Passion fruit impresses not only with its intensely exotic aroma but also with its diverse nutritional profile. In this entry of our vital substance encyclopedia, you'll learn interesting facts about the origin of this tropical fruit, its vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, as well as its sensory properties and nutritional aspects – presented in a well-founded, easy-to-understand, and health-claim-compliant manner.

The mango is one of the most popular tropical fruits, prized for its sweet, fruity flavor and diverse nutritional profile. This entry in our nutrient encyclopedia provides valuable information about the origins of the mango, its vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, as well as its sensory and nutritional aspects – presented in a well-founded, easy-to-understand, and health-claim-compliant manner.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), also called dimethylsulfone, is a sulfur-containing chemical compound that occurs naturally in the environment. This compound is found in foods such as milk and cooked vegetables. Through our diet, our own metabolism and that of our gut bacteria, MSM is also found naturally in our body in the blood and spinal fluid.  

Characteristics:  

MSM has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-tumor properties in various studies. From a clinical perspective, the exact application is still uncertain and MSM is therefore currently only used in complementary medicine.  

However, there are studies in which MSM supplementation in humans has led to an increase in the good cholesterol, HDL, which could have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. In both an animal and human study, MSM supplementation showed a reduction in oxidative stress on the muscles after exercise.  

The most common use of MSM is for joint health due to its beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. Several clinical studies have highlighted the benefits of MSM in relieving arthritis pain. Studies have found that MSM significantly contributes to reducing pain and physical function limitation in osteoarthritis patients.  

What is particularly interesting for use in our product DermAgil Beauty is that studies have shown that MSM leads to an improvement in the skin and signs of aging. The test subjects showed more elastic, hydrated skin with fewer wrinkles. Another study also showed an improvement in the shine of nails and hair as well as an improvement in hair volume.  

Dosage recommendation and possible side effects  

A daily dose of up to four grams is usually well tolerated and has only a few known and mild side effects. When applied externally, slight skin and eye irritation has been observed. An interaction between alcohol and MSM, such as increased sensitivity, may be possible, but needs to be researched in more detail.  

Which AgilNature® products contain methylsulfonylmethane? 

*Nutrient Reference Value = percentage of the reference value according to Annex XIII of the Food Information Regulation (EC) No 1169/2011.  

** No recommendation available.  

Literature:  

1. Engelke UF, Tangerman A, Willemsen MA, Moscow D, Loss S, Mudd SH, Wevers RA (August 2005). "Dimethyl sulfone in human cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma confirmed by one-dimensional (1)H and two-dimensional (1)H-(13)C NMR". NMR in Biomedicine. 18(5): 331–6. 
2. PharmaWiki - MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). https://www.pharmawiki.ch/wiki/index.php?wiki=MSM (accessed on December 16, 2023) 
3. Miller L, Thompson K, Pavlenco C, Mettu VS, Haverkamp H, Skaufel S, Basit A, Prasad B, Larsen J. The Effect of Daily Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Consumption on High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Healthy Overweight and Obese Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 15;13(10):3620. 
4. Muizzuddin N, Benjamin R. Beauty from within: Oral administration of a sulfur-containing supplement methylsulfonylmethane improves signs of skin aging. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2022 Jul;92(3-4):182-191. 
5. Lim, Eun Young; Hong, Dae Young; Park, Jin Hee; Young, Youn Hee; Darvin, Pramod; Kim, Sang Yoon; Well, Yoon Mi; Hwang, Tae Sook; Ye, Sang Kyu; Moon, Eon Soo; Cho, Byung Wook (2012). "Methylsulfonylmethane suppresses breast cancer growth by down-regulating STAT3 and STAT5b pathways". PLOS ONE. 7(4):e33361. 
6. Barmaki S, Bohlooli S, Khoshkhahesh F, Nakhostin-Roohi B (April 2012). "Effect of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on exercise - Induced muscle damage and total antioxidant capacity". The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 52 (2): 170–4. 
7. Nakhostin-Roohi B, Barmaki S, Khoshkhahesh F, Bohlooli S (October 2011). "Effect of chronic supplementation with methylsulfonylmethane on oxidative stress following acute exercise in untrained healthy men". The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 63 (10): 1290–4 
8. Liu X, Machado GC, Eyles JP, et al. Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis, British Journal of Sports Medicine 2018;52:167-175. 
9. Butawan, M., Benjamin, RL & Bloomer, RJ Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement. Nutrients 9 , 290 (2017). 

