China focus: Abbott’s study, Nestle and Danone new product launches

Veggies, vitamins, metal elements intake linked to HMOs production – Abbott funded study​ ​

Breastfeeding mothers with a higher intake of vegetables, vitamins and metal elements produced more human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in their breast milk, according to an observational study funded by Abbott Nutrition R&D Center in Shanghai.

For instance, the dietary intake of vitamin B1 and B2 was positively linked with the production of 2′-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) – the most abundant HMO in breast milk.

The study, published in Nutrients,​ is said to be the first of its kind.

Antioxidant supplementation may help fight metabolic disorders in obese individuals: Chinese study​

Antioxidant supplementation may help alleviate the impact of metabolic disorders in obese individuals, according to a meta-analysis and systematic review conducted by researchers in China.

A total of 845 obese patients who had been given antioxidant supplementation and 766 obese patients in placebo control groups were studied in the meta-analysis and review.

The meta-analysis showed that subjects who received antioxidant supplementation have lower BMI, waist circumference and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, as well as reduced insulin resistance, than the placebo groups.

Commercial launch decisions: Nestle’s novel infant formula lands in China following Hong Kong debut​ 

Nestle has introduced new infant formulas containing a novel nutrient blend in China, after the product made its global debut in Hong Kong in July.

The product, launched under the brand WYETH S-26 Ultima, contains alpha-lipids, phospholipids including sphingomyelin, vitamin B12, DHA, iron, folic acid, and 2’-Fucosyllactose relevant for the formation of myelin.

Myelin is a lipid-rich sheath that insulates and protects nerve fibres crucial for cognitive and behavioural development.

Doctors ‘the best advocates’: Our Probiotic Product of the Year winner to replicate medical strategy in new markets​ 

G-NiiB Geniebiome, winner of this year’s NutraIngredients-Asia Award Probiotic Product of the Year, said that its commercial success in its domestic market in Hong Kong could be attributed to endorsement from medical doctors, and it hopes to replicate the strategy elsewhere.

The firm won the award with its product G-NiiB Immunity Plus, a synbiotic formula containing probiotics from the Bifidobacterium ​strains, as well as the prebiotics galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS).

So far, three clinical studies on the formula have been published​, including its benefits on COVID-19 patients. 

Danone China adds low GI milk formula to healthy ageing brand Ganmai​ 

Danone China has added two low glycemic index milk formulas to its recently launched healthy ageing brand Ganmai.

The two new milk formulas are Ganmai XinRuiLi senior goat milk powder and Ganmai MianYuLi senior milk powder. Both are targeted at consumers aged 40 and above.

The newly launched milk powder are formulated by Danone China’s local R&D team from the Open Science Research Center for Life Transforming Nutrition based in Shanghai.