Strategic Nutrition for Bone and Joint Health - Fortitech

PAGE 2The challenge for formulators is to select an appropriate form of calcium that delivers thedesired level of the mineral without affecting flavor, solubility, bioavailability, sensory propertiesand the mouthfeel of the finished product. Calcium carbonate is perhaps the mostcost-effective source of calcium, however, it has a tendency to provide a chalkiness tasteand have a gritty mouthfeel, as does dicalcium phosphate.Fortitech’s technicalpersonnel can assistyou in overcomingformulation issuesSome of these processing issues can be prevented if a blend of calcium sources are usedinstead of a single source. In addition, these calciumsalts are not very soluble; therefore, it is desirable toadd calcium citrate or organic acid to improve solubility.In order to get the most out of these salts, amanufacturer has to decrease the pH to solubilize,which causes absorption to increase. In general, inorder to have more absorption, it is necessary tohave soluble calcium salts, but there are advantagesand disadvantages to either soluble or insolubleforms. For example, calcium gluconate is soluble butmay interact with other ingredients in the productand impact flavor.Large doses of calcium are efficiently excreted by the body and do not usually produce toxiceffects unless the individual has a history of kidney stones. While suggested dietary intakesvary with different age groups and between men and women, it is commonly recommendedthat adults consume 1,000 mg of calcium per day.Food manufacturers must work closely with their suppliers to address product developmentissues that could dramatically impact nutrient delivery or alter the end product. The suppliercan suggest appropriate market forms, interactions to avoid, and processing effectsthat will improve the chance of success.Questions to address prior to fortifying a product with ingredients aimed at improving boneand joint health include:• type of product to be fortified• amount of various nutrients to be added, particularly if a manufacturer is trying to meetlabel claims• whether additional ingredients should be added to enhance performance• processing conditions, such as time and temperature• pH of the finished product• shelf life and other components of the finished productWhile fortified beverages have become a medium of choice for delivering healthy and functionalnutrients, those in the industry know that formulating beverages can be complex,particularly when multiple ingredients are being added. There is a host of complicationsthat can occur in beverage formulation such as sedimentation, poor taste cloudiness, orlack of uniformity of ingredient incorporation among other challenges.STRATEGIC NUTRITION FOR BONE & JOINT HEALTHTECHNICAL PAPER—JAN, 2010PAGE 10