| The field of nutrigenomics could play a significant role in | | | | supplemented into food. Consumers are willing to pay |
| expanded use of nutraceuticals, particularly relative to | | | | $40 for a bottle of 100 high-quality fish oil pills, or 40 |
| the growing interest in personalized nutrition. There is a | | | | cents a serving. However, it is unlikely that they would |
| wealth of scientific and scholarly information about the | | | | pay an extra 25 cents a serving for bread fortified |
| field, or more accurately, the fields of technology | | | | with omega 3's that would add $2.50 to a 10-serving |
| relevant to nutrigenomics. The fields of bioinformatics, | | | | loaf. |
| computational biology, genomics, proteomics, and | | | | Emerging Trends |
| metabolomics are contributing to our understanding of | | | | Technology and scientific validation are also critical for |
| nutrigenomics. | | | | nutraceutical success. One example is the myriad of |
| Using nutraceuticals for health benefits has been | | | | advances over the years in micro-encapsulation for |
| especially successful in dietary supplements and, to | | | | protection of labile nutrients. Another is evolution of |
| some extent, in functional foods. The role of the | | | | botanical extraction technology to maximize beneficial |
| regulatory environment is important in the degree of | | | | antioxidants and minimize unpalatable flavors. The |
| success for any nutraceutical. Another key factor in | | | | emerging nanotechnology field weighs in also, providing |
| nutraceutical success is scientific or technological | | | | alternative means to address absorption or dispersion |
| advances. | | | | challenges. |
| For food companies considering incorporating | | | | Using Nerac's Emerging Technology Evaluation, we |
| nutriceuticals into their products, a critical question is | | | | can spot activity trends over time in various broad |
| whether there are ways to look at what technologies | | | | categories. The first step with this approach is to look |
| are emerging from the scientific world that can be | | | | at the overall level of activity for all relevant |
| exploited in commercial applications. The primary | | | | references in the field. |
| purpose of such an approach is to determine if a | | | | For this example, we evaluated various databases for |
| scientific field has advanced to a stage such that | | | | scientific articles linking nutrigenomics with food or |
| commercialization is inevitable and, if so, when | | | | dietary supplements. The search was designed to link |
| investment in commercialization activities is timely and | | | | all aspects of nutrigenomics including bioinformatics, |
| wise. Nerac refers to this approach as Emerging | | | | genomics, metabolomics, and proteomics to food and |
| Technology Evaluation. An emerging technology | | | | dietary supplements. By performing the search this |
| approach is most valuable when the technology | | | | way we can look at the area from a broad overview. |
| comes from a field that is outside a company's core | | | | Before 2000, scientific activity in this area was minimal |
| competencies, and oftentimes off its radar screen. | | | | but increased exponentially thereafter; suggesting that |
| Definitions & Market Potential | | | | this surge started soon after the human genome |
| Nutrigenomics and its related fields hold promise for | | | | project was completed in 2000. A closer look |
| better, more optimized use of nutraceuticals such as | | | | suggests that activity may have started slowing after |
| for more personalized nutrition. Nutrigenomics is a | | | | 2006. The 452 articles cited in 2007 were only a slight |
| broad and complex group of scientific disciplines that | | | | increase over the 437 articles cited in 2006. The 2008 |
| have mutually supported and advanced each other. | | | | citations to date would suggest that total activity for |
| The potential to target concentrated nutraceuticals at | | | | 2008 will be lower than in 2007. |
| an individual's specific needs sounds like something | | | | The next logical step with these data is to aggregate |
| from science fiction. Yet it might be on the horizon for | | | | the citations into different types of activities. It was |
| the general population in the near future. | | | | surprising that the great majority of scientific citations |
| Nutraceuticals include a wide range of ingredients from | | | | on this topic were journal references, whereas patent |
| the familiar vitamins, minerals, and herbs to bioactive | | | | literature activity was disproportionately low. One |
| enzymes and probiotics that need to remain alive to | | | | explanation is that the intellectual property for this |
| deliver some of their effects. These ingredients range | | | | technology resides outside food applications. If this |
| in form from liquids, oils, powders, and granules and are | | | | observation is true, the opportunity for licensing or |
| used in virtually every type of food or dietary | | | | partnering relationships may be an effective means to |
| supplement application that exists. | | | | leverage nutrigenomics technology from industries |
| Regardless of the form or application, interest in | | | | outside the food industry. |
| nutraceuticals is increasing because of the potential | | | | Nutrigenomics' Potential |
| health benefits that they can deliver. The market and | | | | There appears to be a strong technology backdrop to |
| applications for nutraceuticals experienced | | | | the nutrigenomics field, lending scientific substantiation |
| unprecedented growth after the passage of the | | | | to the use of nutraceuticals for personalized nutrition |
| Dietary Supplement Heath and Education Act in 1994. | | | | based on individual genetic fingerprints. Scientific activity |
| This unusual legislation shifted the burden of proof for | | | | has increased exponentially. It is recommended that |
| safety so that a priori approval was not needed to | | | | the specific types of technical activity be further |
| market a dietary supplement. | | | | segregated. |
| Just about every imaginable application of | | | | In addition, activity in other categories, especially |
| nutraceuticals for health benefits has been tried in | | | | regulatory and consumer acceptance, are required. |
| dietary supplements. And while the use and perhaps | | | | Overlaying the activity into these various categories |
| efficacy of nutraceuticals in functional foods might | | | | allows for a graphical view of the relative stage of |
| seem to hold more promise than dietary supplements, | | | | each category. |
| the functional supplements market is significantly larger. | | | | The data presented suggest that scientific activity is |
| The regulatory environment is critical, but other factors | | | | still strong, but the pace of activity may have peaked. |
| play a heavy role, too. For example, consider | | | | One conclusion is that funding and resources are being |
| consumer awareness of nutraceuticals and their | | | | freed up for product development and |
| related health benefits. The relationship between | | | | commercialization. On the other hand, regulatory |
| omega-3 oils and cognitive health or probiotics and | | | | hurdles are serious detractors that must be resolved. |
| digestive health is widely known, even if it is not well | | | | A general recommendation is that companies |
| understood. It is curious, though, that consumers appear | | | | interested in the use of nutrigenomics for personalized |
| to be willing to pay considerably more for | | | | nutrition monitor relevant regulatory activity. Nerac |
| nutraceuticals in supplement form than when | | | | analysts can evaluate this on a company's behalf. |