Nutraceuticals World (NW): Can you discuss the evolution of Blue California, which previously focused strictly on botanical extracts, and the company’s current mission and vision?
David Tetzlaf, Marketing Director: For more than 25 years, Blue California provided ingredient solutions as a manufacturer of clean, natural, and sustainable ingredients for use in dietary supplements, food and beverage, flavor, fragrance, and personal care and cosmetics.
In the past two years, Blue California has undergone a renaissance as we transition from natural extracts and botanicals to an industry leader in unique, science-backed ingredients that provide significant advantages over existing analogs. Our expanded offering of ingredient solutions produced via fermentation and enzymatic conversion target several areas of health, such as cognition and mood, healthy aging, immune health, bone health, solutions for food preservation, personal care, and much more.
These ingredient innovations are sustainably produced and offer alternatives to ingredients that are often synthetically produced or only found in minute quantities in nature, making them too rare or wasteful to extract. Coupling our sustainably produced ingredients with our ongoing clinical studies that Blue California is investing in, we have solutions for almost any new product development project. This mission fits our vision to supply sustainably produced ingredients for a healthy mind, body, and skin.
NW: In recent years, the intense focus on health has spotlighted a shift toward holistic approaches to wellbeing. Can you shed light on that consumer point of view and what it means to approach health holistically?
Tetzlaf: While immunity is at the forefront of health concerns for global consumers now and well into the future, there is strong interest in a more holistic approach to wellbeing for long-term health and longevity. According to a 2021 survey by FMCG Gurus in June of 2021, 61% of global consumers are more conscious about preventing health problems by living a healthier lifestyle. Consumers are more proactive and take a personalized and preventative approach while recognizing that cardiovascular health, digestive health, and cognitive health are all linked to good overall health.
New product launches tracked by Innova Market Insights back up this movement in these key interest categories between 2020 and 2021. While nearly 36% of new global supplement launches targeted immune health, nearly 26% of product launches were for cognition and mood support, 19% for digestive/liver health, and 14% targeted heart health.
Furthermore, 82% of consumers recognize the link between heart health and overall health, while 73% are interested in heart health products even when not suffering from any ailments, according to an FMCG Gurus survey from 2021. According to another 2021 FMCG Gurus survey, 75% of consumers recognize the link between cognitive health and overall health, while 66% are interested in mental health and wellness products when not suffering from specific health problems. In comparison, consumer interest in the gut microbiome is strong, with 72% realizing the link between digestive health and overall health and 66% interested in digestive health products, according to a 2020 survey from FMCG Gurus.
These recent surveys indicate that while immune is at the top of consumers’ minds, there is an understanding that overall health is interrelated. Taking a more holistic approach is important even when not suffering from many ailments.
NW: What role do dietary supplements and functional foods and beverages play in holistic health?
Tetzlaf: According to FMCG Gurus, 46% of global consumers are turning toward food to boost immune health, as they seek out products to support overall health and wellness beyond basic nutrition. Pre-pandemic, busy lifestyles juggling work, family, and extracurricular activity led to the rise in consumption of convenience foods and a diet that was not always the most nutritious. The pandemic slowed things down at home and travel, causing many to reexamine their relationship with food while eating at home.
The good news is that food and beverage manufacturers responded and reinvented snacking and quenching thirst by developing innovative products that are healthier and often packed with functional ingredients. In 2021, FMCG Gurus reported that 67% of global consumers now want snacks that combine taste and offer a nutritional boost.
Consumers responded to these new “better-for-you” products on the market, and 67% of North Americans consider themselves adventurous when it comes to trying new products available in the market, according to the same FMCG Gurus report. Furthermore, 59% of North Americans have adjusted their snacking habits from traditional products to products that are simultaneously tasty and nutritious.
This demand for functional foods and beverages that offer great taste and nutrition has led to increased interest in active ingredients that can be easily incorporated into food while offering that boost in health. And while functional foods and beverages expect to grow strong, dietary supplements had a CAGR of 9.7% between 2016 and 2021, offering benefits in all areas of health. One exciting area to watch in the supplement category is the interest in “longevity vitamins,” which may be key to overall health and may increase healthspan.
NW: Renowned biochemist Dr. Bruce Ames has compiled a list of “longevity vitamins.” Would you explain what that means and how Blue California is tapping into science-backed nutrients to improve healthspan?
Linda May-Zhang, PhD, Research, Science and Innovation Officer: According to Dr. Ames, “longevity vitamins” are nutrients shown to be critical for long-term health. Adequate consumption of these nutrients is key to healthy aging. When the body faces a shortage of these key nutrients, it rations them to maintain critical functions for survival but at the expense of long-term health. An ongoing deficiency of these longevity vitamins within the body poses higher risks of chronic diseases and premature aging.
