Marigot Ltd. (Cork, Ireland) developed a new joint health ingredient, Aquamin Plus, a proprietary blend containing Aquamin, a red algae ingredient harvested in the fjords of Iceland high in calcium and 73 other minerals; Aquamin Mg, a magnesium ingredient produced from Irish seawater; enzogenol, from the bark of Pinus Radiata trees; and vitamin D. Aquamin Plus is being produced and marketed by Stauber-Ingredient.

, compared Aquamin Plus to glucosamine in a double-blind crossover study on mild-symptomatic osteoarthritis patients. A total of 358 participants were screened. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either the glucosamine group at 2 g/d or the Aquamin Plus group at 3,056 mg/d for 12 weeks. 

Compared to glucosamine, Aquamin Plus showed superior improvements the patients’ overall quality of life and pain levels. Subjects taking Aquamin Plus also experienced improvements in physical function, determined by improved performance in timed up-and-go and six-minute walking distance. Researchers also found that the use of NSAIDs in the Aquamin Plus group was reduced by 72%, compared to patients on glucosamine. 

Heffernana SM, et al. “Mineral rich algae with pine bark improved pain, physical function and analgesic use in mild-knee joint osteoarthritis, compared to Glucosamine: A randomized controlled pilot trial,” 

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Marigot Ltd. developed a new joint health ingredient, Aquamin Plus, a proprietary blend containing Aquamin, a red algae ingredient; Aquamin Mg, a magnesium ingredient produced from Irish seawater; enzogenol, from the bark of Pinus Radiata trees; and vitamin D.

Joint health ingredient Aquamin Plus shows greater efficacy than glucosamine in study

1 found that an annatto-based delta tocotrienol (DeltaGold from American River Nutrition; Hadley, MA) may be beneficial to people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 71 subjects with NAFLD were either given 300 mg of delta-tocotrienols twice daily or placebo for 24 weeks.

The primary endpoints researchers were testing was the change from baseline in fatty liver index (FLI) and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). FLI includes measures of weight, body mass index, waist circumference, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and triglycerides, to predict liver fat storage. The secondary endpoints were the change from baseline in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and grading of hepatic steatosis on ultrasound.

Results showed that all measures of the primary and secondary endpoints saw significant reductions following supplementation with delta-tocotrienols, compared to placebo. After 24 weeks of supplementation, subjects saw an 18-21% reduction in ALT and AST, indicating improvements in hepatic stress, as well as reductions in triglycerides (13%), MDA (19%), and hs-CRP (21%), indicating additional improvement of inflammation, compared to a previous 12 clinical trial2, for which this new study is a continuation of. Pointing to continued intrahepatic fat reduction over time, FLI score decreased 15% at 24 weeks, compared to 11% after 12 weeks of supplementation. To further support this hypothesis, researchers observed that during the 12-week treatment period, patients in the tocotrienol-supplemented group lost an average of 9.7 pounds, whereas weight loss increased to 14.9 pounds after 24 weeks.

“While the earlier 12-week study already suggested significant benefits of DeltaGold for NAFLD patients, we now have evidence of a compelling duration-response benefit of tocotrienol to liver health,” said Barrie Tan, PhD, president of American River Nutrition. He points at the obvious weight loss and ultrasonography findings as strong proof of DeltaGold’s effect. “Doctors currently recommend alpha-tocopherol supplementation for NAFLD patients in an effort to reduce oxidative stress, but we think that tocotrienol will be much more powerful and will go further to help. This is the subject of an ongoing 12-month clinical trial, which will compare the effects of alpha-tocopherol versus DeltaGold in NAFLD patients, and we look forward to sharing those results soon.”

Pervez MA et al. “Delta-tocotrienol supplementation improves biochemical markers of hepatocellular injury and steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” 

Pervez MA et al. “Effects of delta-tocotrienol supplementation on liver enzymes, inflammation, oxidative stress and hepatic steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. 

A recent study published found that an annatto-based delta tocotrienol (DeltaGold from American River Nutrition) may be beneficial to people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Pilot study finds evidence that annatto-based tocotrienols support liver-related biomarkers

 found that fucoidan (Marinova; Tasmania, Australia), a brown seaweed-derived bioactive polysaccharide, may support gut markers of immunity and inflammation. In the study, 22 professional team sport athletes and 11 healthy adults were given 1 g per day of fucoidans for seven days. Analysis was conducted on fecal samples taken before and after the seven days. Fecal concentrations of calprotectin, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and lysozyme were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. At baseline lysozyme concentrations were 73% higher in the healthy adults compared to professional athletes, but athletes experienced a 45% increase in lysozyme concentrations following the supplementation period.

