Japan Focus: Omega-3, nutricosmetics, and aphrodisiac controversy in this month's review
Beauty-from-within's functional food potential: Avida Health opens research institute with PFI
Singapore-based Avida Health is driving the development of beauty-from-within functional food products via a partnership with Japan firm Pharma Foods International (PFI).
The partnership will see the setting up of a research institute known as Centennian Lab, located in Kyoto.
In an interview with NutraIngredients-Asia, CEO of Avida Health, Jeff Jiang, outlined the purposes and plans of the joint institute.
Japanese Aojiru leader Yamamoto Kanpoh targets Korea and Australia entry for functional beverage
Yamamoto Kanpoh Pharmaceutical, the Japanese manufacturer of functional beverage Aojiru, is targeting the Korean and Australian markets as part of its expansion plans.
Aojiru, otherwise known as green vegetable juice in English, is a beverage made from barley leaves and is exceptionally popular in Japan and China.
Most of its manufacturers claim to source its barley leaves from Kyushu, Japan. Despite its 'grassy' taste, it has achieved critical success for the digestive benefits that it is said to bring.
Omega-3 for ocular health: How dietary intake can help fight allergic conjunctivitis — Japanese study
Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in both its early and late stages through their anti-inflammatory activity, according to a study by Japan's Juntendo University.
AC is one of the world's most common ocular surface diseases, and T helper type 2 (Th2) immune responses are crucial to orchestrating inflammatory responses associated with the disease.
The roles of lipid mediators in the onset and progression of AC, however, have not been fully investigated. Furthermore, although omega-3 fatty acids have previously been found to benefit those suffering from asthma or atopic dermatitis, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Better than DHA and EPA? Japanese supplement firm claims silk peptide is a superior memory booster
Japan Central Pharma is producing silk peptide supplements which it claims are a better memory booster than DHA and EPA.
Branded Memory Keep Ex, Hisao Nakajima, the CEO of Japan Central Pharm (JCP) told NutraIngredients-Asia that the product marketing efforts were directed at parents, who would hopefully purchase the product for their children who are preparing for university entrance exams.
"The consumers usually buy our product six months before the university entrance exam," Nakajima said.
Japanese sexual enhancement supplement no longer on sale amid 'date rape drug' criticism
Japanese lingerie maker Peach John has stopped selling its sexual enhancement supplement, Love Potion, after the product was criticised as a potential date rape drug.
Love Potion was launched only about two months ago and contains eight main ingredients, including cocoa and velvet bean.
The supplement, which comes in powdered form, was marketed as a product that "arouses feelings of passion" and as a "love supplement for both men and women", making it clear it was an aphrodisiac.
