In terms of ingredients commonly associated with weight management, protein ranks high. “Many consumers believe protein helps them feel full longer versus options higher in carbohydrates, an idea reinforced by trendy diets which also emphasize protein consumption,” said Pam Stauffer, global marketing programs manager, Cargill. “Plant proteins are especially popular today, with pea protein emerging as a consumer and formulator favorite. Cargill offers PURIS pea protein, known for its clean flavor profile.”

Sugar reduction is another factor in many formulations, and this has been a focus for Cargill, helping brands reduce sugar and calories in a range of food and beverage applications, she added.

Cargill’s ViaTech portfolio stands out from other stevia sweeteners, Stauffer said, thanks to a proprietary taste-prediction model, “which can precisely predict which combination of steviol glycosides deliver optimal taste and sweetness.

ViaTech’s improved sweetness and flavor dynamics open the door to far greater sugar reductions in a wide range of applications.”

With the company’s newest option, EverSweet sweetener, provides sweetness without bitterness or a licorice aftertaste, “delivering a more rounded taste profile with a faster onset of sweetness,” said Stauffer. “This dramatic step forward in sweetener technology enables up to 100% sugar replacement.”

Weight wellness will continue to be an important trend, according to Deshanie Rai, vice president, global scientific and regulatory affairs at OmniActive Health Technologies, “and we will also see the rise of preventative health overlapping with weight management.”

Supplementation with capsaicinoids in the form of OmniActive’s Capsimax helps make weight management easier by addressing three key areas, Rai said: boosting metabolism, supporting lipolysis, and curbing appetite. A recent study published in the Journal of Obesity and Therapeutics reaffirmed Capsimax’s weight management benefits through increased metabolic rate.

Moreover, hidden sugars may derail weight management goals, she added. “MetaVive, (a salacia extract), has been clinically shown to help reduce the glycemic impact of sugar, supports normal glycemic response, and reduces spikes in blood sugar resulting from sugary foods/drinks.”

Addressing stress is another important facet of helping consumers manage weight. “Science is showing that an untraditional source—the macular carotenoids which are most associated with eye health—are providing a compelling solution,” Rai said. A clinical study demonstrated that Lutemax 2020 may help reduce stress, promote calm and positive mood, and reduce serum cortisol.

Meanwhile, with more consumers pursuing active lifestyles, or returning to the gym, ingredients like OmniActive’s CurcuWIN, a unique, bioavailable form of curcumin, can appeal to a broad audience. Clinical studies have shown CurcuWIN helps “support healthy inflammation response, promote healthy cardiovascular function, repair muscle damage, and support healthy muscle function after exercise,” noted Rai.

Chromax chromium picolinate is Nutrition21’s longest standing ingredient, that has science-backed claims and has been used in the marketplace for over 25 years, said Elyse Lovett, vice president of marketing, Nutrition21. “Chromax chromium picolinate is a highly bioavailable form of chromium supported by 35 clinical studies for benefits in weight management, body composition, appetite control, glucose metabolism, insulin function, and more. While many weight management ingredients have come and gone, Chromax stayed the course, generating a reputation not only as an ingredient that works but also as one of the most studied ingredients for weight management and body composition.”

[Related Reading: Sustaining Healthy Weight & Body Composition with Nutraceuticals]

For some people, weight management can be a confusing category because of the variety of mechanisms related to weight control, noted Steve Fink, vice president of marketing, PLT Health Solutions.

“Our Slendacor Weight Management Complex distinguished from other weight management ingredients by its efficacy and unique, dual mechanism of action. Slendacor is not a stimulant or appetite suppressant. It works by supporting the body’s inherent processes to help manage weight. Fat cells (also known as adipocytes) are the major component of body fat. A fundamental process of weight gain—known as adipogenesis—involves the maturation and growth of these fat cells. Slendacor is thought to work by limiting fat cells from maturing and growing. Preclinical research has also shown that Slendacor works by increasing the breakdown of fat in mature fat cells, a process known as lipolysis.”

Slendacor Weight Management Complex has been studied in two “gold-standard” clinical trials to date, he added. “Analyses indicate that statistically significant reductions in key parameters were observed at day 14. The study participants included both men and women. The subjects included a broad age range and were a healthy population of overweight—not obese—individuals. The duration of the trial demonstrated steady, consistent weight loss starting early, and supporting long-term weight loss success over diet and exercise alone. Finally, the trial demonstrated statistically significant slimming with a reduction in waist circumference, with no reduction in lean body mass.”

In 2019, PLT launched a water-soluble, neutral tasting version of Slendacor, offering formulation flexibility in a broader range of delivery systems.

Formulated to support healthy metabolic function, which results in accelerated fat and weight loss, CitruSlim from HP Ingredients is a proprietary blend of a full-spectrum Italian citrus bergamot polyphenolic extract (Bergamonte) and Malaysian Eurycoma longifolia extract (Adapticort).

“Studies show that bergamot flavanoids activate AMPK,” said Annie Eng, CEO, HP Ingredients. “AMPK is an enzyme that plays a central role in regulating healthy glucose, lipid metabolism and energy production. Adiponectin is a collagen-like protein found in the adipose tissue that stimulates fatty acid oxidation through the activation of AMPK and plays an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. Overweight individuals have significantly lower adiponectin levels than individuals in a healthy/normal weight range.”

CitruSlim helps support weight loss through modulating appetite hormones ghrelin and leptin, she added.

