Vitamins & premixes

Monthly vitamin D supplementation does not prevent cardiovascular disease: Clinical trial

06-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

Monthly high dose vitamin D supplementation does not prevent cardiovascular disease, results from a large randomised clinical trial discovered.

Blackmores Institute signs partnership deal to boost supplements knowledge among Malaysian pharmacists

03-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

A collaboration between four institutes aims to arm Malaysian pharmacists with more knowledge and understanding of complementary medicine.

GALLERY: Our top 10 most-read nutrition and health stories from Asia Pacific in March

03-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

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.

HI SOUTH EAST ASIA

Colombia’s gummy gains: Big opportunities in South East Asia says Bogotá business

30-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

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.

More nutrients, less harmful fats could help in colorectal cancer patients’ recovery

29-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Greater vitamin and fibre intake are crucial factors in avoiding metabolic syndrome in colorectal cancer patients, a new Korean study revealed.

HI SOUTH EAST ASIA 2017

South East Asia supplement regulations: Indonesian trade boss hopeful of harmonisation progress

23-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

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.

OPINION: Why vitamin D is vital for women, especially in Asia

21-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The recent occasion of the International Women’s Day provided a good opportunity to reflect on both gender equality, but also on differences between the genders, writes DSM senior scientist Barbara Troesch.

Vitamin D supplementation prevents autism traits being passed from mother to offspring: Mouse study

17-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Giving vitamin D to pregnant mice prevented autism traits being passed on to their offspring, researchers in Australia have revealed.

Noodles as a nutrient vehicle: Research reveals how instant snack is suitable for fortification

16-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Fortifying wheat flour used for making instant noodles has the potential to improve nutrient intakes in Asia, a review showed.

Six stand-out functional food and supplement trends from Indonesia

14-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

From consumer spending to retailer awareness, we pinpoint six of the most pressing functional food and supplement trends ahead of next week’s HI South East Asia exhibition and conference in Jakarta.

'Intervene in the community': Supplements boost nutrition in elderly and help maintain independence, Korea trial reports

09-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

A two-week course of a liquid supplement improved the nutritional status and reduced inflammation in elderly people living in community settings, a new trial from Korea reports.

Vitamin A, D and E deficiency linked to repeat colds and flu in Chinese children: Case control study

08-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Low levels of vitamin A, D and E have been associated with Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections (RRTI) among children living in Northern China, a new case control study reports.

Herbalife partners with Indian pharma firm for new R&D lab

07-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Herbalife has launched its first R&D lab in India, in partnership with pharma research and manufacturing firm Syngene.

Thailand’s top three supplement and functional food trends as beauty bubble begins to burst: Infographic

06-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Healthy ageing, natural supplements and personalised nutrition: these are three emerging trends in Thailand offering ample opportunities for industry growth.

This new invention guarantees Vitamin B12 will get on your nerves…in a good way

02-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Researchers in Japan have created a mesh that can be wrapped around an injured nerve and release vitamin B12 until the injury heals. 

Blackmores Institute to ramp-up research into consumer understanding of supplements in Singapore

01-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Gaining a greater understanding of Singaporeans' understanding of supplements – and the types of services and advice they want pharmacists to provide – has become a key focus for Blackmores Institute as it prepares to host its first symposium in...

'Kids throw milk at each other...it's a waste of public money'

Sri Lanka students shun nutritious food and dairy due to raft of ‘social and cultural factors’

28-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Students in Sri Lanka are not eating healthy diets and are shunning school milk programmes due to social and cultural factors, and until these are tackled the country’s double burden of malnutrition will remain, experts say.

Vitamin D deficiency more likely a risk factor for TB than its consequence: Meta-analysis

26-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

New meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for TB, not something that is caused by the condition, while the role played by ethnicity in this relationship merits further investigation.

China direct

Analyst: Chinese vit. A prices doubled last year and will remain high

26-Feb-2017 By RJ Whitehead

A tripling of the price of vitamin A in China in early 2016 led an overall increase of almost 99% for the year.

The five market trends making APAC the world’s growth hotspot for nutraceuticals

26-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The global nutraceuticals market is expected to reach a value of $302,306m by the year 2022, on the back of CAGR of 7.04%. But, according to new research, APAC is poised to outstrip the global growth average.

Vitamin B’s vaginal benefits: Supplementation boosts conventional yeast infection treatment, RCT finds

24-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Adding vitamin B supplementation alongside conventional treatment can help treat cases of complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), according to two studies.

Three-out-of-four pregnant women in China have vitamin D deficiency: Official data

24-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Almost 75% of pregnant women in China have a vitamin D deficiency, with one-in-three being severely deficient, national data has revealed. 

China nutraceutical firm unveils plans for European R&D and manufacturing base in Wales

23-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Shanghai-based nutraceutical and functional foods supplier Acerchem International is to establish a European R&D and manufacturing centre in Swansea, South Wales.

EPA-dominant omega-3 and other nutraceuticals can boost effectiveness of anti-depressants

23-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Nutraceuticals have the ability to boost the effectiveness of traditional anti-depressive medications, according a new review.

Sports supplement seller bets on non-GMO veggie soft gels

21-Feb-2017 By Hank Schultz

Sports Research, a California-based supplement brand holder, has taken a big step toward differentiating its product line with the introduction of what it says is the first vegan, non-GMO gel caps.

Singapore centre seeks to increase science standards for home-grown supplements, TCM and food firms

16-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

A recently established Singapore centre is seeking to increase the standard of evidence-based data for SMEs in the supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and functional foods space.

