Nutritional yeast SAMe Superesse opens new opportunities and markets for S-adenosylmethionine

Published: 22-Jun-2016

Superesse is stable, highly flavourful and simple to administer


After receiving a health claim for Superesse, the enriched natural yeast with S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the 'Improvement for the joint wrongness,' new possibilities now exist in strictly regulated countries where S-adenosylmethionine 'as is' was not allowed to be used in nutritional supplements.

The recognition of the joint health claim follows the publication of a placebo-controlled double-blind randomised clinical trial in healthy male and female adults (aged 40 to 59) who had chronic discomfort in the knee joint that had persisted for at least 3 months at the time of enrolment with no history of OA. (N. Yamanaka, et al., Jpn Pharmacol. Ther. 43(4) 2015).

Japan is thought leader in the manufacture and use of 'Foods with Health Claims,' the preferred term for dietary supplements and natural nutraceuticals. The health-conscious Japanese have long embraced the benefits of nutraceuticals, and the country ranked third in per capita spend on nutraceuticals in 2014 (according to World Health Organisation data), whereas others place Japan as the second largest individual consumer of nutraceuticals (behind the US).

The effectiveness of SAMe Superesse was evaluated through symptom scores in a questionnaire, which takes the format of a scale from 0 to 10, or a VAS (visual analogue scale). The questionnaire used the 'Locomotive Syndrome Risk Test' presented by the Japanese Orthopedic Association as a reference, and the subjective symptoms of the 10 items set were the targets for evaluation.

The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is very well known because it represents an excellent source of several nutritional compounds, such as vitamins and proteins, which are beneficial for human health. As a ‘nutritional yeast,’ it is used in dried and inactive forms and may also contain other important substances. These natural components are available in the native structure and are biologically active.

The product has been designed by Gnosis by combining biofermentation expertise with their understanding of SAMe to obtain a new ingredient for the food market. SupereSSe activity derives from the natural content of the (S,S) SAM-e stereoisomer contained in the dried cells. This metabolite is present in all living cells and plays a central role in cellular biochemistry.

SAMe is involved in more than 35 methylation reactions related to DNA, proteins, lipids and hormones, impacting cellular function in countless ways, such as neurotransmitter synthesis and membrane function. (S,S) is the biologically active form of SAMe that produces healthy benefits, supporting joint functions, but also affects mood and emotional well-being, working as a liver protector as well.

Superesse is stable without needing stabilising agents. It is highly flavourful and simple to administer (direct administration of product in suitable nutraceutical forms especially capsules, tablets and sachets). It can easily be combined with other ingredients and excipients.

You may also like