Hot ingredients in Japan’s FFCs: GABA remains in top spot, HMPA is fast-rising

This is according to data that Japan-based nutraceutical consultancy firm Smooth Link Inc. has collated on the sector in FY2023.

GABA – a non-proteinogenic amino acid commonly used in supplements for stress relief, sleep aid, and blood pressure reduction – remains the most popular ingredient across the different types of FFCs​.

The categories in FFC include supplements, processed foods, and fresh foods.

Among fresh foods, there were 12 types of fruits and 15 types of vegetables, with 15 of them containing GABA as a functional component.

In total, there were 250 products that contained GABA in FY2023, and 49 products that contained HMPA – the second most popular functional ingredient.

The rise of HMPA​

The first HMPA notification was made public in February 2010, and the number of notifications has increased since then because of possible health claims associated with it.

For example, studies have shown that HMPA can reduce abdominal visceral fat​ and improve metabolic disorders​.

Subsequently, HMPA was launched as a standardised functional food ingredient in 2021 by Maruzen Pharmaceuticals under the product name “Actibody RB”, which is derived from rice bran – an ingredient that is known to benefit those with high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure.

This rice bran-derived HMPA ​can be used in a wide range of foods – such as soft drinks, soups, and jellies – as it does not have the bitter or astringent taste that is characteristic of polyphenols.

More health claims were accepted for HMPA in February 2022 for its “function of reducing abdominal fat in people with a high BMI”.

From June to August, two more health claims were added – “the ability to help restore blood sugar levels that rise after meals in people with elevated postprandial blood glucose levels”, and “the ability to reduce abdominal fat and waist circumference in people with an elevated BMI”.

From February 2022 to March 2024, there were 61 FFC products containing HMPA, with another 20 more to be launched this year.

The rapid rise of HMPA is due to the presence of “solid scientific basis for the functionality and broad applicability of Actibody RB, which can be used in any form of food,” said Hisaaki Kato, president of Smooth Link Inc.

Trend of making multiple health claims with a single active ingredient​

Similarly, GABA is associated with multiple health claims.

It reportedly can enhance sleep quality by promoting deeper sleep, leading to feeling refreshed upon waking.

Additionally, GABA supports memory retention and spatial cognition – cognitive functions that tend to decline with age.

GABA is also said to be beneficial for skin health, such as helping to prevent dryness, maintaining elasticity, and protecting against other signs of ageing.

This indicates a trend of attaching multiple health claims to an ingredient.

A single raw material that contains more than one functional substance is considered a multiple-use ingredient. For example, DHA and EPA can be derived from fish oil; lutein and zeaxanthin are from marigold.

Currently, there are 169 single uses and 81 mixed use claims for GABA. For HMPA, there are claims for 37 single uses and 9 mixed uses.

Formulations and ingredients​

“Many new substances and new health claims for existing functional substances were introduced. With the FFC market booming, the number of notifications is on the rise, and the number of functional substances and health claims is also expanding,”​ said Kato.

For example, the following new health claims were added to existing FFC ingredients in FY2023:

L. gasseri ​CP2305 “reduces temporary premenstrual dysphoric mood, mental fatigue, and drowsiness in healthy women with regular menstrual cycles”.

Soybean Isoflavones and Lactobionic acidBB2:B26, when used together, can help maintain skin elasticity and protect skin health in women with dry skin.

Other notable changes include a significant drop in the rankings of “ginkgo leaf-derived flavonoid glycoside and terpene lactone”.

The main reason could be due to the increase in other products containing ginkgo leaf-derived substances – health claims for GABA, lutein, zeaxanthin and DHA/EPH include reducing fatigue and improving sleep quality.

This has led to reduced demand for ginkgo – the percentage of FFCs using ginkgo as an ingredient was 39% in FY2019 and dropped to 20% in FY2023.

Data shows that the number of FFCs accepted for notification has been rising steadily since FY2015, when there were 307 FFCs.

In FY2023, there were 1,433 FFC products submitted, including 52 withdrawals. As on May 2023, the final list of 1,381 products consisted of 210 functional substances.

Of these, 981 products used 181 substances alone, while the remaining 29 substances were combined with others to create 400 products with 204 formulations.