The increase in lysozyme concentration is important because it is recognized as both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and animal models have suggested that lysozyme promotes mucosal barrier integrity. “Considering these functions, the increase in fecal lysozyme may reflect improvements in mucosal health,” wrote the researchers. “The increase in fecal lysozyme concentrations in professional athletes is also worth considering further given that lower fecal lysozyme concentrations were observed compared to the healthy adults prior to supplementation.”

“These results demonstrate fucoidan has the potential to restore beneficial anti-microbial activity,” said Marinova’s chief scientist, Helen Fitton, PhD, in a press release. “A future role for fucoidan in sports performance is increasingly promising.”

Cox AJ et al. “Fucoidan supplementation restores fecal lysozyme concentrations in high-performance athletes: a pilot study.” 

A recent pilot study published in Marine Drugs found that fucoidan, a brown seaweed-derived bioactive polysaccharide, may support gut markers of immunity and inflammation. 

Fucoidan from brown seaweed support immune health via the gut, says recent pilot study

 hypothesized that larger doses of docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) are needed for adequate brain bioavailability and that APOE4—a gene variant linked to inflammation in the brain and a known factor for increasing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk by a factor of four or more—is associated with reduced delivery of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to the brain before the onset of cognitive impairment. 

Although a previous study tested the effects of high doses of omega-3 on blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the fluid that bathes the brain — in patients with AD, this new study is the first to examine omega-3’s effect in people without AD.

The study consisted of 33 men and women aged 55 and older who have a family history of the disease — 15 of the subjects carried APOE4. They were separated into two groups: The treatment group supplemented an omega-3 capsule containing 2,152 mg of DHA for six months (previous clinical trials used 1 gram of omega-3s) and were also instructed to otherwise limit their polyunsaturated fatty acid intake. The control group supplemented with a placebo. Both groups were instructed to take vitamin B complex supplements daily, which help the body process omega-3s. 

After six months, the treatment group had a 200-percent increase in their blood plasma DHA levels compared with the placebo group, but the DHA in the CSF went up by only 28 percent. However, that 28 percent increase was better than that previously reported with lower DHA doses. 

In both the plasma and CSF measurements, the percentage increase for DHA for those who did not carry a copy of the APOE4 gene was higher than for those who were carriers. Further, those in the treatment group who did not carry the APOE4 gene variant showed an increase of EPA in their CSF, which was three-times greater than that seen in the APOE4 carriers.

The study authors believe these results hint that omega-3 levels in the blood may not indicate how much EPA and DHA is reaching the brain.

Isabella C et al. “Brain delivery of supplemental docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial”

Published online ahead of print on July 17, 2020

APOE4—a gene variant linked to inflammation in the brain and a known factor for increasing Alzheimer’s disease risk may reduce delivery of DHA and EPA to the brain before the onset of cognitive impairment, requiring higher doses of DHA. 

Alzheimer’s study sheds light on how DHA absorbed in brains with cognitive decline 

Pharmactive Biotech Products (Madrid, Spain) offers a proprietary fast-absorbing antioxidant, affronEYE saffron, that may potentially address the negative impacts of blue-light exposure, including Gamer Eye Syndrome, and provide overall support to eye health. Symptoms of Gamer Eye Syndrome include eyestrain, itchy and burning eyes, redness of the eyes, extremely dry eyes, nausea, malaise, visual defects, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain.

“Limiting screen-time is definitely the best solution, but with in-person socializing having practically disappeared, and more people working from home and gaming on the increase, reducing screen time might not be practical,” Julia Diaz, head of marketing for Pharmactive, said in a press release. “affronEYE is a next-gen ingredient formulated specifically to address eye health, also from blue-light strain.”

affronEYE is extracted from 100 % Spanish saffron (C

) and standardized to 3% crocins, the major carotenoids of saffron that act as antioxidants. Pharmactive’s advanced organic formulation ensures that these compounds are rapidly absorbed and can reach the maximum concentration in blood after 1.5 hours. It is water-soluble and suitable for food matrices, beverage powders, supplements, dairy foods, and more. It is non-GMO, non-irradiated, and carries both kosher and halal certifications.

