Mythocondro, the non-animal chondroitin sulfate (CS) produced by fermentation, is a finalist in the Healthy Ageing category at the NutraIngredients Awards 2017.
The NutraIngredients Awards are a celebration of novel, cutting-edge research and excellence, which takes place each year alongside Vitafoods Europe.
Being a finalist recognises Mythocondro's ambitious target of being able to provide an animal-free CS product.
The Awards ceremony will take place on 10th May at the Starling Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland.
Healthy ageing
Globally, the silver generation is growing faster than any other age group.
Between 2015 and 2030, the number of people in the world aged 60 or older is projected to grow by 56%, from 901 million to 1.4 billion.
By 2050, the global population of elderly people is expected to more than double in size, compared with 2015, reaching nearly 2.1 billion.
“Healthy ageing” has now been defined by the 1st World Health Organisation global report as a “process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.”
It is related to fighting against risk factors for maintaining the functionality ability that enables well-being in older age.
A major driver of the chondroitin sulfate market is osteoarthritis (OA). The disease commonly impacts joints that have been subjected to long-term stress, such as the knees, hips, fingers and lower spine, leading to pain and loss of function.
In the US, 19 million are thought to be affected by osteoarthritis. Furthermore, according to the WHO, the condition will become the fourth most common cause of disability in the world by 2020 because of the progressive ageing of the population.
From animal to plant
Chondroitin sulfate helps to improve pain and functional capacity in people with osteoarthritis. The clinical benefits of long-term administration of CS have been established in human trials for OA and joint health.
The global industrial production of chondroitin sulfate has traditionally relied on animal sources as a raw material, including porcine, bovine, avian and fish, including shark cartilage.
A recent meta-analysis has demonstrated variable effects on osteoarthritis symptoms yielding conflicting results, mainly because of the high variability and poor quality of products used (depending on the animal source).
The key factor that earned Mythocondro an award nomination was being a vegetarian alternative of chondroitin sulfate, free from the problem of potential safety issues associated with animal-derived CS, with significantly higher effectiveness in joint disease.
Mythocondro
- Produced by a natural fermentation process
- Very low protein content
- Homogeneous structure similar to human chondroitin found in synovial fluid
- A once-a-day dosage alternative to larger CS pills that need to be taken 2 times a day
- High purity
- Low molecular weight and enhanced bioavailability
- Alternative for people with dietary and religious restrictions
The product also features easy handling and storage, ideally suited for a broad range of products, including: capsules and soft-gels for dietary supplements, conventional foods such as beverages and beverage bases, milk and milk products and chewing gum.