Alternative sources of protein and a greater focus on ‘food before supplements’ is shaping the sports nutrition practices of Singapore’s elite athletes.
The most effective way to boost nutrition through fortification is by targetting people as consumers, not merely recipients of a donation or a public policy programme.
Supplement firms who view South East Asia as one homogenous market are doomed to failure, but there are four key consumer trends common to all markets, according to analysts.
Suppliers of plant extracts were out in force at the recent Health Ingredients South East Asia show, at the same time as it was revealed the sector will be the fastest growing globally to 2022.
From functional food trends in Thailand and Indonesia, to Singapore’s war on diabetes, and the baby water boom in China, here’s a recap of March’s top stories.
Nutrient gummies drew the most visitors to Softigel’s booth at the recent HI SEA 2017 show in Jakarta – with the company identifying several markets for business growth.
It was the lure of Indonesia’s exotic fruits and their potential as functional ingredients that has convinced Taiwan-based TCI Co to set up an office in Jakarta.
Indonesia’s supplements association hopes the harmonisation of regulations across South East Asia will take a significant step forward this year, providing a much-needed boost to exports and consumer awareness.
Misleading health claims are still rife in Indonesia despite tighter functional food rules, claims a new association set up to ‘professionalise the industry’.
Tea consumption halves the risk of cognitive impairment for people 55 years old and above, and also dramatically reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease among those at greater genetic risk.
There is vast scope to improve glycaemic control among type 2 diabetics in Malaysia by boosting nutrition knowledge and the intake of dairy, a cross-sectional study has found.
From consumer spending to retailer awareness, we pinpoint six of the most pressing functional food and supplement trends ahead of next week’s HI South East Asia exhibition and conference in Jakarta.
Healthy ageing, natural supplements and personalised nutrition: these are three emerging trends in Thailand offering ample opportunities for industry growth.
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.
Gaining a greater understanding of Singaporeans' understanding of supplements – and the types of services and advice they want pharmacists to provide – has become a key focus for Blackmores Institute as it prepares to host its first symposium in...
New meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for TB, not something that is caused by the condition, while the role played by ethnicity in this relationship merits further investigation.
More than 20% of Indonesian homes are thought to experience the double burden of malnutrition – both undernutrition and overweight/obesity – with households of a higher socioeconomic status most at risk.
A recently established Singapore centre is seeking to increase the standard of evidence-based data for SMEs in the supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and functional foods space.
Students from Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will be able to benefit from DSM’s facilities in a bid to boost the skills of the next generation of food and nutrition technologists.
No errors, no mood swings, no sick leave, and she can process three sets of microbiological tests in 14 minutes. Meet Ms Ugene, Singapore’s first two-armed robot microbiologist helping Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), food and nutrition firms ensure...
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.
A new cognitive health supplement firm which recently opened a base in Singapore is targetting consumers in their 40s as it seeks to expand across the region.
The man who has launched Australia’s first store selling vitamins solely via vending machines wants to launch hundreds more in locations across the country, while also expanding to overseas markets such as China, Singapore, India and New Zealand.
The glycaemic response (GR) to beverages does not vary depending on Asian ethnicity, with Chinese, Indian and Malay displaying similar responses, a first of its kind study has established.
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.
A study found that red seaweed (k.alvarezii) helps in slowing down the growth rate of mammary tumours in rats, which researchers says displays the algae’s potential as a natural aid in cancer treatment.
The traditional use of some mushroom species in Asia to boost cognitive function, along with papers purportedly showing their brain health benefits, mean they are worthy of scientific investigation to see if they can help people with Alzheimer's...
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.
Curcumin can become as big as omega-3, according to the boss of Indian nutraceutical supplier OmniActive, which has recently received a significant funding boost and made a high-level acquisition.
The functional food and nutraceutical opportunities offered by agricultural waste products in developing countries are not being fully exploited, meaning vital nutrients that could be of immense health and economic benefit are going to waste.
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.
A new study reveals vitamin D3 encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) could survive in the harsh gastrointestinal environment long enough to deliver this important nutrient to its intended targets.
In the first of our Nutrition Asia video series we take a deep dive into South East Asia's functional foods industry to gauge the state of the market and assess how it can meet the health needs of consumers across the region.
Tropical red seaweed, G. changii, can become an important functional food ingredient and is a prime crop for large-scale commercial farming, according to new research from Malaysia.
Ready-to-eat therapeutic foods designed to boost the nutritional status of people with HIV in Thailand should contain clear health claims, be manufactured in a soft, or liquid form, and be easy to carry, a study conducted by the World Food Programme has...
Duckweed has long been consumed as an inexpensive protein and source of omega-3 in three South East Asia countries, but now researchers are questioning if it has the potential to be adopted by south Asian and even Western consumers too.
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.
Adding Tiliacora triandra gum, from the indigenous Thai vegetable ‘Yanang’, to maltodextrin could create an excellent protector of probiotics, researchers have revealed.
BASF’s Nutrition & Health Division has opened a new technical application lab in Singapore to provide analytical services and product development support to customers across the region.
Researchers have demonstrated a significant association between a seafood and noodle-based dietary pattern and the reduced likelihood of gestational diabetes.
The small number of dieticians in Thailand’s hospitals along with the absence of national guidelines for nutrition screening and assessment are hampering efforts to make early interventions with patients who are at risk of malnutrition.
Singapore health officials will launch the county’s first Diabetes Action Plan next year in response to the City State being identified as having the second-highest proportion of diabetics among developed nations.
