Citrus Fiber: A Piece of the Dietary Supplement Solution
What’s Shaking in the Supplement World
Today, supplements mean more than just taking your vitamins. This category also includes herbs, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, probiotics and botanicals. As a result, there are various delivery systems now such as tablets, capsules, powders, gummies and liquids. Currently, these nutritional ingredients are now also added to functional foods like beverages (powdered or RTD) and nutrition bars.
Several market trends are affecting this category including better-for-you formulations, clean label and sustainability. For example, product developers are looking for options to reduce sugar in beverage and gummy formats to improve the nutritional profile. In other instances, due to consumer demand, some products are being re-formulated with cleaner labels. The subjective definition of clean label can range from allergen-free to vegan-based. Nevertheless, new dietary supplement solutions are needed to meet these trending requirements.
Citrus Fiber Delivers Benefits for Supplement Formulations
One overlooked ingredient in the supplement category is citrus fiber. Most of the public automatically assumes that this is a fortifying fiber used to make fiber claims. Though citrus fiber contributes dietary fiber, it is typically used at low usage levels (<1%). Its primary benefit is the natural functionality that the insoluble and soluble fiber provides in various supplements such as water binding, emulsification and gelling.
However, not all citrus fibers are created equal. Citrus fiber’s largest differentiation is the process used and the composition of the final product. In the end, the composition generates functional benefits which improves the quality, texture and natural mouthfeel of various supplements. For instance, Citri-Fi® citrus fiber is created from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry. The process, which is free from chemical modifications, opens up the fibrous matrix to create high water holding and emulsification properties. Other citrus fibers on the market are byproducts of the pectin extraction process. Even though they are considered upcycled like Citri-Fi®, they may use chemicals or solvents to process their citrus fiber which is far from what Mother Nature intended. Citri-Fi®’s composition is as close to its original form in nature.
Benefits in Beverages, Gummies and Nutrition Bars
Beverages can be powdered formulations or ready-to-drink (RTD). Citri-Fi when used between 0.1% and 1% provides both beverage types clouding, natural mouthfeel and emulsification properties. In addition, Citri-Fi aids in pH stability in RTD beverages. To use, Citri-Fi is typically added to the dry powder mix before liquids are added. This prevents clumping during the hydration process. However, one can also add Citri-Fi to liquids as long as there is strong agitation present.
In gummies, Citri-Fi is used to extend pectin in pectin-based formulations at a usage rate of 1-2%. In addition, this citrus fiber can replace topical powdered sugar. This not only reduces the sugar content of the gummy but also serves as an anti-sticking agent and requires only a 0.5% usage level. By doing this, formulators can create better-for-you and clean label gummy versions. Dietary supplement solutions like these that provide dual benefits help product developers meet their formulating goals with less stabilizers, thickeners and emulsifiers.
And in nutrition bars, Citri-Fi, when used between 0.3% and 1%, binds oil, emulsifies, and improves the texture. This citrus fiber performs well in various applications such as enrobed or coated and filling-based nutrition bars.
