Joint health in the spotlight: Industry highlights potential for new and traditional ingredients

29 Mar 2024 --- As demand for healthy aging products continues to expand, consumers increasingly look for mobility products to support healthy joints. This market traditionally consists of animal-based ingredients, although industry experts observe a shift toward herbal solutions with scientific support. Collagen ingredients are also receiving increased attention in the area.

Nutrition Insight meets with experts from PharmaLinea, PB Leiner, Lonza and Nektium to discuss the latest product offerings and ingredients making a mark in the joint health market. 

“There is an increasing focus on plant-based ingredients — herbal extracts with scientific support,” says Maja Orešnik, science and research director at PharmaLinea. “Where larger or pharma brands used to be more inclined toward launching classic glucosamine or chondroitin formulations, ingredients such as curcumin, Boswellia and so forth, are now becoming the stars of joint health and mobility products.” 

While there is a shift from animal-based products, Orešnik underscores that various collagen ingredients remain popular. 

“We are seeing notable advancements from UC-II, a low-dose native collagen ingredient. Unlike hydrolyzed collagen, which requires consuming several grams to see an effect and functions as a building block for new joint collagen formation, UC-II and similar products act as an anti-inflammatory signal.”  

“During digestion, they encounter naïve immune cells, activating them to specifically target type II collagen. As these cells travel through the body, they promote the healing process in the joints.” 

Ingredient developments 
Examining other upcoming ingredients in the mobility area, Orešnik highlights that calcium fructoborate has come into focus, while palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has also gained attention and recognition. 

“PEA is present in bacteria, yeast, plants and animals. Consequently, some of it is obtained through food, while the body also produces some from other fatty acids,” she explains.  

“The body synthesizes PEA on demand in response to injuries and illnesses, aiding in the restoration of homeostasis. Its primary functions include anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and neuroprotective properties. Additionally, PEA is involved in various other physiological processes. The effect of PEA supplementation on these functions is also supported by clinical research.”

From 2018 to 2022, the global use of beef collagen in joint health F&B launches grew 54% CAGR, according to Innova Market Insights data.At the same time, Orešnik illustrates several challenges that formulators face while working with one of the popular plant-based ingredients for joint health, curcumin. For example, the botanical causes discoloration in production lines, which leads to significant issues in cleaning the premises. 

“Regulatory questions about its future development are still unclear,” she continues. “While curcumin has a clarified EU Novel Food status, all ingredients with enhanced absorption can still be classified as Novel Food. This could mean a significant disruption in the market.” 

Cindy Dekeyser, global business intelligence manager at PB Leiner, adds that consumers “recognize the strong link between protein consumption and bone and joint health, alongside the conventional focus on calcium.” 

However, she laments that the industry has yet to fully embrace protein ingredients as only a small share of recent product launches in food and beverages with a joint and bone health claim incorporate protein. 

Data from Innova Market Insights suggests that the protein collagen experienced the highest growth among product launches with a joint health claim. From 2018 to 2022, the global use of beef collagen in this product category grew by 54% CAGR. 

Power of collagen 
Dekeyser observes that the use of collagen for bone and joint health is crossing over from supplements to food and beverages. 

“Within the spectrum of bone and joint health claims, milk and dairy products, snack bars and (breakfast) cereals are the most popular categories, capturing consumer and industry interest. Surprisingly, pet food is the most rapidly growing product featuring bone or joint health claims.” 

Reyhan Nergiz Unal, health and nutrition science lead at PB Leiner, adds that the collagen supplier is collaborating with universities to discover, via new clinical studies, the scientific foundations behind the efficacy of its Solugel collagen peptides.

“To generate evidence that holds significant relevance, we meticulously select specific target consumers,” she underscores. “We are currently investigating the underlying mechanisms of connective tissue, overall well-being and health to unveil the underlying factors contributing to the impactful effects of Solugel collagen peptides.” 

Last year, the company detailed the latest research on its Solugel collagen peptides, which found that supplementation reduced joint pain, improved daily activity and living scores, as well as mental well-being. 

Scientific, multi-functional support   
Emily Navarro, global marketing manager of Lonza Capsules and Health Ingredients, emphasizes that one of the biggest challenges in the mobility and joint health market is consumer education regarding the types of collagen and their benefits for mobility. 

“Brands can overcome this challenge by clearing the fog in the collagen arena, through providing efficacious joint health solutions backed by a wealth of scientific studies, as well as clear and easy-to-understand explanations about the benefits they provide.” 

“A key area of opportunity is in formulation and application innovations. For example, developing nutraceuticals that provide multiple mobility and joint health benefits in one, convenient solution.” 

Scientific backing of benefits is essential for any ingredient to succeed in the joint health market.She adds that Lonza’s Capsugel Duocap capsule-in-capsule technology enables supplement brands to develop multi-benefit products by including a smaller, pre-filled capsule inside a larger capsule. 

Moreover, Navarro adds that Lonza recently collected data to prove the viability of its UC-II undenatured type II collagen in food and beverage applications. 

“In the benchtop exercise, Lonza’s UC-II undenatured type II collagen was shown to withstand various processing conditions associated with food and beverage manufacturing, such as high temperature, time and pH levels. Therefore, brands can include UC-II undenatured type II collagen in various formulations.”

Product development  
Although there is a growing demand for natural alternatives in joint health support, Laura López urges that scientific backing for their benefits and dosages is essential for these products to enter the mainstream market. 

“Our product development is supported by preclinical studies to understand mechanisms of action and clinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness of ingredients.”

Nektium’s core joint health ingredient, devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), is supported by extensive scientific research on its analgesic effects. The botanical from southern Africa has anti-inflammatory properties as it inhibits cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases. It also offers relief for conditions such as arthritis. 

López adds: “There hasn’t been a huge number of studies looking at devil’s claw on its own, although it has been studied for certain conditions such as musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis and back pain. This research has shown it can improve musculoskeletal and lower back pain.” 

The company’s devil’s claw extract is standardized to 2% harpagosides, the botanical’s primary active compound. Nektium also performs safety checks and in-process control analysis of the active substances at its physical-chemical laboratory. 

By Jolanda van Hal