Home Ingredients Actazin® (Kiwifruit Extract — Anagenix)
Gut Health

Actazin® (Kiwifruit Extract — Anagenix)

Actinidia deliciosa
Evidence Level
Limited
2 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Actazin® is a cold-processed powder of green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) from Anagenix, made with the skin and seeds removed so that the fruit's fiber, polyphenols and the protein-digesting enzyme actinidin are kept. In a 4-week placebo-controlled crossover trial, 2,400 mg a day increased the number of daily bowel movements in 19 healthy adults, while 600 mg a day showed an increase only in a subgroup analysis of people who responded. Neither dose made a significant difference in a small group of 9 adults with functional constipation. A second analysis of the same trial found few changes in gut bacteria with Actazin; the rise in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii reported in that study followed a gold kiwifruit product, not Actazin. Its use for protein digestion rests on laboratory work with Actazin and on animal studies of green kiwifruit.

Studied Dose 600 mg or 2,400 mg a day for 4 weeks in the one published human trial; the bowel-movement increase in healthy adults was clear at 2,400 mg a day.
Active Compound Whole green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) concentrate providing soluble and insoluble fiber, polyphenols, and the proteolytic enzyme actinidin.

Benefits

Digestive regularity

In a 4-week placebo-controlled crossover trial, 2,400 mg a day of Actazin increased average daily bowel movements in 19 healthy adults compared with the washout periods, with no change in stool form. In a smaller group of 9 adults with functional constipation, neither dose made a significant difference. A larger registered trial of Actazin in 240 adults was completed in 2020 but has not reported results.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Gut bacteria composition

A second analysis of the same trial measured stool bacteria. Actazin made few changes: the only significant shift was a small rise in Dorea bacteria in the constipated group at 2,400 mg a day, and stool organic acids did not change. The doubling of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii seen in that study followed a gold kiwifruit product, not Actazin.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Protein digestion

Actazin contains actinidin, an enzyme that breaks down protein. In a food-science study, beef injected with an Actazin solution broke down faster under simulated stomach conditions in a test tube. Rats fed green kiwifruit digested beef, gluten and soy protein faster in the stomach than rats fed gold kiwifruit, which lacks actinidin. No human study has tested Actazin for this.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Fiber and water retention

Kiwifruit contains soluble and insoluble fiber, which holds water in the gut. In the Actazin trial, healthy adults had more frequent bowel movements at 2,400 mg a day, but stool form did not change.

2

Actinidin proteolysis

The natural enzyme actinidin cuts dietary proteins into smaller pieces. In rats, actinidin from green kiwifruit increased protein digestion in the stomach for several protein sources.

Clinical trials

1
Actazin and Bowel Movement Frequency
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial: Actazin 600 mg a day, Actazin 2,400 mg a day, a gold kiwifruit product (2,400 mg a day) and placebo, each for 28 days with 14-day washouts, with daily bowel-movement diaries. (Ansell et al. 2015, Nutrition Research)

19 healthy adults and 9 adults with functional constipation (Rome III criteria).

In healthy adults, Actazin 2,400 mg a day increased mean daily bowel movements compared with the washout periods; 600 mg a day reached significance only in a subgroup analysis of responders. Stool form did not change. In the constipated group, there were no significant differences between any of the treatments.

2
Actazin, Gold Kiwifruit Capsules and Gut Bacteria
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial from the same study: each participant took Actazin 600 mg a day, Actazin 2,400 mg a day, a gold kiwifruit product and placebo for 4 weeks each, with 2-week washouts; stool bacteria were measured by gene sequencing. (Blatchford et al. 2017, Journal of Nutritional Science)

20 healthy adults (19 completed) and 9 adults with functional constipation.

Actazin made few changes to stool bacteria: the only significant shift was a rise in Dorea bacteria (0.9% to 1.4%) in the constipated group at 2,400 mg a day, and stool organic acids did not change. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii rose from 3.4% to 7.0% in the constipated group after the gold kiwifruit product, not after Actazin.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Kiwifruit is a common food, but the one published Actazin trial was small and short (4 weeks per dose), and the gut bacteria report from it gives no side-effect data.
Mild gas or bloating can occur as fiber intake rises.
People with kiwifruit allergy should avoid it.

