Antioxidants/carotenoids

China focus: Our 10 most-read China stories of 2022 revealed

12-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group)’s new product development priorities, Nestle launching infant formulas containing a novel nutrient blend and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), and Danone’s healthy ageing products are some of the most popular...

Research for mental health: Huge scope for new studies on synergistic impact of ingredients

06-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

There is huge scope for more research on how a broad range of ingredients can work synergistically to improve a raft of mental health conditions.

Devil will be in the detail: New Zealand a step closer to natural health products regulatory revamp

06-Dec-2022 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand is now a step closer to a new regulatory environment governing natural health products, now that the authorities have introduced the long-awaited Therapeutic Products Bill in parliament.

Healthy longevity: Accessible diagnostics and integrated data tools two key challenges – China-based expert

30-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

More accessible diagnostics and tools that integrate data from the various body clocks are two key challenges that experts seeking to optimise health span, as well as life span, need to overcome, says a China-based pioneer in the field.

Active approach: Swisse debuts three-stage sports nutrition for everyday consumers

28-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse has launched its first set of sports nutrition products designed for the general public’s active lifestyle needs – a move that it sees as expanding the category largely catered to elite athletes.

Paw-some: Swisse and pet nutrition brands Solid Gold, Zesty Paws driving growth at H&H Group

21-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) says supplement brand Swisse and pet nutrition brands Solid Gold, Zesty Paws were the key contributors of its revenue growth in the first nine months of this year.

Brand new: Singapore postbiotic innovation, Australian coffee launch and Korea sachet expansion revealed

18-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at how brands from Singapore and Australia have formulated postbiotic supplements and coffee, as well as how a South Korean vitamin sachet brand is planning to expand its presence in South East Asia.

Screen shot: Astaxanthin reduces work-induced visual stress in people aged over 40 – BGG trial

16-Nov-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Astaxanthin supplementation has been found to reduce visual display terminal (VDT) work-induced visual stress in people aged over 40, according to a new Japan trial sponsored by supplier BGG Japan.

Hearty fruit: Fresh tomato concentrate could prevent early onset of atherosclerotic CVD in older adults – Chinese RCT

14-Nov-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Water-soluble tomato concentrate made from fresh tomatoes could potentially play a role in the early prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and elderly adults, according to the recent findings of a Chinese RCT.

Demand for kid’s eye health nutrition has surpassed that of bone health in China – Nature’s Way

08-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Demand for eye health products for Chinese kids has surpassed the previous powerhouses of bone health and DHA in the past year, according to Australian supplement brand Nature’s Way.

Science shorts: Latest research news in vitamin D, probiotics, and longevity studies

04-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest research news in the study of vitamin D, probiotics, and healthy ageing.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in October

02-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The most-read stories last month include proposed changes to the scheduling of melatonin and green tea extract in Australia, Nestle's novel infant formula launch in China, and product trends in anti-hyperpigmentation across Asia.

Growth Asia Summit 2022

Longevity research funding boom: Prominent researcher on why healthspan should be the focus

26-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Prolonging health span – the number of years when one spent healthily – is the direction to work towards to when it comes to longevity research, a world-leading academic told our Growth Asia Summit.

Brand new: Latest news from Nestle, Danone, award-winning probiotic and start-up firms

21-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features the latest news, including new product launches and development strategies from industry big names Nestle, Danone, as well as award-winning probiotics and start-up companies.

Curcuma longa reduces fasting blood glucose in people with chronic low-grade inflammation – House Wellness research

05-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of a hot water extract of Curcuma longa L. has been shown to reduce fasting blood glucose in individuals with chronic low-grade inflammation, according to an analysis of two clinical trials by House Wellness.

‘Double approach’: Skin care brands launching oral supplements for anti-hyperpigmentation as awareness grows

04-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Skin care firms are increasingly launching supplements that claim to reduce skin hyperpigmentation, giving consumers an alternative to traditional topical creams.

NutraChampion podcast episode 34

Innovation opportunity: Newly crowned NutraChampion sees huge scope to cater to Thailand’s ageing population

03-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Like several Asian countries, Thailand is experiencing a greying population. While interest in healthy ageing is high, the level of innovation for this category of products remains relatively low.

