Bridging the Gap Between Lifespan and Healthspan

By Krysta O’Connor, Brand Manager at Saanroo

Healthy aging is a term we in the nutraceutical industry have come to learn and love. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthy aging as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.” Simply put, people aren’t just looking to live longer; they want to live healthier.

Currently, the global average gap between overall lifespan and healthspan is 9.6 years – meaning that, on average, during the last 10 years of our lives, a person is living with ailments or reduced health before death. In the United States, the gap is even higher, averaging about 12.4 years¹. The question then becomes what we can do to increase healthspan and incorporate healthy aging into our daily lives. The answer may lie within our very own industry.

When we think of aging and the symptoms deemed “normal,” what frequently comes to mind? Joint discomfort, a slower metabolism, and longer recovery from exercise and physical activity are a few, but we can also consider cognitive concerns like memory. There are also male- and female-specific concerns – menopausal symptoms, changes in libido, and hormonal levels.

This is where supplements come in, and it’s important to understand that not all supplements are created equal. Ingredients with gold-standard, clinically backed research to support each health claim are imperative to ensure we receive safe and effective solutions that support our healthspan. Saanroo® is one example of an ingredient supplier that prides itself on rigorously tested ingredients, investing over $15 million in clinical research to provide more than 60 clinical studies across its portfolio of ingredients.

Redefining Aging Through Nutraceutical Innovation

Lifelong Movement and Mobility

Joint health, mobility, and recovery from physical activity are among the first concerns that come to mind when we think about age-related declines. Levagen®+ is Saanroo’s bioavailable, next-generation palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) designed for superior absorption and formulation flexibility, backed by 18 published clinical studies. It uses award-winning LipiSperse® technology, which disperses lipophilic actives in aqueous environments (such as the gut) to improve uptake and prevent clumping. PEA supports a healthy inflammatory response by activating PPAR-α and modulating the endocannabinoid system, delivering analgesic and anti-inflammatory support.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2021 two-week study, 74 participants received 350 mg of Levagen+ daily or a matching placebo. Results from the Levagen+ group showed:

• Significant improvement in joint health in as little as 3 days
• Improvement in Quality of Life (QOL) parameters

In one of its most recent 2025 studies, the effect of 1.8 mg of Levagen+ in a topical spray or a matching placebo was observed over a 4-week period or 5 knee discomfort treatments. Outcomes from the study showed the Levagen+ group:

• Significantly more events resolved at 60 and 75 minutes
• Significantly lower discomfort scores at 60 minutes
• Discomfort reduction at 60 minutes equated to a 55% discomfort reduction relative to baseline

Levagen+ offers a safe and effective solution to support joint comfort, recovery, and overall physical well-being.

Another ingredient with clinical substantiation is HydroCurc®, the world’s most bioavailable curcumin in a single dose, developed by Pharmako Biotechnologies. Curcumin is widely recognized for its natural ability to support a healthy inflammatory response, its antioxidant properties, and overall wellness, but in its standard form, it has limited format versatility and is not readily bioavailable. HydroCurc solves curcumin’s bioavailability and functional challenges using LipiSperse® technology.

In a 2022 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 80 participants aged 25–70 years received HydroCurc or a matching placebo. Over the 2-week period, the HydroCurc group showed:

• Morning VAS scores were significantly lower than those with placebo
• Evening VAS scores were significantly lower than baseline

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of HydroCurc in addressing morning joint discomfort.

Cognitive Resilience Through Aging

As we age, our bodies have a more difficult time producing certain compounds, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)². BDNF plays a key role in learning and memory, cognitive adaptability, and healthy brain aging, and higher serum BDNF levels are associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline in older adults².

In a 2025 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 700 mg of Levagen+ or a matching placebo was administered to 39 participants over a 6-week period. The effectiveness of Levagen+ was evaluated by measuring serum BDNF levels, cognitive performance, and memory-related outcomes. At the conclusion of the study, the Levagen+ group showed:

• Significantly increased serum BDNF levels compared to placebo
• Better first attempt success
• Fewer memory errors

These results indicate that Levagen+ provides an effective, holistic approach to supporting healthy BDNF levels and cognitive performance.

