So far articles about this pioneering work, which may pave the way for functional beverages made with MegaNatural-BP to help the American public address blood pressure concerns, have appeared in Natural Products Insider, Food Ingredients First, Beverage World, Nutritional Outlook and New Hope360.com.

Request an ingredient sample or contact us for the answers to your formulating questions.

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Dietary modifications are usually one of the first recommendations made by healthcare providers when someone is diagnosed with pre-hypertension or metabolic syndrome. But while adopting a healthier diet may seem easy, many people find it difficult to change their old eating habits. Now two new studies indicate that adding a grape seed extract supplement, which is high in beneficial polyphenols, may help people at risk to improve their cardiovascular health.

In two newly published human clinical studies conducted by the University of California, Davis researchers have concluded that a patented grape seed extract may help lower blood pressure in individuals with pre-hypertension, and may reduce post-meal glycemic response as well as LDL concentrations in individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. These studies build on an already solid body of scientific evidence of grape seed extract’s cardiovascular benefits.

Representatives from Polyphenolics, which supplied its MegaNatural products for both studies, will be on hand to discuss the findings during Engredea 2013 at Booth #451.

Reducing blood pressure among pre-hypertensive adults
Hypertension affects approximately 60 percent of Americans, and remains a major cause of death in the U.S. It is currently estimated that 31 percent of adults over age 18 are pre-hypertensive. It has been suggested that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables promotes lower blood pressure in part because of the phenolic compounds contained by plant products. Previous studies have shown that Polyphenolics’ MegaNatural-BP grape seed extract helps to reduce blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel walls.

In the results of a randomized double blind, placebo-controlled study, published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences, UC Davis researchers describe how grape seed extract significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure among 32 pre-hypertensive adults after just eight weeks. MegaNatural-BP was chosen for use in this study. “This study showed that the extract when administered orally at a dose of 300 mg daily resulted in a significant reduction in blood pressure,” commented lead researcher C. Tissa Kappagoda, professor, director Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, UC Davis.

While acknowledging that the study was small, the researchers commented that this is evidence that the polyphenolic compounds present in grape seed extract, “could form the non-pharmaceutical basis for managing hypertension.” They added that supplementation could be a means for stemming the short- and medium-term results of a poor diet.

Managing post-meal LDL cholesterol levels, and glycemic responses, among adults with metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a growing health concern that is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and poor glycemic control. Eating meals high in readily available carbohydrates and fats causes an increase in blood glucose and lipid levels, as well as increases in markers for oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance.

UC Davis researchers investigated whether grape seed extract, which is rich in mono-, oligo- and poly-metric polyphenols, would modify post-meal oxidative stress and inflammation among adults diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The results of the randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled study were published in the journal: Functional Foods in Health and Disease. MegaNatural-Gold Grape Seed Extract was used in this human clinical study.

In the study, 12 individuals were randomized to receive either grape seed extract or a placebo approximately one hour before eating a high-fat, high-carb breakfast containing approximately 670 calories, 40 percent of which were from fat. This breakfast mimics the typical Westernized eating patterns which are associated with such chronic diseases as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Participants who received the grape seed extract had improved antioxidant status and experienced reduced blood sugar spikes after their meal.

The researchers concluded that these findings support a growing body of research that suggests consuming polyphenol-rich foods and extracts with or within an hour of a meal can minimize some of the unfavorable effects of modern diets and lifestyle patterns.

Polyphenolics, a division of Constellation Brands, Inc., manufactures, markets and sells ingredients for nutraceutical, functional and medical foods. To learn more about this research, as well as other studies using Polyphenolics’ MegaNatural grape seed extract products, visit Polyphenolics at Booth #451 during the upcoming Engredea 2013 Exposition, March 8-10 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Or, visit www.Polyphenolics.com.

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#1 Get another hour sleep
Why? Lack of sleep has been shown to raise blood pressure, trigger inflammation and promote clotting and atherosclerosis. All of these factors raise the risk for heart disease. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Make sleep a priority for better health.

#2 Stress less
Why? Stress is a powerful risk factor for heart disease. Stress impacts several risk factors for heart disease: it raises blood pressure and cholesterol, triggers inflammation and promotes blood clots. To better manage stress, try deep breathing, meditation, yoga and get regular exercise.

#3 Laugh more
Why? Laughing relaxes and expands the blood vessels, which protects the heart. On the contrary, negative emotions such as anger, hostility and pessimism are associated with increased heart disease risk.

#4 Eat more colorful fruits and vegetables
Why? Brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain plant pigments, which are rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants offer a number of health benefits. They can help fight free radical damage, support the health of your blood vessels, and reduce inflammation. Aim for seven to ten servings per day and go for variety.

#5 Choose smart supplements
Why? It is difficult to get enough nutrients from diet alone and certain nutrients are known to play an important role in heart health, such as the omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish and grape seed extract. Omega-3s help lower triglycerides, fight inflammation and prevent clotting. MegaNatural BP, a clinically studied grape seed extract, helps to lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel flexibility.

