Demand for lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase is set to grow strongly through 2021. That is the forecast of a market report released in New York on December 28, 2017. Both proteins come from whey, the liquid left over when cheese is made.
Whey protein comes in three main forms: isolate, concentrate (WPC) and hydrolysate. WPC is rich in lactose and low in protein. Even so, it takes more than a third of the market by usage, mostly in protein drinks and nutritional supplements. Lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase, in turn, are both part of WPC.
Lactoferrin is only partly saturated with iron. It occurs mainly in mammals, and it also appears in many exocrine fluids, such as saliva and mucus. Lactoperoxidase, by contrast, is a hemoprotein that speeds up the oxidation of thiocyanate and iodide ions, which yields oxidizing agents. It turns up in cervical mucus, saliva, tears, milk and the nasal glands.
Where demand comes from
The report splits the market by application: pharmaceuticals, food products, infant formula, feed, personal care, and sports and functional food. Pharmaceuticals should bring in the most revenue over the forecast period, followed by cosmetics. That is because traits such as iron bioavailability and antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer effects help in making many kinds of drugs. Sports and functional food should also post healthy growth.
A second split looks at function. For lactoferrin, the groups are iron absorption, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune cell stimulation and gut flora protection. Flora protection is expected to see the widest use, while the antibacterial and iron absorption roles should also add a good deal.
Lactoperoxidase has three groups: antimicrobial use, gut flora protection and anti-inflammatory action in the gut. Here, too, flora protection should lead for the next five to six years. Antimicrobial use, however, is expected to grow well in the near term. Food makers add these proteins as antimicrobials to extend shelf life, and that practice should keep demand rising.
By region, North America is forecast to bring in the most revenue, with Europe second. In the U.S., growing sales of sports and energy drinks are the main driver. Asia Pacific should also grow a lot, since the region needs more dietary supplements and buys many cosmetics in Japan, China and Southeast Asia.
At the same time, higher disposable incomes and more health-conscious people around the world should lift demand. Rising consumption of sports drinks and functional food is expected to add to that trend.
The report also names several major players. Among them are Agennix Inc, Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd, Milei Gmbh and Pharming Group NV. The list then includes Ingredia SA, Morinaga Milk Industry Co Ltd, Taradon Laboratory Sprl and Ventria Bioscience Inc.
