R&D on health span targets aging pathways and solutions for lifelong vitality

The consumer need for ageless vitality, or health span, is driving several transformations in the industry, from shifting the language and mindset about aging to evolving R&D priorities and approaches in this sector. Nutrition Insight speaks with Gnosis by Lesaffre, Valio, Lactalis Ingredients, Sirio, Balchem Human Nutrition and Health, and Akay Bioactives to uncover more. 

“For decades, the discussion centered on the promise of turning back the clock. Now, a more nuanced and responsible paradigm is emerging — lifelong vitality. Rather than focusing on how long we live, the emphasis is shifting toward how well we live at every stage of life,” explains Silvia Pisoni, global operational marketing director at Gnosis by Lesaffre.

“Lifelong vitality reframes aging not as a process to be fought but as a trajectory to be supported, optimized, and stabilized. It recognizes that biological aging is inevitable, yet functional decline is not uniform, nor is it unmodifiable. The goal is no longer radical life extension but sustained physical, cognitive, and emotional resilience across decades.”

Dr. Anu Turpeinen, nutrition research manager at Valio, points to wearable technologies that reveal “unprecedented insight” into consumers’ recovery, metabolic resilience, and overall well-being. For instance, they enable tracking of sleep quality, heart rate variability, and glucose responses.

“Instead of focusing solely on extending lifespan, the conversation is now centered on improving the quality of those later years — with clear, measurable health outcomes. This is redefining expectations for nutrition.”

Vague terms to specific results

Sara Lesina, general manager, Sirio Europe, states that longevity is “one of the hottest topics” in the nutrition space today. Generic terms are evolving as consumers now want clear evidence that products will deliver measurable benefits to their health span.

Dominik Mattern, VP of Science, Business Development, and Marketing at Balchem Human Nutrition and Health, agrees. “Ageless vitality has moved well beyond simply adding more years to life.” It is now more about “how we live as we age.”

He explains that this is driving consumers to search for mental and physical solutions that will help them over time. They are prioritizing meaningful, specific results, such as preserving mobility or cognitive sharpness.

Elodie Macariou, senior product manager, Lactalis Ingredients, echoes the emphasis on health span, placing focus on the essential benefits of dairy proteins. “High-quality proteins such as whey and milk protein isolates support muscle maintenance and mobility — key factors for healthy aging. Beyond their nutritional value, dairy proteins deliver bioactive peptides that contribute to immune modulation and metabolic health.”

Trisha Sugarek MacDonald, Ph.D., market development manager at Akay Bioactives, points out how regulations are also shaping understandings of health span.

Valio’s MFGM and hydrolyzed milk protein boost balance and physical performance.“We are seeing a clear shift away from vague ‘longevity’ or ‘healthy aging’ language toward measurable, functional outcomes such as mobility, cognitive clarity, sleep quality, metabolic balance, and hormonal wellness.”

“This evolution is being driven in large part by regulatory expectations in both the US and EU, where transparency and substantiation are increasingly emphasized, which ultimately benefits the consumer,” she says.

Investing in science

Lesina points out that consumer and commercial interests are growing, but the underlying science of healthy aging is still in its early stages. “At Sirio, addressing actual consumer concerns directly informs our R&D priorities.”

“We established the Sirio Institute of Aging in 2025 because we know that collaboration with other experts from academia and research is the most effective way to advance that robust science quickly and meaningfully.”

She explains that seeing longevity as a “long game” is essential, which requires a sustainable nutritional routine. “One of the nutraceutical industry’s key challenges is helping consumers build that consistency — and it’s a challenge we’re addressing head-on with our latest NPD.”

Sirio’s R&D teams, designing for longevity, seek to deliver nutrients in enjoyable formats. “These help build that essential, sustainable routine.”

“We’ll also launch our new longevity platform at Vitafoods Europe 2026, featuring ready-to-launch concepts grounded in peer-reviewed science.”

Scientific validation is central to Lactalis’ innovation, says Macariou at Lactalis Ingredients. “All the more so when you’re dealing with specific ingredients or ingredients that are new to the market. That’s what we’ve done with our native whey protein.”

Lactalis Ingredients says high-quality proteins such as whey and milk protein isolates support muscle maintenance and mobility.“We have conducted several clinical studies on Pronativ native whey protein, which demonstrates its superior bioavailability and muscle synthesis benefits, reinforcing transparency and trust in our products. It’s clinically proven to allow efficient active muscle protein synthesis and functional benefits in recovery, performance, and injury.”

Molecular-level pathways connecting organs

Pisoni shares that the focus on lifelong vitality has changed how Gnosis by Lesaffre supports healthy biology.

“Instead of targeting isolated organs or systems, pathways, lifelong vitality focuses on maintaining core physiological systems that determine day-to-day performance and long-term independence.”

“These include metabolic flexibility, neuromuscular integrity, cognitive sharpness, emotional balance, detoxification capacity, and inflammatory control.”

According to Pisoni, this biological perspective puts greater importance on pathways that influence system-wide resilience on the molecular level. “Mitochondrial efficiency, redox balance, proteostasis, and methylation capacity are increasingly recognized as foundational to lifelong vitality because they integrate multiple organ systems.”

Akay Bioactives says it focuses on defined bioactives and on preclinical and human clinical research from the get-go.She adds that nutrients promoting lifelong vitality must have measurable outcomes, moving the conversation beyond marketing language and into accountability. “It encourages investment in clinical research that links biochemical modulation with functional improvements, rather than relying solely on mechanistic plausibility.”

R&D approaches

Balchem’s Mattern notes three strands that are shaping the industry’s R&D priorities. The first is a science-backed formulation for specific, substantiated health outcomes rather than just “anti-aging” claims.

“We’re also seeing a focus on developing all-in-one solutions designed for efficiency, because consumers don’t want to take five different products to address five different concerns.” 

“Finally, personalization. Health needs shift across life stages, so R&D innovation is exploring targeted solutions that can adapt to specific ages, lifestyles, and health goals.”

Valio is embracing the ageless vitality movement by focusing on holistic solutions that support physical, cognitive, and metabolic functions throughout aging, shares Turpeinen. 

“Research shows that specific milk components, such as milk fat globule membrane and high-quality milk proteins, can support both physical and cognitive functioning, while dairy products help maintain a healthy weight and reduce obesity-related low-grade inflammation.”

“Unflavored, low-glycemic dairy options also help stabilize blood glucose levels, supporting long-term metabolic vitality,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Akay Bioactives’ MacDonald says it focuses on defined bioactives and on preclinical and human clinical research from the get-go, rather than retrofitting data later, which also helps maintain compliance across global markets.

“In the US, we align communications with 21 CFR Part 101 structure-function guidance, and in the EU, we emphasize safety dossiers, toxicology, and compositional clarity. We remain disciplined in our language and never overstate outcomes.”