Gut/digestive health

Combination of dieting and probiotics may hasten weight loss: Taiwan mouse study

15-May-2018 By Cheryl Tay

A healthy diet complemented by probiotic treatment could accelerate weight loss and fight obesity, according to Taiwanese researchers.

Indian pharma firm reveals ambitious probiotic plans on back of industry partnerships

15-May-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Indian pharmaceutical firm Sundyota Numandis will open a US$12m probiotic facility to meet demand, following link-ups with major industry players to develop and market a patented formulation.

Aussie probotic start-up's expansion plans buoyed by partnership with experienced distributor

26-Apr-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Australian probiotic start-up PERKii has partnered with retail cold-chain distribution firm Manassen Foods Australia (MFA) and embarked on a trial at a number of Woolworths stores.

Ayurveda-based botanical blend from Arjuna beneficial for bowel movements: RCT

25-Apr-2018 By Cheryl Tay

The consumption of a particular poly-herbal formulation alleviated gastrointestinal symptoms and improved overall quality of life, according to researchers in India and Australia.

Olive oil backing: Academics back new online resource to promote health benefits

18-Apr-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Academics, nutritionists and pharmacist have given their backing to a new an online resource dedicated to increasing awareness of extra virgin olive oil and other olive products, and to combat 'misinformation' about fats and oils.

Yakult study: Probiotic-fermented milk 'preferable to medical treatment' for healthy adults with gastric symptoms

13-Apr-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Daily consumption of milk fermented with a specific probiotic could relieve gastric symptoms in otherwise healthy adults, according to researchers in Japan.

HI SOUTH EAST ASIA 2018

R&D in Indonesia: How can functional food firms catch up with their regional counterparts?

03-Apr-2018 By Cheryl Tay

R&D in the functional food sector in Indonesia has a ways to go before it can be on par with some of its Asian counterparts.

NATURAL PRODUCTS NEW ZEALAND SUMMIT 2018

Cutting-edge computer modelling reveals how gold kiwifruit supplement aids gut motility

27-Mar-2018 By Gary Scattergood

'In silico' computer modelling has been used to identify the physiological pathways of Anagenix’s gold kiwifruit powder ingredient, Livaux, revealing how it aids gut health.

Abdominal pain in IBS: A lack of omega-3 could be the culprit, says Taiwan study

09-Mar-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma are associated with IBS symptoms in Asian females, a new study has shown.

Probiotic strain may benefit obese pre-diabetics by fighting metabolic abnormalities: Yakult

26-Feb-2018 By Cheryl Tay

A study by Yakult has found that Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) may alleviate some metabolic abnormalities in obese pre-diabetic individuals, although its effects on glycaemic control may be limited.

Gut microbiota biomarkers could help diagnose schizophrenia: Research

22-Feb-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Gut microbiota could influence and help diagnose schizophrenia, according to researchers in China.

Profiting from probiotics: Aussie start-up's sparkling beverages gaining ground in APAC

22-Feb-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Australian start-up Kréol could be one of the country's first to develop a line of dual-strain sparkling probiotic beverages, according to co-founder Andrew Rush.

Long-term effects of low-FODMAP diet on IBS yet to be proven: Iranian review

16-Feb-2018 By Cheryl Tay

A low-FODMAP diet (LFD) can control symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but only in the short term, according to researchers in Iran.

Small amounts of prebiotics increase SCFA production through effect on colonic microbiota: Study

14-Feb-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Relatively small doses of prebiotics may be able to increase the body's production of health-boosting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by activating the metabolism of human colonic microbiota, according to researchers in Japan.

Yakult Danone launches new version of signature probiotic drink in India

13-Feb-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Yakult Danone India, a 50:50 joint venture between Yakult Honsha and Danone, has released the latest variant on its signature probiotic drink, called Yakult Light.

Kiwifruit consumption may improve bone health benefits of isoflavone supplementation: Study

13-Feb-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Consumption of kiwifruit may enhance the bone health benefits of isoflavone supplementation by improving vitamin K status, according to a study by researchers from Japan and New Zealand.

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit: The biggest food and nutrition opportunities to be revealed at Singapore event

30-Jan-2018 By Gary Scattergood

NutraIngredients-Asia and FoodNavigator-Asia are bringing together business leaders, policymakers and academics to debate how industry can meet the food and nutritional challenges brought about by Asia-Pacific's rapidly ageing population.

