Immune support

Nature’s Way strikes first brick-and-mortar pharmacy deal in South Korea with Onnuri Pharmacy

07-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s Pharmacare Laboratories is growing the market presence of its dietary supplement brand Nature’s Way in South Korea via its first pharmacy deal with local chain Onnuri.

Dairy dynamic: Probiotic yoghurt could decrease heavy metal levels in blood – RCT

06-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Probiotic yoghurt could be promoted as an effective and affordable approach to combating toxic metal exposure by protecting the gut microbiota.

Winners revealed: Find out who took the top prizes at this year’s NutraIngredients Asia Awards!

06-Sep-2022 By Gary Scattergood

We have announced the winners of the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards for 2022.

Golden opportunity: White spaces for mineral-fortified functional foods in Japan – government study

05-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A Japanese government-funded study has revealed new opportunities for brands to develop functional foods and increase awareness among mineral-deficient consumers in Japan.

Financial updates: a2 milk, Blackmores, Meiji, BYHEALTH

02-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest financial report from major dietary supplement and infant formula firms, namely The a2 Milk Company, Blackmores, McPherson’s, Meiji, and BYHEALTH.

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

31-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China dairy firm Junlebao's latest infant formula launch, findings of Swisse's krill oil RCT on knee osteoarthritis, as well as Vinamilk's and H&H's insights on Vietnam's infant formula market are some of the most popular...

Export goals: Attention turns to new Asia markets and the US – BYHEALTH International

30-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

BYHEALTH International is seeking opportunities in more overseas markets, including South East Asia and the US.

Calcium, iron, zinc the most consumed minerals in Japan – Govt-funded survey

30-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Calcium, iron, zinc are the most consumed minerals in the form of supplements or fortified foods, an online survey funded by the Japanese government found.

Acquisition boost: McPherson’s reports strong growth for former Blackmores brand Fusion

29-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

ASX-listed Australian firm McPherson’s has reported almost 90 per cent annual growth in its health business in FY22, with the herbals brand Fusion – previously owned by Blackmores’ Global Therapeutics – performing particularly well.

Trend tracker: Popular probiotics research, women’s health, and Korea data revealed

26-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the popular research surrounding probiotics and its functions, how Kirin is seeing potential in the women’s health sector, and South Korea’s health functional foods production trends.

Inventory, packaging innovation and NPD: Blackmores CEO sets out stall for next financial year – Exclusive

23-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Blackmores will beef up its local inventory for the 13 markets that it currently operates in, design new pack sizes for markets such as Thailand, and target eye health growth in China over the next year, the company’s CEO told NutraIngredients-Asia.

Sports nutrition sales steady despite price hike, yogurt sales still down – Meiji

22-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Sales of sports nutrition products under the brand SAVAS have remained steady despite price rises and a reduction in product volumes, Meiji has reported in its FY22 Q1 results.

New in: Product launches from Junlebao, MD Pharma, Nestle China

19-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features the new product launches from nutrition firms across Asia-Pacific, including Chinese brand Junlebao’s lactoferrin infant formula, Singapore firm MD Pharma’s ‘faster-acting’ vitamin D, and new launches from Nestle China.

NutraChampion podcast

Local food sources for sports nutrition: Rice biopeptides and palm oil among prospects – Malaysian expert

16-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Sports nutrition research coming out of Malaysia could explore local foods sources, such as palm oil, goat’s milk, and black pepper, said the vice-president of Nutrition Society of Malaysia, who has previously studied biopeptides extracted from locally...

Singapore firm MD Pharmaceuticals and DSM develop ‘faster-acting’ vitamin D supplement to boost immunity

09-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

MD Pharmaceuticals, a Singapore-based healthcare distributor and marketer, has developed a new vitamin D supplement with DSM, which is said to be faster acting for immune health.

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

03-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

hy Co.'s (formerly Korea Yakult) clinical trial on how the supplementation of two Lactobacillus strains could alleviate obesity, Nestle Health Science's acquisition of GO Healthy, and the list of NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2022 finalists are...

Nutrition Asia Video Series

WATCH: Vinamilk and H&H on the hottest ingredients in Vietnam’s infant formula market

03-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) is one of the hottest and most commonly seen ingredients in Vietnam’s infant formula products these days, according to Vietnam homegrown firm Vinamilk and Hong Kong-headquarted Health & Happiness Group (H&H Group),...

