Roquette backs chlorella for digestive health
The company has been working with supplements contract manufacturer, 3I Nature, and will present a 500ml liquid prototype in Geneva that is blended with its Nutriose prebiotic fibres. A patent has been filed for the blend.
The study showed increased antioxidant activity in stools with the fibre stimulating enzyme activity in the colon with Roquette stating it promoted, “hydrolysis of the chlorella wall and releasing antioxidant ingredients like vitamins and carotenoids”.
Dried chlorella is typically 45% protein, 20%fat, 20% carbohydrate, 5% fibre, and 10% vitamins and minerals. Roquette produces it in a closed cell facility in France which it says guarantees, “high bacteriological quality and a reproducible composition.”
Company spokesperson Christine Monat wouldn’t expand on the details of the study or give price estimates due to variability in volcumes, but was optimistic about potential response at the Vitafoods Finished Products Expo.
Called ‘Chlorella 2D’, Roquette said the product, “is designed for laboratories and food supplement marketers looking for new approaches to digestive comfort.”
Roquette’s foray into microalgae began in 2007 when it bought into and then acquired the BPS microalgae plant in Klötze, Germany.
The French government gave support to the project to develop the micro-algae sector around a project called Algohub which involved 14 commercial and technical partners and the French government agency Oseo
Roquette can produce the extracts locally now.
Studies, claims
Dr Catherine Lefranc-Millot, group scientific communication manager for nutrition at Roquette, pointed to the increasing specificity of the claims; to health effects, “that are potentially more targeted and scientifically proven, even though additional studies still have to be conducted regarding the new concept."
Didier Peycelon, sales and marketing director at 3I Nature said the partnership could deliver innovative products that respected regulatory constraints.
“The Chlorella 2D offer is a precise illustration of the kind of project the partnership wants to focus on. With active ingredients characterised and perfectly traced by Roquette, 3I Nature provides the development and manufacturing expertise that makes it possible to offer food supplement market players a reliable concept based on sound claims.”
“With Chlorella 2D, our common customers and prospects have the benefit of a formula conceived in terms of the European regulatory regime, and positioned to address the constantly-growing digestive detoxifier market.”
