Social media alert: Top 10 most-read nutra news on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter in 2023

Bayer Consumer Health looks to tie-up precision health innovation with existing supplement brands​

The Consumer Health Division of Bayer has been looking for a tie-up between its flagship health supplement brands and its newly formed precision health group.

The company said it believed that precision health would occupy 10 to 20 per cent of the consumer health care industry within the next decade.

It had announced the formation of its Precision Health Group in late May and said that the priority was in developing products that enabled people in taking greater control of their personal health through digital solutions.

More product formats: Aussie nutra brand seeks to incorporate active ingredients into pantry staples​​  ​

Australian nutraceutical firm Renovatio has incorporated its patented activated phenolic antioxidants into pantry food items, on top of its existing tablets and capsules supplements.

For instance, it launched a functional apple cider vinegar, available in 500 ml bottles, across Australia, including Woolworths supermarkets.

The product was developed as the firm found that the activated phenolics were able to elevate the benefits in apple cider vinegar due to it being “a very high-potency antioxidant because of the high absorption or bioavailability.” ​It had also trialled the effects of activated phenolics with sweet chilli, tomato ketchup, and salad dressing.

Optimal NMN dose? India trial says 600mg per day boosted NAD+ level and physical performance​ 

The optimal dose of NMN for boosting the body’s nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) level and physical performance is 600mg per day, according to findings of a 60-day trial in India.

The trial compared the effects of NMN supplementation at 300mg, 600mg, 900mg daily versus that of placebo.

It was found that blood NAD+ concentration had significantly increased in all groups that took NMN. However, NAD+ level was the highest in those who took either 600mg or 900mg of NMN.

Core approach: Apple phenolics specialist expanding supermarket presence with Coles deal​

Australia’s Renovatio had outlined wider offline expansion plans as it sought to increase product visibility and accessibility.

Earlier this year, the firm secured a deal worth more than AU$5 million (US$3.3 million) with Coles, which is stocking three of its products in 800 stores nationwide. 

While the first touchpoint for most customers tends to be online, via its health communications podcast or other customer reviews, the firm found that that many people still preferred to buy in-store while doing their grocery shopping.

And the winners are…Check out who took the top prizes at the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023​ 

AstaReal, Morinaga Milk, Glac Biotech, and GNC China were some of the winners of this year’s NutraIngredients-Asia Awards, held to recognise the brightest and best products, ingredients and initiatives across the nutrition industry.

Over 180 submissions were received for this year’s award entries, breaking a new record.

Some of the winners included AstaReal, which took home the Ingredient of the Year: Beauty from Within award, while GNC China won the Product of the Year: Omega-3.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023: The finalists are revealed!​

The finalists for the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023 were announced on July 10.

The awards are designed to recognise the brightest and best ingredients, finished products and initiatives across APAC’s thriving nutrition and functional food sectors.

Winners were announced during the first day of our Growth Asia Summit 2023 held in Singapore on September 26.

New formats, new markets: Indonesia’s Youvit on a roll in wake of US$6 mn Unilever-led funding boost​

Indonesian supplement brand Youvit said it would explore new product formats after expanding significantly in the Malaysian market on the back of funding led by the venture capital arm of Unilever.

The firm raised raised US$6 million in a series B funding round led by Unilever Ventures at the end of last year.

With the funding, the firm has expanded into 1,500 stores in Malaysia, spanning wellness stores, major pharmacies such as Watson and Guardian, and supermarkets. It has turned its attention to new product formats and has launched a high fibre powdered drink and a collagen powdered drink. 

First of its kind? Japanese firm develops supplement ingredient that promotes stem cell reproduction​ 

A Japanese company said it has developed an olive leaf extract that could be incorporated into health supplements to promote stem cell reproduction.

Tokyo-based Nutrition Act told us that the extract could promote stem cell reproduction by increasing the body’s production of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1).

The extract has been commercialised as an ingredient known as HIF1STEM.

Supplements and long COVID: Better studies needed to build on promise of nutritional interventions​

More rigorous and well-designed investigations would be needed to explore the initial promise of complementary medicine and supplementation in aiding attempts to tackle long COVID.

Long COVID encompasses a diverse range of persistent health issues emerging four weeks or more after an initial COVID-19 infection. 

More and more patients suffering from long COVID have called for multidisciplinary treatments, prompting interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). However, there is limited evidence showing CAM’s efficacy in long COVID.

Blackmores sold! Japanese giant Kirin to buy iconic Aussie brand for $1.2bn​

Japanese giant Kirin had announced its plans in acquiring Blackmores via a bumper $1.2bn deal, the two firms confirmed on April 27.

The move has been backed by Marcus Blackmore, the son of founder Maurice, and Blackmores’ largest shareholder.

Blackmores’ CEO and Managing Director, Alastair Symington, said the proposal recognised the strong leadership position that Blackmores, through its brands and people, has established in the natural health sector across the Asia Pacific region over its long history.