Ingredients launch round-up 2006
ingredients for supplements and health foods this year.
NutraIngredients.com take a look back at some of the new additions
to formulators' tool kits.
Frutarom has been one of the busiest companies for new launches this year. It has sought inspiration from extracts that have a documented history of use in times gone by, but which have since fallen out of use. In May it introduced EFLA955 Wild Green Oat Neuravena Special Extract, which it says can provide positioning opportunities in the areas of cognitive support, concentration enhancement, stress and burnout, chronic fatigue, mood balance and nerve strengthening.
In September, it introduced an extract of pink rock rose, a plant grown in Mediterranean countries that has a history of use in traditional herbal medicine to counter respiratory infections and support gastrointestinal and skin health.
Also this year Frutarom started to supply Salvia seed oil, a potent source of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha linoleic acid, following a marketing and distribution agreement with Israeli compatriot Magnetica Interactive.
Omega-3 has continued to be a hot area of interest, and Cognis and Firmenich made their first strides into the category. The former, fresh from its acquisition of Napro Pharma, launched its branded Omevital ingredient in Europe at HIE in November.
Firmenich, meanwhile, chose omega-3 as for its very first foray into functional ingredients. Its Duralife Omega 3 leverages microencapsulation technology initially designed for flavours to overcome stability issues of working with the healthful ingredient.
On the vitamin front, there has been something of a trend towards new versions that are appropriate for people with special dietary needs.
BASF has a 'one size fits all' range of vitamins that includes vitamin E, vitamin D3, vitamin K1 and beta-carotene formulations. Its most recent addition, announced in September, is Dry Vitamin Acetate 250 DC/GFP can be marketed as vegetarian, allergen-free, kosher certified, halal certified, and GMO-, BHT-, dioxin-, and gluten-free, says the company.
DSM has a line-up of animal-free ingredients that includes beta-carotene (introduced this year), vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D3, Coenzyme Q10 (ALL-Q), lutein, and zeaxantin (Optisharp).
DSM has also continued its strategy of developing novel nutritional ingredients, sold through its Nutritional Products division, to reduce its reliance on traditional vitamins. Following its April agreement with CreAgri over Hidrox and the subsequent launch of Hidrox olive juice extract in the US in August, this month it announced the global roll-out of the ingredients for joint health supplements and foods with a Mediterranean positioning.
New Zealand company Waitaki also introduced a new joint health ingredient: Calcium Peptocan. The glycosaminoglycan polypeptide complex is derived from tracheal cartilage of bovine origin using a patented method, that employs naturally-present enzyme. The result is said to have a different molecular composition to those prepared by the addition of enzymes.
LycoRed has continued its march towards offering naturally derived carotenoids, bolstering its Lyc-O-Mato portfolio, that previously consisted of lycopene, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene offerings, with Lyc-O-Lutein. The newest addition is based around a stable gelatine- and allergen-free beadlet that contains 20 per cent lutein, with variants include oil suspensions for soft-gel formulations and beadlets for tablets and hard-shell capsules.
PhytofLORAL Colourless carotenoids from Israeli Biotechnology Research have been approved for use in the European Union, and are expected to find uses in supplements intended to boost outward appearance from the inside and to boost stability in food products.
The two products in the range, Phytoen and Phytofluen, are both precursors in the biosynthetic pathway to pigmented carotenoids, such as lycopene and beta-carotene.
Keratec, which exploded onto the nutraceutical scene in 2005 with its sheeps' wool derived keratin, followed up with its Cynergy NK duo of skin health ingredients - one topical, one oral - which could help traditional supplement companies move into skin care, and cosmetics companies cross over into supplements.
What to watch out for in 2007A new source of gamma glutamyl cysteine, a precursor of powerful antioxidant glutathione for anti-ageing supplements and skin care products, is expected to become available in 2007 from Biospecialties Australia.
Alltracel is expected to provide clarity around the route to market for its cholesterol-lowering bioactive from cellulose fibre, after having spent much of this year in discussions with major multinationals.
Provexis continues to tweak its Fruitflow technology platform to make the tomato-based bioactive suitable for a spectrum of food products. It has extended discussions over the use of its Fruitflow tomato-based bioactive by a major global food company into 2007.
