Immune Support

More than 80% of Americans are currently consuming or would consider consuming foods with added health and wellness benefits.

More than 300 doctors and researchers discussed the latest research findigns concerning active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) at the 16th International AHCC Symposium, held July 26–27 in Sapporo, Japan. AHCC is an immune-enhancing supplement derived from the hybridization of several species of mushrooms cultivated in Japan. Amino Up Chemical Co. (Sapporo, Japan) manufactures the supplement, which is distributed by Maypro Industries Inc. (Purchase, NY) in the United States.

RESVERATROL MAY DAMAGE PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS

SUPPLEMENT MAY HELP WITH COLD AND FLU SYMPTOMS Source: MA Moyad et al., "Effects of a Modified Yeast Supplement on Cold/Flu Symptoms," Urologic Nursing, vol. 28, no. 1 (February 2008): 50–55. An immune-health supplement derived from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) may help lessen the severity and duration of symptoms caused by the common cold and flu, according to the results of a new study published in the February 28, 2008, issue of Urologic Nursing.

Let’s focus on milk and soy. To say which of these two protein sources is more significant would be to detract from their uniqueness. Milk, after all, is animal based, and soy is vegetable. Milk protein accelerates physical recovery from numerous ailments, and soy protein mitigates heart disease.

Riding high on a 19% increase in dollar-volume sales over last year, antioxidants are poised to enter the mainstream. AC Nielsen (Schaumburg, IL) predicts that antioxidants will be one of the fastest-growing consumer health segments in 2006, with so-called “health activists” spending more on the category than any other market segment. In 2005, products that contained antioxidants saw a 31% gain in dollar sales among health activists and a 52% increase among “health neglectors” who aren’t overly concerned about nutrition.

A new federal law that regulates the sales of cold and allergy products could help bring immunity supplements in from the cold. On April 8, 2006, the Combat Meth Act went into effect. The act, which places nonprescription drugs that contain ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine behind the counter, also sets limits on how much consumers can purchase during any 30-day period. A flurry of state laws under consideration could impose further restrictions. The changes might help boost demand for dietary supplements that activate the immune system.

More-rigorous scientific investigation today is bringing enhanced understanding of the mechanisms of these actions, which in turn will lead the way to more-precise clinical targets, higher-quality microbial preparations, and more-credible claims for probiotics.

How will the new products fare in the market? That depends on how the science behind them stacks up. Here’s a look at the latest crop of ingredients to keep an eye on in 2006.

The year 2005 could turn out to be a tipping point for the immune-enhancer category. Although new research has shown several natural ingredients to be helpful, other studies suggest that some products may be ineffective.

Many natural-products consumers take probiotics and prebiotics for a host of issues, reasoning that by recolonizing the friendly flora in the gut, the body is much better equipped to exert proper immune response, leading to increased well-being.

The dietary supplement industry is on an upward curve, spurred by more university research and scientific partnerships linking together U.S. and international developers, suppliers, and research centers. One result of this positive trajectory is that raw-material suppliers are now refining and introducing compounds backed by science that address the issues that matter most to consumers: cardiovascular health, antioxidant and immune support, healthy glucose levels, smooth digestion, weight control, energy and stress reduction, and detoxification.