DGAP-News: Biohit announces results from acetaldehyde measurements

(firmenpresse) - Biohit Oyj

20.12.2012 10:30
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Biohit has carried out measurements of carcinogenic acetaldehyde concentrations
in foodstuff. Acetaldehyde is a widely used and naturally occurring group-1
carcinogen with apple scent. Industry produces hundreds of thousands of tons it
annually. Acetaldehyde is especially rich in food prepared with a fermentation
process such as alcohol beverages, vinegar and dairy products.

This study measured acetaldehyde concentrations in industry prepared drinks,
some of which included alcohol and some were non-alcoholic. The sample included
119 different commercial products that are available in grocery and liquor
stores.

The acetaldehyde concentrations were generally high in the test samples that
include alcohol. Acetaldehyde concentrations exceeded even 5 times the
so-called safety limit, 100 uM. In mild industrial alcoholic beverages (beers)
the acetaldehyde concentration varied considerably within a category. The
concentrations ranged strongly also within the mulled wine-type beverages.

Public health is also worth noticing that the official classification of
alcoholic beverage requires 2.8% alcohol content. Also many of the home-made
drinks and foods such as home-brewed beer or soya sauces contain alcohol
resulting from the fermentation. In that way even low alcohol contents act
remarkable sources of acetaldehyde in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

CEO Semi Korpela, Biohit Oyj: 'The food and alcohol industry as well as the
food industry monitoring agency admit the existence of acetaldehyde.
Acetaldehyde and harmfulness of the exposure should be in general awareness.
Consumers should be aware of risks caused by everyday products that are known
'safe'.

The measurement results and additional information:

www.biohithealthcare.com/laboratory-services/determination-of-acetaldehyde


Additional information:
CEO Semi Korpela, Biohit Oyj
Tel. +358 9 773 861
semi.korpela(at)biohit.fi
www.biohithealthcare.com



Biohit Oyj in brief

Biohit Oyj is a Finnish biotechnology company operating globally that was
established in 1988. Biohit's mission is 'Innovating for Health' and 'Cancer
Prevention'. The purpose of the company is to take social responsibility and
produce innovation, new technologies and analysis systems for use in medicine,
research institutions and industry, helping to promote research and diagnostics
and to improve the quality of life of people by means of preventing disease,
human suffering and financial loss. We are committed to responsibility and it
is our duty to innovate and develop the marketing and availability of our
products and services. Biohit is headquartered in Helsinki and its subsidiaries
are located China and UK. Since 1999, Biohit's Series B shares (BIOBV) have
been listed in the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Oy Small cap/Healthcare sector.



Acetaldehyde Group I human carcinogen

In October 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which
forms part of the World Health Organization, classified acetaldehyde included
in and generated endogenously from alcoholic beverages as a Group I human
carcinogen. Acetaldehyde belongs to the same risk class as, for example,
asbestos and tobacco.

Specific microbes (bacteria and yeasts) in the gastrointestinal tract are the
most important source of acetaldehyde exposure to the human body. These
microbes produce acetaldehyde from alcohol and, in certain circumstances, from
sugar. Unlike the liver, the microbes and the intestinal mucosa cannot remove
the acetaldehyde, and due to the effect of alcohol, an abundance of
acetaldehyde accumulates in the saliva and elsewhere in the gastrointestinal
tract. Acetaldehyde is a substance that accumulates in the body from several
sources, continuous exposure to it thereby severely increasing the risk of
cancer to various organs.

Source: IARC, Secretan et al (2009)
Additional information: www.biohithealthcare.com



Specify the acetaldehyde concentrate in foodstuff with Biohit laboratory

Biohit's service laboratory offers the possibility to measure the
concentrations of carcinogenic acetaldehyde mm. nutrients in foods and
alcoholic beverages. The service is suitable for the food industry, research
institutions and supervisory authorities as a regular consumer alike.

Detailed instructions can be found on the website of Biohit
www.biohithealthcare.com
If you are interested in the measurement, contact info(at)biohit.fi
News Source: NASDAQ OMX



20.12.2012 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP -
a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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Language: English
Company: Biohit Oyj


Finland
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Internet:
ISIN: FI0009005482
WKN:

End of Announcement DGAP News-Service

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Datum: 20.12.2012 - 10:30 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 214641
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