Matt Phillips, President of Cyvex Nutrition, Inc., has announced that Euro Black Currant Extract, 25% - 30% Anthocyanins is considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), based on the Guidance for industry ‘Frequently Asked Questions about GRAS’ published by the FDA CFSAN/Office of Food Additive Safety.

Euro Black Currant is an exceptional addition or alternative to bilberry extract for both economic and health reasons. “While bilberries have long been considered the ‘vision berries,’ black currants also have shown significant support for vision health. Specifically, studies have found that black currants positively impact the eye’s ability to adjust from light to dark,” Phillips says.

Black currant anthocyanins can play an important role in improving body’s microcirculation - the smaller blood vessels and capillary system. A study has shown that black currant anthocyanins improve peripheral muscle circulation during typing work. In another study, black currant supplementation to rats improved their blood flow resulting in relaxation of the aorta. Improving body’s microcirculation is beneficial for people suffering from venous insufficiency and varicose veins. Black currant anthocyanins may also help to prevent H. pylori from infecting the stomach and causing ulcers and gastric cancer.

“Euro Black Currant is definitely poised for tremendous market success,” Phillips says.

References:
1. Matsumoto H, Takenami E, et al. “Effect of black currant anthocyanin intake on peripheral muscle circulation during typing work in humans.” Eur J Appl Physiol 2005; 94: 36-45.
2. Nakaishi H, Matsumoto H, Tominaga S, Hirayama M. “Effects of black currant anthocyanoside intake on dark adaptation and VDT work-induced refractive transient alteration in healthy humans.” Altern Med Rev 2000 Dec;5 (6):553-62.
3. Nakamura Y, Matsumoto H, Todoki K. “Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by black currant concentrate in rat thoracic aorta.” Jpn J Pharmacol 2002 May; 89(1):29-35.
4. Mian E, Curri SB, Lietti A, Bombardelli E. “Anthocyanosides and the walls of the microvessels: further aspects of the mechanism of action of their protective effect in syndromes due to abnormal capillary fragility.” Minerva Med 1977 Oct 31;68(52):3565-81.