Japan focus: New developments from Euglena, Kao, Ajinomoto and more

Euglena intake increases beneficial gut bacteria and improves sleep quality in adult men – Japan study​

The consumption of euglena (Euglenagracilis) daily for four weeks was shown to increase beneficial gut bacteria and improve sleep quality in adult men, according to a clinical trial​ funded by health drink and supplement firm Euglena Co.

Euglena is a microalgae that contains a range of nutrients from dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, amino acids to fatty acids. Japan-based Euglena Co manufactures supplements and skin care products containing the microalgae.

In this study, 32 adult men in Japan were recruited and enrolled into two groups, placebo or test.

Anti-visceral fat: Kao launches new coffee, tea products, and mobile app to measure progress​

Japanese firm Kao has launched a new range​ of Foods with Function Claims (FFCs) targeted at reducing visceral fat and lowering high blood pressure, and consumers could measure their progress using an app.

The products, including a RTD tea and a powdered black soybean tea and coffee, were launched in Japan this month under Kao’s health beverage brand Healthya.

It is the first time that the company has launched FFCs for “lowering high blood pressure”​ and “reducing visceral fat”.​

Athlete approved: Ajinomoto expands sports nutrition range with joint health amino acid supplement

Ajinomoto has expanded its sports nutrition brand (aminoVITAL) with a new amino acid-based joint health supplement that was first developed for the nation’s Olympians.

The supplement is the first joint health product in the aminoVITAL series​, currently comprise of products to promote recovery, improve endurance by regulating blood sugar levels, and building lean muscle.

It contains 4,000mg of six amino acids, which are serine, aspartic acid, glutamate, glycine, alanine, and proline, amino acid, in a ready-to-consume power.

Cognitive boost: Morinaga Milk Industry unveils new functional food series containing clinically studied probiotic to improve memory

Morinaga Milk Industry has launched a new functional food series containing its clinically studied probiotic strain to improve memory functions​ in older adults.

The first products to be launched under the Bifidobacterium Memory series are a yoghurt drink and a supplement.

Both contains the clinically studied probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve​ A1 (B. breve​ MCC1274).

Tropical diseases and LC-Plasma: Kirin and University of Malaya to expand research following dengue clinical trial

Kirin Holdings and the University of Malaya will work together on a joint research programme to verify the effects of a lactic acid bacteria in other tropical infectious diseases following their latest human clinical study on dengue.​

The Kirin Central Research Institute and the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC) at the University of Malaya will collaborate on a series of research studies, focused on Kirin’s proprietary lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis ​strain Plasma (LC-Plasma).

A laboratory for immuno-regulation studies will be opened in TIDREC to facilitate research.