Immune support

Don’t miss out: Register for our Healthy Ageing APAC webinar to gain insights from major industry players

26-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

You can gain exclusive insights on healthy ageing from leading nutraceutical players, including H&H Group, Himalaya Wellness, Senescence and more in NutraIngredients-Asia’s upcoming editorial webinar.

Sugarcane fix: Revolutionary remote trial to explore health benefits of polyphenols in plant extract

23-Apr-2024 By Audrey Yow

Researchers at Deakin University Australia are planning a fully remote trial to investigate the health beneficial properties of polyphenols in sugarcane extract and their potential to improve gut, heart and mental health.

CJ Olive Young launches in-app feature Health+ to cater to rising consumer interest in wellness and personalisation

09-Apr-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Korean health and beauty retailer CJ Olive Young is launching Health+, a wellness-focused feature within its mobile app, to strengthen product curation and offer customised recommendations.

Beyond NMN: New longevity supplement brand makes its debut in Singapore

08-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Elivity, a new longevity supplement brand, has made its debut in Singapore and it aims to move Asia’s understanding of the category beyond the use of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).

VitamINSIGHTS

Vietnam nutra market: Bone, cognition health trending, with botanicals and traditional formats popular – Exclusive insights

03-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Bone and cognitive health needs are cited as the trending nutraceutical categories in Vietnam, but companies should keep in mind how the market is still heavily rooted in herbal formulations with a preference for basic dosage formats, despite its rapid...

Standardised guidelines for vitamin D testing and supplementation could aid IBS treatment for kids

03-Apr-2024 By Audrey Yow

Standardised guidelines for vitamin D testing and supplementation across Australasia could optimise healthcare for children with inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), new research reports.

DyDo DRINCO seeks to meet shifting consumer needs and fill nutrient gaps in Japanese diet with new functional beverages

03-Apr-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Japanese firm DyDo DRINCO recently released functional beverages targeted at skin-conscious female consumers, as well as beverages fortified with magnesium and vitamin D, nutrients that the firm says is lacking in the Japanese diet.

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.

Healthy ageing: Global competition to reward $101m for muscle, cognitive, and immune solutions

27-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

XPRIZE, a global competition rewarding US$101m for interventions that could improve muscle, cognitive, and immune function in seniors aged 65 to 80, has been launched.

Probiotic B. longum BB536 may prevent common cold symptoms, but more research needed to understand how it works

27-Mar-2024 By Audrey Yow

Daily supplementation with B. longum BB536 can suppress common cold-like symptoms in healthy adults, but future studies are required to clarify how it works, according to a new Morinaga-funded study.

BYHEALTH reports nearly 20% revenue growth in FY23 led by protein, probiotics powder sales

25-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

China’s dietary supplement giant BYHEALTH has reported strong revenue growth for its business last year, with operating revenue increasing by nearly 20 per cent led by demand for its protein and probiotics powder supplements.

Green tea does not appear to reduce lung cancer risk, more studies needed to understand health benefits

20-Mar-2024 By Audrey Yow

Green tea intake does not appear to reduce the risk of lung cancer, but researchers say more investigations are needed to understand the potential health benefits of its bioactive compounds.

Instagram posts by nutrition brands under fire for lacking in quality and accuracy – Aussie researchers

18-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Instagram posts on nutrition are lacking in quality and accuracy, especially those that are posted by brands, says a group of researchers who undertook a study on Australian Instagram accounts.

Nutrachampion podcast

LISTEN: South Korea’s functional probiotics market sees faster growth than generic strains – AceBiome CEO

18-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s functional proprietary probiotics market is growing at a faster rate than the generic gut health category, says the CEO of biotech firm AceBiome in our latest Nutrachampion podcast.

Regulatory review: China’s electrolyte drinks, TGA’s safety advisory on ashwagandha and more

15-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across APAC, including China’s food industry association planning to set industry standards for electrolyte drinks, Taiwan’s harsher penalties for firms...

