ADM backs postbiotics to drive healthy aging innovations in functional food

ADM underscores that longevity is becoming a holistic priority, with consumers aiming to maintain their physical capability and mental resilience over time. The company’s recently released Healthy Aging Report 2026 suggests brands that can combine functional benefits with accessible formats and clear ingredients will be “best positioned to meet growing healthy aging demands.” 

The company advises food, beverage, and supplement manufacturers to ground products in science-backed ingredients with benefits in sleep, stress, digestive, metabolic, and cardiovascular health. 

ADM’s report reveals whitespace in “habit-friendly formats” that enable consumers to incorporate longevity solutions into their daily lives. Moreover, it highlights a need for market-specific strategies, as there are large country-level differences in health engagement.

Nutrition Insight explores the company’s blueprint for longevity innovation and the company’s data on consumer demands with Vaughn DuBow, ADM’s senior director of Marketing, North America Health and Wellness.

“Healthy aging is increasingly defined as supporting long-term vitality, independence, and resilience,” details DuBow. “Globally, cognitive health and brain function emerge as the top priority, closely followed by cardiovascular health and mental well-being. Mobility-related outcomes, such as bone, joint, muscle strength, and balance, also rank highly, reflecting a desire to maintain everyday functionality over time.”

ADM highlights three main trends in healthy aging: supporting the brain and physical activity; preventive health; and formats for every day. 

Gut-brain axis

DuBow says that awareness of the connection between the gut microbiome and other aspects of well-being continues to grow, as scientists increasingly research the gut-brain axis.

Specifically, he says ADM believes “postbiotics are critical” due to their formulation resilience. Moreover, the company’s ongoing clinical research demonstrates similar results of these ingredients to their probiotic counterparts.

“Our Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 postbiotic stands out as a clinically validated, next-generation biotic, implying benefits across mood, stress, and sleep — three deeply interconnected pillars of wellness.”

ADM’s report highlights cognition, mental well-being, cardiovascular health, bone and joint health, muscle strength, and mobility as key healthy aging areas.DuBow says that clinical research indicates supplementing the diet with the L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic may support emotional well-being and reduced stress.

In addition, exploratory research suggests it may be associated with better sleep efficiency, reduced time to fall asleep or reduced sleep latency, healthy overall sleep quality, and improved total sleep duration.

Postbiotic innovations

Moreover, two additional studies looked at the effects of L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic on women’s emotional and physical well-being during different life stages, adds DuBow.

“For healthy young women (with an average age of 21.5) experiencing premenstrual symptoms, L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic may support positive moods and may reduce stress or anxiety. It may also help improve skin appearance for healthy young women experiencing premenstrual symptoms.”

DuBow notes that for women experiencing menopause, L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic may support positive changes in physiological and emotional parameters. “Additional research shows L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic may support improved stress in male athletes, along with recovery from exercise.”

He adds that the postbiotic strains of ADM’s Esflorin1 (Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347) and BPL1 (B. animalis subsp. lactis CECT8145) have clinical evidence demonstrating support for key areas of well-being for global consumers.

“Specifically, Esflorin1 postbiotic may support overall gut and digestive health, while also potentially supporting reduced bloating. BPL1 postbiotic targets factors relevant to metabolic health.”

To meet consumer demands for multifunctional solutions, ADM focuses on ingredient combinations that deliver across interconnected areas in mental sharpness, physical vitality, and metabolic wellness, says DuBow.

Postbiotics deliver probiotic-like benefits with greater stability across formats, says DuBow.“One example is the combination of our L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic and BPL1 postbiotic. L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic has been studied for its ability to support mental well-being and sleep and stress management, and maintain mitochondrial function.”

Meanwhile, he says that ADM’s heat-treated BPL1 targets factors relevant to metabolic health. “Because these postbiotics can be paired and are highly versatile in formulation, they provide a unique platform for creating multipurpose products across beverages, foods, snacks, supplements, and beyond.”

