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Barrington Nutritionals (New York City) is now distributing red sorghum extract from RedLeaf Biologics (Lexington, KY). Redleaf is a patented sorghum bioflavanoid complex standardized to no less than 20% polyphenols, including 3-deoxyanthocyanidins.

The companies call the 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in RedLeaf “very rare in nature but found in abundance in RedLeaf’s patented variety of red sorghum which was discovered, sustainably grown, and extracted in Kentucky.”

The ingredient functions as an antioxidant with numerous benefits. As the companies explain, “This group of patented polyphenols drives a powerful upregulation of the cellular Antioxidant Response Element (Nrf2/ARE) and the downregulation of NFKB, [which] enables this ingredient to address oxidative stress at a cellular level. Due to this bioactive mechanism, RedLeaf addresses a variety of needs in the sports formula, gut health, cognition, and beauty-from-within sectors.”

Both companies will be exhibitors at the upcoming SupplySide West trade show, taking place October 31 to November 4, 2022, in Las Vegas: Barrington Nutritionals (Booth #3644) and RedLeaf Biologics (Booth #2528).

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Hologram Sciences (Boston), backed by Royal DSM, and Maeil Health Nutrition (MHN; Seoul, Korea) entered into a strategic partnership to deliver personalized nutrition solutions to the Korean market. Maeil will expand its offerings through a license with Hologram for its holistic immunity brand called d.velop. The parternship’s first launch will be a vitamin D concept under MHN’s brand Selex, powered by Hologram Science’s d.velop holistic immunity platform. This includes easy and convenient at-home testing kits, supplementation delivery, and a digital service incorporating one-to-one coaching and actionable insights.

“We are delighted to be entering this landmark licensing partnership with MHN, our first in Asia,” said Ian Brady, CEO of Hologram Sciences, in a press release. “With their outstanding track record and leading position in functional nutrition, MHN is a perfect fit to bring our personalized health and wellness solutions to consumers in Korea.”

Hologram’s d.velop leverages the ingredient ampli-D calcifediol from DSM and will be offered in a range of supplement formats. MHN will also gain access to Hologram Sciences’ other brands in the Korean market, including Phenology, a menopause-focused women’s health solution.

“Personalized health and wellness is a critically important trend in our market as is the increasing need for holistic digital solutions, and we are excited to be partnering with Hologram Sciences, a true pioneer in the personalized nutrition field,” said Seon Hee Kim, CEO of Maeil Health Nutrition, in a press release. “We are already exclusive distributors of global premium food brands such as Ferrero and Arla in Korea and we look forward to working with Hologram Sciences as our exclusive health and personalized nutrition partner.”

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New Zealand Coastal Seafoods Ltd. (NZCS; Christchurch, New Zealand) entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ingredients Plus, in which the companies will work jointly on the development and distribution of a clinically-backed collagen product that is manufactured from premium ling maw supplied by NZCS. Ling maw is a large white-fleshy eel-like ocean fish found in New Zealand’s deep, cool waters and the surrounding sub-Antarctic international deep sea, explains NZCS.

Ingredients Plus is an independent supplier that serves customers throughout Australasia and South East Asia. The agreement includes a co-development plan for the product comprising principal discussion terms, including clinical trials, cost-sharing, product pricing, marketing , IP, exclusivity, and confidentiality. Both parties will work together with RDC Clinical, a leading clinical research organization, to develop a trial framework that establishes the most robust data supporting the use-case of the proposed collagen product. Ther proposed clinical trial initiative follows NZCS’ recent success in commercializing high quality marine collagen powder using a more efficient, and less costly process it had developed for collagen extraction from ling maw.

“We are pleased to have secured this MoU with Ingredients Plus, which sets out the first step in our ongoing R&D and product development strategy, as well as a framework for the joint development of a leading new collagen product derived from ling maw via a clinical trial pathway,” said CEO of NZCS, Andrew Peti, in a press release. “In the development of our nutraceutical suite, we have identified a major market opportunity for a clinically backed collagen product in the health & beauty sector, which more broadly continues to benefit from positive long-term supply trends. We look forward to working with Ingredients Plus in forming a product development and distribution strategy which leverages the respective strengths of both companies. The MoU marks the latest step by New Zealand Coastal Seafoods to identify key market opportunities on the inherent competitive advantage of its world class sustainable fishery operations.”

The production target outlined in the MoU is set at 1,400 kg for the first 12 months, with exclusivity rights between the parties to be negotiated in a separate supply agreement.

