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Transcript of NBT March 2011
Women’s HealtHSupplementing the fairer sex
w w w . n u t r a c e u t i c a l m a g . c o m
• ingredients • functional foods • nutraceuticals • supplements • raw materials •
ProbioticsRestoring the balance
Claims under pressure
cosmetic FocusMarketing products in Southern Africa
Functional bakery, sPorts nutrition, cognitive HealtH and more
Volume 7 Number 2 March/April 2011
Download your FREE Tech Paper “NutrientsImpacting Men’s Health” at fortitech.com/men
©2011 Fortitech, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
tel +45 58 24 05 00 email [email protected] blog fortitalk.com twitter twitter.com/fortitech
Food & Beverage Custom Fortification is the Key. Build your share of the growing market for men’s health.Whether it’s to stay fit or use nutrition to address heart disease, diabetes or other conditions, consumers want functional ingredients for men’s wellness. Meet this demand with the targeted solutions of Fortitech custom nutrient premixes.Any nutrient. Any application. Anywhere in the world.
IMPACTMEN’S HEALTH MEANS OPPORTUNITY
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
03contents
30 Supplementing the Fairer SexLiz Campbell
Infant Nutrition32 The Best Start in LifeAnna-Maria Stiefel and Dr Birgit Hoeft
Health Management34 Bakery and Cereals with BenefitsTim Van der Schraelen
Cosmetic Focus38 Developing and Marketing Cosmetic and Cosmeceutical Products in Southern AfricaSybille Buchwald-Werner and Sabrina Scholz
New Product Development40 Efficacy Studies of the FutureAndrew Thompson and Gunter Schmidt
42 Fuzzy Edges Make for Sloppy ThinkingMary Harrington
Sports Nutrition44 Building Muscle and Strength with Whey ProteinBridget Holmes
Animal Nutrition46 A New Era for Animal NutritionCraig McIntosh
Last Word48 Meeting the Cognitive Health ChallengeRob Winwood
Regulatory Review50 Which Disinfectant is Right for Me?Cheri M. Turman and Benny McKee
03volume7 issue2
38
46
30
16
From the Editor05 Softer Health Claims in the Offing for 2011Dr Kevin Robinson
Show Preview06 Geneva Set for SuccessHanna Leerink
News08 All the Latest News and Updates
GOED Report12 A Valuable ExchangeAdam Ismail and Harry Rice
Opinion14 Functional Foods and Drinks: A Cholesterol Lowering Alternative to StatinsDavid Peters
Gut Health16 Controlling Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Naturally Derived ApproachSteve Morrison
18 Probiotic Claims Come Under PressureOlivia Sant’Angelo
22 Probiotic Chocolate: Restoring the BalanceAlex Landuyt
Women’s Health24 Designing Healthy Products for WomenRam Chaudhari
march/april2011contents
22
32
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
staff04staff
Susanne FässlerMarketing Communication ManagerFrutarom Switzerland Ltd
Jörg GrünwaldPresidentAnalyze & Realize ag
Dr Michelle H. Jones Manager, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Archer Daniels Midland Company
John KurstjensMarketing ManagerLipid Nutrition
Chris LeeEvent DirectorIIR Exhibitions
Ulla FreitasManagerScientific Affairs, NutritionLonza AG
Theodor GraserHead Pharma Industry DSM Nutritional Products Ltd
Denzil PhillipsFounderDenzil Phillips International
Pedro VieiraMarketing ManagerKemin Health Europe
Robin WardManaging DirectorExcelsa Pharmaceuticals Sagl
John Wilkinson Consultant Phytochemist and DirectorHerbal Sciences Int. Ltd
Dr Paul BerrymanChief ExecutiveLeatherhead Food International
Norbert WeitkemperManaging DirectorVital Solutions GmbH
to subscribeProfessionals working within the industries we cover may purchase a year’s subscription by sending a cheque for £100.00 made payable to Via Media UK Ltd, Wesley House, Bull Hill, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7AH
No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without permission.
Copyright © 2011, Via Media UK Ltd. All Rights Reserved
volume 7 issue 2March/April 2011 ISSN 1745-8307
contributorsEditorial DirectorKevin Robinson+44 (0) 1392 202 [email protected]
Managing DirectorSimon Jones +44 (0) 1372 364 131 [email protected]
Art Director/ProductionPaul Andrews +44 (0) 1372 364 [email protected]
Web Design/MarketingClaire Day+44 (0) 1372 364 [email protected]
General ManagerMiranda Docherty+44 (0) 1372 364 [email protected]
SalesGill Healy+44 (0) 1372 364 [email protected]
Heba Hassanatou+44 (0) 1372 364 [email protected]
Financial ControllerCatherine Swainson+44 (0) 1372 364 [email protected]
editorial advisory board
The publisher endeavours to collect and include complete, correct and current information in Nutraceutical
Business & Technology, but does not warrant that any or all such information is complete, correct or current.
The publisher does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person or entity for any loss or
damage caused by errors or omissions of any kind, whether resulting from negligence, accident or any other
cause. Nutraceutical Business & Technology does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any
of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other
damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content.
ACACIA GUM
FIBERS
• Natural dietary fiber with documented health benefits
• Proven and recognized prebiotic effect
• High digestive tolerance
• Easy to use in any application
• Low caloric value, safe for teeth
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ALL-NATURAL SOLUBLE FIBER FOR HEALTHY APPLICATIONS
1101 Fibregum NBT.indd 1 10/01/2011 15:36:53
05from the editor
the company tracked 384 new
supplement products in West Europe in
the first half of 2010 (January to June),
compared with 405 in the corresponding
period in 2009, in an analysis of the top five
positioning categories for supplements. The
leading positioning category for new supplements
in H1 2010 was weight management (99),
followed by immune health (91) and digestive/liver
health (86). NBT spoke to Tim Van der Schraelen,
Marketing and Communication Manager at
BENEO, to get an insider point of view. “This
year looks set to be another year of challenges
for the functional food ingredients market. With
80% of 2010’s health claims being refused by
EFSA, the major challenge for 2011 and beyond
for manufacturers will be how to differentiate their
products and make them stand out from the
crowd? Manufacturers will have to rethink their
products to a certain extent if they don’t want to
fall into the commodity trap.”
Innova’s research also suggested that
functional food innovation in Europe as a whole
is also in decline. In terms of new product
launches, manufacturers are waiting for EFSA’s
opinions on health claims. As such, 1960 new
products with an “active health” positioning
were tracked between January and June in
2010, compared with 2189 new products with
this positioning in the corresponding period in
2009. This decline in “active health” — food
plus, such as “fortified” — products came
despite a growth in “passive health” — food
minus, such as “low and light” — claims on
new products, with 10,350 products with a
passive health claim tracked (Jan–Jun 2010),
compared with 8747 new products during
the same period in 2009. Tim commented:
“2011 looks set to be an interesting year, as
the functional ingredients industry responds
to the challenges of EFSA’s existing rulings.
I can see a move from benefit-led marketing
towards ingredients-led communication as the
industry continues to find its feet in this new,
challenging environment; to give an example,
we will see more ‘with bifidus bacteria’ and
less ‘increases natural defences’ in the
near future.”
“Apart from generic
claims of vitamins
and minerals, EFSA’s
assessment of health
claims so far has resulted
in mainly negative
opinions,” said Lu
Ann Williams, Head of
Research at Innova Market
Insights. “Manufacturers
seem hesitant to launch
new products with a strong
health benefit claim if there is
a chance that they will have to
make a change to their labelling
in the near future. With EFSA
now setting a new
deadline of the end
of June 2011 for
generic Article 13 claims, and opinions on
botanicals set to follow at the later stage, this
uncertainty is set to last for some time.” Anke
Sentko, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
and Nutrition Communication at BENEO,
takes a slightly more pragmatic view: “Any
items with the seal of approval from EFSA
look set to have the competitive advantage
in 2011. For those without EFSA sign off, the
market will see a move towards the clever
reformulation of products to promote nutrient
content claims. Combined with consumer
demand for weight management products,
there will be an increased focus on the caloric
value and physiological properties of food and
drink products in 2011 and this will mean the
rise of sugar replacers and dietary fibres. This
will be further driven by the increasing tension
between whether we, as an industry, should
be countering obesity or catering for it and
the fact that those who have ingredients such
as sugar replacers, that can do both, will be
increasingly sought after in the coming year.
In addition, fibre could make a comeback
in popularity as consumers continue to link
this with feeling fuller for longer.” Tim Van der
Schraelen also sees some light at the end
of the tunnel: “I believe that 2011 will see
new categories appearing in the energy and
performance drinks sector as consumers
demand more natural products. Red Bull
and similar shot drinks have their place, but
consumers are looking for different ways to
get longer-term energy boosts. Combine
this with the trend of an ageing workforce
and more people looking for that boost to
‘get them through the day’ and I predict
that we will see a sharp increase in energy
and performance drinks that not only utilize
innovative carbohydrates but also combine
fruit and dairy alternative carriers.”
soFter HealtH claims in tHe oFFing For 2011As predicted by Innova Market Insights towards the end of last year, driven by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims, new product development in the European supplements sector is slowing down and food product manufacturers are switching to more general claims in the healthy foods space.
For more informationDr Kevin Robinson is Editorial Director of nutraceutical business & technology and can be reached at [email protected]
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
06 show preview
With the global nutrition industry
currently worth an estimated
€117 billion, it’s no surprise
that Vitafoods Europe and
Finished Products Expo (FPE) are growing
rapidly year-on-year. And 2011 looks set to
continue this trend, as the leading nutraceutical
and dietary supplement events make their
return to Geneva Palexpo from 10–12 May
with more exhibitors and visitors than ever
before.1 Still with 3 months to go until the show
opens its doors, stand space for Vitafoods
Europe is already 95% sold, leaving just a short
period of time for potential exhibitors to book
their stand. Leading nutraceutical, functional
food and drink ingredient suppliers such as
DSM, Cognis, Croda, Naturex, Frutarom and
Glanbia Nutritionals will join a host of first-time
exhibitors in presenting their latest innovations
and extensive product ranges to an audience
expected to top 8500.
The same is true of sister show, Finished
Products Expo. The event, which also enjoyed
one of its most successful editions ever in
2010, is hoping to build on the autonomy
and status it achieved last year to draw
in more than 2500 attendees. More than
100 companies will showcase their latest
innovative functional food and drink products,
including Zuccari, Nutribio, VSI, Aromtech,
Friesland Campina Creamy Creation, Medex
and NOW International, all sure to catch the
attention of the event’s high profile visitors.
Event Director, Chris Lee, commented: “As
ever, we’re really excited about both shows
this year. We’ve got a great raft of exhibitors
signed up and new companies are committing
to stands all the time. Although we had
successful shows last year, we’re certainly not
resting on our laurels. We’re channelling our
energies into coming up with new and different
ideas to ensure that the shows remain fresh
and current. We are working very closely
with key industry figures, including members
of our Steering Committee, Leatherhead
Food Research and our media supporters
to put together the most informative and
captivating visitor programme that will appeal
to the ever-evolving nutraceutical and dietary
supplement industries.”
The Vitafoods Europe Conference has
built an international reputation within the
nutraceuticals industry as a high-quality
platform that delivers a programme covering
the hottest topics and themes in ingredients.
Organized by Leatherhead Food Research,
this year’s programme will focus on a number
of brand new themes, including Food Allergy
and Intolerance, Beauty Foods and Ingredients
from Nature, as well as previously popular
topics such as Appetite Control, Gut Health,
Mental Health and Physical Performance to
name a few. High profile speakers from leading
global universities, academies, research
houses and organizations will come together
throughout the event to equip delegates
with the knowledge to help them build their
business for the future. Also offering visitors an
insight into the latest research, innovations and
services will be the Supplier Seminars, whereas
the New Products Zone will highlight the very
latest innovative products on the market.
What’s more, VitaTrend will bring together
the most exciting trends and themes on
nutraceuticals and functional foods in several
presentations to visitors.
EAS will once again play a key role in the
show, hosting the Discussion Forum on the
third morning (12 May). Entitled “Top 10
Opportunities and Challenges for Bringing
Functional Foods to Market in the Next
Decade,” the forum will provoke another
exciting debate when it returns to Geneva
Palexpo. EAS will also be offering free one-on-
one sessions from its experts, meaning visitors
can benefit from sessions tailored to any
aspect of their business including regulations,
strategy, labeling and claims.
Finished Products Expo will host its own
dedicated features including the ever-buzzing
Tasting Bar @ FPE, which offers visitors the
opportunity to sample the latest innovations
in the functional food and drinks market and
establish the next big product to hit the market.
The New Products Zone will also showcase
revolutionary developments launched within the
last 12 months. Attendees to FPE will also be
able to benefit once again from the Distributors
Wanted online matchmaking scheme,
connecting exhibitors with new distribution
partners before and during the show. Chris Lee
concluded: “There’s a real buzz in the industry
about both shows this year. We certainly set
our stall out in 2010 and are doing everything
we can to replicate and build on that success
to make sure Vitafoods Europe and FPE
are once again the must-attend shows in
everyone’s diaries for 2011.”
geneva set For success
Reference1. A&R Nutrition Business Journal (www.docstoc.
com/docs/21629928/The-Global-Nutraceutical-Industry--A-Perspective).
“New to the show this year will be The Nutraceutical Business & Technology Awards, a gala dinner event to recognize excellence in R&D, marketing, business and technology in the areas of ingredients, finished products, applications and business practices (www.nbtawards.com).”
Vitafoods Europe and Finished Products Expo make their welcome return.
For more informationHanna LeerinkIIR ExhibitionsTel. +44 203 377 3111hleerink@iirx.co.ukwww.vitafoods.eu.comwww.finishedproductsexpo.comwww.vitafoods.eu.com/linkedinwww.finishedproductsexpo.com/linkedin
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
07news
intera 210x297.indd 2 28/01/11 10.17
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
news
Annonce_NBT copie.pdf 1 24/02/2011 15:50:06
New Facilities Support GrowthReporting growth of 40% in 2010, Herbarom Laboratoire has recently
moved to new premises. The company, founded in 1994 in a region
traditionally known for its aromatic and medicinal plants, and as a pioneer
in organic farming, specializes in producing essential oils and liquid
dietary supplements, plant extracts, packaging for liquids and animal
phytotherapies. As a dynamic and reactive SME, the company now has
40 employees, three dedicated industrial sites and a turnover of €7.8
million, 38% of which was derived from export sales. To support its growth
and further improve its quality of service, Herbarom Laboratoire has built
a new 3200 m2 building, just behind its former Aouste-sur-Sye premises
in the heart of the Drôme region. Serving the needs of customers in
the perfumery, parapharmaceutical, dietary supplement and cosmetics
industries, the site now offers 400 m2 of offices, 1980 m2 of production
area and 820 m2 of storage (www.herbarom-laboratoire.com).
DSM Gears Up in CulturesDSM Food Specialties (www.dsm-foodspecialties.com) announces the following appointments in its Cultures business: Mr Jan Boeg Hansen has been appointed as Sales Director, Cultures, effective 1 February. Mr Hansen has been working in the cultures and enzymes industry for many years in several senior marketing and sales positions with various global biotech companies. Mr Peter Wagner has been appointed as Production Director, Cultures, with effect from 1 March. Mr Wagner has extensive experience in the production area of cultures, having worked in several management positions in this industry. Mr Hans Holm has been appointed as Innovation Manager, effective 1 January. Mr Holm brings more than 18 years of experience from the cultures industry with him. “The cultures market is one in which we see a strong match with our capabilities,” says Hans-Christian Ambjerg, President, DSM Food Specialties. “DSM is an industry leader in the scientific and commercial application of biotechnology. Our unique competencies in this field, combined with the experience and knowledge of Jan Boeg Hansen, Hans Holm and Peter Wagner, puts DSM Food Specialties in an advantageous position to bring new value-creating solutions to our customers. Our cultures portfolio, as you know it today, is just the start.”
Efficacy and Safety of Meriva Confirmed in OA StudyIn a study published in Alternative Medicine Review, Meriva, a proprietary formulation of curcumin with soy phospholipids from Indena (www.indena.com), has been shown to relieve pain and increase mobility in patients with osteoarthritis, as well as reduce a series of inflammatory markers. In this new registry study, 100 patients with X-ray-confirmed osteoarthritis (OA) were divided in two groups. The first one was managed using the “best available treatment” and the second group used the best available treatment plus Meriva, at a dosage corresponding to 200 mg of curcumin/day. The results showed that the Meriva group had a statistically significant reduction in all primary clinical end-points, WOMAC score, Karnofsky Performance Scale and the treadmill walking performance test. These results were complemented by the evaluation of a series of inflammatory markers that also showed a marked reduction in the Meriva-treated group, whereas no significant variation was observed in the “best available treatment” group. Commenting on the results of the study, Giovanni Appendino, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Eastern Piedmont and Indena Scientific Adviser, said: “This study represents the most ambitious attempt to date to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent. Although no direct comparison study of Meriva and NSAIDs has been conducted, the decreased use of these drugs observed in the treatment group provides a rationale for evaluating whether the biochemical improvement in the inflammatory status associated with Meriva could eventually translate to a phase out of NSAID use, at least for mild-to-moderate OA.”
