Study Actiful 2 English
Actiful 2 Study
In this study the effect of orange and pomegranate extract on exercise capacity in middle-aged healthy individuals is researched. Interested to know more about this ongoing project or interested in joining this study as a participant? Read more below.
What is being researched?
In this study, we examine whether the daily use of a dietary supplement containing active substances from orange and pomegranate has a beneficial effect on the exercise performance of healthy, middle-aged subjects. The research is being conducted at the research location of Maastricht University in Maastricht or in Venlo (Villa Flora).
The study lasts approximately 14 weeks, during which you take a test product or placebo for 12 weeks. You will come to the research facility five times. Once for screening and four times for the testing days (total duration of approximately 6.5 hours).
The following measurements will be performed:
- questionnaires about your health, physical activity and quality of life;
- blood is drawn;
- you are going to wear an exercise meter twice (during 1 week) and perform moderately intense cycling tests.
- Optionally: You can also choose to participate in the sub-study, in which a muscle biopsy is taken twice
After completing the study, you will receive a reimbursement of €175 and travel expense (+ €100 for the extra participation in the muscle biopsy)
We are recruiting participants! We are looking for:
- Healthy adults
- 40 – 65 years old
- Non-smoker
- Sedentary lifestyle
- BMI = 25 to 29.9 (Click here to calculate you BMI)
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, send a mail to maria.imperatrice@bioactor.com or fill out this form!
The health benefits of Aronia Berry: why should you consume this superfruit?
The health benefits of Aronia Berry: why should you consume this superfruit?
Aronia berries are small dark fruits that are becoming increasingly popular amongst health-conscious consumers. Current research suggests that due to their excellent content in micronutrients and antioxidant properties, these berries may provide important health benefits on immune health, cardiovascular function, brain health as well as exhibiting anti-diabetic function.
What is Aronia berry?
Aronia berries, are little dark fruits, belonging to the Rosaceae Family. Aronia is native to easter and North America but it is also commonly found in the Baltic region of Europe where it was introduced in the first half of the 20th century.
The reason why these berries are also called “Chokeberries” is that when consumed fresh off the shrub, they make your mouth tickle due to their incredibly strong tart taste and mouth-drying effect.
Though many people have never heard about them, Aronia berries are becoming increasingly popular among health-conscious consumers and are considered a real superfruit.
What are the health benefits of Aronia berries?
To answer this question we need to first take a step back in the past where, traditionally, Aronia was used by the North American Forest Potawatomi tribe as a cold remedy.
They called these fruits “nîki’mînûn” and used them to make a traditional tea. The reason why Aronia berry was found to be so effective in treating common cold symptoms is probably linked to their extremely powerful antioxidant capacity.
Nowadays, it is well-known that antioxidants in Aronia outperform any other fruits, even elderberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
Aronia berries contain high levels of vitamin C, but the real claim to fame is their high level of polyphenols, anthocyanins and proanthocyanins [1]. These are types of antioxidants that help to fight the damages caused by free radicals in the body, and it is these antioxidants where Aronia berries can have their greatest impact on our health and wellbeing.
In fact, Aronia is considered a real superfruit due to its high level of antioxidant phytonutrients that can be beneficial in many ways.
Research around Aronia berries have focused on several health benefit areas, and there is evidence to suggest that these fruits may have the potential to:
- Strengthen the immune system [2].
- Improves cardiovascular function [3].
- Improve brain health [4].
- Help against metabolic syndrome [5].
- Prevent urinary tract infections [6].
Nutritional Facts
Aronia berries are low-calories fruits, full of important micro-nutrients accountable for their numerous health benefits.
100 g of Aronia berries provide the following nutrients [7]:
- Calories: 47.0 (197 Kj)
- Carbs: 9.6 g
- Fat: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.4g
- Fiber: 5.3g
- Vitamin A: 350 IU (7% DV)
- Vitamin C: 21 mg (35% DV)
- Vitamin K: 13.6 mcg (17% DV)
- Manganese: 0.6 mg (32% DV)
Moreover, researchers have identified a total of 7 different anthocyanins in Aronia berries. These include phytocompounds such as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, a key molecule for brain health. It has been reported that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside exhibits anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activities, while also enhancing spatial memory, cognition and psychomotor control.
