Trend tracker: Popular probiotics research, women’s health, and Korea data revealed

‘No longer a taboo’: Kirin invests in local women’s health brand Wray​​

Kirin has invested in local women’s health brand Wray through its innovation fund aimed at supporting start-ups with innovative and unique technologies.

The firm is investing in women’s health because issues such as PMS and menstrual cramps are no longer taboo and are gaining more attention, especially since more women are now joining the workforce, Yurika Takano, assistant manager of Health Science Business Department at Kirin Holdings told NutraIngredients-Asia.​

Being popular among working women in their 20s to 40s, the firm thus sees the brand as a good fit for its investment.

Inflammation and dysbiosis the most studied conditions for probiotics in recent years – new probiotics database​

Inflammation and dysbiosis were the two most studied health conditions for probiotics related research between 2016 and 2020, according to a newly constructed database by a group of Hong Kong researchers.

This is according to ProBioQuest, a database set up by researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HSK Genetech, and Tianjin Medical University.

Metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes as well as cancer have also come to the forefront of probiotics research.

New data: South Korea’s health functional food production value up nearly 20% last year​

South Korea’s Health Functional Food (HFF) production value was up nearly 20 per cent in year 2021, latest data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) showed.

Red ginseng, which is said to be popular for its immune health benefits, took the top spot, comprising 22.7 per cent of all of the HFF produced last year.

This is followed by probiotics (14.7 per cent), vitamins and minerals (10.6 per cent), EPA and DHA (7.2 per cent), and hemohim angelica extract (5.1 per cent) – a product by MLM firm Atomy​ – which made up the rest of the top five chart.

Organic and gut health the mega trends in baby nutrition, says German firm expanding in APAC​

Berlin-based baby and mother nutrition firm Löwenzahn Organics is seeking expansion in Asia-Pacific on the back of rising demand for organic products that could benefit the gut.

Currently, the company is selling its products in 15 countries, mostly in Europe and also South Korea and Mainland China.

As a step forward, she said that the firm was planning to sell in-market in South Korea next year when the product registration has been approved by the regulator.  

Health-conscious: 34.4% Japanese female nurses consume supplements – new data​ 

A total of 34.4% of Japanese female nursing professionals regularly consume supplements, especially those who are older, non-obese or pregnant, new data has shown.

The most consumed supplements were vitamins, with most of them taking vitamin C, followed by other types of vitamins, such as vitamin B, E, A and D.

This is followed by calcium, iron, hyaluronic acid, and collagen products.