Joanna Cosgrove09.01.09
Last November, Nutraceuticals World detailed how Pittsburgh, PA-based Xenomis LLC had licensed Harvard Medical School's "Stressed Plant" technology with the goal of developing cutting edge resveratrol supplement applications. Flash forward to the present and there is a new supplement that boasts the highest resveratrol content of any product currently on the market.
The Harvard Medical School researchers concluded that two of the most powerful SIRT activators were Resveratrol and Quercetin. Together with an advisory board of distinguished physicians and researchers, Sewickley, PA-based Vinomis Laboratories, a spinoff company of Xenomis LLC, developed an ideal combination of these ingredients, a product called Vindure 900.
Launched in mid-June, the product is a powerful antioxidant cocktail containing 400 mg of 98% pure Resveratrol, 400 mg of red wine grape extract from Bordeaux, France, and 100 mg of high-purity Quercetin which, in addition to its own benefits, enhances the bio-availability of the Resveratrol, keeping it in the bloodstream longer. The formulation provides more than 900 mg of active ingredients in a one-per-day coated tablet.
The company said the product is "the equivalent of 100 bottles of red wine," sans the alcohol or calories.
Independent tests conducted by Brunswick Laboratories of Norton, MA, measured the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of Vindure at 19,638, which is more thansix times times over the USDA recommended daily consumption of at least 3000 ORAC units-roughly equal to eight times the amount of antioxidants in a glass of pomegranate juice.
One of the most exciting aspects of the product, according to Mr. Juliano, is the breadth of support it has received from human clinical trials. Most notably, in 2006 Dr. James Smoliga, professor of Exercise Physiology, College of Health and Human Services at Marywood University, studied the product's exact combination of ingredients on human subjects. He reported that the subjects showed "dramatic increases in strength, endurance and memory/cognition."
The Vinomis team is also eagerly awaiting the results from two current studies. Dr. Smoliga is presently testing Naturex Powergrape (which Mr. Juliano characterized as a key part of Vinomis' grape extract), but plans a "follow on study" with Vindure 900 as it relates to endurance in human athletes. Strength, endurance, memory plus sirtuin levels, sugar levels and other biomarkers will all be examined.
Regarding Vindure 900 patient results, Mr. Juliano said the company has been collecting patient results through a select group of doctors for several months. "We all know the long-term benefits of Resveratrol, Quercetin and Red Wine grape extracts, but we're also getting a number of short-term results," he said. The company's study is ongoing, however the results so far confirm that more than 50% of patients report that after taking Vindure 2-4 weeks they've experienced "increased energy level (80%+), improved mental clarity, improved mood level (elimination of depression in some cases), lower appetite and weight loss."
He added that there have also been reports of "moderation and/or lowering of blood sugar levels, lowering of cholesterol levels, [and] increased urination on patient with prostrate issues." The only side effects noted are less sleep, though the patients attributed it to increased energy levels. "This effect is eliminated if patients take Vindure 900 in the morning," said Mr. Juliano, and he added that the product should be taken with food.
Vindure 900 is being marketed primarily toward consumers (especially athletes and Baby Boomers) seeking to alleviate "age-related diseases" while benefitting from "increased energy" and "improved cognition." The product is also targeting high-risk patients with elevated cholesterol, lipid and blood sugar levels via physician recommendations.
Vindure 900 is sold on Vinomis' website, through doctors and in select pharmacies. A 30-day supply of the product (30 tablets) retails for $39.95. Mr. Juliano said there are also "deals in the works" with major nutritional supplement chains.
Vindure 900 is manufacturerd in the U.S. for Vinomis by Nutra Manufacturing of Greenville, SC, a subsidiary of General Nutrition Centers (GNC). The facility is certified by FDA, Australian TGA, USP and NSF, and complies with the latest GMPs.
Mr. Juliano and his partners-Bill Watts, formerly the CEO of GNC, David Sculley, formerly the CEO of Heinz, Dr. Brian Donohue and Dr. Joseph Maroon, Chief of Neurosurgery, UPMC-are keenly aware that consumers prefer proof over empty promises when it comes to nutritional supplements and are eager to see how the public receives their flagship Vindure 900 product. For more information about the science supporting the product, logon to Vinomis Laboratories' website.
The product evolved out of the phenomenon known as "The French Paradox," whereby the French live longer and healthier than Americans, despite a high saturated fat, high calorie diet, thanks apparently to the consumption of red wine. In 2003, a team of researchers at Harvard Medical School "broke the code" and discovered that 19 polyphenols activate the "SIRT" genes, and 17 of these are found in red grapes and red wine. SIRT genes produce the Sirtuin enzymes which play a key role in the aging process, and prevent many of the diseases related to aging such as diabetes, cancers, heart disease, Alzheimer's and others.
