Probiotics, Prebiotics & Postbiotics

Long-Covid / child vaccine benefits: Synbiotic formula offers hope of microbiome-targeted therapies – two studies

15-Jan-2024 By Hazel Tang

A synbiotic formula (SIM01) developed by Hong Kong firm GenieBiome in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been shown to alleviate multiple symptoms of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), while also benefiting children after their...

Science shorts: Benefits of synbiotics, plant-based diets and kale for obesity, GDM, and constipation

05-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research, including the role of L-carnitine and synbiotic supplementation in improving lipid and glycaemic indices in obese women, how early-life exposure to the Great Chinese Famine is linked to...

L-carnitine and synbiotic co-supplementation could help combat obesity in women

04-Jan-2024 By Cheryl Marie Tay

Supplementation that combines L-carnitine and synbiotics could result in synergistic anti-obesity effects in women, according to researchers.

Kirin and Kao launch dual-function supplement for immune support and visceral fat reduction on the back of joint research

18-Dec-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Kirin Holdings and Kao Corporation have collaborated to introduce a dual-function supplement targeting immunity and visceral fat, said to be two increasingly top-of-mind concerns faced by the Japanese population.

Probiotic supplementation could lower inflammatory markers and improve liver function in cirrhosis patients

18-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

Modulation of the gut microbiome via probiotics could enhance the clinical outcomes of cirrhosis patients by reducing inflammatory factors, according to a new meta-analysis.

Supplements and PCOS: Eight products show promise, but clinical effects remain inconclusive – new review

14-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

Eight nutritional supplements show promise in enhancing endocrine function and glucolipid metabolism in Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, but large-scale clinical trials are necessary to validate their effects, according to Chinese researchers.

Vitafoods Asia 2023

Sports and gut health: Fermented whey protein, synbiotic blend could help tackle widespread problems

13-Dec-2023 By Tingmin Koe

There is a widespread, unmet demand for products to support gut health among athletes and active lifestyle consumers, with almost nine out of 10 sports people suffering from gut problems.

VitamINSIGHTS

New Zealand’s natural health products sector brimming with science and research, but huge regulatory blow dampens mood

13-Dec-2023 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand’s natural health products and functional foods sectors are brimming with science and research, however, yet another recent regulatory blow has again left the industry deeply frustrated.

Postbiotics supplementation improves exercise performance even at lower dose - six-week RCT

13-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

Supplementation of the postbiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 (TWK10) has shown to reduce physical fatigue and improve exercise endurance even at a low dose, according to a six-week trial conducted by Synbio Tech, National University of Taiwan...

Self-care solutions: Haleon to focus on personalised healthy ageing and gut microbiome products

28-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Haleon is aiming to develop personalised self-care solutions, including health supplements and digital wearables, for supporting areas such as healthy ageing, cognitive health, women’s health, gut microbiome, and general wellbeing.

Kickstarting kale: Chinese trend for ‘punk nutrition’ lifestyle opens major functional food innovation opportunities

28-Nov-2023 By Pearly Neo

Chinese consumers’ increasing demands for functional and fortified foods and beverages to support a lifestyle based on ‘punk nutrition’ has opened up massive innovation opportunities for brands across various product categories.

China’s health food imports: Indonesia in the top five exporters as edible bird’s nest popularity spikes

27-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Indonesia was one of top five health food exporters of health foods to China last year, and has continued to surpass even Japan, with edible bird’s nest making up the bulk of the South East Asian country’s export.

Brand new: MuscleBlaze, Nestle, Dr. Reddy's in the spotlight

24-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including how India's MuscleBlaze has managed to increase its market share in the local protein powder market by 10 per cent through the launch of a protein test-kit,...

Nutrition Asia Video Series

From mass customisation to individualisation: How automation, supply chain management, 3D printing can drive personalised nutrition forward

22-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Personalised nutrition could progress from mass customisation to full personalisation as companies leverage on factory automation, supply chain management, and 3D printing to increase the efficiency of providing customised products.

‘Make immune care a habit’: Kirin’s LC-Plasma sales held up in spring and summer, gears up for winter launches

20-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Kirin says that revenue from LC-Plasma, its flagship immune health ingredient, has grown significantly even during spring and summer this year, although these are seasons when consumers tend to take fewer precautions against infectious diseases.

Science shorts: The gut microbiome and its links with brain, cardiometabolic health and more

17-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research, including the role of the gut microbiome and its links with brain and cardiometabolic health, how glycine supplementation before bedtime has shown to improve sleep quality, and how vitamin...

Beauty-from-within Interactive Broadcast

Beauty-from-within space sees higher demand for multi-benefit products spanning gut and mental support – expert panel

15-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Asia-Pacific’s beauty-from-within category is seeing rising demand for products that address not only beauty concerns, but also those that provide multiple benefits spanning gut health and mental support, says a panel involving experts from Haleon, Blackmores,...