Important Drug interactions

No drug interaction studies of Actazin have been published.
As a fiber source, separate from medications that bind to fiber if advised.
Tell your doctor if you have a latex-fruit allergy syndrome.

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Frequently asked questions about Actazin® (Kiwifruit Extract — Anagenix)

What is Actazin?

Actazin® is a cold-processed powder of green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) from Anagenix, made with the skin and seeds removed so that the fruit's fiber, polyphenols and the protein-digesting enzyme actinidin are kept.

What is Actazin used for?

Actazin is researched primarily for Gut Health. In a 4-week placebo-controlled crossover trial, 2,400 mg a day of Actazin increased average daily bowel movements in 19 healthy adults compared with the washout periods, with no change in stool form.

What is the recommended dosage of Actazin?

The clinically studied dose is 600 mg or 2,400 mg a day for 4 weeks in the one published human trial; the bowel-movement increase in healthy adults was clear at 2,400 mg a day. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Actazin safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Actazin include: Kiwifruit is a common food, but the one published Actazin trial was small and short (4 weeks per dose), and the gut bacteria report from it gives no side-effect data. Mild gas or bloating can occur as fiber intake rises. It may also interact with some medications. Actazin is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Actazin interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No drug interaction studies of Actazin have been published. As a fiber source, separate from medications that bind to fiber if advised. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Actazin?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Actazin as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 2 study summaries and 4 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(4 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Ansell J, Butts CA, Paturi G, Eady SL, Wallace AJ, Hedderley D, Gearry RB. Kiwifruit-derived supplements increase stool frequency in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nutr Res. 2015;35(5):401-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2015.04.005..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of Actazin 600 mg and 2,400 mg a day, a gold kiwifruit product and placebo, each for 28 days. In 19 healthy adults, Actazin 2,400 mg a day increased mean daily bowel movements compared with washout, and 600 mg a day did so only in a subgroup analysis of responders. Stool form did not change. In 9 adults with functional constipation, no treatment made a significant difference. The companion report from this trial states it was co-funded by Anagenix, which supplied the capsules, along with Stratum Nutrition and the New Zealand government.
  2. Blatchford P, Stoklosinski H, Eady S, Wallace A, Butts C, Gearry R, Gibson G, Ansell J. Consumption of kiwifruit capsules increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance in functionally constipated individuals: a randomised controlled human trial. J Nutr Sci. 2017;6:e52. doi: 10.1017/jns.2017.52..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 20 healthy adults (19 completed) and 9 adults with functional constipation, each taking Actazin 600 mg and 2,400 mg a day, a gold kiwifruit product and placebo for 4 weeks each. Actazin produced few changes in stool bacteria; the only significant one was a small rise in Dorea in the constipated group at 2,400 mg a day. The rise in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (3.4% to 7.0%) followed the gold kiwifruit product, not Actazin. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Anagenix and Stratum Nutrition; Anagenix supplied the products.
  3. Zhu X, Kaur L, Staincliffe M, Boland M. Actinidin pretreatment and sous vide cooking of beef brisket: Effects on meat microstructure, texture and in vitro protein digestibility. Meat Sci. 2018;145:256-265. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.06.029..PubMedUsed to support: Food-science study using a commercial actinidin extract (Actazin from Anagenix). Beef brisket injected with the extract and then cooked showed faster early breakdown of muscle protein under simulated stomach conditions in a test tube. Laboratory evidence that the ingredient carries active actinidin; nobody ate it.
  4. Montoya CA, Hindmarsh JP, Gonzalez L, Boland MJ, Moughan PJ, Rutherfurd SM. Dietary actinidin from kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) increases gastric digestion and the gastric emptying rate of several dietary proteins in growing rats. J Nutr. 2014;144(4):440-6. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.185744..PubMedUsed to support: Animal study in growing rats fed six protein sources with freeze-dried green kiwifruit (with actinidin) or gold kiwifruit (almost none). Actinidin increased stomach digestion of beef muscle, gluten and soy protein isolate and sped stomach emptying of the beef and zein diets, but not for every protein tested. Animal evidence on whole green kiwifruit, not a specific supplement.