Overview

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that occurs as plant-based vitamin K1 and vitamin K2, which can only be produced by bacteria and is therefore found in animal and fermented products and is also formed in our intestines thanks to intestinal bacteria. It is heat-stable and therefore little is lost when cooking and heating. Our body has only small stores of vitamin K and therefore has a mechanism with which it can “recycle” the vitamin and use it several times.  

Vitamin K is mainly important for blood clotting and healthy bones. As a coenzyme, it enables other enzymes in our body to function. It allows blood to clot and therefore prevents uncontrolled bleeding by using it to produce clotting factors.  

It is needed to transport calcium, the main component of our bones, from the blood to the bones and is therefore essential for strong, healthy bones. Due to the role of the vitamin in calcium regulation and some studies, it is also assumed that vitamin K2 has a positive influence on the cardiovascular system.  

Vitamin K2 – the most important tasks in brief  

The following vitamin K2-related health claims have been evaluated and approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) through scientific studies:  

• Vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting 
• Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones 

Your daily need for vitamin K2 

The DGE recommends an intake of 70 µg vitamin K per day for young male adults. For young women, 60 mcg per day is recommended. Older people over 50 have increased needs. This is 80 µg for men and 65 µg for women.  

Vitamin K2 is found in animal products such as milk and dairy products, meat and eggs.  

A vitamin K deficiency in adults is rare because it is found in numerous foods, is produced in our intestines and is reused. However, there is a risk of deficiency with some medications as well as some diseases such as liver damage, fat malabsorption disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and cystic fibrosis.  

However, since there is little vitamin K in breast milk and due to insufficient storage, newborns have an increased risk of vitamin K deficiency.  

There are currently no known harmful effects to higher vitamin K2 intake.  

How a vitamin K2 deficiency can manifest itself  

A deficiency can lead to problems with blood clotting, which manifests itself in bleeding such as bleeding from the gums and nose and very heavy menstrual bleeding. Bruising is also easier. It poses a fatal risk in newborns, as bleeding in the skull is also possible.  

Deficiency has also been linked to some diseases such as: cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer and dementia.  

Which AgilNature products contain vitamin K2? 

*Nutrient Reference Value = Percentage of the reference value according to Appendix XIII of the Food Information Regulation (EC) No. 1169/2011.  

Literature: 

1. Vitamin K. DGE. https://www.dge.de/forschung/referenzwerte/vitamin-k/ (accessed on December 17, 2023)  
2. "Vitamin K". Corvallis, OR: Micronutrient Information Center, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. July 2014. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-K (accessed December 17, 2023)  
3. Ren L, Peng C, Hu X, Han Y, Huang H. Microbial production of vitamin K2: current status and future prospects. Biotechnol Adv. 2020 Mar-Apr;39:107453.  
4. Hariri E, Kassis N, Iskandar JP, Schurgers LJ, Saad A, Abdelfattah O, Bansal A, Isogai T, Harb SC, Kapadia S. Vitamin K2-a neglected player in cardiovascular health: a narrative review. Open Heart. 2021 Nov;8(2):e001715.  
5. Halder M, Petsophonsakul P, Akbulut AC, Pavlic A, Bohan F, Anderson E, Maresz K, Kramann R, Schurgers L. Vitamin K: Double Bonds beyond Coagulation Insights into Differences between Vitamin K1 and K2 in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Feb 19;20(4):896.  
6. Přemysl Mladěnka et al.: Vitamin K - sources, physiological role, kinetics, deficiency, detection, therapeutic use, and toxicity. In: Nutrition Reviews. Volume 80, No. 4, March 10, 2022, pp. 677-698.  
7. Mladěnka, P., Macáková, K., Kujovská Krčmová, L., Javorská, L., Mrštná, K., Carazo, A., Protti, M., Remião, F., Nováková, L., & OEMONOM researchers and collaborators (2022). Vitamin K - sources, physiological role, kinetics, deficiency, detection, therapeutic use, and toxicity. Nutrition reviews, 80(4), 677-698.  
8. Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 (Health Claims)  

