The new proprietary blend of three botanical extracts—ashwagandha, rosemary and sesame—is said to work synergistically to inhibit the receptors involved in discomfort.
“Discomfort and soreness can be debilitating and significantly impact a person's quality of life,” said Maria Ángeles Gutiérrez Montero, marketing director of SuanNutra. “Developing a natural ingredient can help enhance quality of life by reducing or alleviating pain. In today's sedentary, stress-filled and sleep-deprived lifestyles, discomfort and pain are increasingly common. Prolonged sitting, repetitive activities, occasional stress peaks, and lack of sleep can lead to issues like muscle tension, joint pain and headaches, which worsen over time.”
She added: “We are combining the wisdom of Eastern botanical medicine with modern science and ‘big data’ to support this innovative solution and provide a holistic approach to total well-being.”
Machine learning for active ingredients
The formula is the result of research that began with the selection of nutrients from a library of 50,000 compounds using "deep tech platforms" to screen phytochemicals based on their molecular interactions with discomfort receptors TRPV1, Nav1.7, TrkA and nAChR.
“In recent years, machine learning has emerged as a key technology in discovering and developing innovative compounds,” said Nuria Caturla, PhD, chief R&D officer at Monteloeder. “We took it one step further, helping create a nutraceutical that can help us cope with today’s hectic life and improve well-being.”
Following this selection, botanical sources were comprehensively characterized by their active content and inherent traditional properties.
The three chosen ingredients were selected for their complementary effects in inhibiting the major channels involved in sensorial transmission and perception.
The traditional use of ashwagandha for relief is rooted in Ayurvedic practice, the ancient Indian medical tradition. In addition to its known uses for improving sleep and its role in enhancing mood, its potential as a natural discomfort relief and muscle relaxant is rapidly gaining recognition through clinical research.
Rosemary has been traditionally used in folk medicine for multiple purposes. As home remedy, it has been used as a to alleviate muscle and joint discomfort as well as to reduce occasional headaches.
Extracts of sesame have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to help mitigate pain in inflammatory conditions, while the oil is a traditional medicinal carrier in Ayurvedic traditions.
The research
A recent randomized double-blind clinical study, published in Frontiers in Nutrition and conducted by researchers from Monteloeder and Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Spain, evaluated the effects of BeRelief in a group 135 participants with varying levels of back and neck discomfort over a 12-week period.
Participants were assigned to placebo group (n=42), 400 mg low dose (n=39) and 800 mg high dose groups (n=42).
Study variables included back pain intensity (visual analogue scale (VAS), quality of life (QoL) measured via 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); sleep quality (accelerometer and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
The researchers reported that the two groups on BeRelief experienced significant and sustained reduction in discomfort compared to the placebo group by the end of the study period.
The group on the low dose experienced discomfort reduction by approximately 56%, while those on the high dose saw a reduction in aches of about 59% as recorded on a VAS. Furthermore, the supplemented groups reported improvements in health-related quality of life, including enhanced mood and sleep quality.