Immune support

Honey and TCM: Singapore brand unites tradition and modern science to market functional products

22-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Singapore brand 13 Honey is using a TCM-based approach to honey production to develop products it claims can help alleviate a wide range of health conditions.

Exclusive insights: Three markets to watch for APAC supplement industry growth in 2019

08-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Marie Tay and Tingmin Koe

With its booming population and growing middle-income group, APAC is the region to watch for supplement and health food growth. In our exclusive feature on which markets to keep an eye on, we feature sports nutrition in China, probiotics in South East...

New algae player debuts with highly refined EPA ingredient

19-Dec-2018 By Hank Schultz

Chinese/American company Lyxia has debuted as a new player in the algae omega-3s space with a highly refined EPA ingredient from a photosynthetic strain.

The top 10 APAC supplement and nutrition brand stories of 2018 revealed

19-Dec-2018 By Cheryl Tay

We reveal 2018's 10 most read APAC supplement and nutrition brand stories, featuring Herbalife, Nestlé, Blackmores, Swisse and more.

Probiotics for work performance: Kirin-Yahoo joint study reveals labour gains in Japan

12-Dec-2018 By Tingmin Koe

A joint study conducted by Kirin and Yahoo showed that consuming Lactococcus Lactis Plasma improves work performance by boosting immunity and preventing influenza symptoms from developing.

Personalised nutrition in Taiwan: Technology, affordability, and celebrity-backing driving consumer interest

29-Nov-2018 By Tingmin Koe

The understanding and demand for gene testing and personalised nutrition are growing in Taiwan, according to TCI Gene, a Taiwanese firm.

VITAFOODS ASIA 2018

WATCH: Angel Yeast on alleviating upper respiratory tract infections and promoting skin whitening

26-Nov-2018 By Tingmin Koe

China-based supplements manufacturer Angel Yeast is exploring the use of yeast in alleviating symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.

Plum potential: Supplements and functional food opportunities eyed for gubinge

23-Nov-2018 By Cheryl Tay

The Kakadu plum — also known as gubinge — is getting increasingly more attention for its nutritional value in Australia and New Zealand, with researchers exploring its potential use in supplements and functional foods.

Gulfood Manufacturing 2018

Morinaga's 41-year-old probiotics product wins most innovative ingredient award at Gulfood Manufacturing

12-Nov-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Morinaga Nutritional Foods (APAC) has been named the Most Innovative Health Ingredient for its probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum BB536 at the Gulfood Manufacturing Industry Excellence Awards.

Probiota Asia 2018

Moving the probiotics industry forward: Regulations, trial design and cost considerations in the spotlight

08-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

Experts gathered to discuss the potential and developments in the probiotics industry, highlighting regulations, trial design and costs as three areas to pay attention to in improving the industry's prospects.

Probiota Asia 2018

Life-Space CEO exclusive: How Australia has become a probiotics pioneer in Asia

23-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Australia's innovation culture and stringent regulatory system are among the reasons Australian companies are thriving in Asia, according to the boss of Life-Space, China's leading probiotic brand.

Functional beverage surge for VitHit in Australia with bumper Coles deal

01-Oct-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Irish brand VitHit expects its upcoming APAC debut to open doors for further expansion within the region for its sole product: a range of six functional bottled beverages developed as a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened drinks.

ChromaDex continues APAC expansion with launch of nicotinamide riboside product in third country

12-Sep-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Nutraceutical firm ChromaDex will launch its TRU NIAGEN supplement in New Zealand next month via its exclusive distributor, local supplement brand Matakana Superfoods.

Vitafoods Asia 2018

HMOs a goldmine of human health applications beyond infant formula: DuPont expert

12-Sep-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have extensive potential to offer a range of health benefits in products beyond infant formula, DuPont's global business director for HMOs, Steen Lyck, said at Vitafoods Asia on Tuesday.

Revenue rockets at Swisse parent firm Health and Happiness as probiotics perform well

04-Sep-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Health and Happiness (H&H) achieved a revenue of RMB4573.6m (about US$669m) in the first half of 2018, which is 28.8% higher than the same period last year.

Functional branding: Kerry talks up APAC immunity and digestive opportunities for BC30 and Wellmune

31-Aug-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Kerry believes that clear evidence of growing consumer demand for probiotics, immunity and protein products across APAC will stand the firm in good stead for regional sales success for its functional branded ingredients, not least the patented probiotic...

Biotropics Malaysia tapping into local herbs for global men's health supplement market

15-Aug-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Wacker debuts antioxidant ingredients for Malaysian nutraceutical market

13-Aug-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Wacker is seeking to boost its nutraceutical business in South East Asia by introducing its antioxidant nutraceutical ingredients, CAVACURMIN and HTEssence, for the first time in Malaysia at an exclusive event in Kuala Lumpur.

Demand for black raspberry seed oil drives company’s expansion

02-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

Increasing demand for one of its signature products has led low-profile company Botanic Innovations to more than double the size of its Wisconsin facility.

China now one of 'most important players' in global probiotics market as sales top $8bn: IPA

02-Jul-2018 By Gary Scattergood

China has cemented its status as one of the world’s most important global players, according to industry body the International Probiotics Association (IPA), with data revealing that nearly half of all APAC sales come from the country.

Probiota Asia: World-leading probiotics summit returns to Singapore — calls for abstracts

02-Jul-2018 By Gary Scattergood

NutraIngredients-Asia is delighted to announce that the second Asia edition of the global probiotics and prebiotics summit, Probiota, will be held in Singapore in October.