A recent study demonstrated CitruSlim’s effect in promoting weight loss. “This 112-day clinical evaluation was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to quantify the efficacy on healthy body weight management in 81 obese individuals,” said Eng. “The study population was randomized into three groups: CitruSlim high dose (HD), CitruSlim low dose (LD), and placebo. Results showed significant improvements in ghrelin/leptin balance, cortisol level reduction, and AMPK level increase in both CitruSlim groups as compared to placebo. The authors concluded that ‘results of the present study clearly indicate that CitruSlim (LD and HD) is well-tolerated and effective in promoting weight loss in obese individuals.’”

Citrus flavonoids have been shown to help manage weight and metabolism, according to Rob Brewster, president of Ingredients by Nature. “Studies on both mice and humans have found that citrus bioflavonoids, such as naringenin, are able to help convert white fat to beige fat, which has been associated with weight loss. This is because beige fat cells increase the potential for fat burning and improve energy expenditure. With an improved metabolism, overweight individuals will not only find themselves shedding pounds, but will find they have the energy to begin incorporating simple exercise to hopefully accompany an ever-improving diet.”

Some citrus flavonoids can help regulate blood sugar, as seen with eriocitrin and IBN’s Eriomin blend, while others are able to focus on heart health and reducing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as seen with polymethoxylated flavones found in the company’s Sytrinol ingredient.

Probiotic and botanical solutions can promote gut health to support metabolic function and an optimal body mass index, according to Lori Lathrop Stern, science liaison, IFF Health. “For example, HOWARU Shape is a formula with 10 billion CFU of Bifidobacterium lactis B420, to control body fat and waist circumference. Bifidobacterium lactis B420 is a robust probiotic strain, originally isolated from dairy products.”

A recent study demonstrated that HOWARU Shape (10B CFU B. lactis B420 alone or in combination with 12 g of prebiotic fiber (Litesse Ultra polydextrose) controlled body fat mass, trunk fat mass, waist circumference, and reduced energy intake in overweight and obese adults (EBioMedicine, 2016). In addition, the strain was found to increase the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterium linked with increased metabolic rate and anti-inflammatory properties (Beneficial Microbes, 2019).

Fenugreek, a soluble dietary fiber, and green maté extract have also been shown to support weight management, Lathrop Stern said. “IFF Health’s FenuLife ingredient has a distinctive molecular structure, and due to its function as a soluble fiber has been demonstrated to increase satiety and decrease energy intake when included in the diet (Phytotherapy Research, 2009).” Additionally, green maté leaf extract contains chlorogenic acids and triterpene saponins that naturally aid in weight management and body composition (Journal of Functional Foods, 2012).

Capsaicin takes both a direct and indirect approach through a process called non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), according to Sevanti Mehta, president of Unibar Corporation. “By jumpstarting NEAT, capsaicin directly assists the consumer by utilizing body fat as fuel to increase energy stores and expenditure and to improve endurance. This benefits overweight individuals by targeting existing fat stores and then boosting their resting metabolic rate, which provides a natural boost of energy to help them achieve their exercise goals. To get the most out of the ingredient, our CapZfuel is standardized to 90% capsaicin and is contained in enteric-coated beadlets for improved safety and bioavailability. The enteric coating delivers the capsaicin directly to the intestines where it can be fully absorbed without damage or irritation to the gut.”

Ingredients that help to alleviate stress can offer an indirect approach to influencing weight and improve consumer lifestyles, he added. “Adaptogens like our Univita: Holy Basil have been shown to play a role in improving the body’s ability to handle both physical and mental stress and also balance mood.”

The market for healthy weight management has gone through a “sea of change” in recent years “with more weight management solutions crossing from standard solid dosages into liquid dietary supplements, and to beverages, gummies, protein shakes and meal replacement products,” said Anurag Pande, vice president of scientific affairs, Sabinsa.

To fulfill evolving and growing needs, Sabinsa obtained self-affirmed Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status for its ingredients Citrin (Garcinia cambogia) and CurCousin (Calebin A, a novel component of turmeric).

Sabinsa’s weight-management ingredient portfolio includes Citrin and GarCitrin from Garcinia cambogia and Garcinia indica fruit rinds; ForsLean from Coleus forskohlii root; LeanGard, a combination of ForsLean, GarCitrin, and BioPerine from Piper nigrum (Black pepper extract); Fabenol from Phaseolus vulgaris (white kidney beans) and Fenumannans; and CurCousin (Calebin A).

“One of the self-affirmed GRAS status, beverage grade extracts Sabinsa offers for weight management is Citrin K,” said Pande. “It works through multiple routes, involving both satiety and inhibition of fat formation, as well as increased oxidation of fat. Citrin K is a water-soluble extract of Garcinia cambogia which is standardized to HCA (50-60%) or hydroxy citric acid, the key active compound in garcinia fruit rinds. The HCA present in this fruit helps to improve glucose metabolism by blocking the citrate lyase, a key enzyme required for the production of fatty acids (building blocks of body fat).”

As a result of this inhibition of citrate lyase by HCA, less dietary glucose is converted to fatty acids, Pande said; instead it is converted into its storage form, glycogen. “The appetite suppressant action of Citrin K is linked to the increased production of glycogen or stimulation of glucoreceptors in the liver, either of which results in early satiety through signals sent to brain via the vagus nerve.”

Black seed oil helps to address unhealthy weight while also targeting metabolic issues, according to Liki von Oppen-Bezalel, business development director, TriNutra. TriNutra’s ThymoQuin is the only standardized, full-spectrum, cold-pressed black seed oil with 3% thymoquinone and low free fatty acids, “rendering ThymoQuin capable of protecting against oxidative stress, improving insulin sensitivity, and converting white fat to beige fat.” 

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Sean Moloughney has been the Editor of Nutraceuticals World since 2012. He can be reached at SMoloughney@RodmanMedia.com.