Wacker Chemie AG Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4 81737 München, Germany www.wacker.com PRESS RELEASE Number 51 Food Ingredients Asia 2013: WACKER Showcases Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Munich/Bangkok, September 11, 2013 WACKER is showcasing a highly bioavailable cyclodextrin-curcumin formulation at Food Ingredients (FI) Asia 2013. As shown by a recent clinical trial, the formulation increases the bioavailability of curcumin by a factor of 45 compared to conventional curcumin extract. A strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties, curcumin is normally not readily absorbed in the human blood stream. Yet gamma-cyclodextrin has been proven to significantly increase bioavailability. Powder-form CAVAMAX W8 curcumin can now be easily processed in food supplements, such as tablets, capsules and energy bars or functional beverages. What s more, WACKER will be presenting CAVAMAX W6 alpha-cyclodextrin, which acts as a stabilizer, permitting innovative food applications such as coconut milk powder without caseinates, or fat-free fruit desserts. FI Asia takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 11 to 13, 2013. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties. Because curcumin is extremely hydrophobic, however, it is not readily absorbed in the human bloodstream. The use of curcumin in nutritional supplements has so far been limited as a result.
September 11, 2013 Press Release No. 51 Page 2 of 5 Cyclodextrins can remedy the situation: While these ring-shaped molecules have a hydrophilic shell, the hydrophobic space inside the ring allows them to accommodate hydrophobic substances. Fatsoluble curcumin slips inside the molecule. Stirring in water forms a molecular dispersion that the body can absorb much more effectively. An effect that has been proven scientifically: a recent clinical trial compared the relative absorption of CAVAMAX W8 curcumin with pure curcumin extract (95%) and two commercially available curcumin preparations intended to increase bioavailability. After oral ingestion of the substance, the blood of those tested was analyzed at regular intervals over the course of 12 hours. It was shown that the cyclodextrin-curcumin formulation was absorbed up to 45 times more efficiently than the standard extract, and at least 4.5 times better than the next best comparable commercial product. The use of cyclodextrins has therefore been proven to considerably enhance the bioavailability of hydrophobic ingredients such as curcumin. Because they are free-flowing water-soluble powders, cyclodextrin-based formulations are suitable for use not only in dry or powdered food supplements such as tablets, capsules and energy bars, but also for functional beverages. Coconut Milk Powder and Desserts without Animal Ingredients FI Asia sees WACKER introducing an innovative solution CAVAMAX W6 alpha-cyclodextrin designed to replace sodium caseinate in coconut milk powders. Due to its emulsifying properties, sodium caseinate is added to coconut milk powder to produce a stable, creamy-milky product after addition of water. Yet the same effect can also be achieved with alpha-cyclodextrin, which is an emulsifying, soluble food fiber. CAVAMAX W6 improves the stability of the coco-
September 11, 2013 Press Release No. 51 Page 3 of 5 nut milk made from powder and water and gives the milk its caseinate-like creaminess. Additionally, the product is able to provide better protection against the volatile coconut aromas during spray drying. During production itself, however, all the formulation and process steps, such as emulsification, homogenization, pasteurization and spray drying, remain the same. In this way, CAVAMAX W6 represents a purely vegetarian-grade alternative to caseinate in coconut milk powders. It not only saves costs, but also enhances product properties. CAVAMAX W6 also enables cream desserts or fruit mousse to be made without the addition of fat or eggs. The product improves overrun during whipping, which makes it possible to whip fruit juices, fruit purees or honey into light, stable creams without additional proteins. Vegetarian-Grade, Cholesterol-Free and Healthy The alternative that cyclodextrins offer for many foodstuffs is not only low-calorie, cholesterol-free and non-allergenic, but is also based on plant material: as a natural degradation product of starch for example corn or potatoes WACKER cyclodextrins are bioengineered entirely from renewable raw materials. Visit WACKER at FI Asia 2013, Booth K 21.
September 11, 2013 Press Release No. 51 Page 4 of 5 Inclusion within cyclodextrin makes it possible for a hard-to-dissolve substance such as curcumin to be absorbed by the human body up to 45 times more efficiently. As a free-flowing powder, CAVAMAX W8 curcumin is ideal for use in tablets, capsules, energy bars and beverages (photo: Wacker Chemie AG). CAVAMAX W6 alphacyclodextrin can be used to replace sodium caseinate in coconut milk powders, thereby obtaining a stable and creamy-milky product after addition of water without animal emulsifiers (photo: Wacker Chemie AG).
September 11, 2013 Press Release No. 51 Page 5 of 5 Note: These photos are available for download at: http://www.wacker.com/press releases For further information, please contact: Wacker Chemie AG Media Relations & Information Nadine Baumgartl Tel. +49 89 6279-1604 Fax: +49 89 6279-2604 nadine.baumgartl@wacker.com The company in brief: WACKER is a globally-active chemical company with some 16,300 employees and annual sales of around 4.63 billion (2012). WACKER has a global network of 24 production sites, 22 technical competence centers and 53 sales offices. WACKER SILICONES Silicone fluids, emulsions, rubber and resins; silanes; pyrogenic silicas; thermoplastic silicone elastomers WACKER POLYMERS Polyvinyl acetates and vinyl acetate copolymers in the form of dispersible polymer powders, dispersions, solid resins and solutions used as binders for construction chemicals, paints and coatings, adhesives, plasters, textiles and nonwovens, as well as for polymeric materials based on renewable resources WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS Biotech products such as cyclodextrins, cysteine and biologics, as well as fine chemicals and PVAc solid resins WACKER POLYSILICON Polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries Siltronic Hyperpure silicon wafers and monocrystals for semiconductor components