Pycnogenol®: The Future of Food Ingredients

pycnogenol-the-future-of-food-ingredients

As a company we have come to the crossroads where we stop looking back and start looking forward, addressing and anticipating the future needs of the consumer. While Horphag Research’s flagship ingredient Pycnogenol®, French maritime pine bark extract, is relatively new to the functional foods and beverages industry, the extract is poised to be a breakout ingredient in this sector by offering everything today’s consumer is looking for and much more.

General consumer trends today skew towards heart and joint health as well as anti-aging, showing no signs of slowing down in the marketplace. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2020 heart disease and stroke will become the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.  These statistics remind us why cardiovascular health has remained a priority globally for men and women of all ages.  WHO also recognizes that as the population grows older and medical advances lengthen life expectancy, there will be an increase in individuals who suffer from arthritis looking for natural solutions and preventative aging care.

Today's consumer is looking for natural ingredients that are proven safe and effective.  They are looking for top notch functional foods and beverage products that can help maintain and/or improve their health. 

Horphag Research is not only ready to address the future needs of the consumer, but they are ahead of the curve in doing so by providing consumers  with the safe, effective and top-notch ingredients they have come to expect in a functional food or beverage.  Known as a "gold standard" ingredient within the natural products industry, Pycnogenol^® is supported by 40 years of research, 280 published studies and review articles, and has studied approximately 7,000 patients in 90 clinical studies - making it one of the safest and most researched ingredients available today.  Additionally, the antioxidant is approved Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) in the USA for use in functional foods and beverages.

Research and statistics like those previously noted are becoming increasingly important and appealing to educated consumers who demand high quality products backed by technology, research and safety.  Pycnogenol® has many advantages as an active food and beverage ingredient and is poised for growth potential in this market.   As we look to the consumer trends of the future, we continue to monitor the evolving needs of our customers.

According to Frost and Sullivan, functional foods are the dominant trend for the future of the food and nutraceuticals industry. Therapeutic focus areas and key growth segments include heart, bone and intestinal health.

Heart health research makes up about 40 percent of Pycnogenol®'s research portfolio, with strong clinical studies on maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, healthy circulation, blood pressure, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  Cardiovascular health continues to be a major concern for both men and women, and with Frost and Sullivan forecasting the European heart ingredients sector poised for 20 percent growth, the opportunities for functional food and beverage applications are abundant.  In fact, several of our customers have translated these real science benefits into actual products, including an array of antioxidant fruit drinks and functional beverages that combat inflammation caused by allergies and hay fever.  Current dosages range from 10mg-100mg of Pycnogenol^® in healthy beverages, varying by product. 

Frost and Sullivan also states that an increasing number of consumers have started associating food with health and well-being.  They are making more educated choices and reaching for functional beverages and products in addition to regular staples. The current industry trend is leaning towards the health condition-specific positioning of ingredients.

 As we look to future formulations for overall joint health, the need for healthy and tasty options that cover bone and joint health will be essential as the population ages.  Pycnogenol® research on joint health covers mobility and flexibility, less use of NSAIDs when supplementing with the extract and lower CRP, a marker of joint soreness.  Interestingly, as four studies on Pycnogenol® and joint health were published back-to-back, we received an astonishing amount of press and consumer attention on this subject.  Tracking consumer feedback like this helps us meet their current and future needs.

Horphag has teamed up with customers to create beverages (ready-made and powder mixes) that address real health benefits in applications such as potent antioxidant blends, enhancing beauty from within, stimulating healthy inflammatory response, protecting overall blood circulation and sport endurance, among others. 

One final industry trend we are tracking is the growth of the population over the age of 60.  According to nutraingredients.com, the Danish-based research group Bio2com noted that baby boomers are seeking age-related solutions for eye, joint and anti-aging, but are not being catered too by functional foods or supplements. This poses a huge opportunity for top-notch ingredients like Pycnogenol® to market to and grow this category.  Pycnogenol® is known in some counties as an anti-aging supplement due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, free radical-fighting and cognitive function studies.  

Groundbreaking research on Pycnogenol® is in the pipeline this year with health topics ranging from metabolic syndrome to sports nutrition.  Additionally, our team at Horphag Research has created proprietary combination products with Pycnogenol® being a main active ingredient.  Mirtogenol^TM is a synergistic combination formula of standardized bilberry extract Mirtoselect^® and Pycnogenol^®, offering a first of its kind natural eye health supplement that reduces the likelihood of developing glaucoma.