Amino Acids for Nutritional Fortifiers

The amino acids are life's foundation and essential to nutrition science and food production. They are organic compounds found in nature, and they are the building blocks of protein and important components of metabolism, immune system and energy. Those amino acids have attracted such interest because of their nutritional and functional attributes over the past few years, they are now widely used in nutritional fortifiers. These fortifiers make food more nutritious, better absorb nutrients, and help support certain groups of people's health by supplying key amino acids.

What are Nutritional Fortifiers?

Nutritional fortifiers are additives added to food that raise the levels of a particular nutrients. They function by giving your body the nutrients it requires but can't get from the regular diet, to ensure that your body is healthier. Dietary fortifiers are usually derived from nature or produced chemically and they must be used under relevant laws and regulations for safety and effectiveness. Common nutritional fortifiers include amino acids and nitrogen-containing compounds such as proteins, lysine, vitamins, and minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc. Other nutrients, like taurine, L-carnitine, and oligosaccharides, can also be added to fortify. Typically, nutritional fortifiers are used in two scenarios: The first is when the nutrient losses from processing natural foods must be made up to regain their nutrients. For instance, during rice and flour processing vitamins and minerals can be depleted, and fortification with other nutrients can replenish them. The second is to correct the natural loss of nutrients in food ingredients (lacking lysine in wheat flour for example), by adding those nutrients.

Fig. 1. Nutritional enhancers.

Types of Nutritional Fortifiers

Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids and other functional elements are some of the nutritional fortifiers that we can sort by. All fortifiers are also very different and they respond to a specific health need, resolving nutritional deficiencies or promoting health in different populations.

• Vitamins as Fortifiers

Vitamins are essential organic compounds required by the human body in small amounts for growth, development, metabolism, and other physiological functions. Since vitamins cannot generally be synthesized by the body, they must be obtained through diet or other external sources. Vitamins can be divided into fat-soluble and water-soluble categories based on their solubility. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A, D, E, and K, which dissolve in fat and are stored in the body. Water-soluble vitamins include the B vitamins and vitamin C, which dissolve in water and are not easily stored in the body, requiring regular intake through diet. Vitamins perform numerous essential physiological functions in the body, including involvement in metabolic processes, maintaining immune system health, and promoting cell growth and repair.

• Minerals as Fortifiers

Minerals are naturally occurring compounds or elements, also known as inorganic salts, that are essential for the formation of body tissues and the maintenance of normal physiological functions. They are one of the seven essential nutrients for the human body. Unlike proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, minerals cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from external sources. There are 21 minerals that are essential for forming body tissues, participating in metabolic processes, and maintaining physiological functions. Minerals are classified as major minerals and trace minerals, based on their concentration. Elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus are considered major minerals due to their higher concentrations, while elements like iron, copper, iodine, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, and selenium are trace minerals, present in the body at less than 0.01% of body weight.

• Amino Acids as Fortifiers

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins, organic molecules containing amino (NH₂) and carboxyl (COOH) groups. They're important molecules, in the body, not just in the process of constructing proteins, but also in the activity of cell metabolism, signal transduction, enzyme catalysis and so on. Amino acids connect in our bodies with peptide bonds to make peptides and proteins. They're mostly used to replace certain amino acids in the diet that are essential and non-essential. The currently allowed amino acid fortifiers include L-lysine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, and taurine, which provide the necessary amino acids to support body health.

• Other Nutritional Ingredients

In addition to vitamins, minerals, and amino acid fortifiers, there are other nutritional components such as L-carnitine, arachidonic acid, dietary fiber, lutein, lactoferrin, and DHA. These ingredients can be applied in food products or specialized dietary foods to provide physiological benefits.

Amino Acids in Nutritional Fortifiers

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins and play a crucial role in nutritional fortifiers due to their direct involvement in protein synthesis, metabolic regulation, and various physiological functions. Amino acid fortifiers can be classified into essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids based on their properties. These fortifiers are used as part of nutritional supplements, functional foods and medical nutrition products, satisfying the body's individual nutritional requirements and improving general health and energy.

• Essential Amino Acids

Essential amino acids are the ones that the body cannot make for itself and has to get from diet, such as lysine, tryptophan and leucine. Lysine, the most commonly added amino acid fortifier, is widely included in grains and pasta, making proteins highly nutritional. Tryptophan is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin (a hormone that promotes sleep and mood), and is often present in functional foods.

• Non-Essential Amino Acids

Non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by the body, but additional supplementation is particularly important under certain conditions, such as during growth, development, or recovery from illness. Glutamic acid does not just help in the digestion of protein, it also helps to flavour food. Arginatine is a powerful vascular and immune system booster that's common in sports nutrition and functional foods.

Amino Acids from BOC Sciences

BOC Sciences focuses on the production and supply of high-quality amino acid raw materials to meet the diverse needs of the nutritional supplement industry. With advanced synthesis technology and a comprehensive quality management system, we offer a wide range of essential and non-essential amino acids, including lysine, leucine, tryptophan, and arginine. Our products not only have high purity and good stability but also comply with international food safety standards, such as cGMP and ISO certifications. Additionally, BOC Sciences provides customized solutions, designing amino acid raw materials with specific specifications based on customer needs for functional foods, dietary supplements, and special medical purpose formulations.

What are Nutritional Fortifiers Used For?

Fortifiers are substances extracted, synthesized, or modified using scientific methods to supplement the lack of certain nutrients in food or medicine. Their applications are widespread and cover fortified foods, dietary supplements, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, meeting the growing health demands of consumers.

• Fortified Foods

In fortified foods, fortifiers improve the nutritional value of the food by adding specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or dietary fiber. For example, calcium and vitamin D are added to milk to promote bone health, iodine is added to salt to prevent thyroid diseases, and omega-3 fatty acids are added to cereals to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, foods for special populations also rely on fortifiers. For instance, DHA, ARA, and probiotics are added to infant formula to promote brain development and gut health in infants, while foods for the elderly are fortified with highly absorbable proteins and antioxidants to support bodily functions.

• Dietary Supplements

In the field of dietary supplements, fortifiers help improve bodily functions and prevent nutrient deficiencies, catering to modern health management needs. These supplements often come in the form of capsules, tablets, powders, or liquids. Immunity-boosting products, such as those containing vitamin C, zinc, and selenium, help enhance immune system function. Energy metabolism products commonly contain B vitamins or coenzyme Q10 to improve stamina and alleviate fatigue. Products containing collagen, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants are popular for their significant effects on skin health, while weight management products fortified with dietary fiber and L-carnitine are favored by consumers focused on body shape.

• Over-the-Counter Medications

In OTC medications, fortifiers are primarily used to treat or prevent nutrition-related diseases, providing safe and convenient health solutions. For example, vitamin D supplements are used to improve osteoporosis, folic acid tablets are used to prevent neural tube defects in pregnant women, and iron supplements like ferrous sulfate are widely used to treat iron-deficiency anemia. Mineral supplements, such as calcium and zinc tablets, are commonly used in daily nutrition for children and the elderly. Additionally, compound preparations play an important role in clinical settings, such as oral rehydration salts that contain multiple nutrients to replenish electrolytes and meet clinical needs.

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