Healthy aging NPD zeroes in on gut health, personalized nutrition and functional foods

28 Jul 2021 --- The global gut health and personalized nutrition trends are spurring NPD in senior nutrition, particularly in functional food and drinks. This has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with Innova Market Insights’ global data revealing that 68 percent of senior consumers are concerned regarding their personal health in light of COVID-19. 

NutritionInsight speaks to key industry players about emerging solutions tracked with healthy aging positionings.

“The global population is aging. Today, more than 46 million older adults aged 65 and older live in the US alone. By 2050, that number is expected to grow to almost 90 million,” highlights Suhail Ishaq, president of BioCell Technology.

“People use dietary supplements to help them optimize their nutrition and performance and improve their quality of life well into their golden years.”

Globally, the top nutritional ingredients tracked with healthy aging positionings include magnesium, resveratrol and vitamin C, according to Innova Market Insights data.

Healthy gut for healthy aging
There is currently a wealth of offerings on the market targeting gut health for seniors. Solabia-Algatech Nutrition specializes in Bioecolioans, an alpha-gluco-oligosaccharide that is a prebiotic, active at low doses.

Bioecolioans may increase the concentration of beneficial bacteria in the gut.Bioecolioans may increase the concentration of beneficial bacteria in the gut. With age, the gut microbiome diversity decreases, leading to various health problems. 

“Aging is related to alteration of the intestinal microbiota and multiple disease processes,” says Liat Shemesh, marketing manager of Solabia-Algatech. 

“The composition of our gut microbiota changes during life; it is affected by our diet, genetics, medications, pathological conditions, physiological changes, physical activity levels and lifestyle choices.”

Reduced diversity and overgrowth of pathogens are the main features of the elder microbiota and cause or contribute to the development of disease or increase, Shemesh stresses.

Functional F&B promotes longevity
There is a particular market demand for F&B nutritional products that target healthy aging. Innova Market Insights reports that 21 percent of senior consumers have purchased food or drinks to improve their gut health.

In Japan, for instance, Chichiyasu High Protein Yogurt was launched on the market with claims of diversifying gut bacteria to promote healthy aging. “We use a blend of clinically-backed prebiotic fibers from plants to feed the billions of bacteria in your gut (microbiome),” the company states.

In Canada, Purica launched Probiotic Mature Immune Defense – a blend of Lactobacillus plantarum clinical strains “designed to promote a healthy immunity and longevity.”In Canada, Purica launched Probiotic Mature Immune Defense – a blend of Lactobacillus plantarum clinical strains “designed to promote a healthy immunity and longevity.”

Other target areas of healthy aging, such as blood pressure, are also prominently featured. Rishi Sparkling Botanical Drink with Patagonia Maqui, launching on the US market, is one example of this. The product’s formula boasts dense concentrations of flavonoids, iron, zinc and vitamins that make it heart-healthy and beneficial for arterial health.

Joint health and skin beauty
Certain ingredients, such as collagen, are a mainstay for the healthy aging category. For supplement formulations, BioCell Technology offers the branded ingredient BioCell Collagen, which is composed of naturally occurring hydrolyzed collagen type II peptides, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. 

“Many internal and external factors influence the pace and effects of aging,” details Ishaq.

“There is a link between the progression of aging and the steady deterioration of the extracellular matrix in connective tissue, which results from decreased synthesis and increased degradation of molecules essential for connective tissue integrity.”

Since collagen and glycosaminoglycans such as chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid are the major molecular constituents of the extracellular matrix, their replenishment could help counteract various undesirable effects of aging. 

The ingestion of BioCell Collagen is thought to stimulate chondrocytes, which play a role in the renewal mechanism of cartilage, and stimulate fibroblasts for skin renewal, thus supporting all three major collagen types (I, II and III).

“Moreover, BioCell Collagen demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of hyaluronidase, the enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid, contributing to signs of aging on the skin and loss of viscoelasticity of joint synovial fluid,” Ishaq explains.

“BioCell Collagen also attenuates deleterious changes in biomarkers including creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein, adding further clues into its mechanism of action.”

Beyond collagen, preclinical and clinical studies support the positive impact of beta-glucan on aspects of skin hydration, smoothening and rejuvenation.Algae for timeless skin
Beyond collagen, preclinical and clinical studies support the positive impact of beta-glucan on aspects of skin hydration, smoothening and rejuvenation. The soluble dietary fiber can be found in microalgae, which is a rising star in supplements.

Solabia-Algatech Nutrition recently launched 100 percent natural whole Euglena gracilis algae, BioGlena, using proprietary fermentation technology without solvents or additives.

This unprocessed source of beta-glucan (>55 percent) offers essential vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, in addition to complete protein. 

Personalized nutrition for longevity
“Tailored to Fit” is one of Innova Market Insights’ Top Trends for 2021, pushing personalized nutrition further into the spotlight within the healthy aging arena. 

Edifice Health, a Silicon Valley start-up specializing in immunological health and personalized nutrition, recently closed a US$12 million investment, led by Leaps by Bayer.

The company aims to harness “previously unattainable” insights into the root causes of chronic diseases of aging, which will help develop “highly personalized interventions” to extend human health spans.

Edifice combines novel proteomic approaches with proprietary artificial intelligence and predictive analysis to measure the rate of aging. 

The company has created a first-ever metric to measure systemic chronic inflammation, which was found to be the root cause of multiple chronic diseases of aging. Furthermore, the company has identified interventional supplements, which can be highly targeted to an individual’s immunotype to improve inflammatory health and facilitate healthy aging.

Edifice will combine its inflammatory health technology with a consumer and market-centric product expected to launch next year. 

Future interventions to extend health spans will include pharmaceutical applications targeting specific disease states, partnering with various companies to dramatically scale Edifice's mission of extending healthy aging through food, beverage and nutritional products.

By Benjamin Ferrer

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