Blood sugar management

Regulatory review: South Korea's personalised nutrition system, hair loss, height growth claims in the spotlight

19-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across APAC, including South Korea's plans in implementing a customised health functional food system following the success of a four-year pilot program,...

Trend tracker: A closer look at nutra markets across Vietnam, India, and South Korea

05-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Here is the round-up of the latest nutraceutical trends in Asia-Pacific, including exclusive analysis in Vietnam and India market trends, and how South Korea is seeing a fast growth for its functional probiotics market.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in March 2024

02-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

From NMN supplements quality to new launches from Nestle China, Meiji, and FY23 results of Haleon and Bayer, here are the most-read stories on NutraIngredients-Asia in March 2024.

Omega-3 could help achieve desirable levels of blood sugar among diabetics – China study

01-Apr-2024 By Audrey Yow

Daily intake of 0.4 grams of omega-3 could help more than 95% of diabetics achieve desirable blood sugar levels, according to a Chinese study based on population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PPK-PD) modelling.

Brand new: Nin Jiom, Nestle, Morinaga Milk, Cheong Kwan Jang in the spotlight

28-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including Nin Jiom's debut in the healthy ageing space with the upcoming launch of a nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplement in Singapore, Nestle China's...

CGMs: Pathologizing normal responses or protecting future health?

26-Mar-2024 By Olivia Brown

As use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) by the general public builds, experts from the nutrition industry weigh in on the pros and cons of their use for long-term health.

Net gains: ASEAN industry body to study how supplement use can cut health care costs

25-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The ASEAN Alliance of Health Supplement Associations (AAHSA) is planning to run a study that looks at the potential health care cost savings coming from the use of specific dietary supplements, such as omega-3, vitamin D, probiotics, and magnesium.

Lack of communication on chronic disease patients’ herbal supplement use concerning: Saudi study

25-Mar-2024 By Cheryl Marie Tay

Chronic disease patients in Saudi Arabia may consume an excessive amount of herbal supplements, with a lack of communication between them and their healthcare providers risking potential drug interactions, according to a recent study by researchers in...

New research linking ultra-processed food consumption with adverse health outcomes divides experts in Australia

19-Mar-2024 By Audrey Yow

New research linking ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption with a raft of adverse health outcomes has divided experts in Australia, with some using it to demand immediate policy action against food firms, and others stressing that high quality studies...

VitamINSIGHTS

India market opportunities: Weight, beauty, sports driving growth, but more attention needed on FSMP, glucose control

12-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

India’s nutraceutical sector is rapidly expanding with start-ups, local players, and international brands entering the space, but the market is far from overcrowded and there is still growth space, according to insiders.

Brand new: Kao, Bayer Consumer Health, Tummy Buddies in the spotlight

01-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including Kao’s transfer of its functional beverage brand Healthya to Kirin, Bayer Consumer Health’s insights on market opportunities for prenatal to infant nutrition in...

‘Huge consumer segments’: India’s Ishaanav sees nutra opportunities for pre-diabetes, PCOS

13-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

India’s Ishaanav Nutraceuticals is seeing opportunities for the use of health supplements to manage conditions that currently do not have a specific pharmaceutical intervention, such as pre-diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Daiken Biomedical leverages Japan patent for triple-action formula to strengthen consumer trust and fuel business growth

13-Feb-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Taiwan-based health food manufacturer Daiken Biomedical believes that patent grants are the “most secure and safe guarantee” to gain consumer trust, and could play a major role in driving business expansion.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in January 2024

06-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

From Amway's regenerative agriculture initiative to our analyses on emerging nutrition markets in APAC and nutraceutical trends for this year, here are the most-read stories on NutraIngredients-Asia in January 2024.

Growth Asia Summit 2024: Danone, PepsiCo, BYHEALTH, Mondelez among first wave of keynote speakers

16-Jan-2024 By Gary Scattergood

Industry experts from major players Danone, PepsiCo, BYHEALTH and Mondelez are among the first wave of keynote speakers confirmed for our Growth Asia Summit 2024.

Vitamins’ positive impact on diabetes needs further research to support novel treatments: Chinese review

10-Jan-2024 By Cheryl Marie Tay

The effects of different vitamins on diabetes must be more thoroughly explored through clinical trials in order to determine and take advantage of their therapeutic potential, according to a Chinese review.

Trending this year: Five nutra developments not to be missed for 2024

09-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

As we step into 2024, we dive into the five key trends that health and nutrition brands believe will dominate the sector in Asia-Pacific this year, spanning categories such as metabolic health, immunity, skin health, gut microbiome, and mobility.

