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Nutraceutical ingredients innovator SUANNUTRA USA has announced a strategic distribution agreement with Spanish biotech company Fitoplancton Marino, S.L. The partnership grants SUANNUTRA the rights to distribute TetraSOD, a science-backed bioactive marine complex, across the North American market.
The agreement introduces a highly concentrated, patented ingredient into the US supply chain, positioned to disrupt the cellular health and active nutrition categories through its unique endogenous antioxidant mechanism.
TetraSOD® is derived from the microalgae Tetraselmis chuii, a species utilised in aquaculture since the 1950s. While traditional antioxidant supplements rely on exogenous compounds to neutralise free radicals, TetraSOD® functions as an indirect antioxidant. It activates the body's endogenous defence and adaptive response mechanisms, primarily through the activation of NRF2 and SIRT1 pathways.
These pathways are critical for cellular protection:
NRF2: A transcription factor involved in the cellular antioxidant response.
SIRT1: A sirtuin family member that plays a vital role in cellular protection and repair.
Beyond its record-breaking superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, which is concentrated to a minimum of 30,000 µ/g without the use of extraction processes, the pale-green powder contains a matrix of bioactive compounds including natural polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, and phytosterols.
Sustainable Cultivation and Scalable Supply
Fitoplancton Marino produces the ingredient using a patented cultivation method near the Spanish coast in El Puerto de Santa Maria. The microalgae is grown in closed outdoor bioreactors where temperature, oxygen levels, stressors, and nutrients are strictly controlled. This precision agriculture model maximises the concentration of SOD and lipids while ensuring a sustainable, scalable supply chain for B2B partners.
Carlos Unamunzaga, CEO of Fitoplancton Marino, noted that the company has invested over 20 years in developing the ingredient and securing international regulatory approvals. The ingredient currently holds Novel Food approval in the EU, self-GRAS status in the US, and a Natural Product Number (NPN) in Canada.
Clinical Validation and Application Versatility
The commercial viability of TetraSOD® is supported by 17 peer-reviewed studies and 10 patents. Crucially for formulators, the ingredient demonstrates high efficacy at a low daily dose of just 25 mg.
Clinical and preclinical research indicate significant benefits across three primary areas:
Physical Performance: Human trials demonstrated improvements in aerobic capacity and oxygen uptake (VO2 max) within 14 days of usage, alongside a reduction in post-workout muscle damage.
Metabolic and Gut Health: Recent studies published in Foods highlight the ingredient's potential prebiotic role, illustrating its ability to increase microbial diversity in the colon and induce the production of short-chain fatty acids like butyrate.
Cellular Ageing: Research published in March 2026 demonstrates the ingredient's ability to protect telomere length in human cells.
Marián Gutiérrez Montero, Business Development Director of SUANNUTRA, stated that the wellness attributes of the micro-seaweed are proving to be "diverse and all-encompassing." She highlighted its immediate applicability in supplement formulations targeting healthy ageing, sports nutrition, and the rapidly expanding GLP-1 support market.
As the North American nutraceutical sector increasingly prioritises marine-derived, sustainable bioactives, SUANNUTRA’s exclusive distribution of TetraSOD® provides US manufacturers with a clinically validated "hero ingredient" capable of delivering measurable metabolic and cellular benefits at highly efficient dosage levels.
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