Vitamins & premixes

Australian study affirms vitamin D’s ability to lower type 2 diabetes risk

17-Aug-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Vitamin D could be useful in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes, an Australian population-based study has found.

Indian authorities thwart vitamin C-smuggling syndicate

15-Aug-2017 By Cheryl Tay

A recent anti-smuggling operation by Indian customs officials and the country’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seen a total 122.5 metric tonnes of ascorbic acid (or vitamin C) seized by authorities.

No link between vitamin and antioxidant intake and asthma status: Japan RCT

11-Aug-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Researchers in Japan have reported that they did not find a link between antioxidant vitamin levels and reduced oxidative stress in a small study of asthma patients conducted by a team at Tottori University.

Exporting supplements: Harder than shucking oysters

09-Aug-2017 By Steve Mister and Jim Griffiths, PhD, the Council for Responsible Nutrition

If the world is our oyster, why does the government make it so hard to sell vitamins? 

Seven biggest threats for supplement firms planning to launch exports to China

09-Aug-2017 By Gary Scattergood

From trademark squatters to distributor disputes, there are a number of key threats that new entrants to China’s rocketing supplements market need to be aware of, according to a new report.

Pre-eclampsia and supplementation: Insufficient evidence that vitamin D reduces risk

01-Aug-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Vitamin D supplementation does not independently reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, despite low levels of the vitamin being linked to a greater likelihood of the condition.

Bone metabolism in women of reproductive age affected by vitamin D deficiency

26-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Vitamin D deficiency interferes with the bone metabolism of healthy women of childbearing age in Beijing, according to a study by Capital Medical University.

Higher dietary vitamin E intake can reduce lung cancer risk: Chinese meta-analysis

12-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Increased dietary vitamin E intake could help to lower the risk of lung cancer, according to a Chinese meta-analysis, but the association appears more significant for Americans and Europeans than for Asians.

Vitamin B1 deficiency linked to infertility and miscarriage: Japanese study

12-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Vitamin B1 deficiency could be a factor in infertility and miscarriage by contributing to low-quality oocytes, a study from Japan has found.

Vitamin D supplementation 'essential' for Chinese osteoporosis patients in South East Asia: Study

11-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

One in four Chinese women with post-menopausal osteoporosis (PMO) living in the tropics are vitamin D-deficient, a Malaysian study has reported.

Eye health and vitamins: Supplement intake ‘can increase degeneration’, review reveals

10-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Scientists have cautioned that antioxidant consumption in supplement form is not as effective as a nutrient-rich diet to improve eye diseases, with some evidence suggesting they can actually worsen existing conditions.

Higher GST for supplements in India will 'hit consumer health and market expansion'

05-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Officials behind India's new goods and services tax (GST) have been accused of a major oversight for failing to set a dedicated rate for supplements, which means they are now subject to more tax than the industry had anticipated.

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy does not affect babies’ cognitive function: Indian study

03-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

No correlation has been found between expectant mothers’ vitamin D status during pregnancy and their babies’ cognitive function in childhood and adolescence, according to an Indian study.

Folate-based food additive officially approved by South Korean food and drug ministry

29-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Quatrefolic, the metabolically active form of folate, has been granted approval as a certified food additive by the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

Barentz International and Indian pharma firm unite to drive South Asia fortification opportunities

28-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Ingredient firm Barentz International is seeking to increase its nutrition and fortification opportunities in India by linking up with Noida-based pharma company Jubilant Life Sciences.

Lycored sells China and UK premix operations to Prinova

27-Jun-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Carotenoid supplier Lycored has sold its premix operations in China and the UK to US firm Prinova Solutions.

Blackmores CEO Christine Holgate quits to run Australia Post

27-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Blackmores CEO and MD Christine Holgate is leaving the supplements giant after nine years at the helm to take the top job at state-owned Australia Post.

MNCs' biggest nightmare in China? It’s still the professional shopper...here are 10 'coping strategies'

22-Jun-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Professional consumers are continuing to plague international firms in China by lodging complaints over minor regulatory breaches in the hope of being awarded compensation.

Chinese officials considering establishing a bureau for e-commerce as online business increases

22-Jun-2017 By Gary Scattergood

China could set up a dedicated bureau for e-commerce as online sales continue to rise and on the back of widespread regulatory uncertainty that has affected many international supplement firms using cross-border channels.

China’s medical nutrition mistakes: ‘You can’t starve a tumour to death’

22-Jun-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Medical nutrition is not taken seriously enough in China, with a lack of patient, regulatory, and in some cases, physician knowledge contributing to the poor nutrient intake among cancer patients.

Blackmores Asia MD appointed first international member of China Association for Quality Inspection

21-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Blackmores’ standing in China has received a boost after its Asia MD, Peter Osborne, was appointed vice chairman of the China Association for Quality Inspection’s (CAQI) advisory committee.

Nutraceuticals in India could soon become more expensive under GST drive

20-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Food supplements and nutraceuticals in India could become significantly more costly after 1 July because they face being subjected to a 28% general sales tax (GST) rate.

