Supplementation with Chlorella, a unicellular green alga, can increase maximal oxygen uptake and nutrient levels in micronutrient-deficient individuals, say researchers in Japan.
Ambient dairy products and functional beverages offer the two best opportunities for the probiotic industry in Asia, alongside a niche but rapidly growing supplements sector.
Three amino acids — the key components in traditional Japanese broth (dashi) — promote gastric emptying in healthy adults, and could therefore be beneficial to people with functional dyspepsia.
Membership services, snack-style products and interactive packaging will help drive Asia-Pacific's supplement sales to US$56bn by 2022 — an almost $10bn increase from 2016’s figure.
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.
Yakult is planning to investigate the effects of probiotic consumption on mental health conditions, following positive results from an initial trial in relation to physical stress.
Japanese supplier Kewpie has seen more than 60 products launched in the country using its hyaluron ingredient Hyabest, with a raft of products touting its beauty or joint pain benefits for the ageing population in the wake of more relaxed regulations.
Japan's omega-3 firms are poised to benefit from rising consumer demand from South East Asia and China, if they can continue to invest in new product and technological developments.
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.
Major Japanese sports nutrition firm BodyPlus International has received BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group) drug-free certification for a number of its products as it seeks to boost its quality credentials in the build-up to the 2020 Olympics.
According to analysts, the Japan supplement market is forecast to hit ¥1,181bn by 2021, rising at around 1% annually...but where could additional growth come from?
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.
Technological advances are having a big impact on the APAC supplement and functional food industry, with the most innovative firms enjoying "a major boon” as more consumers go online for advice and to make purchases.
Recent clinical findings on the sports nutrition and skincare benefits of astaxanthin, as well as new delivery systems for products aimed at older consumers, are helping fuel growth for AstaReal across the region, according to its Singapore president.
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 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.
The 2020 Olympics, 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the ageing population are contributing to ‘huge demand’ for protein products across Japan's sports nutrition and functional food space.
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.
Japanese consumers have little knowledge of saffron - either as a food ingredient or a supplement - let alone its potential cognitive health benefits. But one man is on a mission to change that.
Japanese ingredient giant Morinaga is hoping for a South East Asia sales boom for its 'immunogenics' probiotic LAC-Shield product after recently receiving halal accreditation.
The vast majority of new product launches targetting the main health concerns for seniors remain in the supplement space, with analysts arguing there is vast potential for the region’s food and beverage firms to help meet the needs of older consumers.
Chinese supplier Guilin Layn Natural Ingredients plans to capitalise on the growing prevalence of health-conscious consumers to bring its monk fruit-based sweetener to Japan and Europe.
Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia are tipped to be among the fastest growing functional food and fortified product markets in APAC to 2021, while Japan is witnessing a wave of product innovation on the back of its new Food with Function...
New players in the market and groundbreaking technology will lead to a wave of personalised nutrition innovation across Asia, according to a panel of experts at Vitafoods Asia.
The world-class agenda for the inaugural Probiota Asia has been confirmed, with speakers from major probiotics firms and renowned academics to present at the three-day summit, to be held at the Hilton Singapore from 11 to 13 October.
