Differentiation across children’s nutrition category amid growing understanding of gut health needs

18 Feb 2021 --- While infant nutrition has long been an industry mainstay, children have historically been grouped with adults. However, a shift is starting to occur as new research pinpoints the unique needs of children. NutritionInsight speaks with experts from Beneo and Lallemand Health Solutions about key demands in this space, including immunity and mood.

“Currently, everyone above three years of age is seen as ‘general population,’ and as such, adult requirements apply,” says Anke Sentko, vice president of regulatory affairs and nutrition communication at Beneo.

“I believe that this will become more differentiated in the future, as the benefits of specific nutritional support at key life stages become more widely understood,” she adds.

This has been reflected in the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are the first set that provides guidance for healthy dietary patterns by life stage – including children and adolescents.

Beneo also sees growth in particular areas of new product concept development for children. 

“This is because parents are looking to help their children with specific issues. For example, more parents are looking to increase their children’s focus in these challenging times of home-schooling and disruption, and are wanting healthier energy delivery alternatives as a result,” explains Sentko.

Overcoming a “one-size-fits-all” approach to immunity
Sentko emphasizes that every adult and child, no matter their age or location, has different needs, so a “one-size-fits-all” approach toward nutrition is not possible. 

“There are, however, age-related needs that can be improved using specific nutritional support. For example, we know that kindergarten-age children are particularly susceptible to infectious diseases during the winter months.”

Studies have shown that the risk of such infections can be reduced by incorporating prebiotic chicory root fiber into the daily diet of children. This supports their microbiota in a natural way, strengthens their inner defenses and improves digestive health. 

Morgane Maillard, marketing manager at Lallemand Health Solutions, adds that the gut microbiota represents the first line of defense in the gut, forming a protective barrier along the intestinal lumen and also through several biological mechanisms.

“As immunity improves with age, the needs to support immunity are different depending on age category. In children, the immune system is still building up,” she explains.

This is a particular concern for parents of children in the first years of socialization via school. This is when repeated health events occur, impacting the whole family’s quality of life. Teenagers’ lifestyles and occasional stress can also be linked to sub-optimal immunity, Maillard adds. Teenagers’ and young adults’ lifestyles and occasional stress can be associated with sub-optimal immunity.

Avoiding tummy troubles
Digestive health itself is also important, with Maillard noting that constipation is the most common disorder in children. Many forms of gut discomfort can be linked to poorly balanced diets, impacting gut microbiota composition. 

This is especially true in teenagers, who are prone to insufficient fruit and vegetables intakes and high consumption of sugary sodas, sweets, snacks and fast food. 

“Additionally, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is increasingly diagnosed in young populations, and it increases with age. Incidence in children is 8-17 percent, but 13-38 percent in adolescents,” she continues.

IBS is associated with daily discomfort, with impacts on sleeping behavior and stress. Lallemand Health Solutions is addressing this with its B. lactis LAFTI B94, which has been granted health claims in Canada for IBS in children and teenagers.

In a study performed on 71 children and teenagers, the strain significantly improved bloating, belching–abdominal fullness and occasional constipation. It also has good synergy with fiber, for example, during the breakdown of fructooligosaccharides and inulin. 

Starting the day in a good mood
Increasing demands from the adult market for brain and mood support have also trickled into the children’s nutrition sphere. 

Maillard explains that when children and teenagers are exposed to stressful situations, they are not always equipped to deal with them and sleeping issues can arise. 

Specific probiotics have shown the ability to alleviate both physiological and psychological signs of stress in healthy individuals without side-effects, representing a natural and safe alternative for stressed teenagers.

Meanwhile, Beneo’s Palatinose sugar alternative can also provide a boost to mental health. A study found that a Palatinose-based breakfast beneficially influences children’s memory and mood throughout the morning compared to a glucose-based one.

“Although all the children initially did well after breakfast, those eating the Palatinose breakfast maintained a significantly better memory performance later in the morning, both in immediate and delayed memory tests,” explains Sentko. 

Moreover, these children were also in a better mood later in the morning – rating their mood as significantly better than those who had eaten the glucose breakfast.Palatinose-based breakfasts were found to have a positive impact on children’s mood.

Maintaining oral health
Another major concern for the child nutrition market is dental caries, which impact school-age children globally. 

Maillard explains that dietary factors and eating patterns can have an impact on oral health. Therefore, control over the dietary intake of sugars and other ingredients associated with oral health conditions is an important factor in the maintenance of oral health.

“Just as the gut, the oral cavity harbors a rich and complex microflora. A balanced oral microflora seems to be a key to maintaining good oral health,” she says. 

Therefore, probiotics can help maintain oral health, she continues. “They represent a more natural and gentle approach to maintain undesired bacteria at bay, which is in-line with consumers’ rising demands for natural solutions.”

Appealing delivery formats
Packaging and children-friendly flavors are a key element of making nutraceuticals like probiotics appealing to children, affirms Maillard.

“Personalized delivery formats play a big role, as kids prefer chewable tablets or orodispersible powder in sachets or sticks. For kids with gut discomfort, such as occasional diarrhea, a dual-chamber sachet can combine probiotics with a rehydration salt, just to name one tailored combination,” she illustrates. 

Sentko also emphasizes the importance of the outward appearance of F&B packaging when appealing to children. 

“However, as long as the purchase decision is made by parents, having a creative and fun exterior isn’t enough. According to recent Beneo research, parents have high concerns relating to sugar and are looking for products that are lower in sugar, less sweet and kind to teeth.”

Therefore, products that can deliver on taste while helping deliver some “hidden” fruit and vegetables can find favor with health-conscious parents seeking permissible snacks for their children.Children are swayed by appealing packaging and delivery formats. 

Casting predictions for the future
Maillard identifies an emerging trend for addressing skin issues via probiotics. This is especially relevant to teenagers going through hormonal changes, which – along with stress and poor diets – can trigger problems like acne. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this, as wearing a mask during school hours can cause further skin difficulties. 

Meanwhile, Sentko predicts that a decade from now, the children’s nutrition market will be even more segmented in order to address children’s diverse requirements. 

According to Innova Market Insights, the top health positionings of food, beverages and supplements targeting children are No Additives/Preservatives, Gluten-Free, Organic and High/Source of Protein (Global, 2020). These illustrate the type of specific demands emerging in this market. 

By Katherine Durrell

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