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Gabriela Vera, Marketing Coordinator at Funtrition, dives into how Funtrition leverages market trends in the nutraceutical category to drive innovation at the company. 

Following the Trends: Solutions for High-Demand Nutritional Categories

Gabriela Vera, Marketing Coordinator at Funtrition, provides a quick overview of the company’s seven innovative gummy technologies that offer diverse consumer experiences. 

Funtrition's Technologies Explained

Joel Minski, General Manager at Funtrition, provides an overview of the service offerings at the company’s Inspiration Center in Bogotá, Colombia, and how Funtrition distributes to customers globally. 

The Inspiration Center, Expansion, and Working With Funtrition

Learn about the company’s new facility in Miramar, Florida, carefully designed to handle all aspects of manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and packaging.

Welcome to Funtrition

Learn about Funtrition, its sites and Inspiration Center, and the company's newest technologies that leverage market trends.

Funtrition: A Company Overview

OmniActive Health Technologies (Bridgewater, NJ and Mumbai, India) has announced a partnership with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, D.C.) to educate and raise awareness about the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in supporting maternal and fetal health during pregnancy among obstetricians, gynecologists, and other maternal healthcare practitioners. This knowledge will be shared at The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (ACOG) Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting. OmniActive is 

one of six companies CRN has partnered with

 to showcase the latest research and developments in prenatal nutrition through a specially designed “Prenatal Nutrition Center” at the conference. 

“It’s wonderful to have OmniActive as one of our featured partners during the ACOG annual event to help spread the word on the importance of prenatal nutrition,” said Andrea Wong, PhD, senior vice president, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs for CRN, in a press release. “CRN continues our efforts in supporting supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers in bringing clinically studied products to consumers to help meet their nutritional needs. Advancing awareness at the physician’s level is a huge part of this equation and this meeting is an effective way of reaching them.”

Citing market research from SkyQuest Technology, OmniActive explains in its press release that prenatal supplement sales were estimated to be at $740 million in 2023 and projected to rise to $1.4 billion by 2031. Similarly, a recent 

 found that about 60% of gynecologists think that 80-100% of their pregnant patients take dietary supplements. There is therefore a great deal of opportunity to grow and advance this category. Lutein and zeaxanthin are known for their support of eye health, but these benefits are relevant during pregnancy as well, says Deshanie Rai, PhD, FACN, vice president of Global Science, Regulatory and Advocacy at OmniActive Health Technologies.

“Current evidence supports the preferential accumulation of lutein and zeaxanthin in the human eye and neural tissues during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. This suggests that lutein may play a functional and protective role in infant visual and cognitive development. As part of our Lutein for Every Age campaign, our goal is to help educate healthcare practitioners on this latest nutritional science research and the benefits of achieving adequate dietary lutein during pregnancy,” said Rai, in a press release. “OmniActive is proud to partner with the CRN Foundation’s Prenatal Nutrition Centre to promote awareness among healthcare practitioners on the nutritional relevance of lutein for both mom and baby.”

The educational initiative, “Lutein for Every Age,” focuses on raising awareness of early and consistent lutein and zeaxanthin intake to help support eye, cognitive, and general health throughout life, explains OmniActive. The AOCG meeting is taking place from May 17-19, 2024 in San Francisco, CA.

OmniActive Health Technologies has announced a partnership with the Council for Responsible Nutrition to educate and raise awareness about the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in supporting maternal and fetal health during pregnancy among obstetricians, gynecologists, and other maternal healthcare practitioners. 

Topic

OmniActive partners with CRN to raise awareness about macular carotenoids for prenatal health

SupplySide West 2024 recently concluded in Las Vegas, NV, bringing the industry together under one roof to deliver a wide range of ingredient solutions to manufacturers of dietary supplements and foods. As with previous years, this most recent show brought new innovations and insights on trending categories. One notable trend from the show is the opportunity that the usage and awareness of GLP-1 agonist drugs presents for industry. This opportunity presents itself in two ways: 1) Dietary supplements that promotes the GLP-1 hormone as a mechanism of action, or 2) Ingredients that complement GLP-1 agonist drugs by maintaining muscle health and nutrition during the weight loss the drug promotes.

