The Future for Heart-Healthy Nutraceuticals

The research for nutraceutical heart health benefits is beginning to pile up. The lack of side effects observed from the research, on top of thousands of years of traditional use assures consumers that nutraceuticals provide a margin of safety. Intelligent blends of heart-healthy nutraceuticals are beginning to take hold on the market, and nutraceutical companies are rapidly investing in research to further substantiate their benefits.

A perfect example of this is Flavoxine, a proprietary combination of an extract from the Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense) and a patented extract from Citrus sinensis (orange peel). Orange peel contains heart-healthy polymethoxylated flavones, or PMFs, while the Amur cork tree is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. Deanne Dolnick, MS, of Salinas, CA-based Next Pharmaceuticals, commented on her company’s investment in clinical research. “We conducted a study on Flavoxine in which we observed statistically significant results for many cardiovascular parameters, including the lowering of LDL and triglycerides, the increase of HDL, and the lowering of C-reactive protein, which is a prime indicator of inflammation,” Ms. Dolnick said.

Next Pharmaceuticals plans to officially launch Flavoxine in the practitioner channel when this study is published—expected by the end of the second quarter this year. According to the company’s release of the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the obese Flavoxine-treated group experienced a 49% reduction of LDL, 12% increase in HDL, 18% reduction of triglycerides and 48% reduction in C-reactive protein levels. Blood pressure reduction was also significant. The normal weight treatment group experienced lower but significant results in these areas as well.

With this type of research and innovation being explored by nutraceutical companies, the future for heart healthy nutraceuticals appears bright indeed.

About the author: Casey Adams, DSc, holds a Doctor of Sciences in Integrative Health, is board certified as an Alternative Medical Practitioner, and practices at the Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Watsonville, CA. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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