Comparison of NutriFusion Supplements with Synthetic Vitamins

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are essential food constituents that provide nutritional benefits as well as medicinal effects. The benefits of these foods are due to the presence of active compounds such as carotenoids, collagen hydrolysate, and dietary fibers. Nutraceuticals have been found to positively affect cardiovascular and immune system health and have a role in infection and cancer prevention. Nutraceuticals can be categorized into different classes based on their nature and mode of action. Synthetic vitamins are a booming industry, but their benefits are limited due to the general nature of the chemicals. Hypothesis: In this study, we compared different synthetic vitamins to nutraceuticals (GrandFusion, GF) and their potential therapeutic activity. Methods: Daily administration of GF diets (2%) compared to a one a day vitamin over a period of 4-months in C57BL6 mice increased mitochondrial DNA and general mitochondrial enzyme activity and enhanced mitochondrial mRNA synthesis compared to synthetic vitamin supplementation. Compared to the synthetic vitamins, all GF diets augmented mRNA expression of mitochondrial biogenesis constituents, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1 α ), mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERR α ), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1), cytochrome c oxidase IV (COXIV) and ATP synthase (ATPsyn). Key findings: Mice treated with GF diets showed an increase in running behavioral parameters when compared to control and synthetic vitamin treated mice. GF diets enhanced protein expression of cell signaling elements including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), PGC-1 α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-g), compared to synthetic vitamins. Finally, GF diets reduced autophagy and the expression of phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (p-S6K1). Conclusions: These results suggest that GF diets are more effective in improving baseline metabolic pathways compared to synthetic vitamins.