Botanical and nutraceutical ingredient producers Pharmactive Biotech Products, S.L.U., unveils KWD+®, a high-performance extract of kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa). KWD+ has natural capabilities found to promote protein digestion. The company is positioning the ingredient across three health demographics: sports enthusiasts, the elderly, and vegans. All may experience some problems with digestion, absorption or reaching the recommended protein intake of proteins.
Kiwi fruit is an exceptional source of nutrients, especially vitamin C, and has an antioxidant activity and positive impact on digestion. This is attributed to the natural presence of actinidin, an enzyme that helps break down proteins and enhances their absorption.
Sourced from traditionally cultured kiwi fruits in New Zealand and manufactured within its GMP-approved facility in Spain, KWD+ is standardized to at least 0.15% actinidin, and 0.1% Aktinnamics® a set of characteristic kiwi antioxidants, chiefly phenolic compounds, that have shown anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo – as determined by HPLC. Pharmactive applies proprietary technology which concentrates the proteolytic enzymes five-fold more than fresh kiwi fruit.
Both animal models and bench studies have supported actinidin's ability to improve digestion of proteins in the stomach and small intestine, converting them into more digestible protein fractions called peptides.
"KWD+ can be beneficial for several classes of populations," asserts Jean-Marie Raymond, CEO for Pharmactive. "In the sports nutrition arena, KWD+ could be instrumental in promoting a better harnessing of proteins among sport professionals and highly active adults. This could help reduce the excessive protein intake, especially among those involved in high-powered physical disciplines, such as powerlifting and bodybuilding. Excess intake of dietary protein has been associated with a number of health risks. KWD+ serves as a perfect complement to high-protein diets and can be added to post workout protein bars and shakes."
Pharmactive's kiwi extract also targets ageing populations as a means of helping support the maintenance of muscle mass. "People in their forties and older, especially women, can lose up to 1-2% muscular mass each year due to the gradual decline in protein absorption that unfortunately comes with ageing," adds Raymond.
KWD+ also can appeal to vegans who commonly find it difficult to achieve recommended protein intakes. This is largely due to the lower bioavailability of many plant proteins. Common vegan protein sources, such as tofu, just have a 64% bioavailability.
"The standardization of the actives in KWD+ allows us to establish a precise dosage to improve the digestion of some proteins difficult to digest, for example, gluten, soy protein, or beef muscle," explains Alberto Espinel, Director of IP & Open Innovation for Pharmactive. "Vegetarians and vegans can use the benefits of KWD+ to increase the biologic value of vegetable proteins and get more out of less."
For more information: 
Cristian Conde Garrido
Pharmactive Biotech Products, S.L.U.
Tel: +34 640776354
Cristian.conde@pharmactive.eu
Twitter: @Pharmactive_SP
Web: pharmactive.eu