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Polyphenol Research Drives New Product Innovation

By Kelly C. Heim, Ph.D.

Over the past three decades, epidemiological and clinical studies have established positive associations between fruit and vegetable intake and nearly every major aspect of health.1-3 While essential vitamins and minerals are accountable for a number of benefits, nonessential phytochemicals are now widely recognized as critical mediators of the most significant protective effects.‡

Over 4,000 phytochemicals occur in a healthful, plant-based diet.2-5 Of these, the most prevalent are polyphenols, which include flavonoids, stilbenes and proanthocyanidins. Initially acclaimed for their superior antioxidant activity relative to vitamin C, tocopherols and carotenoids, it is now clear that polyphenols support cardiovascular, neurocognitive and metabolic health at the levels of cellular signal transduction and gene expression.2 As active constituents of the most well-researched natural therapeutics such as green tea, grape seed, red wine, pine bark and various fruits, polyphenols are among the most powerful components of the integrative pharmacopoeia.‡2-6

Discovery of polyphenol and phytochemical mechanisms comprises the central focus of an estimated $5 million research collaboration between Pure Encapsulations and the Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF), based at Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, and several public agencies. One of the world’s largest research institutions dedicated to advancing knowledge in functional food ingredients and dietary supplements, INAF is endowed with elite scientists and the most advanced biomedical research technologies to continually advance the global understanding of polyphenols as powerful tools in functional medicine.‡

Since these compounds exhibit additive and synergistic actions that are relevant to clinical efficacy, this collaboration has sought to elucidate the pharmacology of specific preparations that naturally contain diverse arrays of phytochemicals.4-6 Using modern preclinical research models, Pure Encapsulations and INAF have identified cardiometabolic and anti-aging properties of novel proprietary fruit and vegetable extracts delivering unique polyphenol profiles. This initiative has led to a growing platform of Pure Encapsulations products:‡

    • GlucoPhenol™, which contains Orléans strawberry and cranberry extracts, supports glucose homeostasis in preclinical studies. It is combined with alpha lipoic acid in Alpha Lipoic Acid w/GlucoPhenol™, which is also available as part of the PureLean® Pure Pack.‡
    • PhytoMemory, a blend of wild blueberry, Orléans strawberry and spinach polyphenols, maintains healthy activity of prolyl endopeptidase (PEP), an enzyme that regulates the stability of neuropeptides that support memory and cognition. PhytoMemory is combined with soy-free phosphatidylserine in PS Plus.‡
    • PhytoLongevity is a combination of PhytoCardio and PhytoMemory featured in
      RevitalAge™ Ultra for healthy aging and overall cardiovascular, metabolic and cognitive support.‡

This recent research extends a long-standing and growing list of published and ongoing clinical studies on Pure Encapsulations products encompassing diverse medical specialties, including cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, psychiatry and endocrinology. Unparalleled purity and potency of every product and the consistency of quality are the reasons why scientists select Pure Encapsulations as their trusted source. Product donations to academic and clinical research programs around the world continue to expand the scope of peer-reviewed scientific validation. These efforts have empowered clinicians around the world with evidence-based confidence in product efficacy and reliability.‡

References

      1. Heim, K.C. Natural polyphenol and flavonoid polymers. In: Antioxidant Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications. (2012) G. Cirillo and F. Iemma, Eds., Scrivener Publishing LLC and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. (In Press).
      2. Heim, K.C., Tagliaferro, A.R., and Bobilya, D.J. Flavonoid antioxidants: chemistry, metabolism and structure-activity relationships. J Nutr Biochem (2002) 13(10):572-584.
      3. Willett, W.C. Diet and health: what should we eat? Science (1994) 264(5158):532-537.
      4. Liu, R.H. Health benefits of fruit and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combinations of phytochemicals. Am J Clin Nutr (2003) 78(3 Suppl):517S-520S.
      5. Liu, R.H. Potential synergy of phytochemicals in cancer prevention: mechanism of action. J Nutr (2004) 134(12 Suppl):3479S-3485S.
      6. Fraga, C.G., Galleano, M., Verstraeten, S.V., and Oteiza, P.I. Basic biochemical mechanisms behind the health benefits of polyphenols. Mol Aspects Med (2010) 31(6):435-445.