Development of a novel circular economy plant protein derivative as a readily digestible dietary ingredient to support healthy ageing

骨骼肌减少症，或骨骼肌组织随着年龄的增长而下降，是老年人功能下降、虚弱和丧失独立性的最重要原因之一，导致住院率和死亡率增加。到2050年，65岁以上的人口将达到20亿，这是世界上增长最快的年龄组，肌肉减少症的发病率将相应增加68%。然而，随着预期寿命的持续增加，老年人口可能在社会和经济中发挥更重要的作用。充足的营养和有针对性的锻炼仍然是治疗肌少症的黄金标准。NHS每年用于治疗与年龄相关的肌肉骨骼衰退的费用估计为57亿英镑（占净支出的5%），在美国，肌肉减少症估计每年造成185亿美元的卫生保健支出相关的经济负担。商业上，2022年全球肌肉减少症治疗市场规模估计为28亿美元，预计到2028年将达到38亿美元，预测期内的复合年增长率（CAGR）约为4.7%。Bell & Loxton创新有限公司正在通过开发一种易于消化、可持续的植物性食品成分来解决这一日益增长的健康挑战，这种成分可以通过强化或作为独立的食品补充剂纳入正常食品中。消化各种食物的能力随着年龄的增长而下降，而为了保持健康和力量，人们需要摄入比年轻人更多的某些营养种类，这进一步加剧了这种情况。B&LI是一家循环经济公司，通过从丰富的农业食品废物流中提取高价值的生物可再生能源来创造具有治疗和营养价值的活性成分。我们的植物性产品将提供给老年人，以促进健康饮食，支持行动和力量，延长独立生活，从而减轻NHS和更广泛的护理系统的负担。

Sarcopenia, or the decline of skeletal muscle tissue with age, is one of the most important causes of functional decline, frailty and loss of independence in older adults leading to increased hospitalizations and mortality rates. There will be ~2Bn people over the age of 65 by 2050 representing the world's fastest growing age-group with a corresponding increase of 68% in the incidence of sarcopenia. However, as life expectancy continues to increase, older demographics are likely to play more significant roles in societies and economies.Adequate nutrition and targeted exercise remain the gold standard for the therapeutic treatment of sarcopenia. The annual cost to the NHS of treating age-related musculoskeletal decline is estimated at £5.7 billion (5% of net expenditure) and in the United States, sarcopenia has been estimated to have an economic burden related to health care expenditures of $18.5 billion per year. Commercially, the global sarcopenia treatments market size was estimated at $2.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $3.8 billion by 2028, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~4.7% during the forecast period.Bell & Loxton Innovations Ltd is addressing this growing health challenge by developing an easily digestible, sustainable plant-based food ingredient, that can be incorporated into normal food via fortification or as a standalone food supplement. The ability to digest various food groups decreases with age which is further compounded by the need to consume a greater amount of certain nutrient classes than a younger person to maintain health and strength. B&LI is a circular economy company which innovates through extracting high-value biorenewables from abundant agri-food waste streams to create active ingredients of therapeutic and nutritional value. Our plant-based product will be made available to seniors to contribute towards a healthy diet that supports mobility and strength and prolongs independent living thereby reducing the burden on the NHS and the wider care system.