We may be enduring what has been said to be the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s – but there is a bright light shining in the darkness:  the nutraceutical industry is booming.

Through difficult times, people know they need to be as healthy as possible to withstand tough pressures and the inordinate stress.  Today, many people understand that dietary supplements and functional foods are good, and they firmly believe that taking nutraceutical products can keep their doctor visits and pharmacy bills down.

The Freedonia Group, a leading market intelligence firm, just released data from a new report, “World Nutraceutical Ingredients.” The report asserts that the U.S. will continue to be the largest global consuming nation of nutraceutical ingredients for the next five years, reflecting the continually burgeoning array of functional beverages/foods, natural remedies and dietary supplements. North American demand for nutraceutical ingredients will rise from a market value of $3824m in 2008 to $4890m by 2013, predicts the report. Annual growth in the market will decrease slightly from 7.7% last year to 5% in four years.

Worldwide demand of nutraceutical ingredients are expected to reach $21.8 billion by 2013.

We believe that production and innovation, along with increased investments in research that proves safety and efficacy will drive continued growth and success in the industry.

For more information about the report, see The Freedonia Group website: www.freedoniagroup.com

**This post was written by Anh Thu Tran, MD, MS, a Nutrition Consultant, who is new to the nutraceutical industry and gives her perspective on attending SupplySide West for the first time**

In the midst of the staggering crowds and rows of company booths, I was introduced to the world of Nutraceuticals at the SupplySide West Trade Show –Las Vegas, Nevada, November 2009.  As expected, the Sands Convention Center displayed companies of all aspects of the industry; converging the supplier, the finished product, and laboratory/equipment companies that serve the former two.  I was also delighted to see a non-profit organization utilizing this medium to share their role in the industry.  In a technologically advanced business of the e-mail, fax, voicemail, teleconference, worldwide web, etc., companies give-up the benefits of the hand-shakes and face-to-face meet and greets.  This forum gave an opportunity to create new relationships and to maintain already established ones.  The key element of the trade show was not necessarily in the immediate sale, but rather to develop the relationships and/or to continue already discussed matters needed for the potential eventuality of business.

As I made my way to the Cyvex Nutrition, Inc. booth, I saw the variety in representation of each company based not only in the size and history of the company, but also culturally.  I literally was walking through the “world” of Nutraceuticals.  It was also interesting to observe the dynamics of the company representatives and how that may reflect on their business.  Cyvex Nutrition’s unified shirts, smiles, and approachable representatives of all aspects of the company as a whole was brought up as a beneficial quality of the booth compared to others (e.g. We had representatives in sales & marketing, a supplier, and product literature, etc.).  The simple, clean, and crisp aesthetic appeal of Cyvex Nutrition booth allowed attendees to not get cluttered with information, but to visually get a hint of the company’s focus, which subsequently lead to requesting further information from a representative.  As I made my way through other booths, I realized I was looking for the similar aspects in other booths, may it be in the product line and/or presentation.  Many booths enticed attendees with give-a-ways and demonstrations, but really failed to make attendees take that second step to inquire about their products.  It was surprising to me that many representatives did not have the knowledge base of their product as I had hoped.  Others represented their company with simply their name and space, creating no reel to attract attendees.

As a novice attendee, I found myself exploring and learning, rather than what I noticed in others, approaching a booth with intent and purpose.  I feel that my 2 days only hit the tip of the magnitude of the Nutraceutical Industry.  I have always known the impact nutraceuticals has had on optimal nutrition and health, but this experience has expanded my perspective and attitude to the current and potential role this industry has and will take in my career.   As I reflect back to this experience– there is a need for someone of my background and career path in nutrition and medicine to understand this field, not only for the industry’s sake, but for the benefit of the consumer, my future patient /clients.  I hope with my growing understanding of this industry, I will be able to help bridge the gap between mainstream medicine’s approach with that of nutraceuticals – benefiting both tremendously.

You may have heard by now that it is a great idea to enjoy a glass – or two at most – of delicious, satisfying red wine. In fact, doing so regularly may add a little more zest to your life and keep your heart healthy.

This knowledge came from an initial study in 1992, when the term French Paradox was introduced after researchers showed in an epidemiological study that the French, despite higher incidence of smoking, less exercise and a diet relatively higher in fatty foods than Americans, have a lower incidence of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. The researchers correlated this health paradox to the French love of red wine.

French red wine grapes contain two main constituents shown to be of significant antioxidant value: polyphenols (flavonoids) and resveratrol. Animal studies of red wine polyphenols have demonstrated effects in cardioprotection, supporting healthy cholesterol levels, vision improvement and general free-radical scavenging.

