Supplement Shorts: Melatonin-free gummies, enzyme insights, and biotics move center stage
Here's the product development view of this week's supplement news: melatonin-free sleep formats, AI-assisted formulation, enzyme-enabled fiber strategies, and biotics with cognitive and women's health angles.
- Formulation trend: Sleep and calm without melatonin using magnesium bisglycinate, L-theanine, and adaptogens.
- Science signal: Enzymes that boost prebiotic XOS in-digestion models and fermented whey peptides with strong ACE inhibition.
- Market moves: Probiotic launches for cognition, whole-food daily blends, women's health winners, and notable M&A and leadership changes.
Jeevanaa debuts melatonin-free "Deep Sleep" and "Deep Calm" gummies
Jeevanaa launched jumbo gummies that feel like a treat while targeting sleep and calm without melatonin. Both use magnesium bisglycinate and L-theanine with botanicals; the calm SKU adds KSM-66 ashwagandha.
Formulas were developed with AI via RLHF: models proposed research-backed combinations, then human experts refined them. The brand cites melatonin skepticism as the reason to focus on alternatives. Expansion beyond gummies and into the U.S. is planned, with active supplier outreach.
- Product dev notes: Melatonin-free opens doors for sensitive users and retailers wary of high-dose melatonin. Magnesium bisglycinate improves tolerability vs. oxide; L-theanine supports calm without grogginess.
- Differentiation: Jumbo "treat-like" format for adherence, Ayurvedic positioning paired with evidence.
- Process: Consider AI-assisted ideation for faster option-scoring and literature scans; keep human review for dose, interactions, and claims.
Clinical currents: enzymes and the microbiome
Xylanase for better fiber payoff: A xylanase-rich preparation (from Trichoderma logibrachiatum) increased prebiotic xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and xylose from wheat bran and other xylan-rich substrates in simulated digestion. The takeaway: pairing xylanase with fiber-heavy foods or supplements may enhance prebiotic output and consumer benefits without changing diets.
- Use case: Add xylanase to cereal, bars, or fiber blends to generate XOS in situ. Validate under shelf-life and pH/thermal conditions relevant to your matrix.
- Claims: Focus on "supports digestive health" and "prebiotic" language; avoid disease claims. Confirm regulatory status for your markets.
Fermented whey peptides and blood pressure: Coupling proteinase K treatment with microbial fermentation yielded hydrolysates with high ACE-inhibitory activity; Streptococcus thermophilus SY-102 showed the strongest effect among strains tested. This supports peptide-forward concepts in functional dairy and protein powders.
- Use case: Develop RTM shakes or daily shots with standardized ACE-inhibitory peptide levels. Track bitterness; use flavor modulators or secondary fermentation to manage sensory.
- Tech note: Standardize enzyme/fermentation steps for consistent peptide profiles and QC. For background on ACE-inhibitory peptides, see peer-reviewed overviews.
Gut microbiome and food allergies: A review in Gut Microbes outlines how specific biotic species may build tolerance or worsen sensitivities. It also calls for trials that account for environmental factors (e.g., diet) and for deeper work on how immunoglobulins interact with the microbiome.
- Use case: For allergy-adjacent concepts, prioritize strain-level precision and diet-context controls in study designs. Be careful with claims; stick to structure/function unless you have clinical support.
Finished products: cognition, daily nutrition, and women's health
Bened Life Neuralli Cognition+: A daily probiotic combining Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 to support cognitive function and short-term memory. Clinical and preclinical data are positioned to appeal to healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment segments.
- Formulation angle: Dual-strain cognitive positioning is still underused. Validate CFU stability, include strain-level IDs on-pack, and align claims to human data.
Ampelis CORE7: A whole-food drink powder with vitamins, minerals, mushrooms, adaptogens, enzymes, and probiotics. The pitch: simplify foundational nutrition to close common gaps.
- Formulation angle: Broad-spectrum blends need a hierarchy-prioritize clinically meaningful doses for 2-3 hero benefits to avoid a "sprinkle" perception.
Terra Mare Morning Restore: A women's health supplement powder with mushrooms, biotics, collagen, and nutrients; won a three-star supplement award in the Nourish Awards. Positioning centers on digestion, mood, and hormonal balance.
- Formulation angle: Women's daily routines favor powders and gummies. Pair symptom-led claims with cycle-aware education and transparent dosing.
Seen Nutrition: Won $500,000 from Grow-NY for a whole-food calcium chew aimed at bone health with higher bioavailability. This format fits adherence and aging-consumer needs.
- Formulation angle: Validate calcium source bioavailability and co-factors (e.g., K2, D3). Chew texture and acid/base balance drive repeat use.
Company updates product teams should watch
- Marinova: Won the international health category at the 2025 Australian Export Awards. Maritech fucoidan now reaches 40+ countries-watch supply reliability and growing demand in immune and healthy-aging formulas.
- Om Mushrooms: Appointed Sanjiv Gajiwala as CEO. Expect brand focus on evidence-backed positioning and broader retail penetration for functional mushrooms.
- Greenvit x Synkol: Greenvit acquired a majority stake in Synkol, a Polish supplier of Hyacoll type II chicken collagen. Potential for new collagen formats and capacity scaling.
- Church & Dwight: Agreed to sell VitaFusion and L'il Critters to Piping Rock Health Products. Monitor SKU rationalization and potential formulation shifts post-transition.
- Doctor's Best: Named Nate Challen as president, emphasizing digital growth with product integrity. Expect faster iteration cycles and stronger DTC analytics.
Practical next steps for product developers
- Prototype a melatonin-free sleep line using magnesium bisglycinate (glycinate chelate), L-theanine, and a standardized adaptogen. Run a 2-week use test for perceived sleep quality and next-day alertness.
- Test xylanase inclusion in fiber blends or baked formats to drive in situ XOS creation. Confirm activity after processing and across pH.
- Explore a fermented whey or casein concept with quantified ACE-inhibitory peptides. Build a sensory plan early to manage bitterness.
- For cognitive probiotics, choose strains with human data and document CFU at end-of-shelf-life. Include storage guidance and clear strain labeling.
- Audit your women's health portfolio for daily formats (powders, gummies) that pair mood + digestion support with cycle-aware content.
- Consider AI-assisted formulation workflows to speed literature review and variant scoring. For practical training on AI tools, see AI courses by job.
Your membership also unlocks:
