Arla Foods Ingredients unveils ready-to-stir whey ingredient for protein-enriched medical nutrition

Arla Foods Ingredients has launched a new ready-to-stir beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) solution to improve convenience and acceptability for patients who require protein-enriched medical nutrition. 

The new Lacprodan BLG-100 Acidic whey protein provides 10 g of protein per 100 ml serving. Its solubility ensures it can be used in technically challenging, ready-to-stir powder applications that can be shaken or stirred with a spoon. 

Arla Foods Ingredients notes that this product offers patients a welcome alternative to the highly standardized, milky ready-to-drink (RTD) and powder applications common in the medical nutrition market. These options often include neutral pH ingredients that patients can find heavy and unrefreshing, while juice-style options are limited to RTDs.

“Too many hospital patients lack the nutrition to support their recovery from illness. Yet the conventional milky taste and heavy texture of many medical nutrition products can inhibit compliance, with patients often looking for a wider variety of formats,” says Mads Dyrvig, head of Sales Development, Specialised Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients.

“Lacprodan BLG-100 Acidic creates new opportunities for appealing foods and beverages for special medical purposes, enabling nourishing, varied, and convenient options for reduced appetites. Delivering pleasant taste and mouthfeel, it offers exceptional functionality and versatility, enabling higher-quality protein and more variety for patients.”

Disease-related malnutrition

The WHO estimates that up to 50% of hospital patients suffer from malnutrition, which is associated with longer hospital stays, poor quality of life, increased mortality, and higher healthcare costs.

Arla Foods Ingredients notes that motivating patients to consume sufficient protein through oral nutrition supplements is challenging, as they often have reduced appetite.

Motivating patients to consume sufficient protein through oral nutrition supplements is challenging, as they often have reduced appetite.The company notes that Lacprodan BLG-100 Acidic is “ideal” for patients with reduced appetite and supports people at increased risk of losing muscle mass. The product is high in all nine essential amino acids and rich in leucine, which stimulates muscle protein synthesis.

It can be used in nutritionally complete and incomplete applications, including refreshing juice-style and milky options. According to Arla Foods Ingredients, its flexible powder format enables easier dosage of the recommended daily medical nutrition prescription, with the final volume adjustable by changing the amount of water added.

The company also says it delivers a great, refreshing taste with no bitterness, low astringency, and low viscosity without gelling. “It dissolves in just 30 seconds in warm or cold applications without clumping.”

Product applications

Arla Foods Ingredients has created two convenient, ready-to-stir powder application concepts. It states that a juice-style medical drink for nutritionally incomplete products represents “a unique market opportunity,” while a complete milky RTD beverage offers a “refreshing alternative” to existing milky options.

Both concepts can be mixed into various F&B products, such as milk, porridge, and soup, to boost protein intake.

Last year, the company launched Lacprodan CGMP-30 for the medical nutrition market. This casein glycomacropeptide (CGMP) contains lower levels of phenylalanine than its predecessor, helping support newborns who cannot metabolize it due to a metabolic disorder.

Highlighting the importance of offering “familiar flavors” to improve adherence to medical nutrition, Danone previously told Nutrition Insight about the launch of a savory-flavored solution in its specialized nutrition brand, Nutricia.