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Contact: Michael Healy Job title: Customer Development Mngr Company: Valio Ltd Contact: valiosales@valio.fi Visit us: www.valio.com
1How has the healthy ageing category evolved over the last two years as consumers have become more aware of the importance of preventive nutrition over a lifetime?
The healthy ageing market has grown, and will continue to grow, substantially, as the most senior generations expand in numbers. On a global scale, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be two billion people over 60 years old. They are living longer, have more active lives, and demand healthier products that include more protein and vitamins, as well as functional foods designed to meet their specific needs.
2What unique ingredient(s) do you offer in the healthy ageing category, and has their positioning shifted over time?
Valio Eila™ Nutri F + is the only lactose free ingredient that is also high in milk protein, phospholipids, vitamins, and minerals required to fulfil the key nutritional needs of older adults. Additionally, these nutrients contribute to normal brain health and support the elderly in maintaining muscle mass and bones. Declining sensory abilities often make it difficult for ageing adults to experience the taste of food. That is why taste and texture require a special emphasis when developing food products for older adults. Valio Eila™ Nutri F+ powder provides finished products with a pleasant rich taste and full texture. This helps our customers to make their products more desirable for ageing foodies.
In many markets, as the knowledge of the benefits of lactose free has matured, we have been able to shift the focus from education to empowerment. In the most mature markets, lactose free is seen as an essential element of premium wellness products.
3What type of product development and marketing support do you offer customers seeking to market unique new products in this space?
The Valio Food Solutions R&D team consists of 100 experts, including nutrition experts. They are ready to help our customers in product development, optimizing processes, and of course with any nutritional features that our customers want to improve in their products. Our advanced skills in introducing new products to the market also include expertise in branding, conceptualizing, and communication. These efforts are done in close co-operation with our customers and partners.
4What type of scientific research supports the health benefits of your ingredient(s)?
Valio has an ongoing senior study, led by our nutrition expert, Dr. Anu Turpeinen. Our aim is to study the effects of milk protein and the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) on both physical and cognitive functioning in elderly subjects. In this study, milk products rich in protein and MFGM are consumed daily for 12 weeks.
There is also previous evidence that the MFGM in milk fat may have a supportive role in brain health – especially the phospholipids it contains.
Research shows that protein plays an essential part in supporting the wellbeing of elderly people by contributing to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass. Milk protein is a high-quality source, containing all the essential amino acids for the human body.
Also, mineral intake is an essential part of sustaining bone health. Calcium is a crucial building block of bone tissue and phosphorus aids in the upkeep of normal bones. Milk is a good source of both calcium and phosphorus.
Older adults want to maintain their quality of life and are ready to spend on their well-being. How can food and beverage manufacturers optimise their product offerings for the healthy ageing segment?
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Contact: Larry Kolb Job title: President Company: TSI Group Ltd. Contact: customersupport@myhmb.com Visit us: tsigroupltd.com
One of the biggest changes in the ageing category is the consumer awareness of muscle health. In ageing, we have long heard the need for maintaining bone health and improving joint health, but just recently, there is finally a growing understanding of that third pillar of total musculoskeletal health which is muscle. By the time we notice the loss in muscle mass, strength, and function, it is too late. Therefore, early prevention of loss and increases in muscle reserve are critical factors in maintaining quality of life with ageing.
TSI offers the most effective nutritional solution to increase, preserve and support healthy muscle function – myHMB®. Scientifically known as β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate, HMB is produced naturally in our bodies during the metabolism of the essential amino acid leucine. It’s difficult if not impossible to consume enough protein with supplementation or a healthy diet alone to achieve the effective amount of HMB. Supplementing with myHMB® helps to improve muscle health by boosting muscle protein synthesis while also minimizing muscle protein breakdown.
As we age, our body breaks down protein faster than it can synthesize it which results in muscle loss over time. Age-related muscle loss is an inevitable part of the aging process and can decrease the body’s ability to optimally function. On average, people lose about 10-15% of their muscle mass per decade after the age of 35. While this is a natural occurrence with aging, other factors can accelerate the process. Illness, injury, inactivity, and inadequate nutrition are key culprits that can increase the rate of muscle loss and impact the body’s ability to rebuild muscle mass and function. Through its dual mechanism of action, myHMB® can provide a powerful solution by helping support better muscle health and function and protect against muscle loss that occurs with age.
