Pioneering tech and natural innovations in the cardiovascular health space

27 Mar 2024 --- Amid increasing consumer interest in dietary supplements targeting cardiovascular and heart health, Nutrition Insight continues its conversation with industry experts about current and upcoming trends. We discuss the importance of innovation and the application of technological advancements within the field.

“Increased cardiovascular health awareness presents an opportunity to meet the demands of consumers seeking solutions for heart wellness,” says Sarah Gonçalves, business development manager of nutraceuticals at Univar Solutions. “However, cardiovascular health is complex and challenging to address due to its multifactorial nature, and consumers often seek immediate results, which can be difficult to deliver.”

Ståle Søfting, sales and marketing director at GC Rieber VivoMega, adds: “Consumers don’t just want to live longer, but to thrive longer — heart health is expected to be a growth category for years to come.”

Rob Brewster, president of Ingredients by Nature, comments: “The heart health market is ready for innovative products. Providing a comprehensive approach to heart health is the way to go.” 

AI potential 
Discussing how technology can tap into the development of supplements for cardiovascular and heart health, Gonçalves points to evidence that not only is AI an increasingly relevant trend, but it is here to stay in the long term. 

“Integrating technology, particularly AI, revolutionizes the exploration of bioactives for cardiovascular health, offering new insights and opportunities to address complex cardiovascular issues more effectively and efficiently.”

 AI can facilitate the exploration of bioactives that have yet to be discovered or thoroughly evaluated.She asserts that such technology can facilitate the exploration of bioactives that have yet to be discovered or thoroughly evaluated. “This may facilitate predictive modeling and simulation techniques and allow researchers to predict bioactive compounds’ efficacy and safety profiles faster than before with greater accuracy and efficiency.”

It could further accelerate the phytoactive discovery and development process, expediting the translation of promising candidates into viable cardiovascular health products, according to Gonçalves. 

“AI-powered platforms also enable personalized approaches to cardiovascular care by integrating individual health data, genetic information and lifestyle factors to tailor interventions and treatment regimens based on specific patient needs and preferences.”

Protective technology
Another aspect of technological innovation that plays a role in the development of supplementation for cardiovascular health is brought up by Julie Lemahieu, global market manager at Gnosis by Lesaffre.

She points to research that shows moisture and mineral salts are critical variables for menaquinone degradation, driving the need for protective technology. “Gnosis by Lesaffre introduced MenaQ7 Matrix, our premium, clinically validated K2 protected by our vitamin K2 Matrix technology.”

“This proprietary protective technology protects the MK-7 particles with no coating, additives or additional ingredients, providing a more predictable formulation process for complex K2 products. With the launch of MenaQ7 Matrix, the clinically proven cardiovascular benefits of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 are protected by an award-winning technology from Gnosis.”

Lemahieu asserts: “For bioactive ingredients to maintain their potency in a wide range of delivery formats, it is paramount that industry players, like Gnosis, develop delivery technologies that enable a stable and efficacious ingredient in new and sought-after delivery formats.”

Improved sensory profile 
Alongside vitamin K, omega-3 represents one of the most sought-after supplements for optimal cardiovascular and heart function, as demonstrated in numerous studies.

Research and technological innovation are necessary for the continuous improvement of omega-3 supplements’ objective sensory performance rating. GC Rieber VivoMega’s Søfting states: “Recently, we introduced VivoSens, a world-first technology to objectively analyze the components contributing to the taste and smell of omega-3 oils.”

He explains that this method allows the volatile components responsible for the sensory profile (if present) to be separated from the oil, identified and quantified using a standard curve with known concentrations. 

“This sophisticated process allows VivoMega to provide an objective sensory performance rating and a reproducible specification limit from batch to batch,” Søfting states. He further elaborates that VivoSens complements both oxidation analysis and sensory panel evaluation, allowing VivoMega to guarantee an improved quality and taste profile.

“Over the past ten years, GC Rieber VivoMega has focused specifically on improving quality through new technologies and innovations driven by R&D. We’ve worked diligently to ensure that VivoMega meets consumer demand by surpassing international standards of purity and potency while minimizing off-tastes and smells for an optimal consumer experience.” 

Also discussing the importance and difficulty of ensuring the quality of supplemental oils, Tri-Nutra’s CEO Morris Zelkah points out: “Technology plays a vital role when it comes to the initial extraction of the ingredient all the way to the finished product and its applications.” 

“For instance, TriNutra’s Nigella sativa oil (NSO) is the liquid component derived from slow, cold press extraction of the plant’s seeds and is liquid at room temperature. Cold press extracted NSO is the preferred form because it does not involve the use of solvents or heat that can diminish the quality of the oil.”

Innovative formulations
According to Jonathan Jones, chief scientific officer of Monteloeder, supplements for cardiovascular and heart health should allow for seamless adaptation into the users’ lifestyles.

“This can be both an opportunity and a challenge, as consumers demand on-the-go products such as gummies or drinks, but not many ingredients are compatible with these formats. In this sense, Metabolaid can be found in numerous final products in various end formats, including ready-to-drink, powder mix, gels, jellies or sachets. It’s this versatility, along with its scientific evidence, that makes it such a popular choice for our clients”.   

Metabolaid is Monteloeder’s proprietary cardiovascular and heart health solution with lemon verbena and hibiscus flower extracts. It addresses the maintenance of normal blood pressure levels and inflammatory balance.

Jones also remarks that: “Holistic solutions, or solutions that provide the most value for money, are a strong driving force nowadays. Consumers want to pack the most amount of value into the smallest doses. Metabolaid provides multiple benefits in a single daily dose.”  

By Milana Nikolova