It has now been crowned winner in two categories at the NutraIngredients Awards by an expert panel of judges drawn from fields including scientific research, academia and industry Nektium’s mood-boosting…

It has now been crowned winner in two categories at the NutraIngredients Awards by an expert panel of judges drawn from fields including scientific research, academia and industry

Nektium’s mood-boosting Vanizem has been named both Botanical Ingredient of the Year and Mind & Mood Ingredient of the Year at the NutraIngredients Awards 2026.

Launched in 2024, Vanizem is a fast-acting, non-sedative Aframomum melegueta extract that is clinically proven to improve mood, reduce stress levels and enhance sleep quality within just three days.

It has now been crowned winner in two categories at the NutraIngredients Awards by an expert panel of judges drawn from fields including scientific research, academia and industry.

The Botanical Ingredient of the Year award honours the best branded or own-label botanical ingredient. It reflects increasing consumer demand for effective, natural solutions and the growing body of research substantiating the therapeutic properties of plant-based ingredients.

In their citation for the Botanical Ingredient award, the judges said: “Vanizem has been selected as the winner thanks to its compelling blend of innovation, scientific credibility, and responsible sourcing. As a relatively new entrant to the market, it distinguishes itself through proprietary extraction methods and a patent-pending encapsulation technology that elevates its performance and reliability.

“The ingredient is supported by a robust scientific dossier including toxicology, mode of action research, and clinical studies demonstrating statistically significant benefits – underscoring its safety and efficacy. Sustainably sourced and commercially successful, Vanizem has rapidly gained traction across a wide range of nutraceutical formulations, reflecting both strong market confidence and meaningful impact.”

The Mind & Mood Ingredient of the Year award is given to the ingredient that best supports cognition, memory, alertness, mood, stress, anxiety, relaxation, sleep and brain recovery.

Commenting on the Mind & Mood Ingredient award, the judges said: “Vanizem is recognised for its highly innovative vanilloid technology, delivering fast-acting improvements in mood and sleep through modulation of the body’s endocannabinoid system. With a distinctive mechanism, strong early clinical signals, and impressive commercial momentum, Vanizem stands out as a breakthrough botanical with genuine disruptive potential and exciting opportunities for future expansion.”