Nutraceutical expert Silvi Siddhu, who represented Ujala Life Sciences at the show, pointed to healthy longevity as the main trend at Vitafoods Asia. She noted this includes cellular aging, metabolic health, and muscle preservation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the same time, she expressed excitement about the growing focus on women\u2019s health. \u201cWe\u2019re moving away from multivitamin solutions to finding solutions around concerns and issues with perimenopause, menopause, fertility, and even lactation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another key trend she spotted is the gut microbiome. \u201cI think the understanding around the gut microbiome is fascinating across all demographics. This is not only about what it does in the gut, but also covers the association of that microbiome and other organ axes, such as mood, skin, and brain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Petrine Stokkebye, marketing manager, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia at Novonesis, highlighted a strong difference between Asia and the West in the gut microbiome. \u201cFor example, in Korea or Japan, there\u2019s quite a strong literacy when it comes to the microbiome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next-gen microbiome solutions<\/p>\n Consumers across Asia are becoming more informed about the microbiome, and Stokkebye said that \u201cit\u2019s not enough to be a probiotic on the market anymore.\u201d She spots a growing level of scrutiny in the dietary supplement industry.<\/p>\n \u201cA good analogy would actually be the iPhone,\u201d she added. \u201cPeople don\u2019t just want an iPhone; they want an iPhone 17, and they want all the specs to support it. It\u2019s the same when we talk about dietary supplements.\u201d<\/p>\n The next generation of microbiome solutions needs to tap into two factors, said Stokkebye. \u201cOne is understanding the consumer profile, and two is to understand and adapt to a consumer\u2019s way of living.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you take a market like South Korea, today, 20% of the population is 65-plus. We need specific dietary supplements that can meet the needs of this consumer group. But, if you look at a region such as Southeast Asia, with high levels of humidity, a lot of consumers have to put their dietary supplements in the fridge.\u201d<\/p>\n However, she noted that consumers still want the convenience of storing products outside, on their kitchen counters.<\/p>\n Stokkebye said Novonesis is harnessing science, innovation, and consumer knowledge to deliver these solutions.<\/p>\n Pramod Thota, CEO of OmniActive Health Technologies, spotted the gut-brain axis as a new and emerging category, moving into the eye-gut-brain axis.<\/p>\n \u201cAs vision and cognition are closely related, your gut and brain health are also closely related. It goes back to some of the olden philosophies that we all had: if you keep your gut straight, everything else will work out.\u201d<\/p>\n From gut health to mode of action<\/p>\n Philippe Caillat, category manager for Gut & Immune Health at Lallemand Bio-Ingredients, highlighted the company\u2019s Gastro-AD<\/a> at Vitafoods Asia 2026. He noted that the science-backed ingredient has been tested in more than 900 people.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy we are focusing on it at Vitafoods Asia 2026 in particular is because last year we got a health claim in South Korea for this ingredient \u2014 that it may help protect the gastric mucosa and support stomach health,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n For the future, he believes the development of science and knowledge regarding the microbiome will drive innovation<\/a> even further. \u201cWe\u2019ve talked for a long time about the gut as your second brain, the gut-brain axis, etc. I think we are at the beginning of the discovery of what\u2019s happening here that has so much impact on the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, Caillat expects scientific research will continue to uncover specifics about ingredients\u2019 modes of action.<\/p>\n For example, he pointed to an analysis on Gastro-AD linking a \u201csymphony of compounds\u201d to its effects. \u201cWe were thinking that one compound had the effect that Gastro-AD is showing. In fact, it\u2019s multi-compounds, and the fact that they are all together in a certain configuration is what brings the effect.\u201d<\/p>\n Metabolic balance<\/p>\n Myeong Hee Kim, CEO of AceBiome, highlighted an opportunity in Asian markets in helping to shape what successful weight management<\/a> looks like.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cConsumers want more than just weight loss. They\u2019re looking at digestive health, body composition, and overall well-being throughout their journey. Asia is the perfect market for this because many consumers here actually use probiotics every day.\u201d<\/p>\n The company positions its BNR17 products as a GLP-1 companion probiotic concept. \u201cIt\u2019s about how probiotics can complement these medications, addressing broader health needs, and supporting the big changes happening in this category,\u201d added Kim.<\/p>\n Marcia da Silva Pinto, Ph.D., category manager at Lallemand Bio-Ingredients, added that metabolic health was a standout trend at the show. She highlighted the company\u2019s ingredient in this space, Re-Vaya, which was launched earlier this year<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n She said this ingredient focuses on metabolic balance, rather than only on weight management. \u201cWe have a clinical study to support the results. It\u2019s a combination of ingredients that work in synergy, and we had Re-Vaya gummies at the tasting bar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople got interested in Re-Vaya because we talk about inflammation and a balance of energy levels and vitality,\u201d she suggested.<\/p>\n Probiotic targets gut-muscle axis<\/p>\n AceBiome\u2019s Kim said she sees the gut-muscle axis as one of the most promising areas for the next stage of research for the company\u2019s BNR17.<\/p>\nWe also spoke with Beneo, Morinaga Milk, and Gelita about innovations in prebiotics, probiotics, and collagen science.<\/a>She added that in many countries, there is already a strong cultural heritage around fermentation, for example, with foods such as kimchi, miso, and natto. \u201cDietary supplements are just the next level of sophistication on top of an already existing cultural connection with fermentation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thota said OmniActive Health Technologies spots Southeast Asia as the next frontier after India and China.\u201cNow, we are understanding the science behind it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
AceBiome\u2019s Kim said she sees the gut-muscle axis as one of the most promising areas for the next stage of research for the company\u2019s BNR17.She explained that this creates a natural foundation for introducing a more integrated, science-backed approach, such as AceBiome\u2019s body-fat-reduction probiotic strain, Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17.<\/p>\n