Study Shows Rose Hips Health Benefits for Obese Individuals

Tipping the scales, the number of overweight people around the world by 2015 will be a colossal $1.5 billion. 1 As the numbers make their way towards unprecedented global records, research continues its rigorous efforts in testing ingredients that may fulfill the desire of every overweight person - to achieve sustained weight loss through the ingestion of a simple pill and reduce weight-related health risks such as cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes.

While this may seem a far-fetched reality, scientific research has already made significant progress to meet this urgent need, producing an array of nutrients that may help support health weight loss, in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise, while simultaneously providing benefits for reducing the metabolic effects implicated with obesity. Scientists have been able to identify certain foods containing bioactive ingredients that may promote cardiovascular health and help the body regulate healthy blood sugar levels, amongst which, rose hips extract holds promising results.

Cardiovascular Benefits of Rose Hips Extract

A recent study highlights the benefits of rose hip extract on cardiovascular health. After experimenting on mice, researchers in Sweden and Norway studied the effects of rose hip on humans, specifically obese individuals with normal or impaired glucose tolerance. The body weight, glucose tolerance levels, blood pressure, lipid profiles and markers of inflammation were assessed of 31 obese individuals, who participated in this randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. The group given a daily drink containing 40 grams of rose hip powder recorded an average 3.4 percent decrease in systolic blood pressure, a total cholesterol drop of 4.9 percent while LDL cholesterol dropped by 6.0 percent. According to the researchers, the risk of cardiovascular disease in the group given a daily rose hip drink was reduced by 17 percent when compared to the control group. 2

Health Benefits of Rose Hips Extract

Rose hip, the pseudofruit of the rose plant, has been used for its medicinal value for manyc centuries because of its high ascorbic acid content. The fruit contains high amounts of antioxidants (ascorbic acid), phenolic compounds, and caretenoids. The benefits of rose hips extend well beyond its antioxidant potency, however. The extract possesses well-stablished anti-inflammatory effects and has been shown to relieve joint pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and lower-back pain. 3-6

While scientists have not been able to understand the mechanism by which rose hip extract is able to reduce plasma cholesterol, it is plausible that the high fiber content of rose hip, which corresponded to a daily intake of 31 grams of fiber, promotes increased synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol and works in the body in a mechanism similar to that of the cholesterol-lowering drug, cholestyramin. Other studies have demonstrated that an increase in fiber intake may be associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure. There was no recorded difference in glucose tolerance levels as was noted with the mice study but this may be because participants in the group did not have diabetes or because very few of them were glucose intolerant.

Obesity and Its Health Implications - A Growing Concern

According to the World Health Organization, the rate at which obesity is rising is expected to increase health care costs by $117 billion a year in the United States alone. Obesity is the common risk factor of metabolic syndrome, a name given to a group of risk factors that together, raise the risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2-diabetes.

According to a recent Frost & Sullivan report, rising healthcare costs along with growing awareness of health issues is helping to bolster the use of nutraceutical products as preventive measures against common health issues consumers are facing today. 7 According to Technical Insights Research Analyst Bhavatharini Rajesh, "Significant volumes of scientific studies have proven that nutraceuticals may be beneficial in preventing the onset of chronic disease conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease conditions, and obesity." He further states, "A higher awareness level of the prevention of various disease conditions is the key driver for companies in the nutraceutical space to develop natural products enriched with vitamins, minerals, proteins, fibers and more."

Manufacturing Rose Hips Supplements

Although the mechanisms by which rose hip extract work to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure are not yet fully understood, the study still holds important implications for obesity and health. As reported by Frost & Sullivan, food intervention is fast becoming a popular means for weight management and for reducing the metabolic implications of weight-related diseases. Rose hip extract may be a cash ingredient in dietary supplements and as a food additive in products aimed at reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. Rose hip extract may also be used as an alternative to statin treatment, especially those who do not tolerate the drug well or those who prefer natural treatments, as opposed to conventional drugs, to promote cardiovascular health.

Submit your free quote request today or call (800) 494-6154 to speak to one our product advisors to find out more about rose hips health benefits and the number of manufacturing options available to you. Choose from pre-stocked formulations or custom design your own formula. We have a number of delivery options and packaging solutions for you to choose from as well as customizable, cost-effective manufacturing options right from label and logo design to order fulfillment and drop shipping services. Using the latest research and technology, we'll help you quickly and efficiently design a product that meets the needs of your consumer target market.

References:

1. Obesity and Overweight, World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/

2. Effects of rose hip intake on risk markers of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: a randomized, double-blind, cross-over investigation in obese persons, Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011 Dec 14. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.203. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 22166897. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22166897

3. Rose hip inhibits chemotaxis and chemiluminescence of human peripheral blood neutrophils in vitro and reduces certain inflammatory parameters in vivo. Inflammopharmacology 1999; 7, 377-386.

4. A powder made from seeds and shells of a rose-hip subspecies (Rosa canina) reduces symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Scand J Rheumatol 2005; 34, 302-308.

5. The anti-inflammatory properties of rose-hip. Inflammopharmacology 1999; 7, 63-68.

6. COX-1 and -2 activity of rose hip. Phytother Res 2007; 21, 1251-1252.

7. Global Developments in Dietary Supplements, January 14, 2010, Frost & Sullivan. http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/press-release.pag?docid=189853551