Vitafoods Asia 2026 preview: Healthy aging and active nutrition among top trends

Ingredient suppliers expect healthy aging and active nutrition to be the main trends highlighted at Vitafoods Asia 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand (Sep 2–4). Nutrition Insight meets with Puredia, Aker BioMarine, GC Rieber VivoMega, and Nexira to explore market demands, product innovations in omegas and botanicals, and consumer trends across Asian countries. 

Puredia’s general manager, Michael Yuen, tells us that Asia was the first region to develop a longevity market. 

“NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) precursors reached mainstream consumer adoption in Japan and China well ahead of Western markets, which means the consumer base here is already sophisticated about cellular aging biomarkers and is actively looking for the next clinically substantiated option.” 

In addition to healthy aging, Ross Norris, general manager of Asia-Pacific (APAC) at Aker BioMarine, tells us the company sees opportunities across brain health and active nutrition. “These areas are evolving, and consumers are increasingly taking a more proactive, holistic approach to how they fuel both body and mind.”

“There is no question active nutrition is evolving, and for today’s consumer, it’s no longer tied exclusively to sports performance. It’s more about how people fuel their bodies and maintain mental clarity in an increasingly demanding world. In fact, there is a growing awareness that movement and cognition are interconnected, and our ingredient portfolio is set up with intentionality to cover all these areas.”

Ståle Søfting, chief commercial officer at GC Rieber VivoMega, adds: “APAC is home to some of the world’s most rapidly aging populations, so there is increasing interest in nutrition that can help people maintain their health, cognitive function, and physical performance for longer.”

Botanicals for longevity and women’s health

Julie Impérato, marketing and communication manager at Nexira, also points to longevity and active nutrition as fast-evolving areas in Asia, as well as women’s health. She says Nexira will feature ingredients for these health benefits at Vitafoods Asia 2026.

Yuen says Asia was the first region to develop a longevity market and has a sophisticated consumer base looking for the next clinically substantiated option.“Healthy aging and longevity are becoming major innovation platforms, while women’s health, gut health, and active nutrition continue to gain momentum. Importantly, active and sports nutrition is expanding beyond traditional athletes toward consumers who want to maintain energy, mobility, and performance in daily life.”

“For healthy aging, VinOgrape Plus targets age-related changes in the gut microbiome,” she highlights. “Nu4Life focuses on mitochondrial health and cellular regeneration. BloomEase addresses premenstrual syndrome (PMS) through a combination of yarrow extract and marine magnesium, supporting both physical and emotional well-being.”

For the active nutrition space, Nexira will present Vinitrox, a combination of apple and grape polyphenols, clinically validated for sports performance, which works by naturally enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability, adds Impérato.

“A new human clinical study demonstrates significant improvements in vascular function, supporting more efficient oxygen delivery to working muscles. By optimizing blood flow, Vinitrox helps active individuals perform longer, push harder, and recover faster.”

Science-backed naturals

Impérato says that consumers increasingly expect natural solutions to deliver measurable benefits backed by strong science. “This is shaping our innovation strategy around clinically substantiated ingredients and benefits that consumers can easily understand, feel, and measure.”

“At the same time, ingredients need to be easy to use for formulators: effectiveness at realistic dosages and compatibility with convenient formats that fit into consumers’ daily routines.”

Because regulatory frameworks, ingredients, claims, and consumer preferences can vary significantly across Asian markets, Impérato says local market knowledge and regulatory support are essential.

“Nexira combines scientific, formulation, and regulatory expertise with its local subsidiaries and regional network to help customers select the right ingredients, substantiate their positioning, and adapt concepts to individual Asian markets.”

Sea buckthorn for longevity

Yuen says that longevity ingredients such as NMN and NAD+ address NAD+ biosynthesis and cellular energy metabolism. Meanwhile, Puredia has developed CyanthOx to address multiple hallmarks of aging.

“For a consumer already supplementing with NAD+ precursors, this is the logical next addition to their longevity protocol.”

Impérato says active and sports nutrition is expanding beyond traditional athletes toward consumers who want to maintain energy, mobility, and performance in daily life.He says that CyanthOx is a patented sea buckthorn proanthocyanidin complex, nine times stronger than grape seed extract and approximately two times more potent than French maritime pine bark in antioxidant capacity.

Yuen adds that it was developed to address stem cell exhaustion, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, cellular senescence, and gut dysbiosis.

A peer-reviewed human crossover study found that a single dose increased circulating endothelial progenitor cells by 33%, he notes. These circulate in the blood and help repair blood vessel linings and support the growth of new blood vessels.

Yuen highlights that the ingredient also increased hematopoietic progenitor cells, which can form blood cells, by 24%. Moreover, he points to mechanistic data showing a 91% boost in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s primary energy currency.

He also cites data showing that CyanthOx boosted mitochondrial membrane potential by 69%, while reducing TNF-alpha (a chemical messenger that induces inflammation) by 79% in inflammation models.

He also sees potential in combining CyanthOx with NAD+ precursors or CoQ10 to address mitochondrial energy metabolism, as well as the stem cell and inflammatory side of the aging process.

