The annual economic cost of obesity in South East Asia could be as high as US$10bn, a number that could rocket to $45bn if people who are currently overweight go on to become obese.
Seeds from two variants of Chinese evergreen trees have been found to contain enough amino acids to meet the daily nutritional requirements of infants and adults, according to a recent study which recommends their use in the food industry.
Adding prebiotics and an antioxidant source to white chocolate can alter its taste and texture, but a new sensory analysis reported that consumers still ranked it highly, with researchers concluding it provides new product opportunities for industry.
High quality chondroitin sulfate supplementation is as good as a widely prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of painful knee osteoarthritis, new research reveals.
The Singapore government has established a task force to counter the country’s increasing formula milk prices, with health and nutrition claims set to be severely restricted.
Children with asthma were found to have insufficient levels of vitamin D, according to a recent South Korean study, which also suggested this could be a contributing risk factor to developing the condition in the first place.
Consumption of green tea supplements leads to weight loss in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but it is still uncertain if supplementation provides a direct anti-inflammatory effect against the condition.
Daily consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa reduced arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women – therefore lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a study revealed.
The cost of testing and not having enough experts in the field are holding back the growth of nutrigenomics-based personalised nutrition in Asia-Pacific.
Greater dietary choice in China is leading to excessive energy intake and obesity among adults, a cross-sectional study of adults in the southwest of the country has found.
Palm oil tocotrienol, touted as ‘super vitamin E’, could provide benefits for people with neurodegenerative and neuro-inflammatory diseases, a study has concluded.
Both zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges are effective in shortening the duration of common colds, but zinc doses higher than 100mg don’t appear to provide an additional boost.
Cannabinoids can be safely used as a supplementary treatment for elderly people with Parkinson’s disease with evidence showing they help reduce tremors, rigidity and pain, a new review reports.
Cinnamic acid’s potential for diabetes management has been highlighted in a new review, but concerns over bioavailability are still hindering its use in nutraceuticals.
Vitamin D supplementation for patients with type 2 diabetes improves cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle mitochondria among those who are taking statins, a new RCT reveals
Chlorogenic acids – the most abundant polyphenols in coffee – may help people fall asleep and boost fat burning during sleep, suggests a new study from Japan.
The Chinese herb Chuanmishen violaceum (CVPS) helped improve antioxidant activity and increased free radical scavenging capabilities in tests on ageing mice, revealing it’s suitability for anti-ageing products.
Saturated fat has been identified as a prime suspect in the onset of osteoarthritis after Australian scientists found it changed the composition of cartilage, but lauric acid from coconut oil has a protective effect.
As Asia's population rapidly ages, opportunities abound for the cognitive health sector, but consumers need to be educated that supplements should be considered before old age.
A large number of Korean infants and young children still develop iron deficiency anaemia despite increased breastfeeding rates, improvements in public health and a rise in iron-fortified food, a recent study discovered.
A new systematic review states there is no indication that vitamin A supplementation among babies at birth reduces mortality during the first six or 12 months of life.
Weight gain in the years leading up to conception can triple the risk of gestational diabetes, with the odds also increased for mums-to-be who gain weight but still maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI).
Licoflavone, a major compound from the Glycyrrhiza root used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, can help reduce gastric ulcers, according to new research.
From functional food trends in Thailand and Indonesia, to Singapore’s war on diabetes, and the baby water boom in China, here’s a recap of March’s top stories.
Trade body Natural Products New Zealand is hoping new industry regulations – which it believes will help boost exports – can finally be passed before the nation’s elections in September.
Specialised diets designed to release large amounts of acetate or butyrate after bacterial fermentation in the colon protected against type 1 or juvenile diabetes in mice, said researchers from Monash University in Australia.
Supplements firm Mannatech aims to boost sales growth for its cognitive support product by targetting Chinese students studying for two of the country’s major academic examinations – Zhongkao and Gaokao.
Indonesia’s supplements association hopes the harmonisation of regulations across South East Asia will take a significant step forward this year, providing a much-needed boost to exports and consumer awareness.
Misleading health claims are still rife in Indonesia despite tighter functional food rules, claims a new association set up to ‘professionalise the industry’.
Complementary medicine firms in Australia have just one week more to respond to a raft of proposed regulatory changes being considered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The recent occasion of the International Women’s Day provided a good opportunity to reflect on both gender equality, but also on differences between the genders, writes DSM senior scientist Barbara Troesch.
There is vast scope to improve glycaemic control among type 2 diabetics in Malaysia by boosting nutrition knowledge and the intake of dairy, a cross-sectional study has found.
Phloretin from apple trees helped ease asthma symptoms in a mouse study, pointing to the bioactive flavonoid’s therapeutic potential, according to researchers in Taiwan.
The Chinese herb XingPiJieYu reduced the effects of chronic unpredictable stress in rats, while also improving their learning and memory, said a new study.
China’s ageing population has poorer cognitive and physical function compared with their counterparts from 10 years ago, according to the largest study of its kind, published in The Lancet.
A new systematic re-analysis of prenatal exposure to the Great Chinese Famine of 1959-61 suggests that schizophrenia may have been the leading health consequence.
Malnutrition is a prime risk factor for older Chinese adults suffering from sarcopenia, an age-related condition of declining skeletal muscle mass and function.