The CPUT Functional Food Research Unit is set to convert its research into sellable products after being awarded a R3.2 million grant from the institution’s Innovation Board.

The Board, which was set up last year, is tasked with identifying and funding research at CPUT that can be commercialised.

In 2008, the Board called on researchers and innovation centres to submit proposals, highlighting their innovation capacity.

Out of the 13 proposals received, the Functional Food Research Unit, which is based in the Faculty of Applied Sciences, was the only one to secure funding and support from the Innovation Board.

The Unit, which has been operational since 2007, focuses on the research of foods that are beneficial to the health of consumers.

Head of the Cape Town based Unit, Prof Spinney Benade, welcomed the funding and said it will boost their current activities and assist in the rollout of new research projects.

The Unit, which is the only one of its kind in South Africa , places a huge emphasis on innovation.

Prof Benade said in order to commercialise research the unit follows a strategy whereby they identify a problem in a target population, conduct research on it and then develop a product that will alleviate or prevent the problem.

Currently the Unit is developing a range of unique pre-cooked baby cereals and food supplements, which is aimed at preventing micronutrient deficiencies.

Research has found that after weaning, young children do not follow a correct diet and are prone to developing micronutrient deficiencies. Sub-clinical micronutrient deficiencies also lead to impaired growth and cognitive development, birth defects, decreased school and work performance and poor general health.

“In South Africa 5000 children die each year of micronutrient deficiencies,” said Prof Benade.

The Unit conducted large scale research on micronutrient deficiencies and then created products that will provide children with the necessary nutrients. It also conducted clinical trials of the product.

“We have already done acceptability trials in Kwa-Zulu Natal. We had a good response,” he said.

Prof Benade said they are now looking at commercialising the products.

“Our aim is to secure a memorandum of understanding with industry. We would like the royalties from sales of products to come back to CPUT for research,” he said.

The Innovation Board funding will also assist the Unit in rolling out new research projects, which could have a huge impact on the international functional food industry.

One of the research projects that commenced this month focuses on determining the daily intake of Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

Dr Maretha Opperman, who works with Prof Benade said: “This type of study has never been done anywhere in the world. It is unique.”

To date researchers have only been able to determine a daily intake for vitamins and minerals.

However, the Unit plans to be the first to publish the recommended daily intake of Omega 3. “We are also working on a project to determine the true omega-3 fatty acid contents of these supplements on the South African market in order to ensure safety and trustworthiness of Omega-3 fatty acid supplements available to the consumer” she said.

Dr Opperman said securing the funding is a huge achievement for the Unit “This is a big grant and confirms the importance of the Unit’s research,” she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Technology Innovation & Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo said they opted to back the unit because they have “real products” that are ready for the market.

Dr Nhlapo said they will call on researchers to submit proposals to the board later this year.

By Candes Keating

Photo: (clockwise) A professional nurse takes a sample from a participant in the Omega-3 study; Dr Maretha Opperman of the Functional Food Research Unit; Lab Manager Fanie Rautenbach

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Researchers at the Functional Food Unit have taken their research outcomes one step further, converting it into sellable products.

After an injection of R3.2 million from the CPUT Innovation Fund in 2009, researchers at the unit embarked on various studies focusing on ways and means of increasing human intake of omega-3 fish oil, which plays a vital role in the prevention of several chronic diseases.

Now, three years later, the researchers’ efforts have paid off with the patenting of a fish-oil supplement capsule and a food supplement premix, which can be added to various products. Head of the Bellville-based unit Prof Spinney Benade says their products are unique.

“The capsules are unique as it contains a distinctive combination of vitamin E, which is derived from natural sources. The capsules currently on the market only have one form of vitamin E, which is synthetic,” he says.

The food supplement premix, boasting similar characteristics to that of the capsule, can be mixed into cereals and several other food products. The pre-mix does not act as food flavoring but as an omega-3 fish oil supplement aimed at preventing micronutrient deficiencies.

Dr Maretha Opperman who works alongside Prof Benade said commercializing research is a lengthy procedure, which has to be meticulously followed. Apart from research, clinical trials and other scientific processes, the unit also had to deal with the legalities of patenting.

However, with continued support from CPUT’s Technology Transfer Office, they are now in the final stages of the commercialisation process and hope to launch the products early next year.

Opperman said in addition to the commercialisation aspects, they produced several journal articles and identified other research ventures related to omega-3 fish oil.

By Candes Keating

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The Omega Caro-E food supplement, developed by CPUT innovators, Prof Spinney Benade and Dr Maretha Opperman is being snatched up by consumers.

Introduced to the South African market earlier this year, sales have already reached the R300 000 mark.

