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  • Discover why well-being and digestive health remain as primary concerns among Thai consumers in 2024

    Discover why well-being and digestive health remain as primary concerns among Thai consumers in 2024

    Consider these factors when aiming to propel the next generation of food and beverage products in Thailand

    An aging population continues to drive the surge in demand for health and wellness products as the post-pandemic effect takes place resulting to greater market penetration for many health and wellness products. 1

    On the other hand, the younger generations’ increasing consciousness & high familiarity of certain functional ingredients helps to catapult the growth in demand of functional products such as plant-based protein beverages as weight control which has become the utmost concern for the younger generation.

    As the pandemic ends, Thai consumers began to enjoy life outside of the house again and it is notable that the change in behaviors results to the change in people needs in terms of the benefits that consumers expects when purchasing a certain food & beverage product. Certain matters such as the likes of immune related benefits have started to decline while protein, plant-based and skincare have taken the top spot among many Thai consumers.1

    The dietary practices of Thai consumers have also accelerated the growth of health and wellness products on the market as more Thais are focused on adding nutritious components to their diet instead of limiting certain nutritional choices such as high processed food etc. 1

    Figure 1: The global trend of major health concerns among different generations (Innova, 2023)

    Thai consumers are increasingly prioritizing healthy living through their dietary choices

    The global trend shows that there are indeed differences in the major health concerns that are considered by different generations. Worldwide, the boomers generation shows a higher health concern in regards to heart health while Gen X, Millennials & Gen Z prioritizes weight management as their major health concern followed by heart/skin health concerns. This worldwide shift in health concerns is a reflection of the increasing affordability concerns and limited time as key barriers when trying to consume healthier options. 2

    Therefore it is also no coincidence that the global health concern trends is also a reflection of many of Thai consumers’ major concerns. According to Mintel, 38% of Thai consumers adopts healthy living to improve physical performance while 28% do so out of mental wellbeing concerns. 2

    Interestingly, although many Thais agree to adapt healthy diet practices, many Thais are unsure of which healthy living is considered as additive rather than restrictive. 70% of Thais considers fruits and vegetables as good health habit while only a low 21% says the same for cutting/limiting animal consumption. 2

    What is quite compelling however is that nearly a quarter of Thais (24%) sets a goal to switch from consuming animal-based products to plant-based diet which means that for brands who can optimize this growth in trend should see significant growth in the market.

     

    Figure 2: The functional products in Thailand market with different product segmentations 3

    Body care & General wellbeing remains top of mind among a lot of Thai consumers

    As evident from the second figure, many Thai consumers still prioritize body care as post Covid-19, many consumers started to be more active in outdoor activities such as going to work & exercising, protein and body care focused products beings to recover.

    Interestingly, the rebound in protein products within the Thai market also drives a new market trend in the rapid growth of plant-based protein products across many OEM manufacturers as plant-based protein products are in line with the desire of many Thai consumers to shift towards plant-based eating.

    General wellbeing is also seeing a growth in demand as many Thai consumers becomes more proactive in consuming different ingredients such as multivitamin, plant extract as well as vitamin supplements. There is also no deny that immune health & general wellbeing remains as top of mind among Thai consumers when deciding to purchase supplements.3

    Intriguingly, on top of the large focus on body care & general wellbeing, skin focused products still sees a strong performance as it remains as the second most popular product as most of these products will come in powder format which can be produced in affordable size or sachets. 3

    How dietary fiber plays a major role in shaping up the dietary choices of Thai consumers

    Figure 3: How high fiber-high protein diet (HPF) using FiberCreme can be beneficial to control weight management in comparison to high protein diet (HPD) alone.4

    With many Thai consumers largely focusing on weight control, plant based as well as general wellbeing, dietary fiber becomes one of the most fundamental functional ingredient for many Thai consumers. Beyond its conventional use in gut health-related products like yogurt, fiber has found applications in a broad spectrum of products, ranging from functional beverages to meal replacement products.