The former is tied into metabolic health, which includes weight management, blood sugar management, and inflammation. For example, Ingredients by Nature (Montclair, CA) has announced that it will be offering a probiotic strain called 

 AKK11, which is referred to as the “longevity probiotic.” The ingredient plays into the healthy aging trend and has been shown in research to support healthy inflammation and metabolic health. Animal research has demonstrated that the probiotic can promote the secretion of GLP-1 as well as brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. (1) More research is necessary to further explore this mechanism in humans, but the probiotic also complements the company’s lemon-based flavonoid ingredient Eriomin which was found in a clinical trial to decrease blood sugar and increased GLP-1.(2)

“It's by far the hottest thing I've ever seen in my 20 years, and it's not a fad,” says Robert Brewster, president of Ingredient by Nature. “GLP-1 is not going away.”

Brewster explains that the benefits of promoting GLP-1 goes beyond satiety to include brain health and overall metabolic health. “More and more is being understood biologically about what GLP-1 is doing, how it's working on the brain for satiety,” adds Doug Lynch, strategic sales for Ingredients by Nature. “It also affects the motility. So, ultimately when food passes through, it travels at a slower pace and that allows you to get filled up more quickly. It's also involved with insulin production.”

Of course, Brewster and Lynch emphasize the importance of responsibly marketing products such as these. Increasing GLP-1 is a mechanism for these products, but they are by no means equivalent the popular GLP-1 agonist drugs. Indeed, the viral concept that catapulted berberine to the mainstream as “nature’s Ozempic” is something brands like Ingredients by Nature want to distance themselves from.

That said, the recognition and association consumers have of GLP-1 is bound to encourage further research into this mechanism. A recently launched collagen peptide from Rousselot (Son, The Netherlands) called Nextida GC was shown in animal research to lower blood glucose response, slow down gastric emptying, increase plasma insulin, and increase GLP-1. In a small proof of concept study with humans, the ingredient was able to lower postprandial glucose response. (3) A newly introduced probiotic from IFF (New York), 

 advances the scientific literature on Akkermansia strains, with mechanisms that may positively impact inflammation, immunity, metabolic health, and even offer neuroprotective effects. (4) There is no research on GLP-1 impacts yet, but further research is bound to explore this mechanism in comparison to 

Another direction manufacturers can go is helping users of GLP-1 agonist drugs deal with symptoms. One common area of support is muscle health. Because of the rapid weight loss people taking GLP-1 agonist drugs can experience, they also lose muscle mass. Therefore, being able to maintain muscle mass during weight loss allows people to be more active and maintain that weight loss. An ingredient like Mobilee, a proprietary hyaluronic acid matrix ingredient from Bioiberica (Barcelona, Spain), has been shown via 

 models to have muscle health benefits with the potential to protect against muscle atrophy and damage related to sarcopenia, which is age-related muscle decline. (5)

Along similar lines, Beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) such as myHMB from TSI Group (Shanghai), has been shown in research to support muscle mass and strength in aging populations even without the addition of exercise. (6) In more active populations, Gelita’s (Eberbach, Germany) BobyBalance and TendoForte collagen peptides have been shown to increase the rate of muscle grown following resistance training. (7) While more research is necessary to determine the specific effects of these products on GLP-1 agonist users, the established muscle-health benefits of such ingredients may be a welcome complement to those taking the drugs.

Another factor to consider is overall nutrition. Patients taking the GLP-1 agonist drugs lose weight because they eat less, which has the potential to impact their overall nutrition. (8) For example, Michael VanderDrift, senior marketing communications manager at Balchem (Montvale, NJ) suggests that the chelated forms of minerals in the Albion Minerals portfolio can be a valuable addition to this population for maximizing mineral absorption in the face of the change in metabolism and transit times that GLP-1 agonist drugs bring.


Another factor to consider, says senior marketing and BD manager for Balchem, Jessica Arnaly, is skin health. She cites the “Ozempic skin effect” which is characterized by increased signs of aging and a hollowed out appearance in the face due to rapid weight loss and lack of hydration. Arnaly therefore says that OptiMSM is another suitable companion for GLP-1 agonist users. Research has shown that the ingredient supports skin elasticity and hydration to improve signs of aging. (9)

Supplements have long been used as a complement to pharmaceutical therapies, with statins and CoQ10 being one major example. Supplements may therefore have a great deal to offer GLP-1 agonist users. For those that are not interested in the drug, but are intrigued by the mechanism and the potential to manage weight and support metabolic health, dietary supplements that promote GLP-1 secretion are bound to increase as well as the body of scientific literature on the hormone grows. Brands should however be sure to responsibly market such products as to avoid being conflated with drugs.