Fonterra enters cognitive performance supplement market with new brand – WATCH

28-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra is diversifying its business with the launch of BioKodeLab – a supplement brand aimed at improving cognitive performance.

Grave concern: Severe malnutrition rising in Afghan kids and mums – Kabul researchers

22-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Afghanistan continues to battle extreme stunting and maternal malnutrition, with a combination of economic, political and social factors creating a perfect storm that shows no signs of abating.

Insights for brands: Watsons China establishes new centre to gather consumer data

21-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Retailer Watsons China has established a brand centre which uses multiple offline plus online (O+O) touchpoints, such as its store outlets and Enterprise Wechat, to gather consumer insights for partnering health and nutrition brands.

Growing gains: Four key categories for growth highlighted by thriving Australian supplements sector

20-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Australian trade body Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) has identified four health areas, namely immunity, natural beauty, healthy ageing, and pet health as categories for growth opportunities.

Brand new: Garden of Life’s new probiotics, Greek firm launches functional foods in Singapore and more

16-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features the latest developments from nutrition brands, including Nestle’s Garden of Life formulating new probiotics for kids in China, Greek-firm launches new functional foods in Singapore and more.

Goodness from Greece: New olive oil, pomegranate-based functional food enters Singapore

15-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Six new functional food products made using Greek-grown olive oil and pomegranate were introduced into Singapore recently.

COVID-19 concern: Academic unease at almost one in 10 Japanese taking supplements as preventive measure

14-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A Japanese government-backed study has questioned the use of dietary supplements as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

Tapping potential: Indian nutra firm Diabliss to develop 10 new herbal water products

13-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Chennai-based nutraceutical and food firm Diabliss Consumer Products is developing another 10 herbal water supplements – on top of its five existing products – to tap the lucrative potential of the general wellness market in the country.

Winners revealed: Find out who took the top prizes at this year’s NutraIngredients Asia Awards!

06-Sep-2022 By Gary Scattergood

We have announced the winners of the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards for 2022.

More choices: Aussie plant-based formula brand Sprout Organic on packaging and NPD innovation – CEO interview

01-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Australia’s plant-based infant formula brand Sprout Organic aims to introduce new packaging sizes and widen its offerings in the infant formula and supplementary food categories for young children, according to its founder and CEO Selasi Berdie.

Acquisition boost: McPherson’s reports strong growth for former Blackmores brand Fusion

29-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

ASX-listed Australian firm McPherson’s has reported almost 90 per cent annual growth in its health business in FY22, with the herbals brand Fusion – previously owned by Blackmores’ Global Therapeutics – performing particularly well.

Potential COVID-19 adjuvant: Vitamin C, D supplementation could support COVID-19 treatment – Review

24-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The consumption of vitamin C and D supplements, in addition to a healthy diet, could be promoted as a co-adjuvant therapy for COVID-19, according to a team of international researchers.

Inventory, packaging innovation and NPD: Blackmores CEO sets out stall for next financial year – Exclusive

23-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Blackmores will beef up its local inventory for the 13 markets that it currently operates in, design new pack sizes for markets such as Thailand, and target eye health growth in China over the next year, the company’s CEO told NutraIngredients-Asia.

New data: South Korea’s health functional food production value up nearly 20% last year

17-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Health Functional Food (HFF) production value was up nearly 20 per cent in year 2021, latest data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) showed.

NutraChampion podcast

Local food sources for sports nutrition: Rice biopeptides and palm oil among prospects – Malaysian expert

16-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Sports nutrition research coming out of Malaysia could explore local foods sources, such as palm oil, goat’s milk, and black pepper, said the vice-president of Nutrition Society of Malaysia, who has previously studied biopeptides extracted from locally...

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in July

03-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

hy Co.'s (formerly Korea Yakult) clinical trial on how the supplementation of two Lactobacillus strains could alleviate obesity, Nestle Health Science's acquisition of GO Healthy, and the list of NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2022 finalists are...

Reduce ‘hangxiety’: Anti-hangover brand Bounceback targets 700% growth and US entry

03-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Singapore anti-hangover remedy brand Bounceback aims to attain 700% growth and entry to the West by 2023 after hitting a “sizeable seven-digit annual revenue”, said its Co-Founder and CEO Roy Ang.