Supplements in Singapore: What’s hot and what’s not as sales rise in the City State

20-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Supplements sales in Singapore rose 4% to $574m by the end of last year, amid growing health concerns and increasing consumer spending.

Supplements' 'smart role' underlined as report reveals sorry state of Australia's preventive health spending

15-Jun-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Trade body Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) has backed a new report into preventive health, which details how the country is lagging behind fellow OECD nations Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Nutritional ingredients firm Barentz International expands in Vietnam amid rising APAC sales

15-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Dutch ingredients firm Barentz International recently has opened its first office in Vietnam, on the back of 15% annual Asia Pacific growth.

Higher vitamin D levels linked to reduced cases of metabolic syndrome: Japan study

15-Jun-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Higher vitamin D levels are associated with a lower likelihood of having metabolic syndrome among Japanese working adults, especially among older individuals or those with high calcium intake. 

Vitafoods Asia 2017 to feature more 'retail ready' products in Singapore

13-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

More details have been announced about the first ever Vitafoods Asia event to be held in Singapore this September, which will feature more than 200 exhibitors.

GALLERY: The top 10 most-read nutrition and health stories from APAC in May

09-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Here's a recap of our top 10 most read nutrition stories from May, featuring the latest on vitamin D, infant nutrition, natural health supplements and more.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to respiratory infections in Indian children, new data reveals

08-Jun-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections among Indian children aged six to 30 months, a new trial has found.

Blackmores Australia boss: Educating consumers and commercial partners critical to boosting domestic fortunes

02-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

A commitment to consumer-focused research, educating partners in the sales chain, and investing in naturopaths appears to have helped cement Blackmores’ domestic standing despite a much-publicised slowdown in sales.

Dynamic duo of vitamin E and omega-3 reduces cardiovascular injury caused by pollution

31-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Supplementation with vitamin E and omega-3 proved to provide a potent combination against air pollution-induced cardiovascular injuries in rats.

Vitamin C oversupply could end soon

26-May-2017 By David Anderson

A global oversupply of vitamin C may have ended, as China continues an environmental crackdown on heavily polluting factories, says DSM.

Possible link between vitamin D deficiency and diabetic retinopathy: Meta-analysis

24-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

There is a statistically significant link between diabetic retinopathy and vitamin D deficiency, according to a new review.

Australian probiotics outfit Evolution Health experiencing Chinese boom

19-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Steady demand for Australian health products has prompted Melbourne-based probiotics specialist Evolution Health to invest heavily in China, with the firm now eyeing greater global expansion.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to higher risk of asthma in children: Korean study

18-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Children with asthma were found to have insufficient levels of vitamin D, according to a recent South Korean study, which also suggested this could be a contributing risk factor to developing the condition in the first place.

Supplement brands clamour to meet demand for health and convenience in Australia, NZ with NPD boom

17-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Innovation is booming in Australia and New Zealand’s vitamins and dietary supplements sector with companies rolling out scores of new products over the past five years, according to new research.

Probiotic proliferation: Australian and New Zealand consumers increasingly open to new health benefits

16-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Australian and New Zealand probiotic product launches have rocketed by 200% in the past three years, with immunity claims becoming widely accepted by consumers alongside traditional gut health benefits.

Vegetable consumption key to preventing metabolic syndrome in women

15-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Increased vegetable consumption could help prevent metabolic syndrome, especially in postmenopausal women, a new analysis of South Korean data has found.

Hong Kong billionaire to pour $25 million into ChromaDex

27-Apr-2017 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex, an ingredient development and analytical testing firm, has announced a large investment by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing.

Vitamin D blunts negative impact of statins in diabetes patients post-exercise: RCT

26-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Vitamin D supplementation for patients with type 2 diabetes improves cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle mitochondria among those who are taking statins, a new RCT reveals

Home-based treatment with local therapeutic food helps tackle child malnutrition in India: Trial

24-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Locally prepared ready-to-use therapeutic food is the best option for tackling severe acute malnutrition among Indian children, a trial has found.

Frailty and low income causing poor nutrition among Japanese elderly

20-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

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.

NUTRITION ASIA VIDEO SERIES

VIDEO: Cognitive health - the challenge to educate consumers as Asia's population rapidly ages

18-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

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.

Children have ‘non-negotiable’ right to good nutrition amid dismal Indian health survey findings

17-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

Ninety percent of Indian children are not getting the proper nutrients crucial for their development, a new survey has found.

Why fortification should be seen as a business case, not a nutritional handout

17-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

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.

Fruit consumption linked to lower risk of diabetes, study of 500,000 Chinese people reports

12-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Greater consumption of fresh fruit is associated with a lower incidence of diabetes, as well as reduced complications in people who already have the condition, a large-scale observational study of Chinese people has found.

Pregnancy and supplements: What every pharmacist and consumer needs to know – Blackmores Institute

12-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

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.

Kiwi contract manufacturer completes multi-million-dollar renovation as ‘brand New Zealand’ maintains marketing popularity

11-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

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...

Four crucial consumer factors driving South East Asia's supplements boom

11-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

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.

Cargill, General Mills and Unilever agree to fortify flagship wheat flour brands with vitamins and minerals in India

10-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

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.