Mobility ingredients reevaluated amid growing consumer preferences for acute, convenient and natural solutions

05 Nov 2020 --- Demands for faster-acting joint pain relief might be kicking traditional natural solutions such as glucosamine and chondroitin off their mobility sector podium. Additionally, collagen is enjoying its position as an industry standard but companies must ensure that products are inventive, clinically supported and convenient enough to keep up with consumer demands.

NutritionInsight follows up on its conversation with mobility industry experts to see how scientific findings and consumer preferences are redefining popular mobility ingredients.

Out with the old
Glucosamine and chondroitin formulations were the standard in joint health for more than two decades with “limited success,” says Suhail Ishaq, president of BioCell Technology.

With consumers’ demand for acute and highly effective joint and bone pain relief rising, glucosamine and chondroitin as sole ingredients may be at risk of being phased out. Two things, in particular, stand out for Steve Fink, vice president of marketing at PLT Health Solutions. 

“These ingredients require relatively large doses and a long time to show efficacy. Sixty days is a long time and six months is an eternity when you compare it to an over-the-counter (OTC) alternative like Advil,” he says.

Glucosamine and chondroitin have yielded “limited success” in the past 20 years.Data from Innova Market Insights highlights how these ingredients are swimming in single digit growth pools. Global food, beverage and supplement launches featuring glucosamine ingredients had a CAGR of just 2 percent between 2015 and 2019. In the same period, launches featuring chondroitin had a CAGR of 4 percent. 

In 2015, 44 percent of global food supplement launches tracked with a joint health claim contained chondroitin. However, this decreased to 19 percent by 2019.

However, glucosamine and chondroitin may live on in combination with other ingredients. Jaume Reguant, healthcare director at Bioiberica, adds that his company sees the beneficial effect of native type II collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate – not necessarily in isolation of each other.

An animal study in September found a combination of Bioiberica’s native type II collagen b-2Cool, CS b-Bioactive chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride and Mobilee showed a lower degree of cartilage degeneration, signs of less advanced osteoarthritis, healthier cartilage and joints. 

In with the new
Demands for acute and effective ingredients don’t necessarily have to cancel each other out. Fink from PLT Health notes that ingredients such as boswellia extracts show efficacy in as fast as five days and with doses as low as 100 mg. 

In this space, the company offers its flagship ingredient AprèsFlex Joint Health Support from its AKBA franchise, including its joint health ingredients 5-LOXIN and Dynagenix. 

Consumers young and old are increasingly understanding how mobility is part of a holistic approach to overall health and well-being.“AKBA stands for 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid – the key active compound in PLT’s proprietary Boswellia serrata extracts. These three ingredients have been developed to give product formulators different options in delivering relief of joint discomfort along with increased flexibility and mobility,” Fink explains. 

Within the mobility sector, PLT Health’s ingredients also tap into the wider botanical trend, featuring new ingredient launches such as RipFactor Muscle Accelerator and Dynaleve Muscle+Joint Formula this year. These contain flower heads (Sphaeranthus indicus) and boswellic acids, respectively.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Cuthbertson, global head of medical nutrition at Fonterra Medical underscores the ongoing importance of protein for developing muscle strength that keeps seniors mobile. 

“Leucine is a key component and trigger molecule of protein to enable formation of new muscle proteins. NZMP [a Fonterra Medical company] has a purified whey ingredient with the highest leucine in all dairy proteins – 14.4 percent leucine,” she outlines. 

BioCell collagen is a multifunctional healthy aging ingredient, adds Ishaq, with its benefits extending beyond joints. He previously shared more details on the triple matrix of the company’s collagen in a video interview with NutritionInsight.

Either way, delivery formats are key
Regardless of how effective a mobility supplement’s composition is, industry is aware that it needs to be convenient and easy to take – if not delicious.

Age brings about sarcopenia, the natural decline in muscle mass due to inflammation and imbalance muscle turnover, starting already at age 40.

People can lose up to 10 percent of their muscle mass every decade, says Cuthbertson at Fonterra Medical. 

“The impact on this can be life-changing, but the solution is simple – sufficient protein and resistance exercise. At NZMP, we provide a range of protein options to optimize taste, texture and other functional and clinical measures such as ultra-fast protein absorption.”

Vegan Duocap capsule-in-capsule technology from Lonza.Reguant of Bioiberica sees consumers wanting convenient delivery formats – preferring a “one product fits all” solution that can be taken easily and on-the-go. Functional food and beverages in this space will also gain more traction, he predicts. 

In the supplement segment specifically, dosage size also plays an important role. Lonza’s UC-II undenatured type II collagen is clinically demonstrated to support joint health, strength and flexibility, even at a daily dose of 40 mg.

Addressing consumer demands for rapidly acting vegan supplements, Lonza also offers its UC-II ingredient and bioavailable curcumin with its Duocap capsule-in-capsule technology. 

“This proprietary capsule solution allows science-backed ingredients to be brought together within a single dosage form,” Vouche outlines.

Notably, Innova Market Insights’ top third trend for 2021, “Tailored to Fit,” indicates that consumers are more curious about finding the type of mobility health solutions that work for them individually – with renewed and novel interests keeping industry on its toes.

By Anni Schleicher