A dramatic shift has taken place in consumer attitudes toward food. An increasingly active population, the pursuit of healthier lifestyles, and the desire to live longer has given rise to a new category of food products referred to as "Nutraceuticals". Incorporated in the Nutraceuticals category are Functional Foods. Functional Foods can be described as conventional foods containing ingredients that provide additional health or nutritional benefits beyond basic levels, leading to possible risk reduction of contracting chronic diseases. A common example of a Functional Food would be orange juice fortified with calcium to promote stronger bones and prevent osteoporosis. A second niche within the Nutraceuticals category is Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements are products with potential health benefits, isolated from natural food sources and delivered in a medicinal form such as a capsule.
Reducol™
To meet the growing demand of this market, Forbes has developed Reducol™, a proprietary functional food ingredient derived from phytosterols that has been clinically proven to significantly lower Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol when consumed in different foods (e.g. margarine, chocolate, dairy products, oil) and dietary supplements.
Competing cholesterol-lowering products on the market use predominantly oil-based foods such as margarine and salad dressing to act as delivery vehicles for phytosterols. In contrast, Reducol™'s unique and versatile composition enables it to be incorporated into a wide range of food products compatible with individual tastes, diets and lifestyles. At the recommended dose of 1.8 grams per day, Reducol™ does not disturb the absorption of vital, fat-soluble, pro-vitamins such as carotenoids and vitamin E.
Reducol™ is also calorie-free and contains no genetically-modified plant material.
Clinical Results Prove Effective!
A pivotal Forbes-sponsored clinical study on Reducol™ was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in June 1999. The results showed a 24.4% reduction in LDL cholesterol in the test group with Reducol™ - enriched margarine (in a controlled diet) compared to an 8.9% reduction for the group on a standardized diet alone. The study, conducted at McGill University in Montreal, took place over a 30-day period on 32 mildly hyperlipidemic (higher than average cholesterol levels) individuals.
This is one of nine clinical studies that have taken place in the past 6 years to prove the efficacy of Reducol™ in various products.
Safety
In early 2000, Reducol™ received Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) paving the way for commercial sales of Reducol™-based products. In early 2003, Forbes received a letter from the FDA providing an interim ruling allowing the advertisement of phytosterol content and its health benefits. Although a final ruling remains outstanding, Forbes' customer base is able to advertise the health benefits of sterols through their various nutraceutical products.
In Europe, Forbes has received approval under the Novel Foods Regulations to market Reducol™ in milk-based drinks, yellow fat spreads, fermented milk products, soy drinks, low-fat cheeses, yoghurt products, sauces and salad dressings.
Why success in Europe?
Forbes is experiencing significant demand for its cholesterol-lowering ingredient, Reducol™, in Europe because of the strong market opportunity for functional foods and European consumers' preference for non-genetically modified (non-GMO) food. It is estimated that three quarters of the worldwide market for functional foods is in Europe where consumers are more likely to treat health problems with diet and exercise than with pharmaceutical approaches. In the UK alone, the estimated annual value for sales of phytosterol-based spreads, yogurts and yogurt drinks is approximately $300 million. These sales are expected to show double-digit annual growth in coming years.
In March 2005, Forbes received European regulatory approval to market Reducol™ in seven major food groups: yellow fat spreads(margarine), fermented milk type products, soy drinks, low-fat cheese type products, yogurt type products, spicy sauces and salad dressings. This approval
positions Forbes to capitalize on the growing demand for functional foods.
Patent Protection
Forbes has a variety of patents and patents-pending filed with the U.S. and PCT for novel processes and formulations allowing the incorporation of Reducol™ and other functional food ingredients into foods, beverages and dietary supplements. These patents describe technology, techniques and formulations.
The Company continues to assess the cardiovascular health benefits of additional functional food ingredients and food matrices.
For sales and licencing opportunities for Reducol™ please contact our Sales and Marketing department:
Forbes Medi-Tech Inc.
Sales & Marketing
Suite 200 - 750 West Pender Street
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
V6C 2T8
Telephone: 604-689-5899
Facsimile: 604-689-7641
E-mail:
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