How to get more Aronia berries in your diet
Unfortunately, it is not easy to commonly find fresh Aronia berries on the shelf at the grocery store.
However, there are many alternatives. Especially in specialised stores or online it is possible to buy Aronia in form of frozen or dried fruits, tea, jams, juice and wines.
Another effective way to include Aronia in your diet can be through the use of dietary supplements. This can be a great way to ensure you are getting the most out of the health benefits of Aronia berries.
Curious to know more? Here’s everything you need to know about Aronia berries and brain health!
WEBINAR – Learn about Vitality
WEBINAR – Learn about Vitality
Vitality is an attractive health proposition for many consumers. More than ever, people are looking for real solutions to achieve their goals in life, with physical and mental wellness among them.
The holistic approach and desire for vitality aren’t restricted to 50+ individuals trying to get back to their youth. In fact, younger generations are demanding products supporting their busy lifestyles. However, vitality could be seen as a hazy concept with different meanings. That’s why vitality positionings represent both an attractive and yet open opportunity for supplement brands.
At BioActor we have embraced the vitality concept, and we are focusing on the research in this field with a three-dimensional approach: physical, mental, and sexual health.
What are you going to learn during the webinar?
Trends & Consumer Insights
Who are these consumers and what are they looking for? Presentation by Marit Veenstra – Trends and consumers insights specialist, who will provide insights into the consumer trends driving the vitality segment of the nutraceutical and functional foods market.
Duration: 10 minutes
Clinical Research
How do you research vitality? Presentation by Sanne Ahles – Clinical researcher, who will dive into the science, explaining the relevant endpoints, tools and biomarkers, currently used in clinical research to assess vitality.
Duration: 10 minutes
Innovation
Why citrus flavonoids offer great possibilities to innovate and bring vitality to consumers? Presentation by Cosimo Cisternino – Account manager at BioActor, who will introduce the health ingredient Actiful® – A natural citrus flavonoids booster for energy and vitality.
Duration: 10 minutes
Q&A session
Duration: 10 minutes
BioActor and INRA sign License Agreement on Olive Polyphenols and Bone Health
BioActor and INRA sign License Agreement on Olive Polyphenols and Bone Health
Press release
BioActor BVBA (BioActor) and INRA Transfert (fully-owned INRA subsidiary) announced today that they have signed a broad licence agreement concerning the patent and know-how owned by INRA covering the use of polyphenols from olive for the prevention of osteoporosis, acknowledged as a major public health problem.
Licensed Technology Targets Prevention of Osteoporosis
Under the terms of the agreement, BioActor has exclusive worldwide rights to use and exploit this technology for use in food, dietary supplements and phytomedicines.
The INRA team “Alimentation Squelette et Métabolismes” managed by Dr. Veronique Coxam at Clermont Ferrand (France) has extensively studied the effects of olives, olive oil and olive polyphenols on bone metabolism. They were the first scientists that discovered the bone sparing effect of Olive polyphenols.
Several animal studies have confirmed these findings and BioActor and INRA are now collaborating to confirm these results in a human validation study.
According to Hans van der Saag, BioActor CEO, «With the licence on INRA’s patent covering the use of olive polyphenols for bone health we have accessed a truly innovative category of bioactive substances that can make an important contribution to the prevention of osteoporosis. Through our collaboration with Dr. Veronique Coxam, we benefit from a decade of scientific knowledge on the interaction between nutrition and bone metabolism».
Pascale Charbonnel of INRA Transfert commented that « We are very pleased to have licensed INRA’s technology to BioActor, a technology company dedicated to investing in the development and commercialization of this technology. We expect that INRA’s technology will prove to be of considerable value to BioActor’s product development program».
INRA’s research relates to the questions dependent on agriculture, food and food safety, environment and management of territories, with a very particular accent in favour of sustainable development.
About BioActor
BioActor, based in Maastricht, Netherlands, is a product development company that has developed a range of proprietary bioactive ingredients for the nutrition & healthcare industry. The company focuses on the development of innovative activities that address active living and healthy ageing. The goal is to provide the nutrition & healthcare industry with science-based innovations that confer a real health benefit to the consumer.
Feel free to contact us via info@bioactor.com for more information.