Versatility and stability: How Kirin’s Kyowa Hakko has ridden immunity wave post pandemic – WATCH

14-Nov-2023 By Pearly Neo

Kirin Holdings’ health science-focused arm Kyowa Hakko says the versatility and stability of its postbiotic ingredient has enabled it to continue to enjoy commercial success beyond the surge of COVID-19.

Regulatory review: Updates from FSSAI, Malaysia's NPRA, and HMOs approval in China

10-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we take a closer look at India's nutraceutical regulatory approach through an interview with a former director from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Malaysia's advisory on oral aloe...

Gut-brain axis: probiotic strain may improve sleep quality, study finds

07-Nov-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new study notes that intakes of a Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 probiotic significantly increased scores of sleep quality in a cohort suffering from insomnia, when compared to a control group.

IPA chief on broader scope: ‘We want to bring clarity to a complex world’

06-Nov-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The IPA’s decision to expand beyond probiotics and cover prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics, but despite the broader scope and a new logo, the association will not be changing its name.

“All-round nutrition”: Nestle launching new infant formula in Hong Kong for gut, bone, cognitive health

06-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Nestle is debuting a new infant formula containing a proprietary blend in Hong Kong in November 2023. The blend is said to be an “all-round” nutrition for supporting multiple growth areas, including digestive, bone, and cognitive health.

Multi-strain probiotic enhances glycaemic control and weight management, research asserts

03-Nov-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Administration of a multi-strain probiotic supplement offers promise for enhancing glycaemic control and overall health in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, new research asserts.

Trend tracker: Singapore nutra market, fish oil in China, beauty-from-within in the spotlight

03-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Here is the round-up of the latest nutraceutical trends in Asia-Pacific, featuring the top health and wellness concerns in Singapore and consumer behaviour, how the demand for high purity fish oil in China is set to grow, and emerging beauty-from-within...

Tick tock: Meal timing and chronobiotics supplementation could play crucial role in combatting obesity and cardiometabolic diseases

01-Nov-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Supplementation of certain dietary compounds, such as chronobiotics, polyphenols and prebiotics, to directly modulate and improve circadian rhythmicity could be a key strategy in combatting obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, according to a Singapore-based...

VitamINSIGHTS

No compromise: Singapore nutra market leans towards premium, science-backed products – exclusive insights from Swisse, QN Wellness

01-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Singapore’s nutraceutical market is showing a preference for premium, science-backed products, with consumers refusing to compromise on quality and efficacy, even under the pressure of inflation.

Demand driver: Satisfying Gen Y’s appetite for premium sports and active nutrition products key to sector growth – Growth Asia Summit

31-Oct-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Asian millennial consumers’ demand for novel and higher-value sports and active nutrition products could play instrumental role in accelerating growth of the sector, insights from GlobalData reveal.

Probiotic BG01-4 relieves constipation and discomfort in GI disorders

30-Oct-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Probiotic BG01-4 improves specific symptoms of constipation and related GI dysfunction in people with self-reported functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), which affects a significant percentage of the global population, a new study concludes.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023

Not just for the elderly: Cognitive support probiotic strain sold as food for general population in Japan – WATCH

30-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

While supplements for cognitive support are commonly designed for the middle-aged and older adults, Japan is seeing companies selling such products in the form of functional foods for the general population.

Brand new: Swisse, Bayer, Heliocare in the spotlight

27-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including Swisse’s launching its first ‘assessed listed’ complementary medicine in Australia next year, Bayer Consumer Health Division’s approach to infant nutrition innovation,...

Nutrachampion podcast

‘Very much conservative’: How India’s regulatory approach can pose innovation problems – Ex-FSSAI director

25-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

India is still taking a “very conservative” approach in its regulations of nutraceuticals since it introduced the first set of policies seven years ago, which can pose problems for brands and suppliers seeking to introduce innovative new products.

Holistic approach: New Singapore e-pharmacy aims to break the mould with strong supplement focus

24-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

A newly launched e-pharmacy, Glovida-Rx, is on a mission to provide holistic healthcare in Singapore, with pharmacists advising consumers on the use of both health supplements and pharmacy medications.

Growth Asia Summit 2023

Healthy ageing in Asia: Metabolic health, cognition, mobility rank top for consumer need – expert panel

23-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Nutrition products designed for healthy ageing in Asia-Pacific would need to address the most pressing concerns surrounding metabolic health, cognition, and mobility, said an expert panel staged during our recent Growth Asia Summit.

