Improving Mood in a Natural Way

by Eric Munson | September 1, 2024

According to a survey from Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ), more than 1,000 U.S. consumers said they struggle with stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, cognitive decline or hormone-related mood imbalances.

Notably, Generation Z is reporting such symptoms, with 69 percent taking supplements to address their health concerns, according to the NBJ survey.

“American consumers were struggling with stress and anxiety long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the global health crisis brought to light the full degree of our emotional fragility—and more than we could have ever anticipated,” said Lorena Carboni, senior product manager & scientific communication expert at France-based Gnosis by Lesaffre. “There is a bright spot, however. More Americans are opening up and talking about their mental health more than ever before and sharing with their peers how certain dietary supplements can provide noticeable relief.”

Cal Bewicke, CEO at Ethical Naturals Inc. (ENI, Redwood City, CA) added, “Worldwide stress levels continue to grow, here in the U.S. for reasons we can all see; in Asia due to job stress and cost-of-living concerns; in Europe, Russia and the Middle East hostilities awaken age-old concerns. So, it’s no surprise that stress-relief continues to be one of the highest demand categories in the supplement industry.”

The Latest News and Innovations

As a continually growing category, it is important for ingredient manufacturers to develop unique ways to support good mood.

“To support mental well-being, it is essential to maintain healthy levels of cortisol,” said Dr. Liki von Oppen-Bezalel, business development director at TriNutra (Harrison, NY). “Black cumin seed oil (black seed oil) has been clinically shown to decrease the levels of this critical stress hormone.”

A study on TriNutra’s ThymoQuin black seed oil found 500 mg daily significantly impacted cortisol levels. Another study shows ThymoQuin combined with astaxanthin improved mood by 11 percent and lowered cortisol by 20 percent compared to placebo. A third study used ThymoQuin and omega-3s, which improved mood 15 percent and lowered cortisol levels 27 percent, von Oppen-Bezalel said.

Adonat Premium S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) is a natural molecule shown to support healthy mood and emotional well-being, as it is directly involved in the methylation of neurotransmitters. It is also linked to cognitive function by counteracting alterations in brain structure and function tied to the aging process, according to Carboni.

The third clinical study on ENI’s AlphaWave was recently published in Neurology and Therapy. This was a longer-term study that confirmed the safety and benefits of AlphaWave when used over a 28-day period, according to Bewicke.

“We also achieved TGA (Therapeutics Goods Administration) approval for use in Australian markets, and AlphaWave is now the only form of L-theanine that can be sold in Australia,” Bewicke said.

The research team at Spain-based Nektium developed Vanizem, an Aframomum melegueta seed extract standardized to 10 percent total vanilloids. It is designed to inhibit fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) under stressful conditions and restore endocannabinoid balance, according to Laura López-Riós, PhD, head of product research, development & innovation at Nektium.

“This mechanism means it acts quickly to lift mood, relieve stress and improve sleep quality,” López-Riós said. “Its mode of action also provided a non-sedative response that’s different to other endocannabinoid-acting ingredients like CBD, which gives it a unique positioning in the market.”

When it comes to sleep, Kemin Human Health & Nutrition (Des Moines, IA) offers DailyZz, a proprietary botanical blend backed by clinical research to support both sleep quality and cognitive performance.

“What makes Daily Zz unique is the research on cognitive performance during the daytime,” said Chris Sadewasser, global product manager at Kemin. “Sleep ingredients usually are focused on helping you get to sleep but ignore the entire goal of getting a good night sleep—having a better next day! Daily Zz has benefits in improving sleep quality and improving cognitive function including concentration, executive function, increasing mental speed and visual recall.”

For stress and mood, Kemin has Macu-LZ derived from marigold flowers. As a carotenoid solution that supports healthy stress responses, Macu-LZ goes beyond stress to target cognitive function and sleep quality as well as making it ideal for multiple areas of brain health, Sadewasser explained.

Eva Criado, global marketing manager at Israel-based Gadot Biochemical Industries, said the supplement market is experiencing growth in new product developments, such as gummies, powders and beverages fortified with magnesium.

“Additionally, there is a rising trend of combining botanical ingredients with magnesium to address stress, sleep and mood enhancement, catering to consumer preferences for natural and holistic health solutions,” Criado said. “Magnesium, with its proven benefits, plays a significant role in this trend by offering a natural and effective option for stress reduction and improved sleep quality.”

For Manufacturers and Formulators

Manufacturers and formulators need to know how to formulate with products to find the ideal way to deliver it to consumers.

“Formulators and manufacturers should know that L-theanine powder is generally low density and can be difficult to encapsulate,” Bewicke said. “ENI has developed an excipient-free granulated form of AlphaWave that’s easy to encapsulate at appropriate dosage levels.”

According to López-Riós, Vanizem is a fast-acting solution that delivers noticeable benefits for mental well-being within a few days. It is well-suited to capsule and soft gel formats and the unique microencapsulation system ensures the stability of the active ingredients. It is also convenient with a daily dose of 100-150 mg.

“Long-established, legacy ingredients with proven efficacy, such as Adonat Premium SAMe, have gone through rising consumer demand,” Carboni said. “They stand out from the newest, trendiest ingredients that may lack historical data on safety and efficacy.”

According to von Oppen-Bezalel, when formulating with black seed oil, it is important to understand the oil’s composition, particularly free fatty acids (FFA) and the level of a key active molecule called thymoquinone.

“Some of the oils on the market are extracted using selective extraction by CO2 or harsh solvents to try and maintain a higher thymoquinone content (a main bioactive),” von Oppen-Bezalel said. “However, these processes remove a large part of the oil composition, causing the oil to lose its full spectrum and significantly increase the FFA content.”

According to Criado, formulating with magnesium for different applications requires precision and expertise. For example, while magnesium exhibits a desirable gelification when formulated with gummies, it also gives off a bitter and sandy texture.

Gadot developed various solutions to overcome these challenges, such as enhanced dispersibility, improved taste and texture and increased stability and bioavailability, Criado explained.

“Whenever you add a new ingredient to your product or are adding it to a new application, there can be many challenges to overcome,” Sadewasser said. “Flavor and color of ingredients can impact the consumer acceptance of your product. Inclusion amounts of ingredients can impact the size and dosage of your end product. Other technical challenges such as water activity levels and particle size can also cause issues with certain ingredients.” NIE