Brown seaweed launched at weight management market
The Georgia-based distributor said it was the first bulk distributor of brown seaweed-derived fucoxanthin extract in 2006. Two years later it is offering a 50 percent-grade version of the carotenoid it calls Bellalean that is said to have weight loss benefits.
"We are proud to offer Bellalean at a significantly higher grade than our counterparts without sacrificing quality, safety and effectiveness," said AHD International president, John Alkire.
"Our HPLC-tested, 50 percent Bellalean is a potent ingredient that serves as a long-term agent for healthy weight loss and management and is just one of several fucoxanthin-grade and source options available to our customers."
The company could not be contacted by the time of publication.
Brown seaweed has long-been a staple of Asian diets, especially in places like Japan, Korea and China.
“Brown seaweed's fucoxanthin, an antioxidant carotenoid, has been successfully cultivated and extracted by AHD International to produce a concentrated dose of fucoxanthin that can be distributed in capsule form,” AHD International said.
The company highlighted studies that had shown fucoxanthin stimulates production of UCP1, a protein involved in fat burning around the abdominal region. Weight loss of five to 10 percent has been reported.
Fucoxanthin consumption has also provoked higher DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) markers in the liver, which have been linked to improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Anti-ageing
A similar ingredient, derived from brown algae, was launched recently by a French company targeting the Skin health market.
BiotechMarine says the extract, Alaria esculenta, is targeting the anti-ageing cosmeceuticals market.
It is believed the extract stimulates sirtuin activity, proteins that may play a role in longevity.
Due to its high concentrations of fatty acids, anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activity, the extract (Kalpariane) is being positioned as an anti-ageing ingredient with skin firming properties.
The presence of omega 3 and omega 6 help reinforce the skin’s hydrolipidic barrier, according to the company, whilst it protects against collagen and elastin degradation.
In addition, the extract has good free radical scavenging activity therefore helping to protect the skin from both intrinsic and environmental damage.
BiotechMarine said the Kalpariane extract can delay the duplicative phase of DNA replication in ageing cells, leaving more time for other cell functions such as DNA repair.
