Herbridge, 17 April 2011_Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG for short) is classified as lignanoid based natural estrogen. SDG presents the similar health benefits with soy isoflavone and red clover extracts. Scientific communities predicated years ago that SDG may substitute for soy isoflavone, attracting many companies’ attention. However, SDG hasn’t brought a big surprise since 2007.

Small Demand

It is very hard for SDG manufacturers to expand the market in China, which seems to be attributed to lack of strong scientific and clinical supports. According to herbridge.com, there are only about 5 SDG manufacturers in China, each with sales volume of 2-3 tons per year. Some manufacturers are just for old customers’ demand, giving up the intent to expand market. In a word, the SDG market is stagnant in China.

SDG & Soy Isoflavone

SDG is also inferior to soy isoflavone in terms of resource and production cost. As we all know, soy beans are widely distributed in China. However, flaxseed is primarily produced in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang province in China. SDG is derived from the remaining substances after squeezing flaxseed oil which are not abundant enough in China. Moreover, the prices for 20 percent pure soy isoflavone are 230-300RMB/kg, while 20% SDG prices are around 350RMB/kg. SDG seems to present no advantages for finished product manufacturers.

The very fierce competition continues to contract profit space of soy isoflavone, driving most manufacturers to withdraw from the isoflavone industry. It is worth mentioning that the increase of adulteration phenomena and transgenic soybean began to cause concern from more and more institutions worldwide. Under the conditions, finished product manufacturers may look for alternatives.

Soluble SDG

Dalian Innobioactives Co., Ltd. (INNOBIO?) said the market was expanding slowly in China. Innobio successfully developed LignaPure? SDG series with 20 and 30 percent pure versions. Compared to traditional SDG products, LignaPure? SDG series avoid mechanical admixtures such as sand, biotoxin such as flavacin as well as solvent and heavy metal residues. The feature of LignaPure? SDG series is also significantly improved, including color and mobility. More importantly, LignaPure? SDG series exhibit excellent water solubility. This improves the bioavailability and expands the applications. In addition, 20 percent pure LignaPure? SDG sees nearly the same prices of traditional competitors. Maybe the enhancement of bioavailability will help manufacturers expand the market.

Industry players indicated that manufacturers should focus on its functions in the process of marketing and developing. SDG is primarily used to regulate hormonal balance and relieve menopausal syndrome and osteoporosis, mainly targeting at menopausal woman. Given the features of main consumer groups in China, it is key important for finished product manufacturers to select appropriate product form. Industry players believed that capsule and tablet are very suitable in China.

According to herbridge.com, a new ingredient can successfully replace the old one, but only if the new ingredient has unique advantages, or only if the old one shows intolerable defects. SDG seems to have a long way to go.

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