Swisse eyes exclusive therapeutic knee health claims for krill oil product following positive RCT findings

02-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse will be applying for new therapeutic claims related to knee health under the nascent ‘assessed listed’ medicines scheme in Australia for its krill oil supplement, following positive human clinical trial findings.

Health-conscious: 34.4% Japanese female nurses consume supplements – new data

01-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A total of 34.4% of Japanese female nursing professionals regularly consume supplements, especially those who are older, non-obese or pregnant, new data has shown.

China health foods registration: Strengthening immunity, reducing blood lipids, and antioxidising took top spots

20-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Health foods that claimed to strengthen the immunity, reduce blood lipids, and act as an antioxidant were the top three categories that were successfully granted the ‘blue-hat’ status in China during the first six months of this year.

Regulators failing to match consumer demand for natural products supporting mental well-being – Watch

12-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Our first Mind and Mood Interactive Broadcast has heard that regulators are failing to match consumer demand for natural products to aid mental well-being spanning cognition, sleep, stress and anxiety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Novel entry: Singapore white honey brand Al Honey targets South East Asia, Australia after Saudi backing

11-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Singapore brand Al Honey is planning its expansion in South East Asia and Australia over the next two years with its novel white honey product.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in June

07-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Amway Korea's launch of a precision probiotics service, Singapore firm Regenosis's ambitious growth plans for its supplements that claim to slow down the ageing process, and updates on the US formula crisis were the most-read stories last month....

Trend tracker: Japan’s FFC market analysis, demand for vegan-friendly omega-3, Growth Asia Summit

01-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Trends in Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC), the demand for vegan-friendly omega-3 based on insights from Thai Union, and an upcoming business summit in Singapore for the health and nutrition industry are featured in this round-up.

PEA shown to inhibit COVID-19 by dual mechanisms, trial results to be out in Q3 – Gencor

29-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has shown to inhibit the COVID-19 virus in both in-silico and in-vitro settings, and positive findings from a clinical trial are expected to be published in Q3, says functional ingredient firm Gencor.

Not cherry picking: NZ hopes cherry functional health benefits can help boost exports

29-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

New Zealand is pumping in cash to boost its cherry-growing industry by funding research to assess the nutritional value of the stone fruit that has been purported to reduce inflammation, regulate blood pressure and improve sleep among many.

Japan’s functional foods dilemma: Just over one-third of approved FFC products successfully launched in FY21

28-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Only about one-third of approved Foods with Function Claims (FFC) made it on to the market in FY2021, with more than 60 per cent pending launch, exclusive new data has shown.

Opportunities abound: Asians more open to natural products but seek science-based ingredients – Pharmactive MD

27-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Asia is more open than any other market to trying natural products due to its long history of traditional remedies, but scientifically-backed and clinically trialled ingredients are now fast becoming a key consumer demand.

Nutrachampion podcast

Three is the magic number: Australia’s CSIRO principal scientist reveals how to deliver high-quality nutra trials– LISTEN

22-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

With consumers increasingly demanding scientifically-validated nutra products and ingredients, one of the key scientists in Australia’s national research agency has revealed the three factors that are crucial for a high-quality trial.

'Supercharging vitamin C absorption': Pathway International seals deal to distribute One Innovation Labs' ingredients in ANZ

08-Jun-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Distributor Pathway International and One Innovation Labs are partnering to supply the latter's Pureway-C and Liposomal Pureway-C vitamin C ingredients to brands and formulators in Australia and New Zealand.

VitamINSIGHTS – Delivery system innovation

‘Now is the time’: Moderna co-founder and nutra experts on why delivery system innovation is key for industry growth

31-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Breakthrough in delivery system technologies is crucial to drive innovation in the traditional vitamin and minerals category, as well as the booming probiotics, functional food and beverage sectors.

Broccoli sprout for cellular health: Australia’s Ora expands practitioner-grade product range

31-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The cellular health supplement category has soared due to nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR) products, and now Australia’s practitioner-grade supplement brand Ora is entering the category with sulforaphane from broccoli sprout...

Trend tracker: Australia’s OTC cannabidiol, innovation in iron, beauty, sports nutrition

27-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Innovations in iron, beauty, sports nutrition, Australian firms competing to launch the country’s first over the counter cannabidiol (CBD) oral products, as well as infant formula firms’ responses to US shortage are the key trends covered in this round-up.