Jian, H.; Liu, Y.; Wang, X.;Dong, X.; Zou, X. Akkermansia muciniphila as a Next-Generation Probiotic in Modulating Human Metabolic Homeostasis and Disease Progression: A Role Mediated by Gut–Liver–Brain Axes? 

Cesar TB et al. “Nutraceutical Eriocitrin (Eriomin) reduces hyperglycemia by increasing glucagon-like peptide 1 and downregulates systemic inflammation: A crossover-randomized clinical trial.” 

Grasset, E.; Briand, F.; Virgilio, N.; Schon, C.; Wilhelm, M.; Cudennec, B.; Ravallec, R.; Aboubacar, H.; et al. A Specific Collagen Hydrolysate Improves Postprandial Glucose Tolerance in Normoglycemic and Prediabetic Mice and in a First Proof of Concept Study in Healthy, Normoglycemic and Prediabetic Humans. 

Kumar R.; Hasselwander, O.; Kane, H.; Hibberd, A.A. Akkermansia beyond muciniphila - emergence of new species Akkermansia massiliensis sp. nov. 

Grebow, J. Bioiberica’s Mobilee hyaluronic acid matrix may support muscle health and possibly sarcopenia, new research shows. 

https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/bioiberica-s-mobilee-hyaluronic-acid-matrix-may-support-muscle-health-and-possibly-sarcopenia-new-research-shows

Krawiec, S. Meta-analysis finds that HMB supplementation supports healthy muscle mass in older adults. 

https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/meta-analysis-finds-that-hmb-supplementation-supports-healthy-muscle-mass-in-older-adults

Grebow, J. Gelita collagen peptides increase muscle mass in new study. 

https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/gelita-collagen-peptides-increase-muscle-mass-in-new-study

Berman, R. Weight loss: New dietary guidelines for people taking Wegovy, Ozempic. 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/new-dietary-guidelines-weight-loss-drugs#Risks-of-nutritional-imbalances-while-taking-weight-loss-drugs

Krawiec, S. MSM may improve signs of aging, says recent study. 

https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/msm-may-improve-signs-aging-says-recent-study

GLP-1 was a major point of discussion on the SupplySide West show floor. We explore how dietary supplements fit into this game-changing mechanism for metabolic health and weight management.

The role of dietary supplements on GLP-1: SupplySide West 2024 Report

Akay Bioactives  announced the publication of a randomized placebo-controlled study

 investigating the effects of its Immufen ingredient on mild allergic rhinitis. Immufen is a complex of ashwagandha and curcumin standardized to withanolides and curcuminoids using the company’s FenuMat technology. According to Akay, FenuMat is a plant-based co-delivery system that ensures consistent release of soluble bioactives to optimized overall bioavailability.

In the 28-day study, 105 participants were randomized to receive either the ashwagandha and curcumin complex, a bioavailable curcumin, or placebo twice daily. Researchers measured allergic rhinitis symptoms and quality of life using Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), and the Profile of Mood States Short Form (POMS-SF) questionnaire at both baseline and study completion.

Results showed the complex significantly decreased symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis. Specifically, the complex reduced nasal congestion by 34.64%, runny rose by 33.01%, nasal itching by 29.77%, sneezing by 32.76%, and TNSS by 31.62%. Compared to the complex, the bioavailable curcumin did not significantly effect symptoms and TNSS, except sneezing.

"These results represent a significant breakthrough in natural, plant-based solutions for seasonal health,” said Krishnakumar IM, PhD, chief research officer of Akay Bioactives, in a press release. “Immufen stands out for its effectiveness and its positive impact on participants' overall well-being."

M.K.; Aryan, M.K.; Pranhakaran, P.; Mulaki, J.N.; S.D.S.; IM, K.; Panicker, S.P. Short-term influence of Immufen™ on mild allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 

The randomized placebo-controlled study investigating the effects of Akay Bioactives' Immufen ingredient on mild allergic rhinitis.

Branded ashwagandha and curcumin complex may offer allergy relief according to recent study

conference, October 9-11, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) first held the WellComms forum—six presentations intended for marketing and communications professionals. In the first presentation, Brian Yam, VP of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at Blue Ocean Regulatory Inc. presented, “How To Last in the Amazon Game – How Brands Are Navigating Amazon’s Latest Compliance Requirements.” Yam covered the past, present, and potential future of Amazon requirements.