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
Wherever we are, we all care about healthy living. DSM’s broad portfolio of innovative, high-quality nutrients and our consumer insights will help your products achieve consumer health and wellness goals. Ask us about our two new additions: essentials for men and essentials for kids & teens.
Our Quali®-Blends can offer the right balance of ingredients custom made for you. Blend in our extensive scientific expertise, technical know-how, global presence and total quality assurance for your peace of mind. DSM can help you get to market faster with appealing solutions that work.
How can we Health you?
www.dsmnutritionalproducts.comwww.qualityforlife.com
Nourish your beauty Empower your mind
Upgrade your vision
Essentials for life Defy your age
Essentials for women
Strengthen your bones
Flex your joints
Enhance your immunity
Shape your body Power your performance
Guard your heart
Essentials for kids & teensNEW
Essentials for menNEW
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
10 news
Cramer Focuses on Europe Cramer Productos Aromáticos, a well-established specialist producer of flavours and fragrances to the food, pharma and cosmetics industries in South America is entering the European market. The company will work with Kreglinger Specialties in Antwerp, Belgium, to market and distribute products in Europe. Both companies have extensive and longstanding experience in the industry, are family owned and have agreed to work together on a long-term basis. Andrés Berndt, CEO of Cramer, explains: “Working with Kreglinger, we will enter the European market this year and are confident that we can develop our service offering to become a key partner for all our customers.” Cramer Productos Aromáticos and Kreglinger Specialties will offer an attractive package of innovative products, strong customer support, competitive prices and on-time deliveries. Besides having the skills and experience to serve the European flavours and food supplements market, the combined team also has the ability to offer specialties that are completely new to this market. “Wim Arnouts, CEO of Kreglinger, confirms: “Kreglinger has a longstanding presence and expertise in the market as a specialty ingredients supplier. This is further supported by our own logistics organization, including a regular freight consolidation from Chile and local stockkeeping in Belgium. Joining forces with another family owned company will allow a fair and balanced development, building on both companies’ strengths.” Visit www.kreglinger.com/eng/cramer for more information.
IADSA Highlights 2011 AgendaGrowing market sizes, a stronger focus on product safety and the continuing harmonization of food supplement regulations show a global trend towards more regulation, not less, IADSA has said (www.iadsa.org). The International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) said that whereas food supplement harmonization is already under way in the European Union, decisions are expected this year on key aspects of the Association of South East Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) similar process towards regional legislation. “Many countries are in the process of developing new regulatory frameworks, and regulators are increasingly monitoring the successes and challenges of similar initiatives across the globe,” said IADSA Chairman Peter Zambetti. “Therefore, there is a greater need for high quality scientific and technical regulatory information to be shared among decision makers, and IADSA facilitates this flow of information.” At the national level, IADSA’s plans this year include working in China, Eastern Europe and Russia with regulators and academia to discuss regulatory issues related to food supplements. Regionally, IADSA will continue to focus on Latin America. At the global level, IADSA’s focus will remain on food additives, as the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) meets in March to consider whether to adopt key draft provisions for food additives used in food supplements worldwide. IADSA has also identified technical changes in relation to the Codex review of Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) for vitamins and minerals, and some other initiatives such as the proposal to develop a standard for marine oils. Mr Zambetti said: “There was an overwhelming support from Codex member countries for IADSA’s request that FAO/WHO provide the most recent NRVs from internationally authoritative scientific bodies, to ensure that the values reflect the latest research on nutritional requirements. Consequently, the World Health Organization has been commissioned by Codex to undertake this compilation.” Mr Zambetti said: “This revision of all NRVs is important because the revisions agreed by Codex will be implemented by governments worldwide and will have an impact on the labelling of most nutrition claims.”
Danisco Backs Probiotic DocumentaryDanisco contributes unique insights into the probiotic world in a new independent documentary that explains the story of probiotics, how they are produced and tested, and the latest research. The global leader in probiotics has both sponsored and participated in the film, “Microwarriors,” which includes clips from Danisco’s probiotic development and production facilities in Madison (WI, USA). Vice President of Health and Nutrition Marketing at Danisco, Scott Bush, is among the featured experts. He welcomes the documentary as an opportunity to reach out to healthcare professionals in particular. “As much as we need to provide consumers with the necessary information about the health benefits and safety of probiotics, it’s important to get the influencers to buy into this, because they are the ones who talk to consumers. One example is when a doctor prescribes antibiotic treatment that, as many people experience, can have unwanted digestive side-effects. A proper dose of the right probiotics, recommended by a physician, represents a safe and effective way to maintain proper GI function,” Bush states. Executive producer at Health Point Productions, David Knight, thanks Danisco for providing “tremendous support” in getting Microwarriors off the ground. “Danisco is one of the companies responsible for making this whole documentary happen,” he said, adding: “It’s education. We wanted to create a story to show the science and that there are real benefits.” Microwarriors is the first in a trilogy of documentaries on probiotics planned by Health Point Productions. To view the trailer, visit www.microwarriorsmovie.com.
Diapharm Registers St John’s Wort and Black Cohosh ProductPharmaceutical service provider, Diapharm, has obtained the first traditional herbal registration for a fixed combination of St John’s Wort and Black Cohosh in Europe. Both active ingredients are used to relieve the various symptoms of the menopause, giving the combination a synergistic effect. One coated tablet of the medicinal product, registered by the British MHRA, contains 300 mg of Hypericum extract and 6.4 mg of Cimicifuga extract. “It is the first time that such a fixed combination of Hypericum and Cimicifuga has been registered in Europe as a traditional herbal medicinal product,” says Dr Karim Sultan from Diapharm (www.diapharm.com). The product is approved by the MHRA for the relief of menopause symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, slightly depression and mild anxiety based on traditional use only. “We are now applying for further registrations in countries such as Austria, Hungary and France,” explains Dr Sultan. Approximately one quarter of all traditional herbal registrations in Europe originate with Diapharm. In the UK alone, Diapharm has prepared and documented 35 of the 79 newly registered traditional herbal medicinal products. “As the sell-off period in Europe expires on 30 April 2011, we expect another surge in demand for our dossiers and registrations,” explains Dr Sultan. After this date, it will no longer be possible to sell unregistered herbal products. “For this reason, many manufacturers seek licences for dossiers and registrations to protect their product portfolios for the future.”
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011See us at Stand 2222 and on www.biolatte.com
Non-dairy probiotics since 1980
In 1983, Yves Delatte managed to implement the first fully successful biological silo in Seinäjoki (Finland), which was followed by probiotics directed at livestock between 1983-1988. These probiotics contained living lactic acid bacteria and carbohydrate and sugar sources, which activate the mixture prior to absorption in the intestines. In fact, the formula was quite simply and logically the same as previously used in silos. The same man was behind the market’s first probiotics, in Holland, France & Scandinavia and these products are still on the market. One of the products was chosen as the Finnish health food of the year in 1997. The background to these products is actually the technology that was developed 30 years ago! Now, Biolatte Oy has a new range of products which differs from such products which have been prepared with the old technology, which has too often been copied. We only make high quality and efficient products, instead of mixtures.
Our products: carbohydrates are no longer used, as they also bring along moisture and fertilizer residues, which can be harmful to people suffering from allergies. inulin is no longer used. Inulin is a residue of the sugar industry, and it has not been proven to possess any “in vivo” value. Instead, inulin strengthens the growth of bacteria, including pathogenic bacteria, and such risks should not be taken in the manufacture of probiotics. Biolatte Oy does not use bacteria from the dairy industry in its products, the health influences of which have already been seen in yoghurt. We use only human specific bacterial strains, which, due to the immunological properties cling to the intestinal epithelium, or to the mucosa. Biolatte Oy does not manufacture the products in tablet form or in blister packaging, as the hot temperature and pressure used in the process kills most of the bacterial strains.
From this perspective, we have developed the Biolatte product range which seems to be superior to all other products on the market in regard to its quality, stability and efficiency. Biolatte products have already been on the market for years and have received a great deal of good and satisfactory feedback.
From biological silos to non-dairy probiotics
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
12 goed report
dr Richard Carmona, the seventeenth
Surgeon General of the United States
and an advocate of increasing our
long-chain omega-3 intake, kicked
off the first day of the Exchange with a keynote
address that focused on how omega-3s can
provide a nutritional defence for both civilians
and specialized populations such as soldiers,
and that it is incumbent upon industry to support
the research that makes this a recognized reality.
These public health messages were a key theme
at the GOED Exchange, with speakers from
Australia highlighting how the establishment of
omega-3 intake recommendations is increasing
intakes and improving public health. In addition,
the US Food and Drug Administration and
Federal Trade Commission presented data on
illegal omega-3 claims being made, reminding
the industry that there is a burden of responsibility
placed on marketers who are trying to responsibly
build the market.
For people who were already deep in the
industry, there were several opportunities to
continue to learn about the space, including a
regulatory session that provided a comprehensive
download from Dr Mary Van Elswyk on omega-3
claims in the EU, which are difficult even for
industry veterans to get their heads around.
Although many of the nutrients have been the
subject of negative opinions from the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA), EPA and DHA
have received multiple positive opinions owing
to the strength of the supporting science. And,
whereas Mary allowed attendees to bask in
the industry’s good fortune, she also provided
them with a dose of reality by discussing EFSA’s
inconsistent evaluations between the short- and
long-chain omega-3s. There were also two
presentations on more innovative uses of
EPA and DHA, including the use by trauma
surgeons to reduce healthcare costs by cutting
hospitalization times and complication rates, as
well as emerging case studies on the treatment
of verbal apraxia in children.
At dinner that evening, in his presentation,
“Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Mental Health Risks
Among the US Military,” Captain Joseph R.
Hibbeln, MD, from the National Institutes of
Health provided attendees with a compelling
reason for increasing the long-chain omega-3
intake of military personnel. At the risk of
oversimplifying the message, lower levels of
omega-3s correlate strongly with a higher
suicide risk, a problem plaguing militaries
with long-term deployments. Dr Hibbeln’s
combination of wit and his deep understanding
of the role of EPA and DHA in mental health
never ceases to amaze participants.
One of the real highlights for everyone
attending the conference, though, was the
opportunity to hear three of the forefathers of
omega-3 research — Drs Jorn Dyerberg, William
Lands and Michael Crawford — captivate the
audience by recounting their early histories with
EPA and DHA. It was an honour to be present
for their talks and to document the history of
the industry they launched with their research
nearly 50 years ago. For those not familiar with
the science of omega-3 fatty acids, the three
scientists have close to 800 peer-reviewed
publications, beginning in the 1960s. They were
researching EPA and DHA long before EPA and
DHA were part of people’s every day vocabulary.
Dr Crawford also presented a compelling case
in a panel on sustainability for how the evolution
of the human brain has depended on access
to DHA in the diet, and how sustaining our
intelligence will require continued sustainable
sources of the nutrient. He was joined in the
panel by Kees Lankester from the Marine
Stewardship Council, Dr Andrew Jackson
from the International Fishmeal and Fishoil
Organization, and Dr Simeon Hill from the British
Antarctic Survey, who shared with the industry
their plans for ensuring that fisheries used for
omega-3 products can remain sustainable.
One key issue for industry today is a
proposal for a Codex Standard for Marine Oils.
In our next column, we will provide an update
on Codex deliberations on this important
global trade topic. There was a session at
the GOED Exchange on the issue to provide
a better understanding of the implications of
adopting a Codex Standard and an overview
on the current efforts to establish a Standard
for Marine Oils. For more than a year, an
informal industry working group — of which
GOED is a member — has worked to provide
feedback to the Swiss government that is
launching the effort. The Codex Commission’s
Fats and Oils Committee will decide in
February in Penang, Malaysia, whether or
not to develop such a standard, which would
provide overarching requirements for quality
and compositional factors for different marine
oils. The aforementioned review doesn’t come
close to representing the breadth of knowledge
and expertise that was shared unselfishly by 33
speakers on 19 different topics at the GOED
Exchange. If you are in the omega-3 business,
this was an unprecedented opportunity to hear
from government regulators, leading scientists
and innovative practitioners trying to change
the world’s behaviour towards omega-3s.
a valuable excHangeParticipants in the long-chain omega-3 industry had the unique opportunity in January to convene, network and learn about the major topics facing the industry in the coming years. The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) held the GOED Exchange 2011 in Salt Lake City (Utah, USA) with key speakers and experts discussing various regulatory, scientific and marketing issues, including sustainability, the future of brain research, turning recommended intakes into increased consumption and even reaching consumers with the omega-3 message with new media tools.
For more informationAdam Ismail, Executive Director and Harry Rice, VP, Regulatory and Scientific AffairsGlobal Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED)1075 East Hollywood AvenueSalt Lake City, Utah 84105, USA.Tel. +1 801 746 1413www.goedomega3.com
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www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
14 opinion
the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
recommends that those patients with a significantly above-
average chance of suffering a heart attack, stroke or heart
disease during the next 10 years should be prescribed statins.
However, the case for those at lower risk or with only slightly elevated
cholesterol levels is far less clear cut; and, given the negative press
concerning statins, it is not surprising to find that these patients are
increasingly looking to alternative, more natural ways of lowering their
cholesterol. This represents a great opportunity for food and drink
manufacturers to create functional products from natural ingredients that
target cholesterol reduction as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
This process has already begun with the launch of foods such as
Flora’s pro.activ range, Benecol and Kellogg’s Optivita. The former
two are based on plant sterols and stanols, whereas the latter
contains oat beta glucan. And it is an exciting new development in
the area of oat beta glucan that promises to significantly increase
the choice of cholesterol-lowering foods and drinks available to
consumers. The health benefits of oats have been recognized for
many centuries and this humble grain is currently undergoing a
very popular revival, featuring on the breakfast menus of the likes of
Starbucks and McDonald’s. However, even the heartiest of appetites
might struggle to consume the 3–4 bowls of porridge per day
required to benefit from the cholesterol-lowering effect of oats. That
is one of the reasons why PromOat, the oat beta glucan ingredient
produced by Swedish grain fractionation specialists, Biovelop, has
been welcomed with such enthusiasm.
Using its patented, chemical-free fractionation technology, the
company is able to separate the beta glucan soluble fibre from the
other constituents of the oats as a clean-label ingredient that can
then be added to a wide range of food and drink products, thereby
bestowing the health benefits of oats on those products … but
without the oat taste, colour or lumpiness. First to market with this
innovative ingredient has been the ever health-conscious Marks &
Spencer, which recently launched a new Super Juice drink containing
oat beta glucan to help lower cholesterol. This promises to be the
first in a long line of products hitting the supermarket shelves to
contain oat beta glucan, with manufacturers utilizing PromOat’s
versatility and powerful technical qualities to develop a wide range
of healthy versions of everyday foods and drinks. Oat beta glucan
is one of the very few ingredients approved by both EFSA and the
FDA for cholesterol-reduction health claim purposes and it is the
backing of these substantiated health claims that gives consumers
the confidence to purchase products containing it. The message that
“oats are good for you” is developing into one of “the beta glucan
in oats is good for you,” and consumers are being educated about
the benefits of oat beta glucan by a combination of breakfast cereal
packets and informative websites.
Functional foods and drinks clearly have a very important role to play
in the ongoing battle against cholesterol and heart disease. They can
provide a more natural way than statins to keep cholesterol levels in
check, with the added bonus of prompting people to focus on what
they eat, rather than relying on a pill. Some patients will continue to
require statins to reduce the risk of future heart-related health issues
but many could reduce their cholesterol to — and maintain it at —
normal levels by incorporating the power of nature into their diets.
Faced with increasing pressure from government bodies to produce
healthier foods, the food and drink industry has an ideal opportunity to
demonstrate that nutraceutical ingredients can mean healthier sales
figures as well as healthier consumers.
For more informationDavid PetersDirector, Sales and MarketingBiovelop AB (www.biovelop.com)
Functional Foods and drinksa cHolesterol loWering alternative to statinsThe long-running public health debate about the widespread prescription of statins to lower cholesterol was recently reignited when a study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine not only questioned the value they provide — both in medical terms for patients and monetary terms for the NHS — but also raised the possibility that they might in some cases be doing more harm than good. Previous studies had focused on the muscle and liver damage experienced by some of the estimated seven million people in the UK who are taking statins, but the new study also highlighted problems relating to their effect on memory and mood.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
16 gut health
With such scope for profit, manufacturers need to
launch original and effective products if they are to
succeed in a highly competitive market. The industry
is innovating at a fast pace, moving beyond products
that simply promote a healthy digestive system. In recent years, there
has been much interest in developing food and beverage products
for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s
disease, a disorder for which there is currently no cure. Existing
therapeutic treatments for Crohn’s disease, including steroids,
immunosuppressive drugs and surgery, aim to reduce the symptoms
during periods of relapse and promote the maintenance of remission.
Medical foods already available to Crohn’s disease patients are
mainly elemental foods designed to provide the patient with essential
nutrients, feeding the patient rather than treating the disease.
