China focus: New weight management supplement, vitamin D supplementation, financial results of H&H Group and a2 milk, and more
Postbiotics and AMPK activators: Germany’s Princess Luna launches new weight management supplement in China
A supplements brand by German firm Mom’s Garden GmbH is pursuing further growth in China with the launch of its new weight management supplement formulated with postbiotics and botanical extracts that act as AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) activators.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia, Olga Stepanko, regulatory and R&D manager at Mom’s Garden, said that one of the brand’s latest products, Princess Luna Fat Burner Probiotics, was designed to promote the body’s metabolism, unlike those that worked by producing laxative effects and water loss.
Similar efficacy found between daily and intermittent supplementation of vitamin D – meta-analysis
There is “no significant difference” between the efficacy of daily and intermittent (weekly or monthly) vitamin D supplementation under equivalent dosage and duration conditions, say Chinese researchers.
A total of 116 studies involving 11,376 participants were included in this meta-analysis.
“Generally, we observed that 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly elevated by vitamin D supplementation, regardless of frequency. Additionally, we found that to achieve optimal 25(OH)D concentration of more than 75 nmol/L, individuals should consume at least 60,000 IU of vitamin D supplements monthly,” the authors wrote.
Paediatric probiotics offset China’s infant formula revenue slump for H&H, while adult nutrition sales surge
The paediatric probiotics business has helped to offset a revenue slump in the infant formula business in China for Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group).
The Hong Kong-headquartered company, which counts Biostime and Swisse among its brands, released its financial results for the first half of year 2023, where revenue across its adult, baby, and pet nutrition portfolios was up 17.2% to RMB$6.98bn (US$972m).
Adult nutrition registered revenue growth of 55.9%. Some of its best-performing supplements include the beauty, immunity, women’s health, detox, multivitamin, thistles, and heart health ranges.
a2 milk financials: Sales in China up 8%, firm to focus on growth in lower tier cities and CBEC
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) said its infant milk formula business in China grew 8.4% for the financial year ending on June 2023, and that it would focus on growing its cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) and lower-tier cities’ presence.
Sales growth in China took place against the backdrop of an overall declining infant milk market resulting from a decrease in new-borns overall, challenging macroeconomic conditions impacting retail sales, increased competition driven by excess industry capacity, and the market-wide transition to the new national or GB (guobiao) standards.
New product launch: China’s health foods manufacturers preferring Lingzhi to coenzyme Q10, fish oil
Data from China’s State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) showed that last year, 392 health foods filings were received for products containing Lingzhi cracked spores powder as a single raw material, more than that of coenzyme Q10 and fish oil.
Lingzhi cracked spores powder, together with coenzyme Q10, fish oil, spirulina, and melatonin, were five raw materials most recently added to the Health Foods Raw Materials Directory in March 2021. This means health foods containing these raw materials could seek China authority’s approval via the filing route.
