Degussa launches new ALA product

24/03/05 Degussa Food Ingredients has introduced ALA SOL, a new product consisting of alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Polysorbate converted into clear, stable and water-free particles with a micelle structure, so-called Solubilisates, for the use in beverages, as ready-to-use soft gel formulation and for further processing in foodstuffs. Degussa Food Ingredients has taken over the exclusive marketing of ALA SOL from the German company AQUANOVA. The patent protected product shows increased solubility in water and is characterized by a significant improved shelf life and bioavailability. "ALA SOL enables easy incorporation of alpha-Lipoic Acid into beverages and allows an increase of alpha-Lipoic Acid concentrations in beverages by more than 600%. The resulting clear solution allows the fortification of small volume beverages with the suggested daily dose of alpha-Lipoic Acid" said Dr. Martin Purpura, Technology Manager with Degussa Food Ingredients.

Due to its unique properties ALA is used as a functional ingredient in General Health and Anti-Aging products. ALA is water- as well as fat-soluble and present in virtually all parts of the body. In times of oxidative stress, caused by various sources such as pollution, alcohol, cigarette smoke or certain drugs, ALA is a highly potent inhibitor and scavenger of free radicals. In addition, ALA is able to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione and coenzyme Q10.Due to its additional blood glucose lowering properties, ALA is widely used as a functional ingredient in dietary supplements and foods targeted to people concerned about their blood glucose levels.Besides being used in Sports Nutrition and Detoxification products ALA creates growing interest in the area of healthy nutrition for the strongly increasing number of overweight and obese people. A recent series of animal studies showed that supplementation with ALA resulted in reduced food intake and weight loss by means of reducing the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase, a key enzyme regulating the metabolism of fat and glucose.

In addition to the increase in solubility, the second target of the product development was to improve the 25% limited bioavailability of regular ALA taken orally. The bioavailability of ALA SOL was investigated in a pilot human clinical trial conducted by Prof. Biesalski, University of Hohenheim, Germany. As a result, the ALA SOL showed a 70% increased bioavailability (measured as Area Under the Curve) compared to the leading ALA/soy oil formulation. "The bio kinetic pattern of ALA following oral administration as soy oil or Solubilisate shows a clear superiority of the Solubilisate. Beside a better bioavailability there is evidence of a retard like absorption resulting in longer lasting plasma plateaus. From this plateau pattern it can be concluded that the Solubilisate is taken up from the enterocyte and incorporated into chylomicrons over a long time in contrast to the soy oil preparation. These two advantages make the Solubilisate an attractive formulation with a great area of applications," commented investigator Prof. Biesalski."ALA SOL is overcoming two of alpha-Lipoic Acids major obstacles in dietary supplement and food formulations, limited bioavailability and solubility" added Dr. Ralf Jäger, Manager Strategic Projects with Degussa Food Ingredients. "We are very much looking forward to cooperating with AQUANOVA in the field of functional ingredients. The partnership will give us the opportunity to boost our alpha-Lipoic Acid activities in a quickly growing market."

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