Not such a bitter pill: Swisse launches novel plant-based immune supplement

21-Jun-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Swisse is harnessing the power of a little-known plant called Andrographis paniculata to relieve symptoms of the common cold and provide immune support.

Gastrointestinal cancer patients should add omega-3 to their nutrition after operation: Chinese review

20-Jun-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Post-operative gastrointestinal cancer patients may benefit from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid emulsion as part of their parenteral nutrition formula, say researchers in China.

Probiotics and prebiotics in paediatric medicine: What are clinicians recommending?

06-Jun-2018 By Gary Scattergood

There are considerable challenges in gathering scientific data to recommend the use of probiotics and prebiotics in a clinical paediatric setting, but the evidence that exists points to their effectiveness in a number of situations.

WATCH: Astaxanthin — why consumers should love the 'Tinder of free radical scavengers'

05-Jun-2018 By Gary Scattergood

From its sports nutrition opportunities in Australia, its eye care benefits for the China market, and its healthy ageing potential across the region, astaxanthin products have the scope for significant business growth in Asia Pacific, according to one...

Staying alive: Aussie firm launches novel ingredient with patented microencapsulation tech

22-May-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Bega Bionutrients, the health and ingredient arm of Australian firm Bega Cheese, has launched a novel form of microencapsulated infant formula ingredient lactoferrin – Inferrin.

Astaxanthin firms BGG, Solix join forces on new, Colorado-based company

17-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

Two players in the astaxanthin realm, Chinese company BGG and US firm Solix Algredients, will combine to form a new ingredient supplier based in Colorado.

Nutrition Asia Video Series

WATCH: Is personalised nutrition now ready to go mainstream in APAC?

16-May-2018 By Gary Scattergood

Personalised nutrition has the potential to go mainstream in APAC, but the pace of progress will depend on how quickly and effectively MNCs, start-ups and governments can collaborate.

Kiwi superfood and supplement firm eyes APAC expansion after e-commerce success

10-May-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Manufacturer Matakana Superfoods is looking to establish a retail presence outside of Australia, Chile and its native New Zealand, after enjoying considerable success in the organic food segment through online sales.

Nestlé targets 20 new foods for special medical purposes in China after opening new factory

08-May-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Nestlé has invested US$151.3m in two new factories in China as part of its latest efforts to increase its FSMP (foods for special medical purposes) and skincare offerings.

Special Edition: Multivitamins

Impending decision on vitamin C price fixing case could have wide ranging implications

19-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

A vitamin C price fixing case that has found its way into the US Supreme Court could have wide ranging effects for the price of other vitamins and ingredients as well, experts say.

HI SOUTH EAST ASIA 2018

A place for placenta? Japanese firm targets South East Asia with specialty supplements

10-Apr-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Asians' general openness to dietary supplements made with unconventional ingredients is opening doors in the region for a Japanese firm that specialises in placenta-based products.

'Moving beyond gut health': Chr. Hansen probiotic gets South Korean immunity patent

26-Feb-2018 By Gary Scattergood

Chr. Hansen's probiotic BB12 has been granted a patent in South Korea for boosting immune response in conjunction with a flu vaccine.

Herbalife earnings recovering after FTC fine, restructuring

23-Feb-2018 By Hank Schultz

Herbalife says it is successfully emerging from the pall cast by an investigation and subsequent fine levied by the US Federal Trade Commission. The network marketing giant said fourth quarter earnings showed that business is trending back up after taking...

US-China research partnership on ginseng sign of growing backing for TCM, sources say

05-Feb-2018 By Hank Schultz

The funding of a US-China research partnership focusing on ginseng in healthy aging and immunity is a sign of the growing investment behind — and evidence for — TCM ingredients, sources say.

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.

BioCeuticals backs immunity magic of medicinal mushrooms with new supplement range

23-Jan-2018 By Cheryl Tay

BioCeuticals, the Blackmores-owned practitioner-only supplement firm, has launched a full suite of immunity-boosting medicinal mushroom supplements, produced using a novel growing system and backed by a DNA-testing process.

Most popular supplements for Saudi women revealed as study shows increased use

15-Jan-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Dietary supplement usage has increased significantly among women in Saudi Arabia over the last two decades, say researchers in the country.

Silicon-rich mineral water may help lower aluminium levels in MS patients: Population study

10-Jan-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Drinking silicon-rich mineral water can help remove excess aluminium from multiple sclerosis patients, according to a study backed by a Malaysian company.

Nutrient supplementation may not help malnourished TB patients: India study

24-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

There is insufficient evidence that nutritional supplementation can improve immune response to tuberculosis (TB) in malnourished individuals, say researchers in India.

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.

Bifidobacterium strain may halt or reverse cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients: Japanese study

22-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Oral consumption of Bifidobacterium breve strain A1 may counter cognitive dysfunction, according to researchers in Japan.

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.

Fatigue-fighting fungi: Chinese researchers call for clinical trials

10-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Mushrooms may be useful in fighting fatigue through a number of mechanisms, according to researchers in Hong Kong and China.

Indonesian government launches programmes to combat childhood stunting

07-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Indonesia's government says it is taking steps to cut the ongoing problem of childhood stunting in the country.

Pakistan fortification programme targets micronutrient deficiencies in women and children

01-Nov-2017 By Cheryl Tay

The UK is stepping up its efforts to alleviate malnutrition in Pakistan through a food fortification programme for flour, ghee and edible oils.

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.

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.

Asia's diabetes epidemic provides 'huge opportunities' for New Zealand firms

04-Oct-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Asia's soaring diabetes rates are providing new opportunities for New Zealand’s food and nutrition firms, with leading scientists joining forces to assess the functional potential of a host of ingredients for export.