    Despite the various health benefits, there are still gaping holes among many dietary fiber products that can leave many consumers feeling unsatisfied. Several factors such as low tolerate dosage that can result to the side effects of bloating or laxative effects, unverified health benefits as well as the typical bland taste can drive away consumers to consume dietary fiber products.

    Addressing the evolving demand for dietary fiber in various applications, LNK introduces FiberCremeTM, a distinctive unique prebiotic designed to meet the requirements of manufacturers and bridge existing gaps in dietary fiber options. This innovation aims to contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of dietary fiber utilization.

    FiberCremeTM brings a new portrait to the world of dietary fiber as it is high in dietary fiber but have a unique creamy taste profile which means it is able to enhance the taste profile of many food and beverage products. Moreover, FiberCreme is well tolerated up to 50-60 g/day with minimal risk of laxative effects for consumers. We also aim to prove the health benefits that FiberCreme brings through the various scientific clinical studies which has been published internationally.

    FiberCreme

    As the third figure shows, one of FiberCreme’s clinical study shows that the combination of high protein-high fiber diet using FiberCreme can result to better weight control performance as it resulted to a more significant reduction of body weight loss, body mass index & body fat percentage in comparison to consuming high protein diet only. 4

    This result is beneficial for manufacturers who are exploring to create functional products that contains high protein and with the combination of FiberCreme, it can prove to be a formidable combination that results to better weight management control. Moreover, FiberCreme is beneficial to act as masking agent in plant-based products or when combined with plant-based protein sources as it helps to mask “beaniness” or “nuttiness” that often arise in these products. 4

    For further insights on how FiberCreme can enhance the value of your products, we encourage you to reach out through our website. Explore a collection of whitepapers on FiberCreme developed for diverse applications to gain comprehensive knowledge about its versatility and benefits.

    Yogurt – https://www.business.fibercreme.com/application/dairy

    Meal Replacement – https://www.business.fibercreme.com/application/health-nutrition

    Fruit Juice – https://www.business.fibercreme.com/application/dairy-alternatives

     

    References:

    1. Pongsanguan J (2022). Thai Consumer Behavior 2022. Mintel
      https://www.mintel.com/insights/consumer-research/thai-consumer/#download
    1. Mintel (2023). https://www.mintel.com/press-centre/thai-consumers-seek-value-added-drinks-amidst-soaring-temperatures/
    2. Dheeraphongs M (2023). Thai consumers seek overall well-being and immune support in the supplement market https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/fmcg/thai-consumers-seek-overall-well-being-and-immune-support-in-the-supplement-market
    3. Hendi Wijaya (2022). The combination of isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO)-based dietary fiber and hypocaloric high-protein diet could improve the anthropometric profile and fasting plasma glucose of healthy adults: A repeated single-arm clinical trial
  • FiberCreme clinched the top spot by winning the Health Innovation Award at the 2024 World Food Innovation Event!

    FiberCreme clinched the top spot by winning the Health Innovation Award at the 2024 World Food Innovation Event!

    We are delighted to announce that our innovative functional high fiber ingredient FiberCremeTM was honored with the esteemed Best Health Innovation Award at the 2024 World Food Innovation Awards!

    The World Food Innovation Awards, in association with IFE, are a celebration of innovation and excellence across every category of the global food industry. The World Food Innovation Awards was held at the International Food & Drink Event (IFE) on March 25th 2024 in London, United Kingdom.

    The success is a testament to the health benefits and continuous innovation being made by FiberCremeTM as it makes a major breakthrough in the healthy functional category as it outperforms other various innovative products.

    Read More : FiberCreme Announced as Finalist of NutraIngredients Asia Awards 2023

    Awarded ingredient FiberCreme™ is the first and only innovation in the world that bring together a blend of soluble fiber and coconut oils in the form of encapsulated powder. It has received patents in both the US (US 11,297,867 B2) and its home country of Indonesia (IDP000072684).

