Sigma-tau HealthScience USA: Leading the Market through Research

As a global leader in L-carnitine manufacturing and metabolic research, Sigma-tau HealthScience USA, New York, NY, an affiliate of Rome, Italy-based Sigma-tau S.p.A.—the second largest pharmaceutical company in Italy—continues to develop and supply its customers with first-rate, cutting-edge nutraceutical ingredients based on peer-reviewed research.

“We have been investigating novel efficacies in the way L-carnitine affects metabolic function during various states of wellness, cell stress and recovery,” said Paola Risi, vice president and gen­eral manager. “Our numerous clinical in­vestigations have led to the development—and market acceptance since 2004—of several distinctly new molecules, which are now in wide use within the nutritional supplement industry worldwide.”

The company has benefited from a wide body of scientific literature, which shows that L-carnitine precursors such as glycine, arginine, taurine and lysine are related to L-carnitine’s metabolic performance.

“An entirely new library of distinct forms of L-carnitine that deliver the naturally occurring nutrient along with a specific amino acid have been recently developed by Sigma-tau HealthScience,” said Ms. Risi. “Called Amino­Carnitines, they deliver L-carnitine and a specific amino acid in one distinct molecule. Unlike an intimate combination or blend of the two nutrients, there is no disparity in content uniformity of the actives during blending, mixing, tabletting or within gelatin capsules.”

According to the company, as dissociation of the specific AminoCarnitine occurs within the intestinal tract, molecule by molecule, a specific amount of amino acid becomes simultaneously available alongside L-carnitine for absorption within the body. Two such substances that have generated immediate widespread interest are glycine propionyl-L-carnitine hydrochloride, USP (GlycoCarn) and acetyl-L-carnitine arginate dihydrochloride (ArginoCarn).

The company recently completed a series of university-based clinical in­terventions using GlycoCarn as an important supporter of healthy blood circulation, cellular nitric oxide retention, and antioxidant performance against free radical cell damage caused by reactive oxygen species.

“The results, based entirely upon double-blind research on human blood and biopsied muscle, have been extensively peer-reviewed and published within several journals, both in the U.S. and internationally,” said Ms. Risi.

As healthcare costs spiral upward, and Baby Boomers continue to age, Ms. Risi predicted that the functional food and dietary supplement markets are positioned for steady growth over the next five to seven years. But companies need to approach their opportunities responsibly, she added.

“Our current regulatory atmosphere must be taken very seriously by all companies who view themselves as long-term players within the nutritional supplement industry,” she said.“Our products have to be based upon proven research of a reputable nature. We have the additional responsibility to publish our findings within peer-reviewed journals available for all to reference, so as to meaningfully contribute further intelligence and an ever-increasing understanding as to how our nutritional products function within the human body.”

With sound research and development comes wider acceptance from the medical community, leading to an increased awareness from consumers, Ms. Risi added. “We are starting to gain increased practitioner visibility as more customers are specifically searching out products such as GlycoCarn and ArginoCarn on the direct advice of their own healthcare providers. This is very satisfying,” she said.—S.M.

Sigma-tau HealthScience USA
180 Varick Street, Suite 1524
New York, N Y 10014
Telephone: 212-645-5202
Fax: 212-645-0652
E-mail: prisi@healthscienceusa.com
Website: www.aminocarnitines.com; www.modernarteries.com