Nanotechnology: The Future of Vitamin and Nutrient Delivery

Nanotechnology is one of the most innovative breakthroughs of the 21st century, and its applications aren’t limited to any specific industry. Rather, nanotechnology is being successfully used in agriculture, healthcare, electronics, energy, and several other avenues. Moreover, it has proven to be exceptionally useful in areas like diagnostics, food systems, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and several other fields. 

Nanotechnology involves the use of nanoparticles, very minute particles that aren’t visible to the human eye. These nanoparticles are useful in various applications, especially in improving the bioavailability of bioactive compounds through oral delivery. Researchers have found out that nanotechnology is highly useful in vitamin and nutrient delivery, and this is what we are going to discuss in this white paper.

In the past, nanotechnology has been used improve computers and medicine. Nanotechnology deals with dimensions and of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. Nanohydr8 uses an exclusive technology to create nanoparticles, that are mixed with ultra-purified water. This increases the surface area for increased nutrient absorption.  

Nanoparticles can be added to food products, such as vitamins and minerals, that increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. In addition, nanotechnology can be used to create food packaging that is more effective at keeping nutrients fresh and preventing spoilage. 

As our understanding of nanotechnology continues to grow, there are endless possibilities for how it can be used to improve the quality and nutrition of our food. For example, scientists are currently working on ways to use nanotechnology to create fortified foods that provide specific nutrients that are tailored to an individual's needs.

In the future, nanotechnology will continue to revolutionize the food industry and improve the way we think about nutrition.

When people talk about the integration of technology in the food & beverage industry, they mostly focus on how automation or big data has revolutionized manufacturing or preparation processes. Compared to this, there is little discussion regarding how nanotechnology has innovated and optimized the final consumer experience by improving the efficacy of the final product. 

The Institute of Food Science and Technology envisions that nanotechnology will be used to boost the amount of vitamins and other nutrients in edible products, without having to alter their presence at all.

The practice of adding nutrients to food separately isn’t something new. Rather, it has been used for several years. Food manufacturers and scientists create what is known as ‘nano-encapsulated nutrients’, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamins, etc. and add them to food products to increase the benefits consumers can receive from them.

The main reason why experts are looking towards nanotechnology for vitamin and nutrient delivery is because of the medical benefits it provides, as well as its ability to create highly minute particles that open up new avenues in patient treatment and nutrient bioavailability. 

By now, you have a clear idea of what nanotechnology is, and how it is a beneficial method for food & beverage manufacturers to boost the nutritional content and efficacy of their products. 

Simply put, nano-encapsulation allows the production of nanoparticles of nutrients, such as iron, calcium, etc. and coating them with another substance or compound. This compound is then covered or coated by a protective layer so that its bioavailability and efficacy are protected from external factors. 

When trying to improve the quality of food products, one of the biggest challenges manufacturers face is maintaining their nutritional content. In most cases, the product’s overall appearance, composition, solubility, or even strength is improved, but this takes a toll on the total amount of nutrients it provides or the overall bioavailability of those nutrients. Thanks to nanotechnology, they can finally work towards improving food quality without tampering with its nutritional composition. 

According to a publication in the International Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science, nanotechnology can also optimize the thermal stability and oral bioavailability of nutrients, which makes nutrient delivery much smoother and more effective.

An effective delivery method should be able to retain an optimal amount of bioavailable substances which, in our case, are nutrients and vitamins. This particular delivery system has to carry through the efficacy of said nutrients throughout the manufacturing, processing, storage, and transportation stages. Nanoparticles can enhance the bioavailability of micronutrients, for instance, vitamin A, vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid.

According to research, nano-encapsulation provides you with the perfect delivery system by miniaturizing nutraceuticals to the nanoscale for in-vivo delivery. Not only does it allow you to shrink nutrients into really tiny particles, but also prevents them from reacting with any other airborne substance, or the other substances contained inside the product itself. This way, the consumer gets the full benefit of the nutrients they take.

While most nutrients, vitamins, and other compounds are highly beneficial for our body and can be best consumed through oral delivery, some of them don’t exactly taste or smell good. This makes consumers run away from products containing those particular compounds. However, nanotechnology provides manufacturers with a particular way to cut down those compounds into minuscule components, which can be coated with other substances to mask their smell or taste.

This way, the consumer gets the maximum potency of the nutrients they need to take, and they also don’t have to gulp down their supplements just because they make them nauseous or uncomfortable.

Another major benefit of using nanotechnology for vitamin and nutrient delivery is that it boosts the shelf life of food products by slowing down the degradation of bioactive substances, or by halting the degradation process for a certain period. 

Therefore, it also helps in the preservation of such food products for a longer time, thus benefitting both the manufacturer and consumers. Moreover, consumers don’t have to worry about finishing up the products before a certain amount of time, thanks to the increased shelf life.

According to several studies, certain nutrients have been shown to absorb at the cellular level in 1-2 minutes using nanotechnology compared to over an hour with traditional nutrient size that uses the normal digestive process. These studies also reveal that it was complete absorption compared to only partial absorption. 

Nanoparticles can be formulated to survive passage through specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract and then release their payload at a specified point, thus maximizing their potential health benefits. For instance, a study published in Science Daily reveals that iron absorption increases by about 200% through nanotechnology.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that nanotechnology is the future of nutrient and vitamin delivery and absorption. Nanotechnology has the ability to boost the functionality of food, an attribute in great demand by customers as it relates to health without sacrificing visual appeal.

Several food manufacturers are realizing the vast benefits of using nanotechnology for this purpose, with Nanohydr8 leading the pack. The company produces the first-ever beverages that involve nanotechnology in the production, thus optimizing their nutrient delivery capabilities.From focus to hydration to performance, Nanohydr8 helps you achieve every goal.