    According to one of the clinical studies, clinical trial results showed that FiberCreme™ could significantly help to reduce cholesterol, triglyceride and cardio risk ratio scores. Dietary fiber from FiberCreme™ can interfere with the emulsification, digestion and absorption of lipids. It also increases bile acid deconjugation leading to increased excretion of fecal bile acids and lowers cholesterol levels by stimulating the liver to synthesize bile from circulating cholesterol. You can read more about the published scientific journal here.

    Read More : Decoding the future of prebiotics – the groundwork for gut health

    Renowned for its health benefits, FiberCreme aims to bring a unique taste profile as it can enhance creaminess while providing a distinctive sweetness taste across many food & beverage products. You can find more info about our FiberCreme here.

  • Decoding the future of prebiotics – the groundwork for gut health

    Decoding the future of prebiotics – the groundwork for gut health

    Beyond the gut

    Dietary fiber continues to be on-trend, with health-conscious consumers seeking tailored convenience. Not only is fiber intake linked to gut health but it is increasingly associated with general wellbeing as well as improved immunity, and mental health, backed by both science and consumers 

    Most people have been heavily associating the term gut health only with gastrointestinal conditions. Gut health, however, has begun to take on a new meaning in the past few years along with the increasing number of consumers becoming more aware of their health and wellness.  

    In the midst of lifestyle changes, gut health is known to be one of the most important keys in maintaining overall health. As shown by a EuroMonitor International survey in 2020, about one-quarter of consumers globally are suffering from issues related to gut health with half of the reported cases are claimed to affect the consumers’ health in general.1 

    As a consequence, the spotlight is increasingly turning toward the dynamic duo of dietary fiber and prebiotics. These indigestible compounds, once relegated to the sidelines, are now taking center stage as research unveils their profound impact on gut health and overall well-being. As we peer into the future, it becomes evident that the trajectory of dietary fiber and prebiotics is poised for transformative advancements.  

    While the primary focus has been on gut health, future research may uncover broader health implications of dietary fiber and prebiotics. From cardiovascular health to immune system support, these compounds could play multifaceted roles in maintaining overall well-being.

    According to a recent Innova survey in 2023, there is a +18% average annual growth in food & beverage (including supplements) launches tracked with prebiotic ingredients and immune health claims between 2018 to 2022. The comprehensive impact on various body systems is an exciting frontier that awaits exploration.2

    Figure I: Europe & Asia-Pacific is in the lead for prebiotic product launches (Innova, 2022) 

    Prebiotics continues to become the center stage of functional foods & nutraceuticals 

    According to the latest Innova market research in 2023, the statistics shows that Europe is the leader of new product launches that contains prebiotics. However, there is little doubt that Asia is closely and rapidly closing in on new product launches containing prebiotics as it is poised to become a key player in the functional foods and nutraceuticals market.3 

    If we look closely on the category of products using prebiotics, there has been little change as supplements and baby/toddlers category dominates the market of prebiotics. Although the supplements category continues to show great promise, it is joined by the likes of spread, confectionery and soft drink category to become the fastest growing categories for product launches with prebiotic claims 

    Inulin continues to become the market leader for prebiotics as 34% of new product launches in 2022 utilizes inulin when creating functional prebiotics food & beverages, followed by oligofructose, polydextrose and galacto-oligosaccharide.4

    Prebiotics themselves are substances selectively fermented in the gut to accelerate changes in the microbiota composition or activities to give more benefits for the gut health. Not all dietary fibers can be classified as prebiotics, but nearly every type of prebiotic can be classified as dietary fiber. 

    Conventionally, prebiotic dietary fibers are available in abundance in fruits and vegetables. But the never-ending innovation in the food industry has also made it possible for consumers to gain prebiotic dietary fibers in the form of multi-purpose fiber ingredient like FiberCremeTM, which according to an in vitro study is shown to have positive prebiotic activity scores. It means, FiberCremeTM can definitely be used to modulate the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract and help promote gut health. 

