Botanicals & Herbals

Tapping potential: Indian nutra firm Diabliss to develop 10 new herbal water products

13-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Chennai-based nutraceutical and food firm Diabliss Consumer Products is developing another 10 herbal water supplements – on top of its five existing products – to tap the lucrative potential of the general wellness market in the country.

Botanical oil extract supplementation shows gradual improvement in knee osteoarthritis – 8-week RCT

12-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of a botanical oil extract for eight weeks has shown gradual improvement in knee osteoarthritis and pain, according to an eight-week RCT conducted in India.

Science shorts: Novel botanical blend for fatty liver, COVID-19 adjuvant, mother-and-baby health

09-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Read the latest scientific research on health and nutrition, including the benefits of a novel botanical blend in improving fatty liver, the role of vitamin C, D in supporting COVID-19 treatment and more.

Winners revealed: Find out who took the top prizes at this year’s NutraIngredients Asia Awards!

06-Sep-2022 By Gary Scattergood

We have announced the winners of the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards for 2022.

More choices: Aussie plant-based formula brand Sprout Organic on packaging and NPD innovation – CEO interview

01-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Australia’s plant-based infant formula brand Sprout Organic aims to introduce new packaging sizes and widen its offerings in the infant formula and supplementary food categories for young children, according to its founder and CEO Selasi Berdie.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in August

31-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China dairy firm Junlebao's latest infant formula launch, findings of Swisse's krill oil RCT on knee osteoarthritis, as well as Vinamilk's and H&H's insights on Vietnam's infant formula market are some of the most popular...

Beyond milk thistle: Gencor novel botanical blend improves fatty liver index in 12-week RCT

31-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of a novel botanical blend has been shown to improve fatty liver index in non-alcoholic and overweight adults in a 12-week RCT.

South Korea’s MFDS proposes blood pressure claim for health foods containing garlic

31-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has proposed to allow a blood pressure related claim in health functional foods (HFF) containing garlic.

Acquisition boost: McPherson’s reports strong growth for former Blackmores brand Fusion

29-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

ASX-listed Australian firm McPherson’s has reported almost 90 per cent annual growth in its health business in FY22, with the herbals brand Fusion – previously owned by Blackmores’ Global Therapeutics – performing particularly well.

Safety first: NMN, protein powder, product traceability round-up

24-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the initiatives put in place to safeguard supplements safety and quality across the APAC health and nutrition market, including the Chinese industry issuing self-regulating standards for controlling nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)...

Inventory, packaging innovation and NPD: Blackmores CEO sets out stall for next financial year – Exclusive

23-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Blackmores will beef up its local inventory for the 13 markets that it currently operates in, design new pack sizes for markets such as Thailand, and target eye health growth in China over the next year, the company’s CEO told NutraIngredients-Asia.

New data: South Korea’s health functional food production value up nearly 20% last year

17-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Health Functional Food (HFF) production value was up nearly 20 per cent in year 2021, latest data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) showed.

Welcome move: New Zealand health ministry plans to regulate supplements via self-assessment - Updated

17-Aug-2022 By By Tingmin Koe and Gary Scattergood

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health is intending to regulate natural health products via a self-assessment / declaration process, a move welcomed by the local industry body.

NutraChampion podcast

Local food sources for sports nutrition: Rice biopeptides and palm oil among prospects – Malaysian expert

16-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Sports nutrition research coming out of Malaysia could explore local foods sources, such as palm oil, goat’s milk, and black pepper, said the vice-president of Nutrition Society of Malaysia, who has previously studied biopeptides extracted from locally...

Business round-up: Updates from Asmara, BYHEALTH, hy Co

12-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will look at business updates across APAC’s health and nutrition sector, including a potential MNC acquisition deal for Singapore functional food firm Asmara, financial results of China’s BYHEALTH in the first six months of this year, and...

Science shorts: Swisse’s krill oil, Amway's personalised nutrition RCT findings, India’s CBD research

05-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will feature scientific findings from big brand names, including Swisse and its study of krill oil supplementation on knee osteoarthritis, Amway’s personalised nutrition, and India’s national research agency’s plans for studying cannabidiol...

Regulators urged to update policies for ensuring folate sufficiency in childbearing women

04-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Policymakers need to review the current methods of ensuring folate sufficiency among women of childbearing age, said a group of Australian researchers who found that food and supplements could not provide optimal folate intake.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in July

03-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

hy Co.'s (formerly Korea Yakult) clinical trial on how the supplementation of two Lactobacillus strains could alleviate obesity, Nestle Health Science's acquisition of GO Healthy, and the list of NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2022 finalists are...

