Beauty-from-within and sports nutrition NPD trend at Vitafoods 2020

09 Sep 2020 --- Two major industry trends, beauty-from-within and sports nutrition, are having their moment in the spotlight during Vitafoods Virtual Expo 2020, ongoing from September 7 to 11. Gelita, Lubrizol Life Science Health (LLS Health) and Rousselot are presenting their related ingredients at the show and speak to NutritionInsight about these pervasive consumer trends.

“Overall skin appearance is impacted by anxiety, stress and lack of sleep, which are directly related today due to the COVID-19 situation. Due to this, there are many consumers taking more care of their skin,” says Núria Jiménez, Marketing Specialist, Nutraceutical Ingredients, LLS Health.

“There is also a renewed awareness of the relation between beauty and wellness. That’s why one of consumers’ main options is to incorporate nutrition and supplementation routines as people seek holistic health solutions,” Jiménez adds.

During the expo, LLS Health will present its latest development, Astagile microcapsules. They are a natural, stable microencapsulated astaxanthin with proven neuroprotective efficacy. The all-natural ingredient is based on astaxanthin and is microencapsulated with other bioactive algae ingredients for enhanced benefits. 

Overall skin appearance is impacted by anxiety, stress and lack of sleep, which are directly related today due to the COVID-19 situation. “Due to its highly conjugated, double-bond structure, astaxanthin is unstable during production and storage. This causes loss of some of its biological activity, and significantly limits its use in nutraceutical applications,” says Isabel Gómez, Global Marketing Manager of Nutraceutical Ingredients at LLS Health.

“Microencapsulation provides a comprehensive solution to astaxanthin limitations as it protects and stabilizes the astaxanthin-rich extract of Haematococcus pluvialis, improving its benefits. Astagile can be included in any dosage formats, such as tablets, capsules and nutritional powders,” Gómez adds.

 Lubrizol also will showcase its Curcushine microcapsules, a highly bioavailable microencapsulated anti-aging curcumin product. New data on the ingredient’s stability for beverage applications is now available.

“Turmeric’s main bioactive polyphenol has been proved to reduce significantly reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glycation levels on human dermal cells, thus preventing skin aging from within. Curcushine microcapsules is a bioavailable microencapsulated curcumin source with proven clinical studies and positioned for that specific target,” Jiménez underscores.

Active in both trends
Also in the beauty-from-within space, Gelita will present the latest updates about its specific bioactive collagen peptides Fortigel, Verisol and Tendofortein, which are also all applicable for sports nutrition.  

“Tendoforte are specific bioactive collagen peptides for stronger tendons and ligaments in sports and physical activity. A tremendous amount of physical power stems from strong tendons and ligaments,” explains Oliver Wolf, Head of B2B Marketing, Global Marketing & Communication, at Gelita.

Scientific studies confirm that Tendoforte activates the cell metabolism in these specific tissues for their natural renewal and repair, allowing for training at a high intensity, while staying injury-free. Tendoforte also supports a return-to-training program, helping injured athletes to bounce back to their former performance levels faster, he details.

The company is also showcasing Fortigel, an ingredient for the regeneration of joint cartilage. Collagenous protein makes up nearly 70 percent of cartilage mass. 

Collagenous protein makes up nearly 70 percent of cartilage mass.“Optimized specific collagen peptides of Fortigel have been proven to activate the growth of new cartilage by stimulating cells helping to ease joint discomfort and make the joints smooth and mobile. By keeping people physically active and mobile, Fortigelcan improve quality of life,” Wolf notes.

Wolf also spotlights gaming and e-sports by noting: “This is a growing market that is already sizable. There is a paradigm shift to online activities in addition to a generational shift of younger consumers who are brought up in a gaming environment. The parallels to the sports nutrition market is uncanny; the consumer is driven by performance or defined by lifestyle.”

In the same arena, Rousselot is also presenting its collagen peptides and its science on sports recovery. At Vitafoods Dr. Sara De Pelsmaeker, Product & Business Development Manager at Rousselot, presented what the COVID-19 “new normal” and its impact means for sports nutrition product manufacturers and the opportunities collagen peptides can give these manufacturers an edge to their new product development. 

“The Healthy Living megatrend has been bolstered by the pandemic and new habits created around preventative health are set to gain ground in the longer term. Consumers are taking more ownership of their own health  and being more pro-active choosing preventative options like using nutrition, supplements and adopting health apps. The pandemic has heightened this as the stress and loneliness of the virus and the lockdown has made mental health a priority. (exercise=good for relaxation and reduce stress) This has led to a spike which will be followed by a long term shift,” she tells NutritionInsight.

Stimulating skin health
Lastly, Gelita is also showcasing Verisol bioactive collagen peptides. These have a patented peptide profile, specifically optimized to support beauty-from-within. They can stimulate skin metabolism and counteract the loss of collagenous extracellular matrix from the inside. Consumers using Verisol-based products can experience firmer and smoother skin, with fewer wrinkles, reduced cellulite, as well as stronger nails and hair, according to Wolf.

For the beauty-from-within space, the staple collagen trend is strong. “Especially bioactive collagen peptides are still the first choice when it comes to beauty-from-within solutions.

Verisol here plays a very important role as these collagen peptides provide a solid scientific background,” Wolf highlights.

“Beside its benefits on skin, hair and nails it provides an extraordinary technological profile. It is easily soluble and the low daily dose of only 2.5 g allows Verisol to be incorporated in many different application formats such as shots, bars, beverages and gummies,” he concludes.

For Rousselot, healthy lifestyle and beauty related products are witnessing strong sales growth during the pandemic as consumers are looking products that can promote a healthy lifestyle, and a holistic approach to beauty. Due to uncertainties of the pandemic, consumers have become less likely to spend money on luxury products, however they are willing to invest in small indulgence that make them feel better, healthier and more beautiful (the so-called lipstick effect), nutricosmetics products such as those including collagen fall under this area. 

For Vitafoods’ virtual event, NutritionInsight also detailed how storytelling is underscored to address consumers seeking sourcing narratives. Moreover, healthy aging was also a topic of interest, with Naturex, NattoPharma and Arjuna Natural discussing opportunities in this space.

By Kristiana Lalou