More infants in Vietnam received complementary foods thanks to a widespread social franchising, marketing and branding campaign that targeted new mothers, providing 'rigorous evidence' that such strategies can help combat malnutrition.
There are “huge opportunities” for sales of baby water products to soar in China, with consumers extremely concerned about mixing infant formula with polluted tap water, analysts say.
The challenges in the battle to provide adequate infant nutrition across APAC are as diverse as the region itself, with severe micronutrient deficiencies, stunting and, on the other hand, soaring obesity levels being witnessed.
Zinc in tablet form is not only effective in treating acute diarrhoea in young children, but it is also a more practical delivery method compared to zinc in suspension, a new study concludes.
The use of probiotics on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is associated with a reduced risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), late-onset sepsis, and mortality, but the effects on extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies is inconclusive.
While the rest of the world celebrated Valentine’s Day with hearts and flowers, the Thai government handed out “very magical” vitamin supplements to encourage prospective mothers to boost the country’s birth rate.
Dietary supplementation appears to be common among Chinese mothers during pregnancy, but intake of folic acid is well below the recommended national and global guidelines, while overall supplement use after giving birth is relatively low.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set up a panel of doctors and research scientists to prepare the final version of its food fortification laws – a move that would facilitate the inclusion of micronutrients to several food staples.
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (RB) has signed a merger agreement with Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (Mead Johnson) under which Mead Johnson shareholders will receive $90 in cash for each share of common stock, valuing the total equity at $16.6bn.
Maternal age and place of residence played key roles in whether children under five years old were given Vitamin A supplements in Pakistan, a new study reveals.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has pledged to ‘close the gap’ in micronutrient malnutrition after releasing a consultation paper on food fortification.
New Zealand supplement firm Better Health Co, which owns the GO Healthy brand, has sold an 80% stake to an Asian private equity fund to help it tap into international markets.
Myanmar has vowed to tackle child stunting and widespread micronutrient deficiencies, and include nutritional wellbeing in its national development planning.
One-in-five infants in Singapore are given a dietary supplement in the first year of life, while 5.7% take probiotics and 15.7% homeopathic preparations.
Infant nutrition company Mead Johnson saw sales in Asia – its largest region – slip 9% year-on-year, 5% on a constant dollar basis, to $1.856bn – although the company recorded ‘strong sales growth’ in its key China market.
Pregnant women should take more micronutrients aside from iron and folic acid to boost the long-term cognitive development of their children, according to a major follow-up study from Indonesia.
The decision by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to approve DHA and ARA-enriched infant food was a crucial factor leading to Danone’s ambitious growth plans for the country.
A fortified iron supplement bar given to women in and around Mumbai reduced anaemia with no reported side effects, according to a study by Duke University researchers and collaborators in India.
Replacing CEO Laura McBain hasn’t seen the end of financial turmoil at Australian infant formula manufacturer Bellamy’s with shares continuing to slide amid gloomy forecasts from analysts.
Further evidence has been published showing how fortified fish sauce is being used in Cambodia to help tackle thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency and the associated disease beriberi in babies.
Australian infant formula firm Bellamy’s is facing further turmoil after a major shareholder demanded the removal of four of the company’s board directors.
An analysis of more than 100 locally-manufactured premixed infant cereals from low and middle income countries, including Indonesia, China and Nepal, has revealed widespread variation in nutritional content, sparking concerns they could contribute to...
Researchers have demonstrated a significant association between a seafood and noodle-based dietary pattern and the reduced likelihood of gestational diabetes.
The demand for ‘clean label’ products, especially in North America and Europe, is continuing to affect consumers’ acceptance of fortified foods, meaning manufacturers should focus their efforts on Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of autism in children by the age of six, Australian researchers have found, who argue low cost supplementation for at-risk mothers is merited.
There is an urgent need for more research on infant nutrition that is centred on South East Asia, with the vast majority of published studies focusing on the western world, a new paper states.
Only two countries out of the 19 being monitored in Asia-Pacific will meet the UN’s second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of achieving zero hunger by 2030 if prevalence of undernourishment rates (PoU) continue to reduce at 2010-15 rates.
A greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing the bioavailability of key nutrients in foods by focusing on synergies to help fight under nutrition, say researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research.
A novel combination of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides could significantly improve absorption of certain minerals, according to new research in rats.
Danone’s Milupa Nutricia has signed a deal with online retailer windeln.de to better distribute its Aptamil infant formula brand in China as it seeks to thwart the booming grey market.
The benefits of alpha-lacalbumin in providing effective protein in infant formula, and its role in increasing brain serotonin concentrations, were two of the academic highlights presented at the Alpha Summit in Singapore.
A new low-cost test to measure early-stage infant malnutrition that is suitable for use in areas with limited electricity and little health expertise has been developed by University of Sydney researchers.
US supplement firm Mannatech is entering the China market via e-commerce - a clear change in tack for the Texas company, which usually focuses on multi-level marketing or direct selling.
A joint venture between Blackmores and Bega Cheese to supply infant formula across APAC - and in particular China - has missed its sales targets, hitting Bega’s financial performance.
Indian companies Vitalic Health and Athena Life Sciences have signed a joint venture to launch nutraceuticals and dietary supplements under the brand name 'Truuth'.
There is concern about the considerable variance in the recommended consumption levels of infant formula and follow-on formula in Asia and questions over the amount of protein they are required to contain, an international conference has heard.
Antenatal depression may be linked to poor nutrient intake, causing health risks for mum and baby, say researchers who suggest that supplementation could help.
The United Nations health agency has called for a whole-of-society approach to address the double burden of malnutrition which affects populations across southeast Asia, particularly women and girls.
Sales at Chinese infant nutrition firm Biostime dropped by 14% in the first half of 2016 to RMB1.46bn (US$220m), with the Biostime brand – which accounts for 86% of the company’s sales – down 5.4% and the value brand Adimil down 65.7%.
India’s “shockingly low” level of EPA and DHA intake is storing up a potential health crisis, especially because life expectancy and therefore the rate of chronic illness is forecast to rise considerably over the coming decades.
Australian women are well aware that folic acid (PFS) and iodine (IS) are recommended supplements to take during pregnancy, but only a quarter of them adhere to the recommendations, scientists report.
A study of wild edible fruits found in the Himalayas indicates they are a rich source of antioxidants, with researchers concluding they can help meet the nutritional needs of the local population and play a crucial role in nutraceutical development.