The show stoppers

These are not easy times for 'functional' ingredients. First, we are slap bang in the middle of a recession. Second, the sector is in a state of regulatory limbo when it comes to which health claims will be permitted in the EU - with many suppliers of more niche ingredients privately wondering what the future holds if the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) rejects as many claims as some experts are predicting.

But going into hibernation until the economy improves or EFSA processes the 4,000+ health claims applications currently sitting in its in-tray is not the answer, and many firms exhibiting at Vitafoods are determined to rise above the doom and gloom and shout about their wares - while they still can.

After all, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic, as the fundamental drivers behind the growth in healthy and functional foods and supplements certainly haven't gone away: health is still high up the priority list for consumers and politicians - provided it is affordable.

This year's exhibition (Geneva Palexpo, May 5-7) promises to be as lively as ever, playing host to the Finished Products Expo; a supplier seminar theatre; a new products zone and a major international conference covering everything from satiety to nanotechnology.

And for those keen to get the lie of the regulatory landscape, free advisory sessions run by food law experts at European Advisory Services will also be available. But what do the 500+ exhibitors have on offer?

Beauty from within​

There is no doubt that the withdrawal of Danone's Essensis beauty yoghurts has dampened confidence in cosmeceuticals. However, scores of Vitafoods exhibitors are still hoping to woo punters with co-enzyme Q10, hyaluronic acid, ceramide, collagen and a host of botanicals claiming to hydrate, plump and protect the skin.

One company keen to get a slice of the action is Algatechnologies, which will launch AstaPure capsules of astaxanthin - a potent antioxidant derived from microalgae targeting skin and eye health.

Rousselot, meanwhile, will be promoting its Peptan Beauty range of hydrolysed marine-sourced collagen for smooth and glossy skin, available in powdered form in 'beauty sticks' and as a concentrated liquid in ampoules.

Other firms hoping to increase their presence in the 'beauty from within' market include Plantextrakt, which will be revealing the results of a recent scientific study supporting the positive benefits of its tea and herbal extracts on skin cells; and LycoRed, which will highlight Lyc-O-Mato. This helps protect skin against damaging UV-induced free radicals and is also claimed to increase skin density, thickness and smoothness.

Fenchem, meanwhile, is showcasing several cosmeceuticals including HyaMax (sodium hyaluronate); Nutra-Red (lycopene); LuMarin (lutein from marigolds), Grapurit (grape seed extract) and Liveflax (flax lignan).

Cognis has a range of beautifying ingredients - from vitamin E, mixed tocopherols, mixed carotenoids and lutein esters - while Kemin will be promoting FloraGLO lutein, for healthy eyes and skin. Sabinsa is also presenting a wide range of phytonutrients with 'beauty from within' applications, while Premium Ingredients International (UK) will present LingonMax, a skincare ingredient extracted from the Lingonberry. This is claimed to increase skin moisture, reduce wrinkles and decrease sensitivity.

Weight management​

The commercial pressure to make a fast buck out of the obesity crisis has spawned a whole swathe of fat- or hunger-busting ingredients, many of which scientists claim are not supported by "anything even approximating sound science". However, there is no question that firms that are able to offer something that genuinely helps us battle the bulge - supported by solid evidence - could be on to something big.

Scores of Vitafoods exhibitors are therefore hoping to cash in - notably Cognis and Lipid Nutrition, which will be promoting conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from safflowers, which is claimed to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass.

Both firms offer CLA in oil and water-dispersible powder forms, enabling them to be used in milk drinks, fruit juices, yoghurts and yoghurt drinks, baked goods, salad dressings and breakfast cereals.

Lipid Nutrition will also be promoting its new powdered version of PinnoThin, which is derived from Korean pine nut oil and claimed to stimulate the hunger-suppressing hormones CCK and GLP1.

Other companies in the weight management market include Rousselot, which will be unveiling its 97% protein Peptan hydrolysed collagen for diet bars and drinks to promote feelings of fullness, 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 ID-alG, a seaweed extract claimed to inhibit digestive enzymes amylase and lipase.

DSM will be promoting a new spray-dried version of its hunger-busting palm and oat oil emulsion Fabuless, while Tate & Lyle will be showcasing a wide range of ingredients helping manufacturers to reduce sugar and fat, including Splenda sucralose, Sta-Lite Polydextrose and 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, claims the firm.

Also on show will be the firm's Enrich and Optimize multi-ingredient packages, which enable firms to combine several ingredients to boost a product's health credentials and reformulate to reduce costs.

Gut health, fibres & the immune system​

Gut health products such as probiotics and prebiotics can deliver tangible results fast, which give them a clear advantage over other functional ingredients where sceptical consumers are concerned.