Durian-based probiotic products on the cards after researchers reveal ideal combination

26-Jan-2018 By Cheryl Tay

The sequential inoculation of a certain type of yeast in durian pulp fermentation could lead to the development of a new non-dairy durian-based probiotic beverage, say researchers in Singapore and China.

Special edition: Weight management

Popular diets could create opportunity for fiber ingredients

18-Jan-2018 By Hank Schultz

The explosion of new diet plans that demonize carbohydrates offer a unique opportunity for fiber ingredients that can be added to foods or be offered as standalone dietary ingredients.

Omega-3 supplementation can shorten hospital stay for post-op gastrointestinal cancer patients: Review

17-Jan-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Parenteral omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can benefit gastrointestinal cancer patients after operations, according to researchers in China.

Aussie firm targets functional beverage and supplement growth after receiving EU novel foods status for fucoidan extracts

11-Jan-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Australian biotechnology firm Marinova has achieved novel foods status in the EU for its Maritech® fucoidan extracts, and the firm is now targeting growth in the region's functional beverage and supplement sectors.

Swallowable sensors could revolutionise understanding of nutrition's impact on gut health

09-Jan-2018 By Gary Scattergood

A breakthrough swallowable capsule could revolutionise understanding of the gut microbiome, and the role nutrition can play in modulating it.

Pomegranate extract and inulin may make for superior cholesterol-lowering combination

02-Jan-2018 By Cheryl Tay

A combination of pomegranate extract and inulin treatment could maximise their individual cholesterol-lowering effects, according to researchers.

Synbiotic supplementation can combat metabolic syndrome: Chinese review

14-Dec-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Altering the gut microbiota with probiotics and prebiotics could help fight metabolic syndrome, say researchers in China.

Correcting gut flora imbalance 'crucial' in treating liver fibrosis: China study

28-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Liver fibrosis could be linked to intestinal flora imbalance, according to researchers in China.

Probiota Asia 2017

Probiotics and cancer: How the gut microbiome can affect cancer risk

23-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

The microbiota has major implications for cancer risk and provides a possible target for probiotics to play a role in treatment regimes, according to Medlab Clinical's medical research director and University of Sydney professor Luis Vitetta.

Mushrooms may improve health via gut microbiota activation: Review

23-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Edible mushrooms could promote health benefits by activating gut microbiota, according to a recent review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Diverse mix of prebiotics and dietary fibre necessary for intestinal health: Chinese study

17-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

A combination of fibre and probiotics post-operation could benefit gastric cancer patients by preventing diarrhoea, improving intestinal movement and decreasing intestinal disorders, say researchers in China.

Combination of probiotics and zinc improves infants' immune response to oral vaccine: RCT

15-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Combined probiotic and zinc supplementation was found to benefit infants who had been orally administered the rotavirus vaccine Rotarix, said researchers in India.

Manipulating gut microbiota to lower heart disease risk deserves 'greater scientific focus': Review

02-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Gastrointestinal composition could affect the risk of cardiovascular diseases, according to a new review, which calls on greater scientific focus to be devoted to the impact probiotics and prebiotics can have on reducing risk.

Probiotics benefit indigestion sufferers through gut microbiota normalisation

01-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Probiotics can effectively treat indigestion by normalising gastric microbiota, a Japanese study has found.

Probiotic strain in yogurt helps alleviate acute respiratory infection in middle-aged and elderly: RCT

31-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Yogurt containing certain probiotic strains may reduce the risk and incidence of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in the middle-aged and elderly, according to a Chinese RCT.

Infant gut microbiota composition could be early allergy indicator: Danone

30-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Elevated pathogen / bacteria ratio in infants could be an early microbiota biomarker for allergies, according to researchers in Singapore, the UK and the Netherlands.

Oligosaccharides may combat obesity via gut microbe modulation: Japan study

26-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

A certain group of oligosaccharides may be able to counter obesity through gut microbe modulation, according to researchers in Japan.

Aussie probiotic start-up PERKii harbours global market-leading ambitions

25-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Australian start-up PERKii Probiotics is banking on its sole product to serve as a platform for expansion, and so far, its plan seems to be working.