Science shorts: Benefits of synbiotics, plant-based diets and kale for obesity, GDM, and constipation

05-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research, including the role of L-carnitine and synbiotic supplementation in improving lipid and glycaemic indices in obese women, how early-life exposure to the Great Chinese Famine is linked to...

Plant-based diets linked to lower gestational diabetes risk: Chinese meta-analysis

03-Jan-2024 By Cheryl Marie Tay

A plant-based diet may have the potential to lower the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy, according to researchers in Fujian Province, China.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023

Metabolic and maternal mission: Our Start-up of the Year winner on functional foods knowledge plan

29-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Of Dreams & Knowledge (Asia), a functional food firm which won the start-up category at the recent NutraIngredients-Asia Awards, is seeking to drive consumer awareness of its products by looking more deeply into metabolic and maternal health concerns.

Vitamin D supplementation found to enhance glucose and lipid metabolism in Type 2 diabetes patients - new study

28-Nov-2023 By Hazel Tang

Type 2 diabetes patients experienced significant improvement in blood glucose and cholesterol levels when administered vitamin D supplementation in addition to conventional treatment, according to a retrospective analysis of 162 patients in China.

Beyond herbal medicines: Standardised black seed oil approved for use in dietary supplements in Thailand

27-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Black seed oil from the firm TriNutra could now be set to feature in dietary supplements, with benefits across immune and cardiovascular health.

Brand new: MuscleBlaze, Nestle, Dr. Reddy's in the spotlight

24-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including how India's MuscleBlaze has managed to increase its market share in the local protein powder market by 10 per cent through the launch of a protein test-kit,...

Nutrition Asia Video Series

From mass customisation to individualisation: How automation, supply chain management, 3D printing can drive personalised nutrition forward

22-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Personalised nutrition could progress from mass customisation to full personalisation as companies leverage on factory automation, supply chain management, and 3D printing to increase the efficiency of providing customised products.

China Double 11 data: Vitamins, probiotics, lactoferrin sales doubled against backdrop of muted spending

21-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Vitamins, probiotics, lactoferrin for infants and toddlers, and over 30 nutrition products saw their transaction value at least doubled in China’s Double 11 shopping festival this year, says JD Health, amid muted consumer spending in the country for the...

B vitamins intake improves ankle, knee reflex and motor strength in peripheral neuropathy patients – P&G study

20-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of vitamin B1, B6, and B12 for 90 days has shown to improve ankle, knee reflex, as well as motor strength in individuals suffering from peripheral neuropathy, a 90-day study from Procter and Gamble (P&G) Health has shown.

Science shorts: The gut microbiome and its links with brain, cardiometabolic health and more

17-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research, including the role of the gut microbiome and its links with brain and cardiometabolic health, how glycine supplementation before bedtime has shown to improve sleep quality, and how vitamin...

Multipurpose usage: How companies are using blood sugar management ingredient for weight loss, PCOS and more

13-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Supplement firms are increasingly launching products for dual blood sugar and weight management purposes, with a recent example being Eimele Wellness from Australia.

Regulatory review: Updates from FSSAI, Malaysia's NPRA, and HMOs approval in China

10-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we take a closer look at India's nutraceutical regulatory approach through an interview with a former director from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Malaysia's advisory on oral aloe...

‘One-stop solution’: Dr. Reddy’s launches e-commerce website specialising in diabetic-friendly supplements

07-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

India’s Dr. Reddy’s has launched a direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce website specialising in selling diabetic-friendly supplements, marking a major foray into the D2C space.

Multi-strain probiotic enhances glycaemic control and weight management, research asserts

03-Nov-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Administration of a multi-strain probiotic supplement offers promise for enhancing glycaemic control and overall health in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, new research asserts.

Trend tracker: Singapore nutra market, fish oil in China, beauty-from-within in the spotlight

03-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Here is the round-up of the latest nutraceutical trends in Asia-Pacific, featuring the top health and wellness concerns in Singapore and consumer behaviour, how the demand for high purity fish oil in China is set to grow, and emerging beauty-from-within...

Tick tock: Meal timing and chronobiotics supplementation could play crucial role in combatting obesity and cardiometabolic diseases

01-Nov-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Supplementation of certain dietary compounds, such as chronobiotics, polyphenols and prebiotics, to directly modulate and improve circadian rhythmicity could be a key strategy in combatting obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, according to a Singapore-based...

