A good gut feeling: Prebiotics and proteins key to early life nutrition and active ageing in Asia – FrieslandCampina

FrieslandCampina focuses on holistic health, taps on proteins and prebiotics to meet gut health needs for early life nutrition and active ageing in Asia.

“Consumers increasingly understand that gut health goes beyond digestive issues and links to overall health and well-being, with 85% of global consumers trying to improve their overall health and wellness,”​ said Jouke Veldman, global director for business development performance, active & medical nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

“With parents prioritising gut health, the combination of prebiotics like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) is gaining traction in the industry. I also see another big trend that is disrupting the Asian market, and that is ageing. There will be an increasing need to stay healthier longer, and that is one of the things which we will see way more in the future.​

“How do all of these translate into business opportunities? FrieslandCampina aims to meet the health needs of consumers via two platforms: The first one is Step Up Nutrition, which we developed for children aged 3 and up, and the second one is our Biotis health benefit solution platform, which is targeted at adults.”​

Veldman was speaking at our Growth Asia Summit held in Singapore from 16 to 18 July. He also presented FrieslandCampina’s research findings, which included statistics of consumer behaviour and the increasing need for holistic nutrition among the young and old.

Opportunities in early life nutrition​

Kids nutrition is a key avenue for growth as outlined in Friesland Campina’s Vision 2030 on Early Life Nutrition​. The three main drivers of growth are demographics, where the age group has economic potential in terms of size; consumers’ holistic approach to health and parents seeking nutritional solutions for their kids; and the trend of fortification in everyday food categories, which are going beyond minerals and vitamins.

The firm identified five key areas of child development – brain and cognitive processing, linear growth and body composition, maturation of the immune system, bone mineralisation, and mental wellbeing.

“As GOS and HMO can help establish the infant gut microbiota, they are increasingly being adopted by the ELN [early life nutrition] industry, and these products are designed to support gut health throughout their lives. We also found that the percentage of infant milk formula containing GOS and HMO increased by 5% from 2019 to 2023,”​ said Veldman.

In its Step Up Nutrition range, FrieslandCampina incorporates HMO via ingredients like Aequival 2-fl (a protein found in breast milk that helps support the immune system, cognitive development and digestive health), Vivinal MFGM (a whey protein concentrate that contains bioactive proteins and lipids like IgG and lactoferrin, phospholipids and gangliosides, and can support immune health, cognitive development, and mental health), and Vivinal GOS (an organic dairy ingredient produced via a proprietary enzymatic technology, which improves nutrient uptake, supports mental health, and suppresses the proliferation of harmful bacteria to maintain a healthy digestive system).

These ingredients can be formulated with different products like beverages, yoghurts, and gummies to appeal to kids.

Similarly, the Biotis range targets gut health, immune system, and brain health.

Support for active ageing​

By fermenting whey protein and GOS together in Biotis Fermentis, the firm aims to provide a holistic solution for active consumers suffering from gastro-intestinal problems. Designed to boost performance and enhance gut health for those engaged in sports, the product can also benefit those in the active ageing space.

“Maximising performance is essential for athletes but heavy exercise and certain dietary factors can lead to gastrointestinal problems. A recent study revealed that a staggering 86% of athletes suffer from gut health issues. Performance nutrition and gut health have always been treated as two separate issues, but just like our health and well-being, things work best when they work together,”​ said Veldman.

“Additionally, 1 in 3 consumers have tried to improve their digestive health over the last 6 months. Sports nutrition consumers also consider ‘easy to digest’ an influential factor when choosing what to buy, and 3 in 4 see ‘improved digestive health claims’ as the best way to improve sports nutrition products. Consumers are also gaining awareness of the benefits of fermentation and are seeking out more fermented foods in their diet.”​

“About 70% of consumers want to improve their immune health, and 66% want to improve their digestive health. To power a healthy lifestyle, active individuals continue to look to protein. Additionally, due to ageing populations, ​there is a global increase in chronic diseases and a greater need for medical nutrition, as 25% of the Asian population will be aged 60+ by 2050.”​

Biotis Fermentis supports the body in a variety of ways, including improvements in perceived mood and energy, muscle mass, nutrients uptake, and overall gut health.

“Our study showed that after three weeks of taking Biotis Fermentis on a daily basis, 60% of consumers reported significantly reduced bloating, compared to baseline levels after just two weeks. And 80% of consumers experienced improved energy levels as well as overall improved physical wellbeing,”​ said Veldman of the firm’s clinical trial in Arizona. Researchers said there is a need to conduct controlled trials with placebo to further substantiate the product effects observed in this explorative clinical study.

Applications and formats tailored to Asian needs include Happy Tummy for kids, a milk drink that supports gut health with Vivinal GOS and Aequival 2-FL; and high-purity prebiotic gummies with a 50% loading of Biotis GOS.