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In 2015, I was honored to be asked to write the chapter “Sexual Dysfunctions and Nutraceutical Therapy: An Examination of Human Research” for the textbook Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods in Human Health and Disease Prevention (^©2015, CRC Press). Within that chapter, I discussed research on several different nutraceuticals used to treat sexual dysfunctions. In this article, I will provide a brief review of some of the research I presented in that chapter.

Research from various sources indicates that about 40%-45% of adult women and 20%-30% of adult men have a least one sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction (ED), hypogonadism/low testosterone, low estradiol, and sexual dissatisfaction.¹ A range of nutraceuticals may be helpful in these instances, including D-aspartic acid, fenugreek, Eurycoma longifolia, vitamin D, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

D-aspartic acid

The amino acid D-aspartic acid is found in the nervous and endocrine tissues. In human clinical research², 3.12 g of D-aspartic acid daily (with vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12) was shown to significantly increase blood concentrations of luteinizing hormone by 33.3% (P < 0.0001) and serum testosterone concentrations by 42% (P < 0.0082).

Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds have a history of use in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. In human clinical research, a daily dose of 600 mg of a proprietary fenugreek extract was shown to increase free testosterone by 98% (double that of the placebo group)³ and improve sexual cognition, sexual arousal, sexual behavior, and orgasm⁴. Additional human research has shown that another fenugreek extract increased sexual functioning in women (600 mg/day)⁵.

Eurycoma longifolia

Eurycoma longifolia Jack is an herbal medicinal plant of southeast Asian origin (Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia) commonly known as tongkat ali. Human research has demonstrated that a proprietary extract of E. longifolia (100-600 mg/day) was able to increase total testosterone levels^6,7,8 and improve sexual wellbeing⁹.

Vitamin D

Outright vitamin D deficiency is present in up to 41.6% of the U.S. population¹⁰, while vitamin D insufficiency (i.e., lacking sufficient vitamin D) is present in up to 77% of the population¹¹. This is problematic considering that lower plasma levels of vitamin D are associated with lower testosterone levels, while higher levels of vitamin D are associated with higher testosterone levels^12,13. In a randomized controlled trial, vitamin D–deficient men received either 83 mcg (3332 IU) vitamin D daily or a placebo. Results showed that total testosterone increased by 25%.¹⁴

DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is produced in the adrenal glands and testes. DHEA can be transformed into testosterone and/or estrogens in a cell-specific manner in a large series of peripheral target tissues¹⁵. In human clinical studies, 50 mg/day of DHEA demonstrated effectiveness in men with erectile dysfunction^16,17, increased the frequency of sexual thoughts and sexual interest in women¹⁸, and increased total serum testosterone in both elderly men and women¹⁹.

Conclusion

Sexual dysfunctions are commonplace, but there are nutraceuticals that can help. This article presented data demonstrated the efficacy of D-aspartic acid, fenugreek, Eurycoma longifolia, vitamin D, and DHEA for sexual dysfunctions. Due to space limitations, I wasn’t able to review the many other nutraceuticals that also have good research to support their use for these purposes but may be able to do so in a future article.

About the Author

Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, RH (AHG), is a certified nutritionist and registered herbalist with 42 years of dietary supplement industry experience. With a master’s degree in nutrition and a second master’s degree in herbal medicine, he has a proven track record of formulating innovative, evidence-based dietary supplements. Mr. Bruno currently serves as both the vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at NutraScience Labs and professor of nutraceutical science at Huntington University of Health Sciences.

References

1. Lewis RW et al. “Epidemiology/risk factors of sexual dysfunction.” The Journal of Sexual Medicine, vol. 1, no. 1 (July 2004): 35-39
2. Topo E et al. “The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats.” Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, vol. 7 (October 27, 2009): 120
3. Unpublished study. “Human clinical trial report: Effect of Testofen^® on safety, anabolic activity and factors affecting exercise physiology.” Gencor Nutrients (Anaheim, CA); 2008
4. Steels E et al. “Physiological aspects of male libido enhanced by standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum extract and mineral formulation.” Phytotherapy Research, vol. 25, no. 9 (September 25, 2011): 1294-1300
5. Unpublished study. Rao A et al. “Influence of Libifem, a specialized extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) on sexual function, hormones and metabolism in healthy menstruating women, in a randomized placebo controlled study.” Gencor Nutrients (Anaheim, CA); 2012
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17. Reiter WJ et al. “Dehydroepiandrosterone in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.” Urology, vol. 53, no. 3 (March 1999): 590-594
18. Arlt W et al. “Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in women with adrenal insufficiency.” The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 341, no. 14 (September 30, 1999): 1013-1020
19. Villareal DT et al. “Effects of DHEA replacement on bone mineral density and body composition in elderly women and men.” Clinical Endocrinology, vol. 53, no. 5 (November 2000): 561-568