A botanical complex marketed by Taiyo International as MorActive, which combines moringa seed extract and the prebiotic Sunfiber, may help those with lower back discomfort relieve their symptoms, according to a clinical study involving 40 healthy adult participants.
 
According to Taiyo, 80% of Americans experience back aches at some point in their lives, and the prevalence of back pain is rising – 49% of consumers report that they have had back discomfort since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to Taiyo.
 
The present study, done on the water-soluble complex as a finished formulation which is marketed by NutriScience Innovations, was shown to have a clinically significant effect on lower back discomfort at a very low dose.
 
“NutriScience is proud that our strong partnership with Taiyo is driving the ability to bring novel, efficacious, and naturally-derived ingredients such as MorActive to market,” Alan Yengoyan, president and CEO of NutriScience, said. “High quality is an essential component to everything we do, and Taiyo is in complete alignment with that philosophy.”
 
The Formulation
 
MorActive is a moringa seed extract standardized to 20% content of the bioactive glucomoringin.
 
“Taiyo is excited to offer glucomoringin from moringa seeds, which yields a higher quality active ingredient. Using our Sunfiber as the nutritional carrier is another added benefit. Combined, MorActive speaks to Taiyo’s enduring commitment to innovation,” Scott Smith, Taiyo International vice president.
 
According to the company, MorActive works by desensitizing the nerves and receptors associated with back discomfort, lowering discomfort levels. Glucomoringin is converted in the body to moringin, which has been shown in vitro to work as an antagonist of TRPA1, an ion channel known as a sensor for aches.
 
The Study
 
It is also one of the few formulas to be specifically studied on lower back discomfort. In a study supported by Taiyo, a population of 40 healthy adults supplemented with either MorActive or a placebo over the course of four weeks at a daily dose of 120 mg. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were taken by physicians in fatigue, low back pain, stiff shoulder, and eye strain.
 
Supplementation had a significant, positive effect on fatigue and back pain in those who reported more severe symptoms, according to the authors, who noted that these two symptoms are often connected from physical and mental stress tied to today’s common working conditions. In Japan, where the study took place, 86.2% of workers were using a computer, and 78% of workers felt physical fatigue and related symptoms, including low back pain (26.6%), the authors noted of a recent survey conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
 
“The results indicated that moringa seed extract mitigated fatigue and low back pain in the subjects whose symptoms were somewhat severe in the treatment group compared to the placebo group,” the authors of the study concluded. “It has been demonstrated that oxidative stress is one of the main factors leading to fatigue.”
 
“This is exciting technology,” Michael Lelah, chief science officer of NutriScience, said. “In MorActive, we have a low-dose, highly bioavailable ingredient supported by an understanding of its mechanism of action. There are numerous opportunities for our customers to create their own distinct consumer formulas that are based on a true clinical study.”