The list of longevity vitamins includes well-known vitamins like vitamin A, the B vitamins, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, and calcium, among others. The list also includes less-known molecules like ergothioneine and pyrroloquinoline (PQQ). Ergothioneine is a histidine-like amino acid enriched in mushrooms with potent antioxidant properties. As we age, levels of ergothioneine in the body drop. This decline is thought to contribute to the risk of cognitive impairment and a reduction in brain health. PQQ is a multi-functional polyphenol naturally found in soil bacteria and enriched in various fruits and vegetables. Many human studies suggest that PQQ may support mitochondrial health, brain health, energy, quality of life, and skin health.
Blue California has tapped into the science of these longevity vitamins and offers high-quality and dependable sources of ergothioneine and PQQ to combat aging and improve healthspan. Blue California’s ErgoActive® L-ergothioneine and PQQActive® pyrroloquinoline are sustainably produced by proprietary fermentation methods and available for incorporation into functional food and beverages or as a dietary supplement.
As a science-backed company, Blue California has also recently published a first-of-its-kind in vitro study that ErgoActive® can preserve the length of telomeres, a hallmark for aging. We are also sponsoring a randomized, double-blind clinical trial investigating the effect of ErgoActive® supplementation on cognition in healthy adult subjects.
NW: What are some other ingredients that are gaining recognition for their benefits to longevity?
May-Zhang: Other ingredients gaining recognition for their benefits to longevity include vitamin K2 and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). While vitamin K1 may be more familiar to consumers, vitamin K2 is gaining traction, potentially due to exciting emerging science. Multiple clinical trials support its benefits in maintaining or improving bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. In addition, a recent prospective cohort study published in JAHA examined >50,000 participants who took part in 23 years of follow-up found that a diet rich in vitamin K2 was inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease-associated hospitalizations. This illustrates the significance of dietary vitamin K2 to heart health.
NMN has also been popular in the longevity space, although sources of the NMN raw material are often adulterated on the market. NMN is a derivative of vitamin B3 and a precursor to NAD+, which plays a critical role in how the body converts energy from nutrients. As we age, our levels of NAD+ in the body drop and are associated with a variety of age-related health problems. NMN supplementation to boost NAD+ levels show promise in combating these problems, such as increasing muscle function in older men and insulin sensitivity in older women.
Blue California offers high-quality sources of vitamin K2, both in the MK-4 and MK-7 isoforms, made by a proprietary fermentation method. Also, we are developing our proprietary source of high-purity NMN, which is paired with our microencapsulation technology for improved potential benefits.
NW: Mushrooms seem to be popping up in many applications? What’s behind this trend?
May-Zhang: The mushroom market is indeed mushrooming. According to an Allied Market Research report, the global mushroom market generated $7.98 billion in 2020 and is estimated to reach $19.33 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 9.3% from 2021 to 2030. Mushrooms have surged in functional food and beverage applications like coffee, dairy products, vegan meats, dietary supplements, personal care, and cosmetic applications.
Between 2020 and 2021, the overall use of mushrooms in supplements increased 52% CAGR and witnessed an 87% CAGR between 2020 and 2021 in the functional beverage category, according to Innova Market Insights. Some of the main areas of interest with mushrooms include brain and mood, with a 95% increase in product launches between the same period. Other strong areas of interest based on product launches include immune health, energy and stamina, digestive health, and mental acuity.
Many cultures have traditionally used mushrooms for their health-promoting and medicinal properties. Mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants, essential vitamins, fiber, and essential amino acids. As introduced above, mushrooms are also the best source of ergothioneine, which has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
While one can significantly benefit from increasing their dietary intake of mushrooms, not everyone may appreciate the taste of mushrooms or have dietary sensitivities. Blue California takes advantage of biological tools to produce ingredients naturally found in mushrooms, such as ergothioneine, without extracting them from mushrooms themselves. The end product is a high-quality, reliable, and pure compound free of mushroom parts, allowing formulators to incorporate a nature-based ingredient that contains some of the benefits of consuming mushrooms without using mushrooms themselves.
NW: Can you discuss Blue California’s recent telomere study and why this should interest formulators?
May-Zhang: Telomeres are the end protective caps of chromosomes. With aging, telomeres get shorter, which is a marker of cellular aging and loss of cellular function. Preserving telomere length has long been a focus of anti-aging research. Blue California has published in a first-of-its-kind in vitro study that ErgoActive® reduced telomere shortening by 27-52% by four weeks compared to cells not treated with ergothioneine. ErgoActive® also transiently increased telomerase activity, the enzyme responsible for lengthening telomeres.
Preserving telomere length is another tool for formulators to develop products to meet the growing demand from consumers seeking products to improve their healthspan, and Blue California will continue to support research with ErgoActive®. Download a copy of the ErgoActive® whitepaper here.