Origin & History

Molybdenum belongs to the group of trace elements and must therefore be absorbed through food since the body cannot produce it itself. It is essential in almost all living organisms. By itself, molybdenum is biologically inactive until it is incorporated into the active site of 4 human enzymes, where it serves as a cofactor. The body stores approximately 2 mg to ensure a supply of molybdenum.  

Enzymes

There are many molybdenum-dependent enzymes in the body that require the trace element complexed in their active center to function. One of these enzymes is responsible for converting sulfite to sulfate in order to keep sulfite concentrations low in our body and to allow excretion. This conversion is also required for the breakdown of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine, which is a component of many proteins.  

More research is needed and the exact mechanism is not yet known, but studies suggest that molybdenum supplementation may help with iron deficiency and joint pain associated with arthritis.  

Molybdenum – the most important tasks in brief  

The following molybdenum-related health claims have been evaluated and approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) through scientific studies:  

• Molybdenum contributes to the normal metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids 

Your daily need for molybdenum 

The German Nutrition Society recommends an intake of 50-100 µg molybdenum per day for adults.  

Molybdenum is found primarily in legumes (e.g. peas, lentils, beans) and grains.  

Diet-related molybdenum deficiency is extremely rare and is not usually the cause of a deficiency. The cause of a deficiency is a rare, hereditary gene mutation.  

The tolerable upper limit for non-pregnant and breastfeeding adults, which does not result in any health effects, is 2 mg per day.  

How a molybdenum deficiency can manifest itself  

Without molybdenum, the conversion of sulfite to sulfate cannot take place in our body, causing the sulfite to rise to toxic concentrations. If a gene mutation is present in newborns, a fatal outcome is to be expected. A late-onset deficiency may manifest as acute neurological decompensation during infection. The episodes vary in nature but usually consist of altered mental status, movement disorders and uncontrollable muscle contractions, and more. These features may improve after the triggering infection resolves or may progress over the course of life.  

Which AgilNature products contain molybdenum? 

*Nutrient Reference Value = Percentage of the reference value according to Appendix XIII of the Food Information Regulation (EC) No. 1169/2011.  

literature  

1. Copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum. DGE. https://www.dge.de/forschung/referenzwerte/kupfer-mangan-chrom-molybdaen/ (accessed on December 16, 2023) 
2. Mendel R.R. The molybdenum cofactor. J Biol Chem. 2013 May 10;288(19):13165-72. 
3. Mendel R.R. Molybdenum: biological activity and metabolism. Dalton Trans. 2005 Nov 7;(21):3404-9. 
4. Johannes L, Fu CY, Schwarz G. Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency in Humans. Molecules. 2022 Oct 14;27(20):6896. 
5. Mayr SJ, Mendel RR, Schwarz G. Molybdenum cofactor biology, evolution and deficiency. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2021 Jan;1868(1):118883 
6. Grech BJ. Mechanistic insights into the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia and arthritis in humans with dietary molybdenum. Your J Clin Nutr. 2021 Aug;75(8):1170-1175. 

Origin and history of the melon

The Cantaloupe-Melone (Cucumis melo was. cantalupensis), is a variety of cantaloupe melon. While it may be hard to believe, the sweet cantaloupe is a member of the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae), which also includes cucumbers or pumpkins. The exact origin of the cantaloupe melons is unclear, but it is suspected that they originally came from Asia or Africa. The ancient Egyptians already appreciated their sweet and juicy taste. Today, cantaloupe melons are mainly grown in China and many other Asian countries. In Europe, the main producer of melons is Spain. Although the melon prefers a more tropical climate, it can even be grown in Germany (1, 2).

