Forbes Extraction Tech Patented

KEARNY, NJForbes Medi-Tech Corporation received a United State patent for an extraction technology for plant sterols and stanols. The company hopes the patent, "Method for the preparation of phytosterols from tall oil pitch," will strengthen its ability to develop heart-healthy functional foods and dietary supplement applications. Forbes, a division of Pharmachem, manufacturers Reducol, a cholesterol management ingredient made from coniferous trees. According to the company, Reducol's plant sterol and stanol blend blocks the absorption of some cholesterol into the body.

"In our research, overall findings indicate a 15.5-percent LDL-cholesterol reduction compared to the control group," said Laura Wessman, senior vice president operations, Forbes. "Low-fat diet alone accounted for 8.9-percent LDL-cholesterol reduction, hence a 'prudent' Western diet plus phytosterols brought about a decrease in total LDL cholesterol of 24.4 percent from baseline measurements."