Antioxidant Formulation Considerations

With so many ingredients available that exert antioxidant effects, many suppliers are getting proactive to assist formulators in their quest to develop innovative, efficacious finished products. Whether developing new ingredient forms or helping with challenges in formulation, proactive partnerships appear to be key for long-term success.

Sharrann Simmons, senior marketing manager, North America, Cognis Nutrition & Health, noted the company offers a broad portfolio of ingredients in a wide range of forms to suit different product development challenges. Formulators can be very selective about the form they buy to be sure it goes into the system easily and doesnt cause problems with other ingredients, she noted. Cognis also offers formulation assistance, particularly focusing on appropriate usage levels. Because natural ingredients can be more expensive, if a formulator is using more than is necessary to achieve the desired results, it can be cost prohibitive, she noted. Our technical service group works with the formulator to make sure they understand the strength, the effectiveness and typical dosages.

Similarly, WILD Flavors has worked with many antioxidant ingredients to help overcome common challenges, such as color or flavor concerns. For example, bilberry has a very dark purple color due to its high anthocyanidin content, said Heather Biehl, senior scientist, H.I.T.S. Other antioxidants, such as teas, can be bitter and astringent, affecting the taste profile, while others are not stable or soluble in certain applications. Carotenoids such as lutein are not water soluble, while CoQ10 is destroyed by light and must be shielded from light via packaging. Among its technologies are extraction that permits the isolation of specific antioxidants while removing off-flavor notes, and emulsion technology to convert oil-soluble antioxidants into water-soluble forms.