Ann: GENERAL: CVT: Study Supports Traditional Dia

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    • Release Date: 14/03/13 13:06
    • Summary: GENERAL: CVT: Study Supports Traditional Diabetes Therapy Claim
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    CVT
    14/03/2013 11:06
    GENERAL
    
    REL: 1106 HRS Comvita Limited
    
    GENERAL: CVT: Study Supports Traditional Diabetes Therapy Claim
    
    A clinical trial by researchers at The University of Auckland's Liggins
    Institute has shown that an extract of fresh olive leaves appreciably reduces
    some risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
    
    A paper published today in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE presents
    results of the randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover
    trial of the extract in 46 overweight, middle-aged men at risk of developing
    type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The extract was prepared and
    supplied by global natural health and beauty products company Comvita.
    
    Principal investigator and Liggins Institute Director Professor Wayne
    Cutfield said that supplementation with the olive leaf extract for 12 weeks
    improved the way that insulin was secreted and worked in overweight men.
    Insulin is an important hormone which controls metabolism by stimulating the
    transport of glucose and fat into cells.
    
    "We saw significant improvements in standard measures of insulin action and
    secretion compared with placebo. The changes were of similar magnitude to
    those achieved with the commonly prescribed diabetes medication metformin,
    suggesting that these results could also have clinical relevance for patients
    with type 2 diabetes," said Cutfield.
    
    Comvita CEO Brett Hewlett said the study underscores the potential for
    efficacious, proven natural products to play an integral role in improving
    health outcomes.
    
    "Many natural supplements and remedies depend on traditional evidence found
    in national pharmacopoeias, text books and published reviews. This clinical
    trial provides important scientific rigour supporting the use of fresh olive
    leaf extract to improve glucose regulation in at-risk overweight middle aged
    men."
    
    Cutfield observed that the nutraceutical industry is a growing economic
    force. "People deserve to know whether marketing claims are real and
    justified.
    
    Previously, there has been little rigorous scientific evidence to support the
    centuries-old use of olive leaves as a remedy for ill-health, including
    diabetes.
    
    "We welcome the opportunity to bring our expertise in conducting well
    designed clinical trials into partnership with natural products companies
    such as Comvita to provide objective evidence of products' effectiveness," he
    said.
    
    The article, "Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf polyphenols improve insulin
    sensitivity in middle-aged overweight men: a randomized, placebo-controlled,
    crossover trial," is available on line:
    http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057622
    
    The research was co-funded by Comvita and the New Zealand Government, as part
    of a programme of business R&D funding now administered by Callaghan
    Innovation, the Crown entity charged with accelerating commercialisation of
    innovation in New Zealand firms.
    
    # Ends #
    
    For further information:
    Prof Wayne Cutfield, Director, Liggins Institute, 09 9234476
    
    Pandora Carlyon, Communications Manager, Liggins Institute, 021 565 715
    
    Comvita CEO, Brett Hewlett, 021 740 160
    
    Comvita Communications Manager, Julie Chadwick, 021 510 693
    
    Background information
    PLOS ONE (www.plosone.org)
    PLOS ONE is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication.
    Papers are peer reviewed by expert practicing researchers. The journal is
    freely accessible online and offers worldwide media coverage. The publishers,
    PLOS, are a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to
    making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available
    public resource.
    
    The Liggins Institute (www.liggins.auckland.ac.nz)
    The Liggins Institute is a Large-Scale Research Institute of The University
    of Auckland, NZ. The Institute's research demonstrates the importance of
    children having a healthy start to life and the on-going role of nutrition in
    promoting and supporting optimal health throughout life. Through laboratory,
    clinical and population based studies, the Institute's researchers and their
    international collaborators investigate problems in human health to discover
    why those problems occur. They then develop evidence based strategies to
    treat, manage or prevent them.
    
    Comvita (www.comvita.co.nz)
    Comvita is an international natural health and beauty company committed to
    the development of innovative products, backed by credible scientific
    research. They're the global leader in Manuka (leptospermum) honey and
    fresh-picked Olive Leaf Extract, which are at the core of the Comvita product
    range. They have more than 35,000 beehives under contract and direct control
    with more than 5000 producing specialist medical-grade Manuka honey.
    Comvita's Olive Leaf Extract is grown, harvested, extracted and bottled at
    the world's largest specialised olive leaf grove, with over 580,000 olive
    trees.
    
    Comvita sells into more than 18 countries through a network of wholesale and
    third-party outlets and online. They have offices in New Zealand, Australia,
    Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
    
    Callaghan Innovation (www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz)
    Callaghan Innovation is a new Crown entity charged with accelerating the
    commercialisation of innovation in New Zealand firms. Being the only
    organisation with a whole-of-system view of the innovation landscape,
    Callaghan Innovation will create and deliver innovative products and services
    to enable businesses to invest more in research, science, engineering,
    technology and design so that they can be more successful in the global
    market. A team of around 400 researchers, scientists, engineers,
    technologists, business people, project managers, investment managers and
    account managers are available to work directly with New Zealand businesses
    to link them with the research organisations, funding, expertise and
    facilities they need to support their investment in research and development.
    End CA:00234108 For:CVT    Type:GENERAL    Time:2013-03-14 11:06:59
    				
 
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