Consequently, there is much interest in the estimated one billion dollar
treatments market.
A Focus on Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic disorder that’s characterized by
inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. Although this
occurs most commonly in the small or large intestine, any section
of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be affected by the disease.
The development and course of CD involves a complex interplay
between host genetics, defects in the barrier function of the
gut lining and inappropriate immune responses to gut bacteria.
Most cases of Crohn’s disease first develop in people who are
between 16 and 30 years of age, although the condition can affect
people of all ages, including children. CD is most common in the
economically developed nations of Western Europe and North
America, where low levels of soluble fibre are eaten and where the
use of emulsifiers in processed food is common.1 It is thought CD
prevalence (per 100,000) for Canada and the UK are some of the
highest ever recorded.2,3
Targeting Microbial ProfilesMany experts believe that gut bacteria may play a role in the
pathogenesis and development of Crohn’s disease. The ability
of certain types of Escherichia coli to adhere to and invade the
gut lining via intestinal epithelial cells is of particular interest, as
significantly more mucosa-associated bacteria have been isolated
from Crohn’s disease biopsy samples compared with specimens
from either ulcerative colitis or control patients.4,5 There is a growing
controlling inFlammatory boWel diseasea naturally derived aPProacHThe global market for food and beverages with gut or digestive health claims is currently worth an estimated $10 billion … and is expected to continue growing. An impressive 4000 new products were launched globally in 2009, making the gut and digestive health market the single largest division of the food and health markets in Europe, Japan and South America, with North America not far behind. The trend, however, is not thought to have reached its peak, and is expected to grow as consumers continue to see functional foods as an important part of a healthy lifestyle. With both the medical and business communities seeing potential in medical foods, the sector could play an important role in the rise of the gut health trend, offering patients non-invasive forms of treatment and manufacturers the opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
Medical foods already
available to Crohn’s disease
patients are mainly elemental
foods designed to provide the
patient with essential nutrients,
feeding the patient rather than
treating the disease.
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
gut health
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
17strapNutrition
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References1. B.M. Calkins, Epidemiol. Rev. 8, 60–91 (1986).2. B.M. Calkins, Epidemiol. Rev. 8, 160.7–318.5 (1986).3. B.M. Calkins, Epidemiol. Rev. 8, 144–214 (1986).4. H.M. Martin, Gastroenterology 127(1), 80–93 (2004).5. J. Boudeau, Infect. Immun. 67(9), 4499–4509 (1999).
For more informationSteve MorrisonChief Operating OfficerProvexis plcThames Court, 1 Victoria Street, Windsor SL4 1YB, UK.Tel. +44 1753 752 [email protected]
body of evidence to suggest that the adhesive bacteria are present
in increased numbers in CD patients, a link reported by at least
14 research groups. These bacteria have been found to disrupt a
number of immunological interactions, the inhibition of which is likely
to be of therapeutic benefit to the patient.
The Natural SolutionUK-based company, Provexis, has developed a naturally derived
product that can inhibit the interaction between those E. coli found
in Crohn’s disease and epithelial cells. The company’s researchers
have found that certain soluble fibres derived from plantain can
reduce the adhesion of pathogens and control the invasion of the
gut by E. coli. This extract addresses the currently unmet medical
need for nutraceutical products that can maintain or promote
remission in Crohn’s disease patients. The highly versatile plantain-
derived soluble fibre is manufactured as a dry powder sachet. It
can be presented as a food supplement or food additive, or can be
incorporated into a variety of applications, such as functional foods,
beverages or nutraceuticals. These products may also be used as
staple foods, as well as when there may be a clinical need. Further
conventional ‘nutraceutical’ procedures may be employed to create
liquid drinks, powder mixes and foodstuffs.
Next Steps: Medical FoodsPreliminary trials of the plantain-derived extract in healthy humans
have shown no significant adverse effects from the consumption
of plantain-derived polysaccharide supplements on markers of
gastrointestinal health during a 21-day supplementation period.
Provexis is currently doing a randomized controlled trial in Crohn’s
disease patients of soluble plantain fibre for the maintenance of
remission in Crohn’s disease. The multicentre study is running in
collaboration with Royal Liverpool University Hospital, University
Hospital Aintree, University Hospital Bristol and the Western
General Hospital Edinburgh. Moving forward, Provexis is focused
on developing a strong technology pipeline with a particular focus
on cardiovascular and gastrointestinal technologies. It is also very
interested in finding ways to bridge the gap between the functional
food and clinical nutrition sectors. With global giants Danone and
Nestlé investing heavily, clinical nutrition is an area projected to
grow into next year and beyond. With this in mind, the company
is looking to enhance its business by acquiring technologies
or technology companies to help Provexis make its mark in an
important, exciting and profitable sector.
18 gut health
concerns about the impact of EFSA’s tough health claim
scrutiny policy are now rife in the European food industry,
and this is impacting innovative functional food development,
including that within the digestive health space. Probiotic
dairy products was one of the early areas of development, not only
in functional dairy products but in functional foods as a whole, and it
continues to lead the functional dairy market by a wide margin — with
particular strength in Europe — reflecting the higher overall penetration of
chilled dairy products, as well as the greater development of the probiotic
sector. Innova Market Insights recorded the launch of more than 1300
products marketed on a probiotic platform in the 12 months to the end of
June 2010, up from just over 600 in the same period 5 years ago. Dairy
products continue to lead the sector, accounting for 56% of probiotic
launches recorded during that period, ahead of dietary supplements with
a 25% share. Europe continues to dominate the interest in probiotic dairy
products, accounting for 53% of launches, well ahead of the US on 17%.
In Europe, many lines are, despite few having yet gained EFSA approval
for their claims, being marketed increasingly strongly on a digestive or gut
health platform.
Some clarification in the area of probiotics came at the beginning
of December 2010 during the EFSA Workshop on Health Claims
Related to Gut Health and Immunity, although many questions
were left unresolved, with “much uncertainty as to what is required
by way of the scientific substantiation of such claims.” EFSA will
update its guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims
related to gut and immune functions early in 2011, as a result of the
views exchanged. Whereas the European probiotics market is busy
assessing health claims related to gut and immune function, the US
market is still featuring innovative launches. Innova Market Insights
tracked 375 new products on the US market (Nov 09–Oct 10)
including the word “probiotic,” down from 495 in the previous 12
months. Recently, Natural Discoveries LLC announced the launch
of the first probiotic chocolate milk product, MojoMilk, via a video
released on YouTube and Facebook. The company plans to use
targeted social media to gain consumer fans. MojoMilk is claimed
to be the first probiotic chocolate milk mix delivering ten times the
active probiotic cultures of yoghurt and 60% fewer calories than the
leading chocolate milk. MojoMilk includes the patented probiotic
strain, GanedenBC30, which is “clinically proven to boost immunity
and improve digestive health.”
Probiotics are the leading ingredients incorporated into products
marketed on a digestive health platform, accounting for 62.9% of
global product launches in this space in 2010. This was followed by
“prebiotics” (37.5%) and “fibre” (31.6%). For the moment, however,
the tide has turned for making “added fibre” claims amidst an
atmosphere of uncertainty around fibre/prebiotic claims. Innova
Market Insights tracked just 32 new products featuring an “added
fibre” claim in the first half of 2010 in West Europe, compared with
130 in H1 2009 and 87 in H1 2008. There has also been a dramatic
recent decline in the US market from the heady heights of 159 new
products with an “added fibre” claim in H1 2009, to a mere 37 in
Probiotic claims come under PressureA cloud of uncertainty hovering over health claims has resulted in a fall in numbers of food and drink products being launched on an “active health” — food plus, such as fortified — platform, despite growth in “passive health” — food minus, such as “low fat” — launches.
H1 2010. But one major introduction during the autumn illustrated
that fibre claims are the key breeding ground for future innovation,
particularly in the breakfast cereals segment. In the UK, Kellogg’s
launched Coco Pops Choc ‘n’ Roll, a children’s breakfast cereal with
nutrition credentials that pass the stringent Food Standards Agency’s
nutrient profile. Choc ‘n’ Roll is promoted as offering mums “a lower
salt, lower sugar, low saturated fat, high fibre, wholegrain and fortified
chocolate cereal the kids will eat.” The launch came at the same time
as a Kellogg Company UK announcement was made to say that it
was making significant enhancements to its Kellogg’s Coco Pops
cereals, including a reduction in sugar and the addition of vitamin D.
Combining probiotics and prebiotics in the same product (so-
called “synbiotics”) is still coming from a small base, with only 6
products tracked in 2010 using this term. But synbiotics remain
a trend to watch as consumers become increasingly aware of the
probiotic and prebiotic concept. For example, in New Zealand,
Meadow Fresh Pre-Bio Yogurt: Fig & Honey from Goodman Fielder
“contains natural prebiotics and probiotics that are clinically proven
to help your digestive system work the way it’s supposed to.” As
question marks continue to surround the issue of health claims,
cleverly marketed products that can entice the consumer through
visual clues will succeed. A great example is Stonyfield Farm’s
(US) B-Healthy and B-Well organic yoghurt, which are two fruit-
on-the bottom organic yoghurts fortified with B and D vitamins plus
omega-3, where creative use of the letter “B” is used in branding.
Just how far European manufacturers can go before falling foul of
EFSA scrutiny remains to be seen, however.
19gut health
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We’re taking a (super)critical look at extract quality
FLAVEX® Naturextrakte GmbH · [email protected] · www.flavex.com
A5 quer-4c-D-F-E:Layout 1 07.09.2010 15:23 Uhr Seite 3
For more informationOlivia Sant’Angelo ([email protected]) is a Market Analyst at Innova Market Insights (www.innovadatabase.com), a leading supplier of new product and trend information in the food and beverage space. Innova Market Insights is organized by food industry professionals to rapidly record new product activity and identify the trends driving the industry today and in the future.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
20gut health
among consumers, there is a continued
interest in functional foods as it is
more widely recognized that diet
plays an important role in maintaining
health. Probiotics and prebiotics are common
components in functional foods. Typically,
probiotics belong to the genera Lactobacillus or
Bifidobacterium, but other microbes have also
been proposed as probiotics. Numerous health
benefits have been suggested for probiotics and
it is important to realize that such health benefits
are strain specific and cannot be extrapolated to
other strains — not even to strains of the same
species. Commonly used prebiotics include
galacto-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides,
inulin, polydextrose, lactulose and lactitol. Other
carbohydrates are also thought to function as
prebiotics. The mode of action of prebiotics differs
from probiotics; whereas the latter modulate the
host–bacterial interactions by introducing a new
microbial strain to the gut, the former modulate the
composition and/or activity of selected microbial
groups that are already present.
It goes without saying that the proper
identification of prebiotics and probiotics is an
essential part of the screening process. For
probiotics, typical early-phase screening tools
include assessments of acid and bile resistance,
adhesion of probiotics to mucus or epithelial
cells, the presence or absence of antibiotic
resistance genes, the viability of probiotics in
products during storage and their suitability for
commercial production. A prebiotic product is
expected to selectively stimulate the growth
of health-promoting microbes; by contrast, it
should not be utilized by potentially detrimental
inhabitants of the intestinal microbiota. This
can be investigated, for example, using the
automated Bioscreen C system (Labsystems Oy,
Helsinki, Finland) under anaerobic conditions.
Gas production is an undesired potential side-
effect of the microbial fermentation process that
occurs in the gut, and can be measured using
faecal slurries grown with or without prebiotics
or probiotics. Prebiotics that are fermented
slowly, because of their long chain or complex
bonds, such as polydextrose, will induce less
gas formation when compared with readily
fermentable prebiotics. This will also lead to
improved tolerance.
Following initial screening, the most promising
pro- and prebiotic candidates can be further
tested in a colon simulator. The EnteroMix colon
simulator (Danisco Health and Nutrition, Kantvik,
Finland) consists of four sequentially connected
vessels that each represent a different part of
the human large intestine. During the simulation,
artificial digesta (containing test substances)
are introduced into the first vessel every 3
hours and the same amount is transferred to a
subsequent one, thus mimicking the natural flow
of digesta in the colon. In addition to analysing
the composition of the microbiota and its
metabolites, the effects of the simulator digesta
can be investigated in vitro using tissue culture
cells. The junction integrity of the tissue culture
cells, being an important part of the intestinal
barrier, can be determined by measuring the ion
flow through the cell layer. Typically, differentiated
Caco-2 intestinal cell cultures are used for
this purpose (Figure 1). The Bioscreen C
system has been used for the screening of
anticariogenic substances and to optimize test
substance concentrations. The effects of chosen
anticariogenic substances are further investigated
selection strategies For Pre- and Probiotic FunctionalityProbiotics and prebiotics are common ingredients in functional foods. In vitro tests can be used to select new candidates and investigate novel targets for existing pre- and probiotics. Ultimately, however, these ingredients will have to be tested in appropriately designed human dietary intervention trials to substantiate potential health benefits.
(serosal side)
Microporous membrane
Lower compartment
(collagen coated)
5 days in culture
Cell culture insert
Upper compartment(lumen of the intestine)
Undifferentiated Caco-2 cells
Figure 1: The differentiation of Caco-2 cells into intestinal epithelial-like cells. Image kindly provided by Dr H. Putaala (Danisco Health and Nutrition, Finland).
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
21gut health
Figure 2: Attachment of Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt to an artificial tooth as determined by scanning electron microscopy in the presence of artificial saliva (A), artificial saliva containing 1% sucrose (B) and artificial saliva containing 1% sucrose and 4% xylitol (C).
using the EnteroMix caries simulator with artificial
teeth to monitor biofilm formation (Figure 2).
To establish the potential of new pre- and
probiotics, well-designed human dietary
intervention studies need to be done. It is
generally accepted that such studies should be
randomized, double blind and placebo-controlled,
and that it may be necessary to replicate the
study. Further in vitro and/or animal studies
may nevertheless be required to investigate the
mechanism of action, for example. Little is known
about the influence of the food matrix on the
activity of the active ingredient. Some studies
indicate similar faecal recoveries of a probiotic
strain when fed in different matrices. However,
this does not guarantee similar efficacy. Using a
Gouda cheese containing L. rhamnosus HN001,
we have addressed this topic; first, in vitro, using
the models described above and, subsequently,
in a dietary intervention. We observed that the
consumption of 15 g of cheese containing 109
CFU of L. rhamnosus HN001 induced a similar
increase in phagocytic activity and Natural Killer
cell activity as when the strain was consumed in
reconstituted fat-free milk.
The inclusion of probiotics into different
food matrices poses specific challenges. By
definition, a probiotic needs to be viable at
the moment of consumption, and it has to be
viable at adequate amounts (at least 109 CFU/
consumption as a rule of thumb). This implies
that the probiotic concentration is dependent
on the usual portion size of the food matrix.
Thus, different concentrations may be required
for different food types. In addition to this, the
different matrices may provide their own particular
challenges in terms of pH, water activity, shelf-
life and the presence of natural antimicrobial
components. Although prebiotics do not need
to remain viable, there may still be technological
challenges such as solubility, process temperature
and pH stability. Choosing the right prebiotic
can overcome these issues. The technological
properties of polydextrose, for example, facilitate
its incorporation into a variety of foods and
beverages. The methodologies described here
can be used to document the health benefits
of the active ingredients and understand their
mechanism of action. They can further be
employed to differentiate the different pre- and
probiotics to choose the most appropriate one for
the application and health target required.
For more informationArthur C. Ouwehand, Marika Björklund, Kaisa Olli, Kirsti Tiihonen and Sampo LahtinenHealth and NutritionDanisco [email protected]
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
22gut health
there is a rapidly growing trend amongst
consumers towards authentic foods
on the one hand and functional foods
on the other. Growth in known-origin,
organic and environmentally and socially
conscious foods is closely matched by the
increased consumption of functionally enriched
products. As an all-natural, traditional product
with proven nutritional benefits, the evidence is
mounting in favour of chocolate as an answer
to the demand for both authentic and functional
foods. Recent research into the possibilities of
further enhancing the natural health benefits of
cocoa and chocolate with probiotics only adds
further weight to this argument. Probiotics lie at
the centre of the increased interest in functional
foods; they are designed to protect against
infection by improving metabolism and the human
body’s own immune response. Although we are
only beginning to understand the essential role
played by positive bacteria in maintaining human
health, there is growing evidence to support the
power of probiotic supplements to restore the
balance of the intestinal flora and thus the body’s
natural capacity to fight diseases.
There are several challenges, however, to
integrating orally ingested micro-organisms into
food products. Not only must these organisms
survive the manufacturing, storage and
distribution of the food products that carry them,
once ingested they must also survive the harsh
environment of the human digestive system. It
is for this reason that Barry Callebaut invested
significant energy into investigating the feasibility
of developing a probiotic chocolate. And the
initial results are striking! It has been shown, for
instance, that several new innovations in the
production process make chocolate an ideal
carrier for the intestinal delivery of probiotics —
far more effective, in fact, than more common
milk-based carriers.