“Major eye disorders, regardless of their cause, involve the activation of oxidative stress, as well as chronic inflammation which are key drivers to develop a wide range of ocular diseases,” said Alberto Espinel, manager of strategic research and development in active and functional natural ingredients for Pharmactive, in a press release. “Oxidative stress occurs as a result of the disruption of the balance between the antioxidant system and the pro-oxidant system found in cells. When this balance is altered, oxidants or more specifically Reactive Oxygen Species damage the cells and the tissues.”

Various studies suggest that saffron supplementation, such as with affronEYE, improves visual function, preserving retina’s photoreceptors function and retinal flicker sensitivity. A recent clinical study by Pharmactive demonstrated affronEYE’s ability to preserve the retinal functional integrity after a provoked serious insult in experimental tests conditions. 

“AffronEYE’s unique composition of naturally occurring carotenoids contains a synergistic spectrum of anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective properties with abilities to scavenge free oxygen radicals,” Diaz said. “This reduces retinal cell damage and cellular self-destruction which could be of particular relevance as an effective preventative measure.”

Pharmactive Biotech Products offers a proprietary fast-absorbing antioxidant, affronEYE saffron, that may potentially address the negative impacts of blue-light exposure.

AffronEYE well-suited for formulations targeting gamers and overall eye health, says Pharmactive

Greg Lindsey is the vice president of corporate marketing for Wiley Companies (Coshocton, OH), a global leader in custom chemicals and food ingredients He is an expert in marketing communications strategy and has worked with some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Greg can be reached at 

Trade shows and events continue to cancel at an alarming rate in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we really won’t know what the face-to-face marketing landscape in the dietary supplement industry will ultimately look like for quite some time. If your marketing program relies heavily on live events to drive brand awareness and lead generation, you might be asking yourself, “Now what?”

The world’s turn to online resources in this time of social distancing has certainly been a “gold rush” opportunity for industry companies already equipped with strong digital platforms for advertising and virtual events. But not everyone is ready. Many panicked marketing managers are rushing to the party to quickly increase their digital presence. But, as American sports broadcaster Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friend!” To maximize digital marketing performance, you 

understand the difference between two very important concepts: 1) insight marketing and 2) content marketing. And, while many view insight marketing as a segment of content marketing, I do not.

What is content marketing? At its core, content marketing is the creation and sharing of information designed to attract buyers in a clearly defined audience. And at one time, that is exactly what it was. But the explosion of digital channelsand the pressure for marketers to consistently occupy space has led to an unintended and unfortunate consequence: the once unique and perspicacious content creation has quickly been eroded by perpetually repackaged information and statistics, offering information that is far too general and much less valuable for buyers. Simply put, the endless channels in digital have created too much “open space” to fill, and much of the content being pushed through is stale and disinteresting.

Buyers are faced more than ever with the chore of sifting through mountains of published content to uncover something of value, and I feel this practice is at a breaking point

So, if I’m playing the word association game with 

. Much like the dinosaurs, I believe content marketing is marching towards the same fate: extinction.

Publishing content on every imaginable digital platform can make marketers feel better about themselves and give a false sense they are delivering valuable information to the masses, but in reality competitors are sharing much of the same low-quality content—and it’s not connecting with buyers. The reason: buyers are reading the same information over and over again, just written in a different way.

So, while our industry continues to evolve through advanced research and insights, the messaging and content we are delivering to our buyers has not kept up. In the same way an author writes a compelling book, or an artist creates a distinctive piece of art, a marketing professional needs to utilize his or her own style and voice to tell a unique story.

When reading a well-written book, you are typically hanging on the author’s every word, excited to turn to the next page. The author has created interesting and unique content and used his or her “voice” to tell a compelling story. It is doubtful you would have the same level of interest if you read the same story over and over again, with just a few sentences changed. As marketers, we tend to be guilty of editing an existing story, rather than writing our own.

Given these challenges, how should a marketer cut through the noise and deliver a truly effective marketing campaign? What actions need to be taken to truly maximize a company’s digital opportunities?

The first step is to understand the principle of insight marketing. Whereas content marketing has become broad and reliant on general knowledge to drive messaging, insight marketing is a more sophisticated approach rooted in understanding buyer’s sentiment and behavior, and presenting data driven messaging to solve unique problems.

The process of insight marketing begins with research and data collection; it is critical for marketers to truly understand what keeps their buyers up at night. And, spoiler alert: this is constantly changing. This collection of information can be done in many ways—researching industry association data, reviewing social media and user forums (including those of your competitors), and utilizing survey information, including facilitating your own custom surveys.

