Formulation Challenges Across Modern Actives and How Performance-Driven Formats Solve Them
There is no avoiding the growing demand for innovative, consumer-friendly formats across today’s supplement applications. Brands are under increasing pressure to deliver high-dose, efficacious products across a wide variety of applications, including gummies, powders, functional foods, and beverages. Many nutraceutical actives present challenges related to stability, dispersion, and palatability, which can limit formulation flexibility and negatively impact the consumer experience.
Omega-3s remain a staple in dietary applications due to their strong clinical support for cardiovascular and cognitive health. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly EPA and DHA, play critical structural roles as components of the cell membrane. However, traditional oil formats can be difficult to formulate due to oxidation risk and off-flavors. Advancing omega-3s into more stable, dispersible formats helps overcome these challenges while expanding use across dry and ready-to-mix applications.
Another well-researched ingredient, berberine, is a plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloid with demonstrated benefits in glucose metabolism and lipid regulation. One of berberine’s primary mechanisms of action is activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central regulator of cellular energy balance that influences glucose uptake, lipid oxidation, and insulin sensitivity. Despite its benefits, berberine presents formulation challenges due to its bitterness, poor aqueous solubility, and limited permeability, which can restrict its use in taste-forward formats such as beverages, gummies, and functional foods.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays a key role in mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant defense, with clinically validated benefits for cardiovascular health, cognition, and healthy aging. As an essential component of the electron transport chain, CoQ10 facilitates electron transfer between complexes I/II and III, supporting ATP production and cellular energy metabolism. Its antioxidant activity also helps neutralize reactive oxygen species, protecting lipids, proteins, and DNA from oxidative damage. However, CoQ10’s lipophilic nature and poor water solubility can limit both bioavailability and formulation versatility across applications.
Vitamin C is widely recognized for its role in immune health, antioxidant support, and skin health. As a water-soluble vitamin, it functions as a primary electron donor, scavenging reactive oxygen species and regenerating antioxidants such as vitamin E. Within immune cells, vitamin C supports epithelial barrier integrity, contributes to leukocyte function, and helps maintain a healthy inflammatory response. Yet vitamin C is highly sensitive to heat, light, and moisture, and can introduce sensory challenges at higher concentration levels.
Lastly, creatine is one of the most clinically studied ingredients for muscle strength, power, and recovery. The naturally occurring nitrogen-containing compound plays a role in cellular energy metabolism. Creatine is phosphorylated to phosphocreatine, which serves as a rapid phosphate donor to regenerate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during high-intensity activity. This phosphocreatine system supports short-duration high-power output, muscular performance, and recovery. Traditional creatine can struggle with chemical stability, solubility, and sensory challenges especially in functional food and beverage applications.
Introducing CoreNhanced™ BioTransport™ Technology
These popular nutrients highlight the need for next-generation ingredient formats that go beyond traditional approaches. CoreNhanced™ BioTransport™ was designed to protect sensitive bioactives, improve dispersion and solubility, enhance taste and mouthfeel, and optimize bioavailability through controlled and targeted delivery. By enabling high-dose, multi-active formulations across complex matrices such as beverages, gummies, chews, powders, and functional foods, BioTransport™ provides brands with a science-driven platform to accelerate product innovation while maintaining efficacy, stability, and an exceptional consumer experience. Our technology transforms unstable nutrients and bioactives into shelf-stable, sensory-neutral powders- engineers to protect, transport, release, and perform.