial and greater amount of NO internally without external supplementation of nitrates,” says Jeff Van Drunen, President of FutureCeuticals, Inc.
The company says the ingredient offers a clean label, plant-based solution for sports nutrition products such as RTM and RTD pre-workout, muscle pump and performance products, energy drinks and more.
Sports Nutrition
S7 joins FutureCeuticals portfolio of sports nutrition ingredients, which also includes ElevATP and Viva Cherry Sport. “Sports nutrition is one of the many areas of tremendous growth for FutureCeuticals,” said Wheeler. “Many of our clinically-researched brands have distinct advantages in the Sports Nutrition and performance realm. From pre-workout to recovery, we have unique products that carry highly marketable claims. S7 is the latest addition to this growing list.”
Source: Free Radical Research
2018, Volume 52, Issue 3, Pages 362-372. doi: 10.1080/10715762.2017.1390228
“Oxidative stress or redox signalling - new insights into the effects of a proprietary multifunctional botanical dietary supplement”
Authors: B.V. Nemzer, et al.