Supplement solutions from collagen expert GELITA [Interview]

CONFIXX gummies

Anyone familiar with the production process for standard, confectionery-grade gummies might, quite rightly, ask questions about converting this mass-market sweet to a nutraceutical format containing sensitive, high-value active ingredients. In fact, GELITA not only offers a very specific grade of gelatin (either pork- or beef-derived), but also supports a process designed to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles.

Oliver Wolf, Marketing EMEIA at GELITA, explains that traditional starch-based gummy production does not meet the requirements of processing active ingredients. “Using our CONFIXX gelatin, manufacturers can produce their gummies in just two hours, unlike with a standard gelatin, which typically takes about two days to set,” he says. “Use of CONFIXX is not reliant on starch stays, but instead uses silicone or polycarbonate moulds. Importantly, the active ingredient can be dosed at the last minute, meaning that exposure to heat is minimised.”

As he can confirm, while other types of gummy based on pectin, for example, are available, gelatin remains the ‘gold standard’ for gummies in terms of texture, taste and overall quality, while also being the consumer’s preference.

Strength in the ageing process

GELITA is already well-established as a global supplier of high-quality bioactive collagen peptide ingredients targeting bone, joint, skin and muscle health as we grow older. You may spot our name around Vitafoods Europe 2023, as the show’s official collagen sponsor.

“Our ingredients are so well-established that, in many geographies, customers are asking us to put our brand-name on their final products,” Wolf explains. “One benefit is that this allows them to tap into our science, and we have a lot of research to draw upon.”

FORTIBONE, for instance, has been shown to stimulate greater synthesis of bone collagen matrix. Loss of bone density and osteoporosis are among the challenges facing, in particular, post-menopausal women – and these are problems which become more apparent with longer life expectancy.

Joint problems constitute another area making itself felt in an ageing population, and here, GELITA’s FORTIGEL has a strong track record, with more than 20 years of scientific substantiation and a profound application know-how. Accounting for two-thirds of cartilage mass, collagen is the major component here, and is important for joint flexibility in the ageing population. In published research, the Bioactive Collagen Peptides in FORTIGEL have been shown to stimulate cell metabolism and cartilage regeneration.

The third area where selected collagen peptides successfully contribute to healthy ageing is in skin health and elasticity. VERISOL collagen peptides are optimised for skin and beauty, helping to initiate higher production of collagen within the dermis, replenishing losses due to ageing and environmental stress, and resulting in increased elasticity, reduced wrinkles and cellulite, as well as stronger hair and nails.

In addition, GELITA Health, a subsidiary of GELITA, develops and produces innovative finished products for international markets. All products are based on GELITA’s scientifically proven Bioactive Collagen Peptides. Customers can choose from the strong health brands under license, or design their own private label products. Additional services, such as R&D, analytical & stability studies, registration files and marketing training, support the customer from the initial idea to the successful market launch.

Enteric capsule release

Consumers love the soft gelatin capsules being used for an ever-wider range of supplements and active ingredients. The risk is that sensitive ingredients can be lost on the way through the stomach. This is especially true of the resurgent market in probiotics, where the active strains need to arrive intact in the gut in order to be effective.

“Now GELITA can offer a specific gelatin for fully enteric soft capsules, produced by a single manufacturing process, without the need for additional protective coatings,” says Wolf. “This is the perfect delivery format for probiotics, for instance.”

These capsules have proven enteric release in the intestine rather than the stomach. GELITA EC is the first soft capsule technology of its kind, and creates genuine market opportunities for brands looking to differentiate their product and delivery systems.

Meet Oliver and the GELITA team at their booth I110 during the coming Vitafoods show.