Driving demand

Yuen points to two consumer segments driving demand for CyanthOx. “The first is health-conscious consumers aged 45 and older in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore who are already purchasing cellular aging supplements and want to build a more comprehensive stack.”

“The second is actually younger than most people expect, Chinese consumers in their late 20s and early 30s who approach healthy aging as preventive maintenance rather than reactive intervention.”

He says that both segments are label-literate and respond well to a clinically substantiated botanical with peer-reviewed human data behind it.

According to Yuen, CyanthOx is cold-water soluble and heat stable under standard processing conditions. “It integrates cleanly into functional beverages, hydration powders, single-serve shots, jellies, and gummy formats without stability issues.”

Additionally, Puredia will showcase its Omegia sea buckthorn ingredient. Yuen previously told us this standardized formula with sea buckthorn fruit and seed oil has applications in healthy aging, menopause symptom support, and beauty-from-within.

Krill and algae oils

At Vitafoods Asia 2026, Aker BioMarine will spotlight innovations in its krill and algae omega-3s, supply chain resilience, and delivery technology. 

Norris notes that Superba Krill promotes healthy metabolism, weight management, and muscle preservation, key foundations for staying active at every stage of life.The company will showcase Lysoveta, Superba Krill, and Revervia, says Norris. “Collectively, these ingredient brands span the full spectrum of modern wellness from active bodies and sharper minds to healthy aging.”

Aker BioMarine positions Lysoveta for the growing brain health category, he adds. “As the first and only ingredient designed to transport essential nutrients directly into the brain via the MFSD2A pathway, Lysoveta is a very strong solution for brain health.”

“During Vitafoods Asia 2026, Lysoveta will be featured on the Nutri Marketing Innovation Tour, highlighting how innovative ingredient technologies can turn scientific advances into consumer-focused nutrition concepts.”

Meanwhile, he says Superba Krill is aligned in the active nutrition and healthy aging markets because it promotes healthy metabolism, weight management, and muscle preservation, which are key foundations for staying active at every stage of life.

“The role of krill oil in active lifestyles will also come to life at Vitafoods Asia as Aker BioMarine is hosting a special giveaway featuring a US$500 experience voucher and a snowboard signed by the Norwegian national snowboarding team,” Norris adds. 

“These top-level athletes, across snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing, incorporate krill oil into their routines, highlighting how this nutritional solution aids in recovery both in professional sport and everyday wellness.”

Lastly, he highlights Revervia, an algae-based solution. Norris says it is the company’s newest portfolio ingredient and delivers one of the highest natural concentrations of algae-based docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at 40–60%.

“Developed with a low-impact, eco-friendly fermentation process, Revervia meets the needs of consumers seeking a non-fish, environmentally responsible alternative, without compromising purity, efficacy, or taste.”

“Since DHA is a foundational nutrient for lifelong health, supporting brain, eye, maternal, and overall well-being across all life stages, Revervia is an ideal choice for modern, sustainability-driven wellness lifestyles.”

Omega-3 concentrates

Also highlighting its omega-3 innovations, GC Rieber VivoMega will focus on concentrates rich in DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at Vitafoods Asia 2026, says Søfting. The company sources its fatty acids from both fish and microalgae.

“For us, the most important thing is the quality of the omega-3 oil we deliver, from smell and taste to concentration and the performance of the finished product.”

“We are seeing increased demand for concentrates because they make it possible to offer more of the good stuff in smaller servings,” he highlights. “At the same time, there is growing interest in microalgae as a fully plant-based alternative. And importantly, microalgae is a raw material that can be scaled relatively easily, making it a very sensible source of EPA and DHA.”

According to Søfting, GC Rieber VivoMega offers omega-3 oils with a clean taste and smell by controlling oxidation and sensory parameters.He notes that in a market that has proven volatile in recent years, it makes sense to diversify the sources of EPA and DHA.

New product development

According to Søfting, the healthy aging trend offers opportunities for omega-3 product development as EPA and DHA have well-documented benefits in heart, brain, and eye health.

At the same time, he says consumers expect supplements they can easily incorporate into their daily routine. “Higher concentrations of EPA and DHA make it possible to offer fewer capsules or smaller capsule sizes, which is especially important for consumers who find larger softgels difficult to swallow.”

“In addition, the experience of taking supplements matters, especially as poor sensory experiences and the well-known ‘fishy burp’ can become a real barrier to continued supplement use,” he adds. 

“By carefully controlling oxidation and sensory parameters, we can offer omega-3 oils with a clean taste and smell. This allows brands to create products that consumers are comfortable taking every day.” 

To meet demands and requirements in different Asian markets, GC Rieber VivoMega collaborates with its customers and distributors across the region, combining their local know-how with the company’s omega-3 expertise.

Søfting says he is looking forward to discussing how the omega-3 industry is developing and what lies ahead at the upcoming trade show. “Much of that conversation will be around supply security, increasing demand for highly concentrated EPA and DHA, and not least microalgae as an excellent opportunity for diversification.”

“We see fish and algae oils as complementary sources, and having access to both gives us and our customers more options moving forward.”