4 Nov 2009 --- Glanbia, an international food company that is a leading scientific innovator in the dairy area, has a scientific advisory committee that helps Glanbia evaluate innovation and science.  The Glanbia Scientific Advisory Committee (GSAC) has recently reviewed two published studies based on Glanbia products.  The first was a weight management study, involving 59 subjects, investigating the ability of a Glanbia proprietary product, Prolibra, to help overweight and obese individuals target fat removal from their bodies with a preservation of lean body mass (muscle).  The GSAC scientists reviewed the initial study protocol and their suggestions were incorporated to improve the scientific validity of the study.  As a committee, GSAC has endorsed the quality of the science used to demonstrate the efficacy of Prolibra.  

The second study evaluated a fractionated, whey peptide product produced by Glanbia for its role in vasodilation.  These peptides were consumed by 20 young, healthy individuals which as a group showed an acute increase in vasodilation of the brachial artery.  Increases were also shown in capillary blood flow when individuals consumed the peptide product called NOP 47.  The GSAC committee reviewed the science for the NOP 47 initial study and agreed that the data support vasoactivity.

The Glanbia Scientific Advisory Committee consists of five leading experts in medical, nutrition and food science from prominent universities.  The board’s purpose is to advise Glanbia on the validity of new ideas and directions for functional food products.  They are also charged with serving as a liaison between Glanbia and the academic community.

Formed in February 2005, the committee had been instrumental in advising on the successful commercialization of several products.  Current members are:

• Professor Ian Rowland, GSAC Chair, and Head of the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, UK
• Professor Gerald Fitzgerald, Deputy Director, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Chair of Food Microbiology and Director - BioTransfer Unit, University College Cork, Ireland
• Professor Brendan Buckley, Honorary Clinical Professor in Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Ireland
• Professor Ted Dinan, Chair of Psychiatry, member of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland
• Professor Fergus Shanahan, Chair-Department of Medicine and Director of Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland