Botanicals & Herbals

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.

Regulatory review: Updates from China, New Zealand, India, Thailand

29-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China seeking new methods to test laxatives, beta-blockers in health foods, New Zealand industry body objecting government’s recommendations to schedule levomefolate, and India’s mandatory traceability policy on vegan products are some of the latest APAC...

NUTRACHAMPION PODCAST

CBD and cancer pain relief: India’s national research institute boss outlines study plans – LISTEN

27-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

India’s national research agency is hoping to study cannabidiol (CBD) and its effects on cancer pain relief, the director of the agency has revealed in our latest NutraChampion podcast.

Potential combo: Spirulina supplement with resistance training could prevent obesity, trigger weight loss in men

25-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Spirulina supplementation, combined with eight weeks of circuit resistance training, could lead to reduced weight among overweight and obese men.

Brand new: Amway’s traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing launch, Blackmores’ COVID-19 trial

22-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at the latest developments from big brand names, including Amway’s Nutrilite traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing product launch in Japan, and a clinical trial assessing Blackmores’ products in Singapore.

VitamINSIGHTS: Traceability and quality control – Exclusive in-depth analysis

Not just the data: Amway, BYHEALTH, Danone on bringing product traceability to life for consumers

20-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

How can traceability technologies safeguard product quality and safety, and to what extent are APAC consumers concerned about these developments? We take a deep dive with Amway, Danone, BYHEALTH and more to find out.

Aim for the skies: Malaysian nootropic beverage firm Eureka Drinks aims for 45% growth in 2023

20-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Malaysian nootropic firm Eureka Drinks is targeting a 45% growth next year based on a new strategic expansion, distribution and retail plan.

Thai cannabis teething troubles: Authorities vow tough approach to food products amid THC concerns

19-Jul-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Thai authorities have stressed that stringent control measures will be enforced as more food and beverage firm seeks to use cannabis-derived ingredients, amid claims that 30% of products contain higher than permitted tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels.

SEA focus: Blackmores and Singapore's COVID-19 study, Tipco on healthier beverages, Malaysia regulatory updates

15-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up on developments in Southeast Asia include Blackmore's largest ever single product donation for supporting a COVID-19 clinical research in Singapore, Tipco's assessment of the healthier beverages market, and Malaysian authority's...

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....

Curcumin-piperine co-supplementation could significantly reduce weakness in COVID-19 patients – RCT

06-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Curcumin-piperine co-supplementation could significantly reduce weakness in outpatients with COVID-19, but does not influence other factors such as biochemical and clinical indices.

Validating active ingredients: Malaysian regulator conducts public consultation on testing

04-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Malaysia’s regulator is conducting a public consultation on how manufacturers of traditional medicines and health supplements could validate the amount of active ingredients claimed on the product label.

Stem sells: Kale by-products could be turned into prebiotics by Singapore partnership

04-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Researchers from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and precision gut microbiome firm AMILI hope to turn unwanted kale stems into prebiotics products.

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.

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.

‘Beat the bottleneck’: China functional food specialist BuffX to launch TCM-concept breakfast

28-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

China functional food firm BuffX has outlined its strategy to outgrow the bottleneck seen in tier one and two cities – by launching powder-based ‘breakfasts’ in lower tier cities formulated using traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) concepts.

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.

Pro ambition: NZ’s GO Healthy launches premium supplement series to rival practitioner products

20-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Major New Zealand supplement brand GO Healthy has launched a premium supplement brand named the PRO Series, an over-the-counter (OTC) range that it hopes can rival practitioner-only products.

First for Thailand: Lifestar launches CBD krill oil supplement for knee pain

13-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Thai firm Lifestar has launched what is said to be the first cannabidiol (CBD) supplement approved for sale in the country, which also contains krill oil, vitamins and minerals, to improve knee pain.

Science shorts: NAD+, NMN, vitamin E in the spotlight

10-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up of new scientific findings will look at how low NAD+ level is associated with anaemia in women, Mitsubishi Life Sciences’ NMN clinical study findings, and the benefits of vitamin E for exercise recovery and PCOS.

Timing the challenge: Bod Australia to complete CBD trial by year end, launch in 2023

07-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Timing is the biggest challenge when it comes to navigating the nascent schedule 3 cannabidiol (CBD) supplement go-to-market system, says Bod Australia, which is aiming to be one of the first to launch such a product in Australia.

China focus: Lockdown’s impacts, Bifidobacterium strain approval, and Swisse’s offline growth

06-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Here is a round-up of new developments in China’s health and nutrition industry, including the lockdowns’ impacts on businesses, the approval of a Bifidobacterium strain for use in infant foods, and Swisse’s offline retail expansion.

Brand new: Amway Korea’s precision probiotics, Ora’s cellular health product, HMO formulas by Nestle

03-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up of brands related news, we will look at Amway Korea’s launch of its precision probiotics and microbiome testing service, Australia’s Ora innovating in the cellular health space using broccoli-sprout derived sulforaphane and more.

