One Size Does Not Fit All

by Lisa Schofield | February 28, 2020

Weight loss is getting customized with popular diets and supplements that help those diets work.

“I’m doing keto!” “I’m on paleo.” “Intermittent fasting is actually easy and I lost weight!” These comments are often shared with enthusiasm. Seemingly unlike diets of the past, keto, intermittent fasting and paleo are much more of a lifestyle than just a type of isolated activity of living or a chore.

And this is great news for the burgeoning dietary supplement industry. Although there have been some scientific reports asserting that any macronutrient restriction (eg, carbs and keto/paleo), may have long-term health ramifications, when it comes to decreasing the numbers on the scale and clothing size charts, these diets are increasing in popularity.

In the viewpoint of Morris Zelkha, president and co-founder, TriNutra, Israel, consumers have begun to shy away from products touted as “weight loss” supplements and are gravitating towards products that focus on additional benefits beyond a slimmer body. As such, he said, “brand partners are looking to create combinations of ingredients that take a more holistic approach, helping consumers to also build upon healthy exercise and diet habits with supplements that may assist with weight management by supporting a healthy lipid metabolism, inflammation response and blood sugar levels.”

In agreement is Samantha Ford, MS, director, business development, California-based AIDP, Inc., who observed that along with more people following trends such as paleo, keto and Whole30, trends in product development in this sector are being influenced by shifts in consumer attitudes and increased demand for clean label, sustainable, whole-food and minimalist formulas. “Brand partners are positioning products to address the plethora of novel eating regimens which offer weight loss opportunities but may not be positioned as diet products,” she said. “There’s been a shift from taking a weight loss supplement to providing functional foods which are compliant to the specific diet regimen.”

Then Versus Now

Perceptions about weight and health have changed somewhat dramatically as well within the past five to 10 years. For example, pointed out Rob Brewster, president, Ingredients by Nature, California, being skinny was the physical proof of health and beauty is. But now, many people realize that it so much more than a waistline measurement. “Dieticians and nutritionists are educating consumers to take a more holistic approach to weight management and change eating habits, such as increasing consumption of complex carbohydrates while decreasing simple carbs,” he explained. “As such, brands are shifting to provide solutions that encourage overall wellbeing with proper nutrition, supplementation and exercise, educating consumers how to love their body.”

Brewster added that weight management supplements are now being developed to provide a holistic, sustainable balance of good health, focusing more on improving biometrics such as inflammation, antioxidant activity, blood glucose levels and metabolic rate instead of solely focusing on promoting loss of pounds and fat. Supplement brands are increasingly looking to deliver multifunctional benefits across the spectrum of key health indicators, in addition to healthy weight management.

“The approach toward weight management is very personalized today,” emphasized Brian Appell, marketing manager, OmniActive Health Technologies, New Jersey. For example, popular weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers and NutriSystem among others are launching tailored weight management approaches for people who want to lose a little and those who want to lose a lot of weight. More and more, he noted, “weight management products today, and particularly supplements, are adjuncts to someone’s overall goals, not the sole drivers of change. People understand that many times, getting to and maintaining a healthy weight takes a village—with the right coaching, emotional support, products and healthy habits all playing important roles.”

Randy Kreienbrink, vice president of marketing, Martin Bauer Group, headquartered in Germany, also observed a growing trend towards focusing on how dietary patterns [eg, intermittent fasting] impact weight management, as opposed to solely focusing on how specific ingredients impact body composition and weight. “This trend has impacted the types of ingredients brand partners are requesting,” he said, noting that plant-based proteins are a “great” example. Diets such as keto, paleo, plant-based/clean have powered development of products in weight management, much more so than “trendy” singular ingredients.

Plant-based proteins are blowing up in the marketplace—as plant-based foods and beverages, perceived as much healthier than animal-sourced foods and meats are dominating conversation, as well as product launches. Kreienbrink noted one of the biggest trends occurring in the weight-loss/maintenance supplement and nutrafood/beverage sector is related to the use of proteins. While protein has been a focal point of weight management for more than 30 years, this has primarily related to dairy options. “We’ve experienced and anticipate a continued interest from brand partners in finding new sources of plant-based proteins,” he reported. Plant-based proteins have also grown in popularity driven by the increase in numbers of people who are identifying as flexitarian, vegetarian and vegan. These populations often seek alternatives that provide for greater sustainability and is gentler on resources. For example, processing plant-based protein products typically produces less methane and requires less water during manufacturing.

