Media
Quality, stability and traceability standards drive BASF’s ‘healthy’ vitamin D sales
FLORHAM PARK, NJ, June 12, 2011 – As vitamin D sales reach record levels, manufacturers of dietary supplements, foods and beverages are looking for opportunities to differentiate their products in the crowded marketplace.
“The demand has never been greater for vitamin D3 with a long shelf-life at room temperature and excellent stability in the final application,” said Santiago Vega, Product Manager, Human Nutrition, BASF Corporation. “Our customers are experiencing double-digit vitamin D sales increases escalating their needs for quality ingredients that meet the highest safety standards and regulatory requirements worldwide.”
According to Euromonitor, U.S. sales of single-entity vitamin D supplements (not including multi-vitamins) rose 22.4 percent from 2009 to 2010. A new report that appears in the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics’ Data Brief found that use of vitamin D supplements increased for men and women in most age groups.1
“Secure supply is paramount in any situation, but it is especially important with vitamin D to meet the large demand for raw material with unsurpassed stability and content uniformity. From dietary supplements to fortifying dairy products to foods for babies and children, we have oils and powders suitable for a wide range of applications,” said Vega.
Mr. Vega explained that BASF offers its vitamin D customers traceability information through GTNet, available at any time anywhere in the world. BASF’s S.E.T. initiative also allows customers to measure sustainability throughout the entire value chain. “From raw material to the store shelf, we collaborate with our customers to create high quality products for their respective markets,” continued Vega.
Scientific support for the sunshine vitamin
Vitamin D3, called the “sunshine vitamin” is essential for health. About one-third of Americans are not getting enough Vitamin D, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC).2 Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other health conditions related to weak bones. This decline in vitamin D levels is due to aging, reduced sun exposure, and weight conscious consumers limiting foods such as dairy products. As a result, physicians are finding more patients with low vitamin D test scores and are prescribing supplements.
Researchers have found that vitamin D3 is 87 percent more potent than D2 at raising blood levels.3 In a newly published study, the authors said, “Given its greater potency and lower cost, D3 should be the preferred treatment option when correcting vitamin D deficiency.”
Last year, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel increased the recommended daily intake for vitamin D to 600 international units (IU) for individuals age one to70 and to 800 IU for adults older than 70.4
To learn more about BASF’s vitamin D portfolio, sample food and beverages fortified with vitamin D, and meet product managers, visit IFT booth 5829 in New Orleans on June 12-14.
With its recent acquisition of Cognis Nutrition & Health, BASF has a strong position in the industry with its extensive line of health-enhancing ingredients for dietary supplements, functional foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.
BASF – The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,400 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.7 billion in 2010. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in the Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.
1 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db61.htm
2 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db59.htm
3 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1210/jc.2010-2230
“Vitamin D3 Is More Potent Than Vitamin D2 in Humans” Authors: R.P. Heaney, R.R. Recker, J. Grote,
R.L. Horst, L.A.G. Armas
4 http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D.aspx
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