Marketing content, no matter how expertly crafted, must align with your buyers’ most current and important pain points and present a solution to their problem. The success of an insight marketing initiative relies heavily on how well the author is aligned with the audience, and on their ability to create content that is relevant and valuable. It’s not publishing content for the sake of filling space; think quality over quantity. The authenticity of the information is rooted in the fact it has been uniquely written, with the voice of an expert. You as the author are not editing and repackaging an existing story; you are crafting your own unique position paper that creates a “fork in the road” for your audience and “asks” them to follow you to help them solve a problem. It’s important to point out that if you as the author are not taking a bold stance on a subject, then you are most likely not providing guidance or insight. So, as content marketing is perceived as a sequel or rerun, insight marketing can be viewed as a uniquely written blockbuster.

But how to do it? How does a marketer gain the competitive advantage of creating insightful content? The first step is generally a change of mindset. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “You must slow down to speed up,” then you are on the right track. To position yourself as an expert who is aligned with your buyers, you must do your homework. Marketers skilled in the use of insights to drive content understand the basic principles of aligning with the unique interests and challenges of their buyers. Here are three quick tips:

With an increasingly cluttered digital space serving as the backdrop for our storytelling, it is our job as marketers to understand our buyers and make them the star of the show. The most successful content authors realize this and constantly explore ways to better understand their buyers. Don’t confuse industry information and statistics with buyer profile data. Being proactive means using data-mining techniques to understand your buyers and uncovering what’s top of mind to them at all times. Data is the new oil.

 You’re not going to change the face of marketing if you are reluctant to adapt to the evolving landscape in digital. There was a time when if you posted it, they would come. Today’s successful marketers do their research and craft unique content that addresses those topics most top of mind to their buyers. Being bold means positioning yourself as a subject expert and being willing to draw a line in the sand and lead your buyers to a business decision. It is a new way of thinking, and marketers need to have the confidence to become content authors instead of a content editors.

 If you take a moment to step off the hamster wheel, you can uncover a whole new level of performance. The sheer volume of digital channels requires marketers to spend more and more time “filling space.” But, have you ever slowed down long enough to actually assess which platforms offer your organization the greatest visibility and results? Being smart means understanding which spaces represent the greatest opportunities and then taking the time to own them. It is simply not possible to bring your “A” game to every digital platform. Understanding where you should be, and bypassing the others, is the final piece of the puzzle.

Insight marketing relies on us as authors to do our homework and truly understand our buyers. It requires listening, learning, and developing unique and valuable content that connects us with our audience, virtually. It separates those who simply want to add a coat of paint to an existing structure that is in need of repair, from those who are willing to put in the work to build their own custom super-structure. Only by taking the time to truly understand what is most important to our buyers can we stake our claim as an industry expert.

If you want to maximize your digital marketing spend and break through the clutter, take the time to become an expert at crafting unique stories that will make your readers want to turn to the next page—and, ultimately, make you their favorite author.

Dietary supplement companies should leverage the power of insight marketing over generic content marketing to better reach today’s digitally overwhelmed audience, one marketing expert writes.

Insight marketing, not content marketing, works best in today’s digital environment

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) will deliver the keynote at the American Herbal Products Association’s (AHPA; Silver Spring, MD) second annual 

 on August 27, 2020, which provides companies with an understanding of federal and state legal and regulatory obligations and current issues and opportunities in the hemp-CBD market. Leading up to the Congress will be two hemp and CBD-themed workshops. 

August 18, 2020: 9am-12pm PT/12pm-3 pm ET

This workshop is being presented by AIBMR Life Sciences (Seattle, WA) and will provide attendees with an overview of new dietary ingredient (NDI) notifications and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status for hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).

This workshop is being presented by EAS Consulting Group, LLC and will explain cGMP requirements for hemp-CBD dietary supplements, covering master manufacturing records and specifications to product labeling, managing an FDA inspection, and much more.

Congress Sessions
August 27: 8am-3:30pm PT/11am-6:30pm ET

The Hemp-CBD Farm and Retail Financial Snapshot

Meeting Hemp Cultivation Challenges (Sponsored by: Lazarus Naturals, based in Seattle, WA)

Progress on Interim Final Rule (IFR) Implementation

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) will deliver the keynote at the American Herbal Products Association’s second annual Hemp-CBD Supplement Virtual Congress on August 27, 2020.