Triple tipples: Danone’s three latest healthy ageing powder drinks in China launched on Tmall, Douyin

25-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Danone has launched a set of three healthy ageing nutritional products in China via online channels Tmall and Douyin – the China version of TikTok.

Brand new: Amway’s traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing launch, Blackmores’ COVID-19 trial

22-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at the latest developments from big brand names, including Amway’s Nutrilite traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing product launch in Japan, and a clinical trial assessing Blackmores’ products in Singapore.

China health foods registration: Strengthening immunity, reducing blood lipids, and antioxidising took top spots

20-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Health foods that claimed to strengthen the immunity, reduce blood lipids, and act as an antioxidant were the top three categories that were successfully granted the ‘blue-hat’ status in China during the first six months of this year.

India’s Mankind Pharma launches first multivitamins gummies for kids’ immune health

19-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

India’s pharmaceutical firm Mankind Pharma has launched its first set of multivitamin gummies for kids under the brand Health OK.

SEA focus: Blackmores and Singapore's COVID-19 study, Tipco on healthier beverages, Malaysia regulatory updates

15-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up on developments in Southeast Asia include Blackmore's largest ever single product donation for supporting a COVID-19 clinical research in Singapore, Tipco's assessment of the healthier beverages market, and Malaysian authority's...

Japan’s FFC functionalities: Immune health category dominated by Kirin in FY21, cognitive claims under fire

12-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Kirin has dominated Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) immune health category in FY21, with it being the only company that has received the authority’s recognition for its immune health ingredient L. lactis strain Plasma – also known as LC-plasma.

Regulators failing to match consumer demand for natural products supporting mental well-being – Watch

12-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Our first Mind and Mood Interactive Broadcast has heard that regulators are failing to match consumer demand for natural products to aid mental well-being spanning cognition, sleep, stress and anxiety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Novel entry: Singapore white honey brand Al Honey targets South East Asia, Australia after Saudi backing

11-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Singapore brand Al Honey is planning its expansion in South East Asia and Australia over the next two years with its novel white honey product.

Stem sells: Kale by-products could be turned into prebiotics by Singapore partnership

04-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Researchers from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and precision gut microbiome firm AMILI hope to turn unwanted kale stems into prebiotics products.

Trend tracker: Japan’s FFC market analysis, demand for vegan-friendly omega-3, Growth Asia Summit

01-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Trends in Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC), the demand for vegan-friendly omega-3 based on insights from Thai Union, and an upcoming business summit in Singapore for the health and nutrition industry are featured in this round-up.

Vitamin A supplementation reduces deficiency in Afghan kids – Study

30-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Vitamin A supplementation is helping to reduce deficiency among Afghan children, with researchers recommending that all children aged six to 59 months receive supplements.

PEA shown to inhibit COVID-19 by dual mechanisms, trial results to be out in Q3 – Gencor

29-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has shown to inhibit the COVID-19 virus in both in-silico and in-vitro settings, and positive findings from a clinical trial are expected to be published in Q3, says functional ingredient firm Gencor.

Japan’s functional foods dilemma: Just over one-third of approved FFC products successfully launched in FY21

28-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Only about one-third of approved Foods with Function Claims (FFC) made it on to the market in FY2021, with more than 60 per cent pending launch, exclusive new data has shown.

Opportunities abound: Asians more open to natural products but seek science-based ingredients – Pharmactive MD

27-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Asia is more open than any other market to trying natural products due to its long history of traditional remedies, but scientifically-backed and clinically trialled ingredients are now fast becoming a key consumer demand.

JD 618 sales data: Numans, BYHEALTH, Harbin Pharma clinch top spots for best-selling nutrition products

27-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China e-commerce giant JD has released new data on its recent 618 online shopping event, with products from Numans, BYHEALTH, Harbin Pharma the top three bestsellers under the nutrition category.

Nutrachampion podcast

Three is the magic number: Australia’s CSIRO principal scientist reveals how to deliver high-quality nutra trials– LISTEN

22-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

With consumers increasingly demanding scientifically-validated nutra products and ingredients, one of the key scientists in Australia’s national research agency has revealed the three factors that are crucial for a high-quality trial.

Pro ambition: NZ’s GO Healthy launches premium supplement series to rival practitioner products

20-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Major New Zealand supplement brand GO Healthy has launched a premium supplement brand named the PRO Series, an over-the-counter (OTC) range that it hopes can rival practitioner-only products.

