NutriLeads was founded in 2012 using knowledge and patents acquired from Unilever, explained Dr Ruud Albers, the company’s CSO. Initial analyses of more than 450 candidate ingredients for immune support and reduction of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) triggered interest in ginseng, but further commercial development of this source was hindered by questions about regulatory hurdles and sustainability. But as the ginseng door closed, the researchers looked for others to open with a research project to identify the active compound(s).
These were subsequently identified as pectin-derived rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) polysaccharides, and the observation that these were not unique to ginseng.
“Carrot – and carrot pomace specifically, which is a side stream of carrot juice production – is a very good source of RG-I,” Dr Albers told NutraIngredients-USA.
Building the science
This work led to the development and commercialization of the company’s BeniCaros ingredient, which is supported by pre-clinical and clinical data.
As reported previously by NutraIngredients-USA, carrot-derived rhamnogalacturonan-I (cRG-I) modulates immunity measures and the microbiota in vitro. Another study found that the ingredient has prebiotic potential.
Even more important, findings from a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind dose-response study were recently published in Nutrients.
“This pivotal trial is the type I’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” said Dr Albers. “Twelve years ago, I was involved in a number of expert groups with ILSI [International Life Sciences Institute -Europe] around the effect of nutrition on immune function. There’s no standard biomarker for the immune system, but if you want to say something about the immune system, you have to study it while it’s working.”