The Harvard Medical School researchers concluded that two of the most powerful SIRT activators were Resveratrol and Quercetin. Together with an advisory board of distinguished physicians and researchers, Sewickley, PA-based Vinomis Laboratories, a spinoff company of Xenomis LLC, developed an ideal combination of these ingredients, a product called Vindure 900.
Launched in mid-June, the product is a powerful antioxidant cocktail containing 400 mg of 98% pure Resveratrol, 400 mg of red wine grape extract from Bordeaux, France, and 100 mg of high-purity Quercetin which, in addition to its own benefits, enhances the bio-availability of the Resveratrol, keeping it in the bloodstream longer. The formulation provides more than 900 mg of active ingredients in a one-per-day coated tablet.
The company said the product is "the equivalent of 100 bottles of red wine," sans the alcohol or calories.
"[It] is the combination of Resveratrol, Quercetin and Red Wine grape polyphenols that provide the health benefits and increase the bioavailability," explained Mark Juliano, president, Vinomis Laboratories. He added that the source of the pure resveratrol is 98% pure Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed), as well as that contained in the Red Wine grape extract. "This is a very expensive ingredient at over $700 per kg. Most resveratrol is either synthetic, or is only 50% pure (of course it's the 'other' 50% that's the impurities)," he said.
Independent tests conducted by Brunswick Laboratories of Norton, MA, measured the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of Vindure at 19,638, which is more thansix times times over the USDA recommended daily consumption of at least 3000 ORAC units-roughly equal to eight times the amount of antioxidants in a glass of pomegranate juice.
Clinical Support
One of the most exciting aspects of the product, according to Mr. Juliano, is the breadth of support it has received from human clinical trials. Most notably, in 2006 Dr. James Smoliga, professor of Exercise Physiology, College of Health and Human Services at Marywood University, studied the product's exact combination of ingredients on human subjects. He reported that the subjects showed "dramatic increases in strength, endurance and memory/cognition."
The Vinomis team is also eagerly awaiting the results from two current studies. Dr. Smoliga is presently testing Naturex Powergrape (which Mr. Juliano characterized as a key part of Vinomis' grape extract), but plans a "follow on study" with Vindure 900 as it relates to endurance in human athletes. Strength, endurance, memory plus sirtuin levels, sugar levels and other biomarkers will all be examined.
Dr. Bryan Donohue, chief of cardiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Dr. Joseph Baur of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine's Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Department of Physiology, are also studying pre- and post-Vindure 900 sugar, cholesterol, Sirtuin and Resveratrol levels in human blood.
Regarding Vindure 900 patient results, Mr. Juliano said the company has been collecting patient results through a select group of doctors for several months. "We all know the long-term benefits of Resveratrol, Quercetin and Red Wine grape extracts, but we're also getting a number of short-term results," he said. The company's study is ongoing, however the results so far confirm that more than 50% of patients report that after taking Vindure 2-4 weeks they've experienced "increased energy level (80%+), improved mental clarity, improved mood level (elimination of depression in some cases), lower appetite and weight loss."
He added that there have also been reports of "moderation and/or lowering of blood sugar levels, lowering of cholesterol levels, [and] increased urination on patient with prostrate issues." The only side effects noted are less sleep, though the patients attributed it to increased energy levels. "This effect is eliminated if patients take Vindure 900 in the morning," said Mr. Juliano, and he added that the product should be taken with food.
Vindure 900 is being marketed primarily toward consumers (especially athletes and Baby Boomers) seeking to alleviate "age-related diseases" while benefitting from "increased energy" and "improved cognition." The product is also targeting high-risk patients with elevated cholesterol, lipid and blood sugar levels via physician recommendations.
Vindure 900 is sold on Vinomis' website, through doctors and in select pharmacies. A 30-day supply of the product (30 tablets) retails for $39.95. Mr. Juliano said there are also "deals in the works" with major nutritional supplement chains.
Vindure 900 is manufacturerd in the U.S. for Vinomis by Nutra Manufacturing of Greenville, SC, a subsidiary of General Nutrition Centers (GNC). The facility is certified by FDA, Australian TGA, USP and NSF, and complies with the latest GMPs.
Mr. Juliano and his partners-Bill Watts, formerly the CEO of GNC, David Sculley, formerly the CEO of Heinz, Dr. Brian Donohue and Dr. Joseph Maroon, Chief of Neurosurgery, UPMC-are keenly aware that consumers prefer proof over empty promises when it comes to nutritional supplements and are eager to see how the public receives their flagship Vindure 900 product. For more information about the science supporting the product, logon to Vinomis Laboratories' website.
