The company showcased the three-step solution during its “Aging Redefined – a Longevity & Health Expectancy Seminar" held on July 14 in its Singapore office.
dsm-firmenich said earlier that it would be researching and developing solutions to target four hallmarks of aging.
They are cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and dysbiosis.
They were selected as there was potential for improvement via nutrition intervention, and the improvements are measurable, said Dr. Ek Kai Lin, Head of Scientific & External Affairs, APAC, during the seminar.
There are 12 hallmarks of aging widely discussed among the scientific community and were presented about two years ago in the scientific journal Cell.
Protect, boost, renew
To tackle cellular senescence, the company has developed a three-step solution that 1) protects, 2) boosts, and 3) renews cellular health.
Cellular senescence is a process in which cells lose function including the ability to divide and replicate - but continue to secrete molecules that damage neighbouring cells.
As these cells accumulate over time, they can contribute to aging and age-related diseases, since they create a pro-inflammatory environment that leads to chronic inflammation.
The three-step solution therefore starts with cell protection.
To protect the cells, ResVida — a registered trademark of dsm-firmenich’s resveratrol — is used as a hero ingredient for its antioxidative ability. Its use is to protect cells from oxidative stress.
The second step boosts or strengthen the immune system by recognizing and eliminating aged or senescent cells with the use of ALL-Q — the company’s co-enzyme Q10 ubiquinone.
According to the company, co-enzyme Q10 ubiquinone is an essential coenzyme for maintaining cell energy levels.
Redivivo — said to be a bioactive form of Lycopene — is also added to help regulate the body’s processes responsible for producing inflammatory substances.
The third step is to renew by eliminating left-over senescent cells with the use of quercetin. The ingredient is said to be able to neutralize free radicals and remove senescent cells.
“First, you will need to protect your cells from oxidative stress and hence the use of resVida, which is a form of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant.
“Second, to boost and strengthen the cells, that’s where ALL-Q, CoQ10 ubiquinone comes in as an essential coenzyme for maintaining cell energy levels, and finally, to renew where we include quercetin a natural flavonoid, which is amongst a class of polyphenols supporting the removal of aging cells.
“At the moment, it is very difficult to study cellular senescence in human clinical trials. However, pre-clinical studies have identified several promising compounds, known as senolytics - that selectively eliminate senescent cells and senomorphics – that modulate the properties of senescent cells which reduce tissue damage and dysfunction,“ Dr. Ek added.
Bitesized information
On the other hand, the company has chosen to communicate cellular senescence solutions in three steps to help both brand customers and consumers better understand the process.
“From the consumer point of view, it’s always good to give them something smart, educational, and digestible.
“Cellular senescence is a complex topic, and by breaking down the solutions into three different steps, we believe it will help educate consumers on the approach and better explain the rationale for the different ingredient combinations behind the solution,” said Endrigo Ramos, dsm-firmenich’s Global Lead for Longevity.
“Our intention with this concept is to convey the message of how you can start with protecting your cells from becoming ‘zombie cells’, and from there on, boost your immunity, and then renew the cells that are not aged yet,” he added.
In the recent one to two years, there has been a fast-growing demand for healthy longevity products, driven by interest in preventative healthcare, and KOL-driven discussions.
One example of such KOLs is professor David Sinclair who specializes in epigenetics research and the like.
What are brands looking for?
Ramos noted that demands from brands when it comes to longevity health solutions could vary.
For big established brands, reliable and deep science weigh heavily, while small brands may be more interested in “all-in-one” solutions.
“The big brands are more focused on deep science with reliable results, even if the clinical trials are only conducted on a few ingredients. These are the ones that really value experiments like DO-HEALTH which used algal source omega-3 fatty acids (life’s OMEGA) and vitamin D3 (Quali-D).
“At the other end of the spectrum are the smaller companies or start-ups, which are looking for everything in one single solution - even if the clinical evidence is still emerging or in progress.
“Everyone wants to play in this market, but in different aspects and angles,” he explained.
Format innovations for long-term compliance
Aside from ingredients and research, the company also designed the three-step solution prototypes in different dosage formats, namely capsules, powder, and chewable tablets.
This not only showcases the company’s capabilities in formats and flavours, but is aimed at satisfying consumers’ preference for different dosage formats - which is important for promoting regular and long-term use of the supplements.
“Achieving healthy longevity is a lifelong investment, as such, we are talking about providing nutritional solutions that are enjoyable to ensure long-term compliance.
“This is especially since dietary supplements are not something that you can take and expect an immediate effect.
“It is through the consistent intake of a good product that helps you to protect, boost, and renew your cells,” said Dr. Ek.
Initiatives for three other hallmarks
dsm-firmenich has also embarked on different research and development programs in tackling the three other hallmarks of aging.
For instance, to address chronic inflammation, the company has developed a prototype exactly mirroring the formulation used in the DO-HEALTH trial.
The three-year trial reported that the daily use of 2,000 IU of vitamin D and 1,000mg of algae-derived DHA and EPA at a ratio of 2:1, alongside an exercise routine, could tackle chronic inflammation and reverse biological aging.
Omega-3 supplementation alone has been shown to reverse biological ageing by 2.9 to 3.8 months, based on the trial findings.
As for dysbiosis and mitochondrial dysfunction, the company is expecting to make related announcements in the later part of this year.
However, it has been exploring research and solutions for gut dysbiosis. An example is the first edition of its Asia Nutrition Research Grant held last year.
Five Asia-focused projects were selected to examine the effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and postbiotics, probiotics on aging, and other areas such as immunity, metabolism, and mental health.