    Dietary fibers, especially the soluble ones, are also beneficial for weight management purposes as it can increase satiety and can be beneficial in helping to control obesity levels. Moreover, soluble fibers lower cholesterol levels by binding to it within the small intestine. Once it is inside the small intestine, the fiber attaches itself to cholesterol particles, preventing them from entering the bloodstream and later disposing the particles from the body through feces.5

    Figure II: Inulin leads as top 5 prebiotic ingredient while fiber & protein becomes the most sought after functional claims for prebiotic NPD (Innova, 2022)

    The Rise of High-Fiber Products in Post-Pandemic Market

    Post-pandemic, consumers have heightened their health awareness, leading to a discerning approach towards the ingredients in their consumables. This surge in health consciousness has spurred a demand for a wide array of healthier products, particularly those rich in high fiber content.

    Beyond its conventional use in gut health-related products like yogurt, fiber has found applications in a broad spectrum of products, ranging from fruit juices and meal replacements to sports nutrition supplements, baked goods, and pastries. For instance, in fruit juices, fiber is incorporated to compensate for the loss during fruit processing. In meal replacement products, fiber serves to induce satiety, contributing to effective weight management.

    Addressing the evolving demand for dietary fiber in various applications, LNK introduces FiberCremeTM, a distinctive unique prebiotic designed to meet the requirements of manufacturers and bridge existing gaps in dietary fiber options. This innovation aims to contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of dietary fiber utilization.

    For further insights on how FiberCremeTM can enhance the value of your products, we encourage you to reach out through our website. Explore a collection of whitepapers on FiberCremeTM developed for diverse applications to gain comprehensive knowledge about its versatility and benefits.

     

    References

    1. Katharina B (2020). The Rise and Potential of Gut Health. Euromonitor International. https://www.euromonitor.com/article/the-rise-and-potential-of-gut-health.
    2. Innova market insights (2023). Supplements – Asia Pacific category analysis.
    3. Innova market insights (2023). Trends in prebiotics.
    4. Fazira E (2023). The future of functional food and beverages in asia-pacific. Euromonitor International.
    5. Yustinus Marsono, Rhaesfaty Galih Putri and Elizabeth Desy Arianti (2020). The Effects of Replacement of Dietary Fiber with FiberCremeTM on lowering serum glucose and improvement of lipid profile in Hypercholesterolemia-Diabetic Rats and Its Mechanism. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition.
  • FiberCreme Announced as Finalist of NutraIngredients Asia Awards 2023

    FiberCreme Announced as Finalist of NutraIngredients Asia Awards 2023

    Exciting news! We are thrilled to announce that one of PT Lautan Natural Krimerindo’s creations has been nominated as a finalist for NutraIngredients Asia Award of 2023 through our innovative functional ingredient, FiberCremeTM.

    Awarded ingredient FiberCremeTM is the first and only innovation in the world that bring together a blend of soluble fiber and coconut oils in the form of encapsulated powder. It has received patents in both the US (US 11,297,867 B2) and its home country of Indonesia (IDP000072684).

    Since first introduced in 2016 at Food Ingredients Asia in Jakarta, FiberCrème™ has continued to gain recognition for being an innovative product as it got awarded at some of the biggest international exhibitions such as SIAL Food and Gulfood. It has also been trusted by industries which are looking to expand their portfolio with a line of healthy products launched in APAC.

    Adding a new achievement to its growing list of accolades, FiberCremeTM has recently been announced as a contender for the top prize in the Nutrition Research project of the Year category with its research titled “FiberCreme as a Functional Food Ingredient Improves Lipid Profile and Reduces Cardiovascular Diseases”.

