Eyeing the elderly market: DyDo DRINCO’s new FFC seeks to fulfil demand for dual-function supplements in Japan
The Clear Eye & Sleep supplement is a Food with Function Claims (FFCs) released under DyDo DRINCO’s “healthcare series”.
“We believe that the demand for such dual-function supplements has risen in Japan, as more seniors have increased the use of computers and smartphones due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As they go out less, more people are suffering from eye fatigue and poor sleep quality.
“In Japan’s supplements industry, the eye care market is large while the sleep support market is growing. However, products that care for both the eyes and sleep are few,” Naoki Fujimoto of DyDo DRINCO’s healthcare department told NutraIngredients-Asia.
Although the DyDo Group’s core business centres on the manufacturing and sales of beverages such as canned coffee and soft drinks both locally and globally, the company has also diversified into producing energy drinks and beauty drinks, as well as developing dietary supplements and FFCs.
“We entered the health foods business in 2012, with the desire to add value to customers in areas other than beverages. We continue to be a partner of people aged 65 and above, who care about their health and wellness, in supporting their ‘second life’.
“We plan to continuously launch new products, and our main focus for product development is on creating supplements that support seniors in living an active lifestyle,” Fujimoto said.
Launched on April 21, Clear Eye & Sleep is currently only available for purchase in Japan via DyDo’s online shop.
Double relief
In April 2020, DyDo conducted a consumer survey involving a total of 447 men and women aged 55 years and above. It was found that about 40% of the respondents had problems with their eyes or had trouble sleeping.
Macular pigment comprises carotenoids including lutein and zeaxanthin in the retina. The density of macular pigment decreases with age, making an individual more susceptible to eye and sleep problems over time.
Studies have suggested that lutein has protective effects against harmful blue light. It filters out blue light, and its antioxidant properties help get rid of free radicals that damage cells and cause diseases.
As such, dietary supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin has been widely touted as an effective way of increasing macular pigment density.
In 2017, DyDo introduced “Clear Eye” to address the needs of people with eye issues. While developing Clear Eye & Sleep, the firm doubled the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin to better support visual function such as reducing light sensitivity and eye fatigue, as well as to relieve mental stress and improve sleep quality.
The ratio of lutein and zeaxanthin has been “carefully selected” at 5:1 (20mg:4.08mg) to optimise simultaneous care for the eyes and sleep.
“The supplement comes in an easy-to-swallow soft capsule format, and is easy to continue taking because only one capsule is needed per day. Other than lutein and zeaxanthin, the formulation also consists of vitamins C, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 and B12,” said the firm.
The lutein and zeaxanthin used in Clear Eye & Sleep are derived from marigold flowers cultivated in India.
“We believe that safety and reliability of quality are the most important because it is a health food that is consumed every day for a long period of time.
“The factory that manufactures Clear Eye & Sleep has been certified as a health food Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant facility by the Japan Health and Nutrition Food Association. Production and quality control are implemented based on GMP initiatives. At the factory, various inspections are repeated in all processes, from receiving of raw materials to manufacturing and shipping,” the firm reiterated.