New Zealand blackcurrant specialist sets sights on China’s healthy ageing market

03-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The cGP Lab Ltd, a New Zealand firm specialising in developing dietary supplements containing cyclic glycine-proline (cGP) – a molecule extracted from New Zealand grown blackcurrants – is eyeing China’s healthy ageing market with its products.

Reduce ‘hangxiety’: Anti-hangover brand Bounceback targets 700% growth and US entry

03-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Singapore anti-hangover remedy brand Bounceback aims to attain 700% growth and entry to the West by 2023 after hitting a “sizeable seven-digit annual revenue”, said its Co-Founder and CEO Roy Ang.

Brushing up: South Korean authorities considering hair health claims for functional foods

01-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korean food and drug authority is planning to expand the current list of health claims under the health functional foods (HFF) system to include hair health.

Health-conscious: 34.4% Japanese female nurses consume supplements – new data

01-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A total of 34.4% of Japanese female nursing professionals regularly consume supplements, especially those who are older, non-obese or pregnant, new data has shown.

Regulatory review: Updates from China, New Zealand, India, Thailand

29-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China seeking new methods to test laxatives, beta-blockers in health foods, New Zealand industry body objecting government’s recommendations to schedule levomefolate, and India’s mandatory traceability policy on vegan products are some of the latest APAC...

NUTRACHAMPION PODCAST

CBD and cancer pain relief: India’s national research institute boss outlines study plans – LISTEN

27-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

India’s national research agency is hoping to study cannabidiol (CBD) and its effects on cancer pain relief, the director of the agency has revealed in our latest NutraChampion podcast.

Potential combo: Spirulina supplement with resistance training could prevent obesity, trigger weight loss in men

25-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Spirulina supplementation, combined with eight weeks of circuit resistance training, could lead to reduced weight among overweight and obese men.

Brand new: Amway’s traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing launch, Blackmores’ COVID-19 trial

22-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at the latest developments from big brand names, including Amway’s Nutrilite traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing product launch in Japan, and a clinical trial assessing Blackmores’ products in Singapore.

VitamINSIGHTS: Traceability and quality control – Exclusive in-depth analysis

Not just the data: Amway, BYHEALTH, Danone on bringing product traceability to life for consumers

20-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

How can traceability technologies safeguard product quality and safety, and to what extent are APAC consumers concerned about these developments? We take a deep dive with Amway, Danone, BYHEALTH and more to find out.

Aim for the skies: Malaysian nootropic beverage firm Eureka Drinks aims for 45% growth in 2023

20-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Malaysian nootropic firm Eureka Drinks is targeting a 45% growth next year based on a new strategic expansion, distribution and retail plan.

Thai cannabis teething troubles: Authorities vow tough approach to food products amid THC concerns

19-Jul-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Thai authorities have stressed that stringent control measures will be enforced as more food and beverage firm seeks to use cannabis-derived ingredients, amid claims that 30% of products contain higher than permitted tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels.

SEA focus: Blackmores and Singapore's COVID-19 study, Tipco on healthier beverages, Malaysia regulatory updates

15-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up on developments in Southeast Asia include Blackmore's largest ever single product donation for supporting a COVID-19 clinical research in Singapore, Tipco's assessment of the healthier beverages market, and Malaysian authority's...

Regulators failing to match consumer demand for natural products supporting mental well-being – Watch

12-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Our first Mind and Mood Interactive Broadcast has heard that regulators are failing to match consumer demand for natural products to aid mental well-being spanning cognition, sleep, stress and anxiety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Novel entry: Singapore white honey brand Al Honey targets South East Asia, Australia after Saudi backing

11-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Singapore brand Al Honey is planning its expansion in South East Asia and Australia over the next two years with its novel white honey product.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in June

07-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Amway Korea's launch of a precision probiotics service, Singapore firm Regenosis's ambitious growth plans for its supplements that claim to slow down the ageing process, and updates on the US formula crisis were the most-read stories last month....

Curcumin-piperine co-supplementation could significantly reduce weakness in COVID-19 patients – RCT

06-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Curcumin-piperine co-supplementation could significantly reduce weakness in outpatients with COVID-19, but does not influence other factors such as biochemical and clinical indices.