Managing the MicrofloraThe human gastrointestinal tract contains an
extremely complex and diverse population of
bacteria. There are approximately 100 trillion
micro-organisms belonging to at least 400
different known bacterial species living in
the gut of a normal, healthy human being. In
other words, there are more than ten times
the number of active bacteria in the intestines
than there are cells in the rest of the human
body. These bacteria are responsible for
generating intense metabolic activity and are
an indispensable part of the digestive system.
The delicate balance of this intestinal flora is
under constant pressure from our modern
lifestyle. The use of antibiotics and other drugs,
excessive alcohol consumption, stress, disease
and pollution are all factors thought to seriously
damage the population of the healthy bacteria
in the human gut. Yet, these micro-organisms
are absolutely essential to digestion and, it is
thought, the body’s capacity to fight diseases.
Whereas the majority of the intestinal
microflora comprises either helpful or benign
bacteria, some have the potential to cause
disease. In healthy individuals, the bacteria in the
intestinal tract are optimally balanced. However,
when this balance is disturbed, harmful bacteria
are given the ideal conditions to flourish, thus
increasing the risk of inflammatory, infectious
and other diseases. Restoring and maintaining
the balance of the intestinal flora could therefore
form the basis for the treatment of a wide range
of illnesses. This is where probiotics come
in. The World Health Organization defines
probiotics as “live micro-organisms that, when
administered in adequate amounts, confer a
health benefit on the host.” Probiotic bacteria
are designed to do just that by restoring the
proper balance of the microflora, optimizing
intestinal function and generally promoting good
health. Besides improving digestion, probiotics
are believed to provide protection against
infection by improving metabolism and the
immune response.
The Road to Good HealthOne of the biggest hurdles to restoring the
balance of the digestive system is the digestive
system itself. Probiotic micro-organisms have
to be tough to survive the acidic environment
of the stomach. They must be resistant to the
effects of bile and be capable of flourishing in
an environment deprived of oxygen. Naturally,
to achieve their beneficial objective, probiotics
must be non-toxic to the human body. There
are relatively few strains of probiotics that are up
to the task. Of those that occur naturally inside
the gut are certain bacteria belonging to the
lactobacillus, streptococcus and bifidobacterium
Probiotic cHocolaterestoring tHe balanceProbiotics are believed to improve metabolism and the immune response by restoring the balance of
intestinal bacteria. However, ensuring the survival of such orally ingested micro-organisms in the
digestive tract is no easy task. Researchers at Barry Callebaut have demonstrated that chocolate
could be an ideal carrier for the intestinal delivery of probiotics.
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Surv
ival
(%)
Start situation
Chocolate matrix Milk matrix
After complete passage throughstomach and small intestine
Survival (%) after passage through stomach and small intestine (in vitro)
3 times lower in milk than in
chocolate matrix
Figure 1: Probiotic concentrations in a chocolate matrix following passage through the stomach and small intestine.
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
23gut health
For more informationAlex LanduytSuperior Applications ManagerBarry Callebaut (www.barry-callebaut.com).
groups, along with several other types of bacillus
and yeast. These bacteria are also commonly
found in certain fermented dairy products, such
as yoghurt and fresh cheese. It may therefore
come as a surprise to discover that recent
research points to chocolate as a far superior
medium than such milk-based carriers in terms
of guaranteeing the optimum survival and
activity of probiotics throughout the digestive
tract.
In analysing the potential of chocolate and
cocoa as carriers for the intestinal delivery
of probiotics, chocolate manufacturer Barry
Callebaut conducted extensive research into
the resistance of a number of probiotic strains,
both to the human digestive system and the
chocolate-making process itself. In addition to
the inhospitable environment of the digestive
system, there are a number of challenges
associated with integrating probiotics into
chocolate on an industrial scale. To ensure
the survival of the probiotic organisms and the
prolonged shelf-life of the end product, it is
essential to narrow the temperature range of
production and storage considerably. However,
this narrower temperature range also makes
it difficult to ensure the effective distribution of
the probiotic supplements within large-scale
production. Barry Callebaut’s answer to this
difficulty came in the form of a newly patented
process for the large-scale production of
probiotic chocolate. The new process ensures
the homogenous integration of the probiotic
supplements without compromising quality or
taste. New machinery designed to support this
innovative process is also easier to clean, thus
eliminating the risk of contamination of other
products made with the same equipment.
The Right Carrier for the JobIn searching for a combination of probiotic
bacteria that were tough enough to survive
the chemical conditions of the digestive tract,
researchers at Barry Callebaut concentrated
on two strains in particular: Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum. Two
samples of the probiotic strains were prepared,
one embedded in a Barry Callebaut chocolate
matrix, another in a standard milk matrix. The
samples were then subjected to an in vitro
simulation of passage through the stomach and
small intestine. The results of the comparative
analysis are remarkable to say the least! Not only
did the probiotic strains survive the temperature
fluctuations of the chocolate-making process,
their rate of survival upon digestion was
far greater than that of the milk-embedded
probiotic mixture. The in vitro stomach acids
had hardly any noticeable effect on the
chocolate-embedded probiotics whereas those
of the milk matrix had end-counts four times
lower than the original mixture. When compared
after simulated passage through the stomach
and the small intestine, probiotic concentrations
in the chocolate matrix were three times higher
than those of the milk matrix (Figure 1).
Barry Callebaut’s researchers also
investigated the effects of the respective
probiotic mixtures on the microflora itself.
Experiments were conducted using a Simulator
of Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem
(SHIME), an in vitro model of the gastrointestinal
tract used to analyse the effects of probiotics on
the large intestine. The preliminary findings are
very promising, pointing to a marked increase
in the proportion of healthy intestinal bacteria
as a result of the introduction of chocolate-
embedded probiotics. The research conducted
by Barry Callebaut has provided substantial
scientific evidence to suggest that chocolate
offers superior protection and a more stable
environment for beneficial micro-organisms
and, as such, could be an ideal carrier for
the intestinal delivery of probiotics. Tests
are currently being done on a wide range of
probiotic chocolate applications, including
chocolate confectionery, biscuits, pastries,
cereals and cereal bars. Depending on the
application, probiotic chocolate has a relatively
long shelf-life — up to one year in many cases.
And, most importantly, the addition of probiotics
appears to have no significant effect on the
taste, texture or mouthfeel of Barry Callebaut’s
celebrated chocolate. In ensuring maximum
resistance to stomach acids and greatly
improving intestinal function, probiotic chocolate
is just another way in which Barry Callebaut
is restoring the balance — both in the human
body and in the wider perception of chocolate
as a natural, nutritious product.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
24women’s health
designing HealtHy Products For Women
Just as we have many products on supermarket shelves that promote a myriad of benefits for a multitude of health conditions, we are seeing increased demand for nutrition that strategically promotes many women-specific health concerns. Continuing research into the effects of nutrients on various areas of women’s health will foster greater perspective on their implementation throughout the various stages of life.
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
25women’s health
market drivers for new and
innovative fortified food products
vary by geographic region,
ethnicity, age category and the
individual interests of women. In the United
States, for example, there is an upward
trend in the proportion of women that are of
Hispanic and Asian origins, such that by 2025,
according to the US Census Bureau, they
will constitute 25% of the female population.
Another important fact is that women are living
in smaller households. Slightly more than half
of the women in the US are living alone or in
households with a spouse and no children.
This trend suggests that single-serve portions
of fortified foods will increase in popularity in
the coming years. In addition, as many of these
women are in the workforce, an increased
focus needs to be put on the development of
snacks and handheld foods that can cater to
the on-the-go woman. According to a survey
done by the NPD Group of Port Washington
(New York), a significant amount of snacking
occurs among women while they are in the car
or at work. Portable, handheld snacks such as
breakfast/cereal bars and various fortified snack
bars will no doubt increase in popularity, partly
because of their portability and convenience.
Also of note is the growing number of
women attracted to the rapidly expanding
sport nutrition product category. Business
Insights states that in 2003, more than
half of all frequent fitness participants
were women. The global sports nutrition
market is currently valued at $27–32
billion, according to Business Insights
(Opportunities and Key Players in Sports Nutrition, July 2009). Health concerns are
another key driver for women-targeted
food products. As the boomer generation
ages, there is more and more concern
about chronic disease and the role of diet
in combating sickness and disability. Older
women are concerned about osteoporosis,
menopause, heart disease and cancer.
In Demand Nutrients to Improve Women’s HealthHealth is a lifelong proposition. In fact, recent
research has highlighted the importance of
in utero nutrition as an important factor in
establishing risk for chronic diseases that
will not begin to appear for many decades
to come. So, women, in particular, must be
very conscious of maintaining good nutrition
throughout their lives to foster optimal health
in their offspring, as well as in themselves
as they grow older. Not only do the roots
of chronic disease begin early, but lifelong
nutritional vigilance must also be maintained
to optimize health. Although a woman’s
genetic makeup plays an important role in
determining her risk of developing chronic
disease as she ages, the good news is that
a proper diet can play an important role in
modifying the interaction of genetics and
some important diet-related diseases, such
as osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer.
In addition, increases in the dietary intake
of certain bioactive food components can
ameliorate the severity of certain diseases,
such as prebiotics in digestive disease and
fish oils in inflammatory diseases such as
rheumatoid arthritis.
Overall Essential Nutrients for WomenWith the exception of iron during the
reproductive years, the essential nutrient
needs of women are commensurate with
that of men after adjustments are made
for differences in body mass. Owing to
menstruation, iron needs are at least twice
as high as in men, and giving birth entails
even greater stress on the iron economy
of women. It is not surprising then that
women are at a significantly increased risk of
developing iron deficiency, particularly in less
developed countries where the bioavailability
of dietary iron may be low. Another area of
increasing concern is vitamin B6, which can
be affected by oral contraceptives taken by
many women during the reproductive years.
Additional areas of general concern in women
are calcium and vitamin D intake because
of their increased propensity to develop
significant bone loss and osteoporosis as
they age. Like men, many women also have
low intakes of omega-3 fatty acids that could
contribute to chronic inflammatory conditions
that become a pathogenic basis for many
diseases, including heart disease, type 2
diabetes and cancer. Another nutrient concern
is in the area of antioxidant nutrients, such as
vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, selenium and,
more recently, the recognition of important
antioxidant effects of bioactive non-essential
phytochemicals in many fruits and vegetables.
In the following section of this article, some
important dietary factors and nutrients that
appear to play a role in combating chronic
disease risk in women are highlighted.
Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is an important
bone disease that occurs frequently in
older women. In this condition, there is a
diminution of bone density that results in
weaker bones that are more susceptible
to bone fracture under normal skeletal
forces, particularly in the spine, wrist and
hip. Eighty five per cent of people with
osteoporosis are women and one in three
women over the age of 50 will experience
an osteoporotic fracture. Osteoporosis in
the United States alone is a health threat for
44 million people. Important nutrients to help
combat osteoporosis are calcium, vitamin D,
magnesium and vitamin K. The three important
minerals in bones are calcium, phosphorus
and magnesium. In most diets, phosphorus
is plentiful and does not limit bone health.
However, calcium and magnesium intakes
are typically low in most women. Many clinical
trials have demonstrated the important effect
of calcium supplementation on bone loss
in elderly women with inadequate calcium
intakes. Vitamin D has been well studied
and is important to maintain optimal calcium
absorption, renal calcium conservation and
bone turnover. The mechanism of action of
vitamin K on skeletal health is less certain,
but many studies have shown that higher
vitamin K intakes and status are associated
with higher bone mineral density and lower
fracture risk.
Heart Disease: Heart disease is the number
one fatal disease in women (and men).
Worldwide, almost nine million women die
each year from heart disease — representing
one third of all deaths in women. In the
United States, 435,000 women have heart
attacks each year and 42% of these die
within the first year of the attack (compared
Although clinical trials of vitamin E
and vitamin C in heart disease have
been disappointing, the long-term
ingestion of an antioxidant-rich diet is
likely to have positive health effects.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
26women’s health
with 24% of men). Coronary heart disease
has a complex pathology. Recent evidence
suggests that chronic inflammation may
play an important role in disease risk.
Likewise, other important modifiable risk
factors for heart disease include smoking,
hypertension, type 2 diabetes and elevated
blood cholesterol. Diet can influence the
risk of developing heart disease in several
ways. High calcium intakes, in addition to
being important in combating osteoporosis,
may have a modest, but beneficial, effect
on blood pressure, as does a reduction
in salt (sodium) intake. The inflammatory
component of heart disease could be
ameliorated by diets containing significant
levels of anti-inflammatory components,
such as omega-3 fatty acids, derived mainly
from dietary marine sources. An additional
component in the development of coronary
heart disease is oxidized LDL cholesterol.
Diets high in fruits and vegetables are
associated with less cardiovascular disease
and this may be because of the higher
level of antioxidants in these diets, such as
vitamin C and vitamin E. Although clinical
trials of vitamin E and vitamin C in heart
disease have been disappointing, the
long-term ingestion of an antioxidant-rich
diet, including beta-carotene and other
photochemical antioxidant compounds,
is likely to have positive health effects.
Finally, it is important to control the
intake of saturated fats, trans fats and
total dietary fat to prevent diet-induced
lipid disorders and maintain lower total
blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
In this regard, various dietary cholesterol
inhibitors, such as plant sterols and
stanols, like beta-sitosterol, campesterol
and stigmasterol, are recommended to
lower LDL cholesterol without lowering the
beneficial HDL cholesterol.
Breast Cancer: After lung cancer, breast
cancer is the most common cause of cancer
deaths in women. Worldwide, 1.3 million
women are diagnosed annually and 465,000
will die from breast cancer, according to the
American Cancer Society. About 77% of
breast cancer cases occur in women over
50 years old. Yet, although breast cancer is
more commonly seen in older women, when
it develops in younger adult women, it is
usually more aggressive and is associated
with lower survival rates. Our understanding
of the role of various foods and dietary
components in the prevention of breast
cancer is limited. Most studies support
the conclusion that weight management,
healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption
and high fruit and vegetable intakes reduce
breast cancer risk. The role of specific
nutrients or bioactive food components on
breast cancer risk still remains obscure.
Nevertheless, based on in vitro studies in
cell culture, in vivo animal model studies and
observations in certain human populations,
increased research attention has focused on
several dietary compounds that may have
chemopreventive effects on breast cancer.
For example, vitamin D may be a potentially
important modifiable risk factor for breast
cancer. Also, women with a lower omega-6
to omega-3 fatty acid intake have been
found to have a lower risk of breast cancer,
supporting the potential anticancer role of a
higher omega-3 fatty acid intake.
Soy contains a number of isoflavone
compounds that could influence breast
cancer risk. A recent meta-analysis of breast
cancer risk and soy consumption published
in the British Journal of Cancer found that
among Asian populations with relatively
high soy intake, there was a reduced
breast cancer risk in those consuming
high amounts of soy isoflavones (>20 mg/
day). However, there was no relationship
observed in an analysis of soy isoflavone
intake and breast cancer risk in Western
populations. A likely explanation for this
discordant observation is that the soy
intake in these Western populations was
still quite low (0.8–0.15 mg/day), arguing
for the need for a much higher level of soy
isoflavone consumption to achieve positive
breast health benefits. Another interesting
line of research on food components and
Demographics and GeographyIn 2010, it was estimated that there were 3390 million females on Earth, with slightly more than half of these living in Asia (Figure 1). This number is expected to increase by 20% to four billion during the next 20 years. Among the female population in 2010, 66% of them (2.2 billion) were over the age of 20, according to recent statistics from the US Census Bureau. Moreover, the ageing of populations in many countries will result in a marked increase in older women (>65 years old) from an estimated 294 million elderly women in 2010 to 532 million in 2030 — an astounding 81% increase. In comparison, worldwide, females from the age of 15 to 64 will increase by only 18% during this time period.
Comparisons of regional population estimates between 2030 and the current year indicate variable rates of growth, however, among the different regions of the globe. For example, the population in some regions, such as Eastern Europe and the Baltics, is expected to decrease, whereas Western Europe’s population will stay relatively constant. In contrast, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, North America, South America and Oceania will experience moderate population growth of 16–21% during the next 20 years, while much more vigorous growth (36–50%) is expected in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Popu
latio
n in
mill
ions
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Female Population (2010)
World
Asia
Sub-Sah
aran
Africa
Latin
America
& Car
ribea
n
Wester
n Euro
pe
North Ameri
ca
Common
wealth
Indep
. Stat
es
Near E
ast
Northern
Africa
Easte
rn Eu
rope
Ocean
ia
Baltics
Figure 1: Distribution of the female population by geographic region(Data Source: US Census Bureau).
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
28women’s health
breast cancer risk involves dietary lignans,
which are composed of a large family of
fibre-associated phenolic compounds
that are widely distributed in edible plants.
Some of the lignans are converted in
the large intestine to biologically active
compounds by intestinal microbes. One of
these compounds is enterolactone, which is
believed to be the major biologically active
lignan and associated with breast cancer
risk by modifying estrogen signalling in
the breast. However, a recently published
study from Europe (Norfolk-EPIC) found
no association of estimates of microbial
enterolactone production and breast cancer
risk, although they did observe a significant
decrease in colon cancer risk in women.