Probiotic formula reduces duration of rotavirus diarrhoea in young children: Korean RCT

25-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

A probiotic formula containing Bifidobacterium longum BORI (B. longum) and Lactobacillus acidophilus AD031 (L. acidophilus) has been shown to shorten the duration of rotavirus diarrhoea in young children, according to a Korean RCT.

Yakult boss urges clarity from UK over Brexit

23-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Yakult's president has urged the UK to clearly define its Brexit strategy, but has pledged that the firm is committed to continuing its business in the country.

Probiota Asia 2017

Multi-strain versus single strain probiotics: More doesn’t necessarily mean better outcomes

19-Oct-2017 By Gary Scattergood

More research is needed to assess the efficacy of multi-strain probiotic treatments, because current data shows that adding more strains doesn’t always lead to better outcomes for all illnesses.

Probiota Asia 2017

Booze with benefits? The challenges scientists overcame to create a probiotic beer

18-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

The National University of Singapore academic behind what is believed to be the world's first probiotic beer has revealed the considerable challenges that had to be overcome for good bacteria to survive in booze.

Probiota Asia 2017

Alleviating allergies: Synbiotic supplementation’s gut health benefits present potential — Danone

17-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Synbiotics — a combination of probiotics and prebiotics — are providing one of the most promising opportunities to modulate the gut health of infants born via C-section, thereby lowering their risk and incidence of developing allergies.

Fish oil able to reduce mortality in gastrointestinal injury patients with sepsis: Chinese study

17-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Fish oil can the lower mortality rate from sepsis caused by acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI), according to a Chinese study.

Probiota Asia 2017

Formula, format, function: What probiotic firms must know to tap into the Asian market — DuPont

12-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Probiotic manufacturers hoping to appeal to Asian consumers must be familiar with the three Fs: formula, format and function.

HI Japan 2017

‘Smart ageing’: Why yogurt, chocolate and supplements are ripe for product innovation in Japan — DuPont

05-Oct-2017 By Gary Scattergood

DuPont in Japan says it is striving to spur innovation in the supplement and functional food space for the ageing population by launching 11 ‘smart ageing’ concepts at this week’s HI Japan show.

Vitafoods Asia 2017

Entering Japan: New supplement and functional food players must entice 'brand-loyal' older consumers

28-Sep-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Supplement and functional food firms looking to enter the Japanese market with new products tailored for the ageing population must overcome high levels of brand loyalty to stand any chance of success, according to one expert.

FI Asia 2017

French supplier Epi Ingredients takes on infant nutrition challenges in Asia expansion plans

27-Sep-2017 By Cheryl Tay

French dairy ingredient supplier Epi Ingredients (the dry division of dairy cooperative Laïta) plans to expand in Asia, with infant nutrition growth among its top targets.

FI Asia 2017

DuPont: Ageing Asia creating vast potential but infant formula 'challenging for manufacturers'

22-Sep-2017 By Cheryl Tay

DuPont is targeting innovation at both ends of the age spectrum as it seeks to meet the vast needs of Asia's ageing societies, while also helping infant formula firms overcome considerable pricing and regulatory challenges.

UK's OptiBiotix and Taiwan's Bened Biomedical unite for ‘psychobiotic’ expansion

21-Sep-2017 By Cheryl Tay

UK firm OptiBiotix has signed a deal with Taiwan-based probiotic research company Bened Biomedical, marking the former’s foray into the gut-brain axis area of microbiome research.

FI ASIA 2017

APAC consumer understanding of how probiotics aid sports nutrition on the rise

19-Sep-2017 By Cheryl Tay

There is growing consumer awareness in APAC that Kefir can help to enhance sports performance through its gastrointestinal benefits, according to Taiwan supplier Synbio Tech.

FI Asia 2017

APAC's on trend infant formula ingredients revealed as manufacturers drive digestive health benefits

18-Sep-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Digestive health and protein content are the top two priorities for infant formula manufacturers in APAC, leading to a surge in interest in prebiotics, probiotics and oligosaccharides.

FI Asia 2017

The four key health concerns driving Chinese consumers to spend more on functional foods

14-Sep-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Demand for functional food and drink has shot up in APAC, particularly in China, where 80% of the population claims to want to make their diets more healthy. And four key health concerns are driving sales.