Summer 2001 Issue — Powders
The novel nutritional lipids delivery system

Dr. Marianne O'Shea

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A challenge to industry

In the current climate of supplements and functional foods innovative research is required for the development of novel active ingredients in unique highly concentrated applications. One group of such ingredients is nutritional is nutritional lipids. These are active components in oils and fats, which support and improve health. However, depending on the application a convenient delivery system for water-insoluble lipids is still a challenge to industry.

Micro-encapsulation

A good solution is to encapsulate lipids, which offers all the advantages of a dry powder. Micro-encapsulation is a process by which tiny parcels of a gas, liquid, or solid active ingredient are packaged within a second material for the purpose of shielding the active ingredient from the surrounding environment. There are many advantages to micro-encapsulation. Liquids can be handled as solids, odor or taste can be effectively masked in a food product and core substances can be protected from the deleterious effects of the surrounding environment. Powders allow ease of handling by enabling manufacturers to dry mix ingredients, contamination is likely than with liquid and invariably the shelf life is prolonged.

A prime example of a combination of innovative powder technology and state of the art nutritional lipid technology was first launched at the Health Ingredients Europe in Frankfurt last November. The Dutch company Loders Croklaan has been active in the development and production of specialty fats and oils for the food industry for over 100 years. They have succeeded in producing powders containing an exceptional concentration of the active ingredients CLA and Omega-3.

Omega-3

As a result of numerous scientific studies and government body recommendations, it is now widely accepted that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids may give significant heart health benefits as well as modulate inflammatory conditions.

Loders Croklaan launched an omega-3 powder under the brand name Marinol. It is based on a natural fish concentrate containing 45% omega-3, with approximately equal amounts of DHA and EPA. This omega-3 powder that was launched at the HI Europe contains %0% of the fish oil concentrate, resulting in final concentration of 22.5% omega-3 in the powder. This is a major achievement, considering the high amount of active ingredients per gram of powder. The powder has been successfully applied to biscuits, yogurt, desserts and cereal bars. The sample shown at the exhibition floor of HI Europe showed no compromising product quality or taste.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

In the past decade there has been an explosion of research highlighting the potential beneficial effects of a certain class of conjugated diene isomers of Linoleic acid (LA). This class is known as conjugated Linoleic acid (CLA) and is mainly present in milk fat. Studies are showing that CLA may have the potential to improve many areas of human health, including weight management and to boost the immune system. Loders Croklaan produces an exceptional CLA product; Clarinol G80. Apart from the high concentration of 80% CLA, the glyceride form of the CLA makes this product unique. To make this product available for use in an increasing number of applications, a Clarinol powder product was developed. The powder has an incredible 80% Clarinol G80 content. As a result, the Clarinol based powder contains 64% of CLA, which makes it by far the most concentrated CLA powder on the market. The powder is tasteless and creates great opportunities to add Clarinol to all kinds of food products. Several food samples were shown at the Health Ingredients in Frankfurt.

Simple concept, great rewards

These nutritional powders can be considered a real breakthrough. The convenient powder form makes handling and dosage exceptionally easy. The extremely high content of the core components, omega-3 and CLA, makes there use in everyday foods a practical proposition. For food manufacturers looking for ways of boosting their market shares and for that ever-elusive new product marketing success, these nutritional powders are worth a closer look. The concept could hardly be simpler and the rewards could be great.

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