Academics divided over vitamin D study claims of cold and flu protection

16-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Vitamin D supplements could help prevent acute respiratory tract infections, including colds and flu, according to a study in The BMJ. But a linked editorial penned by academics from New Zealand and Scotland argues the results are “not sufficiently applicable...

Roses are red, vitamins for two? Thailand dishes out Valentine’s Day supplements to boost birth rate

15-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

While the rest of the world celebrated Valentine’s Day with hearts and flowers, the Thai government handed out “very magical” vitamin supplements to encourage prospective mothers to boost the country’s birth rate.

Revealed: The top five supplements taken by Chinese mothers…and why more needs to be done to increase their use

15-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Dietary supplementation appears to be common among Chinese mothers during pregnancy, but intake of folic acid is well below the recommended national and global guidelines, while overall supplement use after giving birth is relatively low.

Vitamin vending machines: Is this the future for supplements retailing in APAC?

14-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

The man who has launched Australia’s first store selling vitamins solely via vending machines wants to launch hundreds more in locations across the country, while also expanding to overseas markets such as China, Singapore, India and New Zealand.

Expert panel established to drive forward India's national fortification plan

13-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set up a panel of doctors and research scientists to prepare the final version of its food fortification laws – a move that would facilitate the inclusion of micronutrients to several food staples.

Older mothers from rural areas more likely to give vitamin A supplements to children in Pakistan

08-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Maternal age and place of residence played key roles in whether children under five years old were given Vitamin A supplements in Pakistan, a new study reveals.

India fortification plans: Regulator FSSAI releases consultation paper

07-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has pledged to ‘close the gap’ in micronutrient malnutrition after releasing a consultation paper on food fortification.

Myanmar pledges national action to tackle child stunting and micronutrient deficiencies

01-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Myanmar has vowed to tackle child stunting and widespread micronutrient deficiencies, and include nutritional wellbeing in its national development planning.

Vitamin D status and rheumatoid arthritis link questioned by Korean data

31-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The vitamin D status of more than 2,000 Korean women had no impact on the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis, or on the level of pain and quality of life when rheumatoid arthritis occurred.

Twenty per cent of Singapore infants given a supplement before the age of one

31-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

One-in-five infants in Singapore are given a dietary supplement in the first year of life, while 5.7% take probiotics and 15.7% homeopathic preparations.

Curcumin can be ‘as big as omega-3’ with correct science and marketing: OmniActive MD

31-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Curcumin can become as big as omega-3, according to the boss of Indian nutraceutical supplier OmniActive, which has recently received a significant funding boost and made a high-level acquisition.  

Vitamin A status at birth linked to long-term risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s

30-Jan-2017 By Nathan Gray

Elderly people with low vitamin A levels may be more at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and lower brain functioning, says a new study that also finds even marginal vitamin A deficiency at birth can influence long-term risks.

Micronutrient supplementation for mothers boosts infant cognitive health: Follow-up study

27-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Pregnant women should take more micronutrients aside from iron and folic acid to boost the long-term cognitive development of their children, according to a major follow-up study from Indonesia.

Nanostructured lipid carriers help protect vitamin D from gut environment

27-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

A new study reveals vitamin D3 encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) could survive in the harsh gastrointestinal environment long enough to deliver this important nutrient to its intended targets.

India manufacturer launches MyFy prebiotic supplement to bridge country’s fibre gap

26-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Prebiotic soluble fibre dietary supplement MyFy is the first product to be launched by Galaxy Scientific Nutrition in India to address the country’s significant shortfall of fibre intake.

Five-flavoured omija berry boasts obesity-fighting potential

24-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Omija fruit ethanol extract may be helpful to fight obesity and related metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, dyslipidaemia, and insulin resistance, according to the results of a new study on mice fed a high-fat diet.

DHA and ARA rule change crucial for Danone’s Indian expansion drive

24-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

The decision by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to approve DHA and ARA-enriched infant food was a crucial factor leading to Danone’s ambitious growth plans for the country.

Nano-sized calcium improves bioavailability and could aid osteoporosis fight

24-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Fortifying milk with calcium nanoparticles increases bioavailability and could help the rising number of women in Asia suffering with osteoporosis.

Herbalife facing investigation over anti-corruption compliance in China

23-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Herbalife has confirmed that it is facing a probe from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding anti-corruption compliance in China. 

Australian supplement body enthusiastic about higher level health claims plan

19-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Australian trade body Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) has given its seal of approval to proposed new regulations that propose a ‘third health claim pathway’ for supplements.

'Highly frequent' energy drink consumption associated with mental health problems for teens

18-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

A new study indicates that Korean teenagers who regularly consume energy drinks are at “great risk” of mental health problems, particularly when consumed in combination with junk food, researchers claim.

Wild banana ripe for greater functional food and nutraceutical examination: Review

11-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Wild banana (M. acuminata), which has long been used in traditional medicine in South East Asia, is worthy of further investigation to assess its functional food and nutraceutical development on a larger scale, a new academic review suggests.

Vital role of Vitamin D in improving gut flora and preventing metabolic syndrome revealed in new research

04-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Scientists have discovered that vitamin D deficiency is necessary for metabolic syndrome caused by a high-fat diet to progress in mice.

Can Asia rival Latin America as the world’s fortified food hotspot?

03-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The demand for ‘clean label’ products, especially in North America and Europe, is continuing to affect consumers’ acceptance of fortified foods, meaning manufacturers should focus their efforts on Asia, Latin America and Africa.