The Muscle Mag
With longer life expectancy and ageing populations worldwide, Nutiani recently released its latest report “Proactive Nutrition for Healthy Ageing”, featuring insights from 2,500 survey respondents.
The results emphasized cognitive function and mobility as two health aspects that become more concerning as people age.
“A lot of mobility-related innovations, particularly in dairy, focus on bone health, which consumers understand well. However, aspects like muscle health, strength, and flexibility are becoming more important, making the approach to mobility more holistic,” Katie McClure, Director of Category Innovation at Fonterra, told NutraIngredients-Asia.
According to McClure, protein presents a significant opportunity for mobility from an ingredient perspective.
“What’s really exciting is that some Asian consumers have not embraced protein as quickly as their Western counterparts. Nevertheless, muscle loss is a major concern for aging individuals. With the large aging populations in Asia-Pacific, this issue is particularly pronounced in this region.
“Therefore, we see a significant opportunity to educate consumers on the impact of age-related muscle loss and the importance of protein intake in combating it. It has always been an important area for us to invest in and where much innovation will be focused. Data suggests that this will continue to be a significant area, and we will explore ways to further expand in it.”
McClure noted that there is still a gap between products and consumers’ expectations, often related to taste.
“Good taste and flavor drive repeat purchases, especially when considering a high-protein nutritional product, which can sometimes affect taste. This is an area that we need to address.
“We also aim to make product formats, including packaging, as convenient as possible. For example, a ready-to-drink beverage simplifies protein consumption. Therefore, [innovation involves] considering these consumer needs as well.”
Emphasizing science
Although designed primarily to support cognition, stress management, and overall mood, Nutiani’s phospholipids may also have a positive impact on older consumers’ physical and muscle function, as indicated by a growing body of research.
“While Nutiani does not have a direct-to-consumer product range, the latest product related to healthy aging launched under Fonterra’s milk brand, Anlene, is Anlene Total 10. Formulated with dairy proteins and phospholipids, the high-calcium low-fat milk powder is recommended for adults over 45 years old.
The product includes 10 essential nutrients, such as protein, calcium, and various vitamins, to help users maintain a balanced diet and active lifestyle.
McClure mentioned that the company’s scientists and researchers are delving into the potential benefits of phospholipids.
“Moreover, Fonterra embarked on an extensive strategic analysis six months ago to gain a deeper understanding of the current healthy ageing market. This was to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of any new products we introduce in the category.
“Once completed, the findings will help us develop a strong long-term innovation pipeline and deliver a healthy ageing product range that resonates with consumers over time. We cannot build consumer trust without high-efficacy products. Therefore, we will increase our investment in clinical studies and R&D to support the claims and benefits of our products.”
