|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Efficacy and safety drive the Health Ingredients market in India
|
|
Tuesday, 01 September, 2009, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Nandita Vijay, Bangalore
|
Health Ingredients is set to accelerate promising growth prospects. The demand is driven by the increasing awareness on preventive healthcare and interest towards wellness. The sector covers dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and functional foods which are being developed by companies across India.
Rise in bone and joint diseases, increasing malnutrition, lower immunity levels are factors which are driving the market. There is a constant need for high energy and faster relief from pain and fatigue which go hand-in-hand with safety and efficacy of the health ingredients. The focus of research globally has been on calcium, soy isolfavones, vitamin D, amino acids to name a few.
Considerable studies have also gone in for science-based ingredients addressing the nutritional needs. This is where pharmaceutical companies are teaming up with snack and beverage companies to develop a supply chain of innovative ingredients to deliver healthier and natural alternatives. From dairy, beverage, bakery and confectionary, efforts are on to offer natural taste, colour and preservation, apart from shelf life increase and pricing with a whole new range of products.
The current market for health ingredients in India is estimated at Rs 2,200 crore and growing at 15 per cent. The Frost & Sullivan study states that world wide market for food-health ingredients is expected to be $30billion by 2010, with an annual growth of around 6 per cent.
The leading players in the space from India are Sami Labs, Pristine Organics, Nestle Nutrition, British Biologicals, Nouvea Dietique, Bio Vitamins, Ranbaxy Global Consumer Healthcare to name a few. Well-known global companies include Finland-based Raisio Group, Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., Celmark International Inc.
According to Dr V Prakash, director, Central Food Technology Research Institute (CFTRI), the health ingredients sector is the future and for an agrarian country-like ours there are several offering. Only focused research can see more number of products. There are promising opportunities in the food nutrition space in India. The demand for healthy food and beverages is on the upswing.
Leading health ingredients are probiotics, phytonutrients, multivitamins, folic acid, glucosamine, enzymes, and vitamin D products. These have been developed by companies using plant extracts and herbs.
According to Dr GG Gangadharan joint director, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, the basic source of health ingredients has been medicinal plants. There is been a lot of work on the standardisation and identification of raw materials used in ayurveda using phytochemical and pharmacological characters to promote wellness.
Probiotic-fortified yoghurt, omega-3-fortified health drinks and baby foods polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and enzymes which are now the trend among pharma and food manufacturers is now witnessing new investments and novel product development, besides opportunities to market, pointed out Dr Kamal G Nath, consultant food scientist & nutritionist, professor & head Department of Food Science & Nutrition, University of Agricultural Sciences.
Research institutes like the Mysore-based CFTRI and Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) and Bangalore-based University of Agricultural Sciences are gearing up to develop a range of products. From whey protein, mushrooms, wheat grass, Sat Isabagol (Psylum Husk) and Stevia rebaudiana, Bertoni food labs are looking to commercialise their findings to develop products like malts, biscuits and chappatis.
Extensive clinical trails are also on to introduce these products into households. The trials have been carried out on those suffering from life style disorders. Each of these has proved the safety and efficacy in brining down the levels of cholesterol or diabetes l, said K Vijayalakshmi, Home Science, UAS.
In the last eight months the recession too has not impacted the sector. Companies are looking at increasing their product offering. Therefore there are good opportunities for growth, said Ashutosh Garg, chairman and managing director, GNC India which is America's largest selling health & nutritional brand.
A lot of study has gone into isoflavones, beta glucans, bioflavonoids, metabolites and yeasts which help in digestion, increase immunity and prevent microbial growth in the body, according to dieticians at Manipal and Global Hospitals.
Micronutrient solutions for the fortification of vitamins and minerals in foods are now the trend in the growing food ingredients market.
The Himalaya Drug Company has developed range of Pure Herbs which are extractions of individual herbs. The action of these extracts benefits the body, irrespective of the individual's constitution, state of health and metabolic functions. The range includes Amalaki, Arjuna, Haritaki, Karela, Sunthi, Vasaka, Triphala, Tulasi and Yashtimadhu. The action of the herb works typically to eliminate excess and counter deficiencies. It has both a therapeutic and nutritive value for a weakened body. The primary action of these natural herbs filled in capsules is to stimulate or ameliorate particular organ functions, according to the company
In the case of probiotic products used in food concentrates or beverages and flours which are known to easily digest also provide higher energy levels and help faster recovery. The presence of free radicals and antioxidant maximises bioavailability and efficacy, stated Dr Muhammed Majeed, managing director Sami Labs.
The manufacturers of health ingredients now demand regulation in the sector. Introduction of innovation in product development and delivering to the market has considerable challenges. The issues of labels which need to mention the exact content of the ingredients need to be addressed. While companies will indicate the content, India has no regulations in place to check the same.
The union government has defined the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) from the current Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA). This will see the entire gamut from functional foods, bioactive molecules, phyto-nutrients, nutraceuticals, vitamins, minerals to pre-biotics and probiotics to require clearances prior to production and marketing, stated KC Raghu, managing director, Pristine Organics Pvt Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|