With a simple slogan of “We create ingredients”, the NNB Nutrition team led by Founder/CEO Kylin Liao and Chief Science Officer Shawn Wells are bringing desparately-needed novel metabolic-enhancement ingredients to the industry!
When the supplement industry was suffering from stagnation in the mid-2010s, one visionary company set out to change everything by focusing on a simple yet revolutionary concept: creating new ingredients. That company is NNB Nutrition, founded by industrial chemist Kylin Liao and guided scientifically by renowned biochemist Shawn Wells.
Over the past decade, they’ve transformed from a ketone manufacturer into a full-spectrum ingredient powerhouse with a diverse portfolio spanning metabolic health, cognitive function, and sports performance. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and manufacturing excellence has established them as the premier novel ingredient supplier in the industry.
This article tells their story. The NNB Nutrition story.
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How NNB Nutrition Started: The Ketone Revolution
Expert chemist Kylin Liao founded NNB Nutrition after discovering several incredible metabolic-enhancement supplement ideas to bring to market.
Founded in 2015 by Kylin Liao, NNB Nutrition emerged to address a critical gap in the market: new ingredient development. Liao, a seasoned chemist from the Beijing-based Sinochem Group, had already established himself by bringing several compounds to market and helping researchers like Shawn Wells commercialize theacrine and methylliberine.
NNB’s first major entry was KetoVantage, a revolutionary form of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) that contained only the active D/R isomer, making it 2-3 times more potent than mixed isomers on the market. This ketone supplement, now rebranded as goBHB, became a cornerstone in the growing ketogenic supplement space. The backstory of this is covered in our Innovating BHB article, but let’s continue with NNB’s evolution.
“Ingredient City”: Building a Platform, Not Just Products
Rather than focusing on single-purpose machinery, Liao created what Shawn Wells calls “Ingredient City” – a flexible manufacturing platform that could produce multiple ingredients with rapid adaptability. This strategic investment in versatile technology created a foundation for continuous innovation, dramatically improving production lead times and quality control.
Today, NNB’s manufacturing capabilities span over 1,000,000 square feet with a global scientific team of more than 100 researchers. Their approach has paid dividends, enabling the rapid development of ingredients that have consistently raised the bar for quality and efficacy.
Evolution Beyond Metabolism: NNB’s Expanding Portfolio
NNB Nutrition introduces MitoPrime and SalidroPure – two innovative ingredients that work at the cellular level to deliver clean, sustainable energy without crashes.
While metabolic health remains a core focus, NNB has greatly expanded its technological platforms to address multiple supplement categories:
The Burn Series: Enhanced Energy Output
The Burn Series features compounds that increase energy expenditure through thermogenesis and metabolic signaling:
- CaloriBurn GP – A premium grains of paradise extract standardized for all the beneficial compounds found in research studies, not just 6-paradol like inferior extracts.
- MitoBurn – L-BAIBA, the exercise mimetic that signals to the body that exercise is occurring, promoting greater fat oxidation and energy expenditure.
- ZinjaBurn – Dehydrozingerone, a relative of curcumin that comes from ginger and offers simultaneous fat-fighting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
The Vantage Series: Metabolic Advantage
The Vantage Series provides users with a metabolic edge through ketone elevation and blood sugar management:
Wild Rhodiola now protected by CITES – NNB Nutrition launches SalidroPURE as sustainable alternative, delivering pure salidroside through precision fermentation. The future of adaptogenic supplementation has arrived.
- GlucoVantage – Dihydroberberine, a form of berberine with 5x greater bioavailability that helps drive carbohydrates into muscle cells rather than fat cells. Recent human trials confirm its superiority over standard berberine, with promising research showing GLP-1 agonist properties.
More recent research has shown that GlucoVantage Dihydroberberine Beats Berberine in Human Trial.[1]
- goBHB – D/R-BHB ketone salts that more effectively elevate ketone levels than standard mixed BHB salts, suitable for both low-carb dieters and athletes seeking “dual fuel” with carbohydrates.
- C8Vantage – A nearly pure C8 MCT powder that converts quickly to ketones, mixing perfectly in drinks and protein powders without the mess of MCT oil.
The Prime Series: Optimizing Performance
The Prime Series prepares the body for improved performance and recovery:
- HydroPrime – A stable, high-yield (65%+) glycerol powder that solves the clumping issues plaguing previous glycerol supplements, enabling better cellular hydration and pump effects.
- CurcuPrime – Pure tetrahydrocurcumin, a potent derivative of curcumin that brings many of the weight loss aspects of the anti-inflammatory ingredient.
- MitoPrime – L-ergothioneine, dubbed “the intelligent antioxidant,” is a molecule that may have helped life survive the Great Oxygenation Event billions of years ago. It outperforms vitamin C, glutathione, and CoQ10 as an antioxidant.