And with a stamp of approval from the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), monthly sales of the supplement have doubled.

“Since Cansa came on board, our sales soared to R 100 000 in April, and R 68 00 in May. All this was achieved without any advertising in the media,” says Benade.

In March the supplement received a Seal of Recognition from Cansa. This is the first time that the organisation has endorsed a food supplement.

Omega Caro-E, which is available in capsules, provides an affordable option to communities to lower the risk of developing chronic ailments like heart disease, arthritis, cancer, strokes and skin disorders.

CEO of Cansa, Sue Janse van Rensburg says the decision to support the product is based on extensive research and analysis of 64 fish oil supplements that are currently available on the market.

The research commissioned by Cansa found that the Omega Caro-E Supplement was unique and contained a diversity of natural molecules that may assist in reducing the risk of cancer.

“Accredited literature indicates that marine derived fish oil, plant derived carotenes as well as vitamin E may assist in reducing the risk from some chronic diseases like cancer. We therefore recognise Omega Caro-E as a first time Cansa Smart Choice Supplement,” says Janse van Rensburg.

The product is marketed by Cansa and is available for purchase at the organisation’s more than 50 offices, which are situated across the country.

The product retails at R97.

It is also available from the Functional Foods Unit at the Bellville Campus. To purchase the product or for more information please contact the unit at +27 (21) 953 8676/7.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Researchers at the Functional Food Research Unit have embarked on a study to determine the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Although omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in the prevention of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis, no study has been undertaken to determine the recommended daily intake.

To date researchers have only been able to determine a daily intake for vitamins and minerals.

Prof Spinney Benade, head of the unit that focuses on the research of foods that are beneficial to the health of consumers, said currently there are only three groups in South Africa researching aspects of omega-3 fatty acids.

However, the Cape Town-based unit is the only one looking at ways and means of increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

With funding from the institution’s Innovation Board, the unit commenced a research project in 2009 to develop a method to test for the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

“Last year was the first time we worked on creating a model we could use to determine how much omega-3 you need a day. The model was successful. Now we are trying to establish how much omega-3 fatty acids an individual needs a day,” he said.

Dr Maretha Opperman who works alongside Prof Benade said 33 participants are involved in the study, which commenced earlier this year.

For purposes of the study, the participants were divided into four groups. Three groups are required to take different doses of omega-3 fatty acid capsules daily, while one group is required to avoid the intake of the fatty acid.

Dr Opperman said blood is drawn at various stages of the study in order to monitor the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on the participants.

“So far the study is going well. The participants understand the importance of the study,” she said.

If all goes as planned, the researchers hope to publish a paper on the study, detailing the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids before the end of the year.

The same study will also be applied to people living with HIV/Aids in order to determine the impact daily doses of omega-3 fatty acids could have on their health.

The unit also recently completed a study that looked at determining the true omega-3 fatty acid contents of supplements on the South African market in order to ensure the safety and trustworthiness of omega-3 fatty acid supplements available to the consumer, said Dr Opperman.

The study was completed and the first publication will be released this year.

By Candes Keating

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The Omega Caro-E supplement is going global.

Developed by Prof Spinney Benade and Dr Maretha Opperman, the Omega Caro-E supplement, which is one of the first products to be invented by CPUT researchers, will now be sold in Canada.

Available in capsules, the supplement contains omega-3 fatty acids, a range of carotenes and natural forms of vitamin E.   The innovative formula of the supplement supports the maintenance of good health, such as brain and immune functions.

Canadians will now have the opportunity to purchase the product, which has been available in South African since 2013, thanks to Health Canada, who gave the supplement a stamp of approval.

Benade says it was a rigorous approval process, which took nine months.

The process involved various tests, which included having the product extensively analysed in Canada. The researchers also had to secure various licenses, which ranged from import to manufacturing licenses.

“They are one of the strictest bodies to get approval from. However, we got through with flying colours,” says Benade.

“They accepted the product as is because it was backed up with good research conducted over many years.”

The approval from Health Canada has far reaching benefits for the supplement, as this approval will allow the researchers to distribute Omega Caro E to a number of other countries.

Benade says they have formed a partnership with the Canadian organisation Lifespan Ventures Inc who is marketing the product in a very competitive field.

* A further four Omega Caro-E products have since been approved for manufacturing and sale in Canada. These products are Omega Caro-E Xtra, Omega Caro-E Vision , Omega Caro-E Cardio and Omega Caro-E Canine, each having its own specific formulation for a specific purpose.

For more information see www.omegacaroe.com

For more information on the Functional Foods Unit see: www.cput.ac.za/academic/faculties/appliedsciences/research/ffru

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.