He first walked through the process of getting a brand on Amazon through a seller’s point of view in order to highlight the compliance and verification issues that naturally arise during this journey. Yam discussed the certification requirements from 2023, in which sellers needed, for example, to provide a certificate of analysis (COA) to Amazon. However, Amazon’s initial requirements enabled the retesting of a product until it produced a passing result, fabrications of a COA, or calculating the amount of an ingredient in a capsule, rather than actually testing for it. 

In April 2024, Amazon’s requirements were updated to include new information needed from sellers, such as requiring specific contaminants to be tested for, and for all the required product documentation to be funneled through designated laboratories to verify the results, instead of directly through Amazon. “This was a huge wake up call for the brands,” Yam stated. Brands realized ingredients hadn’t been tested for quantity and the validity of manufacturers’ GMP certification was questioned.

He then presented six best practices for navigating Amazon’s latest requirements for today and for the long term:

Use accredited GMP certified manufacturers

Set explicit testing specifications for the product

Conduct third party testing now so issues can be resolved before the inventory leaves the facility

Establish non-compliance protocols with the manufacturing and what the manufacturer will to do to make it right

As a bonus tip, he explained the overlap between products that are NSF certified and compliance with Amazon’s policies.

Next, Yam explained three potential future directions for Amazon compliance:

Mandating that the set of products sent to laboratories for testing come from the Amazon warehouse

Minimizing friction for seller and reduce backlogs

In his CRN Convergence '24 conference presentation, Brian Yam of Blue Ocean Regulatory Inc. discussed how brands can last in Amazon’s marketplace.

Tips for navigating Amazon’s compliance requirements

Sabinsa has announced that its global CEO and managing director, Shaheen Majeed, has been elected the vice chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (2024-25). According to the announcement, CII aims to “create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering Industry, Government and civil society through advisory and consultative processes.”

The non-profit, non-government, industry-led-and-managed organization has approximately 9000 members from both the private and public sectors, as well as an indirect membership of more than 365,000 enterprises from 294 national and regional sectoral industry bodies. The organizations National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights is made up of leaders from a range of sectors of Indian industry that recommend policy, educate stakeholders, extend best practices, and organize discussion platforms on intellectual property issues.

“India is progressing in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and is globally viewed as one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of innovation, a testament to cutting-edge technologies and scientific advancements,” said Majeed, in a press release. “CII has consistently supported industries and startups in fostering innovation ecosystem through a strong intellectual property framework. I look forward to collaborating with other committee members and industry peers to devise and drive strategic initiatives that will further industry’s innovation potential.”

Majeed is well-suited for the position of vice chairman, considering Sabinsa’s large intellectual property portfolio of 500 patents. Shaheen himself hold 62 U.S. and international patents, and has authored 31 peer-reviewed publications.

According to the announcement, CII aims to “create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering Industry, Government and civil society through advisory and consultative processes.”

Sabinsa’s Shaheen Majeed elected vice chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights

A growing body of scientific literature has been drawing connections between the health of the gut microbiome and other physiological systems, including brain, skin, and heart health. Emerging research is also pointing to the microbiome’s impact on bone health.

Bones are both structural and serve as a reservoir for minerals such as calcium and phosphorous. These minerals give the bones their “hardness,” while proteins such a collagen give bones “softness,” allowing them to sustain some mechanical pressure without breaking easily.

Cells called osteoblasts are responsible for bone formation by producing collagen, which serve as a scaffold for calcium and phosphorous to deposit into. Osteoclasts are cells that resorb bone, adhering to the bone to dissolve and release mineral deposits. In a healthy system, there is a constant interaction between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. However, when this homeostasis is disrupted, conditions such as osteopenia, characterized by lower-than-normal bone mineral density, or even osteoporosis can occur. This is typically caused by the over activation of osteoclasts, degrading more bone than osteoblasts can rebuild.

Bone mass naturally decreases with age, but bone health is influenced by a number of factors, including nutrition and physical activity. Another potential factor impacting bone mass, researchers are finding, is the microbial composition of the gastrointestinal tract. A dysbiotic gut microbiome has been associated with bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Research has shown that people with osteoporosis have a significantly higher microbiome diversity (in this case, not a good thing), characterized by an abundance of 

. Animal studies have shown that the administration of antibiotics to deplete the gut microbiome was found to restore bone mass.

That said, a healthy functioning gut microbiome does beneficially impact bone health. For example, the microbiome is a source of vitamin K2, required for osteocalcin function and bone formation through the stimulation of osteoblasts. A different animal study also found that a decrease in vitamin K2 levels following antibiotic-induced microbiome depletion was associated with reduced osteocalcin and bone strength in mice.

