Berg Nutrition named U.S. distributor of capsaicin ingredient

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Berg Nutrition (Ann Arbor, MI) was named the exclusive U.S. distributer of aXivite phenylcapsaicin, a synthetic form of capsaicin developed by Sweden-based company, aXichem. The ingredient uses a proprietary structural analogue of capsaicin, which is self-affirmed GRAS in the United States and adopted by the European Commission as a Novel Food (NF) ingredient.

“We really like the bioavailability of aXivite, and that its active component phenylcapsaicin has a purity of 98%, making it highly potent, but also safe for long-term use at a lower dosage,” said Cai Berg, founder and president of Berg Nutrition, in a press release. “The ingredient is so innovative and there’s nothing else like it in the marketplace. We believe that aXivite is going to open doors for so many brands to provide important health benefits of capsaicin without the toxic risk, plus it’s much more cost effective.”

Multiple tests prove that aXivite phenylcapsaicin shows no sign of genotoxicity. This makes aXivite phenylcapsaicin safe for long-term use. 

“To develop aXivite, we took a naturally occurring phenyl group and used that to modify the capsaicin that would typically be found in nature,” said Lucas Altepost, vice president at aXichem, in a press release. “It’s a unique process where we have taken the phenyl and combined it with capsaicin using a microencapsulation technique to produce this globally patented and protected ingredient, aXivite.”

Some people report having intolerance to certain parts of the chili pepper, which is another reason why aXivite phenylcapsaicin is beneficial and efficient as it provides the pure capsaicin without introducing the other parts of the chili pepper. Also, a key factor to its efficiency is bioavailability, as aXivite phenylcapsaicin enters the bloodstream more quickly and is four times more bioactive than natural capsaicin. 

A free webinar is available for companies interested in learning how to use aXivite phenylcapsaicin in dietary supplements, foods and beverages on September 23. Register here.