The deal aims to capitalise on Nating’s recent developments that combine botanical extracts with spelt, a grain that exhibits a lower glyceamic index, which may offer an alternative to maltodextrin.
Its other work involves the use of another grain, buckwheat that has shown antioxidant properties as well as benefits to cardiovascular health and maintenance.
“We are proposing typical Mediterranean botanicals that can be used for nutraceutical, food and cosmetic applications with a focus on people’s health,” said Alessia Mattielo, sales director at Nating, a Sardinia-based firm specialising in spray dried, granular, organic certified, liquid and glyceric natural extracts.
While the deal excludes distribution activities in Italy, Mattielo believes that the “ethos, sales and marketing strategy of Lehvoss can match our philosophy and we trust them to be the right partner to promote and sell our range of ingredients across Europe.”
‘A perfect match’
“Finding a European supply source of extracts from unspoilt surroundings with an expertise is rare and fits our ethos and requirements to service customers both existing and new,” added Jonathan Shorts, head of life sciences at LEHVOSS UK Ltd /Gee Lawson.
“The people behind Nating are also dedicated, so a perfect match as we develop this range with them. Our Group is very excited by this opportunity”
In-vitro studies appear to back up the benefits, with work carried out by the Food Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Pavia.
The team compared buckwheat and maltodextrin release of glucose after simulated ingestion.
Results suggested the lower glycemic index (GI:40) of Nating’s buckwheat carrier compared favorably to standard maltodextrin (GI:95), when used in the production of Nating botanical extracts.
The same team also demonstrated that the firm’s spelt carrier, had a lower glycemic index (GI:65) than standard maltodextrin (GI:95) and a higher amount of free glucose after ingestion (12 times more compared to maltodextrin) making it a suitable ingredient for diabetics.
In addition, the firm pointed out that selenium—one of the trace elements contained in spelt—is also associated with hair and nail maintenance.
Gee Lawson collaborations
The partnership is the latest in a series of agreements made by Gee Lawson—the Nutritional Division of Lehvoss UK.
Earlier this month, Gee Lawson agreed to be distributors for US-based Embria Health Sciences’ immune and digestive health ingredient, EpiCor.
The ingredient is a natural, whole food that includes proteins, fibers, polyphenols, vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides (including beta glucans).
In 2016, Finnish organic botanical supplier Eevia inked a deal with Gee Lawson to distribute its organic-certified botanical extracts including chaga, pine bark, bilberry anthocyanin and lingonberry proanthocyanidin (PAC).