Ageing: stimulate brain food market

( the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor )

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Rising concerns over dementia, Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline means the brain health functional foods category should be set for strong growth over the next few years, claims a report looking at anti-ageing foods.

However, Leatherhead Food Research, in its newly published report, The Market for Anti-Ageing Foods, cautions that it remains to be seen how much in the way of sales the anti-ageing food and drinks market can take from the dominant supplements sector. With an ageing population in most western markets, there is a growing desire to maintain intellectual capacity, memory and learning ability with age, and in Part 2 of the NutraIngredients.com focus on the anti-ageing food market we look at the market developments within each health condition sector.

According to the analysts at Leatherhead, phospholipids, the antioxidant vitamins and polyphenols are the most likely ingredients for developing foods aimed at improving cognitive function and memory and a number of patents have been filed to this effect. At one time, it was probably ginkgo biloba that found the most use in foods and drinks, despite ongoing questions about its efficacy, but the analysts report that omega-3 fatty acids have now really come into their own, although they stress there are concerns over the required intake for the many benefits.

Regulation is another hurdle, they add. “The legal status of claims regarding omega-3 fatty acids are also very much in the melting pot at the moment, and future development may depend on the outcome, particularly of the current EU deliberations.”

According to the researchers, a new ingredient being launched, particularly into the drinks and dairy market in Japan, is GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which is claimed to aid relaxation and aid mental acuity. The market report says that outside Japan, the US is the other major area for brain health product development, although they report about a number of products in the French and German speciality dietetic/health foods markets, mainly using ingredients such as choline and phosphatidylserine and in Spain using DHA, vitamins and folic acid. The US market has mainly focused on soft drinks, varying from specialist functional lines to juices, enhanced waters and tea drinks, using a wide range of ingredients, state the analysts. ...http://www.nutraingredients.com

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