Health

As the rise in healthcare costs, pushed by the increase in the elderly population, develops into a social problem, people's interest becomes more directed at how they can live their lives without relying on medical care. This in turn brings self-medication, a mode of managing one's own health proactively, into the center of attention, and more people are now adopting such accessible daily healthcare, such as by taking supplements.

Fujifilm has been introducing a range of supplements containing functional substances such as salacia, a natural and efficient sugar blocker, and high antioxidant astaxanthin, which can help slow down the process of aging. Under the concept of “Wake up your innate vital powers with scientifically proven technology,” rather than supplementing something missing, these products were developed using our exclusive nanotechnology and chemical stabilization expertise gained through our long history in the photographic business. Taking advantage of the Foods with Function Claims system introduced in December 2015, we released Metabarrier Slim, which has a “sugar blocking” function through a functional substance called “salacia-derived salacinol.” We also launched Metabarrier S, which has both sugar blocking and probiotic functions, after obtaining approval in February 2017 to claim the “intestinal microflora conditioning” function of salacia through its ability to increase “good” bacteria. Salacia-derived salacinol inhibits the breakdown of disaccharides taken from foods into monosaccharides, reducing sugar intake in the small intestine. The saccharides that are not absorbed in the small intestine increase bifidobacteria, a good bacteria, in the large intestine, thereby normalizing the intestinal environment.

Further, in April 2017, we launched a new functional food called Metabarrier Kudzu Flower Isoflavone, which contains isoflavone (tectorigenin) extracted from kudzu flowers as a functional substance. The substance is reported to promote fat breakdown and burning by increasing the metabolism, and inhibits triglyceride synthesis from fatty acids and glucose in the liver. This product is expected to contribute to weight control for people of an age when their metabolism is slowing down.

Fujifilm also discovered that salacia has an effect of strengthening the immune system. We seek to maintain our contribution to human health through the development of functional foods based on scientific evidence.