VIOGERM wheat germ natural, effective source of folic acid

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1 Photo :Fotolia/rvas VIOGERM wheat germ natural, effective source of folic acid Michel Burla, Managing Director, HOCHDORF Nutrifood Ltd. The positive effects of folic acid on health go far beyond the issue of women and pregnancy. The latest studies show that folic acid combats heart and circulatory diseases and depression; it even improves skin complexion. Foods containing folic acid, such as wheat germ, should therefore be part of our daily diet into old age. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, has an extraordinarily wide range of effects. So diverse, in fact, that researchers are still unlocking its secrets. New qualities with significant health benefits are constantly being discovered. Folic acid plays a crucial role in numerous metabolic functions and the ageing process related to these, for example. As a multi-functional vitamin, it is important for women to maintain a regular intake of folic acid at every stage of life. Yet it is indispensable in the first four weeks of pregnancy. During this time, a deficiency in folic acid can lead to irreparable harm to the unborn child, including neural tube defects such as spina bifida (1) or cleft lip and palate (2). Too little folic acid during pregnancy also creates some risks that are not immediately obvious: the risk of developing hyperactivity (3) or poor concentration (4) at a later stage is significantly higher than for a child with normal folic acid intake. Widespread folic acid deficiency in industrialised nations > Scientists underestimated the effect of folic acid for many years and it tended to be reduced to the issue of pregnancy. However this approach is now seen as too narrow, 4 Wellness Foods Europe November 2014

2 Women s health Wellness Foods Europe with research showing the benefits of folic acid in combating hardening of the arteries, dementia, depression, allergies and even in arresting skin ageing. Nowadays, specialists from all over the world agree: we should all include folic acid in our daily diet. Folic acid has many qualities that strengthen both body and mind for young and old alike. This makes it all but incomprehensible that low levels of folic acid represent the most frequent source of vitamin deficiency (5) in Europe and North America. In Germany, 86 % of women take too little folic acid (6). In other industrialised countries the percentage values are similar. Many foods contain folic acid. So it should be easy to ensure sufficient intake from our normal diet. Wheat germ and wheat bran contain the highest concentrations. There is somewhat less folic acid contained in pulses, citrus fruits, offal and leafy vegetables. Unfortunately our body is only able to store very small quantities of folic acid itself, which means that we have to include it in our daily diet. Experts recommend a daily dose of between 300 and 400 micrograms (µg). However, many Europeans have a diet that contains too little folic acid (7) to reach these levels. Folic acid combats hardening of the arteries, dementia, depression and allergies > Evidence shows that food that is rich in folic acid, such as wheat germ, reduces levels of homocysteine (8) in the blood. Homocysteine is a by-product of our metabolism and is a significant contributory factor in hardening of the arteries. This results in a higher risk of strokes and heart attacks. Homocysteine is also a frequent cause of osteoporosis and dementia (9). One study into the memory retention of older people shows that participants with high levels of homocysteine and low folic acid values performed worse in cognitive tests than participants with normal values (10). A deficiency in folic acid can also lead to depression. According to the WHO (11), poor mental health is one of the most frequent causes of illness. In Europe around 25 % of the population more often women than men suffer from depression at least Folic acid the multi-functional vitamin for life and its range of effects Hyperactivity Depression Brain performance/dementia Cardio-vascular disease Allergies/asthma Pregnancy Healthy skin Sufficient levels of folic acid in early pregnancy reduce the likelihood of hyperactivity and poor concentration in children B vitamins, including folic acid, play an important role in forming neurotransmitters in the brain Folic acid has been shown to lower homocysteine levels in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of stroke or dementia The effect of folic acid in lowering homocysteine leads to a reduced risk of hardening of the arteries and heart attacks Low levels of folic acid increase the risk of allergic and asthmatic attacks with people showing a high IgE value (marker for allergies) in the serum Folic acid plays an important role in cell division and reduces the risk of embryonic neural tube defect Folic acid has a cell-stimulating effect and so accelerates the formation of new, healthy skin cells Fig 1: Folic acid and its range of effects, Folic Acid Magazine, 2013 Edition, p.11 November 2014 Wellness Foods Europe 5

3 once in their life. But men are catching up fast. Mental illness has been linked to malfunctions in the brain s metabolism. Vitamin B plays a crucial role here in forming important neurotransmitters. Researchers have found that around per cent of women with depression (12) have too little folic acid in their bodies. Regular intake of folic acid is not an alternative to anti-depressants it is primarily a preventive measure. Folic acid also reduces the risk of allergies. In tests conducted by the Johns Hopkins Children s Center (13) in Baltimore (USA), results showed that subjects with low levels of folic acid (under 8 ng/ml) had a 30 per cent higher frequency of allergies than those with normal values. The lower the level of folic acid in the subject, the greater the number of IgE antibodies that showed up in the body. Folic acid stimulates cell division > As we grow older, skin cells divide less rapidly. Our DNA becomes increasingly damaged, which leads to defective cell copies. This can be seen in the skin. It loses elasticity and tension and develops wrinkles. However, the ageing process on the skin is slower (14) for women with a diet that is rich in folic acid. Their skin remains more taut, younger and healthier: a clear indicator of the anti-ageing effects of folic acid. It plays a decisive role in cell division for all types of cells. Fig 2: 100 g VIOGERM wheat germ meets a large proportion of the daily requirement of folic acid and other vitamins and nutrients that are essential to life. Gentle process increases shelf life of wheat germ > Unfortunately, folic acid is sensitive to light, air and heat. So foods containing folic acid, such as vegetables, cannot be stored for long periods or overcooked without resulting in a substantial loss of folic acid content. There is a simple way to tackle this problem by enriching food with wheat germ. Healthy wheat germ is a double-edged sword, however: it is packed with lots of folic acid, but it also contains so much unsaturated fat that it has a short shelf life unless it is stabilised. HOCHDORF Nutrifood AG has developed an ingenious and gentle process to increase the shelf life of wheat germ. Its enzymes are largely nullified and the unsaturated fatty acids carefully squeezed out on the surface. This significantly reduces the free fatty acids without losing the wheat germ s valuable ingredients and subtle flavours. The wheat germ retains its incredible power, with up to 200 µg of folic acid per 100 grams. It is available under the protected brand name VIOGERM. Just 30 grams or four tablespoons of VIOGERM per day are sufficient to meet a large part of the recommended daily intake. Wheat germ is also very rich in protein (32 %), fibre (14 %) and a further 70 nu- 6 Wellness Foods Europe November 2014

