Astaxanthin for kids’ eyes: AstaReal doubles down on new segment creation post award win
AstaReal will double down on efforts in promoting the use of astaxanthin as a safe and clinically-backed ingredient for supporting kids eye health, following its recent win at the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2025 and positive clinical trial results.
The astaxanthin ingredient supplier was crowned winner of the Editors’ Award for Infant and Child Nutrition Initiative for its project “AstaReal Natural Astaxanthin for Children Digital Eye Strain”.
The initiative consisted of what is said to be the world’s first clinical trial on astaxanthin and its effects on digital eye health in children.
Clean label: UK university’s spinoff launches novel liposomal tech for APAC
A novel liposomal technology created by LipoActive is seeking to crack the Asian markets, especially since it does not use silicon dioxide and excipients that are under restricted use in Asia.
Working together with Oxford-based ingredient distributor Sibelius Natural Products, the spin-off from the University of Birmingham has developed seven ingredients made using the novel liposomal technology named as EncapSure.
Examples of these ingredients are lycopene, curcumin, fenugreek, milk thistle, and quercetin.
Morinaga Milk launches first mood support postbiotics for global markets
Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd has launched its first postbiotics for mood support for international markets at Vitafoods Asia 2025 held in Bangkok.
The postbiotics, Lactobacillus helveticus MCC1848, also marketed as LAC-Living+, has been introduced to the domestic Japanese market for about five years and is incorporated into over 100 products.
Examples include carbonated drink by Topvalu - the in-house brand of Japanese grocery retail chain AEON, as well as vinegar drinks that can be taken after diluting it with drinking water.
FrieslandCampina Ingredients opens functional food application center in Singapore
FrieslandCampina Ingredients is seeking to capture Asia-Pacific’s burgeoning functional foods and beverage market with a new application center in Singapore.
Located at The Rutherford, Singapore Science Park, the new application center is equipped with machineries for making functional food and beverages using ingredients that the company specializes in, such as protein and prebiotics.
Clear protein water, yogurt, shakes, gummies, baked goods, bars, ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, and powder, are some of the applications that the center can create.
AAK launches new blend to tackle immune, metabolic health needs
AAK has launched a blend of omega-3 DHA and phosphatidylcholine which is said to support immune and metabolic health via targeted delivery of DHA in the body.
Known as AkoVita OptiSyn™, the combination of omega-3 DHA and phosphatidylcholine at a proprietary ratio was officially launched at the Growth Asia Summit 2025.
Based on preclinical findings, the company said that supplementation of AkoVita OptiSyn could increase uptake of DHA in cell membranes by 150% when compared to taking regular DHA.