Validating active ingredients: Malaysian regulator conducts public consultation on testing

04-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Malaysia’s regulator is conducting a public consultation on how manufacturers of traditional medicines and health supplements could validate the amount of active ingredients claimed on the product label.

Stem sells: Kale by-products could be turned into prebiotics by Singapore partnership

04-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Researchers from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and precision gut microbiome firm AMILI hope to turn unwanted kale stems into prebiotics products.

Trend tracker: Japan’s FFC market analysis, demand for vegan-friendly omega-3, Growth Asia Summit

01-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Trends in Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC), the demand for vegan-friendly omega-3 based on insights from Thai Union, and an upcoming business summit in Singapore for the health and nutrition industry are featured in this round-up.

Not cherry picking: NZ hopes cherry functional health benefits can help boost exports

29-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

New Zealand is pumping in cash to boost its cherry-growing industry by funding research to assess the nutritional value of the stone fruit that has been purported to reduce inflammation, regulate blood pressure and improve sleep among many.

‘Beat the bottleneck’: China functional food specialist BuffX to launch TCM-concept breakfast

28-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China functional food firm BuffX has outlined its strategy to outgrow the bottleneck seen in tier one and two cities – by launching powder-based ‘breakfasts’ in lower tier cities formulated using traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) concepts.

Japan’s functional foods dilemma: Just over one-third of approved FFC products successfully launched in FY21

28-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Only about one-third of approved Foods with Function Claims (FFC) made it on to the market in FY2021, with more than 60 per cent pending launch, exclusive new data has shown.

Opportunities abound: Asians more open to natural products but seek science-based ingredients – Pharmactive MD

27-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Asia is more open than any other market to trying natural products due to its long history of traditional remedies, but scientifically-backed and clinically trialled ingredients are now fast becoming a key consumer demand.

Nutrachampion podcast

Three is the magic number: Australia’s CSIRO principal scientist reveals how to deliver high-quality nutra trials– LISTEN

22-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

With consumers increasingly demanding scientifically-validated nutra products and ingredients, one of the key scientists in Australia’s national research agency has revealed the three factors that are crucial for a high-quality trial.

Pro ambition: NZ’s GO Healthy launches premium supplement series to rival practitioner products

20-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Major New Zealand supplement brand GO Healthy has launched a premium supplement brand named the PRO Series, an over-the-counter (OTC) range that it hopes can rival practitioner-only products.

First for Thailand: Lifestar launches CBD krill oil supplement for knee pain

13-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Thai firm Lifestar has launched what is said to be the first cannabidiol (CBD) supplement approved for sale in the country, which also contains krill oil, vitamins and minerals, to improve knee pain.

Science shorts: NAD+, NMN, vitamin E in the spotlight

10-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up of new scientific findings will look at how low NAD+ level is associated with anaemia in women, Mitsubishi Life Sciences’ NMN clinical study findings, and the benefits of vitamin E for exercise recovery and PCOS.

Timing the challenge: Bod Australia to complete CBD trial by year end, launch in 2023

07-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Timing is the biggest challenge when it comes to navigating the nascent schedule 3 cannabidiol (CBD) supplement go-to-market system, says Bod Australia, which is aiming to be one of the first to launch such a product in Australia.

China focus: Lockdown’s impacts, Bifidobacterium strain approval, and Swisse’s offline growth

06-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Here is a round-up of new developments in China’s health and nutrition industry, including the lockdowns’ impacts on businesses, the approval of a Bifidobacterium strain for use in infant foods, and Swisse’s offline retail expansion.

Brand new: Amway Korea’s precision probiotics, Ora’s cellular health product, HMO formulas by Nestle

03-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up of brands related news, we will look at Amway Korea’s launch of its precision probiotics and microbiome testing service, Australia’s Ora innovating in the cellular health space using broccoli-sprout derived sulforaphane and more.

Indian nutra industry association’s chief outlines three-pronged approach for growth – Watch

01-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The chief of an Indian nutraceutical industry body has outlined three key initiatives that it is driving to elevate India’s competitiveness in the global stage.

VitamINSIGHTS – Delivery system innovation

‘Now is the time’: Moderna co-founder and nutra experts on why delivery system innovation is key for industry growth

31-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Breakthrough in delivery system technologies is crucial to drive innovation in the traditional vitamin and minerals category, as well as the booming probiotics, functional food and beverage sectors.