NutraIngredients-USA Awards: TSI and Nutrition 21 with research category wins

Nutrition Research Project​

TSI Group took home the Award for Nutrition Research Project for: Hobamine - Inflammation Biomarker Response to Oral 2 Hydroxybenzylamine (2 HOBA) Acetate in Healthy Humans.

Found naturally in buckwheat seeds, particularly in Himalayan Tartary buckwheat, 2-HOBA is garnering attention in the emerging cellular health and healthspan markets, but there are also opportunities in the endurance sports space. TSI has developed the ingredient under the brand name Hobamine.

For the Nutrition Research Project, the company presented findings from an NIH-funded study on the impact of 2-HOBA (Hobamine) supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers addresses the concern of maintaining a balanced immune system to prevent the progression of several diseases associated with chronic inflammation.

The study's results indicate that 2-HOBA (Hobamine) supplementation can promote a healthy balance of the immune system by improving inflammatory biomarkers in healthy individuals and decreasing the protein TWEAK, which promotes inflammation and tumor growth.

This research project's findings also provide opportunities for formulators and developers to add Hobamine to their immune-focused formulations, enabling healthy individuals to be more proactive about maintaining their immune readiness.

What our judges said: “This interesting and well-designed study, funded by NIH, found that 2-HOBA (Hobamine) supplementation may promote a healthy balance of the immune system by improving inflammatory biomarkers in healthy individuals. Published in a peer-review journal that indicates strong credibility, and it therefore provides opportunities for formulators and developers to add Hobamine, to their immune focused formulations, enabling healthy individuals to be more proactive about maintaining their immune readiness. The novelty of the ingredient and the impacts on inflammatory markers in healthy people really helped this project stand out.”

Sports Nutrition Science​

We also commemorated the legacy of Dr Hector Lopez, who passed late last year at the age of 46​ with the Hector Lopez Excellence in Sports Nutrition Science Award​ to celebrate the best sports nutrition research of the past 12 months.

Hector, a larger-than-life member of the sports nutrition community, dedicated much of his professional career to promoting scientific substantiation in sports nutrition and the wider dietary supplements category.

The 2023 winner was Nutrition 21 with its research project: Effects of an Amylopectin-Chromium Complex Plus Whey Protein on Strength and Power After Eight Weeks of Resistance Training.

Velositol is a combination of amylopectin and chromium. A previous clinical study showed that adding 2 grams of Velositol to a 6 gram dose of whey protein doubled the muscle protein synthesis (MPS) rate compared to what was seen when using whey alone (Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition​, 2017, 14:6).

The Awards entry focused on a randomized, active-controlled, double-blind trial using two grams of Velositol + 15 grams of whey protein isolate. During eight weeks of resistance training, the supplementation led to greater increases in total squat reps, vertical jump power, and vertical jump height, compared to 15 grams of whey protein and 30 grams of whey protein alone.

Our judges said: “This was a clear, concise, and focused research agenda with multiple efficacy studies, culminating in an eight-week randomized, double-blind, parallel study that showed that Velositol (Amylopectin-Chromium Complex) increased lower-body muscular endurance and power when combined with a low dose of whey protein (as low as 6 grams). Combined with the commercial success and future potential of this ingredient in other categories, this met all our criteria for excellent sports nutrition research.”