Nutrachampion podcast

‘Very much conservative’: How India’s regulatory approach can pose innovation problems – Ex-FSSAI director

25-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

India is still taking a “very conservative” approach in its regulations of nutraceuticals since it introduced the first set of policies seven years ago, which can pose problems for brands and suppliers seeking to introduce innovative new products.

Korea innovation: AI model to speed up identification of new ingredients for health functional foods

18-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

An artificial intelligence (AI) model has been developed to identify new active ingredients in botanicals that could be used to develop new types of health functional foods (HFF) in South Korea.

Hemp for active nutrition: Regulatory support and debunking of myths ‘crucial’ to unlock potential

18-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Stronger government regulatory support and the ‘debunking’ of myths surrounding hemp are still at a ‘crucial’ stage in Asia, the success of which is key to unlocking its active nutrition potential.

Improving outcomes: Vitamin, probiotic supplementation pre-conception has major potential to boost long-term infant health

17-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Nutritional supplementation taken at the stage of pre-conception by a mother has major potential to improve the long-term health of children, according to results from cross-country research.

Synbiotic supplementation combined with increased dietary fibre intake could amplify weight loss effects – Hong Kong RCT

16-Oct-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

A high-fibre diet combined with synbiotic supplementation is effective in tackling obesity and reducing risk of metabolic syndrome, say Hong Kong researchers.

Is personalised nutrition truly the future? Suntory on the challenging journey to ‘full personalisation’

16-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Global megabrand Suntory has highlighted consumer confusion and production time as some of the key challenges standing in the way of achieving ‘full personalisation’ in the nutrition and food manufacturing spaces.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in September 2023

03-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

From the announcement to the list of NutraIngredients-Asia 2023 winners to China's new function claims system and South Korea's health functional food import trends, here are the most-read stories in September 2023.

‘Revive with exports’: Japanese associations gearing up for functional foods export opportunities

02-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Several Japan health foods associations are gearing up for export opportunities for Foods with Function Claims (FFC), such as providing export consultation services and establishing networks with regional dietary supplement associations.

Hemp’s protein and low GI benefits gaining popularity from vegans and older consumers – India’s Cure By Design

20-Sep-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Hemp food and beverages are seeing support from vegans, vegetarians, and older consumers for its protein and low glycaemic index (GI) benefits, says Indian firm Cure By Design.

VitamINSIGHTS

Can Japan’s Foods with Function Claims keep up with demand for more science and ethical advertising?

13-Sep-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Japan’s vibrant Foods with Function Claims (FFC) sector will need to keep up with the demand for rigorous scientific evidence and ethical advertising for it to continue its phenomenal market growth, say experts from the country’s health foods associations.

Health and trade potential: NZ’s backyard fruit Feijoa studied for its ability to prevent diabetes

06-Sep-2023 By Si Ying Thian

New Zealand researchers are beginning a six-month study in Auckland exploring feijoa powder’s ability to prevent diabetes, and says that health claim would support the country’s export ambitions in Asia for the backyard staple.

Tocotrienols intake reduces HbA1C level in diabetic patients – meta-analysis

26-Jul-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of tocotrienols has shown to significantly reduce glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in type II diabetic patients, according to a new meta-analysis and systematic review from Malaysia.

Rice response: Novel Thai formula could help lower insulin and glucose responses – RCT

19-Jul-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Thai researchers have developed a novel rice-based medical food, which can help reduce glucose and insulin responses among adults at risk of diabetes or with early type 2 diabetes.

Yam-derived bioactive improves muscle quality in middle-aged adults – Japan RCT

05-Jul-2023 By Tingmin Koe

A 12-week RCT conducted in Japan has showed that the supplementation of a yam-derived bioactive could improve muscle quality and reduce glycated haemoglobin among middle-aged adults.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation shows metabolic health benefits in kids – India RCT

21-Jun-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of vitamin B12 and folic acid in toddlers has reduced their plasma concentrations of fasting total homocysteine (tHcy) – an amino acid that is linked to cardiometabolic diseases when in elevated levels.

New Malaysia data: Health supplements registered on the rise while natural products hit five-year low

07-Jun-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The number of health supplements registered in Malaysia has been on the rise in recent years, but those classed as natural products, which consist of herbal remedies, has hit five-year low, according to a report released by the country’s health ministry.

VitamINSIGHTS

South Korea: Nutra sector thriving despite economic slowdown as body fat reduction remains top concern

06-Jun-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The nutraceutical market in South Korea is thriving despite inflationary pressures and an economic slowdown, largely due to the ‘evergreen’ demand for body fat reduction, immune support, as well as rising interest in joint and bone health supplements,...