Supporting our inner defence with the right food ingredients

By ANKE  SENTKO 

Vice President Regulatory Affairs & Nutrition Communication at BENEO

THE WORLD is ageing faster than ever before.

By 2050, one in six people in the world will be over 65, up from one in 11 in 2019. This steadily ageing population has urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to further educate the public on the importance on healthy ageing.

And, it is  easy to see why. The human immune system — our first line of defence against diseases — becomes less effective at tackling infections with age.

Without a doubt, a strong immune system plays a key role in healthy aging. This goes hand-in-hand with sustaining the gut microbiome with foods containing prebiotics, as well as the proper management of our blood glucose levels.

Thankfully, food manufacturers today are well-poised to help consumers support their immune health. This can be achieved through functional macronutrients that can help consumers of any age approach their golden years with better health, and ultimately improve their quality of life.

The lower the sugar, the lower the risk

Traditionally, high blood glucose is linked to those with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Having high blood glucose levels is closely linked with being overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, diabetes, coronary heart disease and more.

However, it became apparent during the pandemic that high blood glucose is a risk factor that can even occur in patients without diabetes[1], and can still influence the innate immune system[2].

Food choices that can reduce the blood glucose response have become increasingly important against this backdrop, and the role of low glycaemic functional ingredients — such as isomaltulose[3] — is growing in significance as a result. In fact, according to a consumer survey conducted by Insites Consulting[4] on BENEO's behalf, 78% of 65- to 75-year-olds in Asia, Europe and the US are now paying attention to their sugar intake[5].

Getting the carb right

The key to promoting healthy ageing through blood sugar management, however, is having the right choice of carbohydrate. The ideal carbohydrate not only provides the necessary energy for a person's metabolism, but it also triggers a low, balanced rise in blood glucose and a low increase in insulin, while encouraging fat burning — rather than fat storage.

For food manufacturers, this means selecting the right ingredients that can help deliver a lower glycaemic profile. A case in point is the increasing popularity of isomaltulose, chicory root fibre (inulin, oligofructose) and isomalt functional ingredients in product development. With a low glycaemic profile, all of these ingredients can help in the creation of foods and beverages that promote blood sugar management.

BENEO's Palatinose™ (isomaltulose), for instance, is a slow-release sugar naturally sourced from sugar beet that is unique in its ability to deliver a lower rise in blood glucose, while delivering full carbohydrate energy (4 kcal/g). Its slow uptake results in a low and balanced blood glucose response, making it an ideal ingredient to help support blood sugar management. In fact, this slow-release carbohydrate already appeals to 79% of Asian consumers as it supports a healthy lifestyle by promoting balanced blood sugar levels and providing sustained energy[6]. In addition, it carries EU health claims for being tooth-friendly and providing a lower blood glucose response.

Another sugar replacer that deserves the spotlight is BENEO's Isomalt — an almost non-digestible carbohydrate that provides half the calories of sugar, while having an near-negligible effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. It supports a low glycaemic diet by making tasty and enjoyable sugar-free confectionery and other food products possible. Similar to Palatinose™, Isomalt also supports dental health and carries an EU health claim for being tooth-friendly, as well as an US health claim for not promoting tooth decay. 

Additionally, chicory root fibres — such as BENEO's Orafti^® Inulin and Oligofructose — contribute to a low glycaemic diet by replacing available carbohydrates and enriching the food with a dietary fibre. Numerous studies have shown that prebiotic chicory root fibre nourishes the beneficial gut microbiota[7], supports blood sugar management[8] and weight management [9] together with digestive health[10] and wellbeing[11].

Achieving the healthy ageing goal

With these functional ingredients available, it is clear that manufacturers can further their efforts to reformulate, while supporting immunity and the growing importance of ageing healthily.

What's even more exciting is that 85% of consumers aged 50 and over are already showing a willingness to take charge of their health by choosing healthier foods and beverages — proving that there is a demand to be met[12].

The market is already wide open for manufacturers. Coupled with the many innovative solutions waiting to be adapted into their products, all they need to do is to take that next step and make the most of this trend.

[1] Zhu B et al. (2020) Diabetes Res Clin Pract 168:108381. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7445136/pdf/main.pdf

Zhu L et al.  (2020) Cell Metab. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413120302382?via%3Dihub         

Carrasco-Sánchez et al. (2021) Ann Med 53(1):103–116. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7651248/pdf/IANN_53_1836566.pdf

[2] Jafar N, Edriss H, Nugent K (2016) The Effect of Short-Term Hyperglycemia on the Innate Immune System. Am J Med Sci 351(2): 201–211. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26897277/

[3] Maresch CC, Petry SF, Theis S et al. (2017) Low glycemic index prototype isomaltulose - update of clinical trials. Nutrients 9(4): 381. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409720/

[4] Source: Insites Consulting 2020/2021

[5] Source: Insites Consulting BENEO Consumer Research on Nutrition & Health, Q4 2020 (Asia, Europe) –Q2 2021 (US)

[6] Source: Insites Consulting 2021

[7] Collado Yurrita et al. (2014) systematic review and meta analysis

[8] Kellow et al (2014), Liu et al (2017) both systematic review and meta analysis, O’Connor et al (2017) literature review, Zhang et al (2020) systematic review and meta analysis

[9] Kellow et al (2014) systematic review and meta analysis, O’Connor et al (2017) literature review

[10] Collada Yurita et al (2014) systematic review and meta analysis, Skorka et al (2018) systematic review

[11] Vandeputte D, Falony G, Vieira-Silva S, et al. Gut Published Online First: 17th February 2017 oi:10.1136/gutjnl-2016-313271

[12] Health Focus International, 2020 BENEO Healthy Ageing consumer research