By Cindy Hazen, Contributing Editor
Med school doesn’t allow much free time for parties, but the students are skilled at managing their time, commitments and physical stamina. After a night of overindulgence, a couple of recent med-school graduates revealed their post-party secret: They start the next morning with an electrolyte-rich beverage. Also in their arsenal: vitamin-enhanced waters. Like so many other consumers, they are looking for beverages that provide a nutrient boost, and product developers are working on a variety of products to meet a range of needs and demographics.
Nutrients for every need
The reasons and goals for beverage fortification are diverse. Ram Chaudhari, Ph.D., FACN, CNS, senior executive vice president, chief scientific officer, Fortitech, Inc., Schenectady, NY, says his company is fielding many requests for clear protein beverage formulations to address weight management. Sports nutrition is also popular. “Additionally, we are seeing more requests for beverages that address digestive and heart health through the use of prebiotic fiber such as inulin, as well as antioxidants," he says. “Relaxation is also moving forward with GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), and L-theanine is taking center stage within this category. And last, but not least, consumer interest in superfruits, such as goji and mangosteen, does not seem to have slowed down." Natural sources of nutrients are also in high demand.
For condition-specific beverage development, Chaudhari offers these recommendations: calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin K to combat osteoporosis; lutein, lycopene, omega-3 fatty acids, thiamine, sterols and prebiotic fiber to aid in heart health; CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) prebiotic fiber and green-tea extract for weight management; iron, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids for children’s development; and vitamins A, C and E to combat free radicals.
The potential for adding various vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals and botanical extracts is mind-boggling—especially when considering possible levels and amalgamations.
Early in the development stage, formulators should consider several factors, including solubility, bioavailability, pH, temperature, light and stability of individual ingredients, as well as the overall stability, color and flavor of the finished beverage. Ingredient interactions are common.
“An example of a potential interaction is the formulation of a product that contains thiamine, as well as a superfruit and its possible sulfur dioxide content," says Chaudhari. “Thiamine plays an important role in helping the body metabolize carbohydrates and fat to produce energy, and helps to maintain proper functioning of the heart and the nervous and digestive systems. Combining this nutrient with a superfruit can possibly result in immediate degradation of thiamine due to the fruit’s carry-over of sulfur dioxide. The level of sulfur dioxide should be determined prior to fortification, and appropriate overages should be added to compensate for losses."
One way to minimize interactions is to separate vitamins and minerals into two individual premixes. Another approach is encapsulating certain vitamins or minerals. It’s also important to know what form of a nutrient should be used. “Iodine’s ingredient form may be potassium iodide, magnesium’s may be magnesium phosphate, zinc’s may be zinc oxide, copper’s may be copper gluconate and calcium’s could possibly be tricalcium phosphate, dependent upon what other ingredients are utilized in the premix," Chaudhari says.