Fibres in particular also enable manufacturers to tap into other markets including weight management, immune response and general health and wellbeing.

One firm hoping to capitalise on growing consumer awareness of the health benefits of fibre is Lonza, which will be presenting ResistAid and FiberAid - prebiotic fibres that are soluble in hot and cold water and stable against a wide pH and temperature range.

Another firm keen to boost its presence in this market is Syral with Actilight - a soluble dietary fibre derived from sugar beet with prebiotic properties, which is suitable for foods and supplements.

Dow Wolff Cellulosics is also hoping to tempt visitors with Fortefiber. Made from purified wood pulp modified to become water soluble, this has been proven to reduce glycaemic response, while Taiyo Europe will be highlighting Sunfiber - a tasteless, odourless and water soluble fibre claimed to have excellent stability with respect to pH, heat and freeze/thaw conditions.

Danisco will be promoting its Litesse sachets of soluble fibre and its innovative Unistraw concept, enabling manufacturers of long shelf-life drinks to release probiotic bacteria via the straw as and when the drink is consumed.

Finally, GTC Nutrition will be taking on rivals in the prebiotic arena with Purimune - a stable and soluble galacto-oligosaccharide to support immune health.

Cardiovascular health​

There are several new cardiovascular health ingredients on show at Vitafoods including cactus leaf powder (to increase 'good' HDL cholesterol) and apple polyphenols (to relax blood vessels - see Diana Naturals and Skyherb Technologies).

However, it is not clear how many of these are supported by sufficiently robust science to secure approved health claims in the EU. Indeed, the only heart-healthy ingredients that have so far gained the thumbs up from EFSA are plant sterols for cholesterol reduction - news that will hearten S Black, which is showcasing LipoSterol M Dispersible - a powdered phytosterol from Lipofoods - at the show.

Nevertheless, the big guns in cardiovascular health ingredients are all out in force at the show, notably DSM, which will be promoting tensVida (rich in milk peptides claimed to reduce blood pressure) and resVida resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in red wine.

Meanwhile Natraceutical Group and Mars Botanical will be highlighting the beneficial effects of cocoa polyphenols on endothelial function, blood pressure, the immune system, cognitive function and mood, while Gee Lawson will be highlighting links between CoQ10 and maintaining a healthy heart.

If you're looking for omega-3s for heart health applications, all of the key healthy lipids players are at the show, including Ocean Nutrition Canada, Martek Biosciences, Cognis, Lipid Nutrition, Bioriginal, DSM, Sinomega Biotech, Lonza, Napro Pharma, ProBio Nutra, Glanbia Nutritionals, Epax and Kievit.

Separately, Croda Healthcare will be promoting Echiomega, which contains refined echium oil rich in stearidonic acid (SDA). Our bodies convert SDA more readily into the more beneficial fatty acid EPA than alpha linolenic acid, the omega-3 found in other vegetarian sources of omega-3s, such as flax.

Neptune Technologies and Aker Biomarine, meanwhile, will highlight the benefits of krill oil as a weapon in the fight against heart disease and inflammation.

Finally, Israeli firm Anlit is targeting kids with innovative new yoghurts in blister packs shaped like bears and packed with encapsulated fish oil.

Joints and bones​

For joint health, Gelita will be promoting Fortigel - a pure form of a collagen peptide claimed to combat joint wear and tear caused by age and stress.

Bio Serae is also targeting joint health with Osteol - a complex of bioactive milk proteins claimed to help lower inflammation and tackle cartilage degeneration, while Bio Iberica will be promoting chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolysed and native collagen.

Waitaki Biosciences, meanwhile, will be showcasing green shell mussel powder for joint health, MCH-Cal, a calcium complex for bones, and Coll2: a combination of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan claimed to assist in the restoration of connective tissue.

Last, but not least, Gee Lawson's joint care range includes chondroitin and OptiMSM (methylsulphonylmethane), which is claimed to help maintain cartilage and connective tissue and reduce joint pain.

Cognitive function and mood ​

Perhaps the most controversial 'functional' ingredients target the brain. Scores of these are on offer at Vitafoods - from panax ginseng, gingko biloba and tea catechins to phosphatidyl-serine and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA - although few of them are expected to secure approved health claims under the EU health claims regulation.

Still more companies are selling ingredients to enhance mood or relaxation, notably DSM with its green tea extract Teavigo, and Taiyo Europe, which is promoting Suntheanine: a pure form of the amino acid L-theanine from green tea, which is claimed to reduce stress, improve sleep quality and boost concentration.