Digestive Health: Digestive diseases
encompass a large number of disorders and
affect a significant number of people. In the
United States alone, it is estimated that 34
million people are afflicted with diseases of
the digestive system and it is the second
leading cause of illness-induced disability.
Digestive diseases also account for 8–9%
of US deaths. Colon cancer is the second
leading cause of cancer mortality, leading
to about 60,000 deaths per year. Other
important digestive diseases include ulcers
(10% of the population), liver disease —
including primary biliary cirrhosis, which
occurs most commonly in middle aged
women — and additional conditions such
as gallbladder disease, inflammatory bowel
disease, diverticular disease and other
digestive conditions such as irritable bowel
syndrome, gastric reflux and constipation.
Gallbladder disease, for example, results
from the formation of cholesterol-containing
gallstones that can block the bile duct,
preventing the normal flow of bile to the
intestine. This condition is twice as likely
to develop in women as in men and may
be exacerbated by hormone replacement
therapy and oral contraceptives, which can
increase the cholesterol content of bile.
Large epidemiologic studies, such as the
prospective Nurses Health Study, suggest
that diets that are high in antioxidant-
rich fruits and vegetables reduce the
risk of gallstones. This is supported
by data from the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES),
which found high serum vitamin C was
associated with reduced gallstone risk.
Interestingly, other dietary associations
that were discovered included frequent
nut consumption and caffeinated coffee.
In a small clinical trial, investigators found
that supplementing obese women on a
weight loss diet with 11g/day of fish oil
omega-3 fatty acids for 6 weeks had a
salutary effect on bile characteristics.
Strategic Nutrition for WomenThere are a host of considerations for
food developers looking to incorporate
specific nutrients into products that
address women’s health. These include
the responsible examination of interactions
as well as synergies between various
ingredients. Certain ingredients, such as
choline and folic acid, share the same
critical pathways in the body and when used
together may enhance brain performance
more than would be expected when used
individually. Another important consideration
is the delivery channel for these nutrients,
as different demographics vary in food and
beverage preferences. Nutrients perform
and interact differently depending on how
they are integrated and in what application.
Various market forms may need to be
explored, depending on the end-use. Good
practice calls for high quality nutritional
blends that address these issues, which in
turn will gain consumer confidence in the
product and repeat purchase.
For more informationRam Chaudhari, PhD, FACN, CNS Senior Executive, Vice President, Chief Scientific OfficerFortitech, Inc.Riverside Technology Park2105 Technology DriveSchenectady, New York 12308, USA.Tel. +1 518 372 [email protected]
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NBT: Given the variety of gender-specific issues that women have to deal with — PMT, pregnancy, menopause, etc. — is there a role for nutraceutical products in improving their quality of life? LC: There has certainly been some clear
research (some funded by Wellbeing of
Women) in the past that has demonstrated
the value of substances such as folic acid in
pregnancy to help prevent neural-tube defects.
However, many products have no such clear
research and it is always difficult to run really
thorough clinical trials on pregnant women;
therefore, we do understand that it is difficult
for the makers of these products to provide
that evidence. The most important thing is to
heed the advice on the packet, such as “take
the recommended dosage.” If it says consult
your doctor, then do so. If you are taking
other medication, then talk to your doctor or
pharmacist. Most of our experts would agree
that, even without research, if you feel it does
you good and it does no harm, then why not?
NBT: With women taking healthcare and well-being into their own hands, and becoming better educated about diet and nutrition, is there a role for functional foods in disease prevention?LC: The most important message is that
women should have a balanced diet and that if
they have dietary restrictions for some reason
(personal choice, food intolerance, allergies,
etc.), they should consult their doctor about
what if anything they should take as a suitable
supplement. As with nutraceutical products,
functional foods are a personal choice and,
as yet, there is no clear medical guidance for
many of them in terms of conditions that are
specific to women.
NBT: Are women as informed as they should be about the effects and benefits of nutraceuticals ... and should industry be doing more to convey a positive message?LC: There seems to be a lot of information and
advertising about the benefits of nutraceuticals;
but, when possible, the industry could be clearer
about any ‘proven research’ in terms of where,
when and what it consists of and whether it
was peer reviewed — whether a clinical trial
was done, on how many people and so on.
Women are remarkably ‘savvy’ when it comes
to these sorts of issues and a more upfront and
transparent communication of what, if any, hard
evidence about benefits and applications would
certainly help to convey positive messages
about the industry as a whole.
NBT: As women age and defying the effects of time becomes more important, how has the Beauty from Within concept been embraced ... or has it?LC: Most women now know that to look good
is also about feeling good and staying fit; there is
plenty of evidence and information that exercise,
sensible diet and good weight management are
all key to a long and healthy life.
Liz adds: “The nutraceutical and functional
foods industry can play a role in helping
women to stay healthy. There are many
woman-only issues such as pregnancy, PMT,
the menopause, etc., and although there is
little scientific evidence, many women report
that nutraceutical products help to improve
their quality of life when dealing with these
issues. At Wellbeing of Women, we give the
advice — the more you know, the better
you’ll be; armed with really sound information
and an understanding of their own bodies,
women can take control of their health for
the better. Indeed, today’s female consumers
are already taking responsibility for their
health and well-being and are increasingly
better informed about nutrition and diet.
There is a role for the nutraceutical and
functional foods industry to play, particularly
as the majority of women know that lifestyle
choices such as diet and exercise are
fundamental to long-term health.”
suPPlementing tHe Fairer sexNutraceuticals may play an important role in women’s health, with applications as wide ranging as pregnancy and lactation, reproductive health, iron deficiency, menopause, skin health and beauty. But is the functional food and drink sector doing enough to address these issues. Dr Kevin Robinson spoke with Liz Campbell, Director of Wellbeing of Women, to find out more.
For more informationLiz Campbell, DirectorWellbeing of Women27 Sussex Place Regent’s Park, London NW1 4SP, UK. Tel. +44 207 772 6400 [email protected]
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
30women’s health
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www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
32infant nutrition
infant formulae and baby food offer a
viable solution to a shortage or lack of
breast milk and promote continued health
and nutrition after the breastfeeding
age. Modern scientific capabilities enable
manufacturers to develop infant formulae
to closely match human milk composition
and offer various health benefits, such as an
improved immune response, healthy growth
and mental development.
Grow, Baby, GrowHealthy infant growth is of paramount
importance as it indicates a good rate
of physical development. Nutrients that
support linear growth have become a must
in infant and follow-on formulae as well as
baby foods. It is equally important in the
minds of parents. A recent study found
that 62% of parents feel that nutrients
supporting growth and development are
essential ingredients in infant nutrition
products.2 A balanced supply of essential
nutrients is needed to support physical
development. Key nutrient groups such
as vitamins, minerals, nucleotides and
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
(omega-3 PUFAs) promote healthy growth
by replenishing cells, maintaining optimal
gastrointestinal function and ensuring
normal skeletal development. Choline,
for example, is important during the
perinatal period, especially for spinal cord
development. Similarly, sufficient intake of
vitamins A, C, D and E improves post-natal
growth, and a well-balanced blend of key
minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium,
zinc, iodine and copper is critical for
children’s ongoing growth and development.
Brain PowerChildren’s mental health is as important
as their physical development and is
also influenced by diet. Seventy per
cent of the human brain develops during
foetal life, whereas the remaining 30%
of development occurs during preschool
years.3 To support brain development,
infants rely on a steady supply of long-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs),
particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
and arachidonic acid (ARA).4 DHA is the
most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in breast
milk and substantial amounts need to be
deposited in the brain during pregnancy and
the first years of life to ensure adequate brain
development.5 Omega-3 fatty acids such
as DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
are currently available on the market and
can provide supplementation levels closely
matched to human breast milk and are
ideally suited to infant formulae. For example,
DSM’s ROPUFA is a DHA and EPA blend that
can be added to infant formulae to support
brain cell membrane formation and cellular
development in the brain.6
tHe best start in liFeBreast milk sets the gold standard in nutrition for newborns and infants. It contains all the nutrients infants need to be protected from infections and for sufficient development. Nonetheless, a large number of women across the globe are unable or choose not to breastfeed for various reasons. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, less than 40% of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.1
Gold Standard of QualitySafety and quality are of critical importance in the
stringently regulated children’s nutrition industry.
Manufacturers must adhere to a consistently high
standard across the globe. To maximize product
safety, DSM has tightened its microbiological purity
specifications for Enterobacteriaceae (including
Enterobacter sakazakii and Salmonella) and
Bacillus cereus. New tests and levels for specific
contaminants have also been applied. In today’s
increasingly regulated environment, infant and
children’s nutrition product manufacturers require
independent accreditation demonstrating ongoing
compliance with an array of quality and safety
standards. All of DSM’s ingredients are accredited
with globally recognized quality standards, such as
GMP, HACCP and ISO. Plus, DSM’s baby food grade
sets a worldwide standard in product and process
safety for the infant nutrition market.
The Quality for Life promise communicates
DSM’s commitment to quality, reliability, traceability
and sustainability.20 The only vertically integrated
vitamin and carotenoids manufacturer and supplier,
DSM operates a strict screening and auditing policy
applied throughout the global supply chain that
spans across eight premix plants and five application
labs on five continents. Quality For Life underpins
DSM’s dedication to stringent quality control, giving
its customers the confidence to go to market with
new nutritional products for infants and children. The
unique quality commitment in the infant nutrition
sector means that DSM Nutritional Products is ideally
placed to help manufacturers raise the bar for baby
food products worldwide.
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
33infant nutrition
Choline is another nutrient building
block in the brain.7 Emerging studies show
that it may contribute to proper neural
tube development.8 Choline is essential
for normal brain function, particularly in
areas related to memory, but its natural
production generally falls below the required
level. Maintaining a good supply of this
and other essential nutrients can enhance
mental health and development in infants
and small children, giving them the best
possible start in life.
Enhance Their ImmunityBeing able to fight off the diseases and
viruses that naturally exist in the environment
is particularly essential for children. Nutrition
is responsible for some of the factors
modulating immune maturation and
response. During pregnancy, vital antibodies
such as immunoglobulin G are transferred
from maternal to foetal circulations through
the placenta; but, many key antibodies
disappear within 3 months after birth.9 In the
first days to months after birth, while awaiting
maturation of the baby’s own immune system,
various immunological and bioactive milk
components act synergistically to provide a
passive support system from the mother to
her infant. Therefore, it is crucial that the same
nutrients found in breast milk are also present
in the infant formula. Certain vitamins, minerals
and active ingredients have been shown to
have a positive effect. For example, vitamin D
is a crucial micronutrient for strengthening the
immune system, by helping with the regulation
and differentiation of immune cells. Vitamin D
may help to protect the respiratory tract from
infections and has emerged as a potential
risk modifier for autoimmune diseases such
as Type 1 diabetes mellitus.10 The American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has doubled
its recommended dose of vitamin D for
infants and children to 400 International
Units (IU) a day.11,12 The decision was partly
driven by the growing evidence of vitamin
D’s role in maintaining general immunity and
preventing disease.
Nucleotides: Immunity Boosting MoleculesNucleotides are molecules that form the
structure of DNA and RNA and play a key
role in numerous intracellular biochemical
processes.13 Nucleotides affect the innate
as well as the cellular immune system and
studies also suggest potential benefits for
the intestinal flora, iron absorption, lipid
metabolism and gut development.14,15 Human
milk is the best source of nucleotides,
providing about one third of a newborn’s
requirements.16 Dietary nucleotides are not
considered to be essential in the traditional
sense because they can be synthesized
by the body.17 However, a number of
investigators have described dietary
nucleotides as conditionally essential during
periods of insufficient intake, when there is
a high rate of growth such as during infancy
and in the presence of disease.18
Formula for SuccessInfants and small children may be at risk
of nutrient deficiency if their daily diet is
lacking essential vitamins and minerals.
Paediatricians currently recommend that all
infant and follow-on formulae adhere to the
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) as shown
in Table I. This approach helps to achieve
and maintain a nutritional balance supporting
infant health and well-being. To provide the
right balance of nutrients, manufacturers can
turn to nutrient premixes for easier quality
management and simplified production.
DSM Nutritional Products offers Quali-Blends
premixes combining ingredients such as
vitamins, omega-3s, choline and other
nutrients for infant nutrition.
0–6 Months 7–12 Months
Vitamin A µg/d 400 500
Vitamin C mg/d 40 50
Vitamin D µg/d 15 15
Vitamin E mg/d 4 5
Vitamin K µg/d 2 2.5
Thiamin mg/d 0.2 0.3
Riboflavin mg/d 0.3 0.4
Niacin mg/d 2 4
Vitamin B6 mg/d 0.1 0.3
Folate µg/d 65 80
Vitamin B12 µg/d 0.4 0.5
PUFA (DHA) % of fat <0.5 <0.5
Choline mg/d 125 150
Taurine mg/100kcal <12 <12
Nucleotides mg/100kcal 5 5
16 16
Table I: The recommended daily intake of micronutrients for infants.
For more informationAnna-Maria Stiefel, Global Marketing Manager, Infant Nutrition, and Dr Birgit Hoeft, Scientist, Infant Nutrition, DSM Nutritional Products.Contact Charlotte FrederiksenDSM Nutritional ProductsTel. +41 61 815 [email protected] www.dsmnutritionalproducts.comwww.qualityforlife.com
References1. www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/en/
(Accessed 7 November 2010).2. Health Focus (www.healthfocus.net.au), 2008.3. M. Singh, Indian Journal of Paediatrics 71,
59–62 (2004).4. A. McDonald, Prenatal Development: The Dana
Guide, www.dana.org/news/brainhealth/detail.aspx?id=10050 (Accessed 7 December 2010).
5. M. Martinez, World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics 66, 87–102 (1991).
6. ROPUFA® is a registered trademark of Royal DSM NV.7. S.H. Zeisel, Journal of Pediatrics 149(Suppl.),
131–136 (2006).8. G.M. Shaw, et al., Am. J. Epidemiol. 160(2),
102–109 (2004).9. P. Bhaskaram, Nutrition Reviews 60, 40–45 (2002).10. C.S. Zipitis and A.K. Akobeng, Archives of Disease in
Childhood 93, 512–517 (2008).11. www.aap.org/pressroom/nce/nce08vitamind.htm
(Accessed 7 December 2010).12. http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.
aspx?id=101339 (Accessed 7 December 2010).13. http://nucleotides4health.org/nutritional_implication.
html (Accessed 7 December 2010).14. A. Lerner, Israel Medical Association Journal 2,
772–774 (2000).15. A.D. Kulkarni, F.B. Rudolph and C.T. Van Buren,
Journal of Nutrition 124(8), 1442–1446 (1994).16. J. Maldonado, et al., Early Human Development 65,
69–74 (2001).17. A. Sanchez-Pozo and A. Gil, British Journal of
Nutrition 87(1S), 135–137 (2002).18. V.Y.H Yu, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 38,
543–549 (2002).19. Quali-Blends® is a registered trademark of Royal
DSM NV.20. Quality for Life™ is a trademark of Royal DSM NV.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
34health management
bakery and cereals WitH beneFitsTim Van der Schraelen, Marketing Communication Manager from BENEO, analyses the trends that are driving growth in the bakery and cereals category and explains how food producers can capitalize on them.
as a staple product, bread has reached
a level of saturation in an international
market that is extremely fragmented
— with more than 60% of the sector
attributed to artisanal bread alone. Convenience
and health are driving innovation in the bakery
category as consumers increasingly look for
products that fulfil their demand for healthy,
convenient products that fit into their busy
lifestyles. Recent developments suggest that the
cereals market is recession resilient, although the
breakfast cereals market has faced increased
competition in recent years from, amongst
others, convenient alternatives such as breakfast
biscuits. In the breakfast cereals market, muesli
and hot cereals are forecasted to have the
highest growth. Muesli is benefiting from the
natural, whole foods trends and has the healthiest
perception of all categories. Also, granola/muesli
bars and breakfast bars are forecast to have high
growth. Health is still a key trend with fibre and
wholegrain, natural, free from, low in and weight
management health claims topping the agenda.
Health Trends in Bakery and BiscuitsWith increasing governmental pressure to eat
healthily and a growing consumer obsession
with body image, consumers are driving
innovation with their demand for healthier
bakery products. This has been confirmed
by figures that show that health is within the
top two trends for new product launches
across the entire bakery category. This trend
has prompted a rise in demand for healthy
products that overlap with both indulgence
and convenience.
Fibre and WholegrainDespite seeing a decline in the number of
new product launches featuring a wholegrain
claim, added fibre and wholegrain claims can
be found in the top five for nearly every bakery
category, highlighting its continued importance
in this sector. This may be attributed to the fact
that wholegrain is considered to be a ‘natural’
choice, a trend that is extremely popular with
consumers. Increasingly, food producers are
looking to incorporate this extra ‘wholegrain
goodness’ into bakery products such as
bread, by combining them with the popular
white bread variants, offering consumers a
multigrain product such as Puratos Sporting
Bread. This combination of added vitamins
and special grains, enriched with BENEO’s
inulin, appeals to consumers looking for a
healthier alternative to white bread.
