Sleep and relaxation solutions: Non-sedative solutions, microencapsulation tech and synergistic herbal blends

The shelf-staple sleep and relaxation supplement category continues to exhibit high activity in novel ingredient solutions, with melatonin alternatives particularly growing in popularity for their ability to stimulate the body’s own production of the essential compound without causing dependency. Nutrition Insight examines a host of new product innovation insights delivered by Gencor, Nektium, Lubrizol Life Science, Prinova, SuanNutra, Trinutra and Karallief.

“In the sleep segment, we’re seeing a move away from melatonin as consumers seek non-habit-forming alternatives. There has also been a shift toward solutions that focus on stress and tension rather than sleep itself as they’re often the underlying causes of sleep issues,” says Diana Roldan, scientific product and communication manager at Nektium.

Addressing this, Nektium recently debuted Vanizem at Vitafoods 2024, which is derived from sustainably cultivated Aframomum melegueta plants, also known as Grains of Paradise. “It is a natural solution that promotes better sleep quality through relaxation and without the risk of dependency,” highlights Roldan.

“It’s a pioneering botanical ingredient that redefines how relaxation and sleep enhancement are approached. Unlike traditional sleep aids that often rely on sedative effects, Vanizem provides non-sedative relaxation support. This makes it an excellent choice for those who need stress relief and calmness during the day without experiencing drowsiness. In promoting relaxation, it also lays the foundation for restorative sleep.”

What makes Vanizem unique is its action on the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates stress and emotional responses. “It works by inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase, helping maintain anandamide levels. This mechanism of action provides fast relief, with clinical research demonstrating that users experience improvements in mood, stress and sleep quality within just three days,” explains Roldan.

“We formulated Vanizem using our proprietary microencapsulation technology. This ensures that the active compounds found in the Grains of Paradise are stable and efficiently absorbed and utilized by the body. Because of this, it’s highly effective even at a dose of 100 mg, which is low compared to conventional ingredients.”

Advancing melatonin alternatives

SuanNutra’s latest innovation in the space of sleep and relaxation solutions is RelaxPLX, formulated with lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) extracts. “This product offers unique functionalities that differentiate it in the industry, particularly with the clinical evidence supporting its ability to increase endogenous melatonin levels,” explains Mariana Ortega, product manager of Nutra Division at the company.

“RelaxPLX is designed as a non-drowsy formula that promotes restful sleep without causing grogginess or daytime sleepiness, which is often a concern with sleep aids. The product works synergistically with GABA, helping to support relaxation and improve sleep quality by enhancing GABA sensitivity.”.

Cortisol-lowering black seed oil is dubbed dubbed a “rising star holistic adaptogen.”Lemon verbena, is a botanical rich in verbascosides and flavones, which are supported by scientific research for their potential benefits in promoting relaxation and managing stress. Additionally, RelaxPLX claims to regulate cortisol, a key hormone related to stress, which may help reduce interruptions during sleep and contribute to more consistent, restorative rest.

“One of the most unique aspects of RelaxPLX is its ability to support the body’s natural production of melatonin. Clinical studies, including blood tests, have been conducted to measure melatonin levels and assess sleep quality. These tests provide a more accurate and reliable measure of the product's effects compared to traditional methods like saliva testing,” Ortega tells us.

TriNutra also spotlights the correlation between cortisol and melatonin in its own adaptogenic ingredient formulation. “These two hormones are tightly linked; when one is up, the other is down, and sleeping patterns are accordingly. Therefore, a cortisol-reducing agent will be beneficial for getting good sleep,” highlights Dr. Liki von Oppen-Bezalel, the company’s business development director.

A recent study by TriNutra has shown that its premium black seed oil — dubbed a “rising star holistic adaptogen” — branded ThymoQuin, has been shown to lower cortisol levels by more than 40% within four weeks of supplementation.

“Specifically, a published human clinical study found that 500 mg per day of ThymoQuin over four weeks significantly impacted cortisol levels as well as other key health indicators. Study volunteers had significantly lower cortisol levels (-44%) and reported a more positive mood (+11%) when compared to the placebo,” says Von Oppen-Bezalel.

Microencapsulating magnesium

To improve overall sleep consumers have turned to magnesium, which promotes muscle relaxation for deeper rest. Magnesium has also been shown to facilitate hormone balance, enzyme activity and neurotransmitter functions that regulate mood and support stress reduction.

“However, despite the critical role of magnesium, maintaining adequate levels of magnesium has often been overlooked. Consumers face the challenge of finding products that contain highly concentrated sources of magnesium that are also bioavailable and without side effects,” says Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager for nutraceuticals at Lubrizol Life Science.

Lubrizol Life Science highlights its microencapsulated magnesium, Magshape, which is formulated to deliver all the benefits of magnesium supplementation without the concern of low magnesium absorption in the body or a metallic taste.

