Vitafoods: Sleep takes center stage

On the Givaudan stand, the supplier showcased a Cereboost ginseng gummy to support focus, attention and memory, with the flavor masked by a strong and refreshing mint flavor to contribute to the ‘mental boost’ consumer experience. 

“The mint flavor should give you some refreshment and also some benefit for your brain so not only the active ingredient contributes but the flavor can contribute to this mental boost,” Mieke Acda, product manager, natural and nutrition at Givaudan told NutraIngredients. 

She discussed the firm’s valerian root gummy designed to support sleep—another active ingredient which requires smart masking technology. 

“Valerian has woody, sweaty off-notes and often when you open a pack you observe immediately it smells of feet so we don’t want that! We included a flavor and masking solution to reduce the volatiles and bring relaxing flavors in—so we’ve used peach.” 

Elsewhere, IFF​ showcased its 'Relax and Sleep' focused concept targeting consumer interest in supporting their long-term health. The capsule concept included L. paracasei​ Lpc-37, Passiflora and biotin. 

Meanwhile, Indena was awarded the NutraIngredients Cognitive Function Ingredient of the Year Award 2024​ for its Relissa ingredient for mind health and sleep. 

Sleep and metabolic syndrome 

In a presentation on the topic of metabolic syndrome at Vitafoods, Rick Miller, associate director of specialized nutrition at Mintel, noted that the important connection between sleep and metabolic syndrome is often overlooked. 

He said there is a widespread issue of insufficient sleep and stress reduction in modern life, with many consumers interested in finding solutions due to the constant connectivity and fast pace of daily living, which often extends late into the night.  

This underscores the consumer demand for innovative products that can enhance sleep quality and improve recovery, yet there aren’t a great range of solutions on the market. 

“When it comes to sleep and stress reduction in food, drink and supplementation, new launches are still pretty low, despite most of our consumers stating that this is the number one thing that they want to improve,” he added. 

"The main ingredient coming through is melatonin, which is known for its potential benefits in improving sleep onset and quality. However, some consumers may experience side effects. As a result, there's a trend towards developing new sleep products that are free of melatonin.” 

He noted athletes and fitness enthusiasts are especially keen on improving their recovery and sleep quality, recognizing the impact these factors have on performance. At the same time, wearable trackers that monitor sleep quality are becoming popular.  

Miller suggested manufacturers should consider integrating these features into their products to cater to this demand, not only for athletes but also for the general population.