N°64 - Marché /Nutrition clinique USA: Medical foods whet the appetite Medical foods inspire the industry despite the narrow de nition laid down by the FDA Depression, sleep pro-blems, diabetic neu-ropathy, venous insuf-Finally, the ingredients they are for-mulated with must have the GRASstatus.costs are exploding in the UnitedStates and the medical-economicsystems are reaching saturation, ficiency, attention-deficit hype- Nevertheless, the candidates are these medical foods will probably ractivity disorder, obesity, Alzhei- not discouraged. In 2017, three be welcome. mer’s disease, osteoporosis, new players from totally different fi bromyalgia... these are some of backgrounds entered this sector Three carotenoids the diseases targeted by medical that they did not master. Ajinomoto to restore the foods (drinks, capsules, tablets...),Co, Inc. has acquired the Ame- macular pigment whose global market was esti- rican company Cambrooke The- mated at $16.8 billion in 2017. rapeutics, Inc., a specialist since Guardion Health Sciences (Cali- Nevertheless, this still emerging 2000 in nutritional solutions for fornia, USA) has developed market lacks visibility and credibi- subjects suffering from hereditary Lumega-Z, the fi rst medical food lity both amongst consumers and amino acid metabolism disorders, (prescription-based) aimed at res- 020 health professionals. and for those suffering from kidney toring and maintaining the macular Despite that, many US manufac- diseases or epilepsy. According to pigment, whose alteration is a risk turers consider that the marketing Ajinomoto, the market for foods factor for age-related macular of medical foods is an interesting dedicated to people with heredi- degeneration. It is composed of option because they are exempt tary metabolic diseases accounts over 35 micronutrients with antioxi- from the requirements regarding for 40% of the medical foods dant properties and three essential food supplements (FDA autho- market in the United States and carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and rization required for marketing). is growing at an annual rate of its stereoisomer, meso-zeaxanthin, However, they must meet a spe- 10%. BASF is also entering this which is the macular pigment and cifi c defi nition issued by the FDA sector through a partnership with cannot be synthesised by the in 2016 in section 5 (b) (3) of the DIEM Labs, LCC aimed at mar- body. On average, 20 mg of these Orphan Drug Act(21 U.S.C.360ee keting Hepaxa, the fi rst medical three carotenoids are necessary (b) (3)): “‘Food formulated for food for the treatment of patients on a daily basis. Its micronized consumption or oral administra- with nonalcoholic steatohepa- liquid formula (90% absorption) tion under the supervision of a titis. “ With this product, BASF is is consumed diluted in a drink. physician and intended for the entering a new market segment This medical food combines a speci c dietary management of which is midway between human medical device, the MapcatSF,® a disease or condition for which nutrition and the pharmaceutical which measures the density of the distinct nutritional requirements industry,” said François Scheffl er, macular pigment. With the recent based on scientific principles Head of Global Business, BASF. acquisition of VectorVision, which recognized, are established by Frutarom (acquired by IFF) has specializes in equipment for the a medical evaluation.”A defi ni- taken over Enzymotec, an Israeli early diagnostic of eye diseases tion which is so narrow that few company that offers ingredients such as diabetic retinopathy, Guar- product categories (foods or sup- for the seniors, infant nutrition dion Health Sciences will be able plements) can meet its require- and food supplements such as the to scientifi cally evaluate its medical ments except for those designed Vaya range that targets memory food and explore other eye condi- to meet the needs of subjects suf- disorders and the hyperactivity tions.■ fering from hereditary metabolic syndrome. diseases such as phenylketonuria. Considering that the healthcare https://guardionhealth.com/ ■ / Juillet - Août - Septembre 2018 / N°64 / L’Actualité desIngrédients Fonctionnels & Santé