Vitafoods Asia 2017: Healthy aging, digestive health and personalized nutrition top of mind

28 Aug 2017 --- Healthy aging, digestive health and personalized nutrition will be key areas of focus at this year’s Vitafoods Asia, the event’s organizer, Informa Exhibitions, has announced. During Asia’s only dedicated event for the nutraceutical, functional food and beverages and dietary supplement industries, held on 5 and 6 September, industry experts will uncover the latest innovations and key developments that will impact industry and product development at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

“At each edition of Vitafoods Asia, our various partners and industry experts actively contribute by sharing their in-depth insights with us and the industry at large – both leading up to and at the show,” says Chris Lee, Managing Director of Global Health & Nutrition Network, Europe, Informa Exhibitions. “Their extensive knowledge of global industry trends and broad exposure to the cutting-edge innovations have helped many companies in shaping their business development plans. We are delighted to have some of the best minds from both the commercial industry and academia share more about the hottest trends across the region at Vitafoods Asia, whether in the Conference or on and around the show floor.”

Healthy aging: A pressing concern for Asia
According to UN’s Economic & Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), about 60 percent of the world’s population of older people, defined as people at 60 years or older, live in the Asia Pacific region. Population aging is happening at an unprecedented pace because fertility rates have been declining rapidly, while life expectancy has improved tremendously. In fact, the number of older persons in Asia Pacific is expected to more than double from 547 million in 2016 to nearly 1.3 billion by 2050.

The notion of healthy aging is a pressing concern for Asia Pacific countries, and this presents opportunities for the nutraceutical sector.

Lu Ann Williams, Director of Innovation at Innova Market Insights, comments, “Mobility-related health issues – like osteoporosis, bone health and joint health problems – are amongst the most important concerns for Asian consumers. Asian manufacturers have focused on developing healthy aging products, and we’ve seen a surge in mobility platforms in the last five years.”

Digestive health to feature prominently
This year, with the support of the International Probiotics Association (IPA) and sponsorship of DuPont Nutrition & Health, Vitafoods Asia presents the Digestive Health and Microbiome Summit as part of its Conference program.

The Asia Pacific region accounted for an estimated 38 percent majority share of the global probiotics market in 2016, and the rise in consumer awareness of health benefits from probiotics, coupled with the sheer size of this market segment, signals more growth opportunities in the foreseeable future.

Williams adds, “In terms of new product development, dairy remains the top market category for product launches with probiotic claims in Asia, and over half of those launches tracked are of yogurt drinks. The region is traditionally a strong market for probiotic dairy drinks, as probiotic shots like Yakult’s are popular in Asia. Digestive and gut health claims have been the dominating product positioning for most new launches, but many probiotic products often feature multiple health claims, including immune health.”

Visitors who wish to explore the potential of this growing sector, to pick up best practices in product development, or uncover the latest R&D updates, can sign up for the one-day summit on the Vitafoods Asia Conference page.

The rise of personalized nutrition
Another hot topic that will receive attention at the upcoming edition of Vitafoods Asia is the area of personalized nutrition. According to Herbalife’s Asia Pacific Balanced Nutrition Survey, one in three consumers here is keen on personalized nutrition products and nutrigenomics. However, due to a lack of practitioners in the region, such products have generally been too costly for consumers.

At the Innovation Theatre, a panel of experts from around the world will discuss the increasing interest surrounding the topic, and the commercial viability of creating personalized nutrition products. Innovation trends and various degrees of personalization will also be explored, opening opportunities for nutraceutical businesses keen on entering this market.

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