Nutrition with precision

With expertise in food, nutrition, and regulatory affairs, and with access to advanced technology, RISE can offer both analyses and guidance related to the health effects of foods, including dietary supplements

Demonstrating the health effects of a food or dietary supplement is highly complex. To obtain reliable answers, the effects often need to be studied directly in humans. However, an important first step can be to determine whether the substances assumed to contribute to the intended effect are actually available for absorption in the body—and whether they reach the relevant site of action in an active form. Even this step is complex and requires specific expertise and methodologies.

At RISE, we combine broad knowledge in food, nutrition, and regulatory affairs with access to advanced laboratory methods and equipment for measuring bioaccessibility and bioactivity. Bioaccessibility refers to the amount of a substance that is released in the gastrointestinal tract and becomes available for absorption. We can also measure biomarkers related to health effects in the body.

Examples of methods offered by RISE:

Bioaccessibility

Advanced sample preparation equipment and microscopy for in vitro digestion (light, confocal, RAMAN, electron and scanning electron microscopy, TOF-SIMS, AFM)
INFOGEST 2.0 (static in vitro model simulating gastrointestinal breakdown)

Bioactivity & Biomarkers

Biomarker identification and bioanalysis (GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, 2D-nano LC, 600 MHz NMR)
Measurement of effect markers such as biomarkers for gene expression and inflammation in intestinal mucosa, blood, various tissues, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (qPCR, ELISA, FACS, clinical chemistry)
Effect and toxicology studies in in vivo models. RISE can lead, plan, and monitor regulatory studies (GLP) where required for market approval.

RISE also provides guidance and analytical methods for determining levels of nutrients, bioactive compounds, and antinutrients in foods.

What health claims can be made about a food product?

In the EU, the labelling and marketing of foods with health-related messaging is governed by harmonised legislation. Together with scientific opinions and guidance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and national authorities (in Sweden: the Swedish Food Agency), this legislation regulates nutrition and health claims for all foods, including dietary supplements. The regulatory framework defines, for example, compositional criteria, how nutrition and health claims may be formulated, and what level of scientific evidence is required. RISE experts can help you navigate, interpret, and apply these regulations.