Polyphenols and Flavonoids in Product Formulation (Powering Products with Polyphenols)

The question of efficacy is a critical one, as polyphenols are not the easiest of compounds to formulate with. “Polyphenols are antioxidants, which makes them sensitive to oxidation during processing,” Schonlau noted. “This is less of an issue if the material is formulated into capsules. However, beverages and confectionery items such as chewing gums involve heating, which may have an impact on bioactivity. Beverages typically require pasteurization and this is known to affect the activity of some polyphenols.”

Zammer agreed that it can be tricky to formulate with polyphenols, which the company addresses by freeze-drying its ingredients to retain nutrient levels. Another option is to use special delivery technologies such as microencapsulation. “These nutrients are sensitive to light, heat and oxygen, so technologies such as encapsulation can help to protect functional ingredients prior to processing,” she said. “However, keeping them dry and away from these elements is ideal, so sachets and such are good delivery technology.”

Indena also utilizes freeze-drying technology to retain high nutrient levels, and also retains control over its sourcing chain to ensure quality of its raw materials. The company also developed patented technology to ensure the nutrients can be utilized by the body. “One of the critical issues of polyphenols is their low bioavailability,” Artaria said. “With our Phytosome® technology, we have been able to obtain a three- to nine-fold increase of the availability depending on the specific phytonutrient. This technology remains a reference, especially when one has to deliver a small amount of the ingredient due to physical problems.”

Gallo noted Artemis also implemented quality control (QC) methods to oversee the full production of its polyphenol ingredients. “The process from cultivation to producing the extract is highly controlled, because a high-quality extract starts with good plant breeding,” she said. “Many of our berries are selected from specific cultivars that were bred to have a higher level of the valuable polyphenols. Along with superior raw material, this allows us to choose less harsh processing techniques when desired and improves cost and quality efficiencies throughout the process.”

Most suppliers also offer formulation and product development assistance for their customers. Wuagneux, for example, said, “RFI has a development team that can do all the formulating based on the type of product you want, the target audience, the desired claims and the target cost. We often get requests for full service, since we are well-known for our good science in antioxidant products, which are most often polyphenol-based products.”

Whether dietary supplements or functional foods, as long as products deliver the goods, consumers will continue to respond. “Dietary supplements probably continue to be the most common form for polyphenols; however, people really do love to eat and, as food technology continues to innovate and produce good-tasting functional foods and beverages, there will be more demand for these forms,” Udell said. “Again, availability of choice is important, as some consumers prefer taking supplements, others prefer attaining their nutrients from food, and many others combine both.”

Ultimately, the overall market for polyphenols is evolving and has a bright future. Phillips noted, “We do not think that consumers in general know how to respond when asked, ‘Do you know what polyphenols are?’ But we are optimists here at Cyvex and believe that one day many will be able to respond correctly.”

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