RESEARCH WITH DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY, LEICESTER, UK

(5 Min Read)    

Food supplements are often met with skepticism—questions arise around their safety, whether they're truly necessary, and if our bodies can absorb them effectively enough for them to make a real difference.

One of the core founding principles of Emerald Nutrition (EN) is ‘quality and research’; setting us apart from being just another product in an already crowded market.  

EMERALD PROMISE: We want to be different 

The formulation of Emerald Nutrition was developed in collaboration with an Associate Professor of Food Science and multiple nutrition experts, ensuring that academic rigor shaped the product from its inception. Over nearly two years and 49 formula iterations, we perfected a blend that harmonises an effective ingredient profile with the ideal sensory qualities—taste, smell, solubility, and color—while preserving the high-quality, potent levels of each ingredient. This ensures that users experience genuine, impactful results.

EN aligns fully with UK quality control standards for safe consumption—an important distinction, as not all supplements are screened before hitting the market. Each batch is rigorously tested for screened for Microbiology, Heavy Metals and Pesticides. Additionally, we go a step further by incorporating third-party, independently verified research from academic institutions to ensure the efficacy of our supplements, so you can trust they’ll provide real health benefits.

Partnering with DMU

As a start-up company based in the East Midlands UK, we reached out to local academic institutions and we’re fortunate enough to strike a working relationship with scientists from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences  at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. We’ve partnered with Dr Harprit Singh – Associate Professor in Metabolic & Vascular biology, published DMU scientist and his understudy Dolgormaa Janchivlamdan – PhD student in vascular health.  

In-Vitro Testing On Emerald Nutrition

In May 2024, we undertook phase 1 testing – early in vitro test (‘in vitro’ = ‘in glass’ - testing on a cellular level; without the involvement of animals/humans) measuring the efficacy of EN as a therapeutic food supplement for endothelial dysfunction.

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a condition characterised by narrowing of the blood vessels – restricting blood flow – which is an early event in the development of cardiovascular diseases and can lead to clogging of arteries, causing strokes and heart attacks. 

One of the causes of ED are insufficient Nitric Oxide (NO) levels. NO is a molecule important in the maintenance of vascular health. Inadequate amounts of this compound can lead to disrupted function of the blood vessels, and therefore cause ED. NO has a role in reducing inflammation in the artery walls. Without Nitric Oxide vessels can’t dilate – open – the blood flow is restricted. 

The research group from DMU looked at  the analysis of 4 important proteins that contribute to vascular health:  

Tie 1, Tie 2 – which have a role in anti-inflammatory response and vascular protection  
eNOS – Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase: which helps with the production of Nitric Oxide  
Akt – which has a role in vascular cell survival and Nitric Oxide production during adult hood.

 
Initial results from the study indicate a significant increase in the protein expression of Tie2, a receptor crucial for maintaining vascular stability and integrity, following treatment with Emerald Nutrition. Although other proteins showed positive changes in expression patterns over time, these were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that Emerald Nutrition may have potential as a therapeutic food supplement for ED by supporting vascular function and promoting angiogenesis—though further research is needed to confirm this effect.

Stay well & stay Healthy, and thank you for your interest in Nutrition.

Authored by Julia Bloszyk