Resveratrol is produced by grapes to protect against fungal infection. It has been shown in studies to exert potent cardioprotection by inhibiting LDL oxidation and reducing platelet aggregation. In a rat model study, researchers found that resveratrol had a dramatic effect against ischemia-reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. Resveratrol reduced both the incidence and duration of ventricular dysrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. What this means is that is supports healthy heart function.

A significant study, published in 2006 in the journal Nature, demonstrated that obese mice fed red wine extract (resveratrol) were in better health and lived longer than obese mice that were not fed the red wine extract. In the supplement group, deaths dropped 31%, compared to the control group. Study authors also concluded that the red wine extract group of mice lived longer than what they normally should have given their obesity.

David Sinclair, co-author of the study, told Newsweek, “At the genetic level, we saw alterations in all the known longevity pathways that we looked at. It would appear this molecule triggers our natural genetic defenses against aging. That’s probably why resveratrol is such a potent molecule. It’s no mere antioxidant.”

In addition, Sinclair said that his team saw benefits in the supplement group that are associated with healthy longevity, specifically lower insulin, body temperature and blood sugar.

References:

Rao AV, et al.  Bioabsorption and invivo antioxidant properties of the grape extract BioVin® polyphenols: a human intervention study.  Journal of Medicinal Food 200; 3:15-22.

Renaud S, et al.  Wine, alcohol, platelets and the French paradox for coronary heart disease.  The Lancet 1992; 339:1523-6.

Baur J, et al.  Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high calorie diet.  Nature.  2006; 444:337-342

For more information click on the links to see some articles about resveratrol:

Mayo Clinic: “Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart?”

60 Minutes: “Fountain of Youth in A Wine Rx?”

Total Health for Longevity: “Resveratrol: Unique Nutrient for Extending Health Into Old Age”

It is not particularly attractive on the outside, but cut it open and you will be presented with a bounty of plump rubies (seeds) in a creamy bed. That is the first magic of pomegranate, now widely enjoyed in the U.S. as an exotic fruit and delicious beverage.

The seeds of the pomegranate are rich in polyphenolic antioxidants, notably ellagic acid, which has been researched heavily since the 1970s. Ellagic acid has been shown to prevent abnormal changes in the genetic material within cells, thereby helping to promote healthy cell development and life, while curtailing unhealthy, rogue cell development. In addition, ellagic acid binds to unhealthy compounds found circulating in the blood and inactivates them.

The fruit and its seeds are red, which may be nature’s way of saying, “this is good for your heart.”  Research has shown favorable attributes of pomegranate’s ability to support healthy platelet aggregation activities in blood vessels. The pomegranate juice has demonstrated to not only reduce platelet aggregation in blood vessels, but also has shown to slow down the process of cholesterol oxidation.

One study, “Pomegranate juice consumption reduces oxidative stress, atherogenic modifications to LDL and platelet aggregation: studies in humands an din atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice,” by Aviram et al, analyzed the effect of pomegranate juice consumption on lipoprotein oxidation, aggregation and retention, macrophage atherogenicity, platelet aggregation and atherosclerosis in healthy male volunteers. The researchers found that after 14 weeks of daily consumption, LDL susceptibility to aggregation and retention was decreased and the activity of serum paraoxonase increased by 20 percent; paraoxonase is an enzyme that protects against lipid peroxidation. This study shows pomegranate has value in cardiovascular support. (Am. J Clin. Nutr 2000; 71:1062-76)

If you’d like more information, please email sales@cyvex.com

SupplySide West International Trade Show and Conference
November 11-13, 2009
(Exhibit Hall Open Nov. 12 & 13)
The Venetian & Sands Expo
Las Vegas, NV

As the world’s largest event for healthy and innovative ingredients with 1,100+ booths, SupplySide West is the must-attend event for developers, formulators and marketers of foods, beverages, dietary supplements and cosmeceuticals. Learn about the latest ingredient innovation and supporting science, examine new trends and emerging opportunities, meet new suppliers and network with thousands of your global colleagues.

Cyvex Nutrition will be exhibiting at SupplySide West at booth # 21054, please come and meet the Cyvex Team! We’ll be showcasing our newest ingredients that we have launched this year: FlavoVital™ Flavonoids: Apigenin, Diosmin, Luteolin, Nobiletin, and Tangeretin; Lingonol™ lingonberry extract; and the relaunch of Chirositol™ D-Chiro-Inositol targeted for women’s health.

We’ll also be discussing our social media efforts including our Twitter and Facebook accounts, along with the launch of this blog.  And we’ll be keeping everyone updated with tweets from the show floor! Follow us at www.twitter.com/Cyvex

For more information on SupplySide West, click here