The supplement is currently available in UK, Japan, Finland, Turkey, The Netherlands and Germany, with a launch in Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, and China scheduled for Q2 2020.
Formulation development
In an interview with NutraIngredients-Asia, Simon Meads, the firm’s managing director said AF-8 Hair Therapy was based of the firm’s flagship product: AF-8 Amino Acids & Vitamins which is a food supplement to support a healthy cardiovascular system.
“Over a period of a couple of years, it became apparent, further to customer feedback, that AF-8 Amino Acids & Vitamins was having an unexpected positive affect on hair health,” he told us.
According to Meads, the ingredients in AF-8 Amino Acids & Vitamins were found to be beneficial for hair health including L-Arginine, L-Citrulline, Vitamin C, Beetroot Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Resveratrol Extract, Vitamin K2, and Vitamin D3.
For instance, L-Arginine helps prevent hair follicles from shrinking, Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, a mineral essential for hair growth, and beetroot extract improves blood circulation in the scalp.
Meads explained that the firm embarked on advanced formulation assessments to enhance it for hair health purposes.
After assessing over six additional ingredients with clinical validation with regards to hair health, the firm decided that biotin and zinc were most effective in complementing the existing formulation and were added into AF-8 Hair Therapy supplement.
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin shown to stimulate hair growth and thicken hair, while zinc is a mineral known to act as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, blocking the creation of DHT (a derivative from testosterone), a hormone known to contribute to hair loss.
Shampoo, conditioner and oil
Meads told us hair loss is a very personal and emotionally challenging situation for people.
The firm is introducing several products including a AF-8 Hair Therapy shampoo and conditioner with clinically validated ingredients proven to further support hair health, reduce shedding and encourage growth.
Salutem Supplements is also working on an AF-8 Hair Therapy oral oil supplement. The plan is to offer a tri-approach (amino-acid & vitamin food supplement drink mix, a complimenting shampoo and conditioner duo and an oral oil soft gel capsule) for consumers dealing with hair loss and shedding.
What’s next
Meads said while there are clinical studies supporting the efficacy of individual ingredients used in AF-8 Hair Therapy, as well as its shampoo, conditioner and oral oil supplement, there are currently no clinical studies on its final product.
“Clinical trials is something Salutem Supplements will be looking at in due course. At this time Salutem Supplements makes no unsubstantiated claims as to the efficacy of any of our products and always advise our customers that outcomes may vary from individual to individual,” Meads told us.
The company is also launching a product called Intimate Performance in the next two months, aimed at improving mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.
In Asia, Salutem Supplements works with its distributor, The Supplement Clinic (TSC) to market its products.
We will be shining the spotlight on the extensive food, nutrition and beverage opportunities that are being created by the region’s rapidly ageing population, and a growing interest in health and wellness across the board, at our Healthy Ageing APAC Summit in Singapore this July. Find out more here.