Fiber, too, is being obtained from more readily available sources such as various fruits and vegetables, such as Martin Bauer Group’s sweet potato ingredient that Kreienbrink noted is high in fiber and provides an appealing flavor.

Weighing in on Ingredients

The current crop of ingredients that support healthy weight management—and a healthy lifestyle overall as the two are intertwined—offer tremendous opportunities for novel formulations that resonate with today’s health-minded consumers who may want to shed some pounds and reduce their clothing sizes.

ThymoQuin from TriNutra is described by Zelkha as a unique black seed oil that has been cold-pressed and standardized to 3 percent thymoquinone, the main active in the ingredient, and contains low free-fatty acid, “which contributes significantly to product performance. Black seed oil has been used for millennia for its medicinal properties and there are currently over 50 recent studies demonstrating its benefits, including metabolic health and addressing the side-effects of being overweight.”

Additionally, Zelkha noted, a published study revealed ThymoQuin’s ability to improve the metabolic balance and liver function in obese mice. Both the metabolism and liver play important roles in support against obesity-induced conditions. Other studies on black seed oils have shown the botanical’s ability to target lipids and cholesterol levels to further help support proper weight management, especially in overweight individuals, he added.

OmniActive has two weight management ingredients, Capsimax and MetaVive. Appell described Capsimax as a thermogenic ingredient, rich in capsaicinoids notably capsaicin. In clinical studies, Capsimax has been clinically shown to activate metabolism and boost calorie expenditure (Metabolic Rate Study, 2017).

“Capsimax can help balance the weight management equation in two ways—through appetite control and through resting energy expenditure (REE),” Appell explained. “In a study looking at the effects of capsaicinoids on REE in healthy men and women, 2 mg of capsaicinoids from 100 mg Capsimax was found to significantly increase REE by more than 6 percent. This increase of REE was equivalent to an increased caloric expenditure equivalent to about 100 calories each day over the placebo group.”

In another study in 152 healthy men and women, 2 mg of capsaicinoids from 100 mg of Capsimax has been shown to decrease appetite by more than 7 percent over the placebo group and a second study with 77 people resulted in more than a 140-calorie decrease in caloric intake in participants taking Capsimax.

Beyond the diet style one chooses to follow, parameters defining metabolic syndrome (MetS) will also be positively impacted, and focusing on controlling it can also help an individual transform not only his/her physique/BMI (body mass index) but improve both blood sugar/insulin and cardiovascular health status. “Over time, without noticing, our bodies begin to have difficulty in managing healthy cholesterol levels, blood sugar metabolism and weight control—leading to potential development of metabolic syndrome,” said Annie Eng, CEO, HP Ingredients, Florida. “MetS can cause numerous health conditions such as increased blood pressure, insulin resistance, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and diminish quality of life.”

She added that most individuals can significantly slow down the development of any of these conditions—and therefore, metabolic syndrome itself—through healthy lifestyle management including being physically active, losing weight (and fat), and eating nutritiously.

HP Ingredients’ Bergamonte BPE Complex is a standardized extract of Citrus bergamia Risso, a bergamot orange that grows almost exclusively on the Calabrian coast of Italy. It is rich in polyphenols such as neoeriocitrine, naringine, neohesperidine, melitidine and brutieridine. It also contains a high amount of both pectin and vitamin C. Multiple studies show it supports healthy weight and reduces MetS parameters by reducing inflammation, activating cholesterol 7R-hydroxylase and AMPK, inhibits phosphodiesterases and HMG-CoA reductase and also balances hunger/appetite hormones (reducing ghrelin and increasing adiponectin).

OmniActive’s MetaVive is an extract of Salacia chinensis that Appell explained supports “multiple facets of metabolic health. OmniActive’s proprietary process delivers a unique set of fingerprinted bioactives and bioactivity to ensure batch-to-batch authenticity, consistency and reliable performance.”

He reported that the BIG Study (Blood Insulin and Glucose) was a randomized, double-blind, crossover study in 35 healthy individuals looking at the effect of two different doses of MetaVive (300 mg or 500 mg) on the effects of blood glucose and insulin following a sugar load. MetaVive helped reduce the early rise in blood glucose and insulin following a high-sucrose load. Through this effect, MetaVive Salacia chinensis offers a safe and effective means to help manage healthy blood sugar levels through reduced intestinal absorption of carbohydrates in a supplement.