Rise of retro: Cheong Kwan Jang rides “grandmillennial” trend to launch red ginseng-infused traditional snacks

14-Mar-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC)-owned brand Cheong Kwan Jang is actively expanding its red ginseng snacks line-up to target young consumers amid a thriving retro craze.

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.

Bayer FY23 results: Nutritionals sales dragged down by weaker China, SEA demand

11-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Bayer’s nutritional business declined for the past year due to a weaker market environment in China and South East Asia, the company said in its FY23 financial results.

Probiotics database in demand among Singapore healthcare practitioners, says new research

06-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

A comprehensive probiotics database is being sought by healthcare practitioners in Singapore, on the back of greater use and enquiries on such products from the public, according to new research.

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

05-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

From India's nutraceutical regulations to consumer behaviour in Indonesia, and FY23 financial results from Kirin, Danone, and Otsuka Holdings, here are the most-read stories on NutraIngredients-Asia in February 2024.

Haleon FY23 results: VMS brands Centrum, Caltrate gain shares in declining market, says CEO

05-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Haleon says that its vitamins minerals supplements (VMS) portfolio has gained shares in an overall declining market in FY23, led by growth in its core VMS brands Centrum, Caltrate, and Emergen-C, with the CEO saying that the firm is “optimistic” on the...

Portfolio revision: Kao transfers functional beverage brand to Kirin to focus on ‘core businesses’

28-Feb-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Kao Corporation has entered into an agreement with Kirin Beverage Company Limited for the transfer of Healthya, a functional tea-catechin beverage brand, to focus its resources on other business areas to achieve its targets for FY2027.

Beating the market: a2 milk reports 1.5% growth in China’s shrinking infant formula sector

21-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The a2 milk Company says its infant formula sales in China had increased by 1.5 per cent in the first half of FY2024, although the market had shrunk almost 14 per cent in sales.

7-Eleven Singapore adds Ocean Health’s gummies, fast melt powder to its supplement offerings

20-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Convenience chain 7-Eleven Singapore has included local dietary supplement brand Ocean Health’s products, including gummies and fast melt powder, into its offerings.

Kirin FY23 results: Health functional drinks revenue up 30%, driven by immune and small bottle offerings

19-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Kirin has reported strong revenue growth for its non-alcoholic beverage business, driven by demand for health functional drinks and especially those in small-volume PET bottles, the company said in its FY2023 financial results.

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.

Behind the Big Story

How Haleon will meet innovation goals: Deep human understanding, trusted science, partnerships key – WATCH

31-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

A deep understanding of human biology, tapping on trusted science and key partnerships with researchers, start-ups and suppliers are key in achieving new breakthroughs in nutraceuticals innovation, Haleon’s chief of R&D told NutraIngredients-Asia...

Yeast-derived prebiotic could enhance gut motility and sleep quality – Asahi-funded study

31-Jan-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Dietary supplementation of yeast mannan (YM) as a prebiotic could boost gut motility, improve constipation symptoms, and contribute to better sleep quality, say Japanese researchers.

COVID-19 and Google: Vitamin C, D searches increase with community outbreaks and in winter

29-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Google searches for nutritional supplements, especially vitamin C and D, in relation to COVID-19 have been found to surge alongside community outbreaks and during the winter season.

Kyowa Hakko Bio partners with A*STAR to unlock ‘full potential’ of HMOs beyond infant health

24-Jan-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Kirin-owned Kyowa Hakko Bio will be collaborating with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore to advance research on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and explore their potential applications, particularly in the areas...

New nutritional substitute? Donkey milk touted as potential ingredient for infant and ageing products

23-Jan-2024 By Hazel Tang

Researchers have argued that the rich and diverse content of proteins in donkey milk could promote cell growth and proliferation, stimulate the immune system, exert anti-ageing effects, and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties....

Nurture to expand its Digestion + probiotic drink range as it set sights on South East Asia

23-Jan-2024 By Hazel Tang

Fonterra brand Nurture plans to expand its powdered probiotic drink range to target stress-relief and skin health this year.