Within the biscuit category, the overlapping
trend for healthy convenient and healthy
indulgent products has also prompted the
production of on-the-go snacking products
such as the Pepperidge Farm Cookies range.
This range of cookies communicates both
added fibre and low-fat claims, on pack, and
markets the products to consumers as a healthy
snack in an easy to eat format. This type of
product appeals to those consumers who
aspire to being able to eat healthily, but have a
high-pressure lifestyle. Just as in the sweet
biscuit category, the trend for wholegrain and
added fibre translates to the savoury biscuit
and cracker segment. These include Kashi
TLC Tasty Little Crackers that contain 8 g
of wholegrains and benefit from 0 g of trans
fats and no artificial flavours or colourings.
The massive range of products available in
the bakery category that support wholegrain
or added fibre claims demonstrates how
food producers are responding to the
increasing consumer demand for healthy
convenient products.
Natural: Sense of SimplicityNatural claims such as no additives or
preservatives ranked extremely high with
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
consumers, accounting for more than 10% of
all claims within the category for 2009. Figures
also show that these claims appear in the
top five claims for every bakery category. This
type of claim is often used as a selling point
to consumers, with the added health benefits
boldly displayed on the front of the packaging
to improve on-shelf standout to consumers.
The trend for all things natural has increased
greatly during the past few years as consumer
interest in natural and clean-label foods with
recognizable ‘kitchen cupboard’ ingredients
has grown. This has encouraged the use of
more natural ingredients in food products, such
as sweeteners extracted from natural sources,
to rise. Loacker Quadratini Bite Size Wafer
Cookies are a good example of this trend, with
phrases such as ‘natural’ and ‘fresh’ being used
on the packaging to attract consumers.
Free From The gradual move towards ‘gluten-free’ and
other ‘free from’ food products accelerated in
2009 to involve some of the bakery category’s
major players and to focus more on taste,
quality and natural ingredients. In the past year,
Innova tracked 8000 new products positioned
as either gluten free or lactose free, compared
with more than 6000 in the previous 12 months,
demonstrating the increase in this trend.
Similar to the trend for natural ingredients, this
growth has been stimulated by the increased
awareness and diagnoses of allergies and
illnesses such as coeliac disease. Linked to
many chronic health disorders, food allergies
are a growing health concern. The greater
awareness of such problems and, in particular,
the increasing prevalence of coeliac disease,
are all key drivers to ingredient innovation and
new product development. This is especially
true in the cereal and baked goods segments.
This has sparked new product launches across
the entire bakery sector. Companies such as
Germany’s Hanneforth have really embraced
this trend by launching a range of gluten free
cookies that contain BENEO rice ingredients to
cater for the market.
Health Trends in Breakfast Cereals and BarsIn cereals, health is the dominant positioning,
accounting for 50% of new product launches
in breakfast cereals and 42% in snack bars.
Similar to the bakery category, the health trend
covers both indulgence and convenience as
consumers drive innovation towards healthy
indulgent and healthy convenient products.
Consumers continue to drive NPD into products
that are healthy or nutritious, with a greater
emphasis now being placed on products with
natural ingredients and functionality that provide
added value. Although, in previous years,
consumer demand has leaned towards low
fat and low calorie products, consumers are
now looking for products with claims such
as wholegrain, organic and no additives/
preservatives, which have been identified as
the leading claims in both the cereal and cereal
bar categories.
Fibre and WholegrainIn 2009, cereal products carrying wholegrain
claims were the most popular. In the breakfast
cereal category, wholegrain was the leading
claim for breakfast cereals — being responsible
for 20% of all new product launches — whereas
in the cereal bar category it was the joint second
leading claim, responsible for 8% of new
product launches. These figures demonstrate
how consumer demand for nutritious products
is driving innovation in the cereal market.
Products such as Alpen Original Swiss Muesli
have been launched featuring claims such as
high in fibre, wholegrain and low in saturated
fat, highlighting how food producers can
amalgamate claims to make a product more
appealing to consumers and show the added
value afforded by such a product. Likewise,
within the cereal bar segment, products such
as Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Yoghurt Bars feature
on pack claims including “Now more of the
wholegrains your body needs” and “Excellent
source of calcium.”
Natural The trend towards natural products, as
demonstrated in the bakery category, continues
to show its influence in the cereals market,
with an increasing number of no additives/
preservatives claims. In addition, claims such
as “No GM ingredients” or “GM free” are also
becoming more prevalent. Breakfast cereals
such as Lizi’s Belgian Chocolate Granola
35health management
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
36health management
Breakfast Cereal from France are capitalizing
on this trend by featuring on pack claims such
as “GMO free ingredients” and “All natural.”
This is also being replicated across the cereal
bar category, with numerous products such as
Maryland Munch Bars from Ireland highlighting
claims including no artificial colours and flavours,
free from hydrogenated fats and non-GM
ingredients on the packaging.
Weight ManagementAnother trend that has been identified within the
bakery and cereals category is the increased
demand for new products with weight
management properties. Figures show that
cereals and cereal bars have collectively been
responsible for almost a third of the total number
of new product launches carrying a weight
management claim. Corresponding with this
trend, product launches with satiety claims have
been rising during the past few years, despite
only a third of consumers having heard a lot
about the connection between fibre and satiety.
Responding to Health Trends in Bakery and CerealsWith reference to the key trends driving change
into the bakery and cereal category this year,
BENEO offers food producers the following
advice regarding how to capitalize on the trends
outlined and transform product potential:
Wholegrain: With wholegrain positioned to be
one of the top trends driving growth into the
bakery and cereal category, food producers
should consider using BENEO’s Orafti
ingredients to promote an added fibre claim on
bakery and cereal products. Food producers
can easily capitalize on this increasing trend
by incorporating small amounts of functional
ingredients, such as BENEO’s Orafti inulin, to
provide fibre enrichment, while also benefiting
from additional technological qualities such as
improved shelf-life. Also, BENEO’s stabilized
rice bran can be incorporated to optimize the
nutritional content of wholegrain products so
that gluten free bakery can be enriched with
fibre.
Natural: BENEO’s unique rice derivatives,
prebiotics, sugar alternatives and proteins all
come from the purest of natural ingredients —
rice, chicory, sugar beet and wheat. BENEO
offers a wide range of ‘clean’ label ingredients.
With this in mind, food manufacturers should
regard BENEO as the preferred partner for
innovation when looking to market natural
products within the bakery and cereals category.
Free From Gluten and Lactose: The issues
of formulating foods free from gluten-containing
ingredients are many but resolvable. The
secret is using the right ingredients. Natural
dietary fibres such as BENEO’s inulin and
oligofructose, for instance, can supplement
natural fibres in certain applications while, at the
same time, improving taste and mouthfeel and
enhancing shelf-life. Rice derivatives such as
BENEO’s range of rice-based ingredients are
hypoallergenic and naturally free from gluten
and lactose, as well as having the ability to
provide clean label, organic and highly digestible
solutions that will allow food producers to make
the most of this growing trend.
Low in Sugar: BENEO’s Orafti oligofructose
acts as a natural sugar replacer and has a
moderately sweet taste — 30–65% of the
sweetness potential of sucrose — without any
lingering aftertaste. It can be used to reduce
calories compared with sugar, has prebiotic
benefits and the ability to mask off flavours
associated with high intensity sweeteners. Orafti
oligofructose is used as a low calorie sugar
replacer in many different baked goods such
as biscuits, cereals and cereal bars. BENEO’s
ISOMALT is the only sugar replacer derived
from pure sugar beet and, therefore, has a
taste that’s similar to sugar with about 50% of
the sweetness of sugar. When replacing sugar
in a 1:1 ratio, it’s an ideal substitute. Baked
products with ISOMALT have the same taste,
body, colour, pore size distribution and fluffy
consistency as if sugar were used. It provides
food manufacturers with the opportunity
to tap into the increasing demand among
consumers for ‘health and well-being’ products
by facilitating claims such as “no added sugar”
or “reduced calories.” As consumers look to
combine their taste for treats with an increasing
focus on healthy living, bakery products with
ISOMALT give manufacturers the chance to
distinguish themselves from the competition.
FunctionalityWeight management: There is a range
of products in the BENEO portfolio that
supports weight management in cereal and
bakery products, including Orafti inulin and
oligofructose. There is increasing scientific
evidence to suggest that Orafti inulin and
oligofructose, as a single ingredient, have the
potential to decrease energy intake, providing
substantial advantages for food manufacturers
wishing to formulate bakery or cereal products
that can help people to manage their caloric
intake in an efficient way.
Bone health: BENEO’s Orafti Synergy1 is a
patented oligofructose-enriched inulin with
prebiotic and bone health properties. Research
indicates that Orafti Synergy1 increases calcium
uptake. Whether you are looking to develop a
product aimed at maximizing bone health in
children or minimizing calcium loss in middle
aged consumers, you can capitalize on the
science that supports Orafti Synergy1. This
versatile ingredient can be easily incorporated
into bread and baked products, providing food
producers with the opportunity to make an on-
pack health claim.
Secret of SuccessBENEO has built its business on providing
food and drink producers with natural-origin
ingredients that offer multiple technological,
nutritional and health benefits. The company’s
experience of creating a sound scientific basis
for all of its ingredients is also supported with
comprehensive consumer research. BENEO
does this research regularly to ensure that
customers not only have all the scientific and
technological data they might need on the
company’s ingredients, but the latest in consumer
needs and wants as well. The recent creation of
the BENEO-Institute also ensures that customers
have access to the latest research in nutritional
science, advice on claims and regulatory
affairs topics that are affecting prebiotics, sugar
alternatives, rice derivates and proteins.
For more informationTim Van der SchraelenMarketing Communication ManagerBENEOAandorenstraat 1, B-3300 Tienen, Belgium.Tel. +32 16 801 [email protected] www.BENEO.com
June 11-14, 2011 | New Orleans, LA
Are you serious about the science, and the business, of food? Then join your food science and technology colleagues (and competitors) as they travel from around the world to attend the IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo.
You’ll see the newest products, including ingredients, equipment, and processing/packaging; discover the hottest trends and how to turn them into a competitve advantage for your organization; and learn about the latest advances in food science. Plus, you’ll make important connections with other food professionals.
Learn more about this year’s event and the Short Courses below, at ift.org/IFT11. Registration opens March 1.
IFT Is “Jazzing” It Up In New Orleans!Join us for hot solutions and cool products
Have a Deeper Taste for Knowledge?Maximize your education value when you register for a Pre-Annual Meeting Short Course. Short Courses offer focused professional development and the ability to earn continuing education credits.
Courses offered this year include:
• Food Science for the Non-Food Scientist• Ingredient Applications for Product Innovation and Consumer Health• Labeling Requirements and Implications for Foods Marketed in the U.S. • Microencapsulation in Food Applications• Developing Effective Influencing Skills• Sensory Testing for Product Development and Claims Support• Managing Risks Associated with Food Ingredient Safety• New Oils, New Labels, New Opportunities• Evaluating the Safety of Gulf Seafood: Programs and Analytical
Techniques in the Aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Spill
93%The percentage of attendees who found the 2010 Annual Meeting & Food Expo of value
®
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
38cosmetic focus
the southernmost region of the African
continent symbolizes the beauty of
nature: the Kalahari Desert, Victoria
Falls, nearly 7000 km of coastline and
incredible biodiversity and wildlife, all of which
attract thousands of tourists —Europeans in
particular — who like to visit during their holidays.
By contrast, colonialism has left its mark and,
throughout history, affected the socio-economic
development of the area. Today, poverty,
corruption and HIV/AIDS are some of the biggest
factors impeding economic growth. Nevertheless,
positive moves and policies adopted by many
African governments have played a significant role
in promoting Africa as a viable business partner
in numerous global markets. Increasing demand
from the emerging middle class and the growing
fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector will
drive growth and the need for cosmetic products
in southern Africa, offering new opportunities for
local brands as well as openings for international
ones to enter the market. International companies
linked to former colony nations like, for example,
the British-Dutch company Unilever or Johnson &
Johnson have offered locally produced personal
care products for many years in southern Africa.
More recently, other low-to-middle priced products
have penetrated the market, such as brands by
Beiersdorf, Henkel and L’Oréal. In addition, there
is an increasing trend for international top-of-the-
range cosmetic companies starting to promote
their products in southern Africa, like Shiseido did
in 2010, for example.
So, how does a company develop and
market cosmetic products in southern Africa?
A key requirement in the development and
marketing of cosmetic products all over the
world is to understand the market and the needs
and expectations of its target consumers. But
how should we define the target consumer
in southern Africa? It is a multicultural region,
combining several ethnic groups and many
hybrid mixtures of different cultures, making
southern Africa one of the most culturally diverse
regions in the world. Besides the different
cultures, there are also social distinctions
regarding income, connection to infrastructure
and access to education and the healthcare
system. These are all key factors. Normally, basic
insights into these topics can be obtained from
existing market studies. For southern Africa,
this is nearly impossible: only limited market
data are available and most of the studies focus
only on South Africa. Having said that, South
Africa is currently the most important economic
market, with a GDP that, alone, is many times
greater than the GDPs of all other countries in
the region. ResearchWikis estimated the value
of the South African cosmetic market in 2007 at
more than €2.47 billion and predicted a growth
of 15–20%.1 Euromonitor confirmed double-
digit growth in South Africa for the beauty and
personal care market in 2009.2 A press release
from Shiseido in 2010 indicated that they
calculated that South Africans spend €220
million for top of the range cosmetic products.3
This points to a trend towards premium
products, particularly those with proven efficacy.
These figures show that the total southern
African market has a value of more than €3
billion and, when taking into account the double-
digit growth in the region, it could easily reach a
market size that’s comparable with one of the
major markets in Europe, such as Germany,
France or the UK.4 In anticipating opportunities in
this growing market, we conducted a consumer
survey to better understand the cosmetic
consumer behaviour of southern African women
and plan to transfer the findings into research
and development programmes, as well as
marketing strategies. The goal is to bring to
market new products that satisfy the specific
needs of the southern African consumer.
Survey PrinciplesIn the following section, the principles of
the consumer survey are summarized. We
investigated qualitative and quantitative aspects
using a standard questionnaire, developed
in-house, that was completed in writing and
augmented with additional personal interviews
related to the content of the questionnaire.
Study participants from the southern African
region were defined as consumers who
were originally from or currently reside in
one of the following countries: Botswana,
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa,
Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Zambia. We only
included women who had their own buying
power, were employed or self-employed, had
access to basic infrastructure — even if living
in a remote area — and were used to travelling
within their country or within the southern Africa
region. We wanted to make sure that they had
access to different kinds of shops and different
ranges of products, and were not limited by only
having knowledge about local products. The
nationality of the responders was mostly South
African, followed by women from Zimbabwe
and Namibia. Blacks and whites were equally
represented. The age group surveyed was
between 25 and 65 years of age.
The income levels of the group were very
diverse, including a significant low income group
of less than €7300 per year and a small group
of people who earn more than €36,000 per
year. The average income, represented by 45%
of the study participants, was around €15,000
per year. The monthly spend on cosmetics
(skin, hair and body care) was, on average,
2% of their income. Nevertheless, we identified
that women with a lower income spent around
3.6% on cosmetics, which is much more than
average. This phenomenon is often called the
“lipstick effect,” representing a higher level spend
on small personal treats such as cosmetics
when luxury items such as holidays or visiting a
good restaurant are not affordable.5 Our results
showed that women with higher incomes
spend an average of 0.9% of their income
on cosmetics. More than half of the women
confirmed that they like to reward themselves
with a special cosmetic product.
We found out that southern African women
select a sales outlet depending on the level of
need to get a suitable, performance-delivering
product. For example, black women in
general are more concerned about their hair
than their skin. They look for products that
reduce dandruff, prevent hair breakage and
keep their hair soft. Cleansing is also very
important; it is not usual for people to wash
their hair as frequently as they do in Europe.
Many coloured/black southern African women
develoPing and marketing cosmetic and cosmeceutical Products in soutHern aFricaConsumer surveys point the way!
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
39cosmetic focus
use artificial hair, which is fixed on their heads
for some days. During this period, only dry
shampoo can be used. Their specific needs
and expectations are either not yet catered
for, or not well communicated by many of the
brands sold in supermarkets, pharmacies or
drugstores. Therefore, many such women
prefer to buy their hair care products in local
hair salons or via direct sales. Personal contact
and trust in the sales person is very important.
In addition, lack of infrastructure means that
small, local shops remain an important source
for products. Internet shopping plays more
or less no role at all as most people have no
private access to a computer.
Expectations for skincare products were
quite homogenous within the study group. All
of the participants were looking for moisturizing
and sun protection products. The demand for
antiageing products is still low, although current
trends suggest an increasing demand in the
future. White participants mainly requested
westernized concepts, such as aromatherapy.
Overall, it is very important for the southern
African woman to be well kept and beautiful.
They look after their beauty carefully and,
based on their appearance, it is very difficult to
ascertain their living conditions. A key driver in
product purchase is that it should be natural.
Ingredients such as natural oils or herbal
extracts are very important to southern African
women of all ethnic groups. Also crucial are
allergen- and preservative-free formulas. We
asked the participants to indicate their three
most important criteria when selecting a product.
