BioActor has announced the publication of a study performed by Maastricht University that has showed the potential of the company's Actiful product as a dietary modulator against advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).
Actiful is is an orange and pomegranate complex, optimised for rapid uptake and enhanced bioavailability.
After a 4-week period of Actiful consumption in healthy elderly subjects, plasma levels of methylglyoxal (MGO) decreased significantly by 9.8% (p = 0.042). These new clinical results highlight Actiful’s potential to mitigate age related diseases like diabetes, vascular dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
Actiful: an energy-boosting ingredient developed by BioActor
Actiful is a clinically validated blend of Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) and Punica granatum (pomegranate) extracts. These plants are abundant in bioactive polyphenolic components, mainly flavonoids. Actiful's has a dual mode of action: by increasing synthesis of nitric oxide and by improving ATP production through an increased mitochondrial respiration efficiency.
In the first clinical study, Actiful demonstrated to improve energy, mood and antioxidant status in healthy elderly individuals. Actiful is used globally by leading supplement brands in a vast array of products supporting an active lifestyle and healthy ageing.
The study: A Citrus and Pomegranate Complex Reduces Methylglyoxal in Healthy Elderly Subjects: Secondary Analysis of a Double-Blind Randomised Cross-Over Clinical Trial .
Introduction
This study focuses on the evaluation of additional biomarkers and the effect of Actiful in reducing the concentrations of reactive α-dicarbonyl compounds (specifically methylglyoxal, glyoxal, and 3-deoxyglucosone) in the blood of healthy elderly participants. These α-dicarbonyls are known to contribute to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which are associated with various chronic diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Methods
Thirty-six healthy elderly subjects were recruited for this double-blind, randomised crossover clinical trial. They received either 700 mg of Actiful in capsules, or a placebo for four weeks, with a 4-week washout period in between.
Blood samples were collected during the test day to measure α-Dicarbonyls in plasma. This was achieved via ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Results
A significant reduction in plasma methylglyoxal concentrations was observed during a 4-week supplementation period. This reduction suggests a potential benefit in terms of reducing the formation of harmful AGEs, which could be attributed to the antioxidant properties of the active compounds in the supplement.
The observed reduction in methylglyoxal was around 9.8%, which could be of clinical relevance in preventing or managing age-related conditions related to AGEs formation, like cardiovascular related diseases, diabetes and neurodegeneration. This confirms the importance of exploring promising nutraceuticals like Actiful as potential healthy ageing strategies to mitigate the impact of reactive α-dicarbonyl compounds on health.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates the great potential of Actiful for playing a role in healthy ageing. This is indicated by the significant reduction in AGEs, specifically MGO, found in the present study.
