How our supplements are inspiring new health research

At FutureYou Cambridge, we choose active ingredients supported by robust human research. That means independent researchers can use them to investigate where that science might lead next, from blood flow in the brain to sports performance and recovery.

Exploring blood flow in the brain with LactoLycopene™

FutureYou Cambridge began with LactoLycopene™. It’s our own patented, award-winning ingredient, based on years of research to make lycopene, a bright red antioxidant abundant in tomatoes, much easier for the body to absorb.

Lycopene naturally promotes cardiovascular health by supporting healthy blood vessel function, but it can be hard to absorb from raw food.

LactoLycopene™ combines lycopene with whey protein to improve its bioavailability. In a landmark Cambridge University Hospital study, daily supplementation with LactoLycopene™ was shown to improve blood vessel function by 53% in just 8 weeks in people with cardiovascular disease (Gajendragadkar P. et al., PLoS One, 2014). It's now available as a daily supplement in Ateronon Heart+.

Now researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan University are asking another question: could LactoLycopene™ also support the blood vessels supplying the brain?

Led by Dr Liam Corr, the study is measuring cerebral blood flow, cardiovascular function, 24-hour blood pressure and blood lycopene levels after seven days of taking LactoLycopene™.

In this randomised controlled crossover study, participants take both LactoLycopene™ and a placebo at different times, allowing researchers to compare the effects in the same individuals. 

The results aren't known yet, and that’s why research like this matters. Poor cerebrovascular health is associated with stroke, vascular dementia and cognitive decline, so understanding if LactoLycopene™ could help support healthy blood flow in the brain is an important question to explore.

For us, it's also exciting to see an ingredient we developed more than 20 years ago continuing to inspire new avenues of independent research.

“We’re proud that an ingredient we developed is being used in high-quality, independent research. Studies like these help deepen our understanding of how LactoLycopene™ could benefit people’s health in new ways," says Dr Miriam Ferrer, PhD, Head of Product Development.

Discovering what else cocoa flavanols can do – with Blood Flow+

Cocoa flavanols are natural plant compounds that help blood vessels stay elastic, supporting a healthy blood flow and cardiovascular health. Although you’ll find them in chocolate, you’d need to eat a lot to get a significant dose.

In clinical research, 200mg of pure cocoa flavanols was shown to improve blood circulation by 1%, which may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 12% (EFSA Journal, 2012). To get that dose from chocolate, you’d need to eat around 400g of high-quality dark – with all the calories that come with it. 

Each tablet of Blood Flow+ contains 690mg of CocoActiv™ extract with the same clinically tested dose of 200mg of pure cocoa flavanols – but just four calories.

Now, we’re sharing Blood Flow+ in a collaboration with researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan University to explore other potential health benefits from cocoa flavanols, with three different research projects:

Could cocoa flavanols influence fatigue and injury risk in female athletes?

Female athletes are more likely than men to tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a serious knee injury that can mean a year of recovery. Researchers are tracking athletes to see if cocoa flavanols could influence factors affecting ACL injury risk, like fatigue, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Could they help runners perform and recover?

A second study is following well-trained middle-distance runners to investigate whether cocoa flavanols can delay fatigue during a 1,500-metre run and speed up recovery afterwards, including through better sleep. Athletes may need to perform again within just 24 hours, making effective recovery important.

And how long do their effects on blood pressure last?

A third study is monitoring women over 24 hours to investigate whether the effects of cocoa flavanols are short-lived after each dose or build with repeated intake. By using continuous blood pressure monitoring, the team can track changes throughout the day and night, not just in a single reading.

We don't yet know what these studies will find, but learning more about how cocoa flavanols affect blood flow, fatigue, recovery and exercise could help us understand how to better support active, healthy lives at every age.

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