4 Women s health Wellness Foods Europe trients. The unsaturated fatty acids that have been squeezed out of the wheat germ are also very healthy and they are further processed into precious oil. Stabilised wheat germ versatile and easy to handle > The healthy wheat germ is highly valued in the food industry. It improves the nutritional value of various finished products and their qualities in terms of further processing, texture and taste. Stabilised VIOGERM wheat germ can be easily incorporated into many products: pasta and bread dough, breakfast cereals, cereal bars, pastries, savoury crackers and snacks, as well as chocolate, convenience foods and a host of other applications. Due to its diversity, VIOGERM wheat germ is ground to varying levels from fine powder to coarse granulate or further processed into crisps and oil. Whatever the end product is wheat germ puts the folic acid that was lost during cooking and other processes back into foods. Sweet, nutty wheat germ should be a standard ingredient in every kitchen. Its pleasant flavour enhances many dishes. It can be sprinkled over fresh salad or it can add another dimension to yoghurts, ice cream, cereals and pasta. The oil also goes well with other oils and gives salads and fresh vegetables or pasta dishes a unique flavour. Wheat germ ideal for the 50+ generation > Women over 50 in particular often need more folic acid to stay young in both mind and body. But it is not always easy to meet this need through everyday diet. Food supplements, such as capsules and tonics, come to the fore here. VIOGERM Gold Oil, for instance, won the Superior Taste Award in 2011 and is the ideal base oil for gel capsules containing folic acid. Wheat germ oil is also very popular in cosmetics, whether in skin creams, shampoos or in bath and massage oils. The oil is rich in vitamin E and other minerals that are important for skin and hair care. All VIOGERM products are, of course, free from GMOs and pesticides. And no toxic solvents are used in production another important argument for using VIOGERM. Folic acid adding value to every phase of life > Folic acid is inextricably linked with the physical and spiritual wellbeing of both men and women. Foods containing folic acid are good for everyone and improve quality of life. Unfortunately they are not in sufficient supply in our everyday diet. Time is too short to prepare fresh daily meals that include sufficient vegetables and cereal products. This is particularly so when you consider that the required levels of folic acid are only present in exceptionally fresh and It s never too early to start thinking about the benefits of a balanced diet people at all ages grow increasingly aware of this fact. With smart ingredients developed from natural resources, Beneo enables healthy nutrition for a lifetime. While our functional carbohydrates and prebiotic fibres already support the healthy development of children, they can also play a role in reducing the risk for type II diabetes or metabolic syndrome later in life. Realise the potential of healthy nutrition at all ages. Matching today s expectations. Smart ingredients for healthy lifestyles.

5 VIOGERM wheat germ oil is also perfect for use in cosmetics. very carefully prepared vegetables. Wheat germ products, or foods containing VIOGERM, are particularly effective in preventing vitamin deficiency. Photo :Fotolia/HLPhoto References > 1) Heseker, H: Folsäure. Physiologie, Funktionen, Vorkommen, Empfehlungen und Versorgung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Ernährungs Umschau 43: (1996) 2) BMJ. Mar 3, 2007; 334(7591): 464. Published online Jan 26, DOI: / bmj b: Folic acid supplements and risk of facial clefts: national population based case-control study: Allen J Wilcox et al. 3) Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (DOI: /j x). Schlotz W, Jones A, Phillips DTW et al. Lower maternal folate status in early pregnancy is associated with childhood hyperactivity and peer problems in offspring 4) Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2010;51: ) Maximilian Ledochowski, Klinische Ernährungsmedizin. 8 December 2009 ISBN-10: ISBN-13: Edition: ) Ergebnisse der Nationalen Verzehrsstudie II (2008), Bundesforschungsanstalt für Ernährung und Lebensmittel 7) aid infodienst Ernährung, Landwirtschaft, Verbraucherschutz e.v., Heilsbachstrasse 16, Bonn 8) DACH-LIGA homocystein (German, Austrian and Swiss Homocysteine Society), Kardiovaskuläre Medizin 2004;7: ) Reynolds EH: Folic acid, ageing, depression and dementia. British Medical Journal 2002; 324: ) Feng L et al: Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 and cognitive performance in older Chinese adults: findings from the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study, Lancet Jan 20;369(9557): Effect of 3-year folic acid supplementation on cognitive function in older adults in the FACIT trial: a randomised, double blind, controlled trial. Durga J et al 11) WHO Regional Office for Europe 12) Alpert JE et al. Nutrition and depression: focus on folate. Nutrition. 2000; 16: ) Elizabeth C. Matsui, associate professor of pediatrics et al., Johns Hopkins Children s Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 14) Stiftung Folsäureoffensive Schweiz (Foundation for Folic Acid Awareness in Switzerland) For more information, please contact: Michel Burla, Managing Director, HOCHDORF Nutrifood Ltd., Switzerland Tel michel.burla@hochdorf.com 8 Wellness Foods Europe November 2014