MYCONDRO non-animal chondroitin banner promoting the whitepaper “Move better. Move more. Move longer.”
Vitafoods Europe 2026

Vitafoods Europe 2026: Spotlight on healthy aging, women’s wellness and new product formats

At the recent Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show, longevity, women’s health, delivery formats, the gut microbiome, and metabolic wellness took center stage. Industry players showcased new ingredients and consumer-centric formats to meet demand for proactive and targeted health solutions. On the show floor, Nutrition Insight explored the top trends in nutrition with experts from Sirio, Lallemand Health Solutions, Kerry, Rousselot, Lubrizol Nutraceuticals, and IFF Health Sciences. 
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How probiotics and holistic health innovations revolutionize stress and sleep solutions
The nutrition industry highlights that sleep and stress management are increasingly recognized as interconnected processes, driving demand for innovations along the gut-brain axis and personalized solutions. Moreover, consumers seek natural and science-backed solutions with long-term well-being benefits that offer sustainable improvements in sleep quality and stress resilience. Nutrition Insight dives into the developments and science behind sleep solutions and calm enhancers with Novonesis, Clasado Biosciences, Nektium, TriNutra, Arjuna Natural, and Probi. 
woman in the gym hydrating
Gatorade aims to close critical knowledge gap in women’s health with multiyear research
Gatorade, a Pepsi company, has introduced Body of Science — a multiyear research commitment to help close the science gap in women’s health. The research will be driven by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI), with aims to provide knowledge on what the female body needs in terms of hydration and nutrition, inside and outside of sports. Women have different nutritional needs at different life stages, including throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
Natural skincare oils in glass bottles with dropper, surrounded by eucalyptus leaves and white powder on a clean neutral background
MenaQ7® — The Natural, Clinically Proven Vitamin K2, Backed by Nearly Two Decades of Clinical Evidence
Access the comprehensive scientific whitepaper on MenaQ7®, the world's most clinically proven natural Vitamin K2. From established benefits in bone and cardiovascular health to emerging research areas — all the evidence designed for R&D, product development teams, scientific affairs, purchasing departments, and brand owners who require evidence-graded data to support formulation decisions.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Gnosis by Lesaffre.
Vitafoods Europe 2026 recap
Vitafoods Europe 2026 recap: Key trends in gut-brain axis, functional formats and healthy aging 

Innovation in the nutrition industry is shifting toward personalized, science-backed solutions that fit into everyday life. Nutrition Insight discussed what’s next in longevity, gut health, women’s wellness, and beauty-from-within with experts from ADM, Lallemand Bio-Ingredients, Sirio, Novonesis, Rousselot, Nexira, and FrieslandCampina Ingredients on the Vitafoods show floor.

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Vitafoods Europe 2026 review
The nutrition industry highlighted its latest innovations and scientific advances at this year’s Vitafoods Europe (May 5–7) in Barcelona, Spain. Longevity, women’s health, metabolic health beyond weight loss, hydration, and nutricosmetics stood out as key trends driving research and product development in the industry. Companies also presented sensory-driven delivery formats beyond pills and capsules for consumers who seek flavorful solutions that combine efficacy with convenience.

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Rise of water stacking: From social media trend to functional beverage...
ActivatedYou Morning Complete
The popularity of functional beverages has launched regular water beyond simple hydration into sophisticated formats with added health benefits. This has given rise to the “water stacking” trend, where consumers blend multiple health powders into their water for various benefits. ActivatedYou, specializing in all-in-one health drinks, believes the segment still has room to innovate, as consumers continue to seek out convenience in their daily wellness rituals. Nutrition Insight speaks to Will Villella, microbiologist and head of product development for ActivatedYou, about the evolution of the water stacking trend and how its trajectory has influenced product development around adaptogenic and gut-healthy formulas.
New OTC report reveals top nutrition supplements driving health trends in 2026
woman's hand holding supplements
U.S. News & World Report has published its fourth annual Best OTC (over-the-counter) Medicine & Health Products report for 2026–2027, which includes 128 product categories, of which 11 are new segments tapping into the growing demand for specialized health products. The report is made in a continued partnership with the US-based global market research firm The Harris Poll, and surveyed 357 pharmacists and 129 dermatologists. Respondents helped determine the rankings by choosing the top three brands for various product categories that they would recommend to consumers.
SuanNutra USA to distribute TetraSOD marine microalgae for cell health &...
Marine microalgae powder
Nutraceutical ingredients company SuanNutra USA has finalized a distribution agreement with Spanish biotech company Fitoplancton Marino to supply its microalgae-based ingredient TetraSOD across North America. The marine bioactive complex offers clinically backed benefits in cellular and metabolic health, with demonstrated benefits in body composition and energy metabolism. Derived from the microalgae Tetraselmis chuii, the patented ingredient delivers high enzymatic activity alongside a diverse matrix of bioactive compounds. The “SOD” in TetraSOD refers to superoxide dismutase, a naturally occurring enzyme in oxygen-breathing organisms that plays a central role in the human body’s antioxidant defense system.
FrieslandCampina Ingredients opens US application center for protein and...
Person testing yogurts
FrieslandCampina Ingredients has opened a new application center in New Jersey, US, to accelerate regional product innovation. The company says this move marks a “significant step forward” in its technical capabilities in North America by bringing R&D resources closer to its customers in the region, enabling faster creation of specialized solutions that meet changing consumer demand. The new facility targets “high-growth categories,” such as ready-to-drink (RTD) and ready-to-mix (RTM) beverages, protein bars, and functional snacks. 
Human milk fortifiers in Japan: From supplements to essential medicine for...
Enteral feeding tube
Human milk fortifiers are increasingly seen as essential products in medical nutrition in Japan, as they are added to mother’s or donor milk fed to premature babies to boost nutrients. While government subsidies are dismantling barriers to accessing these products, breakthrough clinical research underscores their essential role in brain support. Early growth is no longer a matter of weight gain, but is a critical window for neurodevelopmental health. Nutrition Insight speaks to Melinda Eliott, MD, neonatologist and chief medical officer at Prolacta Bioscience, about the latest regulatory shifts propelling the sector in Japan, including the country’s decision to classify these products as subsidized prescription medicines. She also highlights emerging European guidelines that treat such products as a vital Substance of Human Origin.
“Innovation at origin”: IFF’s Madagascar hub to boost vanilla R&D and resilience
female scientist smelling vanilla

