Botanicals & Herbals

French pine bark extract intake reduces hair loss in postmenopausal women – six-month RCT

17-Jan-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of French pine bark extract has shown to increase hair density in women who have undergone menopause, according to a six-month clinical trial conducted in Shanghai.

Exclusive Japan FFC data: Weight management, stress relief, cognitive health products trending

11-Jan-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Foods with Function Claims (FFCs) that claim to support weight management, fatigue and stress relief, and cognitive function are trending in Japan, according to exclusive new data we can reveal today.

Diversified approach: Blackmores’ new chair on the lookout for directors to broaden expertise – exclusive interview

10-Jan-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Blackmores’ new chair says she is looking to appoint new directors who can diversify the board’s skill set and expertise, as the firm looks to achieve ‘sustainable, profitable growth’ and improve shareholder returns.

2023 outlook: The must know nutraceutical regulations on the horizon in APAC this year

09-Jan-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Check out the new nutraceutical related regulations that will kick in this year in various parts of Asia-Pacific, from the use of aloe vera in Taiwan to Hong Kong’s Amendment Regulation regarding harmful substances in food, and Malaysia implementing Quantitative...

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in December 2022

05-Jan-2023 By Tingmin Koe

From a study comparing curcumin and coenzyme Q10 in lowering cholesterol levels, to the opening of Kirin's first human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) production plant and DSM's temporary reduction of vitamin C production in China, here are the...

Exclusive in-depth analysis

Nutra trends 2023: Industry experts on what’s next for healthy ageing, beauty, mental health and infant nutrition

03-Jan-2023 By Tingmin Koe

For the first week of 2023 we are revealing exclusive insights on the nutraceutical trends for this year, featuring interviews with several industry experts across five of the hottest industry topics.

‘Sparing no effort’: South Korea plans regulatory revamp to support customised nutrition industry

21-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s food and drug authority is currently looking at ways to support the country’s customised nutrition industry, such as making changes to existing regulations and “will spare no effort” in doing so, said a key figure at the ministry.

Top 10 most watched health and nutrition news videos of year 2022 revealed

20-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Here we summed up the 10 most watched health and nutrition news videos of the year, including Fonterra’s cultured milk drink launch in Singapore, Vinamilk’s and Health and Happiness Group’s analysis of Vietnam’s infant formula market and more.

Tremendous opportunities: India beauty conglomerate Lotus Herbals enters nutraceutical space

20-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Lotus Herbals, which specialises in make-up and personal care products, has entered the nutraceutical space via an investment in local health supplement start-up Yogic Secrets.

Optimal strategy: Good diet improves benefits of supplementation – Swisse study

20-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

A good or optimal diet has been shown to improve the benefits of supplementation, according to a 12-week clinical trial funded by Swisse Wellness.

Marine algal polysaccharides may help prevent CVD via gut microbiota modulation: China review

19-Dec-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Marine algal polysaccharides (MAPs) may have preventive effects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) via their impact on gut microbiota, say researchers in China.

Brand new: Latest developments from Melrose, Amorepacific, DKSH

16-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from nutraceutical brands across Asia-Pacific, including Australian firm Melrose's strategies for the China market, Amorepacific's new product development pipeline for healthy ageing, and probiotics launched by DKSH...

‘China-centric approach’: Melrose CEO outlines new distribution and product strategies for key market

12-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Australia health foods company Melrose Health Group is aiming for bigger gains in China with a fresh market strategy and new product pipeline.

Functional food innovation: Amorepacific to expand healthy ageing portfolio with threonine-rich products

12-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korean beauty and skincare conglomerate Amorepacific has revealed its ambitions in expanding its healthy ageing supplement portfolio, and is developing threonine-rich new products, following positive findings on the amino acid.

Research for mental health: Huge scope for new studies on synergistic impact of ingredients

06-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

There is huge scope for more research on how a broad range of ingredients can work synergistically to improve a raft of mental health conditions.

Devil will be in the detail: New Zealand a step closer to natural health products regulatory revamp

06-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand is now a step closer to a new regulatory environment governing natural health products, now that the authorities have introduced the long-awaited Therapeutic Products Bill in parliament.

Science shorts: Latest studies on eye health, blood glucose and weight management

02-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up includes the latest scientific findings on functional ingredients beneficial for eye health, how probiotics could regulate blood glucose and how cutting down on sugar-sweetened beverage could lower BMI.

