The Big issue
Whether they boost satiety, speed up metabolism, inhibit protein breakdown or block fat absorption, weight management ingredients are potentially big business (excuse the pun), and a host of Vitafoods exhibitors are keen to cash in.
Lipid Nutrition will be showcasing Clarinol CLA and PinnoThin. Clarinol, made from safflower oil containing CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), is claimed to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass, while PinnoThin, from Korean pine nut oil, stimulates hunger-suppressing hormones CCK (cholecystokinin) and GLP1 (glucagon-like peptide).
Cognis will be highlighting the benefits of its Tonalin CLA, which it claims can help reduce body fat and maintain lean muscle body mass.
Other companies offering hope for the hefty include Berkem, which will be promoting Svetol, its water soluble decaffeinated green coffee bean extract; Rousselot, which will be promoting hydrolysed collagen for weight management, Glanbia Nutritionals, which will be showcasing Prolibra (a milk mineral complex claimed to boost lean muscle mass and reduce fat), and Bio Serae, which will be presenting an arsenal of weapons of mass reduction, including Cacti-Nea, a prickly pear extract, and NeOpuntia, a lipophilic fibre from cactus leaves.
gut health
Gut health products can deliver tangible results fast, which gives them a certain advantage over other functional ingredients where sceptical consumers are concerned. However, manufacturers can also tap into other markets including weight management, immune response and general health and wellbeing.
One firm hoping to cash in is Lonza, which will be presenting FiberAid, a soluble prebiotic fibre that is highly soluble in hot and cold water, stable against a wide pH and temperature range and forms low viscosity solutions, claims the company.
Tate & Lyle is also entering the fray with its new Promitor soluble corn glucofibres and resistant starches. The corn glucofibres have excellent process and acidic stability and also dissolve clearly in a solution, opening up new opportunities in beverage applications.
Equally keen to corner this market is Syral Partners with Actilight, a soluble dietary fibre derived from sugar beet with prebiotic properties and excellent digestive tolerance that can be used in foods and supplements.
Danisco, meanwhile is showcasing Fibrex, a concentrated dietary fibre from sugar beet with an optimal ratio of soluble and insoluble fibres, while Dow Wolff Cellulosics is hoping to woo visitors with Fortefiber. Made from purified wood pulp modified to become water soluble, it has been proven to reduce glycaemic response.
Finally, Taiyo Europe will be highlighting Sunfiber, a tasteless, odourless and water soluble dietary fibre designed to deliver high fibre content and excellent stability with respect to pH, heat and freeze/thaw conditions.