“In addition, the high magnesium content in Magshape allows for a lower dosage in delivery formats, contributing to a more efficient muscle function that supports relaxation. From a formulation perspective, it also provides a water-dispersible and stable source that enables formulation of smaller tablets or more on-the-go formats such as chewable tablets or orosoluble powders,” details Gómez.

Potent botanicals

With botanical ingredients on the rise, Gencor has three plant-sourced offerings for the sleep and stress categories.

The supplier offers Affron, which is one of the most researched saffron extracts on the market. “It is backed by nine published human clinical studies on 740 people. It has been shown to promote restorative sleep and improve mental balance, stress and mood in adolescents, adults and seniors. Affron has a rapid absorption time of less than an hour and a low dosage of 14 mg, making it a highly sought-after saffron ingredient,” says McNamara at Gencor.

“Levagen+ is Gencor’s high-quality, bioavailable palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ingredient that contributes to relaxation and restfulness, leading to good sleep quality. It has been shown to reduce nervousness and improve quality of life, demonstrating PEA’s relevance and application in sleep. Moreover, because PEA impacts the endocannabinoid system, it promotes restful sleep by indirectly activating the calm-inducing CB1 receptors. It can also increase restful REM sleep by activating TRPV1 channels.”

Gencor offers an extract of the edible cactus Caralluma fimbriata, researched for its properties of easing worry, frustration and mood.“We also offer CALMaluma, a Caralluma fimbriata [an edible cactus] extract. This extract has been clinically researched for its therapeutic potential in easing adult worry, frustration and mood. Published data also showed that it supported healthy cortisol levels and promoted a healthy adrenal response in men.”

In other botanical launches, Prinova offers advanced processing techniques to achieve one of the highest potencies of L-theanine from Camellia sinensis alone (up to 40%). Studies have shown that L-theanine is associated with stress reduction, as well as enhanced focus.

“It also facilitates the absorption of tea polyphenols, the major active components in tea, which act as powerful antioxidants supporting the elimination of free radicals. The Prinova portfolio also includes adaptogens like ginseng, as well as mineral ingredients like Aquamin magnesium, which is a highly bioavailable source of marine magnesium,” highlights Tony Gay, technical sales director at Prinova.

Herbal sleep synergies

Karallief is exploring herbal extract synergies in its KaraCalm ingredient — a blend of six different herbal extracts, each standardized to specific active compounds.

“These extracts are blended in a specific ratio. The six herbal extracts used are extracts of Valerian officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, Ocimum sanctum, Ziziphus jujuba, Rosmarinus officinalis and Nigella sativa,” Krishna Rajendran, founder of Karallief, tells us.

“In the development of KaraCalm, we researched the potential synergistic benefits between various herbal extracts and how they support the complementary aspects of sleep support and stress management.”

“For example, we did research to study which specific active compound in a specific herb may help with reducing sleep onset latency and what our other active compounds in other herbs could act synergistically to help further this outcome.”

“The other active compound could act synergistically, have no effect or have a detrimental effect. So, all this needs to be studied in detail. We studied the compatibility of various phytochemical compounds in each botanical to formulate a unique combination blend. While all of the ingredients individually exert powerful effects, it is the combination that delivers the magic; however, there is a great deal of both art and science involved.”

Developing a synergistic blend does not simply mean adding many herbal extracts for a particular use and expecting it to produce a more effective product, notes Rajendran. “It is a much more complicated process and requires a lot of experience to do so effectively.”

“Ingredients can interact in different ways when put into a blend. Some ingredients may have synergistic effects, others may have detrimental effects. So, it is very important to study these interactions. Another point of differentiation for the Karallief formulations is the emphasis on conducting a gold standard clinical trial — randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled — to determine the safety and efficacy of the product.”

There is growing interest in multifunctional formulations that combine sleep and relaxation aids with other wellness benefits, such as immune support and hormonal balance.Intersecting trends

There is also a growing interest in multifunctional formulations that combine sleep and relaxation aids with other wellness benefits, such as immune support and hormonal balance, highlights Roldan at Nektium.

“Combining solutions for mental health, sleep and stress creates a meaningful synergy, particularly with ingredients such as curcumin, PEA and saffron. Another promising segment is sports nutrition,” says McNamara at Gencor.

“Many active individuals seek recovery for muscle repair and supplements that support sleep, relaxation and mood enhancement. Additionally, women’s health — especially during perimenopause and menopause — represents a key area where sleep, mood, stress levels and relaxation play vital roles.”

Gómez at Lubrizol Life Science comments: “I think consumers understand how everything is connected. For example, there are very interesting overlapping categories such as beauty+ sleep, which links poor sleep with skin appearance. Curcumin, for example, has been linked to preventing the symptoms of sleep deprivation, while also benefiting the skin from the inside out due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.”

“Another interesting fact is that consumers looking for sleep and relaxation solutions also want to wake up feeling refreshed, without a brain fog that can limit their mental performance. A great combination to support this is magnesium and vitamin B6, as the former helps with muscle relaxation and sleep, while the latter supports cognitive health and mood regulation, improving mental performance.”