Evonik to roll out omega 3 powders in Brazil amid growing demand

16 Sep 2021 --- Evonik is targeting Latin America’s “strong” market demand for dietary supplements, with the company rolling out some of its fish oil-based omega 3 grades in Brazil. Two versions of the high-load powder platform, called AvailOm, have received approval from the Brazilian health authority ANVISA.

“We are proud to now bring both this ingredient and our global formulation capabilities to Brazilian consumers, and we look forward to expanding this offering in Brazil and beyond in Latin America,” says Gilles Razzauti, director of advanced food ingredients at Evonik’s Health Care business.

The company notes that Brazil has the largest market for nutraceuticals in Latin America and the demand for omega 3 dietary supplements continues to grow.

According to Innova Market Insights, there has been a 50% average annual growth of supplements in Latin America (2017-2020). However, in Brazil, the CAGR soars to 150% over the same time period. AvailOm platform is part of a nutraceuticals portfolio of advanced health ingredients, coatings, formulation services and finished dosage forms.

Bioavailability is key
ANVISA’s ruling specifically pertains to AvailOm 50 High EPA and AvailOm 50 High DHA, which are both produced from certified sustainable sources to protect marine ecosystems.

AvailOm 50 High DHA is a supplement solution ideal for pregnancy and early motherhood and to support eye function or brain health in later stages of life. Meanwhile, AvailOm 50 High EPA promotes heart health, joint health and reduces inflammation. 

Evonik notes that AvailOm is more than five times more bioavailable than traditional omega 3 fish oil softgel capsules.

“Not only does the omega 3 lysine complex have benefits for the consumer, but it also requires the use of less marine resources to achieve the same desired effect and thus helps to conserve marine life,” Christopher Studte, director of new health ingredients at Evonik Health Care, previously told NutritionInsight. 

Versatile powders
AvailOm is produced using Evonik’s proprietary process that combines free fatty acids with the essential amino acid L-lysine. The ingredient is easy to process into a wide range of final formulations with no fishy aftertaste.

The powders are directly compressible into tablets and allow nutraceutical companies a wide range of opportunities to develop differentiated combination products with other active ingredients such as botanicals, vitamins, proteins and minerals for enhanced performance and synergistic benefits.

Evonik emphasizes that omega 3 is a critical ingredient in formulations for dietary supplements tailored to healthy agers, pregnant women and other consumer groups. 

In a fatty acid roundtable last month, industry experts discussed the importance of bioavailability and consumer awareness. 

Previously, research funded by BASF revealed the differing impacts of DHA and EPA supplementation on sleep, highlighting the importance of each nutrient.

Omega 3s were also recently highlighted as an emerging nootropic ingredient in The World of Food Ingredients, with some studies pointing to a reduction in depression following supplementation. See the story on page 22.

Edited by Katherine Durrell