Today’s formulators seek ingredients that provide select segments of the population with specific health benefits. Such “life-stage foods” are possible because of advancements in nutritional systems biology, the science of understanding the of between food components and diet with cells, organs and the whole body. Flavors and food preferences also play into this personalized approach to formulation.
In the beginning
Pregnancy is a critical nutrition time, and many moms-to-be avoid prenatal vitamins because they are difficult to swallow and can upset the stomach. “During my pregnancy, I was taking a small handful of different pills to meet my nutritional needs,” says Michelle Dudash, R.D., co-founder, Impact Nutritionals Inc., Phoenix. “And, with so many women having a hard time swallowing and keeping down their prenatal vitamin, I knew there had to be a better way.”
The company’s berry-flavored dietary-supplement drink mix contains the super-seven pregnancy supplements: folic acid, iron, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), calcium, choline, ginger and electrolytes. The ginger helps with nausea, “while the electrolytes keep mom-to-be hydrated, which is a serious problem in warmer climates,” says Dudash. “The other five nutrients all have proven benefits during pregnancy.” For example, folic acid helps make the extra blood the body needs during pregnancy and helps prevent the risk of neural tube defects.
Amazing omega-3 growth
The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are recognized as crucial building blocks of child development, playing important roles in every aspect of health, from hormone regulation to brain development. Both are naturally concentrated in fatty fish. Research shows that fish oils support proper brain, eye and nervous-system development in children and promote a healthy immune system, enhanced learning ability and improved memory and focus power.
A common problem with some omega-3 ingredients is that they can have a fishy taste, which is often the result of oxidation. One omega-3 fish oil powder suitable for maternal and infant nutrition products is odorless and tasteless. This is largely because it doesn’t absorb oxygen, notes Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice president research and development, DSM Nutritional Products, Parsippany, NJ. “We haven’t modified the fish oil—which is the base for the manufacturing of the powder—either enzymatically or chemically, so our formulation remains natural and true to its origin.”
Swedish researchers have also found a link between fish consumption and higher cognitive scores among teenage males. This is believed to be the result of consuming DHA and EPA, which are present at high levels in select types of fatty fish. According to the study, published in Acta Paediatrica (2009; 98(3):555-560), 15-year-old males who ate fish at least once a week had higher cognitive skills at age 18 than those who ate it less frequently.
“There are a number of studies linking omega-3 EPA/DHA found in oily fish to thinking, reasoning and remembering abilities—our cognitive functions—in infants and the elderly,” says Jon Getzinger, chief sales and marketing officer, Ocean Nutrition Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. “We know that omega-3 EPA/DHA is a critical nutrient for these age groups, but studies like this demonstrate that omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil is important for our bodies and minds not just when we’re young or older, but throughout our lives.”
Morning fuel for men
More muscle is going into one popular cereal from General Mills, Minneapolis. The line extension includes nutrients that men tend to fall short on, such as vitamin E.