Panel discussion on...
Healthy lifestyle
Welcome in the world of alternative meat: analytical challenges and perspectives
Prioritizing sustainability to preserve personal and planetary health
Innovation and motivation in nutritional supplements
Consumers increasingly seek products with clean labels and straightforward ingredient lists, prioritizing natural components with minimal processing.
At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we firmly believe that promoting human well-being is inseparable from preserving our environment, a principle that begins with our production techniques. Consequently, we produce nutritional active ingredients, biotics, and nutritional yeasts that enhance human well-being without compromising our natural resources.
Gnosis has long focused on our decisions and how they impact the planet. That includes actively working to create ethically sourced raw materials and active ingredients, and our brands have evolved to meet this demand from finished product manufacturers striving to appeal to a more environmentally conscious consumer.
Sustainable sourcing
For example, our MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is recognized for being clinically validated for bone health in children (1) and adults (2), and for cardiovascular health in adults (3,4). Last year, we introduced our new Palm-Free MCT Oil, which exemplifies our commitment to sustainability and quality. Our organically certified MCT Oil is derived exclusively from coconut sources. By making this conscious choice, we ensure we offer a more sustainable solution without compromising quality.
Sustainable processes
Another example is our newest ingredient offering, crafted by fermentation specifically to protect the native Rhodiola botanical species.
Found naturally in high altitudes in Europe and Asia and taking over 20 years to mature, the increasing demand for Rhodiola rosea became the main threat of overharvesting it. To ensure its sustainable harvest and trade, Rhodiola species were added to the CITES list of endangered species. Consequently, developing ecological ways to harness the benefits of Rhodiola has become a key step in preserving this species.
But we can still enjoy the benefits of this miraculous plant through an innovation in manufacturing: our fermentation process bypasses the need to harvest Rhodiola rosea, becoming CITES compliant by design.
Sustainable facilities
Finally, this commitment extends from our production processes to our facilities. Spawning from a desire to re-industrialize the Hainaut region in Northern France and a citizen commitment to rehabilitating a former industrial wasteland (Usinor), the upcoming Denain greenfield plant will create more than 100 jobs.
Our Denain plant will produce Gnosis's chondroitin, which will be unlike anything else currently available. Chondroitin is a recognized solution for reducing joint pain; however, 80% of the chondroitin in the market is manufactured in China, and 100% is produced from animal cartilage.
Gnosis's Chondroitin will be produced using a natural fermentation process that is sustainable (bio-sourced in compliance with biodiversity), non-animal, and efficient (high purity and bioavailability).
The choice of the site is in line with the company's commitment: a desire not to artificially develop soils, along with the construction of a diverse 5.9-hectare compensation area for fauna and flora, creation of a 1.2-hectare nature reserve, and construction of habitats for various species.
In closing, human well-being depends on preserving the environment before anything else. This is why we transform microorganisms through natural processes like fermentation, acknowledging the fragility of our planet and striving to preserve it.
Figure 1. Overlaid Representative Chromatograms for PBM (black) and Organic Beef (pink) (6).
References and notes
Panelists
Barry Skillington
Chief Commercial Officer - Atlantia
Clinical Trials
Adriana Olivares
Corporate Communications
Director - Bioiberica
Amanda Jepson
Vice President, Business Development - Biova
Andrea Zangara
Head of Scientific Communications and Medical Affairs - Euromed
Magda Starula
Consultant, Health & Beauty - Euromonitor International
Mike Hughes
Head of Research and Insight - FMCG Gurus
Oliver Wolf
Marketing EMEIA - GELITA
Bertrand Rodriguez
Business Development and CSR Director - Gnosis by Lesaffre
Filipa Quintela
Global Marketing Manager, Human Nutrition and Health - Kemin
Celia Martin
Regulatory Director & Health Ingredients Innovation Manager - Lallemand Bio-Ingredients
Amanda Mackinnon
Marketing & Communications Manager - Marinova Pty Ltd
Cindy Dekeyser
Global Business Intelligence Manager - PB Leiner
Yingying Wu
Global Product Manager Health ＆ Nutrition - PB Leiner
Reyhan Nergiz Unal
Health ＆ Nutrition Science Lead - PB Leiner
Carlos Rodríguez
Communication Manager - Pharmactive Biotech Products, SLU
Federica Carrozzo
Product Manager Nutraceutical - Roelmi HPC
Catarina Ferreira da Silva
Science Integration Manager - Rousselot
Elaine E. Vaughan
Health Science and Regulatory Affairs Leader - Sensus (Royal Cosun)
Veerle Dam
Health Science and Regulatory Affairs Specialist - Sensus (Royal Cosun)
Alice Barbier
Active Ingredients Product Manager - Seppic
Cristiana Piangiolino
Managing Director - SynBalance srl
Suzan Wopereis
Principal Scientist “systems health” - TNO
References and notes
- van Summeren MJH, et al. “The effect of menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) supplementation on osteocalcin carboxylation in healthy prepubertal children.” Br J Nutr. 2009;102(8):1171-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19450370/
- Knapen MHJ, et al. “Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women.” Osteoporos Int. 2013 Sep;24(9):2499-507. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23525894/
- Knapen MHJ, et al. “Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomized clinical trial.” Thromb Haemost., 2015; 19;113(5). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25694037/
- Vermeer C and Vik H. “Effect of Menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) on vascular elasticity in healthy subjects: results from a one-year study.”Vascul Dis Ther. 2020, 5:1-4. https://www.oatext.com/effect-of-menaquinone-7-vitamin-k2-on-vascular-elasticity-in-healthy-subjects-results-from-a-one-year-study.php
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How have consumer awareness & demands related to healthy lifestyle changed in the last 12 months?
