Natraceutical Group Enters the Beta-Glucan Market

20/09/07 Natraceutical Group has taken a further step towards the consolidation of its international business in the functional foods sector through the acquisition of Canadian Viscofiber (www.viscofiber.com), promoted as the only high-viscosity and high- concentration oat and barley beta-glucan concentrate commercially available for the functional food and dietary supplement markets.

“The need to incorporate fiber into our diets has never been higher,” said Mr. José Vicente Pons Andreu, CEO of Natraceutical Group. “Food manufacturers are scrambling to respond consumer demand for healthier, minimally processed food products. Viscofiber’s high concentration and superior viscosity is ideal for dietary supplement manufacturers, while its great flexibility in product formulations is appropriate for functional food products. The ingredient can be incorporated into such products as breads, drinks, nutritional bars, yogurts, ice cream, soups, pasta and breakfast cereals. Viscofiber also offers great potential for introduction in the beauty and pet food sectors.”

After the launch of soluble cocoa fiber last year, the purchase of Viscofiber is a further step for Natraceutical Group to lead the global functional food sector by developing and manufacturing healthy ingredients and services to help their customers to achieve optimal performance in the market-place.

Beta-glucan is a natural grain-based ingredient – mainly from oat and barley – and belongs to the “soluble fiber” group. The viscosity of beta-glucan is believed to be extremely important for its physiological efficacy. Today Viscofiber is the only viscous and high concentration beta-glucan commercially available and therefore multi-functional ingredient.

Dietary fiber is collectively acknowledged to be one of the key factors in a health promoting diet as the link between intake of dietary fiber and the reduced risk of many diseases is established in several studies. No longer is fiber considered solely beneficial for digestion. With an enhanced concentration of soluble fiber – 12 times more than oat bran – Viscofiber offers a new solution for heart healthy consumers. In fact, Viscofiber delivers a multitude of health benefits, including improved cholesterol, improved glycemic response, glucose management and increased satiety for weight loss formulations.

At present the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows the use of a generic health claim for oat and oat products mentioning the cholesterol lowering effect of soluble fiber (beta-glucan) and the reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease.

Several clinical studies support the health benefits claims on beta-glucan, although it has already been proven that its effectiveness is directly linked to its high concentration and high solubility. Viscofiber is the only beta-glucan with those properties currently in the market.