Balchem has announced that it has renewed its sponsorship of Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute (LPI), extending a collaboration aimed at improving public understanding of iron nutrition and the emerging role of epigenetics in health and healthy ageing.
The renewed partnership will support the continued development of the LPI's Micronutrient Information Center (MIC), a widely used evidence-based nutrition resource that attracts more than one million annual visitors and is a source of information for consumers, healthcare professionals and researchers.
Building on an initial grant announced in 2024 to update the MIC's choline content and expand Spanish-language educational resources, the latest collaboration will broaden its focus to two areas of growing interest within the nutraceutical sector: iron nutrition and epigenetic health.
According to Balchem, the initiative will fund new educational materials, including videos, fact sheets and infographics, designed to explain how iron status, DNA methylation and other epigenetic mechanisms influence long-term health.
The firm added that resources will also be translated for Spanish-speaking audiences through the institute's Spanish MIC.
The announcement comes as interest in healthy ageing and personalised nutrition continues to accelerate.
While epigenetics has become an increasingly active area of nutrition research, iron deficiency remains one of the world's most common micronutrient deficiencies and has been identified as a nutrient of public health concern in the US Dietary Guidelines.
Dr Eric Ciappio, Senior Manager of Nutrition Science at Balchem Human Nutrition & Health, said the renewed partnership demonstrates the company's commitment to translating complex nutrition science into practical, evidence-based information.
By combining our research on branded ingredients ... with MIC’s expertise, we aim to clarify the critical role of iron bioavailability in physiological function and raise awareness of the epigenetic processes that influence gene expression and nutrient utilisation.
"As scientific interest in these areas accelerates, providing clear, evidence-based information is essential to supporting better health outcomes."
Emily Ho, Endowed Chair and Director of the Linus Pauling Institute, said Balchem's continued support would help the institute advance its mission of promoting optimal health through rigorous research and accessible public education.
"Together, we will build on our achievements to help people everywhere to add years of health and vitality to their lives," she added.
The partnership forms part of Balchem's wider strategy of collaborating with academic institutions to advance nutrition science, with the company also supporting research programmes at organisations including Virginia Tech, Cornell University and the University of North Carolina.