    According to the research, clinical trial results showed that the FiberCremeTM cookies could significantly help reduce cholesterol, triglyceride and cardio risk ratio scores. Dietary fiber from FiberCremeTM can interfere with the emulsification, digestion and absorption of lipids. It also increases bile acid deconjugation leading to increased excretion of fecal bile acids and lowers cholesterol levels by stimulating the liver to synthesize bile from circulating cholesterol.

    Designed to “recognize the brightest and best ingredients, finished products, and initiatives across APAC’s thriving nutrition and functional food sectors,” NutraIngredients-Asia Awards have all the entries assessed by a round of independent industry experts from across the APAC region based on a number of criteria such as innovation, diversity, growth, customer service, investment in people or strategic thinking.

    The winners will be announced at a ceremony scheduled to take place in Singapore this coming September. Share this news on to support FiberCremeTM.

  • FiberCreme™ MCT – How to Improve Gut Health to Achieve Wellness

    FiberCreme™ MCT – How to Improve Gut Health to Achieve Wellness

    Introduction

    The use of MCT oil has been commonly associated with various health benefits from losing weight to improving the body’s ability to fight diseases, process foods correctly and lower systemic inflammation. FiberCreme MCT combines two beneficial macronutrients in the form of oligosaccharides as prebiotics and MCT oil to provide maximum health benefits.

    The white paper shows that FiberCreme MCT provides many health benefits that comes along with the emulsification of oligosaccharides with MCT oil such as appetit suppression and its ability as immune modulator. Moreover, the white paper shows the wide range of applications that can utilize FiberCreme MCT including weight management, sports nutrition and elderly targeted products.

  • FiberCreme™ Health Benefit – Miscellaneous Impacts on Lowering Serum Glucose and Improvement of Lipid Profile

    FiberCreme™ Health Benefit – Miscellaneous Impacts on Lowering Serum Glucose and Improvement of Lipid Profile

    Objective

    Dietary fiber plays an important role in diet and has important effects on health such as reducing plasma glucose and cholesterol levels. FiberCreme™ is a commercial non-dairy creamer that utilizes a variety of oligosaccharides as a fiber source combined with healthy oils as a palatable functional ingredient.  

    The objective of this study were to determine the effects of the replacement of dietary fiber with FiberCreme™ on lowering glucose and improvement of the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemia-diabetic rats. The possible mechanism of lowering cholesterol and glucose level was also studied in vitro.

     

    Conclusion

    It is concluded that replacement of dietary fiber with FiberCreme™ in the diet fed to hypercholesterolemia-diabetic rats for four weeks results in a significant decrease in glucose level while improving lipid profile.

  • FiberCreme™ MCT – The Effect of Supplementation of Isomaltooligosaccharide and Emulsified MCT

    FiberCreme™ MCT – The Effect of Supplementation of Isomaltooligosaccharide and Emulsified MCT

    Objectives

    A high concentration of energy substrate in circulation will aid in suppressing appetite and subsequently food intake. Medium chain Triglycerides (MCT) is a natural exogenous ketone source that is able to function as an energy substrate which increases ketone and thus suppresses appetite. On the other hand, isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) which is a form of dietary fiber can absorb and retain water that induce the stomach wall which eventually can lead to appetite suppression. However, currently there is no data on whether the emulsification of MCT oil and IMO would promote more appetite suppression.  

    The following research focuses on the effect of FiberCreme-MCT which is an emulsification of MCT oil with Isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) on blood glucose, 𝛽-hydroxybutyrate and caloric intake in male wistar rats.  

    Conclusion

    The research concludes that FiberCreme using MCT oil suppresses total caloric intake in male wistar rats. The caloric intake suppression is likely due to the increased blood ketones concentration and that the emulsification of isomaltooligosaccharide with MCT produces more ketogenic effects in comparison to non-emulsified MCT. The research demonstrates that the supplementation of FiberCreme containing MCT oil before a meal will promote appetite suppression and subsequent calorie intake.