New probiotic research, a new supplement for heart health and a patent awarded to HP Ingredients Corp.’s NeuroActin® are among top headlines in the dietary supplement category.

An oral probiotic, BLIS K12®, was effective in preventing pharyngo-tonsillar infections, or recurrent tonsillitis, in children. The study, published in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, was conducted using Blis Technologies’ BLIS K12, a rare strain of Streptococcus salivarius. BLIS K12 is distributed in North America by Stratum Nutrition.

For this single-center, interventional-observational, independent study, 130 children with a history of GABHS (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci) infections were evaluated—76 of which were enrolled in a 90-day program requiring a once-a-day dose of a lozenge with BLIS K12. The remaining 54 children served as the control group receiving no probiotic. Each subject was monitored for the occurrence of GABHS pharyngo-tonsillitis for at least 12 months following their entry into the study.

Results showed that 88 percent of the treatment group experienced no pharyngo-tonsillar infections compared to only 22 percent of the untreated group. Even 9 months after the use of BLIS K12 had been stopped, the development of new pharyngo-tonsillitis infections was significantly lower when compared to the period before treatment.

Mironova Labs launched MironovaEGT+™, a dietary supplement to support healthy cardiovascular functioning. MironovaEGT+ contains ergothioneine, an antioxidant that supports heart health by preventing oxidative stress. Ergothioneine, a natural part of the human defense system, is received and delivered to high-stress areas, such as arterial walls, via a genetically-coded internal transport system.(J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2014;350:691–700)

HP Ingredients Corp.’s NeuroActin was awarded a patent (US 2015/0352075 A1) for its potential use in brain and cognitive support supplements. The patent, "Treatment of Alzheimer's and Cognitive Impairment with Andrographolides," describes how andrographolide, a labdane diterpene and a major component of Andrographis paniculata (NeuroActin) was found to prevent and reverse neuropathology and stimulates neurogenesis.

"We found that andrographolide activates Wnt signaling and inhibits GSK-3b," said Nibaldo Inestrosa, patent co-inventor. “In doing so, Andrographolide induces post-synaptic proteins and synaptic function, improves memory and spatial learning in APP Alzheimer model mice, and stimulates neurogenesis."

Further, andrographolide—a potent anti-inflammatory agent isolated from the plant Andrographis paniculata—has been has been shown to reduce neuro-inflammation, protect against neuron cell loss, reduce amyloid-beta peptide levels and prevent the breakdown of the tau protein, explained Dr. Juan Hancke, patent co-inventor. Tau protein stabilizes microtubules, which transport food molecules, cell parts and other key materials in a healthy brain. 

Regarding andrographolide’s role in neurogenesis, Annie Eng, CEO of HP Ingredients, said, “While our specific in vitro experiments entail markers for Alzheimer's disease, our research indicates a much broader potential for andrographolide to treat other forms of cognitive impairment … our patent supports the concept of protecting the brain's structure, promoting better memory and sharper mind, and hence, its healthy functioning."