Past News Items - December 2023

In the News

Bridging the Nutritional Gap with Calcium and Magnesium in Dairy Alternatives

Imtuitive™, Crafted by a Harvard and Duke-Trained Surgeon, Announces Premium Surgical Recovery Formula

Gnosis Vit K2 Scientific Advisory Committee Grows, Holds First Meeting

Bridging the Nutritional Gap with Calcium and Magnesium in Dairy Alternatives

Added minerals are providing key nutrients to plant-based dairy products.

A growing number of consumers are turning to dairy alternative products, and this is creating outstanding opportunities to fortify plant-based milks and foods with key minerals, observed Michael Paikin, chief technologist of Israel-based Gadot Biochemical Industries.

For example, in Europe, between April 2022 and March 2023, there were 27 new oat-based ice cream launches, compared to only eight between April 2019 and March 2020. In America, oat-based dairy alternatives are also experiencing increased launch velocity, 34 and 17, respectively. While launches of almond and pea-protein products are also strong, they are not as robust. Plant-based milks and foods offer consumers the taste and feel of cow’s milk, are sustainable, and are also more environmentally friendly by releasing less methane into the atmosphere. However, these popular plant-based products provide less calcium than bovine dairy. 

“The rapidly increasing consumer awareness and demand for nutritionally enriched dairy alternatives creates a focus on nutrition content, notably minerals such as calcium and magnesium,” observed Paikin. While calcium is the primary mineral added to dairy and plant-based products, magnesium is a crucial element that should be included as well, according to Paikin.

To summarize, calcium contributes to bone health through forming microscopic crystals that fill in the collagen framework of bone tissue, increasing strength and density. It is also important in regulating muscle contraction and blood clotting. Magnesium is essential in preventing calcification in arteries and veins, which can occur when high amounts of calcium are consumed regularly through both diet and supplementation. 

Market differentiation of plant-based products can be differentiated among the crowding market and serve consumer needs of obtaining multiple nutrients in a convenient and pleasurably tasting product. “By adding calcium-complementary nutrients such as vitamin D and magnesium, a brand’s plant-based product will have a stronger appeal than counterparts that only contain calcium,” Paikin emphasized.

“However, it’s not as simple as just adding minerals into the plant-based formula for processing into the final product,” Paikin cautioned. There are three prominent challenges present: 

1. Solubility and Stability: Calcium and magnesium salts have varying solubility in plant-based milk, which can affect the stability and texture of the final product. Achieving a homogeneous mixture without sedimentation or separation is a key challenge. 

2. Taste and Mouthfeel: Adding minerals can alter the taste and mouthfeel of vegan milks. Calcium and magnesium salts can impart a chalky or metallic taste, which may be undesirable. Masking these flavors while maintaining the natural taste of the plant milk is a significant challenge.

3. Bioavailability: The form of calcium and magnesium used must be bioavailable. Some forms of calcium and magnesium are more bioavailable than others, and choosing the right form is crucial for the nutritional value of vegan milk. 

  “Addressing these challenges requires a multi-disciplinary approach involving food scientists, nutritionists, and technologists to create a vegan milk product that is nutritious, palatable, stable, and economically viable,” Paikin noted. 

   As a leader in the mineral fortification category, Gadot offers the mineral solutions for calcium and magnesium fortification. These solutions provide a stable suspension with no sedimentation in milk and milk alternatives with no need for additional stabilizers, according to Paikin. 

Gadot is approaching its 60th anniversary, delivering highly bioavailable ingredients, including tailor-made solutions, soluble minerals, and ingredient-base blends. Gadot´s portfolio includes an array of ingredients, including magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, and sodium in different forms, such as citrates, gluconates, and bisglycinates, and continues to expand its offerings based on market demand. For more information, visit www.gadotbio.com or contact Eva Criado, marketing manager at marketing@gadotbio.com.

Imtuitive™, Crafted by a Harvard and Duke-Trained Surgeon, Announces Premium Surgical Recovery Formula

Imtuitive™, the premier pre and postoperative formula today announces the official launch of its innovative surgery recovery product, a unique blend of amino acids and essential nutrients specifically crafted to optimize the patient's recovery process. Developed with the patients' and surgeons' success in mind, imtuitive is set to transform the landscape of pre and post-surgery care and recovery.

"The majority of patients undergo surgery without optimized nutrition," says Dr. Joseph Kavolus, Co-Founder and Head Product Developer at imtuitive. "You wouldn't go to the gym hungry but most patients go to the OR worse than hungry. The literature is replete with evidence that nutritional support before and after surgery decreases complications, morbidity, mortality, and promotes healing/muscle recovery."

Imtuitive is a product born from a holistic approach to surgery, where patients are seen as individuals, not just procedures. With its surgeon-formulated recipe, made with smart and trusted ingredients, imtuitive addresses multiple facets of a patient's surgery prep and recovery, including immune status, wound healing, inflammation, pain control, and enhanced recovery.