Where do you see the greatest scientific achievement in nutritional sciences in the last 12 months?
Are there specific health benefit areas in which significant more clinical studies are being done than in others, comparing the last 3 years?
What are the key influencers driving consumer purchasing decision for supplements or health foods? Is substantiation of claims important?
How do consumer today judge their health status?
Please put the following parameter in order 1 highest priority 7 lowest priority:
- Physical Symptoms, like pain, fatigue, constipation, weight gain
- Fitness Levels: endurance, strength, flexibility,
- Health Tracking Devices and heart rate, sleep patterns, steps taken
- Diet and Nutrition: intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins.
- Mental and Emotional Well-being: stress levels, emotional balance, happiness
- Quality of sleep: Sleep quality and duration
- Medical Check-ups: blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, blood sugar tests
6.
Delivery formats can support consumer compliance and underline the technology driven approach of the brand.
a.
b.
c.
Do you see a consumer trend in preferences for certain delivery formats?
Are delivery format preference a regional, cultural aspect like taste?
Do you see a trend to carry out ingredient clinical trials using a selected delivery format as study product formulation or are most clinical studies still done in capsules?
7.
Consumer health concerns can vary widely across different regions and demographics globally. However, several common health concerns tend to be prevalent across various countries and populations due to globalization, lifestyle changes, environmental factors, and access to information.
a.
b.
Which are the key global consumer health concerns?
Do you see regional differences?
8.
There is a significant increase in the availability of apps and digital platforms focused on healthy lifestyle, particularly to support personalized approaches to mental wellbeing, metabolic support, weight management and physical fitness.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Do you see lifestyle apps as competition for supplement brands?
Do you think that these apps help to educate consumers, being more targeted when searching for supplements?
Did you consider setting up a lifestyle app to promote your supplement or your ingredient?
Did you set up a lifestyle app to promote your supplement/ ingredient and can you explore about your experience and business impact?
9.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms are today offered for various aspects of clinical trials to proof efficacy of your health ingredient or supplement.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Are consumers looking for substantiation of claims through AI driven clinical trials?
Did you consider working with an CRO specialist in AI to investigate your health ingredient or supplement?
If you applied already AI methods during the discovers/ development of your health ingredient, please share your experience and recommendation with us.
Do you think that in 2030 AI will be a manifest tool for clinical trials?
10.
A healthy lifestyle may also involve a commitment to sustainable practices for both personal and planetary health. This could include supporting ethical and environmentally conscious products.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Do you agree that sustainability has become a growing concern also in the nutraceutical industry?
Are consumer looking proactively for brands which have ethical and environmental principles?
Are you looking for ethically sourced raw materials, ingredients?
Did you implement measures to establish resource-efficient processes?
Are you developing socially useful products and how do you define it?
11.
What are the major geographical differences related to healthy lifestyle trends?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
What are the latest trends related to claims and product forms in China?
In the U.S.
In Mexico
How are claims and dosage forms differentiated in Europe? How does your company ensure compliance with health and safety regulations in Europe?
Do you have a country where you would like to speak about trends for products?
12.
Focus clinical studies. Overall, there has been a recognized push for more gender-inclusive, geographical, and target group focused clinical research. The same trend can be seen in clinical trials for supplements or functional foods.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Please select an area you are active in and let us know which is your hot topic ingredients for 2024 for this area, based on substantiated claim, parameters, biomarkers being studied and/ or clinical study being done. Please name ingredients by scientific name and composition and not by brand name.
Please select your geographical area:
Western (EU, USA)
Asia (China, Japan, Asia Pacific)
Americas (Middle and Latin America)
Kids development/ early life nutrition/infant in Western countries and AP
Adult nutrition and prevention of developing disease
Elderly nutrition and how to support quality of life during aging
Sports nutrition, within different life decades and activity levels
References and notes