Food Ingredients First

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has opened a vanilla innovation center in Madagascar to enhance its ability to “innovate at origin” by tracking vanilla’s journey from extraction to flavor creation. The innovation hub will reportedly help the flavor giant strengthen the sustainability and resilience of one of the world’s most complex natural ingredients.
Highlighted features
April in Review
Nutrition & Health News
April in review: GLP-1 nutrition trends, agroecology for...
GLP-1 therapies, demand for affordable, nutrient-dense foods, and new supplement formats spurred nutrition innovations in April. Agroecology and micronutrient supplementation emerged as solutions for nutrition security, while debates on regulating processed foods continued. Meanwhile, ongoing industry consolidation signaled a shift to strategic investments in health-focused brands.  In our April review, Nutrition Insight dives into some of the month’s biggest stories, such as an update on developments in nutritional strategies around GLP-1 use and expert-led calls for tailored programs for menopausal women to prevent muscle loss. 
sporty woman drinking functional beverage
Key interview
Prinova explores how GLP-1 drugs drive demand for protein...
The range of functional beverages is expanding as new demands appear in the market. GLP-1 drugs are growing in popularity and influencing how supplemental nutrition is moving from foods and snacks into hydration solutions. An increased health-consciousness among consumers leads them to seek more nutrients from drinks.Nutrition Insight sits down with Nirmal Patel, R&D scientist II at Prinova, to discuss hydration trends, the importance of setting an intended market, and how functional beverages are tapping into GLP-1 solutions.
Old lady dancing with other women during group training in studio
Nutrition & Health News
Supplement industry demands human trials to prove ageless...
With a growing aging population and consumers seeking nutrition solutions to accompany their healthy aging journey, the question of product validity among longevity supplements is coming into conversation. Nutrition Insight explores the biggest gaps between current ageless vitality claims on the market and the level of clinical or real-world evidence needed to support them with Valio, Akay Bioactives, Sirio Europe, Gnosis by Lesaffre, and Balchem Human Nutrition and Health.

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Winning active consumers: Engaging textures & bold flavors in sports nutritionMay2026

Innova Market Insights data reveals that flavor strongly influences consumers’ choices in active nutrition. New taste discovery and texture also matter when consumers are active, whether through sport...

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ADM

Product innovation

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Functional ingredient boosts May 2026

Functional ingredients are rapidly moving from niche to mainstream, with brands layering multiple benefits, energy, cognition, hydration, and beauty into single products. This reflects growing consumer demand for convenient, multifunctional solutions that support both physical performance and holistic well-being.

Trend analysis

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Sleep & calm enhancersMay 2026

Consumers globally continue to prioritize mental well-being, with stress and sleep as top concerns. The market responds with a stable growth of 2% CAGR in supplement launches for insomnia and/or brain-mood health between April 2021 and March 2026.

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Vitafoods Europe 2026 recap
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Vitafoods Europe 2026 recap: Key trends in gut-brain axis, functional formats and healthy aging 

Innovation in the nutrition industry is shifting toward personalized, science-backed solutions that fit into everyday life. Nutrition Insight discussed what’s next in longevity, gut health, women’s wellness, and beauty-from-within with experts from ADM, Lallemand...

Marie Breneo, Gnosis by Lesaffre
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Vitafoods Europe 2026: Gnosis by Lesaffre’s innovations in women’s health and mobility
Floor van der Horst, FrieslandCampina Ingredients
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Vitafoods Europe 2026: FrieslandCampina Ingredients spotlights protein trends in active nutrition
Anneleen Spooren, dsm-firmenich, Vitafoods Europe 2026, Preventative Health, Holistic Longevity, Health Expectancy, Life Expectancy, Biological Age, Nutraceuticals, Life’s Omega 60, Plant-Based Omega-
Video07:32
Vitafoods Europe 2026: dsm-firmenich’s preventative health solutions for holistic longevity
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