Slideshows

Slideshow: Six Antioxidants on the Rise

Look for these ingredients to continue on a positive trajectory.

1. Green Tea

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, and the market is growing considerably. While production of black teas is growing 3.9% annually, according to Amadee+Company, production of green teas is growing 11% annually and herbal teas production is growing more than 15% each year.

According to SPINS, green teas and supplements—rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—grew 30.5% to $461.9 million across natural and conventional departments for the 52 weeks ending Dec. 21, 2013.

2. Turmeric/Curcumin

Research on turmeric’s key antioxidant, curcumin, continues to develop in several areas, including the modulation of inflammation and cellular health. Recognition has helped propel turmeric/curcumin into the top 10 best-selling supplements in the U.S. at $108 million in 2012, according to Nutrition Business Journal, which projected sales to reach $235 million by 2016, with a CAGR of 21.5%.

Curcumin functions primarily as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, demonstrating functional health benefits in several high growth nutraceutical markets, according to Dr. Elizabeth Sloan of Sloan Trends, Inc., including immunity, joint/arthritis, blood-sugar control/diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, heart health, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and liver health.

3. Lutein

Lutein sales reached $58.8 million (up 12.5%) for 2013, according to SPINS data. Solid science supporting eye/vision health and a robust public awareness campaign from OmniActive Health Technologies, dubbed “Lutein for Every Age,” have helped bring this important carotenoid into the spotlight.

According to a recent consumer study by HealthFocus International (2013), Americans rank eye health among their top three health concerns, behind heart health and cognition.

4. Pterostilbene

Closely related to resveratrol in chemical structure, pterostilbene is found in blueberries and grapes, offering potential health benefits for the heart, brain, blood sugar and age-related diseases.

With more clinical trials underway involving blueberries and brain health, expect positive outcomes to help propel pterostilbene, especially with resveratrol sales sliding about 11% in 2013, according to SPINS data.

5. Cocoa

Cocoa flavanols have been well documented to improve circulation—one of the most sought after, and fastest growing new health markets in the nutraceuticals industry, according to Dr. Sloan. Sales of cocoa extract grew 305% in 2013, according to SPINS, and there’s room for further growth.

6. Astaxanthin

A rapidly emerging carotenoid with unique anti-inflammatory and cell membrane functions, astaxanthin plays a role in supporting eye and heart health, among other benefits.

Companies have drawn a line in the sand between natural and synthetic versions recently, priming a deeper conversation about this potent antioxidant. Natural algae astaxanthin manufacturers Fuji Chemical Industry (AstaReal), Algatechnologies (AstaPure) and Cyanotech Corporation, (BioAstin) formed the Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association (NAXA) dedicated to educating the public and dietary supplement industry about the health benefits of natural astaxanthin and differences between sources.

As companies solidify their supply chains astaxanthin could really take off.