Avocado and Soy Unsaponifiables – what are they and why use them?

ASU (Avocado and Soy Unsaponifiables) 300mg from EssentialSeries is a dietary supplement made from avocado and soy unsaponifiables.

Unsaponifiables are a minor fraction found in vegetable oils that, unlike triglycerides, don’t form soap when reacting with a base. This fraction concentrates natural compounds of high interest like phytosterols, triterpenic alcohols, and tocopherols. In the case of ASU, it’s obtained from oils of Persea americana (avocado) and Glycine max (soy), and has been standardized to guarantee a consistent composition of its characteristic components. Its use in functional nutrition has been widely researched due to its unique nutritional profile.

An advanced way to add an exclusive, highly concentrated ingredient to your routine, now available in veggie capsules, backed by HSN’s quality guarantee.

A concentrated ingredient with unique compounds

The minor fraction with functional value

Avocado and soy unsaponifiables represent a small fraction of the total lipid content in vegetable oils. Although they make up less than 2% of the crude oil, this fraction contains some of the most interesting compounds from a nutritional standpoint. Through a separation process, non-saponifiable components like phytosterols (campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol) are isolated and concentrated, all typically present in the nutritional profile of the most nutritious vegetable oils.

Phytosterols: key components of ASU

Phytosterols are plant lipids found in certain fruits, seeds, and vegetable oils. In the unsaponifiable fraction of avocado and soy, phytosterols are one of the most representative groups, both in presence and relevance in nutrition science studies. Within the phytosterol group, you’ll find beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, present in varying proportions.

Our raw material has been selected with a 30% phytosterol standardization, ensuring that each veggie capsule delivers an optimal amount of these functional compounds. Standardization is key to guaranteeing product quality.

Not all ASU are standardized in phytosterols, but at HSN we take the quality of the supplements we sell very seriously—grab the best ASU in a convenient veggie capsule format.

Research and nutritional use of ASU

Avocado and soy unsaponifiables (ASU) have been studied in functional nutrition for decades, especially regarding their rich phytosterol composition.

Scientific studies with standardized ASU have shown promising results in research with this raw material. At HSN, we’ve selected a raw material equivalent to that used in trials with the best outcomes:

•  Blotman, F., Maheu, E., Wulwik, A., Caspard, H., & Lopez, A. (1997). Efficacy and safety of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. A prospective, multicenter, three-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Revue du rhumatisme (English ed.), 64(12), 825–834.
•  Maheu, E., Cadet, C., Marty, M., Moyse, D., Kerloch, I., Coste, P., Dougados, M., Mazières, B., Spector, T. D., Halhol, H., Grouin, J. M., & Lequesne, M. (2014). Randomised, controlled trial of avocado-soybean unsaponifiable (Piascledine) effect on structure modification in hip osteoarthritis: the ERADIAS study. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 73(2), 376–384. 
• Henrotin, Y. E., Sanchez, C., Deberg, M. A., Piccardi, N., Guillou, G. B., Msika, P., & Reginster, J. Y. (2003). Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables increase aggrecan synthesis and reduce catabolic and proinflammatory mediator production by human osteoarthritic chondrocytes. The Journal of rheumatology, 30(8), 1825–1834.

A clean, practical, and different way to use ASU

ASU have traditionally been used in oily formats, usually as fatty softgels, combined with other lipids or oils as carriers.

Compatible with all kinds of diets

Although ASU partly come from soy, our unsaponifiables contain no soy allergens, since the unsaponifiable fraction is completely different from the protein fractions responsible for allergic reactions. This makes it a safe option for people sensitive or allergic to soy.

Our formula has been developed following our classic philosophy of maximum purity, avoiding any animal-derived ingredients. That’s why ASU 300mg is 100% vegan, gluten-free with no traces, and free from genetically modified ingredients (non-GMO).

Which HSN products can it be combined with?

The most classic combos are:

•  UC-II®.
•  Turmeric and boswellia extract.
•  Joint Health Collagen.
•  Evoflex.

Bibliographic references

•  Christensen R, Bartels EM, Astrup A, et al. Symptomatic efficacy of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in osteoarthritis (OA) patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. 2008. In: Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-.
•  Lambert, C., Bellemère, G., Boyer, G., Ponelle, F., Bauer, T., Legeny, M. C., … Henrotin, Y. (2022). Composition Analysis and Pharmacological Activity of Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiable Products Used in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 781389.
•  Jangravi, Z., Basereh, S., Zaree Mahmoudabadi, A., Saberi, M., Alishiri, G. H., & Korani, M. (2021). Avocado/soy unsaponifiables can redress the balance between serum antioxidant and oxidant levels in patients with osteoarthritis: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 18(4), 769–774.
•  Salehi, B., Rescigno, A., Dettori, T., Calina, D., Docea, A. O., Singh, L., … Martins, N. (2020). Avocado–Soybean unsaponifiables: A panoply of potentialities to be exploited. Biomolecules, 10(1).
•  Sabucedo-Suárez, A., López-Peña, M., Permuy, M., & Muñoz, F. (2024). Soybean and avocado unsaponifiables: a review of their potential use in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11, 1473688.
•  Christiansen, B. A., Bhatti, S., Goudarzi, R., & Emami, S. (2015). Management of Osteoarthritis with Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables. Cartilage, 6(1), 30–44.
•  Au, R. Y., Al-Talib, T. K., Au, A. Y., Phan, P. V., & Frondoza, C. G. (2007). Avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) suppress TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, iNOS gene expression, and prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide production in articular chondrocytes and monocyte/macrophages. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 15(11), 1249–1255.