Lifestyle-led longevity

Long-term consistency depends on offering products that consumers can enjoy every day, as this enhances consumer adoption over time, says DuBow. The company leverages its postbiotics to bridge the gap between scientific efficacy and consumer experience, enabling brands to incorporate these solutions into familiar products.

“Our research shows consumers increasingly prefer healthy aging support through everyday food and beverage experiences rather than relying exclusively on supplement-style formats,” says DuBow.

“Consumers are particularly interested in approachable formats such as ready-to-drink teas, shakes, baked goods, gummies, snacks, and other products that fit naturally into existing routines. This reflects a broader shift toward lifestyle-led wellness, where consistency, convenience, and enjoyment are critical to building long-term health habits.”

Postbiotics do not present the same viability concerns that are common for formulations with live probiotics, says DuBow. He notes postbiotics offer “excellent stability” across a wide range of formulation and storage conditions.

“By removing common formulation barriers, ADM makes it easier for brands to develop products that deliver meaningful wellness while maintaining consumer-preferred taste, texture, convenience, and shelf stability. Whether in beverages, baked goods, nutrition bars, gummies, or other applications, these ingredients provide flexibility that enables innovation across categories.”

Everyday formats for convenience

ADM’s Healthy Aging report underscores that consumers seek lifestyle-friendly formats like teas, cookies, and gummies, demonstrating an interest in turning supplements into treats, combining convenience with experience. 

Consumers want healthy aging support through everyday food and beverage formats, not just supplements.According to DuBow, ADM has developed several product concepts that resonate with consumers, leveraging its biotics, plant proteins, sweetening solutions, and naturally derived flavors and colors.

“Fast melts and powders are highly convenient delivery systems, offering rapid dissolution without the need for water,” he details. “For example, our ‘Stress and Sleep Fast Melt’ concept includes L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic.”

“Our ‘Zerentea’ concept, which is an instant powder tea mix designed to stir into hot or cold water, features L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic and ADM/Matsutani LLC’s Fibersol prebiotic dietary fiber. This powder pack offers a convenient solution for consumers to take things easy.”

DuBow says that gummy formats also continue to show fast growth in supplements, as these offer a more enjoyable experience than traditional tablets and capsules.

“Our ‘Zen Gummies’ concept features L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic alongside a blend of chamomile and lemon balm extracts. Designed to integrate into nightly routines, this concept reflects growing consumer interest in sleep-support solutions.”

The company’s report reveals that 78% of global consumers recognize that sleep quality is directly connected to long-term health, while 73% said managing stress plays a critical role in healthy aging.

Challenges to category growth

Meanwhile, DuBow also highlights several challenges to overcome. He notes that changes in the marketplace across food, beverage, and dietary supplement segments can create regulatory complexity, demanding careful compliance and substantiation.

He also notes challenges in consumer education, as many do not know which ingredients or habits offer meaningful support, despite a strong interest in longevity. “Brands must educate consumers on research and science-backed benefits for transparency.”

“Furthermore, accessibility is becoming crucial. Delivering these benefits through convenient food and beverage formats can normalize longevity support as a daily habit.”

Research indicates that L. gasseri CP2305 may support women experiencing premenstrual symptoms and menopause.DuBow says that brands that successfully merge scientific integrity, regulatory compliance, and consumer-friendly formats will be best positioned to scale longevity innovation into the mainstream.

What’s next?

ADM expects healthy aging and longevity innovation to become increasingly holistic and personalized to consumers’ individual lifestyles.

“Consumers are moving beyond traditional ‘anti-aging’ concepts and recognize the microbiome’s connection to longevity, with wellness approaches focused on vitality, resilience, and maintaining independence over time,” says DuBow.

He says this will likely accelerate demand for products, including ingredients linked to supporting cognitive health, sleep and stress management, mobility, gut health, and metabolic wellness.

“One of the most significant opportunities will be the continued evolution of the biotics category, particularly the growth of strain-specific postbiotics backed by targeted clinical research,” adds DuBow.

“As the science around specific strains and health outcomes continues to advance, brands will have greater opportunities to develop solutions that address distinct healthy aging priorities.”