Current research shows that the cantaloupe not only tastes really delicious, but also has beneficial effects thanks to the special enzyme superoxide dismutase.

The enzyme superoxide dismutase

The human body needs oxygen to live. Important metabolic processes for generating energy are not possible without oxygen, but reactive oxygen species (engl. Reactive oxygen species, ROS) arise. ROS are very reactive free radicals that damage cells and functional molecules. As a rule, the body has protective mechanisms such as enzymes or antioxidants to render these ROS harmless again. This mechanism includes the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is found in almost every cell in our body (3).

Effects of oxidative stress

If we are permanently exposed to psychological stress, e.g. due to a high workload, the body can no longer protect itself adequately against this cell damage. The free radicals then exceed a healthy concentration and one speaks of "oxidative stress" (4). Not only does this make us age faster, the free radicals also affect the nervous system. Several studies have already pointed to a connection between oxidative stress and aging processes and fatigue, but also neurodegenerative (e.g. Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease) and neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety disorders or depression (4, 5, 6). In order to counteract this, it makes sense to reduce oxidative stress.

Less stress thanks to Extramel melon extract^® 

Extramel® is a patented, freeze-dried melon juice concentrate extracted from a special cantaloupe melon and has a high content of SOD and other antioxidants. The Extramel® formulation also has a special coating so that it is protected from digestive enzymes and its activity is preserved. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 61 subjects, an intervention group that took 10 mg Extramel® every day for a period of almost 3 months was compared with a control group that only received a placebo every day. It could be shown that in the intervention group the perceived stress could be significantly reduced and thus the quality of life of the subjects increased. In addition, physical and mental fatigue was significantly reduced. The psychological stress and fatigue normally described as states associated with oxidative stress could be reduced with Extramel®. The scientists therefore assume that Extramel® can reduce oxidative stress at the cellular level (4).

Which AgilNature® products contain the Extramel®?

Extramel® can be found in the ingredients as "melon juice concentrate".

* Nutrient Reference Value = percentage of the reference value according to Annex XIII of the Food Information Regulation (EC) No. 1169/2011.

** No recommendation available.

Literature:

1. Blancke, R. (2016). Tropical fruits and other edible plants of the world: An illustrated guide. Cornell University Press.

2. Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (ed.) (2021): Melons. Product information.

3. Koolman, Jan; Röhm, Klaus-Heinrich (ed.) (2019): Pocket atlas of human biochemistry. 5th, completely revised edition: Georg Thieme Verlag.

4. Carillon, Julie; Notin, Claire; Schmitt, Karine; Simoneau, Guy; Lacan, Dominique (2014): Dietary Supplementation with a Superoxide Dismutase-Melon Concentrate Reduces Stress, Physical and Mental Fatigue in Healthy People: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. In: Nutrients 6 (6), S. 2348–2359. DOI: 10.3390/nu6062348.

5. Salim, Samina (2017): Oxidative Stress and the Central Nervous System. In: Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 360 (1), S. 201–205. DOI: 10.1124 / jpet.116.237503.

6. Kudryavtseva, Anna V.; Krasnov, George S.; Dmitriev, Alexey A.; Alekseev, Boris Y.; Kardymon, Olga L.; Sadritdinova, Asia F. et al. (2016): Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in aging and cancer. In: Oncotarget 7 (29), S. 44879–44905. DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9821.

Your daily requirement of manganese The German Society for Nutrition recommends a daily intake of 2 to 5 mg manganese. High-quality dietary supplements for losing weight in the shop.

Which AgilNature® products contain manganese?

*Nutrient Reference Value = percentage the reference value according to Appendix XIII of the Food Information Regulation (EG) No. 1169/2011.