Once again, Prepared Foods, under its NutraSolutions brand, offers the “Ingredients for Health Reference” to provide market data and information on commercially available ingredients that assist in the development of products targeting various health benefits. From ingredients such as chia seed and red tomato for antioxidant supplementation, to the colors, flavors and textures used to make nutraceutical products attractive and palatable, this section offers a comprehensive range of information.

The categories are as follows:

• Antioxidants for Health

• Bone and Joint Health

• Cancer: Reducing Risk

• Cardiovascular Health

• Cognitive Health

• Diabetic Benefits

• Digestive Health

• Energy and/or Sports Performance

• Eye Health

• Immunity Enhancement

• Weight Management and

• General Health

Bone and Joint Health

It is not surprising that, in 2011, “milk and other dairy drinks” was the leading market category for global product launches with a bone/joint health positioning, due to the calcium content in milk. Calcium and vitamin D remain the two most widely used ingredients for new product launches with bone/joint health claims and are often used in tandem. Glucosamine and chondroitin, vitamin K, methylsulfonyl methane (MSM), Boswellia serrata and devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) are also being utilized for bone/joint health claims, but to a much lesser extent. According to global new product launch activity tracked by the Innova Database, baby food (10.6%), yogurt (4.5%) and cheese (3.3%) were also popular for bone/joint health claims in 2011, with breakfast cereals (4.3%), and juice and juice drinks (3.1%) being the most prevalent non-dairy market categories for claims.

—Lu Ann Williams, Innova Market Insights, helpdesk@innovami.com, www.innovadatabase.com

Hope for Osteoporosis

BONOLIVE is a unique product for bone health that addresses osteoporosis. BONOLIVE is a formulation of olive polyphenols, which has been clinically shown to improve bone metabolism by the stimulation of osteoblast activity; it thereby protects against bone loss. BONOLIVE can be used as an ingredient for dietary supplements, functional foods and calcium-based medicines that aim to support the maintenance of a well-functioning bone metabolism and prevention of osteoporosis. A recently conducted pharmacokinetic study shows BONOLIVE consumption leads to an excellent bioavailability of its bioactive metabolites. BONOLIVE is the result of a unique partnership between its developer, Bioactor, and its producer, Ferrer Healthtech. BONOLIVE is available in North America through Lugo Nutrition Inc. Lugo Nutrition Inc., 302-573-2503, srivoir@lugonutrition.com, www.lugonutrition.com

 Feel the Force

Naturex offers IridoForce, a unique devil’s claw root extract manufactured through a patented process to reach the highest concentration of devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens); (a concentration of 20% harpagoside by HPLC equivalent to 40% harpagoside by UV). Thanks to its high percentage of harpagoside, IridoForce is able to provide the optimal amount of harpagoside in a single capsule or to use other actives, such as chondroitin or glucosamine.  IridoForce has similar effects to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without any side effects. IridoForce has been studied in vitro; the study confirmed it reduces inflammation of the joints by inhibiting human COX-2 by 31%, compared to control. IridoForce also helps to regenerate the extracellular matrix by increasing the level of glycosamine glycans and by stimulating the synthesis of hyaluronic acid. IridoForce, therefore, has a double mechanism of action: it reduces inflammation and restores part of the cartilage. It has applications as a food supplement. NATUREX, France, Karine Morel, + 33 (0)4 90 23 96 89, www.naturex.com NS