Brand New: Hemp and skincare supplements in Japan, Vitagen Malaysia, and Blackmores feature in our latest brand round-up
POLA Orbis launching Japan's first FOSHU-certified skincare food supplement next year
Cosmetics and skincare manufacturer POLA Orbis Holdings will launch Japan's first skincare nutricosmetics product certified as Food for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) in January next year.
Named Orbis Defencera, the product was granted FOSHU status from the Consumer Agency of Japan in December last year. The specified health use for this product lies in its ability to prevent skin dryness, a spokeswoman from POLA Orbis told NutraIngredients-Asia.
Glucosylceramide extracted from rice germ is the active ingredient of the product. It prevents skin dryness by "making it harder for moisture to escape from the skin," the spokeswoman said.
Hemp's cognitive help: Elixinol's supplements finding favour amongst Japanese consumers
Hemp oil supplements are gaining higher acceptance in Japan, with manufacturer Elixinol ramping up its investment in the country on the back of more favourable advertising rules. Hemp oil, which contains cannabidiol (CBD), is the main product Elixinol sells in Japan, along with chocolate bars containing CBD and oil essence.The hemp oil products are recommended for improving concentration and relaxation, according to Elixinol’s website. To find out the link between hemp and cognitive function, NutraIngredients-Asia spoke to Paul Benhaim, the founder and CEO of the Australian-headquartered Elixinol.
"It works on the CBD system which is throughout our bodies and in our brains. Since our brains have CBD receptors, this suggests that we used to consume hemp plant in the wild," Benhaim said.
Trucking along: Vitagen Malaysia bringing probiotic info to the public amid new research results
Vitagen Malaysia has launched its Digestive Health On Wheels education initiative to raise public awareness of the importance of gut health, starting with 30 locations in Klang Valley.
The campaign entails a Vitagen truck showcasing information on probiotics from a recent UKM Medical Centre (PPUKM) study on the probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei, which are used in Vitagen products.
The clinical study reported that both strains had a positive effect on digestive health and the immune system, since approximately 70% to 80% of the immune system is located in the gut.
Trade, literacy and NPD: Blackmores outlines key ambitions as sole vitamin firm in China alliance
Blackmores wants to strengthen trade relations, improve public health literacy and drive NPD in China, banking on its position in the China International Import Expo Enterprise Alliance to help achieve this goal.
Last month, the Australian supplement giant became the first and only vitamin and dietary supplement (VDS) brand to be inaugurated as a member, making it one of four Aussie companies in the Alliance.
Executive director Marcus Blackmore and Asia MD Peter Osborne attended the signing ceremony at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, publicly cementing Blackmores' position in the CIIE Enterprise Alliance.
Plant protein, sports nutrition and omega-3: Tom Oliver Nutrition tapping into surging categories to drive Asian growth
UK supplement firm Tom Oliver Nutrition is tapping into several fast-growing categories in Asia to further its expansion in the region, focusing on non-animal sources of protein, sports nutrition, and omega-3.
Best known for its signature Omega-3 Herring Caviar soft gels, the company also carries vegan-friendly sports nutrition products: namely, Vegan Protein powders and The Vegan High-Protein chocolate bars (in addition to its regular Diet Protein powders).
It recently added two new flavours to its existing range of high-protein bars, building on its success so far by appealing to growing consumer health consciousness, preference for convenience snacking, and interest in sports nutrition.