 Senator Ron Wyden to deliver keynote at AHPA’s Hemp-CBD Virtual Congress

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Washington, D.C.) issued 

 to seven companies for illegally selling unapproved products labeled as dietary supplements that claim to cure, treat, mitigate, or prevent hangovers, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The warning letters were issued to: Double Wood LLC; Ebnsol Inc.; Vita Heaven LLC (doing business as Hangover Heaven); Happy Hour Vitamins; LES Labs; Mind, Body & Coal LLC; and Purple Biosciences LLC.

“Dietary supplements that claim to cure, treat, mitigate or prevent hangovers could potentially harm consumers, especially young adults,” Steven Tave, director of the FDA's office of dietary supplement programs, said in a press release. “Consumers may get the false impression that using these products can prevent or mitigate health problems caused by excessive drinking. Dietary supplements are not a substitute for responsibly limiting one’s alcohol consumption.”

FDA has requested responses from the companies within 15 working days stating how they will correct the violations. Failure to correct the violations promptly may result in legal action, including product seizure and/or injunction.

FDA issued warning letters to seven companies for illegally selling unapproved products labeled as dietary supplements that claim to cure, treat, mitigate, or prevent hangovers, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FDA issues warning letters to sellers of supplements marketed as hangover cures

Santé Laboratories (Austin, TX) has announced that it is the first lab to test Texas-grown hemp for total THC content. The specialty contract development and manufacturing organization is both the first and the largest ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited, privately held and independent testing laboratory in Texas. This is a crucial step in providing clarity and confidence to farmers and finished product brands that Texas hemp is compliant with federal regulations. Hemp is now being harvested and processed on Texas soil following the passage of House Bill 1325 into law on June 10, 2019, by Governor Greg Abbott.

“Making Texas the leader in hemp will require unprecedented collaboration across the hemp ecosystem, with laboratories, farmers and processors coming together like never before,” said Lisa Pittman, co-chair of Coats Rose P.C.'s Cannabis Business Law Group, in a press release. “I am impressed by Santé Labs' experience, facilities, and commitment. I am confident they will harness the power of science to swiftly deliver exceptional service to a new industry, an industry grounded in compliance testing.”

“I encourage farmers to test early and often for THC. We place our customers’ needs at the center of everything we do, and this begins with providing high quality, traceable testing services and methods to understand and overcome challenges. This in turn supports and protects their crop or brands,” states Mike Sandoval, president of Santé Laboratories, in a press release. “I truly believe Texas has a bright future with Texas farmers at the helm.”

This is the first time hemp has been grown, harvested, and processed on Texas soil, following the passage of House Bill 1325 into law on June 10, 2019 by Governor Greg Abbott. 

Santé Laboratories first to test Texas hemp for THC compliance

Geocann (Fort Collins, CO) is introducing a new 4-in-1 immune health formulation that combines the benefits of curcumin (50 mg), cannabidiol (15 mg; CBD), beta-caryophyllene (7 mg; BCP), and vitamin D3 (200 IU). The formula utilizes the patented VESIsorb drug delivery system which optimizes absorption and bioavailability of the ingredients, known for their low bioavailability. 

“These ingredients have been strategically selected for their immunity support and anti-inflammatory properties, but are notorious for showing limited bioavailability due to their lipophilicity and extensive first-pass metabolism,” said Anthony Petraglia, MD, chief medical officer for Geocann, in a press release. “With a successful track record over the past fifteen years, VESIsorb has consistently demonstrated its ability to mitigate these negative effects while significantly improving the pharmacokinetic performance of natural ingredients. To put it simply, bioavailability is the key to providing an immunity support product that delivers its desired health benefits.”

“Geocann has a strategic focus to deliver cannabinoid and terpene products with an unmatched body of supporting scientific evidence that address the most pressing health concerns,” said Sam Davidson, chief operating officer. “The marketplace demand for natural immunity support products is unprecedented, and the relationship between a healthy immune system and a strong endocannabinoid system (ECS) is well-documented. More than ever, we are committed to pioneering these innovative solutions with our technical formulation expertise, rigorous product development protocol, and global distribution infrastructure.”

Geocann is introducing a new 4-in-1 immune health formulation that combines the benefits of curcumin (50 mg), cannabidiol (15 mg; CBD), beta-caryophyllene (7 mg; BCP), and vitamin D3 (200 IU). 