What Women Want

On the health side, a new ingredient just given non-novel food status by Health Canada is Wellmune WGP. Biothera, a U.S.-based biotechnology company, manufactures the ingredient and Terrebonne, Que.-based Rene Rivet Inc. is the ingredient’s Canadian distributor. Marie-Claude Langlois, vice-president of Development at Rene Rivet, notes that the ingredient can be used for immune system claims. “A lot of studies have been carried out that show when you’re going through a lot of stress your immune system is affected,” she says. Wellmune WGP is said to increase the percentage of active immune cells available to defend the body, increase the mobilization of innate immune cells to the site of a challenge, enabling faster recognition of an intruder, and increase the killing of foreign challenges, resulting in a more complete immune response. According to Langlois, products with Wellmune WGP will be launching in Canada this year.

Inulin is also being used in women’s health foods. Orafti inulin and oligofructose ingredients from BENEO-Orafti Inc., distributed in Canada by Quadra Chemicals, not only promote digestive health and function, says Joseph O’Neill, executive vice-president of Sales and Marketing for North America, but also help the body to absorb more essential nutrients and minerals, such as calcium, from the diet. “Absorption of adequate amounts of calcium is particularly important during early adolescence in order to achieve peak bone mass,” says O’Neill. “By further ensuring that the maximum amount of calcium is retained in the bones throughout adulthood, particularly in women, the chances of developing osteoporosis later in life may be reduced.”

Among the other ingredient options that target women’s health are Vitamin K, and specifically vitamin K2, which is being touted as an ingredient that can help women fight cardiovascular disease. Chaudhari says soy isoflavones can help regulate hormones, and decrease PMS, perimenopause or menopause symptoms. Calcium is critical for good bone health, but it needs vitamin D for the bones to be able to absorb it. Vitamin D – which, due to use of sunscreen, many women may be deficient in – can also potentially help prevent breast, colon and ovarian cancers. Michael McBurney PhD FACN, head of Scientific Affairs with DSM Nutritional Products Inc., says “the only solution to maintain vitamin D status is by increased consumption of foods fortified with the vitamin or by taking a dietary supplement.”

Chaudhari also notes that prebiotics can enhance the effects of probiotics and the absorption of calcium. They are also able to manage blood sugar levels, and reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which is crucial in reducing the risk of developing heart disease and atherosclerosis. Research on lycopene is starting to highlight its ability to help protect against breast cancer and its antioxidant content can help women fight heart disease, adds Chaudhari. Another hot ingredient is iron. And vitamin C and folic acid, essential for all women in their childbearing years, offer powerful antioxidant protection for the heart and also possibly protection against skin aging.