The new supplement, called Alomune, has as its active ingredient extracts from the wood of the Minnesota Larch tree. Alomune will be offered in chocolate chews and berry-flavored stick packs. Recently, a marketing expert contacted by NutraIngredients-USA identified these as some of the delivery formats that are especially attractive to Gen-Y consumers.
Alomune’s active, larch arabionogalactan, is a polysaccharide that has been featured in dietary supplements for many years. The substance functions as a dietary fiber, and so gives rise to favorable fermentation byproducts in the gut. It also has a similar ORAC value per 100 grams to pomegranate, according to the company.
Lonza has conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on more than 200 subjects. The company said that 57% of participants stayed healthier in the Alomnue group than in the placebo group.
This lends backing to Lonza’s message for Alomune, namely, that it can be used as a daily, immune system booster.
"Unlike many other immune products currently available to consumers, Alomune is meant to be taken daily, when you do feel well,” said Marshall Fong, consumer marketing director for Lonza.