Nutrachampion podcast

Retailer success strategies: Renovatio founder on why nutra start-ups should learn to say no

22-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Nutraceutical start-ups should “learn to say no” to questionable retail strategies and “know where their boundaries are” as they seek to grow the distribution of their products, says Renovatio Bioscience’s founder Dr Vincent Candrawinata in the first...

Regulatory review: South Korea's vitamin C rules, China's health foods filing, and Japan's GMP in the spotlight

19-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we look at the latest regulatory announcements regarding caution statements for vitamin C Health Functional Foods in South Korea, the addition of American ginseng, ginseng, and ganoderma into China's Health...

Supplement distributor Sainhall Nutrihealth expands into consumer product space

17-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Sainhall Nutrihealth, a Singapore company distributing functional ingredients and health supplements for nearly 30 years, has expanded into the finished product space.

Probiotic regulation call: Hong Kong Consumer Council urges government to set up legislation to oversee category

17-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The Hong Kong Consumer Council is urging the government to set up legislation to regulate dietary supplements, including probiotics, the Council announced when releasing the findings of its review of 40 commercially available probiotics products.

HMOs update: FSANZ approves dsm-firmenich’s 2’-FL and three other HMOs for use in infant formulas

17-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved dsm-firmenich’s four human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), including the mixture of 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) and difucosyllactose (DFL), for use in infant formula products.

Brand new: Shiseido, Amway, Nuchev in the spotlight

12-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including Shiseido’s upcoming launch of beauty-from-within ampoule drinks in Japan, China, Amway’s regenerative agriculture partnerships, and goat milk brand Nuchev’s first...

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.

China approves American ginseng, ginseng, ganoderma for health foods filing

08-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

American ginseng, ginseng, and ganoderma – also commonly known as Lingzhi, could be used for health foods filing in China starting from May 1, 2024.

Moo-ving forward: Nuchev launches its first bovine product targeting school-going children and adults

03-Jan-2024 By Hazel Tang

Australian infant goat milk formula specialist Nuchev is launching its first bovine product for older children and adults as it looks to introduce a series of products aimed at enhancing digestion and immunity over the next 12 months.

COVID-19 and omega-3: Meta-analysis suggests benefits, but urgent need for large-scale trials

20-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

A new meta-analysis suggests omega-3 supplementation may be beneficial for COVID-19 patients, but academics say there is an urgent need for large and rigorous trials to establish better data on timing, dosage and mechanism of action.

Kirin and Kao launch dual-function supplement for immune support and visceral fat reduction on the back of joint research

18-Dec-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Kirin Holdings and Kao Corporation have collaborated to introduce a dual-function supplement targeting immunity and visceral fat, said to be two increasingly top-of-mind concerns faced by the Japanese population.

VitamINSIGHTS

New Zealand’s natural health products sector brimming with science and research, but huge regulatory blow dampens mood

13-Dec-2023 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand’s natural health products and functional foods sectors are brimming with science and research, however, yet another recent regulatory blow has again left the industry deeply frustrated.

Supplements and long COVID: Better studies needed to build on promise of nutritional interventions

05-Dec-2023 By Shali S.

More rigorous and well-designed investigations are needed to explore the initial promise of complementary medicine and supplementation in aiding attempts to tackle long COVID.

Study explores whether Gencor’s PEA relieves allergy symptoms

04-Dec-2023 By Asia Sherman

A new study suggests that Gencor Pacific’s Levagen+ Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ingredient may alleviate symptoms of seasonal allergies as shown by a reduction in histamine and inflammatory markers despite a strong placebo effect.

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.

Kickstarting kale: Chinese trend for ‘punk nutrition’ lifestyle opens major functional food innovation opportunities

28-Nov-2023 By Pearly Neo

Chinese consumers’ increasing demands for functional and fortified foods and beverages to support a lifestyle based on ‘punk nutrition’ has opened up massive innovation opportunities for brands across various product categories.

China’s health food imports: Indonesia in the top five exporters as edible bird’s nest popularity spikes

27-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Indonesia was one of top five health food exporters of health foods to China last year, and has continued to surpass even Japan, with edible bird’s nest making up the bulk of the South East Asian country’s export.

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.