Gelita expands to immunity sector with collagen peptide launch

22 Jan 2021 --- Gelita is broadening its proprietary portfolio of Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) with Immupept, a new brand that targets the immunity sector.

Prior to this launch, the company’s latest research collaboration with the Collagen Research Institute revealed an immune-modulating effect from the BCPs in Immupept.

The investigation shows Immupept’s potential to regulate three key factors for an effective immune response: reduced inflammation, tissue damage and oxidative stress. 

“We have for long observed a connection between collagen-rich connective tissues and the immune system that nobody was talking about, yet,” Suzane Leser, director of nutrition communication at Gelita, tells NutritionInsight.

“As the food industry was called to respond to the growing consumer need for better immunity amid the pandemic, we thought this was an important time to bring all this knowledge to life with Immupept.”

Immupept is applicable to all product formats, says Leser, ranging from powders to gummies and from drinks to bars.

Collagen for immune health?
According to Gelita, skin is the body’s most important physical barrier, with the epidermis being the first line of defense. 

Keratinocyte cells make up the “brick wall” structure of the epidermis, maintaining the skin barrier intact.

Immupept offers two solutions for immune health: Immupept 25 and Immupept 50.“In the context of the immune-supporting role of connective tissues, Immupept targets adults from their mid-twenties onward,” Leser explains. 

“We observe a decline in the body’s collagens from around that age, due to chronic aggressions and aging. Slowing this decline may be important also to keep our day-to-day immunity in check.”

Beyond skin, the role of connective tissues in immune health extends to the several other components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the whole body, says Gelita. The ECM is the three-dimensional environment in which most immune cells are mobile and operate. 

Besides serving as a structural scaffold for the body, the ECM is also a dynamic site for numerous metabolic functions, including the inflammatory response. 

“Fibroblast cells are the metabolic active centers of the ECM. Immupept contains fibroblast-stimulating BCPs that have been shown to stimulate the biosynthesis of several ECM proteins involved in the immune response,” the company states.

Adding bone health into the equation
Immupept arrives in two variants: Immupept 25 and Immupept 50. At a recommended daily dosage of 2.5 g, Immupept 25 focuses on the skin and ECM benefits that protect organs and tissues on the inside. 

“These are the most prominent connective tissues in immunity, the front-lines of defense for everyone,” Leser details.

Innova Market Insights data spotlights the immune health trend in the skin care sector, followed by bone health. However, Immupept 50 contains the same collagen as 25, with the addition of bone-specific BCP that stimulates the specialized bone-remodeling cells to maintain bone health.

“Bone cells and immune cells regulate each other as part of a bone-immune system interplay, where maintaining healthy bones supports a healthy immune system – and vice-versa.”

Immunity boom
“In Tune with Immune” was pegged as one of Innova Market Insights’ Top Trends for 2021, reflecting how immunity and health will steer the development of functional ingredients in the coming years.

Looking ahead to the years after the COVID-19 outbreak, consumers are expected to show higher levels of interest in their immune health. 

NutritionInsight has previously investigated the immunity sector’s developments in terms of the rising functional foods trend, popular ingredients and post-pandemic trends within the segment.

In the collagen space specifically, supplements continue to be the top market category. Innova Market Insights data reveals that 35 percent of collagen products launched in 2019 were within the supplements category.

Outside of the immunity sector, Gelita’s bioactive peptides portfolio has also been shown to boost hair thickness and promote the healing of tendons. Gelita also recently spoke with NutritionInsight on how collagen supplements are suitable for e-gamers.

By Anni Schleicher