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I recently had the opportunity to visit some of the Constellation Wineries in California to learn more about the art of wine making, and how to pair wine and food. This was an extraordinary experience! The vineyards were beautiful, and it was fascinating to learn first-hand the stages of the wine making process.

I found it particularly interesting that Constellation uses all of the vital parts of the grape for their nutritive and medicinal values. The juice is used for grape juice and wine; the seeds are used to make Polyphenolics’ MegaNatural-BP, a patented and clinically studied grape seed extract; and the grape skins and pulp are used to product grape pumice extract. It was great to see how the vital parts of the grapes can be utilized in so many ways.

As a pharmacist, I’m always concerned about the raw materials that go into a finished supplement. It was interesting to note that the company maintains total control over the entire manufacturing process for MegaNatural-BP, from raw material procurement to final extraction. This gives me confidence in the final product, and helps explain why researchers consistently use MegaNatural-BP when they want to examine the role that grape seed extract plays in the management of hypertension.

The post What my visit to Constellation Wineries taught me about heart health appeared first on Polyphenolics.

For those diagnosed with hypertension or pre-hypertension, Dr. Torkos was most excited about MegaNatural-BP, a grape seed extract clinically shown to help reduce blood pressure. Research conducted at University of California Davis has shown that the polyphenols in MegaNatural-BP help to relax and improve the flexibility of blood vessels.

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Every day in this country, people are being told by their physicians that they should start taking prescription medications for their pre-diabetes or hypertension. They are clearly motivated to learn about natural alternatives!

At this breakfast presentation, you’ll enjoy a tempting array of fresh seasonal fruits, whole grains and plenty of hot coffee as our panel reveals the latest research and how grape seed extract is being used by physicians in clinical practice to help manage heart disease and diabetes. We’re calling the presentation: Beyond Antioxidants: A New Generation of Grape Seed Polyphenol Extracts.

You will discover how leading physicians are incorporating this non-drug product into patients’ healthcare regimens. This expert panel will also discuss breakthrough UC Davis research, labeling language for product formulations, and how these ingredients may help you expand your heart-health and pre-diabetic product lines.

Participating in the panel will be:

• Anil Shrikhande, Ph.D. – president, Polyphenolics, a division of Constellation Brands, Inc.
• C. Tissa Kappagoda, M.D. – professor, director Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, UC Davis
• Britt Burton-Freeman, Ph.D., M.S. – director of Nutrition, CNR, IFSH, IIT-Chicago
• Cathleen London, M.D., P.C. – assistant professor of Medicine at the Department of Medicine of Weill Cornell Medical College; assistant attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital; clinical care practitioner at Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center

MegaNatural^®-BP is smart nutrition that is raising the bar for grape seed extracts. It is flexible enough to not only be used as a supplement, but also in functional foods and beverages. Discover how the patented grape seed extract supported by a substantial body of research could benefit your new product line!

Win our door prize

Click here to pre-register and you’ll be entered to win a free Sony Bloggie Touch Camera. Winner must be present.

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Endothelial health presents new avenue for polyphenols, experts say

By Hank Schultz, 07-Sep-2012

Related topics: Research

Millions of American suffer from a stealthy condition.  When things go wrong in the endothelium, that thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels things go south in a hurry:  high blood pressure, atherosclerotic lesions, plaques and full blown cardiovascular disease.

But how to help customers who show no symptoms­–and who don’t know what the word endothelium means in the first place–is the challenge that scientists, product formulators and marketers working in the field face. And a further challenge: how to communicate benefits without running afoul of regulators.

It’s a huge challenge (and a big opportunity) and one that is growing.

“Cardiovascular health has three or four main reservoirs of illness in the United States. People who have high blood pressure, people who are overweight, people who have metabolic syndrome. That amalgam of people accounts for somewhere between 60 and 70 percent of the population above the age of 20.  That’s a huge number,” C.Tissa Kappagoda, PhD of the University of California Davis told NutraIgredients-USA.

These are the people who will suffer strokes and heart attacks, Dr.Kappagoda said.  And one of the harbingers of these conditions is dysfunction in the endothelium, that thin layer of cells that lines the body’s blood vessels. This layer performs many functions including maintaining the suppleness of blood vessels and regulating the activity of neutrophils, white blood cells that form a key part of the immune system.

It all starts in the endothelium

Dysfunction in the endothelium leads to arteries with little suppleness, contributing to high blood pressure, and arteries that are chronically inflamed, leading to an overabundance of adhesion molecules.  A little bit of prevention here can go a long way, like the Spartans pinching off the Persians at the pass, holding back a tidal wave of disease.

“There is a lot being learned at endothelial function right now because there are a lot of cardiovascular scientists who are looking much more carefully within those cells. They’re learning a lot that there are things they can do within those cells, possibly upregulating certain proteins that could possibly mitigate diseases that are connected to endothelial dysfunction,” said Alex Schauss. PhD, CEO of AIBMR, a Seattle-based scientific and regulatory consultancy.

Endothelial health is gaining more visibility with the product formulation community. One of the sessions at the recent Institute of Food Technologists show in Las Vegas in June focused on the category as a possible avenue for new health claims.

