New resveratrol ingredient is water dispersible and more bioavailable, says Evolva at SupplySide West

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Resveratrol has been shown to offer a range of clinically proven health benefits. Orally supplemented resveratrol, however, is also known for being poorly bioavailable. At November’s SupplySide West show, resveratrol specialist Evolva (Reinach, Switzerland) highlighted the new cold-water-dispersible version of its trademark Veri-te Resveratrol 90% trans-resveratrol ingredient, called Veri-te Resveratrol CWD 90. This new water-dispersible format not only offers 67 times the dispersion capability of standard resveratrol but also better bioavailability as a result, enabling customers to reap the full advantages of resveratrol’s health indications, the company says. The company first introduced the ingredient earlier this year at the SupplySide East trade show.

Sally Aaron, Evolva’s senior vice president of health ingredients and marketing, explains why resveratrol is generally poorly bioavailable, but also why the ingredient is highly valued nonetheless. “Oral resveratrol has low bioavailability because the compound is rapidly metabolized in the liver; however, studies have shown that resveratrol has high bioactivity,” she says. “There have been more than 10,000 studies published to date, including 200 clinical trials which demonstrate the beneficial effects of orally ingested resveratrol-including Evolva’s Veri-te resveratrol-for indications ranging from cognitive and bone health to cardiovascular and skin health. Therefore, resveratrol may have low bioavailability, but it has high bioactivity.”

Veri-te Resveratrol CWD 90’s enhanced dispersibility is achieved thanks to award-winning LipiSperse dispersion technology by a firm called Pharmako Biotechnologies (Australia). Aaron describes how this technology benefits Veri-te CWD 90 and why it is unique: “It is believed that the LipiSperse dispersion technology can enhance the bioavailability of hydrophobic ingredients, such as trans-resveratrol, by making them dispersible in the aqueous phase. Unlike other technologies, LipiSperse does not dissolve or solubilize the active. It coats every particle ensuring they don’t agglomerate in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for better absorption in the body.” She adds that Pharmako is currently conducting a pharmacokinetic study to demonstrate that LipiSperse indeed improves Veri-te CWD 90’s bioavailability, just as Pharmako has done with another ingredient it has applied its technology to, curcumin (Gencor's HydroCurc ingredient).

Thanks to its increased dispersibility, Veri-te Resveratrol CWD 90 expands the range of products in which Evolva’s ingredient can play. CWD 90 is suited for aqueous delivery systems, as well as effervescent tablets and ready-to-mix powder. At SupplySide West, the company showcased the ingredient in an effervescent prototype with quick-dispersion properties. It also accommodates consumers who prefer non-pill formats.

“Resveratrol is typically limited to traditional dietary supplements, in the powder form delivered by capsules or pressed tablets,” says Aaron. “Formulating with Veri-te Resveratrol CWD 90 means a wider choice of innovative delivery applications are possible, such as functional beverages, liquid shots, oral dispersible tablets, effervescent tablets, fast-melt powder sticks, and instant powder drinks. Due to the higher dispersion of the Veri-te Resveratrol CWD 90, a high active load of 90% can be used, unlike the typical 10%-30% active concentration seen in other solubilizing or dispersion technologies. With the removal of these formulation boundaries, we expect to see a lot of innovation with Veri-te Resveratrol CWD 90.” She says the company expects to see the first products launching with CWD 90 early next year.