"I am thrilled to bring imtuitive to the market, a product that symbolizes a leap forward in the pre and post-surgical care industry," says Stephen Kavolus, Co-Founder and Head of Operations. "My extensive experience in product and brand development has been instrumental in shaping a mission that not only benefits physicians, but more importantly, offers significant advantages to patients. Our goal is to ensure that patients are not just undergoing surgery but are also optimally prepared and supported throughout their recovery journey."

"During my residency, the importance of perioperative nutrition was always clear to me," added Dr. Kavolus. "However, existing products in the market didn't meet my expectations. That's why I created imtuitive - to provide a comprehensive nutritional aid that supports safe surgical experiences, tastes great, and is low in unnecessary sugars. The majority of patients enter surgery without optimal nutrition, akin to planting a garden without enriching the soil. You cannot expect the best growth without the right nourishment. Our research-backed formula is designed to reduce complications, morbidity, mortality, and enhance healing and muscle recovery."

About imtuitive:

Crafted by a surgeon educated at Harvard and Duke, imtuitive is the first-of-its-kind formula, setting a new standard for premium surgical recovery optimization. Proudly family-owned and made in North America, our FDA-compliant labs and factories ensure the highest quality and care in every product.

For more information about imtuitive and its benefits, visit www.imtuitive.com.

Gnosis Vit K2 Scientific Advisory Committee Grows, Holds First Meeting

The inaugural meeting of the Gnosis K2SAC welcomed new members and focused on the exciting future for K2.

Earlier this year, Gnosis by Lesaffre announced the establishment of the world’s first scientific advisory committee focusing on the research and technological advancement of vitamin K2, the Gnosis Vitamin K2 Scientific Advisory Committee (K2SAC), chaired by renowned K2 expert Professor Leon Schurgers. Committed to exploring new indications while also identifying an expanding global presence of top thought leaders in biomedical research focused on Vitamin K2, the company proudly announces the K2SAC’s first meeting and appointment of two new K2 experts.

The K2SAC’s new member appointees are:

• Stefanos Roumeliotis, MD, from AHEPA University Hospital (Greece), Department of Nephrology, specializes in chronic disease research and statistical analysis, and is driving the MenaQ7? K2 VIKIPEDIA study. 

• Sola Bahous, MD, PhD, MHPE, from Lebanese American University School of Medicine, offers expertise including arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity, hypertension, and renal/kidney failure, and is immersed in the novel migraine study with MenaQ7? Vitamin K2. 

Both Drs. Roumeliotis and Bahous join Prof. Schurgers and existing K2SAC members Hogne Vik, MD, PhD, MBA, who serves as Medical & Scientific Advisor at Gnosis by Lesaffre; and globally recognized K2 expert Katarzyna Maresz, PhD. 

The inaugural meeting of K2SAC was held on 17 November 2023 in Lille, France. The morning began with a lecture by Prof. Schurgers entitled, “Healthy Ageing and the Vitamin K2 Effect,” presented to the entire Lesaffre group. 

The overarching theme of the meeting was “Exploring the Future of Vitamin K2,” with key panels covering the latest research associating Vitamin K2 intake with emerging health areas and applications. 

“We are proud that our K2SAC is substantiated through such global expert participation,” commented Jean-Francois Jeanne, Gnosis Substantiation & Applications Team Manager. “We see our K2SAC galvanizing a worldwide network of esteemed researchers who will focus on identifying specific population needs for K2 and leading the clinical evidence to demonstrate K2’s beneficial use in those areas.”

“I am honored by the invitation to join the Gnosis K2SAC, and this first meeting was a fantastic opportunity to share insights about this momentous time for Vitamin K2 research,” said Dr. Roumeliotis. “Growing the already substantial research supporting Vitamin K2 is essential for changing the state of global health. Collaborating with these esteemed individuals toward discovering and confirming new benefits and applications offers so much promise.”

Along with K2SAC, Gnosis continues to support K2 research teams worldwide. Thus far, this support has helped create fresh insights from clinical studies identifying new clinical indications for K2, and combinations for K2. “We are truly excited about the realm of new uses for K2 that the Scientific Advisory Committee will incubate, resulting in more promising future research,” added Jeanne.

“Our two new K2SAC members truly help round out the Vitamin K2 Research Dream Team, and our first meeting covered a lot of new ground to showcase the wide-ranging applications of K2 and health and wellness. This is such an exciting time,” he concluded.

About Gnosis by Lesaffre 

Gnosis by Lesaffre harnesses the power of microorganisms and biotransformation processes like fermentation to cultivate nutritional actives, probiotics, and nutritional and functional yeasts that benefit human health and well-being. The team draws on its focused research and application capabilities to collaborate with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical brands to develop game-changing products for their customers. 

Gnosis by Lesaffre – Exploring Life to Improve Living. http://www.GnosisByLesaffre.com