Unibar releases three zinc-biofortified Ayurvedic ingredients for immune health

12 Mar 2021 --- Unibar is launching a line of plant-based, zinc-biofortified ingredients called Univita for optimal benefit delivery. 

The Univita line includes guava leaves with improved zinc content, holy basil and Amla-Indian gooseberry, both with improved magnesium and zinc content.

“Univita delivers upon the drive for ‘clean’ and natural products because the mineral content in our ingredients is absorbed and converted into chelated forms, avoiding the need to rely on synthetic or inorganic material,” Sevanti Mehta, president of Unibar, tells NutritionInsight. 

The launch also taps into the “large push” for additional immune support with zinc and magnesium, “Lastly, consumers are looking for more convenient, holistic options for health, eliminating the need to take more pills or capsules,” Mehta adds.

Unibar currently has plans to introduce additional ingredients as part of its Univita line, which will also undergo the same patented biofortification process.

Zooming in on zinc
Univita’s patented biofortification process helps improve mineral retention within the plant material, delivering an ingredient with a higher mineral count in chelated form, says the company.

The combination of chelated minerals – providing improved bioavailability and absorption – and the natural benefits of each plant material provide “a unique and innovative approach to improved health.” 

“Consumers continue to become more aware of their health and of the variety of natural options that are increasingly more available to them,” says Mehta.Zinc supplementation has been a topic of increased interest in the past year. Zinc was initially researched for its potential to reduce the risk of COVID-19, which spurred rising Google searches for zinc and vitamins during 2020 lockdowns. 

However, accumulating investigations of zinc revealed no significant effect or shortened virus symptoms. Nevertheless, the mineral remains essential for overall immune health function and its deficiency disturbs the intercellular communication via cytokines and weakens the innate host defense.

The immune health sector has seen a slew of NPD innovation, ranging from functional beverages to juice shots and powders. Unibar capsized on this trend with three ingredient launches last year, CapsiClear, CapZfuel, and Maitake Pt78.

 Biofortification needed?
Naturally found in much of the food we eat, Unibar emphasizes that mineral nutrition is essential to proper health, but many current diets lack essential minerals to meet dietary guidelines. 

“Part of the reason behind this is because less-than-optimal growing conditions can make it difficult for plants to absorb and accumulate enough nutrients from the soil, water and other sources and then processing can decrease values further,” the company highlights. 

One solution may be turning to synthetic or inorganic mineral options for supplementation. However, these are not well absorbed into the body, according to Unibar, and can have unpleasant side effects, such as gastric irritation.

Unibar’s biofortification process stimulates plant tissues for improved nutrient and secondary metabolite uptake. This allows for Univita ingredients to potentially deliver a more powerful combination of benefits than their generic counterparts.

Last year, NutritionInsight spoke with World Health Organization experts on biofortification tackling the “persistent burden” of nutrient deficiencies as well as with the Food and Agriculture Organization calling for policy measures and government intervention.

By Anni Schleicher