Supplement Shorts: Study finds some berberine supplements do not match label claims

This roundup covers recent supplement industry news, including testing that found issues with some berberine products, studies on mushrooms and other ingredients, plus several new company announcements and product launches.

Some berberine products fall short of label claims

Nutraceutical company Cata-Kor released independent testing results for 20 berberine products it bought on Amazon, including its own liposomal berberine supplement, as part of its effort to monitor the category.

Swift Laboratories used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure either berberine or dihydroberberine, depending on what each label claimed. Seven of the products did not meet their label claims, and one of those had no detectable berberine at all.

“Someone who buys a 1,500 mg berberine supplement and gets almost none of it has no way to find out,” said Vlad Seuruk, CEO of Cata-Kor. “They take it for a couple months, see no change and decide berberine doesn’t work for them, while the bottle keeps selling.”

Seurek said the testing showed that accurate dosing is “entirely achievable.”

Clinical findings and science updates

• Resistant potato starch brand Solnul published a clinical trial in Nutrients confirming the fiber’s prebiotic effect. Healthy adults took 3.5 g of Solnul or a placebo for four weeks, and researchers concluded the resistant starch “induces a bifidogenic effect and normalized stool form, consistent with the previous study.”

• A clinical trial in the Journal of Functional Foods found that lactoferrin may support immune health by increasing natural killer cell activity. Adults received 300 mg of lactoferrin or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. Although the supplement influenced immune activity, the authors said “the absence of significant differences in clinical and inflammatory outcomes indicates that the clinical implications of increased natural killer cell activity should be interpreted with caution.”

• Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) mushrooms may help reduce anxiety. In a Frontiers in Nutrition study, young women took 1.8 g of lion’s mane, 1.8 g of a lion’s mane and reishi blend, or a placebo for 28 days. The blend lowered anxiety more than lion’s mane alone.

Dietary supplement finished product news

• Mushroom supplement brand Om introduced Master Blend+ 4 Mushroom Complex, an unflavored prebiotic and probiotic powder. The formula uses organic powder made from mycelial biomass, fruiting bodies and/or primordia from cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), lion’s mane, turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) and reishi mushrooms. A preclinical trial published in the Journal of Functional Foods found the blend has prebiotic properties and supports short-chain fatty acid production.

• HMW Method launched Perform creatine chews. Each four-chewable-tablet serving provides 5 g of creatine monohydrate. The chews are positioned for energy and muscle health, with the convenient format promoted as a way to support consistency in creatine use.

• Women’s healthcare company Bonafide introduced Women’s Daily Creatine & Collagen powder. Each serving contains 5 g creatine monohydrate, 5.7 g bovine collagen peptides (types I and II) and 50 mcg cholecalciferol (vitamin D3, equal to 250% of the daily value). The product is marketed to support skin, bone and muscle health.

Company and organization updates

• Ingredient supplier Prinova announced Brent Laffey as president for North America.

• Lipid ingredient manufacturer Naturmega announced the launch of LysOmega, an ingredient from SourceOne Global Partners featuring omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) bonded to phospholipids.

• Ingredient supplier Vireo Systems said it is expanding its Plattsmouth, Nebraska facility to manufacture CreaBoost creatine monohydrate in the United States.

• Natural ingredient supplier Jiaherb said it has obtained Rainforest Alliance certification for nine of its ingredients.

• Botanical ingredient supplier Ethical Naturals announced a strategic partnership with active ingredient manufacturer Solabia, which acquired a majority stake in the company.

Launching innovative ingredients or products? Published a new clinical trial? Preparing to announce something important? SupplySide Supplement Journal would like to hear about it. Contact Devon at [email protected].