Immune boosting trend catches on at DKSH

Swiss marketing group SiberHegner, exhibiting at Vitafoods under its new name DiethelmKellerSiberHegner (DKSH), is to roll out the WGP Beta Glucan in Europe and Asia over coming months.

WGP Beta Glucan is manufactured by BioPolymer Engineering in the US, where it was introduced a few years ago. It is a patented carbohydrate derived from the cell walls of baker's yeast and has been shown to activate the immune system to respond to foreign antibodies.

Studies show that WGP, which stands for Whole Glucan Particle, increases the resistance to infections, activates specific white blood cells and also enhances the effectiveness of traditional and new cancer therapies. Other sources of beta glucan, such as oats, barley and mushrooms, do not have such significant effect on the immune system, according to SiberHegner.

Baker's yeast is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) in the US, however in Europe marketing of the ingredient will not be so straightforward.

"The current legislation in Europe means we will have to select certain countries. Finland for example will be easier than some others,"​ said Dr Peter Schkoda, business development manager of the food and ingredients unit.

WGP Beta Glucan will be available either as an ingredient or in capsules for use in immune-boosting products. A patented extraction process results in purity up to 75 per cent.

"This is a really promising natural ingredient. People are becoming continually more conscious of protecting the immune system since the SARS epidemic. We are also spending more time in air-conditioned climates, such as air travel, which is not a healthy atmosphere,"​ added Dr Schkoda.

SiberHegner will also run a campaign in Asia, although the market has more competition for immune-boosting products.

Siber Hegner merged with Diethlem Keller in June last year, and DKSH​ now has 15, 000 employees and a turnover of SF4.6 billion.