An international project has been launched to better understand how events during pregnancy and childhood influence the development of disease later in life, with the University of Western Australia and medical research organisation The Telethon Kids...
Poor social support, economic disadvantage and frailty have been identified as key factors for low dietary variation and therefore poor nutrition among elderly Japanese adults.
The Chinese herb Chuanmishen violaceum (CVPS) helped improve antioxidant activity and increased free radical scavenging capabilities in tests on ageing mice, revealing it’s suitability for anti-ageing products.
China’s food industry can no longer rely on vast volume growth from mass market items and will increasingly have to focus on innovation around personalised, healthy and functional nutrition products to boost its fortunes.
Saturated fat has been identified as a prime suspect in the onset of osteoarthritis after Australian scientists found it changed the composition of cartilage, but lauric acid from coconut oil has a protective effect.
Korean cactus juice Cheonnyuncho not only decreased constipation in rats, but its soluble fibre content also improved the rodents’ bowel movements, colon thickness and gut microbiota, a study revealed.
The biggest challenge facing the probiotics sector is to spread the word of the potential gains “second generation” products can bring to a broader spectrum of health issues than just gut health.
As Asia's population rapidly ages, opportunities abound for the cognitive health sector, but consumers need to be educated that supplements should be considered before old age.
A large number of Korean infants and young children still develop iron deficiency anaemia despite increased breastfeeding rates, improvements in public health and a rise in iron-fortified food, a recent study discovered.
Alternative sources of protein and a greater focus on ‘food before supplements’ is shaping the sports nutrition practices of Singapore’s elite athletes.
Resveratrol is a potential candidate to help prevent bone-related complications in children during and after chemotherapy, a study carried out by Australian and Chinese academics claims.
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.
While clinicians are increasingly aware of the evidence behind specific probiotic strains for a variety of conditions, restoring balance to a microbiome disrupted by diet, medications or illness often remains an area of confusion, writes Health World...
A new systematic review states there is no indication that vitamin A supplementation among babies at birth reduces mortality during the first six or 12 months of life.
Scientists in Singapore have managed to genetically alter some E. coli probiotic strains to sense and kill a harmful gut pathogen, which they say could be used to help protect against certain diseases.
Pharmacists in South East Asia need to play a pivotal role in guiding pregnant women to take the correct supplements and combat the widespread ‘misinformation’ that is available online.
There are more essential fatty acids in the lipids of two species of crickets and a grasshopper from Asia, compared with the yellow mealworm larvae, which is widely reared in Europe for human food.
New Zealand contract manufacturer Alaron has undertaken a multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project at its Nelson site, with the firm hopeful of growth for its customers in South East Asia after China sales began to go “off the boil” due to...
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.
Major brands and millers have agreed to fortify wheat flour with iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 under India’s drive to boost nutrition levels through a mass fortification programme.
Omega-3 fish oil supplier SeaDragon overcame a raft of challenges to open the world's newest refinery, with the firm now hopeful it can start recouping some of its NZ$11m investment.
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.
Co-administration probiotics can help offset some of the lasting behavioural effects of penicillin treatment in early life, a mouse model study has shown.
Weight gain in the years leading up to conception can triple the risk of gestational diabetes, with the odds also increased for mums-to-be who gain weight but still maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI).
The Kiwi natural products industry has been in fine form in recent years thanks to sustained exports growth – but according to speakers at the recent Natural Products New Zealand Summit, now is not the time for firms to rest on their laurels.
Studies comparing the differing anti-obesity effects of Asian and American ginseng are urgently needed, it has been claimed, not least because they are thought to have opposite medical effects in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Vitamin boss Marcus Blackmore has given $10m to the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NCIM) at Western Sydney University in a 'no strings' donation to undertake research into complementary medicine.
The CEO of Australia’s largest independent vitamin retailer has argued the industry is missing too many opportunities to maximise supplement sales and deliver high-quality customer service.
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.
A blueberry drink a day can help keep stress away, suggests a study which found blueberry’s antioxidant power improved the cognitive performance of adult rats exposed to stress.
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.
The New Zealand government is committed to helping natural products and supplements firms meet their export potential by removing barriers to innovation, according to the country’s environment minister.
Trade body Natural Products New Zealand is hoping new industry regulations – which it believes will help boost exports – can finally be passed before the nation’s elections in September.
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.
APAC’s food and nutrition entrepreneurs and new start-ups are driving innovation in the region, and we want to shine the spotlight on their achievements.
Natural products with functional claims such as honey continue to face a bright future as both a food and a therapeutic product, not least in China where demand is expected to soar.
Specialised diets designed to release large amounts of acetate or butyrate after bacterial fermentation in the colon protected against type 1 or juvenile diabetes in mice, said researchers from Monash University in Australia.
Diabetes, the double burden of malnutrition, personalised nutrition and sustainability: these are four of the most pressing APAC food and nutrition trends, according to industry experts speaking at our Food Vision Asia 2017 summit.
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’.
A randomised trial follow-up found little benefit of prenatal DHA supplementation on the IQ of children at age seven, academics in Australia have reported.