 Additionally, while antibiotics may reduce the population of detrimental bacteria, they do the same for beneficial bacteria, such as butyrate producing bacteria, which is a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) associated with bone formation.

 For example, antibiotics can cause the depletion of Bacteroidetes. The reduced abundance of this bacteria is also associated with inflammatory bowel diseases and type 1 diabetes, which are populations that experience excessive bone loss.

The gut microbiome can influence bone remodeling both directly and indirectly. For example, the release of microbial metabolites such as SCFAs is one direct mechanism by which the microbiome influences bone remodeling, while indirectly, the gut microbiome can regulate bone remodeling through its interaction with immune cells such as T helper cells 17 or T regulatory cells, as well as hormones such as estrogen.

SCFAs are produced through microbial fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers. The production of some SCFAs is limited to specific bacterial strains. For example, researchers have linked the production of the SCFA propionate to 

Akkermansia muciniphila, Eubacterium dolichum, Ruminococcus bromii (R. bromii), Bacteroides eggerthii, Bacteroides fragilis

. Butyrate producing bacteria belong to specific bacterial families, namely Clostridiaceae, Eubacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae. Propionate, butyrate, and acetate are SCFAs that have been demonstrated to increase bone mass through inhibiting the production of osteoclasts through a variety of distinct mechanisms.

The gut interacts with the immune system via the intestinal epithelium. Inflammation in the gut can impact the secretion of immune cells. For example, it can result in the production of inflammatory immune phenotypes such as T-helper 17 cells, which produce the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-17 (IL-17).1 The increase of T-helper 17 cells and IL-17 in bone marrow has been shown to promote bone degradation by stimulating the differentiation of osteoclasts in the bone marrow. On the other hand, T regulatory cells can have a beneficial impact on bone health because of their immunosuppressive functions. Evidence shows that certain microbes can regulate bone remodeling by changing the balance between T-helper 17 cells and T regulatory cells. T regulatory cells work by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and promoting bone formation through the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta.

A recently published study using two large human cohorts identified a potential link between specific bacteria and bone density/strength.5 In the study, researchers investigated the association between the gut microbiome and scans of radius and tibia of two large human cohorts using high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography. The cohorts were the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) with 1227 participants between the ages of 32 and 89, and the Osteoporosis in Men Study (MrOS), with 836 participants between the ages of 78 and 98. Results showed that there were 37 microbial genera in the FHA and 4 in the MrOS cohort whose abundance was associated with skeletal health measures.

Meta-analysis of the taxa-bone association found that greater abundance of 

 were associated with lower radius volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and tibia cortical vBMD, respectively, while a higher abundance of 

 was associated with greater tibia cortical vBMD. The researchers also observed that there was a great number of bacteria that were negatively associated with bone density but positively associated with bone size, which they speculate could indicate that certain microbes help promote the growth of bones at the expense of bone density as a person ages. While the study finds some interesting patterns, more research is necessary to draw any conclusions about the relationship between specific microbes and bone health. As the body of research grows, the relationship between the gut microbiome and bone health offers exciting new possibilities for product development.

1. Cooney, O.D.; Nagareddy, P.R.; Murphy, A.J.; Lee, M.K.S.Healthy Gut, Healthy Bones: Targeting the Gut Microbiome to Promote Bone Health. 

, 620466. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.620466 

Pytlik, M.; Folwarczna, J.; Janiec, W. Effects of doxycycline on mechanical properties of bones in rats with ovariectomy-induced osteopenia. 

Guss, J.D.; Taylor, E.; Rouse, Z.; Roubert, S.; Higgins, C.H.; Thomas, C.J.; Baker, S.P.; Vashishth, D.; et al. The Microbial Metagenome and Bone Tissue Composition in Mice with Microbiome-Induced Reductions in Bone Strength. 

, 146-154. DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2019.06.010

Lyu, Z.; Hu, Y.; Guo, Y.; Liu, D. Modulation of bone remodeling by the gut microbiota: a new therapy for osteoporosis. 

Okoro, P.C.; Orwoll, E.S.; Huttenhower, C.; Morgan, X.; Kuntz, T.M.; McIver, L.J.; Dufour, A.B.; Bouxsein, M.L.A two-cohort study on the association between the gut microbiota and bone density, microarchitecture, and strength. 

A look at the science demonstrating the gut microbiome’s impact on bone health.

Funtrition

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