David Tetzlaf, Marketing Director: For more than 25 years, Blue California provided ingredient solutions as a manufacturer of clean, natural, and sustainable ingredients for use in dietary supplements, food and beverage, flavor, fragrance, and personal care and cosmetics.
In the past two years, Blue California has undergone a renaissance as we transition from natural extracts and botanicals to an industry leader in unique, science-backed ingredients that provide significant advantages over existing analogs. Our expanded offering of ingredient solutions produced via fermentation and enzymatic conversion target several areas of health, such as cognition and mood, healthy aging, immune health, bone health, solutions for food preservation, personal care, and much more.
These ingredient innovations are sustainably produced and offer alternatives to ingredients that are often synthetically produced or only found in minute quantities in nature, making them too rare or wasteful to extract. Coupling our sustainably produced ingredients with our ongoing clinical studies that Blue California is investing in, we have solutions for almost any new product development project. This mission fits our vision to supply sustainably produced ingredients for a healthy mind, body, and skin.
NW: In recent years, the intense focus on health has spotlighted a shift toward holistic approaches to wellbeing. Can you shed light on that consumer point of view and what it means to approach health holistically?
Tetzlaf: While immunity is at the forefront of health concerns for global consumers now and well into the future, there is strong interest in a more holistic approach to wellbeing for long-term health and longevity. According to a 2021 survey by FMCG Gurus in June of 2021, 61% of global consumers are more conscious about preventing health problems by living a healthier lifestyle. Consumers are more proactive and take a personalized and preventative approach while recognizing that cardiovascular health, digestive health, and cognitive health are all linked to good overall health.
New product launches tracked by Innova Market Insights back up this movement in these key interest categories between 2020 and 2021. While nearly 36% of new global supplement launches targeted immune health, nearly 26% of product launches were for cognition and mood support, 19% for digestive/liver health, and 14% targeted heart health.
Furthermore, 82% of consumers recognize the link between heart health and overall health, while 73% are interested in heart health products even when not suffering from any ailments, according to an FMCG Gurus survey from 2021. According to another 2021 FMCG Gurus survey, 75% of consumers recognize the link between cognitive health and overall health, while 66% are interested in mental health and wellness products when not suffering from specific health problems. In comparison, consumer interest in the gut microbiome is strong, with 72% realizing the link between digestive health and overall health and 66% interested in digestive health products, according to a 2020 survey from FMCG Gurus.
These recent surveys indicate that while immune is at the top of consumers’ minds, there is an understanding that overall health is interrelated. Taking a more holistic approach is important even when not suffering from many ailments.
NW: What role do dietary supplements and functional foods and beverages play in holistic health?
Tetzlaf: According to FMCG Gurus, 46% of global consumers are turning toward food to boost immune health, as they seek out products to support overall health and wellness beyond basic nutrition. Pre-pandemic, busy lifestyles juggling work, family, and extracurricular activity led to the rise in consumption of convenience foods and a diet that was not always the most nutritious. The pandemic slowed things down at home and travel, causing many to reexamine their relationship with food while eating at home.
The good news is that food and beverage manufacturers responded and reinvented snacking and quenching thirst by developing innovative products that are healthier and often packed with functional ingredients. In 2021, FMCG Gurus reported that 67% of global consumers now want snacks that combine taste and offer a nutritional boost.
Consumers responded to these new “better-for-you” products on the market, and 67% of North Americans consider themselves adventurous when it comes to trying new products available in the market, according to the same FMCG Gurus report. Furthermore, 59% of North Americans have adjusted their snacking habits from traditional products to products that are simultaneously tasty and nutritious.
This demand for functional foods and beverages that offer great taste and nutrition has led to increased interest in active ingredients that can be easily incorporated into food while offering that boost in health. And while functional foods and beverages expect to grow strong, dietary supplements had a CAGR of 9.7% between 2016 and 2021, offering benefits in all areas of health. One exciting area to watch in the supplement category is the interest in “longevity vitamins,” which may be key to overall health and may increase healthspan.
NW: Renowned biochemist Dr. Bruce Ames has compiled a list of “longevity vitamins.” Would you explain what that means and how Blue California is tapping into science-backed nutrients to improve healthspan?
Linda May-Zhang, PhD, Research, Science and Innovation Officer: According to Dr. Ames, “longevity vitamins” are nutrients shown to be critical for long-term health. Adequate consumption of these nutrients is key to healthy aging. When the body faces a shortage of these key nutrients, it rations them to maintain critical functions for survival but at the expense of long-term health. An ongoing deficiency of these longevity vitamins within the body poses higher risks of chronic diseases and premature aging.