Additionally, recent research has shown the value of myHMB® in combination with vitamin D on improving muscle function in older adults. In fact, this powerful combination was shown to improve muscle function even in the absence of exercise.
TSI supports our current partners and potential new partners by developing food and supplement formulations in various delivery formats, so our partners have options to choose from based on their target audience. This allows TSI to offer a much more turnkey solution to innovation and new product development versus the standard ingredient supply chain. TSI takes great pride in doing the “heavy lifting” for our partners. We work to understand what the end consumers want since this really is key to understanding what services, ingredients, or new innovations we need to develop to support our customers and partners.
HMB is a well-researched ingredient. There are over 50 human studies, 40 review articles, and 4 meta-analyses that have been published as peer-reviewed publications.
Natural age-related muscle loss affects 100% of the population. After the age of 40, muscle mass declines at a rate of about 1% per year and can begin impacting the quality of life in older adults.
Contact: Anne Roksvåg Job title: Senior Marketing Manager Company: Gnosis by Lesaffre Contact: contact@gnosis.lesaffre.com Visit us: www.gnosisbylesaffre.com
The notion that healthy ageing starts early is sinking in with more consumers. Younger demographics are beginning to recognize the importance of building a healthy foundation, particularly as COVID-19 has captured the globe's attention over the last two years. People are, in general, more mindful of how personal lifestyle choices can affect their present health, but perhaps more importantly, also their future. For instance, there is a vital link between one's quality of life, the level of activity they engage in, and their nutritional status. Supplementing to avoid deficiencies and support overall health is increasingly recognized by consumers, young and old, as they pursue healthy, active lifestyles.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maintaining the best possible cardiovascular and bone health are two of the most critical areas allowing individuals to age healthily. Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is unique because it supports bone health and simultaneously impacts arterial calcification. It does this by helping the body to properly utilize calcium by activating K-dependent proteins already present in the body:
Osteocalcin binds calcium to the bone mineral matrix (where it is needed)
Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) inhibits calcium from depositing in arteries and soft tissues (where it can increase cardiovascular risks)
The bone- and heart-health segments have primarily focused on older demographics. Still, today's younger generations seeking active lifestyles recognize the importance of building a healthy foundation, consciously making health decisions earlier in life. These "active lifestylers" are primed for supplements that support overall health, including bone and heart health, and we see vitamin K2 is increasingly well-positioned in supplements targeting all stages of life.
Formulating with vitamin K2 is not "one size fits all," and enhancing the protection of the vitamin K2 molecule is critical for our customers seeking complex formulations with unique health impacts. Gnosis by Lesaffre offers the most comprehensive vitamin K2 solutions platform supporting our customers' vision for their products and brands, and our educational marketing platform helps to position products to stand out from the crowd.
More than 22 published human clinical trials have used MenaQ7® K2 as MK-7 to confirm safe health benefits, but most noteworthy is a double-blind, randomized, intervention study of 244 postmenopausal women given either 180 mcg of K2 (as MenaQ7®) or a placebo daily for 3 years that showed:
Maintenance in both bone mineral content and bone mineral density were statistically significant in the MenaQ7® group compared to placebo, as well as statistically improved bone strength. Osteoporosis International published this study in March 2013.
Using pulse wave velocity and ultrasound techniques, researchers observed the Stiffness Index ß in the MenaQ7® group with initial high arterial stiffness had decreased significantly compared to the slight increase in the placebo group. Results confirmed that MenaQ7® inhibited age-related stiffening of the artery walls and made a statistically significant improvement in vascular elasticity. This groundbreaking study was published in Thrombosis and Haemostasis in May 2015.
Further, a 1-year follow-up clinical study of men and women showed improved vascular health after a daily supplementation of 180 mcg MenaQ7®.
Many consider compromised bone and cardiovascular health as unavoidable age-related conditions. Gnosis by Lesaffre asserts that these conditions are, in fact, the product of a Vitamin K2 deficiency.