The patented delivery technology, trademarked FENUMAT, was developed by Indian firm Akay Natural Ingredients.
The technology delivers the active ingredients in hydrogel beadlets made with galactomannans, also known as fenugreek dietary fibre.
The technology’s ability in increasing the bioavailability of curcuminoids and boswellic acid (in the form of 3-Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid, AKBA) was tested in a randomised, single-dose, double-blinded study involving 14 participants age 20 to 55.
Writing in the Journal of Functional Foods, the researchers found that a single dose of 250mg of the beadlets, consisting of 87.5mg of curcuminoids, 25mg of AKBA, 7.5mg of turmerones, and 130mg of fenugreek fibre, could enhance the body’s absorption of curcuminoids and AKBA.
The bioavailability of the above ingredients was tested against 1) unformulated curcuminoids and turmerones, 2) unformulated curcuminoids, and 3) unformulated Boswellia extract containing 25mg of AKBA.
During the study, the subjects were randomised to receive one of the four interventions for four days. Their blood samples were taken and curcuminoids and AKBA were extracted from the samples for analysis.
Results showed that curcuminoids and AKBA formulated using the delivery technology had enhanced the body’s absorption of both ingredients by 24.83 and 6.91 times.
In addition, the maximum concentration of curcuminoids and AKBA in the body reached 0.191 ± 0.025 μg/mL.
In contrast, the absorption of curcuminoids only increased by 4.46 times in subjects who took unformulated curcuminoids and turmerones, with a maximum concentration of 0.031 ± 0.003 µg/mL in the body.
On the other hand, there was no notable increase in curcuminoids or AKBA concentration in the blood samples of subjects from the other two interventions.
“We report, for the first time, the successful co-delivery of multiple phytonutrients with enhanced bioavailability from a natural microbeadlet formulation.
“The present study points towards the possibility of simultaneous delivery of multiple lipophilic phytonutrients from single beadlets with enhanced absorption and hence the low dosage,” the researchers said.
Technology use
According to Akay, five of its formulations are already using this particular delivery technology.
The use of the technology for delivering both curcumin and AKBA was developed in 2019.
The technology is also used in the delivery of curcumin and fenugreek fibre – a formula trademarked CurQfen, capsaicinoids coated with fenugreek fibre – a formula trademarked Capsifen, vitamin C, and fisetin.
Vitamin C delivered using the technology will be launched in Europe and the US, while fisetin delivered using the technology is already launched in the US, chief marketing officer Emmanuel Nambusseril told NutraIngredients-Asia.
The technology is also extended to the delivery of other hydrophobic molecules, including resveratrol.
It allows hydrophobic ingredients to be made into capsules, tablets, soft gels, sachet, stick packs, gummies, liquid shots, and even food such as chocolates and instant soups.
Nambusseril said that the technology was introduced in 2014 after about six years of R&D.
Within APAC, its biggest markets for formulations delivered using the technology are in Australia and Taiwan.
Elsewhere, the company has been working through its agents to register its formulations in South Korea, he added.
Source: Journal of Functional Foods
Enhanced absorption of curcuminoids and 3-Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid from fenugreek galactomannan hydrogel beadlets: A natural approach to the co-delivery of lipophilic phytonutrients
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2021.104405
Authors: Krishnakumar et al
