Degussa BioActives: ‘The Difference Is Inside’

With its new catchphrase “The difference is inside,” Degussa BioActives, Champaign, IL, has positioned itself to become one of the leaders in the nutraceuticals and functional foods industries.

The company has long been associated with solutions incorporating natural ingredients to promote healthy nutrition and its specialties include special nutrition, dietary supplements and functional foods. The global structure and knowledge within Degussa BioActives of both the dietary supplements and food industries provide a platform for the development of both bioactive ingredients and functional foods.

In the dietary supplements arena, Degussa provides physiologically active ingredients that are required for normal body function to maintain or improve a person’s health and well being.

On the functional foods side, Degussa will soon be able to offer a wide range of products and services. With a team in Europe, many of the challenges associated with the development of functional foods, such as product efficacy and formulation, application technologies and regulatory concerns, are not “stumbling blocks” as the team is dedicated to understanding and providing solutions to these complex issues.

Among the company’s branded pro­ducts is Creapure™ pure creatine monohydrate, which is backed by toxicological and long term clinical studies. Building on the quality and recognition of Creapure, Degussa BioActives also offers new product developments like Creapure Purovate and Creapure Citrate.

Also in its product arsenal is Ali­pure™ alpha lipoic acid, which is well known for its antioxidant properties. While it meets or exceeds all standard quality parameters for alpha lipoic acid, Alipure is the only product worldwide that does not contain organic solvents and is free-flowing.

Since 1995, Degussa BioActives´ LECI-PS® phosphatidylserine has been heavily promoted, according to the company. As a result, the company said, consumers look for the LECI-PS memory bubble logo on bottles. LECI-PS soy phosphatidylserine has been clinically proven to be beneficial for mental function. This falls in line nicely with a re­cently approved health claim authorized by FDA, which indicates that phosphatidylserine “may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia in the elderly.” Phosphatidylserine supplementation has also recently been shown to inhibit exercise-induced in­crease in cortisol levels.

Also from the phospholipid family is LECI-Choline™ phosphatidylcholine (PC). Leci-Choline (PC) offers support for numerous cell functions, including liver detoxification, and prior to exercise, can also prevent plasma choline decrease during intense physical activity of long duration, resulting in performance enhancement.

Degussa BioActives also supplies Arthred® hydrolyzed collagen for joint support. Arthred is a protein consisting of a series of 19 different amino acids joined by peptide bonds. It is made by a unique enzymatic hydrolyzation pro­cess, which renders a product very low in molecular weight. It is then spray-dried into a tasteless, stable and soluble powder form, which can be mixed into both hot and cold beverages.

On the plant sterols front, Degussa BioActives promotes its Cholestatin® product. In 1986, the development of Cholestatin pioneered the use of plant sterols as a nutritional supplement. This plant sterol concentrate blocks the uptake of cholesterol and maintains healthy cholesterol levels. This product is available in bulk forms well as chewable tablets and soft gels.

At its inception, Degussa BioActives brought several areas together to shape its portfolio. By using the experience of the former SKW Nature Products business unit Cultures & Enzymes, integrating the phospholipids part of the business of the Lucas Meyer Group and the additional purchase of Traco Labs,the company created a selling and marketing platform for the U.S. market. As a final step in the structure formation, Degussa BioActives took over the marketing of the dietary supplement line of the former SKW Trostberg.

In the coming months, further changes will be seen, as Degussa strengthens its position in the food industry. The Flavors & Fruit Systems, BioActives and Texturant Systems business units of Degussa are now aligned to the end market within the food sector, so they will be gathered together into a new business unit and managed as business lines.

Degussa BioActives
3102 Clark Road
Champaign, IL 618222
Telephone: 217-352-5800
Fax: 217-352-6433
E-mail: bioactives.usa@degussa.com
Website: www.degussa-bioactives.com