October 2024
Formulating for success – meet the next generation of nutritional supplement ingredients
When it comes to health-supporting supplements and nutraceuticals, staying ahead of consumer trends isn't just good business—it's essential. That's why we at ACI Group are thrilled to announce our new partnership with DolCas Biotech, a leader in innovative, clinically researched health ingredients.
Through the partnership, we’re adding a number of exciting new products to our ingredient range, giving formulators in the health supplement market more choice than ever before.
It’s an ideal time for health brands to explore these new additions to our range, as according to Grand View Research, the global nutraceuticals market is set to grow at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% to 2030. This growth is largely driven by consumers increasingly turning to supplements and functional foods to support their health more proactively.
But it's not just about growth—it's about meeting real consumer needs with evidence-based products. Today's health-conscious consumers are more informed and discerning than ever. They're looking for products that not only make bold claims but can back them up with solid scientific evidence – an area where DolCas Biotech excels.
Below, we share a snapshot of the trends currently influencing this fast-moving sector, and the solutions we can now offer as part of our range.
Inflammation and Joint Health
Consumer interest in immune function support and the body's natural lines of defence is on the rise, with lots of potential for supplements to support this important area of health. To meet this need, our range now includes Curcugen®, a next-generation curcumin formula.
Compared to traditional curcumin extracts, Curcugen offers 39 times greater bioavailability on Free Curcugen and 52 times on total curcuminoids, enabling formulators to create effective anti-inflammatory products with lower efficacious doses. Its unique oleoresin-based formulation makes it dispersible, palatable, and suitable for various applications, including functional food and beverages.
Closely tied to immune function support, as the population ages and active lifestyles become more prevalent, joint health supplements are seeing increased demand. MMP50®, for example, is a whole New Zealand green-lipped mussel extract that provides a full spectrum of bioactive compounds.
For formulators, this ingredient offers a unique opportunity to create joint health products that combine the benefits of immune-modulating and pain-reducing compounds in a single, convenient supplement. MMP50 is processed to retain the mussel's biological activity, ensuring a potent and effective product.
Digestive Wellness
With growing awareness of the gut-brain connection and the importance of digestive health, consumers are seeking natural solutions for common gastrointestinal symptoms, such as digestive comfort. Meeting this need, Ginfort® is a highly concentrated ginger extract that delivers bioactive compounds.
With its high 26% concentration of gingeroids, Ginfort enables formulators to create digestive health products that offer relief with smaller, more convenient doses than traditional ginger supplements.
Beauty from within
The 'beauty from within' trend continues to gain momentum as consumers recognise the connection between nutrition and skin health, and where supplements can fit into the equation. Morikol®, now part of the ACI Group ingredient portfolio, is a marine collagen tripeptide ingredient that taps into this trend. Its unique tripeptide structure allows for better absorption and utilisation by the body.
For formulators, this supports the creation of beauty and anti-aging products that deliver visible results with lower doses - as low as 1g/day - opening up possibilities for more diverse and convenient product formats, such as capsules, tablets, and gummies.
Cardiometabolic Health
With heart health remaining a top concern for consumers, there's growing interest in natural solutions for cardiovascular and metabolic wellness. The ACI Group ingredient portfolio now includes BergacynFF®, a proprietary blend of Bergamot citrus and Cynara cardunculus extracts that addresses this need. This unique combination offers synergistic benefits for cardiometabolic health, particularly in supporting normal liver fat levels and promoting healthy weight loss in overweight individuals. Formulators can use BergacynFF to create products that target multiple aspects of metabolic health simultaneously, providing a comprehensive solution in a single dietary supplement.
Sports Nutrition
The sports nutrition market is expanding far beyond topflight athletes, and now includes everyday fitness enthusiasts and casual exercisers. This, in turn, is driving demand for products that support or enhance natural performance. Enter NitrateBurst®, a green spinach extract that meets this need, available to formulators through the ACI Group portfolio.
As a concentrated source of dietary nitrates, NitrateBurst supports healthy energy levels and nitric oxide production. This enables formulators to create engaging and innovative sports nutrition and athletic health products that appeal to the growing demand for ‘clean label’ and plant-based performance enhancers.
Men's Health
Men's health supplements are a rapidly growing category, with increasing awareness of specific nutritional needs for male health and wellness. Fortiquin® is a patented botanical blend specifically formulated for male sexual health that taps into this trend.
Its unique composition of standardised extracts offers a natural alternative to synthetic ingredients. For formulators, Fortiquin provides an opportunity to create men's sexual health products that combine efficacy with the raw appeal of natural, plant-based ingredients.
At ACI Group, we're committed to supporting our customers in the health and nutrition space by providing ingredients that meet consumer health needs today, tomorrow, and beyond. These innovative ingredients aren't just great for developing new products from the ground up – they also offer exciting possibilities for reformulating existing products.
For instance, collagen and nitrate source ingredients typically require 5-20g daily doses in powder form. However, with highly potent and concentrated ingredients like Morikol and NitrateBurst, brands can now offer these benefits in more convenient tablet or capsule forms, significantly enhancing user experience and convenience.
By incorporating these highly bioavailable ingredients into their formulations, our customers can create products that truly stand out in a crowded market. These aren't just added marketing blurb – they're tangible selling points that set products apart from conventional offerings. Whether it's the 39x greater bioavailability of Curcugen or the low 1g daily dose of Morikol, these ingredients offer real, measurable advantages.
As the nutraceutical market continues to evolve, our expanded portfolio of innovative ingredients supports the development of next-generation health and wellness products that not only meet consumer demands for efficacy and convenience but also stand up to the scrutiny of increasingly knowledgeable and sceptical consumers.
The future of nutraceuticals is here, and it's all about meeting real health needs with real solutions. That's exactly what our partnership with DolCas Biotech allows us—and our customers—to do.
Why not learn more about how we’re supporting customers in the health and nutrition sector with powerhouse functional ingredients that are ideal for next-generation supplements? It’s easy - just get in touch today!