Could anti-ageing discovery boost B3 fortification in F&B?

Woman wearing heart-shaped sunglasses drinking smoothie on a solid background.
Is B3 the next big fortification trend? (Image: Getty/Melpomenem)

Vitamin B3 linked with the holy grail of benefits - anti-ageing


Fortification in focus

  • Fortification market surges to $103.54 bn (€89.1bn)
  • Functional food and beverage market hits $398.81bn (€337.2bn)
  • Vitamin B3 may slow symptoms of ageing creating major NPD opportunities

Fortification has become a major food and beverage trend, as consumers seek functional ingredients to support health and wellness, and manufacturers seek to meet those needs.

In fact, the fortified food and beverage market is now worth an estimated $103.54bn (€89.1bn), and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.20% over the next decade (Precedence Research).

From vitamins to adaptogens, the need for food and beverage products to offer more than simple satiety, is growing fast.

So much so, the functional food and beverage market is now worth a whopping $398.81bn (€337.2bn) and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.33% over the next seven years (Fortune Business Insights).

“The functional food and beverage market trends are driven by the rising demand for healthy and nutrition-rich diets,” says a spokesperson for Fortune Business Insights. “Evolving lifestyles and increasing incomes of consumers across the world have fueled the demand for products with superior nutritional profiles.”

Now, research from Japan looks set to further boost this power trend, with an anti-ageing focus.

Does vitamin B3 slow the signs of ageing?

Researchers from the Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine have studied the effects of B3 on the ageing process. The team focused its attention on how it impacts Werner Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that speeds up the aging process and can cause life-threatening complications.

In the first clinical trial of its kind, they worked with Niagen Bioscience to test nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, on people with the condition.

The study involved a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of nicotinamide riboside. The research team enrolled patients, with Werner Syndrome in a crossover design, where participants received either a daily dose of nicotinamide riboside or a placebo for 26 weeks. They then switched treatments for another 26 weeks.

The study found that nicotinamide riboside had potential to boost heart and blood-vessel health, shrink stubborn skin ulcers, and slow the loss of kidney function.

Previous animal studies have shown that nicotinamide riboside can extend lifespan and counter age-related decline. And human trials have shown potential benefits against inflammation, metabolic issues, and muscle weakness.

“Our findings suggest nicotinamide riboside could serve as a valuable treatment option for two major symptoms, arteriosclerosis and skin ulcers, as well as for preventing kidney function decline,” says Professor Masaya Koshizaka from the Center for Preventive Medical Sciences.

Beyond its immediate implications for patients with Werner Syndrome, researchers say their findings also provide valuable insights into the biology of ageing and potential interventions to address age-related decline more broadly.

“We hope our work will accelerate studies on not only Werner Syndrome but also other premature aging disorders and common age-related diseases - ultimately helping to extend health span and improve quality of life in both patients and the broader population,” says Dr Koshizaka.

What is vitamin B3?

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is one of a number of essential B vitamins. It plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including energy metabolism.

The body cannot store B3, so it needs to be regularly replenished through diet.

There are two main forms of vitamin B3 - nicotinic acid and nicotinamide - which can be found in different food products.

Will B3 focus fuel fortification trend?

Though the importance of maintaining healthy levels of B3 have long been established, the anti-ageing spotlight this new research has placed on it, could well lead to a rise in consumer demand for it as functional ingredient.

The global anti-aging products market is worth an estimated at $52.44bn, and is projected to reach $80.61bn by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.7%. And that just covers serums, moisturisers and lotions. The potential for food and beverage to get in on the anti-ageing action, through fortification, is enormous.

“An increased focus on health and wellbeing is seeing consumers seek out foods whose nutritional value has been boosted by vitamins and minerals,” says a spokesperson for FMCG multinational, Unilever.

In other words, we could be about to witness a flurry of innovation in the fortification space.

Alternatively, foods containing ingredients that naturally contain B3, such as poultry, red meat, fish, eggs, peanuts, brown rice, green peas, potatoes and mangoes, could also be promoted as anti-ageing in special product ranges.

And we could see an uptick in sales of those foods on their own, as they’re affordable and easily accessible.

As understanding of the potential anti-ageing benefits of B3 grows, so too could consumer demand for foods and beverage products containing it. But will manufacturers be ready?

Many common food products can be fortified with Vitamin B3 (niacin), including breakfast cereals, flours, breads, and other processed foods. However, it’s not yet known if the amount of B3 required to deliver the desired anti-ageing effects could be delivered in one single food or beverage product. This means that consumers may seek these products, but manufacturers are unable to deliver them, at least at first.