Cyvex launches flavonoid line for supplements and drinks
The Californian ingredients firm has started selling five flavonoid compounds, which include nobiletin, tangeritin, diosmin, apigenin and luteolin.
These can be used in dietary supplements, beverages or some food applications to deliver health benefits including heart health, anti-inflammatory benefits, cholesterol lowering and stress relief, according to the company.
“These highly purified (98 per cent purity) ingredients extend our reach into the antioxidant area. This is a market that is ripe, and the new line has been customer driven,” Cyvex President and COO Matt Phillips told NutraIngredients-USA.com.
Flavonoids, a class of antioxidants, can be split into a number of sub-classes. These include: anthocyanins found in berries; flavonols from a variety of fruit and vegetables; flavones from parsley and thyme, for example; flavanones from citrus; isoflavones from soy; mono- and poly-meric flavonols like the catechins in tea; and proanthocyanidins from berries, wine and chocolate.
Product break-down
Apigenin is derived from chamomile, parsley, thyme, peppermint, celery or citrus. At dosages of 50-100mg per day, it is said to have anti-inflammatory benefits, to promote relaxation and to relieve stress, said Cyvex.
Diosmin is derived from citrus peel and is said to help support healthy veins and increase vein elasticity.
Luteolin comes from peanut shells, celery, thyme, parsley, peppermint, basil and artichoke. At 50-100mg per day it is said to provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
Nobiletin, derived from citrus peel, is also promoted for its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as memory improvement and acne treatment, said Cyvex.
Tangeretin, from tangerine peel and other citrus peel, is said to help maintain cholesterol within the normal range.
Science and cost
Cyvex is promoting its new flvonoid line for the above benefits, as supported by existing scientific studies. However, the firm said the next step is to develop unique blends of the ingredients, which it will then back up with additional animal trials.
The flavonoid ingredients are currently sold under their generic names as they have not yet been branded. Cost varies depending on the compound and quantities purchased, but ranges between $500/kilo and $1,200/kilo.
Market
Data from Leatherhead Food International (LFI) shows that the world functional antioxidants market is increasing year on year by around 3 per cent, and was valued at $400m in 2004, and $438m in 2007. The US, Europe and Japan account for 90 percent of this market.
Together with polyphenols, flavonoids are reported to comprise 45 percent of this functional antioxidant market, equivalent to almost $200m.
Figures from Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD) indicate that more and more products are emphasising a product’s antioxidant content on the label, with 106 launches of products labelled ‘antioxidants’ in the US in 2006, 131 in 2007, and an impressive 262 in 2008.
Similar growth of the use of the term was observed across the Atlantic, with 135 launches in Europe in 2008, compared to 111 in 2007, and only 37 in 2006.
These figures, which do not take into account products that label specific antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, and are therefore a conservative indication of the use.
