Clinical Study Demonstrates ChromaDex's Caffeine Alternative, PURENERGY™, Delivers 30% More Caffeine, Stays in the Blood Stream Longer and is Absorbed More Slowly than Ordinary Caffeine

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ChromaDex Corp.® (OTCQB: CDXC), an innovative natural products company that provides proprietary, science-based solutions and ingredients to the dietary supplement, food and beverage, animal health, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, announced today the results of a cross-over clinical evaluation of its PURENERGY™ caffeine alternative - a patented co-crystal ingredient comprised of caffeine and ChromaDex's pTeroPure® pterostilbene, a potent anti-oxidant found in blueberries.

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Based on the clinical evaluation, PURENERGY™ provides formulators of energy products the ability to reduce the total amount of caffeine in their products by as much as 50% without sacrificing consumers' expectations from such products.

The cross-over, clinical evaluation was designed to determine the relative bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and safety of PURENERGY™. This study was conducted by scientists from Miami Research Associates in Miami, Fla., led by principal investigator Dr. Diane R. Krieger.

The study compared the co-crystallized caffeine in PURENERGY™ with ordinary caffeine.  The findings of the study showed:

• PURENERGY™ delivers almost 30% more caffeine into the blood than ordinary caffeine.
• The rate of caffeine absorption is significantly slower with PURENERGY™, by about 30% as compared to ordinary caffeine
• The half-life of caffeine from PURENERGY™ is extended significantly by about 25% over that of ordinary caffeine.  
• At 4 hours, there was 45% more caffeine from PURENERGY™ compared to ordinary caffeine alone
• At 6 hours, there was 51% more caffeine from PURENERGY™ compared to ordinary caffeine alone. 
• At 6 hours, subjects taking PURENERGY™ showed significantly less fatigue and greater concentration compared to baseline. Ordinary caffeine did not.
• At 6 hours, subjects taking PURENERGY™ showed improved energy, alertness and focus compared to baseline. Ordinary caffeine did not.
• PURENERGY™ showed no adverse effect.

Recently, caffeinated energy products have been coming under increased political and regulatory scrutiny because of the potential health risks associated with consuming large amounts of caffeine. 

"The results of our clinical study of PURENERGY™ validate its suitability as an alternative to ordinary caffeine in energy drinks and other energy products, said Frank Jaksch, ChromaDex's co-founder and CEO. "PURENERGY™ balances the consumer's desire to feel the effects of caffeine with the pressure consumer product companies are under to reduce caffeine levels in finished products."

In conjunction with the clinical evaluation, ChromaDex commissioned Ipsos to conduct a national consumer survey of the caffeine consumption habits and attitudes of the American public. The survey reveals that although most Americans are committed to their daily caffeine habit, they would be interested in a product with less caffeine that delivers a sustained energy boost, but without the negative side effects associated with excessive caffeine consumption such as anxiety, jitters and increased heart rate.

ChromaDex's consumer survey found that 57 percent of American ages 18 to 54 reported consuming between two and five caffeinated beverages or products a day. According to the survey, 70 percent of Americans are either concerned about the potential health risks of using highly caffeinated products or have already stopped using these product altogether.

Seventy one percent of respondents age 18-34 reported that they were interested in a reduced caffeine energy beverage that provided the same benefits or feel without the negative side effects and the associated "crash" from ordinary caffeine.

Mr. Jaksch continued, "The consumer survey, which reveals that consumers are seeking a caffeine alternative that delivers less caffeine, but the same energy boost, validates the need for a safe, clinically studied ingredient like PURENERGY™."

The results of ChromaDex's clinical evaluation support those of an earlier animal study, which showed that PURENERGY™ has a longer half-life by comparison with caffeine alone.

In addition to being a caffeine alternative, PURENERGY™ has additional health benefits stemming from its co-crystal formulation with pTeroPure® pterostilbene, which has shown great promise for supporting heart health, cognitive function, anti-aging, weight loss and other metabolic disorders. pTeroPure® was named the 2010 North American Most Promising Ingredient of the Year by the independent research company Frost & Sullivan. 

PURENERGY™ and pTeroPure® are manufactured exclusively for ChromaDex by Laurus Labs, a leader in API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) manufacturing.

About ChromaDex®:
ChromaDex® is an innovative natural products company that discovers, acquires, develops and commercializes proprietary-based ingredient technologies through its unique business model that utilizes its wholly owned synergistic business units, including ingredient technologies, natural product fine chemicals (known as "phytochemicals"), chemistry and analytical testing services, and product regulatory and safety consulting (as Spherix Consulting).  The company provides seamless science-based solutions to the nutritional supplement, food and beverage, animal health, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The ChromaDex ingredient technologies unit includes products backed with extensive scientific research and intellectual property. Its ingredient portfolio includes pTeroPure® pterostilbene; ProC3G™, a natural black rice containing cyanidin-3-glucoside; PURENERGY™, a caffeine-pTeroPure co-crystal; and Niagen™, its recently launched branded nicotinamide riboside, a novel next-generation B vitamin.  To learn more about ChromaDex, visit www.chromadex.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:
Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements.  Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those relating to product and customer demand, market acceptance of our products, the effect of economic conditions both nationally and internationally, ability to protect our intellectual property rights, impact of any litigation or infringement actions brought against us, competition from other providers and products, risks in product development, our ability to raise capital to fund continuing operations, the ability to complete transactions, and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement for events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made except as required by law.

ChromaDex Investor Contact:
The Del Mar Consulting Group, Inc.
, Robert B. Prag, president,
858-794-9500,
 [email protected]
or
Alex Partners, LLC, 
Scott Wilfong, president,
 425-242-0891, 
[email protected]

ChromaDex Company Contact: 
Laura Carney, executive assistant, 
949-419-0288,
[email protected]

SOURCE ChromaDex