Gertjan den Hartog, PhD of Maastricht University in the Netherlands has studied the polyphenols in grape seed extracts and chocolate and was one of the speakers at the IFT endothelial health session.

“I  looked endothelial health just now to see how many hits I get and I see a lot of people are working on this right now,” den Hartog said. “Everything that has to do with cardiovascular health starts in the endothelium. If you can promote the health of this tiny layer of cells you can promote the health of the whole cardiovascular system.”

One of the longtime players in the field is Polyphenolics, a Madera, Calif.-based manufacturer of a propriety grape seed extract branded as MegaNatural^®-BP. One of the structure-function claims the product bears is “helps maintain healthy endothelial function.”

The MegaNatural^®-BP ingredient is a broad-spectrum extract featuring a number of compounds of differing activity.  The whole extract has been the subject of a number of studies conducted by Dr. Kappagoda.

Getting past the ORAC fixation

One of the things that Polyphenolics has been moving away from is quoting ORAC values; a trend within industry generally.  Drilling down toward specific benefits such as endothelial health is one of the ways a manufacturer can communicate benefits without getting into an ORAC war, said Anil Shirkhande, PhD, president of Polyphenolics, which is a division of Constellation Brands.

“We are an antioxidant,” said Dr. Shirkhande said. “I think (ORAC) is a good indicator outside the cell, but when it goes inside the cell I don’t how it behaves because you’ve got different fragments there, some of which are more water soluable and so forth.”

It’s a tricky market to reach and will continue to present challenges for the future, said Mike Danielson, director of the health and medical division of Media Relations, a Minneapolis-based marketing consultancy.

“Just saying ‘endothelial,’ it’s a tongue-twister by itself. The consumer doesn’t feel anything. Many of them don’t know their (blood pressure) numbers.”

Source: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Endothelial-health-presents-new-avenue-for-polyphenols-experts-say

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In accordance with these stringent requirements, MegaNatural^®-BP was a natural choice. It is the world’s most tested form of grape seed extract, backed by multiple patents and supported by extensive human clinical research. It meets or exceeds GMP guidelines. The MARKED Pre-Workout Igniter is another great example of a premiere consumer product formulated with MegaNatural^®-BP.

“Much of my success can be attributed to my dedication and hard work. I push myself to be the best, from acting to staying in my best shape possible. I’m committed to living a healthy and productive life and helping the people around me do the same. But even for me, finding trusted sports nutrition products was confusing, so I combined what I learned and what I was taking, and teamed up with leading experts to develop MARKED. This line is a game changer with amazing formulas people can trust,” said Wahlberg.

To learn more about MegaNatural^®-BP and its various formulation capabilities, be sure to visit us at Booth #18079 at SupplySide West, and attend our presentation, Beyond Antioxidants: A New Generation of Grape Seed Extracts, at 8 a.m. on Wednesday November 7 in the Education Room.

The post Why MegaNatural^®-BP is featured in Mark Wahlberg’s ultimate performance nutrition products appeared first on Polyphenolics.

On September 20, Wahlberg will participate in a live webcast to discuss the MARKED line and answer questions. Details about how to join will be available at www.MarkedNutrition.com in September.

We are excited whenever a marketer becomes fully engaged in the science and performance of their product line, and takes that message to the public in a highly impactful, meaningful way.

To give you a deeper understanding and perspective on the significance of using MegaNatural^®-BP within the MARKED Pre-Workout Igniter formula, watch this great video from our President Dr. Anil Shrikhande.

We look forward to reading your comments here on this page after the Mark Wahlberg webcast.

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Polyphenolics is pleased to announce that a product within actor Mark Wahlberg’s new performance nutrition line, MARKED, features MegaNatural^®-BP. The MARKED Pre-Workout Igniter formula delivers fast-absorbing muscle fuel and energy for a better workout.

This product is another excellent example of a manufacturer harnessing the tremendous antioxidant power of patented MegaNatural^®-BP to support the needs of fitness-minded individuals. This award-winning ingredient, best associated with heart-health products, is also highly effective for sports nutrition, including pre-workout products.

Every MARKED product has been rigorously tested for banned substances by HFL Sports Science, a world-class sports anti-doping lab, and based on cutting edge nutritional science using only the highest quality ingredients. Each product also features Mark Wahlberg’s exclusive Supplementation and Nutrition Plan for improving strength, lean mass and workout performance to maximize muscle size and definition. The products can be taken individually or stacked and are designed to deliver optimal results:

• Maximum Nutrition Daily Pack: Daily multivitamin pack features four compounds to help support optimal body health.

• Blast & Burn Pack: Four-part muscle-sculpting, metabolism-boosting program helps achieve desired physique.

• Pre-Workout Igniter: Formula, with MegaNatural^®-BP, that delivers fast-absorbing muscle fuel and energy for a better workout.

• Mass Gainer: Provides a physique-building nutritional platform for adding lean muscle mass.

• 100% Whey Protein Complex: An ideal foundation for optimal athletic performance.

• Protein Shake & Bar: Performance shakes and bars with protein and fiber to stay fuller longer.

The MARKED line is available in GNC stores and at GNC.com.

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