Improving outcomes: Vitamin, probiotic supplementation pre-conception has major potential to boost long-term infant health

17-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Nutritional supplementation taken at the stage of pre-conception by a mother has major potential to improve the long-term health of children, according to results from cross-country research.

Synbiotic supplementation combined with increased dietary fibre intake could amplify weight loss effects – Hong Kong RCT

16-Oct-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

A high-fibre diet combined with synbiotic supplementation is effective in tackling obesity and reducing risk of metabolic syndrome, say Hong Kong researchers.

Is personalised nutrition truly the future? Suntory on the challenging journey to ‘full personalisation’

16-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Global megabrand Suntory has highlighted consumer confusion and production time as some of the key challenges standing in the way of achieving ‘full personalisation’ in the nutrition and food manufacturing spaces.

Infant nutrition innovation: Focus on giving the best benefits, not just innovating with new ingredients – Bayer Consumer Health R&D chief

12-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

It is more important to focus on providing the best benefits, and not fall into the trap of innovating with new ingredients for the novelty factor, when developing new nutrition products for infants, says the global R&D head for VMS / Nutrition Health...

Growth Asia Summit 2023

‘It’s not too late’: Singapore Chinese Health Study lead investigator reveals protective impacts of diet on cognition

11-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Data from the large-scale Singapore Chinese Health Study has shown that all consumers can reduce their risk of later cognitive impairment by switching to a healthier diet at any age, as revealed by the study’s principal investigator at the recent Growth...

Nutrition Asia Video Series / Vitafoods Asia 2023

Asia’s huge women’s health opportunity: Think holistic and cover all life stages to secure market gains - WATCH

11-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The health and nutrition industry has a vast opportunity to meet women’s health needs beyond fertility and menopausal concerns, with experts believing there is still a huge gap in the range of products targeted at women’s wellbeing holistically.

Vitafoods Asia 2023

Top of the pops: Guangdong firm makes vitamin C, probiotics in popping candy

10-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

A Guangdong-based company which traditionally manufactures popping candy as general food is now using the technique to make candy containing vitamin C and probiotics, specifically Bifidobacterium.

Hydration and hemp: Kommunity Brew sees innovation potential in Australia’s healthy beverage space

05-Oct-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Australia’s Kommunity Brew believes that hemp has the potential to feature more widely in its NPD and innovation strategies, amidst the addition of more local acquisitions to its healthier beverage portfolio.

Omega-3 opportunity: Australia’s BiomeMega taps on fermentation and AI to create probiotic-derived Omega-3

05-Oct-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Australia’s BiomeMega says its probiotic-derived Omega-3 comes with additional functional benefits, higher bioavailability, and can be produced at a large scale via precision fermentation.

Women’s woes: Targeted supplementation for different life stages crucial to tackle unmet needs – Growth Asia Summit

04-Oct-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

The unique health and nutritional needs of women throughout their life span, which remain a significant gap to fill, could be addressed with science-backed ingredients and targeted supplementation.

NZ’s Gutsi launches gut supplement protocol targeting the ‘empowered and informed consumer’

04-Oct-2023 By Si Ying Thian

New Zealand probiotic firm Gutsi has launched a 60-day Gut Reset Kit, hoping to make practitioner-grade supplements more accessible to consumers.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in September 2023

03-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

From the announcement to the list of NutraIngredients-Asia 2023 winners to China's new function claims system and South Korea's health functional food import trends, here are the most-read stories in September 2023.

Vitafoods Asia 2023

Postbiotic approval: Kirin subsidiary’s ingredient approved for use in foods, supplements in India

03-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Kyowa Hakko Bio, a subsidiary firm of Kirin, says its postbiotics is now approved for use in general foods and health supplements in India.

The best of both worlds: Eu Yan Sang on complementing TCM with health supplements and Western medicines

02-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) company Eu Yan Sang has introduced health supplements from the US to its offerings, as well as Western medical practices in its newly-launched One Wellness Medical clinics, as part of its efforts in "demystifying"...

‘Revive with exports’: Japanese associations gearing up for functional foods export opportunities

02-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Several Japan health foods associations are gearing up for export opportunities for Foods with Function Claims (FFC), such as providing export consultation services and establishing networks with regional dietary supplement associations.

Regulatory review: A closer look into Japan's FFC, South Korea's GM foods, and China's new function claims system

29-Sep-2023 By Tingmin Koe

In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we take a closer look at Japan’s Foods with Function Claims framework, South Korea’s new public consultation on genetically modified soybean, China’s new function claims system and more.

And the winners are…Check out who took the top prizes at the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023

26-Sep-2023 By Gary Scattergood

We have announced the winners of the 2023 NutraIngredients-Asia Awards, held to recognise the brightest and best products, ingredients and initiatives across the nutrition industry.