“Brain health and mental wellness continue to be a priority for many of us,” said Andrew Hartshorn, chief marketing officer at Nature’s Way. “So often we are inspired by nature for the best solutions which is why we’ve introduced Brain Fuel, giving consumers a plant-derived and clinically studied ingredient in a tasty gummy supplement to support cognitive function.”
The supplement, powered by a polyphenol-rich grape extract, is sold in Kroger, Meijer, Giant Company and select natural food stores, as well as direct-to-consumer at NaturesWay.com and Amazon. It joins a collection of other Nature's Way products, which target cognitive health and are powered by ingredients ranging from gingko and ashwagandha to acetyl-L-carnitine and phosphatidylserine.
Supplementing mental wellbeing, eye on Millennials
According to Grandview Research, the global cognitive health supplement market is projected to reach $10.8 billion by 2026, driven by an aging population guarding against cognitive decline and a younger population in search of focus, concentration and alertness.
Nature’s Way points to Mintel research that shows that more than half of millennials – now in their 30s and 40s – have increased their pre-pandemic vitamin, mineral and supplement (VMS) use. This aligns with overall consumer trends, but the data further indicates that millennials are more likely to supplement for mental well-being.
“As greater attention is placed on one’s mental health, VMS brands can tap into this trend by focusing on formulas that contain brain-boosting and mood-regulating ingredients such as magnesium, vitamin D, curcumin, and L-theanine,” Dorothy Kotscha, health and wellness analyst at Mintel Reports US, advised earlier this year.
Formulated with Cognigrape
Nature’s Way has chosen Cognigrape as main active ingredient but offers three-in-one cognitive support with the addition of recommended daily value of vitamins B6 and B12 for neuronal nourishment.
A registered trademark of Italian botanical extract suppler BIONAP, Cognigrape is derived from Sicilian grapes grown in the fertile volcanic soil surrounding Mount Etna. Noting the need for preventive strategies to counter physiological cognitive decline in aging populations, one clinical trial showed that 12 weeks of Cognigrape supplementation significantly improved cognitive function and mood status in healthy older adults – notably attention, language, as well as immediate and delayed memory.
Benefits are attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the high concentrations of anthocyanin and proantocyanidin polyphenolic compounds found in the red grape juice and its derived powder.
