BASF at Health Ingredients Europe in Madrid

* Vitamin D3, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Lycopene for Healthier Foods



Today there is a strong trend toward healthier foods. BASF provides ingredients for them, backed by a unique level of service to help the food industry achieve greater sustainability and faster traceability. And BASF will be showcasing its sweeping competence in the field of human nutrition at Health Ingredients Europe in Madrid on November 16-18 at Booth P30.



At this year’s trade show, BASF will focus on three products: vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids (Dry n-3®), and lycopene (LycoVit®). These micronutrients are among the current “stars” of nutritional science—researchers are reporting hitherto unknown positive effects in addition to their classical health-promoting benefits.



Vitamin D3

BASF is a leading supplier of vitamin D 3 . The vitamin does more than regulate the body’s calcium household, which already makes it essential for bone growth and stability. In fact, it has turned out that its beneficial effects on health are more extensive and had long been underestimated.



Vitamin D 3 has now been recognized as being important for lowering the risk of health problems as diverse as cardiovascular maladies, various types of cancer (such as colon and breast cancer), diabetes, and inflammatory diseases such as asthma. Although it is made by the body, in contrast to other vitamins, many people do not have an adequate vitamin D3 status. Individuals of all age groups are afflicted throughout the world. To remedy this deficit and meet the growing need, vitamin D 3 -enriched foods and food supplements may play an important role in the future. Health authorities are now studying whether the recommended minimum daily intake of vitamin D 3 should be raised.



BASF supplies very high-quality vitamin D3 in oil-based formulations and powders that are nonallergenic, gluten-free, kosher-, and halal-certified.



Lycopene

Lycopene is a carotenoid that is responsible for the red color of tomatoes, watermelons, and grapefruit, among other things. BASF has been marketing nature-identical lycopene for years under the LycoVit name. It is characterized by uniform composition and very high quality. This makes it particularly suitable—both in powdered form and dispersed in sunflower seed oil—for enriching beverages (e.g., fruit nectars) and foods (such as baked goods and breakfast cereals). BASF also offers a special, tablet-grade lycopene powder. Nature-identical lycopene was approved by the EU as a novel food ingredient in April 2009. Clinical studies have shown that regular consumption of lycopene in conjunction with a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer, among other things. Being an antioxidant, lycopene can also mitigate the damaging effects of free radicals and thus protect cells, for example as a component of the skin’s natural safeguards against UV radiation.



Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but also in babies and toddlers. For instance, a sufficient supply of omega-3 fatty acids can lower the risk of postpartum depressions and also positively impact brain development and learning in children. Later in life omega-3 fatty acids are also important, for example for the structure and function of nerves and eyes. Studies have shown that individuals who adequately supply themselves with omega-3 fatty acids are less likely to develop cardiac diseases and Alzheimer’s. They have also been proven to ameliorate asthma, allergies, and rheumatism.



BASF markets microencapsulated omega-3 fatty acids obtained from very high-quality fish oil under the “Dry n-3” name. Their microencapsulation has the advantage of preventing them from affecting the flavor of finished products such as baby food, bread, or yogurt. Dry n-3 products from BASF are also highly stable at room temperature—in other words, no cold storage is required. This is a special feature of BASF’s microencapsulation technology. These products are microencapsulated under GMP conditions in BASF’s production unit in Ballerup, Denmark. All raw materials conform to Europe’s rigorous food hygiene regulations (Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004).



Visit us at Health Ingredients Europe in Madrid on Nov. 16 -18, 2010

at the IFEMA Exhibition Center, Booth P30



About BASF Nutrition Ingredients

BASF’s Nutrition Ingredients business unit is a leading supplier of food ingredients and feed additives. Its product portfolio for human nutrition includes vitamins, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. BASF offers products of outstanding quality produced using state-of-the-art technologies. BASF also combines technical services and scientific expertise to meet even the most demanding requirements and deliver the best value to the industry. Premium formulations are a key strength that has made BASF an industry leader. More information is available at www.nutrition.basf.com.



About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as 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 €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.