Health throughout life Vitality is the second largest segment of food supplement sales over the past year, has recorded double-digit growth (+ 14%) and reached a turnover of more than 256 million euros. This segment is ranked third on the growth podium, behind the balance (+ 33%) and immunity (+ 31%) indications. ealth has been at the heart of are being developed. Producers, breeders, our concerns over the last few industrialists and scientists are pooling their months, in this particular year efforts to meet the needs of our consumers. of health crisis. So what are the From soil protection to the plate for the pre- strategies today for a long and healthy life? vention of chronic diseases. A global and The COVID experiment has shown that multifactorial approach, which does not for- viruses are stronger the weaker we are, pla- get pleasure, the essential motor for ensu- cing immunity at the heart of the reactor. ring continuity, compliance and therefore Col lective immunity, even, as an indispen- efficiency. sable element in overcoming this crisis. But more individual ly, immunity, specific EXPERTS OPINION to each individual, is fed by energy and es- sential nutrients. Food and nutrition are From very different backgrounds, three the key words. Preventive food, barrier nu- speakers, each an expert in their own trition: concepts that were neglected du- field, il lustrate this new dynamic of ring this epidemic and that should no lon- eating better and eating wel l, and in a ger be neglected if history were to repeat doubly sustainable way in time and in 70% itself.nutrition and diet are not enough, but theyModestly and cautiously,of course, environment. do play an essential role. Nutrients of inte- Pierre Weill, head of the Bleu-Blanc-Cœur of sales of vitality rest such as vitamins and minerals, as wel l association, has been trying to improve the supplements are as polyunsaturated fatty acids, are increa- nutritional density of our food for 20 years. made through the pharmaceutical singly sought after on our plates, and in Treating the land, diversifying plant crops, channel. food supplements or other nutraceuticals. balancing animal feed, not to mention Why is this so? Because despite their sta- clinical tests, are al l complementary tus as guarantors of our health, they are missions in this task. nonetheless deficient in our bodies. Let’s take the example of vitamin D: 80% of the Kevin Charras is interested in people French population has a level of less than 30 and their behaviour in the Living Lab on ng/ml and 50% less than 20 ng/ml, whereas Ageing and Vulnerability at the University the recommended levels are 20 to 30. The Hospital of Rennes. When beyond situation is not much better for omega-3s. nutrients, nutrition is a vector of emotions The omega-3 index of Western populations and meaning, inseparable parts of our varies between 4 and 8%; the Japanese and health. Koreans have a good index varying between 8 and 12%. However, a recent meta-analysis Xavier Terlet, expert in food innovation and showed that having a high level of ome- food products (Protéines-XTC), analyses ga-3s reduced the mortality rate by 15 to and interprets how the search for vitality 18%, whatever the cause (cardiovascular di- can be translated into food products and seases, cancers, etc.; Harris et al., 2021). For responses to consumer expectations. plates that are ‘richer’ in nutrients that are Decoding the trends inspired by and for essential to our health, virtuous channels consumers. • secnerefnoC — secneréfnoC - 21 -