First was natural ingredients, followed by active,
performance ingredients and, thirdly, price.
To learn more about the natural ingredients
that African women are aware of and interested
in, they were questioned about a list of extracts
and oils commonly used in cosmetic products.
The most well recognized were aloe vera,
rooibos extract, green tea extract, grape seed
extract, devil’s claw extract, sea weed extract,
kigelia extract and ginseng extract. Most of the
given oils were well known and no priority could
be identified. They included oils typically used in
Western cosmetics, such as almond oil, jojoba
oil, baobab oil as well as local oils, which have
just begun to appear in European cosmetics
(marula oil, Kalahari melon seed oil, mongongo
oil and ximenia oil, for example). Aloe vera,
marula oil and Kalahari melon seed oil were
most frequently indicated as traditional southern
African cosmetic ingredients.
In SummaryWith the growth of the middle class and
increased spending power across many socio-
economic groups in southern Africa, a demand
for affordable yet reliable quality skincare and hair
care products exists — to fulfil the requirements
of the different ethnic groups and to meet the
demand for natural ingredients. Consumers will
reward those brands that focus on quality and
price with their loyalty. This is an opportunity
for smaller, flexible brands to enter the market
with concepts that are tailor-made for specific
ethnic groups, for distribution in supermarkets
and drugstores. Although they have to compete
with the pricing structure of international players
such as Unilever and L’Oréal, which continue
to dominate the market, such brands have an
opportunity to gain new market share from the
consumer groups that are in the process of
changing their buying habits from small local
shops to supermarkets, which are increasingly
penetrating the rural and township areas. New
products need to satisfy consumer needs and
have to develop trust.
References1. ResearchWikis, Cosmetics — South Africa,
Marketing Research 2007 (www.researchwikis.com/Cosmetics_-_South_Africa_2007_Marketing_Research).
2. Euromonitor, Beauty and Personal Care in South Africa, 2010 (www.euromonitor.com/Beauty_and_Personal_Care_in_South_Africa).
3. Business and Finance, South Africa is Shiseido’s Latest Target, 2010 (www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/South_Africa_is_Shiseidos_latest_target/56871).
4. Global Insight, A study of the European Cosmetics Industry; Study prepared for European Commission, 2007 (www.pedz.uni-mannheim.de/daten/edz.../study_eu_cosmetics_industry.pdf).
5. Euromonitor, Marketing: The Top 10 Consumer Trends, 2010 (www.cosmetic-business.com).
For more informationDr Sybille Buchwald-Werner, Founder and Managing Director, and Sabrina Scholz, Scientific Manager Vital Solutions GmbHHausinger Strasse 4–8D-40764 Langenfeld, Germany.Tel. +49 2173 1098 202Sybille.Buchwald-Werner@vitalsolutions.bizwww.vitalsolutions.biz
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
40new product development
Unmet NeedsAge-related diseases such as cancer, heart
disease and type II diabetes are on the
increase; yet, the pharmaceutical industry is
struggling to produce effective drugs for their
treatment or prevention. Part of the reason
for this failure is the sheer number of people
that develop them. If a high proportion of
the population is to take drugs to treat these
problems, there is, quite reasonably, an
expectation that the drugs must have very few
side-effects. This is particularly true if they are
to be taken as preventives. As diet plays an
important role in determining who will develop
these conditions, nutraceuticals are an obvious
area to examine for safe and effective disease
treatment and prevention.
Creating a Scientific RationaleTrillion Genomics’ technology aims to provide
sound scientific rationale for nutraceutical
products and overcomes some of the
limitations of conventional techniques for
analysing tissue samples. One of the
major issues facing researchers is that a
single nutraceutical can work in a number
of ways — and this makes the ability to
study many pathways at the same time
essential to obtain a clear picture of the
modes of action of a nutraceutical or drug.
Traditionally, radiolabelling is used to detect
large biomolecules such as proteins or RNA;
but, as it can only detect one compound at a
time, it is limited in the amount of information
it can provide. Also, the radioactive tags
can be hazardous to use. Trillion Genomics’
technology is based on Tandem Nucleic Acid
Mass Tag-DNA (TNT-DNA) probes. When
the tags break up, they form characteristic
daughter ions that have a kind of ‘molecular
fingerprint’ that enables them to be detected
using Imaging Mass Spectrometry. The way
in which they break up means signals can
be easily distinguished from noise, so the
technology has an unmatched ability to detect
the tags, even in a complex background.
By giving a unique fingerprint to many of the
biomolecules within a single tissue sample,
researchers can understand the complex
ways in which a drug is acting. All the effects
of the drug can be measured simultaneously,
meaning far more information can be obtained
from tissue samples. This has huge potential
benefits for drug development. In addition to
understanding how a molecule is working,
Trillion Genomics’ technology can also be used
to develop it as a treatment. To ensure that
nutraceuticals deliver the greatest benefit to
the patient, drug developers may make subtle
changes to the molecule, such as produce
an isomer that is more stable than the one
extracted from food. There is the danger
that these changes may affect some of the
pathways in which the compound is involved,
even if they have no effect on the most widely
understood pathway. By ensuring that all these
pathways can be detected, Trillion Genomics’
technology can identify when a structural
change to the compound alters any of the
ways it is acting.
Proving the Efficacy of Lycopene Trillion Genomics’ technology provides the
nutraceutical industry with a valuable tool to
enable efficacy studies to take place. It can
be used to validate the way in which potential
nutraceuticals are acting in the body, and
determine how they are being metabolized.
For example, lycopene, which is associated
with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, may
work in multiple distinct ways. It accumulates
in the prostate and its basic antioxidant effect
is probably a key aspect in protecting against
prostate cancer. But lycopene has also been
shown to increase the expression of connexin
genes, which facilitate communication between
cells, and this may also have a beneficial
anticancer effect. In addition, lycopene is
transformed into numerous metabolites that
may have their own functions. Lycopene is
also able to inhibit the oxidation of LDL (low
density lipoprotein) cholesterol, which is the
form of cholesterol normally reported by blood
tests. LDL is a naturally occurring substance
that has crucial roles in the body, but can
undergo deleterious modifications such as
oxidation. A build up of oxidized LDL can
lead to its deposition on artery walls, where it
hardens and leads to the formation of plaques.
These plaques increase a person’s risk of
cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
Prevention of Cardiovascular DiseaseLycopene acts to reduce the oxidation of LDL
and hence prevent the build-up of the harmful
oxidized form. Lycopene is absorbed into
the LDL particle and is sacrificially oxidized,
preventing the oxidation of LDL. Lycopene
has recently been shown to decrease
the production of inflammatory cytokines
(immune system signalling molecules) such as
Interleukin 6 (IL-6). The elevated production
of IL-6 is associated with an increased risk of
Efficacy StudiES of thE futurEAs safe as food, as effective as a drug: this is the opportunity provided by the nutraceutical industry. However, the challenge facing nutraceutical development is providing proof of efficacy and determining the mode of action of naturally occurring substances so that these safe compounds can be registered as therapeutics. This challenge is being tackled by the emerging company, Trillion Genomics, which is developing a technique to detect multiple molecules in tissue samples. Their research is currently focussed on lycopene, one of the components of the Mediterranean diet that leads to low levels of disease. Lycopene is the red carotenoid found in tomatoes and its presence in food means that it has already been certified as 100% safe. It has been identified as having huge potential as a nutraceutical, particularly in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
41new product development
cardiovascular disease. These cardiovascular
health benefits recently attracted the interest
of Cambridge Theranostics Limited (CTL), a
nutraceutical company developing supplements
to provide the correct dosage of nutrients in
an effective form. Research and trials led them
to produce a one-a-day supplement (www.
ateronon.com) that’s designed to keep the
brain, heart and arteries healthy. In its raw
form, lycopene’s large crystals are hard for the
body to absorb; so, CTL delivers lycopene as
lactolycopene to improve the body’s uptake
of this beneficial compound. In lactolycopene,
whey proteins have been combined with the
lycopene to enhance bioavailability. Günter
Schmidt, CEO of CTL, saw lycopene’s benefits
beyond cardiovascular disease. He is now
working to apply Trillion Genomics’ technology
to develop oncology products based on
lycopene. He says: “The compounds we are
studying have wider uses than we currently
understand. It may be that, by improving
cardiovascular health, lycopene can protect
against conditions such as dementia as well
as against cardiovascular disease.”
Prevention of Prostrate CancerLycopene is also associated with a reduced
risk of prostate cancer. Animal studies,
tissue-culture studies and some small-scale
human trials have provided encouraging
results that lycopene slows the development
of prostate cancer, and this untapped potential
is something that Trillion Genomics is keen to
exploit. Andrew Thompson, cofounder and
CSO of Trillion Genomics, says: “Prostate
cancer is the most common cancer in British
men (after lung cancer, which is almost entirely
caused by smoking). It occurs mainly in older
men and is usually slow to develop. This often
means that the side-effects of the treatment
can be worse than the disease itself. Lycopene
could be a safe way to prevent or delay the
onset of the disease and slow its progression.
However, only when lycopene’s mode of
action has been determined can we develop
a scientifically proven treatment for prostate
cancer.” Andrew says: “Drug development
is an expensive process, and by identifying
problems at an early stage you can prevent
wasted time and money. Our technology
can be used to identify toxicity early on in the
development process.”
In ConclusionThe World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that more than 171 million people
worldwide have diabetes (which often leads to
cardiovascular disease), a figure that is likely
to more than double within the next 20 years.1
In addition, 16.7 million people die each year
from cardiovascular diseases, according to
WHO, and 30,000 people die each year of
prostate cancer in the USA alone, according to
the National Cancer Institute. Epidemiological
studies have demonstrated that many
food-based products protect against these
common diseases. Trillion Genomics empowers
researchers to prove the efficacy of these
products so they can be used for the treatment
and prevention of these widespread diseases.
Reference1. www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/
facts/diabetes/en.
For more informationDr Andrew ThompsonTrillion Genomics LtdUnit 4, Abbey BarnsIckleton, Cambridge CB10 1SX, UK.Tel. +44 1223 497 [email protected]
Dr Gunter SchmidtCambridge Theranostics Ltd7 Hills Avenue, Cambridge CB1 7UY, UK.gschmidt@trilliongenomics.comwww.cambridgetheranostics.co.ukwww.ateronon.com
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
42 new product development
fuzzy EdgES MakE for Sloppy thinkingThe scientific study of the adverse effects of substances on the body is known as toxicology and owes its origins to an early Swiss medical practitioner called Philipus Aureolus Paracelsus (1493–1541). Although he thought of himself as a form of alchemist, an already despised profession, his main interest was the use of potions to cure illnesses. His most important insight was to recognize that anything and everything could be harmful if administered in a high enough dose. His succinct aphorism — “The dose makes the poison” — is still drummed into students of toxicology today.
the border between the scientific
study of nutrition and toxicology has
become blurred. Traditionally, nutrition
concerned itself with the way in which
the body makes use of substances (nutrients)
provided in food, whereas the toxicologist
studies the adverse effects of any substance,
including nutrients. Today, the growth area
in nutrition research concerns the adverse
effects of certain nutrients. There should be
nothing wrong with excursions across scientific
borders; but, the training of any scientist who
wishes to stray into foreign territory needs to
be appropriate to the task. Unfortunately, this
is not always the case, with numerous nutrition
research reports betraying a fundamental
lack of understanding of the first (and oldest)
principle of toxicology.
When setting out to study the adverse
effects of a nutrient, the dose must be
considered. Because anything will produce
adverse effects when given at a high enough
dose, research studies are meaningless
unless the dose given is one that is likely to
be experienced by ordinary people during
their normal lives. When a substance is taken
into the body, it will be distributed in one of
two general ways. Either it will spread widely
throughout the body or it will concentrate
in certain organs (often the liver or kidneys).
Then, it either undergoes metabolism or, if it is
inert, will be removed by the body by excretion
(often in the urine). Any metabolites will either
react with biochemical targets in the body or
be excreted themselves. All these processes
are governed by pathways that have a limited
capacity. Only a certain throughput is possible
before the pathway becomes overwhelmed.
Many biochemical pathways behave in
this way. If the rate at which a substance
or metabolite enters the pathway is too
great, the pathway is overwhelmed. The
resulting overflow needs to be dealt with by
a completely different means than that which
operates when the rate of input to the usual
pathway remains within its capacity to cope.
New routes are opened up and these may be
harmful to the body when the normal route is
quite harmless. So, the question: “Is nutrient
X harmful?” is simplistic and ambiguous.
Does it mean “commonly causes harm in
practice” or “capable of causing harm under
extreme circumstances”? It should be recast
as: “At what dose is nutrient X harmful?” In
all cases, whatever the nutrient may be, the
answer to the simplistic question, “Is nutrient
X capable of causing harm under extreme
circumstances?” is an emphatic “yes” …
but that answer does not provide any help
whatsoever when advising the public. The
useful information is “what is the dose at
which nutrient X becomes harmful?”
The generally recognized way of addressing
this question is to define a dose level
known as the “Upper Level.” The UL is the
maximum dose that a normal healthy adult
may consume daily without experiencing any
harm. This is a useful figure when considering
what advice to give the public on their dietary
habits. If a substance has a known UL that
is commonly exceeded by members of the
public in the normal course of their daily lives,
then advice to reduce consumption may
reasonably be given to the public at large. If
only a certain subsection habitually exceed
this UL, then a reasonable course of action
would be to target this group, rather than
issue an unnecessary warning to everyone.
The public tires rapidly of those who “cry
wolf,” so health warnings should be used
sparingly — otherwise an important warning
may be ignored.
A lack of attention to these issues of basic
toxicological science has caused a good deal
of debate among nutritionists in recent years.
Those who understand the importance of
defining a quantitative UL before considering
what advice to give to the public have been
at loggerheads with those who prefer to
rely on uncertain evidence as a basis for
pronouncements. Particular problems arise
when a nutrient such as sugar is considered.
Several unsuccessful attempts have been
made to identify an Upper level for sugar in
the diet. These expert committee reviews
were unable to identify evidence that sugar
causes harm above a certain level of intake.
Certainly, no reliable evidence is available that
any appreciable number of people have been
caused any harm by the amount of sugar they
regularly consume in the course of their ordinary
lives. If such evidence were clear, a UL could be
estimated. But, as there is no evidence, no UL
can be assigned. Without knowledge of the UL,
any advice to the public must be speculative.
And the public deserves to be made aware that
pronouncements on their consumption of sugar
are not based on firm evidence but “expert
opinion.” Unfortunately, experts are not infallible,
and they may stray into territory with which they
appear unfamiliar. Today, the borderline between
nutrition and toxicology has become rather
fuzzy. This should not be made an excuse for
sloppy thinking.
For more informationDr Mary HarringtonNutrition Communications ManagerThe Sugar Bureau25 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DS, UK.Tel. +44 207 189 [email protected]
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
The world’s leadingnutraceuticals trade show
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44sports nutrition
as pressure grows from governments
and the media to be more health and
image conscious, a general awareness
of the importance of nutrition in
supporting a healthy, active lifestyle is also on
the rise. Consumers are becoming increasingly
knowledgeable about the positive impact that
certain nutrients can have on health and fitness,
particularly the role of protein — and specifically
whey protein — in building muscle and strength
when combined with exercise. In the past, whey
protein products remained in the exclusive domain
of serious sportspeople and body builders. This
new, broader awareness of their benefits has
led to the expansion of the sport and fitness-
related nutrition sector, which now includes active
consumers. As a result, manufacturers of whey
protein are developing more suitable ways of
delivering their products to this expanding market.
Taste TestHydrolysed whey proteins (HWPs) can appeal
to a wider demographic, particularly if there is
greater emphasis on how they taste. For this
reason, Carbery, a European whey protein
expert, commissioned industry leading research
to study the sensory profiles and flavour
chemistry of a range of protein ingredients. The
research, conducted at North Carolina State
University (NCSU), included benchmark work
comparing a range of leading products in the
market place with the aim of characterizing
the inherent flavours present in whey proteins.
This information enabled Carbery to further
understand the relationship between flavour,
manufacturing processes, storage and
consumer responses. The benchmarking
research included the validation of a new
product in Carbery’s renowned Optipep range
as an exceptionally clean tasting HWP. The
research confirmed that it possesses a low bitter
taste compared with other leading hydrolysates
available on the market. The ingredient’s neutral
taste is created by using specialist enzyme
technology and is the result of investment in
process technology that works to minimize the
impact of bitterness associated with hydrolysis.
Promoting Muscle Protein SynthesisBesides its clean taste, the new Optipep
ingredient also offers a readily available source
of di- and tripeptides. These are more rapidly
absorbed into the intestine than free amino
acids and protein hydrolysates containing larger
peptides, and much more rapidly than intact
protein. This speed of absorption means that
Optipep helps sportspeople to recover more
quickly after exercise by maximizing amino
acid delivery to the muscle to promote muscle
protein synthesis. It is thought that di- and
tripeptides — or amino acids from di- and
tripeptides — are absorbed at a higher rate as
a result of a system that has a greater transport
capacity than amino acid carrier systems. Di-
and tripeptides are transported into the intestinal
epithelial cells, along with hydrogen ions, via
the PepT1 transporter. Then, once inside the
enterocyte, they are hydrolysed to amino acids
by cytoplasmic peptidases and pass into the
bloodstream. By contrast, amino acid absorption
is dependent on a gradient of sodium ions
across the brush border membrane of the
intestinal epithelial cells. The ingestion of Optipep
also triggers an increased insulin response.
