Cognis makes lutein ester easier to swallow for formulators

The company markets Xangold lutein ester beadlets for natural eye health and a study published in the Journal of Nutrition demonstrated Xangold delivers equivalent or better bioavailability than free lutein. Marketers in the dietary supplement industry say they try to offer the smallest capsules possible for consumers, because it has been found the latter do not like to swallow large pills. Cognis said its Xangold lutein esters are free-flowing and non-GMO - a feature which lends well to products being marketed in both the United States and Europe, where non-GMO is frequently a requirement for formulators. The company said the small particle size of the beadlets makes them suitable for tableting as well. Lutein, a nutrient found in various foods including green leafy vegetables and egg yolk, has a ten-year history in the dietary supplement market as a nutrient to reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration. With eye health as its main spot, the lutein market is currently estimated to be worth in the region of US$100m and $130m. Lutein ingredients for nutrition tend to be sourced from marigold flower extracts.