PROVEN HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK CURRANT EXTRACT
EUROPEAN BLACK CURRANT EXTRACT
FOR EYE HEALTH, SPORTS PERFORMANCE AND COGNITION
CurrantCraft® is a high-quality premium ingredient exclusively licensed by iprona, a leading company in fruit processing that exports from South Tyrol, the most northern region of Italy, in the middle of the Italian Alps, in the whole word. iprona produces European Black Currant Extract from only the best French quality berries of a special variety called Blackdown. This variety is grown by a cooperation of European farmers and also processed in Europe in order to reduce transportation ways with the aim to keep our environmental footprint as small as possible.
CurrantCraft® is extracted from the berries using an unique technology that treats fruits gently without artificial solvents. The result is a premium quality ingredient that proves that the company’s core belief holds true: Health comes from Nature.
THE VALIDATED BENEFITS OF EUROPEAN BLACKCURRANT EXTRACT
Blackcurrants are rich in anthocyanins, polyphenolic substances, antioxidants, and vitamin C. The status of the dark purple, almost black, berries originally grown in Europe as a superfruit has been cemented in recent years through clinical studies that have confirmed their benefit in areas including eye health, cognition, sport performance and cardiovascular health.
1. Eye Health
Researchers have identified the anthocyanins found in blackcurrant as a potentially promising and safe supplement for suppression of the visual field deterioration in people with glaucoma. The eye health potential of blackcurrant was validated in a two-year clinical trial that demonstrated positive effects on the progression of glaucoma.
2. Cognition
Clinical studies in humans have shown blackcurrant has beneficial effects on brain health. The studies found blackcurrant supports markers of cognitive performance such as positive affective responses in healthy adults. Researchers have also linked the superfruit to reduced anxiety and fatigue, increased alertness, and small improvements in reaction times during cognitive exercises. Neuropeptides found in blackcurrants can potentially be used to treat neurological disorders.
3. Sports Performance
Studies have linked blackcurrant to positive effects on multiple aspects of sport performance. Specific exercise studies found the berries accelerate the replenishment of oxygen in muscles. Other studies have shown blackcurrant improves performance and fat oxidation in climbers and cyclists. There is also evidence that blackcurrant has beneficial effects on cardiovascular parameters during exercise.
2. Cardiovascular Health
Another body of evidence supports the use of blackcurrant in cardiovascular health outside of the athletic arena. Studies have shown that blackcurrants, which are rich in anthocyanins, help improve cardiovascular function, while reducing blood pressure and arterial stiffness in older adults after just short-term use. The superfruit is also known to increase vasodilation and, in doing so, improve microcirculation.
FROM FIELD TO SHELF
At iprona, we pride ourselves not just on the unparalleled quality of our ingredients, but also onour ethical way of doing business and on keeping our environmental impact as suppliers as small as possible. Because the supply chain is fully controlled by iprona, based on a close partnership with reliable cooperatives and including storage and pre-processing, we embrace the implementation of full traceability that allows a finished extract to be tracked back to its place of origin.
A FULLY CONTROLLED EUROPEAN SUPPLY CHAIN
Though the various treatment requirements of the US FDA, EU and Asian guidelines are not identical, iprona is committed to meeting or exceeding the regulations of all countries in which we do business. Furthermore, iprona is certified fully to ISO 14001, the voluntary international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system.
THE COOPERATION
iprona chooses to work with European cooperatives to keep transportation routes short and environmental footprint small. For CurrantCraft® we work in close cooperation with the french cooperative “Les Vergers D’Anjou”. The farmers “Les Vergers D’Anjou” provide generations of experience and knowledge.
PLACE OF ORIGIN
The blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) variety got its name “Blackdown” from its large and deep black berries. It is juicy and flavourful with a distinctive musky taste. Ribes nigrum ‘Blackdown’ grows in and around the Loire Valley in France. The soil is rich in nutrients with ideal properties to grow blackcurrants. The perfect climate and the right altitude, in combination with this excellent variety contributes to the unique anthocyanin profile found in CurrantCraft®.
VERTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN
Our fully controlled supply chain incorporates all the steps from growing a raw material - including the use of pesticides and fungicides - to creating and selling a product. In this way, we have gained important knowledge about the product and its marketability, helping us offer higher-quality products to our partners.
TRACEABILITY
Because the supply chain is fully controlled by iprona, including storage and pre-processing, we embrace the implementation of full traceability that allows a finished extract to be precisely tracked back to its farm of origin, guaranteeing complete transparency.
GLOBAL PLAYER
Export is our daily business. As iprona sells over 85% of its products abroad, it is our goal to offer products that can serve the global market. For this reason, we strive to develop products that conform to the strictest regulations, putting our products under severe controls regarding pesticides, heavy metals and much more.
SUSTAINABILITY
Our supply chain is purely European and fully controlled by iprona. In this way, we can guarantee not only the highest quality, but also short transportation routes and a transparent and sustainable handling of the whole process. Additionally, iprona is certified fully to ISO 14001, the voluntary international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system.
