Superfruit complex boosts mental and physical well-being of active seniors, study finds

12 Jun 2019 --- A natural superfruit complex, made from orange and pomegranate, can boost physical and mental wellness in active seniors, a recent study has found. The trial demonstrated that supplementation with BioActor’s Actiful had a positive impact on physical fitness, quality of life and mental well-being, when used in combination with proper nutrition.

“Actiful taps into the active living trend, where ‘normal’ consumers want to engage in a reasonably active lifestyle. We have already had a tremendous response from our online campaign, which indicates that Actiful is hitting a consumer sweet spot,” Hans van der Saag of BioActor, tells NutritionInsight.

Previous clinical trials investigated the effects of Actiful on blood flow and noted improved vasodilation – widening blood vessels – and a more efficient use of oxygen in the mitochondria, resulting in more energy production. The purpose of this study, however, was to determine whether four weeks of daily supplementation with Actiful enhanced physical fitness and mental wellness compared to placebo in healthy active seniors. The participants had an average age of 66 years.

Physical fitness was determined by the Senior Fitness Test with significant improvement in anaerobic power observed in the Actiful group compared to placebo. Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life questionnaire was completed by the participants to assess their quality of life. A significant improvement in mental wellness was found in the Actiful group compared to placebo.

“We saw both an objectively measured significant increase in anaerobic power and an overall reported significant improvement in mental wellness. The latter means that participants really felt the difference with Actiful and it shows that body and mind are acting positively and in sync,” van der Saag says.

More research in this area is planned for the future, according to the researchers.

Active seniors
As the nutrition industry moves away from an overarching “one-size-fits-all” approach to health, interventions along differentiating lines, such as life stages, is increasing.

Prevention is key in this space and older consumers are increasingly seeking products that offer health benefits such as immunity and mobility, which may lead to a quality, independent senior lifestyle. Products that target mental and physical fitness synergistically may be particularly appealing. 

The demographic for healthy aging products is shifting and, according to industry experts, this is a trend that will only expand in 2019. “Aging well starts young. Therefore, the demographic for healthy aging products is, to some extent, unlimited. This, coupled with consumers’ ‘prevent rather than cure’ approach towards their health means that products that may have traditionally been targeted towards an older demographic may now be appealing to a younger audience,” Andie Long, Sales & Marketing Manager for AstaReal Sweden, tells NutritionInsight.  

The collagen space is particularly responding to a new of active seniors, as well as the typical aging population. Seniors looking to maintain mobility and active consumers looking for sports supplements are key demographics that present prime opportunities for collagen NPD. “There is a growing global demand for bone and joint health ingredients, as consumers are increasingly aware of the preventive benefits of proper nutrition,” notes Dominik Mattern, Associate Director and Head of Business Development for Consumer Health & Nutrition at Lonza. 

This widening target market introduces ample space for NPD from the nutraceutical industry and the industry experts are predicting that the preventative use of supplements, for example, will only continue to expand.