Spectra Inhibits Free Radical Production in Humans

FutureCeuticals, Inc. revealed the publication of a successful clinical study on the direct effect of a dietary supplement ingredient formula on reactive oxygen species (ROS, often referred to as “free radicals”) in humans. According to the company, this study is a significant step forward in the understanding of the impact of fruit- and vegetable-based materials on ROS concentrations in vivo. The ingredient, Spectra, is an all-natural antioxidant blend of 30 fruit, vegetable and herbal powders and extracts.

“ORAC has traditionally been a valuable quality control marker, as well as a useful tool used to measure and compare the relative antioxidant potential of fruits and vegetables,” said Brad Evers, director of business development. “We wanted to better understand the relationship between diet and free radicals, and to investigate whether the total ROS in human serum can be quantified after intake of a blend of antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetable-based materials. This exciting study is the first of two separate studies on Spectra that demonstrate how certain, well-designed combinations of fruits and vegetables at relatively low intake levels can have meaningful in vivo activity against the very targets that guided the rational design of Spectra.” 

Published in The Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, the study documented the collaborative effort between Momence, IL based ingredient developer FutureCeuticals, Inc. and the antioxidant research team from International Chemistry Testing, Inc. headed by Dr. Boxin Ou, co-creator of the ORAC assay.

“Spectra had initially shown substantial antioxidant potential when measured in vitro,” said Dr. Boris Nemzer, FutureCeuticals director of R&D and Quality Assurance. “The results of this study reveal an acute and dynamic effect from a small serving of this multi-ingredient blend. With compelling results in humans, this paper contributes provocative and novel points of discussion to the discourse on whether antioxidant potential (as measured by ORAC, for instance) correlates with free radical scavenging activity in vivo. This work is truly at the forefront of food and antioxidant science.”  

Dr. Nemzer also noted that a second, just-completed clinical study on humans, (currently under review), also showed significant activity on ROS levels and acute increases in nitric oxide levels. “We could not be happier with the human clinical results being generated on Spectra,” added Dr. Nemzer.

For more information: www.futureceuticals.com