Indian nutra industry association’s chief outlines three-pronged approach for growth – Watch

01-Jun-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The chief of an Indian nutraceutical industry body has outlined three key initiatives that it is driving to elevate India’s competitiveness in the global stage.

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.

Smile for the extra mile: Smile Organics targets global expansion with coconut water sports nutrition gel

25-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Thai-based firm Smile Organics aims to conquer the US and the Middle East markets with its sports nutrition gel POWCO made of Thai-bred young coconut water.

Ayurveda regulations: India introduces new rules with sector braced for significant growth

25-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The Indian authorities have introduced new regulations on Ayurvedic products, including rules covering health claims and the addition of vitamins and minerals.

Fast and furious: Wellnex Life in race to be one of Australia’s early pharmacy OTC cannabidiol winners

24-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Wellnex Life is racing to become one of Australia’s first companies to get a schedule 3 cannabidiol approval for over-the-counter pharmacy sale.

Science shorts: Turmeric for weight loss, LGG for diarrhoea, and immune product innovation

20-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Here we reveal new scientific findings on how turmeric supplementation could improve metabolic parameters in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Indian experts’ recommendation of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) for treating diarrhoea in children,...

Golden Root extract supplementation might improve sporting, exercise performance – systematic review

18-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Supplementation with Rhodiola rosea (RR), also known as the Golden Root, might improve sport and exercise performance in active individuals, according to a new review.

A promising therapeutic: Turmeric displays potential to help control nonalcoholic fatty liver disease – RCT

17-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Turmeric has been found to improve blood pressure, weight and BMI among nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients effectively and improve sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) levels – a key metabolic regulator of glucose and lipid haemostasis.

Supply chains interrupted: Customs delays, shipping woes continue to plague APAC nutra and food businesses

16-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Food and nutrition-based businesses across APAC have reported continued logistics problems plaguing their supply chains due to rising costs and customs delays, some of which still stem from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic boost: Thailand eyes ASEAN leadership status for both organic food production and cannabis tech

11-May-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Thai government has set its sights on emerging as the South East Asian regional leader in the areas of both organic food production and cannabis technology development, amid hopes that these sectors will help deliver a boost to the local economy.

Not just vitamins: Immunity product innovation turns its attention to synergistic, novel ingredient combinations

11-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

While the COVID-19 pandemic brought a renewed interest to vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, D, and zinc for immune health, industry experts believe it has also led to novel combinations of ingredients that could work synergistically.

Ultra Beauty: Chemist Warehouse on a mission to expand beauty-from-within retail

11-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Chemist Warehouse says it is “on a mission for expansion” in Australia’s growing beauty-from-within retail sector.

China focus: Yili, BYHEALTH, Bayer reveals NPD pipeline and priorities

09-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will feature exclusive insights from big brand names Yili, BYHEALTH, and Bayer, on their new product development strategies across healthy ageing, men’s health, weight management, and infant health.

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

09-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

New developments from big brand names such as Swisse, Yili, and Bayer's Elevit were the most-read stories in April. Other popular stories included an exclusive interview with FSSAI's former director on the country's newly operationalised...

Supplements for supermarkets: Australia’s Renovatio develops Woolworths’ exclusive mental wellbeing supplement

05-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

New South Wales-based Renovatio Bioscience is expanding its supplement SKUs in supermarket chain Woolworths, with the company recently launching mental wellbeing and skin health supplements exclusively for the chain.

Not only for adults: SleepDrops on demand for babies', kids' sleep aid supplements in NZ, China

05-May-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Sleep aid supplements are gaining traction among parents seeking solutions to help their kids and babies sleep better, according to Auckland-based sleep supplement specialist SleepDrops.

SEA round-up: Singapore’s new foodtech facility, innovation in edible bird’s nest and jamu

29-Apr-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features new developments in the South East Asian region, including the launch of a new foodtech facility opened to local and foreign companies in Singapore, and how companies are putting a spin on the way edible bird’s nest and jamu herbal...

Global push: Thai firm Jamulogy hopping on functional beverage trend to expose Indonesian jamu worldwide

28-Apr-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A Thai-based firm is hoping to ride the global functional beverage wave to popularise the traditional South East Asian herbal formulation ‘jamu’.

‘Punches above its weight’: Swisse optimistic of Sri Lanka entry success despite turmoil

27-Apr-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse has recently entered the Sri Lankan market, highlighting that it is “a market that has always punched above its weight”, despite the country facing one of its worst economic and political crises.

Trend tracker: Market insights from BYHEALTH, Kirin, H&H and more

26-Apr-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Here we feature the latest exclusive trends insights from major dietary supplement firms, including BYHEALTH’s observations in China, immunity developments in Japan from Kirin, plus key NPD areas from Swisse’s parent company H&H.

Nutrition Asia Video Series

Plant-based innovation: How supplement brands are rivalling the food sector for new product development

25-Apr-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Plant-based alternative is not only booming in the food and beverage industry, with APAC dietary supplement companies seeing vast opportunities across the omega-3, and vitamins and minerals categories, as consumer demand soars.