Eriomin Glucose from Ingredients by Nature, is a lemon flavonoid blend that provides what Brewster called a “tri-pronged” support to address several interdependent functions impacting weight and wellness. Its first human clinical trial showed significant results as a solution for prediabetes management that helps maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range, support normal insulin sensitivity, manage a healthy inflammation response and supports healthy cell function through increased antioxidant activity, according to Brewster.

“This multifunctional approach is vital to proper weight management,” he emphasized. Being overweight often causes an increase of the pro-inflammatory cytokine C-reactive protein (CRP). As inflammation increases, it affects insulin resistance, thus commencing a chain of reactions that increases blood glucose levels and oxidative stress, resulting in more inflammation. “Paired with a nutritious diet and regular exercise, the citrus flavonoids in Eriomin Glucose plays a large role in ending this cycle and helping consumers to better manage weight and its side-effects,” he commented.

Meanwhile, for those following the keto diet more rigidly, this ingredient may benefit the efforts, Brewster added. “Ketosis helps improve blood sugar levels and manage inflammation which both influence weight gain and loss. Supplementing with Eriomin Glucose also helps to maintain proper blood sugar levels and inflammation levels in the body, enhancing the benefits normally derived from a keto diet and providing for overall better health and weight management.”

And when it comes to keto diets, AIDP, said Ford, offers ketogenic fats, including coconut-based and MCT oils, to support keto formulations as well as electrolytes and B-vitamins to help address nutritional needs. Additionally, she emphasized, ingredients that provide digestive support and selective prebiotics are also advantageous for keto/weight formulations as ketogenic diets, which by nature are higher in fat and protein, and can cause digestive issues. AIDP offers Actazin, a cold-pressed green kiwi powder, which is high in actinidin, a protein-digesting enzyme, along with prebiotics, polyphenols and fiber. Actazin is clinically backed for its digestive health benefits and also advantageous as a clean label, whole-food derived ingredient.

Importance of the Microbiome

Another aspect of weight management that is gaining attention in the scientific community and in research and development is the role of the microbiome, which Ford described as “an exciting new direction in research for weight management.” In a 2006 study, she related, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, revealed a correlation between an unhealthy weight and metabolism and an increased ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes, specific classes of gut bacteria. This increased ratio was shown to improve an individual’s capacity to harvest energy from the diet, thus indicating that gut microbiota plays a role in healthy weight management. The study also yielded that a diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables allows microbes that are conducive to weigh gain to more easily overtake beneficial bacteria that promote a healthy body weight.

AIDP has several ingredients that can fit into weight support formulas that work via supporting a healthy microbiome, according to Ford. For example, PreticX is an XOS (xylooligosaccharides) prebiotic “clinically demonstrated to favorably alter gut microbiota,” she said. “Studies suggest that PreticX supplementation may result in a decrease in the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes ratio that is desirable for people with abnormal metabolism.”

NuBana Green Banana Flour is a new fruit-based ingredient available from AIDP that is described by Ford as being naturally rich in resistant dietary starch, which provides beneficial prebiotic dietary fiber. “Numerous clinical studies have shown that RS2 resistant starch delivers a wide range of digestive, weight management and metabolic benefits,” she commented. NuBana green banana flour is viable for nutraceutical foods, as, Ford described, it provides lift in baked goods, desirable water-binding activity in meat alternatives, emulsification in beverages and sauces, and is a good source of dietary fiber.

Overall, to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for plant-based health and weight management solutions, Kreienbrink observed that new and reformulated products are turning to plant-based ingredient options outside of rice and soy these newer options include ingredients sourced from beans, lentils and seeds. This not only caters to the weight-conscious consumers who are vegan or vegetarian, he noted, but also to those who are flexitarians—increasingly limiting the animal products they consume.

Consumers know that getting into shape is not tunnel-visioned to weight only. “Preventable health and wellness issues, including high blood sugar, abdominal fat, unhealthy lipid levels, and obesity, can be substantially ameliorated with diet,” asserted Appell. “Solutions that address these aspects of weight management are primed for success in today’s marketplace.” NIE