Carotech: Producing 'Super' Vitamin
Although beginning production only five years ago, Carotech Pty. Ltd., Ipoh, Malaysia, has built a reputation for itself as an integrated company that commercially extracts a tocotrienols complex, mixed carotenes and phytosterols from the fruits of palm, through a U.S. patented process, without the use of solvents. Carotech Pty. Ltd. was created by Hovid Pty. Ltd., which is an established GMP-certified pharmaceutical company in Malaysia. Together as Carotech they can produce various concentrations of palm carotenes and vitamin E according to the specific needs of customers. Applications for these products include the food and beverage, dietary supplements, health, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
Among the company’s product offerings is a unique and all natural full-spectrum tocotrienols complex, with the highest level of alpha, gamma and delta-tocotrienol, called Tocomin®. Discussing the difference between tocopherols and tocotrienols, both vital components of vitamin E, vice president W.H. Leong said, “Almost all vitamin E supplements contain tocopherol (mainly the alpha-tocopherol form) but not tocotrienols. It doesn’t matter whether you take natural or synthetic vitamin E; the form used is almost always tocopherol.” He added, “There is nothing wrong with alpha-tocopherol but if you expect to obtain optimal and maximum antioxidant protection, you should take the full spectrum of vitamin E—tocopherols and tocotrienols. The best way for Americans to reap the full benefits that vitamin E offers is to be certain the supplement contains the most beneficial form of vitamin E—tocotrienol complex.”
Studies of palm oil tocotrienols not only showed their powerful antioxidant capabilities but also the ability to reverse blockage of the carotid artery and platelet aggregation (i.e. blood clotting), reducing the risk of stroke, atherosclerosis and disease-related problems. In addition tocotrienols are very safe, as toxicological and pharmacological studies show that supplementation with a natural palm tocotrienol complex up to 2500 mg per day per kilogram of body weight does not produce any significant side effects.
Carotech’s full portfolio includes a palm tocotrienol oil suspension complex (Tocomin® 50%), palm tocotrienol beadlets (Tocobeads® 7.5%), palm tocotrienol powder (Tocomax® 20%), a palm mixed carotenoids complex (Caromin® 20%, 25% and 30%); palm mixed carotenoids beadlets (Alphabeads®), a palm mixed carotenoids and phyto-tocotrienol complex (Spectra® 30/10), a palm phytosterols complex (Steromax® 80%) and natural lycopene oleoresins (Lycomax® 5%, 6% and 7%).
In March 2001 Carotech officially launched the first educational website on tocotrienols, www.tocotrienols.org, which is a one stop educational website dedicated to the dissemination of information including definitions, sources, science and latest studies about tocotrienols. In addition, the company moved to a new office in Edison, NJ, to strengthen its position in the U.S. market and throughout the world. According to Mr. Leong, the Edison office will provide the best service to existing clients as well as establish new opportunities for the company.
Speaking about the future of tocotrienols on the nutraceuticals market Mr. Leong said, “Tocotrienol as a ‘super’ vitamin E has great potential. We are going into it with emphasis on science-based R&D. Carotech is poised to be the premier supplier of tocotrienol complexes in the world.” He continued, “Our technological knowhow and emphasis of QC/QA is paying off as we launch high-end products.” —R.M.
Carotech USA.
21 Balmoral Court
Talmadge Village
Edison, NJ 08817
Telephone: 732-906-1901
Fax: 732-906-1902
E-mail: carot3@cs.com
Website: www.hovid.com/carotech, www.tocotrienol.org
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