- SalidroPure – A pure, fermented, and sustainable salidroside ingredient that replaces RhodioPrime 6X and is distributed by NutriScience, since Rhodiola crenulata now on the CITES endangered list.
Recent Innovations: The Next Generation of Ingredients
Since 2022, NNB has accelerated their innovation pipeline with groundbreaking new technologies:
FlowTech: Solving the Hygroscopic Problem
In 2023, NNB unveiled FlowTech, a revolutionary technology that solves the persistent issue of hygroscopic ingredients absorbing moisture and clumping. This moisture-proof solution features FDA-approved, food-grade coating systems customized for each ingredient.
The FlowTech series includes high-yield, non-clumping versions of:
- Beta-alanine (95% yield)
- Malic acid (90% yield)
- L-citrulline (90% yield)
- Acetyl L-carnitine (90% yield)
- Phosphatidylserine (90% yield)
- L-citrulline malate 2:1 (90% yield)
- SAMe (70% yield)
GeniusPure: Re-engineering Alpha-GPC
GeniusPure represents NNB’s solution to another chronic supplement stability issue. This high-yield Alpha-GPC (available in 55%, 70%, and 90% concentrations) dramatically reduces the hygroscopic tendency of standard alpha-GPC to turn into a gel upon exposure to air.
Recent clinical research has shown that GeniusPure significantly improves cognitive processing speed and physical force production with just a single dose, outperforming standard alpha-GPC formulations.[2]
DL185 Dileucine: The Muscle-Building Peptide
In May 2024, NNB announced exclusive distribution of DL185, a patent-pending dileucine peptide that outperforms leucine in stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Research shows DL185 delivers:
- 60% greater muscle protein synthesis activation versus leucine
- 90% more leucine in the muscle within 30 minutes of consumption
- Increased muscle protein synthesis without exercise
A groundbreaking 2024 study in PLOS ONE demonstrated that DL185 supplementation significantly improved lower body strength and performance following resistance training compared to leucine or placebo.[3]
SweetVantage: Redefining Natural Sweeteners
NNB’s most recent innovation, unveiled at SupplySide West 2024, is SweetVantage – a breakthrough in natural sweetener technology developed through three years and $2.5 million in research. This stevia-based ingredient delivers clean sweetness with more rounded flavor across the entire palate.
Available as standard SweetVantage or allulose-enhanced SweetVantage+, this innovation represents NNB’s expansion into flavor system technologies while maintaining their focus on metabolic health.
Building the Brain Health Platform
In late 2024, NNB unveiled their comprehensive brain health platform, featuring beverage-stable cognitive ingredients:
- GeniusPure (High-yield Alpha-GPC)
- MitoPrime (L-ergothioneine)
- SalidroPure (Salidroside)
- TyroPrime (L-Tyrosine)
- C8Vantage (C8 MCT)
- NeuroFlow (Phosphatidylserine)
This platform addresses the growing demand for functional beverages supporting cognitive performance, leveraging NNB’s stability expertise to overcome formulation challenges that have historically limited nootropic beverage development.
The XPO NRG Collaboration: Showcasing Innovation
At SupplySide West 2024, NNB partnered with industry leaders to create XPO NRG, a collaborative energy drink showcasing their MitoPrime L-ergothioneine alongside ingredients from TSI Group, Kyowa Hakko, PLT Health Solutions, and Ketone Labs. This limited-edition beverage demonstrated NNB’s commitment to innovation and industry leadership.
Dustin Elliott, NNB’s Chief Brand Officer, and Shawn Wells discussed the collaboration and NNB’s future direction in Episode #152 of the PricePlow Podcast, highlighting their focus on developing experiential ingredients that deliver tangible benefits.
Ingredientology: Co-Development Opportunities
NNB’s collaborative approach extends to their Ingredientology program, which partners with scientists, formulators, and researchers to create new branded ingredients with intellectual property and studies behind them. This open innovation model leverages NNB’s production platform and scientific expertise to bring novel concepts to market.
The Future of NNB Nutrition
NNB Nutrition shined at SupplySide West 2024 with innovations like XPO NRG, GeniusPure, and SweetVantage, setting new standards in nutrition — with much more to come!
Looking ahead, NNB continues to expand their technological platforms while deepening research on existing ingredients. Their focus on clean metabolic energy, mitochondrial health, and formulation stability positions them at the forefront of the industry’s evolution toward more effective, scientifically-validated ingredients.
With their exceptional track record of solving industry challenges – from stable glycerol and alpha-GPC to fermented salidroside and natural sweeteners – NNB Nutrition has established itself as not just an ingredient supplier but a true innovation partner for forward-thinking brands.
The supplement industry has come a long way from its stagnation in the mid-2010s, and NNB Nutrition’s relentless pursuit of novel, effective ingredients continues to drive the field forward. As consumers increasingly demand higher-quality, science-backed products, NNB’s role as the industry’s innovation engine will only grow in importance.
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