Higher insulin concentrations in the blood
stimulate the uptake of certain amino acids into
the muscle, promoting muscle protein synthesis
and decreasing breakdown by inhibiting amino
acid oxidation. In addition, Optipep delivers
high levels of essential branched chain amino
acids (BCAAs), which exert an anticatabolic
effect by reducing the breakdown of protein and
protecting muscle tissue. When present at high
levels, BCAAs can be deaminated by the muscle
cell and burned as energy. This conserves
glycogen reserves and helps to improve stamina.
Next Generation Hydrolysed Whey ProteinThe combination of an exceptionally clean taste
profile and the high levels of di- and tripeptides
offered by Optipep make it the ideal ingredient
for sports nutrition products that aid recovery
and strength building. Optipep also enables
manufacturers to make a hydrolysed whey
protein on-pack claim. As consumers become
increasingly aware of the benefits of aligning their
diet with their exercise programme, products
that are convenient, great tasting and offer real
benefits are sure to enjoy great success.
Building MuSclE and StrEngth with whEy protEinBridget Holmes, Development Technologist, Carbery Food Ingredients, analyses how the latest hydrolysed whey protein improves muscle protein synthesis and decreases muscle protein breakdown.
For more informationPaul DoneganCarberyBallineen, Co. Cork, Ireland. Tel. +353 23 [email protected]
45strap
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011nutrevent.com
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46animal nutrition
pets are increasingly being humanized by their owners, as
demonstrated by the thriving markets for pet fashion, therapy
and grooming. Pet health is no exception. Consumers are
better informed than ever before about health and nutrition
and, consequently, demand for organic, natural and free-from products
has never been higher. Because owners want the best for their animals,
with many choosing pet food as selectively as their own, it is not
surprising to see this human market trend crossing over into the realm
of animal health. Research demonstrates that the market for natural
animal products is buoyant. In the dog food market, for example,
products featuring a natural claim (such as no additives/preservatives,
organic, all natural) account for almost half (45%) of total launches.1
Clearly, attributes such as organic and natural are set to
become increasingly coveted in animal nutrition. The good news
for manufacturers is that natural ingredients are palatable
and formulate well with existing products. Plus, they are
applicable in a variety of supplement delivery options.
This opens up a number of exciting new NPD opportunities, as well
as the option to improve existing lines. And, as natural ingredients
require meticulous management, from controlling the selection of raw
materials through to the final details of export shipment, they also
provide the assurance that consumers are looking for when choosing
the best for their pets.
Safe, Sustainable ChoicesAcross numerous industries, there is now strong demand for
traceability and sustainability. For example, a recent report found
that 49% of consumers consider themselves to be ‘eco-aware’
and 30% see themselves as ‘eco-warriors.’2 Increasingly, they
expect products destined for animal consumption to align with
these values. Many leading industry players
are responding to this trend. Mars’ pet
care business recently announced
a commitment to using only
a nEw Era for aniMal nutritionThe animal health industry has witnessed a number of interesting developments recently. On one hand, the recession has stimulated demand for products offering value for money and practicality. But, on the other, the market for premium, niche products has blossomed despite the economic downturn. Here, Craig McIntosh, CEO, Waitaki Biosciences, examines some of the key trends driving innovation in this ever more diverse sector.
animal nutrition
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References1. Mintel, GNPD Category Insight, Dog Food, Q2–Q3 (2010).2. Mintel, Food and Drink Sustainability Webinar (2010).
For more informationCraig McIntoshWaitaki BiosciencesPO Box 19–727Woolston, Christchurch 8241New Zealand.Tel. +64 3 337 [email protected] www.waitakibio.com
sustainably sourced fish by 2020. As one of the world’s largest
producers of pet care products, the company has set an important
precedent for the industry. We expect the market for sustainable
ingredients for animal health applications to prosper as more
product developers begin to adopt this approach. Product safety
is also of growing importance. Since the issues with pet deaths
resulting from contaminated Chinese products in 2007, the market
has been calling for products that are manufactured to human food
grade standard. Food and supplements for human consumption
are subject to far more rigorous quality control processes, providing
added reassurance for owners who are anxious to secure the best
possible care for pets and working animals.
Nutrition for ConditionsSupplementation for specific conditions is another emerging area in
animal nutrition. Animals are living longer than ever before and face a
number of the health issues associated with ageing. This can affect
animals’ working lives or their enjoyment of life as they get older.
The importance of effective supplementation is therefore increasingly
recognized by animal health professionals and owners. Science is
confirming what people have observed for years and it is now clear
that animals gain as much from supplementation as humans do.
Bone health is one interesting example. Like most health conditions
affecting animals, it can become an issue for a number of reasons.
First, animals are living longer. This means that their frames are
under strain for longer and have longer to deteriorate. Secondly,
owing to either diet or exercise, rising numbers of companion
animals do not develop the bone density required for good health.
Finally, sports and working animals are becoming increasingly
valuable and the strain placed on their bodies can lead to bone
damage and loss of value. Breeders of such animals often have
to provide evidence of bone health as part of the sale conditions.
As a result, assistance in developing and maintaining bone density
while animals are growing is also vital. The same can be said for any
number of health conditions afflicting animals as they reach their
golden years.
SummaryIt is encouraging to see the horizons of the animal nutrition market
broadening. Owners now seek diverse products that meet an ever
widening range of emotional and physical needs. What’s more, there
is mounting evidence to suggest that animals benefit as much as
humans from a well balanced intake of nutrients. These factors —
combined — signal a new era of opportunities for product developers
in the animal nutrition sector.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
48last word
aside from the staggering cost
implications, the social impact on
sufferers and their families is often
unmanageable. The challenge,
therefore, is to find ways to maintain the
quality of life for older age groups. This means
implementing changes now that would reduce
the risk of dementia in later life. Omega-3s
demonstrate potential in this area and many
studies indicate an association between greater
omega-3 intake and a reduction in the risk of
dementia.2 Lesser forms of cognitive decline
are equally as concerning. Apart from the
disruption caused to the sufferer, mild cognitive
impairment can in turn lead to dementia;
approximately 12% of people with cognitive
impairment without dementia in the US will go
on to develop the disease annually.3 However,
less research has been undertaken on the
direct effects of omega-3s on cognitive decline,
making a new study in this area an important
contribution to understanding the full scope of
brain health concerns in later life.
The MIDAS touchThe Memory Improvement with
Docosahexaenoic Acid Study (MIDAS),
published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggests
that there may be benefits to be gained from
consuming more of one particular type of
omega-3: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).4 DHA
omega-3 is a major structural component of
the brain and adequate levels in neural tissue
are essential for optimal brain functioning
throughout life.5 Low plasma DHA levels
have been associated with cognitive decline
in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and the
ageing adult. The double blind, randomized,
placebo-controlled, multicentre trial evaluated
the effects of supplementation on 485 healthy
older adults (55+ years of age) presenting
mild memory complaints. The study used
life’sDHA, an algae-derived, vegetarian form
of DHA from Martek Biosciences. Participants
were randomly supplemented with 900 mg of
life’sDHA per day or placebo for 24 weeks.
The researchers used the Cambridge
Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery
(CANTAB) test called Paired Associate
Learning (PAL). PAL is a validated test of
visuospatial learning and episodic memory. It is
often used to assess patients with dementia,
mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease
and age-related memory loss. The test
records errors made, number of attempts
to complete each task, memory scores and
stages completed to give an overall score. In
previous studies, PAL was successfully used
to discriminate between healthy controls, mild
cognitively impaired subjects and those with
Alzheimer’s disease.6
MEEting thE cognitivE hEalth challEngEThe news that global populations are ageing is now well accepted, and public services are preparing for intensified pressure as age-related diseases increase. One of the biggest areas for concern is cognitive health. Developing dementia is a significant worry for people as they age; but, unfortunately, it is a real possibility and one that is becoming more common. The World Alzheimer’s Report states that the global cost of dementia in 2010 will be £388 billion and suggests that it could increase by 85% by 2030.1
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
Dec
reas
e in
PAL
err
ors
Week 24 change from baseline score
DHA
PBO
*p=0.03
Change Score
*
Figure 1: Results.
Omega-3 OptionsFish are often incorrectly thought to be the only source of DHA omega-3. However, life’sDHA is a trusted, vegetarian form of algal DHA that contains no oceanic pollutants or toxins. Fish are sources of DHA because of the DHA-rich microalgae in their food chain; life’sDHA is derived directly from the original source. life’sDHA is a renewable, sustainable source of DHA that does not deplete ocean resources and is produced entirely in the US in an FDA-inspected facility. Today, life’sDHA is found in numerous foods, beverages and supplements for people of all ages. It is also the only source of DHA used in US infant formula and is included in more than 99% of all formulae on the US market, as well as in more than 350 brands of infant formula, nutritional supplements and functional foods sold in more than 75 countries worldwide.
www.nutraceuticalmag.comMarch/April 2011
49last word
ResultsThe trial assessed all subjects for working
memory, memory retention, attention and
executive function to determine the potential
for algal DHA to affect cognition. After 24
weeks, performance in the PAL memory and
learning task was significantly improved in the
algal DHA group compared with the group
given a placebo, as shown in Figure 1. The
DHA group had a two-fold reduction in the
number of learning and episodic memory
errors. These results indicate that the 900 mg/
day supplementation of algal DHA for 6 months
provided a benefit roughly equivalent to having
the learning and memory skills of someone 3
years younger. Plus, data showed that plasma
DHA levels significantly increased, displaying
a positive correlation with improved memory
scores in the algal DHA-supplemented subjects
— which indicates enhanced DHA-related
cognitive function. Overall, the results suggest
that algal DHA supplementation may improve
early learning and memory deficits associated
with cognitive ageing.
Future ImplicationsThe MIDAS study is a welcome addition
to an area of brain health that has yet to
receive substantial attention. Milder cognitive
complaints may be less debilitating than the
more advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease, but finding ways to minimize their
impact will help to lessen concerns about
growing older and release some pressure on
public services. Further research into mild
cognitive impairment and the transition to more
serious forms should provide clear steps to
addressing what has been called the greatest
medical challenge of the 21st century.7
For more information Rob WinwoodDirector of Scientific AffairsMartek Biosciences Corporation6480 Dobbin RoadColumbia, Maryland 21045, USA.Tel. +1 410 740 0081 [email protected] www.lifesdha.com/www.martek.com
References1. Alzheimer’s Disease International
(www.alz.co.uk/research/worldreport).2. G.M. Cole, et al., “Omega-3 Fatty Acids and
Dementia,” Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids 81(2–3), 213–221 (2009).
3. B.L. Plassman, et al., “Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment Without Dementia in the United States,” Ann. Intern. Med. 148, 427–434 (2008).
4. K. Yurko-Mauro, et al., “Beneficial Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Cognition in Age-Related Cognitive Decline,” Alzheimers Dement. 6(6), 456–464 (2010).
5. L. Laureitzen, et al., “The Essentiality of Long Chain n-3 Fatty Acids in Relation to Development and Function of the Brain and Retina,” Prog. Lipid Res. 40(1–2), 1–94 (2001).
6. A. Egerhazi, et al., “Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease,” Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 31(3), 746–751 (2007).
7. The Alzheimer’s Research Trust (www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?type=News&id=544).
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NUTRACEUTICAL BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
www.nutraceuticalmag.com March/April 2011
50regulatory review
choosing the correct disinfectant
depends on the environmental
conditions surrounding the
manufacturing process. First,
you must know what organism you want to
eliminate. Not all organisms are of high-risk
concern under all circumstances. For example,
in a situation when there is limited or no human
interaction with the consumable product, but
there are raw materials of plant origin, there
will be less concern about Streptococcus, Staphylococcus or Shigella because these
organisms are typically associated with human
skin and excrement and transferred by the
improper handling of consumables. However,
contamination could come from organisms
such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and
Campylobacter as these organisms are
associated with soil, untreated water and
livestock, all of which can ultimately be
the source of contact for a raw material of
botanical origin. The most effective disinfectant
would be the one that can effectively kill
all organisms and not be affected by the
presence of organic matter, hard water
or soaps/detergents. Although no single
disinfectant can cover all aspects, there are
many available that will provide the coverage
needed for most scenarios.
A very good broad-spectrum group
includes aldehyde compounds. This group
of disinfectants is effective in destroying
many harmful organisms including vegetative
bacteria (bacteria in the actively growing state),
mycobacterium, bacterial spores, enveloped
viruses, non-enveloped viruses and fungi.
However, they do show reduced efficacy in
the presence of organic matter, hard water
or soaps. The aldehyde disinfectants can be
carcinogenic and are mucus membrane and
tissue irritants. Therefore, they should only
be used in well-ventilated areas. The least
effective at killing organisms are the biguanide
compounds, including chlorhexidine.
Biguanide compounds are effective in
eliminating vegetative bacteria, but not spores.
Their effectiveness is limited against viruses
and fungi. Biguanides only function in a limited
pH range — 5–7 — which could be a problem
in some work environments. Biguanide
compounds also have environmental issues:
they are toxic to fish.
Another good disinfectant with low to
moderate cost is the phenolic group. This
category of disinfectants is very effective in
the presence of organic material and soaps
or detergents. They are effective in eliminating
vegetative bacteria and enveloped viruses.
There is a varied effect on Mycobacteria,
non-enveloped viruses and fungi, and it’s
non-sporocidal. The environmental concern
is its toxicity to animals, especially cats
and pigs. The two most cost-effective
disinfectants are the halogen group and
the quaternary ammonium compounds.
The common halogen disinfectants are
the hypochlorite compounds (bleach) and
iodine compounds. In general, they provide
a wide germicidal activity. The hypochlorite
compounds are effective in eliminating
vegetative bacteria, Mycobacteria, enveloped
viruses, non-enveloped viruses and fungi.
It has a variable effect on spores. There are
some disadvantages with this disinfectant.
Care must be taken to shield it from UV
light as it denatures the compound and
renders it useless. This compound requires
frequent application to surfaces and presents
another challenge in that it is highly corrosive.
Moreover, like aldehyde compounds, they
are mucus membrane and tissue irritants
so employee safety must be considered
before selecting this disinfectant. Iodine has
slightly different characteristics. It effectively
eliminates vegetative bacteria cells, enveloped
viruses and fungi, but has a limited effect on
Mycobacteria, non-enveloped viruses and
bacterial endospores. The disadvantages of
iodine compounds are that they are inactivated
by Quaternary Ammonium compounds
(Quats), which could pose a problem when
iodine and Quats are used in rotation.
The next most cost-effective disinfectants
are the Quats. These compounds are very
stable in storage, do not irritate the skin
and are effective at high temperatures
and pH (9–10). However, Quats are very
effective in eliminating vegetative Gram
positive bacteria but have a limited effect
on Gram negative bacteria. These might
be useful when you are worried about
spoilage caused by Gram positives such
as Bacillus subtilis and lactobacillus or
contamination with pathogenic Gram
positives such as Staphylococcus aureus,
Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus
and Clostridium. However, Gram negatives
such as Pseudomonas, Shigella, Escherichia coli and Salmonella may not be completely
eliminated. It has a varied effect on
Mycobacteria and enveloped viruses, and
no effect on non-enveloped viruses and
spores. The remaining categories are the
coal tar distillates (cresol), alcohols and
oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide). All are
good broad-spectrum compounds but carry
a higher cost than other disinfectants. The
oxidizing agents and cresols are corrosive
to work areas and the alcohols are highly
flammable. The alcohols and oxidizing agents
are hindered by the presence of organic
matter whereas the cresols are not.
The bottom line is to determine what
biological hazards might be present or
of concern in your plant and, based on
these, select the appropriate disinfectant.
Furthermore, it is always wise to rotate the
disinfectants to prevent one of those organisms
that amass on your equipment from mutating
and becoming resistant to the disinfectant.
which diSinfEctant iS right for ME?Food safety has made its way to the forefront of the US government’s agenda for the first time in decades because of recent Salmonella outbreaks in peanut butter, eggs and various vegetables. The Food Safety and Modernization Act was signed into law in early January and it is designed to focus on the prevention of food-borne illnesses. Although dietary supplements are regulated by specific cGMPs, these new regulations will apply to dietary supplement manufacturers too. A large portion of this bill requires manufacturers to devise plans such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to locate problematic areas and produce ways to eliminate or reduce the hazard. In doing so, the proper selection of disinfecting agent(s) is an important part of the process as they provide a way to reduce contamination.
For more informationDr Cheri Turman and Benny McKeeContact Dr Turman, Director of ChemistryAnalytical Food LaboratoriesTel. +1 800 242 [email protected]
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