Researchers in Singapore have discovered that a polyphenol-rich curry could aid the fight against type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases by improving postprandial glucose homeostasis and increasing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
Asia-Pacific's functional food market for heart health products is being tipped to reach US$655.7m by the end of 2026, with sales increasing by 6.8% over the forecast period.
An engineered probiotic combined with broccoli extract killed more than 95% of colorectal cancer cells in an in vitro study, and reduced the number of tumours by 75% in mice, researchers in Singapore have revealed.
Singapore personalised nutrition firm Imagene Labs has sealed a deal with an Australian e-commerce venture, as it makes its first move into the country.
Australia's biggest hemp foods firm, which also has a cannabinoid (CBD) nutraceuticals and medical cannabis offering, launched today on the Australian Stock Exchange following a successful $20m IPO.
Australian research on animals suggests that folic acid taken in late pregnancy could reduce the natural protection from allergies that offspring have as a result of a common complication in about 10% of pregnancies.
The probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri has the potential to provide some reduction in crying in exclusively breastfed babies less than three months old, new data reveals.
The Australian government has been urged to use 2018’s federal budget to adopt a four-pronged approach to help sustain the growth of the nation’s booming supplements industry and boost the health of its citizens.
Rule changes in China dominated the regulatory landscape for the supplement and infant nutrition industries in Asia over the past 12 months — and this was clearly reflected in our top five policy stories of 2017.
Video interviews with senior industry leaders from the likes of Danone, DSM and DuPont proved highly popular throughout 2017, as we tackled on film some of the biggest health and nutrition challenges in Asia-Pacific.
Today, we can reveal the five most read trends stories for 2017, spanning the latest consumer and market insights from Japan, Thailand, China, and the wider region.
A proposal by the International Probiotics Association to work towards harmonizing probiotic guidelines for use in foods and dietary supplements has received the support of Argentina, and the country will lead the work.
From cognitive health to healthy ageing, and probiotics to immunity, 2017 saw suppliers targeting Asia-Pacific's key growth sectors with a raft of new products and insights.
Australian firms topped the list of our most read manufacturer stories for 2017, underlining the dominance of brands such as Blackmores and Swisse across Asia-Pacific.
Early results from a new study led by The Australian National University (ANU) indicate that people in their 60s and early 70s could lower their risk of dementia by maintaining healthy weight and muscle mass.
Australian contract manufacturer Vitex Pharmaceuticals has opened a new A$100m facility in Eastern Creek, Sydney, to better meet ever-growing global demand for Australian-made vitamins and supplements.
Herbalife's direct-selling model is aiding its contribution towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by enabling action to be taken at the grassroots level, according to one of its senior APAC leaders.
Global manufacturers of speciality infant formulas have received a major boost from the Chinese government, which has done away completely with the 20% import duty.
Cutting saturated fats (SFAs) in children's diets and replacing them with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs / PUFAs) significantly reduces cholesterol and blood pressure, cutting the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
Swisse Wellness' parent company, H&H (Health & Happiness) Group — formerly Biostime — has bought back the vitamin firm's distribution rights from PGT Healthcare for $131m, including those for the key China market.
Supplementation with yerba mate — a species of the holly family — over an extended period has significant effects on body weight, and is associated with lower levels of blood lipids and insulin.
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.
Probiotic supplier Ganden says its recent acquisition by Kerry Group will allow it to fast-track the growth of its products in Asia, with China and India having bene identified as two markets that are "impossible to ignore".
Danone Nutricia is to further explore the benefits of probiotics in preventing infant allergies, after an initial trial showed that supplementation restored the microbiota diversity of babies delivered via C-section.
Continuous innovation, new product launches, and comprehensive education services have seen BioCeuticals — the Blackmores-owned practitioner-only supplement firm — double its sales over the past four years, says its MD.
Diabetes and other metabolic disorders are providing fertile ground for new probiotic research, says a DuPont expert who has highlighted new findings on supplementation and a reduced risk of gestational diabetes.
The demand for goat milk infant formula in soaring in Asia, according to Nuchev CEO Ben Dingle, who is targeting South East Asia market entry on the back of his company's success in China.
Researchers are hoping that increasing the protein content in wheat crops will improve the nutritional benefits of noodles and help slash the risk of diabetes
BioCeuticals, the practitioner-only supplement firm owned by Blackmores, is about to launch a range of personalised testing products to tap into "the future of nutrition".
Australian scientists have found significant improvements in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in overweight women by combining lifestyle interventions with a novel herbal formulation.
The benefit of probiotics in relation to childhood throat infections and halitosis have been underlined by two recent trials, revealed BLIS Technologies' Dr John Hale at our recent Probiota Asia summit in Singapore.
Australian manufacturer Trisco Foods has turned its attention to the rapidly growing supplement market for elderly people in APAC through its recent acquisition of Enprocal and Prime Nutrition.
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.
Australia's soaring supplements sector has been praised by the government for its double-digit annual growth figures, far outstripping the 1.7% growth rate of the broader Australian economy.
Asia's developing nations are facing increasing rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), similar to those witnessed in the West over the last century.
A Singapore-based personalised nutrition and cosmetics firm is reporting healthy revenue and customer growth as it expands across the region and prepares to launch its first finished product in Australia.
More research is needed to assess the efficacy of multi-strain probiotic treatments, because current data shows that adding more strains doesn’t always lead to better outcomes for all illnesses.
Product quality, effectiveness and continual evolution: These are the three keys to e-commerce supplement success in China, according to Australian probiotic firm Evolution Health, which has recorded huge sales increases since entering the market in 2014.
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.
A new Risk Index for Depression (RID) developed in Australia "provides further support" of the link between diet, gut health and the risk of mental illness, researchers claim.
Asia-Pacific is now the leading region for new probiotic product launches across food, drinks and supplements, with firms innovating in the confectionery, dessert and fermented food sectors.
