Arjuna Natural’s ashwagandha approved by Health Canada, aims global growth
India-based Arjuna Natural aims to capitalise on the approval of its ashwagandha extract in Canada to accelerate its expansion across Asia, Europe, and the US.
The company recently announced that its ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract, branded as Shoden, has been approved as a natural health product (NHP) by Health Canada, a process that took up to 270 business days.
All NHPs must be approved by the authority before they are allowed to be legally sold in Canada.
Firms zero in on China’s metabolic health market amid government, GLP-1 interest
Metabolic health is trending in China, fuelled by GLP-1 use and the government earmarking weight management as a priority at this year’s ‘Two Sessions’ legislative meeting.
Some of the companies that have identified metabolic health as an area of focus for their China business at the recent FIC exhibition in the country were IFF and Probi.
Attention on metabolic health management has been growing in China due to several factors, the companies told NutraIngredients-Asia.
Spirulina supplement may improve sleep quality and mood: Thailand clinical study
Supplementation with spirulina may have the potential to increase sleep quality and mood in people suffering from mild to moderately severe depression, say researchers in Thailand.
Findings of the eight-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed that the intervention group had significantly better Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores than the placebo group by week eight.
Sleep quality and sleep latency - the time it takes to fall asleep - also improved in the spirulina group versus placebo.
HMOs in infant formulas: From China to Vietnam, see what are firms up to
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have been the talk of the town in the recent earnings season, with companies like Nestle and The a2 Milk Company highlighting its importance and more companies expected to play in this category across Asia-Pacific.
Nestle’s newly minted CEO Laurent Freixe, for instance, said in the company’s FY24 results presentation that the company’s proprietary blend of probiotics and HMOs, commercially sold as “Sinergity” was “one of our big bets” for its infant nutrition business.
In this series of VitamINSIGHTS, we will shine the spotlight on trending innovations in the infant formula sector across Asia-Pacific (APAC), with insights from Vinamilk, The a2 Milk Company, industry experts and more.
Better affordability? Nestle launches “milk plus soy” kids drink in the Philippines
Nestle has launched a “milk plus soy” powdered drink for school-age children in the Philippines, a new product which it said could improve the the affordability of kids’ nutrition in the country.
Combining both dairy and plant-protein, this is said to be the first-of-its-kind product in the kids nutrition category in the Philippines.
Sold under the name BEAR BRAND MILK N’ SOY, the new product will be available in supermarkets, groceries and neighbourhood sundry stores - also known as Sari Sari stores.
Quercetin supplements may boost muscle strength gains in older adults: Japanese study
Researchers in Japan have found that daily quercetin supplements can significantly boost muscle strength gains in older adults undergoing resistance training.
This is according to a six-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 26 adults aged 65 to 82.
The findings suggested that quercetin can help activate hard-to-reach muscle fibres, delivering strength improvements similar to those that come with high-intensity training — but reportedly without the risks.
H&H Group rebounds from low infant formula sales in China in Q1
Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) has rebounded from sluggish infant formula sales in Q1 this year, with revenue up 44.3 per cent as compared to the same time last year.
The recovery was due to the full roll-out of its new infant formulas reformulated according to China’s new national or Guobiao (GB) standards.
The company sells infant formulas under the brand Biostime and mainland China is its largest market for both infant and adult nutrition products.
Blackmores obtains B Corp cert for all brands to meet sustainability demand
Blackmores Group has obtained B Corporation (B Corp) certification for all its brands, which it says is “of value” to meet consumer expectations for sustainability and disclosure requirements, and to ensure resilient supply chains.
The company officially obtained B Corp certification this February.
The certification applies across all Blackmores brands, including Blackmores, BioCeuticals, Blackmores Institute, and Pure Animal Wellbeing, as well as in all regions where the company operates.
Enoki mushroom intake could counter male menopause, testosterone decline – Japan RCT
The intake of enoki mushroom extract containing high adenosine content has beneficial effects on male menopausal symptoms, including boosting testosterone production.
This is according to a 12-week study conducted on 56 participants, where they were randomised to take 125mg of powdered enoki mushroom extract per capsule or placebo containing 282mg of resistant dextrin.
A key finding was that the intake of enoki mushroom extract for 12 weeks attenuated male menopausal symptoms, such as declines in sexual function and testosterone levels, based on Aging Males’ Symptoms scores.
Frutti Sugar looks to fill gap in sugar substitutes for foods, functional drinks with allulose
Singapore start-up Frutti Sugar says its production technology is able to drive down cost and scale up production of allulose, a naturally occurring sugar alternative with significant application potential in foods, functional beverages such as sports drinks, and supplements.
Frutti Sugar is a Singapore firm that manufactures allulose.
The aim is to reduce sugar consumption by substituting sugar used in foods and drinks with allulose.