Brand new: Amway Korea’s precision probiotics, Ora’s cellular health product, HMO formulas by Nestle

03-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up of brands related news, we will look at Amway Korea’s launch of its precision probiotics and microbiome testing service, Australia’s Ora innovating in the cellular health space using broccoli-sprout derived sulforaphane and more.

VitamINSIGHTS – Delivery system innovation

‘Now is the time’: Moderna co-founder and nutra experts on why delivery system innovation is key for industry growth

31-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Breakthrough in delivery system technologies is crucial to drive innovation in the traditional vitamin and minerals category, as well as the booming probiotics, functional food and beverage sectors.

Ayurveda regulations: India introduces new rules with sector braced for significant growth

25-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The Indian authorities have introduced new regulations on Ayurvedic products, including rules covering health claims and the addition of vitamins and minerals.

Science shorts: Turmeric for weight loss, LGG for diarrhoea, and immune product innovation

20-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Here we reveal new scientific findings on how turmeric supplementation could improve metabolic parameters in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Indian experts’ recommendation of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) for treating diarrhoea in children,...

Premium positioning: Fonterra seeks to capture South East Asia’s cultured milk drink market with new launch

18-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Fonterra has launched its first brand of cultured milk drinks in Singapore, where it hopes the low sugar, novel flavours and evidence-backed probiotic strains will resonate with the consumers.

Offline expansion: Swisse reports strong China growth with products on shelves in 57,000 stores

17-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse said growth momentum in China remained strong, with the brand reporting strong double-digit growth and an offline reach of about 57,000 stores as of Q1 this year.

Supply chains interrupted: Customs delays, shipping woes continue to plague APAC nutra and food businesses

16-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Food and nutrition-based businesses across APAC have reported continued logistics problems plaguing their supply chains due to rising costs and customs delays, some of which still stem from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not just vitamins: Immunity product innovation turns its attention to synergistic, novel ingredient combinations

11-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

While the COVID-19 pandemic brought a renewed interest to vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, D, and zinc for immune health, industry experts believe it has also led to novel combinations of ingredients that could work synergistically.

China focus: Yili, BYHEALTH, Bayer reveals NPD pipeline and priorities

09-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will feature exclusive insights from big brand names Yili, BYHEALTH, and Bayer, on their new product development strategies across healthy ageing, men’s health, weight management, and infant health.

Science shorts: Lactic acid bacteria, goat milk, omega-3 in the spotlight

06-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up of the latest scientific research looks at how lactic acid bacteria supplementation in children could reduce school absenteeism linked to cold and flu, New Zealand’s goat milk healthy ageing research, omega-3’s role in Japan’s fewer COVID-19...

‘Our own norms’: Singapore precision health firm AMILI launches five probiotic formulations to suit Asian microbiome

03-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

BIO & ME, the consumer health brand of Singapore-based gut microbiome firm AMILI, has launched five probiotic formulations to target immunity, well-being, energy, mental health and strength – all tailored to the Asian population.

SEA round-up: Singapore’s new foodtech facility, innovation in edible bird’s nest and jamu

29-Apr-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features new developments in the South East Asian region, including the launch of a new foodtech facility opened to local and foreign companies in Singapore, and how companies are putting a spin on the way edible bird’s nest and jamu herbal...

Global push: Thai firm Jamulogy hopping on functional beverage trend to expose Indonesian jamu worldwide

28-Apr-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A Thai-based firm is hoping to ride the global functional beverage wave to popularise the traditional South East Asian herbal formulation ‘jamu’.

Probiotics and Type 1 diabetes: Supplementation along with insulin improves outcomes – RCT

27-Apr-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Probiotic supplementation in addition to conventional insulin treatment may boost outcomes for Type 1 diabetics, according to a new trial from China.

‘Punches above its weight’: Swisse optimistic of Sri Lanka entry success despite turmoil

27-Apr-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse has recently entered the Sri Lankan market, highlighting that it is “a market that has always punched above its weight”, despite the country facing one of its worst economic and political crises.

Probiotics for healthy ageing: Yili details solid beverage innovation for China launch

26-Apr-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China dairy giant Yili has outlined its new product launch strategies, including the introduction of a solid beverage formulated with probiotics and GABA as the key ingredients.