Beyond The Headlines: SupplySide West product launches, Brightseed’s Forager AI a TIME’s best 2024 invention

This week in nutrition news, Vantage Nutrition and Kemin Industries were among the companies that launched new products at the SupplySide West 2024 trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. Brightseed’s Forager AI platform was recognized as one of the top inventions of 2024 by TIMES, and Lapi Gelatin appointed a new general director.

Meanwhile, Chuck Norris’ Roundhouse Provisions, FutureCeuticals and Smoothie King launched new nutritional offerings. At the same time, Lindus Health, Pureture and the US Ohio State University showcased their research and innovation achievements in the nutrition space.

SupplySide West 

Vantage Nutrition launched a higher-concentration VitaCholine into liquid capsules at SupplySide West. VitaCholine is a brand of choline — an essential nutrient clinically studied to show improvements in neuromotor function and brain health. Choline has also been shown to play a critical role in fetal brain development, passing from mother to child in utero. It is part of the primary neurotransmitter acetylcholine that facilitates the connection between the brain and the muscles. The nutrient has also been linked to improved blood flow, liver health and visuomotor performance — optimizing reaction time and nervous system function.

At the same trade show, Kemin Industries highlighted a clinical trial for maternal and infant health by the US National Institutes of Health. The study was published in the September 2024 issue of Ophthalmology Science. It looked at Kemin’s FloraGLO Lutein and Optisharp Natural Zeaxanthin products and revealed “a significant increase” in carotenoid levels in both mothers and their newborns. This suggests that the supplements may potentially have long-term benefits for visual health and cognitive development. At the trade show, Kemin also showcased its solutions across other key health areas, including digestive adaptogens and digestive aging.

Business news

VitaCholine is a brand of choline — an essential nutrient clinically studied to show improvements in neuromotor function and brain health.TIMES has recognized the AI platform Forager, proprietary to the bioactives company Brightseed, as one of its best inventions of 2024. Forager uses AI to facilitate the discovery of bioactive compounds that exist in nature. It further seeks to make a new category of health ingredients and insights into functional food, beverage, supplements and specialized nutrition possible. Brightseed’s bioactive ingredients target the B2B marketplace. The company’s signature Bio Gut Fiber was its first upcycled, bioactive-rich ingredient for gut health made from hemp hull. 

The Italian gelatine and collagen peptide producer Lapi Gelatin announced the appointment of Fabio Da Lozzo as the company’s new general manager. Da Lozzo also remains the general manager of Junca Gelatines, the Spanish gelatin and hydrolyzed collagen producer, which was recently integrated into Lapi Gelatin.

Product launches 

Chuck Norris’ Roundhouse Provisions survival food and wellness formulas company introduced its new plant-based meal replacement shake, Basecamp Complete. The chocolate-flavored meal replacement shake includes 28 vitamins and minerals, along with protein, healthy fats and fiber. Each two-scoop serving is designed to be consumed as a complete and nutritious meal. The product contains pea protein and MCT oil, which offer high-quality protein to support muscle and heart health and a feeling of fullness to reduce calorie intake.

FutureCeuticals announced that its joint health and mobility ingredient Promentum Calcium Fructoborate has been approved for mobility and joint health claims by Health Canada. According to the government department, products offering the recommended daily serving of 216 mg can claim that the product helps to relieve or reduce joint pain and stiffness and improves the mobility of persons suffering from knee discomfort.

Smoothie King announced the launch of a new “GLP-1 support menu” to aid users’ health and well-being. The zero-added sugar smoothies offer 20 g of protein and are rich in fiber. The five new products are now available across all Smoothie King locations in the US and online via the company’s app. 

Scientific research 

Lindus Health launched its “All-in-One Women’s Health Contract Research Organization (CRO)” tech solution applicable to clinical trials for women’s health products. This new multi-pronged recruitment tactic is expected to allow sponsors to recruit diverse cohorts of participants twice as fast as traditional CROs in all study environments, including site-based, hybrid and fully virtual. Lindus Health has already enrolled over 2,500 patients in women’s health clinical trials across the US and Europe.

Pureture’s new plant-based protein aids muscle recovery and growth similarly to animal-based proteins.Alternative protein biotech company Pureture developed a plant-based protein that aids muscle recovery and growth in a comparable manner to animal-based proteins like casein and whey. This is in contrast to many single-source plant-based proteins that lack certain essential amino acids (including leucine, isoleucine, BCAAs and methionine). Pureture’s yeast protein has an over 50% essential amino acid content comparable to that of dairy proteins. The company enhanced the protein’s absorption and is currently working to improve its taste through strain development.

A new study conducted by the Ohio State University and published in the PLOS ONE journal suggested that increasing ketones in the blood through a keto diet or supplements may help put irregular menstrual cycles back on schedule or even restart it. The study compared the weight loss results of low-fat and ketogenic diets. Several pre-menopausal participants who achieved nutritional ketosis observed at least one change in menstrual frequency, intensity or both during the trial. Meanwhile, those on low-fat diets did not report any change in their periods. All women who took part lost the same relative percentage of weight. The participants’ average age was 34. All were healthy but overweight.