The list of longevity vitamins includes well-known vitamins like vitamin A, the B vitamins, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, and calcium, among others. The list also includes less-known molecules like ergothioneine and pyrroloquinoline (PQQ). Ergothioneine is a histidine-like amino acid enriched in mushrooms with potent antioxidant properties. As we age, levels of ergothioneine in the body drop. This decline is thought to contribute to the risk of cognitive impairment and a reduction in brain health. PQQ is a multi-functional polyphenol naturally found in soil bacteria and enriched in various fruits and vegetables. Many human studies suggest that PQQ may support mitochondrial health, brain health, energy, quality of life, and skin health.
Blue California has tapped into the science of these longevity vitamins and offers high-quality and dependable sources of ergothioneine and PQQ to combat aging and improve healthspan. Blue California’s ErgoActive® L-ergothioneine and PQQActive® pyrroloquinoline are sustainably produced by proprietary fermentation methods and available for incorporation into functional food and beverages or as a dietary supplement.
As a science-backed company, Blue California has also recently published a first-of-its-kind in vitro study that ErgoActive® can preserve the length of telomeres, a hallmark for aging. We are also sponsoring a randomized, double-blind clinical trial investigating the effect of ErgoActive® supplementation on cognition in healthy adult subjects.
NW: What are some other ingredients that are gaining recognition for their benefits to longevity?
May-Zhang: Other ingredients gaining recognition for their benefits to longevity include vitamin K2 and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). While vitamin K1 may be more familiar to consumers, vitamin K2 is gaining traction, potentially due to exciting emerging science. Multiple clinical trials support its benefits in maintaining or improving bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. In addition, a recent prospective cohort study published in JAHA examined >50,000 participants who took part in 23 years of follow-up found that a diet rich in vitamin K2 was inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease-associated hospitalizations. This illustrates the significance of dietary vitamin K2 to heart health.
NMN has also been popular in the longevity space, although sources of the NMN raw material are often adulterated on the market. NMN is a derivative of vitamin B3 and a precursor to NAD+, which plays a critical role in how the body converts energy from nutrients. As we age, our levels of NAD+ in the body drop and are associated with a variety of age-related health problems. NMN supplementation to boost NAD+ levels show promise in combating these problems, such as increasing muscle function in older men and insulin sensitivity in older women.
Blue California offers high-quality sources of vitamin K2, both in the MK-4 and MK-7 isoforms, made by a proprietary fermentation method. Also, we are developing our proprietary source of high-purity NMN, which is paired with our microencapsulation technology for improved potential benefits.
NW: Mushrooms seem to be popping up in many applications? What’s behind this trend?
May-Zhang: The mushroom market is indeed mushrooming. According to an Allied Market Research report, the global mushroom market generated $7.98 billion in 2020 and is estimated to reach $19.33 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 9.3% from 2021 to 2030. Mushrooms have surged in functional food and beverage applications like coffee, dairy products, vegan meats, dietary supplements, personal care, and cosmetic applications.
Between 2020 and 2021, the overall use of mushrooms in supplements increased 52% CAGR and witnessed an 87% CAGR between 2020 and 2021 in the functional beverage category, according to Innova Market Insights. Some of the main areas of interest with mushrooms include brain and mood, with a 95% increase in product launches between the same period. Other strong areas of interest based on product launches include immune health, energy and stamina, digestive health, and mental acuity.
Many cultures have traditionally used mushrooms for their health-promoting and medicinal properties. Mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants, essential vitamins, fiber, and essential amino acids. As introduced above, mushrooms are also the best source of ergothioneine, which has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
While one can significantly benefit from increasing their dietary intake of mushrooms, not everyone may appreciate the taste of mushrooms or have dietary sensitivities. Blue California takes advantage of biological tools to produce ingredients naturally found in mushrooms, such as ergothioneine, without extracting them from mushrooms themselves. The end product is a high-quality, reliable, and pure compound free of mushroom parts, allowing formulators to incorporate a nature-based ingredient that contains some of the benefits of consuming mushrooms without using mushrooms themselves.
NW: Can you discuss Blue California’s recent telomere study and why this should interest formulators?
May-Zhang: Telomeres are the end protective caps of chromosomes. With aging, telomeres get shorter, which is a marker of cellular aging and loss of cellular function. Preserving telomere length has long been a focus of anti-aging research. Blue California has published in a first-of-its-kind in vitro study that ErgoActive® reduced telomere shortening by 27-52% by four weeks compared to cells not treated with ergothioneine. ErgoActive® also transiently increased telomerase activity, the enzyme responsible for lengthening telomeres.
Preserving telomere length is another tool for formulators to develop products to meet the growing demand from consumers seeking products to improve their healthspan, and Blue California will continue to support research with ErgoActive®. Download a copy of the ErgoActive® whitepaper here.