Active approach: Swisse debuts three-stage sports nutrition for everyday consumers

28-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse has launched its first set of sports nutrition products designed for the general public’s active lifestyle needs – a move that it sees as expanding the category largely catered to elite athletes.

Regulatory round-up: Kava, celebrity endorsement, and South Korea updates

25-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This regulatory round-up will look at policy updates relating to proposed kava labelling requirements in the Oceania, the ban on celebrity endorsement of health foods in China, and South Korea’s Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) ambitions.

Kava regulatory review: Changes in ANZ labelling ‘unreasonable and unnecessary’ – Fiji Kava

23-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Changing the labelling requirements on kava would place “unreasonable and unnecessary” burden on companies, but authorities could do with post-market surveillance, Fiji Kava said in response to the ongoing regulatory debate on kava in the Oceania.

Traditional Medicinals: How the extract industry can best tap into the bagged tea sector

22-Nov-2022 By Asia Sherman

Botanical extracts in tea format provide unique market opportunities for medicinal herbal infusions, but there are challenges that must be overcome to ensure proper delivery of therapeutic value, say the herbal experts at Traditional Medicinals.

Paw-some: Swisse and pet nutrition brands Solid Gold, Zesty Paws driving growth at H&H Group

21-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) says supplement brand Swisse and pet nutrition brands Solid Gold, Zesty Paws were the key contributors of its revenue growth in the first nine months of this year.

Brand new: Singapore postbiotic innovation, Australian coffee launch and Korea sachet expansion revealed

18-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at how brands from Singapore and Australia have formulated postbiotic supplements and coffee, as well as how a South Korean vitamin sachet brand is planning to expand its presence in South East Asia.

Promoting homegrown botanicals: Korea’s MFDS plans to include local liquorice variety in pharmacopeia

16-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is planning to amend the Korean Pharmacopoeia to include a new variety of liquorice bred locally.

Seven up: Kerry reveals the top health and nutrition categories to grow ProActive Health business

15-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Kerry has identified seven health categories that it hopes to focus on for its ProActive Health ingredient business across Asia.

Trend tracker: China, SEA, and Saudi supplement markets in focus

11-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest consumer trends in the health and nutrition industry across Asia-Pacific, including how kids eye health supplements are becoming more popular in China, why Thailand is the ‘supplement’ market of South East Asia and more.

Cannabis commotion: Thailand tightens use of hemp and CBD in foods three months after decriminalisation

07-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Thai government has announced new regulatory edicts specifying tighter regulatory control over the use of hemp and CBD in food and seasonings, just three months after announcing the decriminalisation of cannabis in the country.

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

02-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The most-read stories last month include proposed changes to the scheduling of melatonin and green tea extract in Australia, Nestle's novel infant formula launch in China, and product trends in anti-hyperpigmentation across Asia.

Vitafoods Asia 2022

Lack of competition? Japanese firm finds opportunities in overseas hair growth supplement market

01-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

A Japanese firm is introducing its hair growth supplement – a category which it deems as a less competitive category – in overseas markets including South East Asia.

Growth Asia Summit 2022

Longevity research funding boom: Prominent researcher on why healthspan should be the focus

26-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Prolonging health span – the number of years when one spent healthily – is the direction to work towards to when it comes to longevity research, a world-leading academic told our Growth Asia Summit.

Brand new: Latest news from Nestle, Danone, award-winning probiotic and start-up firms

21-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features the latest news, including new product launches and development strategies from industry big names Nestle, Danone, as well as award-winning probiotics and start-up companies.

Banana and blue pea flower: Thai researchers develop formula for reducing risk of urinary stone formation

11-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

A group of Thai researchers has developed product that reduces the risk of urinary stone formation in animal models, and is currently in the progress of conducting phase I and II clinical trials to validate its benefits in humans.

Curcuma longa reduces fasting blood glucose in people with chronic low-grade inflammation – House Wellness research

05-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of a hot water extract of Curcuma longa L. has been shown to reduce fasting blood glucose in individuals with chronic low-grade inflammation, according to an analysis of two clinical trials by House Wellness.

‘Double approach’: Skin care brands launching oral supplements for anti-hyperpigmentation as awareness grows

04-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Skin care firms are increasingly launching supplements that claim to reduce skin hyperpigmentation, giving consumers an alternative to traditional topical creams.

NutraChampion podcast episode 34

NutraIngredients-Asia

Resources