A New Era of Women’s Health

Women’s wellness has come a long way since the era of “pink it and shrink it” marketing. It has evolved into a rapidly advancing, science-driven sector focused on developing clinically substantiated ingredients designed to support the unique health needs of women at every stage of their lives.

Saanroo has developed two key ingredients, Genopause® and Libifem®, to support women through menopause and beyond, specifically developed and clinically researched for women. Genopause is a blend of four Ayurvedic herbal extracts clinically shown to reduce the common menopausal symptoms many women experience during this time of their lives (think hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances).

In a twelve-week, 2018 clinical study, Genopause significantly reduced:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Overall menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) scores

This study demonstrates that Genopause® is a safe and effective treatment for reducing menopausal symptoms in healthy menopausal women.

However, it would be shortsighted to view menopause as the only aspect of women’s aging that warrants targeted support. As women age, much like men, it is common for sexual vitality and desire to decline. Yet unlike their male counterparts, women have historically had far fewer clinically supported solutions designed specifically to address female vitality and libido. Saanroo developed Libifem, a female-forward ingredient designed to empower women.

In a 2015 study, 80 women received 600 mg of Libifem or a matching placebo over 8 weeks. Results from the Libifem group showed:

• Significant increase in estradiol and free testosterone
• Significant improvement in the total score and all five subdomains of the DISF-SR

These results indicate that Libifem supports women’s sexual health and vitality.

Modern Solutions for Men’s Wellness

As the nutraceutical industry continues to adopt more personalized approaches to healthy aging, men’s health has emerged as a growing category, driven by demand for clinically substantiated, gold-standard ingredients. Saanroo’s extensive portfolio offers a few key solutions that support male testosterone production, address andropause symptoms, and promote overall well-being.

Testofen® is a clinically patented Fenugreek extract standardized to 50% Fenuside™, clinically proven to significantly reduce symptoms of normal male aging associated with andropause and improve sexual health. In a 2016 study, 120 men between 43 and 70 years of age were given 600 mg of Testofen or a matching placebo over 12 weeks. Following the trial, the Testofen group saw:

• Significant decreases in Aging Male Symptoms (AMS)
• Improved sexual function, including number of morning erections and sexual activity frequency
• Increased of both serum and total testosterone levels

This clinical study demonstrates Testofen’s ability to serve as a viable, effective solution to improve sexual function, reduce symptoms of andropause, and increase testosterone in healthy, aging men.

Tesnor® is another groundbreaking male-forward ingredient from Saanroo’s portfolio — a proprietary blend of two herbal extracts, cocoa bean and pomegranate peel, that has been evaluated for its support of aging men and male sexual health.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 2022 study, 120 healthy men were given 200 mg or 400 mg of Tesnor or a matching placebo for 56 days. Results showed that both Tesnor groups showed:

• Significant improvement in free and total testosterone levels
• Reduction of Aging Male Symptoms (AMS) scores

In its most recent study, 120 men took 400 mg of Tesnor® or a matching placebo daily with breakfast for 84 days. The results of the study indicated:

• Significant improvements in total and domain scores on the Derogatis Interview for Sexual Function-Self Reporting Male (DISF-SR-M) questionnaire
• Substantial improvements in erectile function and hardness

Both studies indicate that Tesnor may support sexual function and vitality, libido, and overall well-being in aging males – offering a holistic approach to healthy aging for men.

As demand for healthy aging solutions continues to grow, the nutraceutical industry is uniquely positioned to help bridge the gap between lifespan and healthspan through clinically substantiated, science-driven ingredients. From mobility and cognitive wellness to women’s and men’s health, personalized nutraceutical solutions are redefining what it means to age well, empowering consumers to maintain vitality, performance, and overall well-being throughout every stage of life.

References

1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2827753
2. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2021.641608/full