China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is implementing stringent new rules on the advertising of health foods, Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs), and medical devices from May this year.
In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we take a closer look at Hong Kong CBD ban, China’s plans in mass fortification of food staples, Singapore’s launch of food safety standards for online businesses and more.
Trends and Innovation Opportunities Across the Life Stages
Delegate tickets are now on sale at a special earlybird rate for our Growth Asia Summit 2023, as we also announce a raft of new content themes and high profile keynote speakers from Danone, Nestle, H&H and Dole.
Salt could have a positive metabolic effect by promoting a negative energy balance to combat obesity, but extensive further research is needed given the negative consequences of high intake on cardiovascular health.
Bioactive spice-derived compounds require studies using dietary doses to properly determine their preventive effects against colorectal cancer (CRC in humans), according to a review by Asian, European and South American researchers.
The gut-organ axis is a key innovation opportunity for probiotics, according to Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) – the company behind health supplement brand Swisse and infant nutrition products Biostime.
This regulatory round-up will look at policy updates relating to proposed kava labelling requirements in the Oceania, the ban on celebrity endorsement of health foods in China, and South Korea’s Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) ambitions.
Health supplements brands are prohibited from engaging celebrities to endorse their products, the Chinese authorities have again warned, in a move which an expert says is targeted at a ‘grey area’ for overseas brands.
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.
Soy peptide supplementation may help to improve both motor and memory function in community-dwelling older adults, alongside an exercise regimen, a Japanese study has found.
Vitamin D supplementation could have a beneficial impact on the incidence and prognosis of depression, according to the findings from a Chinese meta-analysis.
A new trial in India is set to assess if vitamin D and zinc supplementation could be a safe, inexpensive and effective regimen when caring for COVID-19-positive patients.
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.
Consuming vitamin B1 (thiamine) supplementation, specifically at doses of 100 to 900mg daily for up to three months, does not improve glycaemic outcomes among Type 2 diabetes patients, according to a recent review.
The wellbeing and medical nutrition sectors are booming in China and South East Asia (SEA), says New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, which has introduced a new portfolio aimed at tackling these needs.
A Japanese government-funded study has revealed new opportunities for brands to develop functional foods and increase awareness among mineral-deficient consumers in Japan.
A global academic expert on ageing will reveal how substantial progress is being made to delay human ageing and extend health span at our forthcoming Growth Asia Summit in Singapore.
Infants and toddlers are more likely to sleep 10 hours or more if their mothers consume fermented food when pregnant, according to a Japanese study on 64,200 pairs of mothers and children.
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.
A recent South Korean RCT found that oral supplementation with fermented oysters did not improve muscle function in adults with relatively low muscle mass, conflicting with three previous studies.
Chrononutrition has immense potential for improving cardiometabolic health by aligning food intake timings, calories and macronutrient distribution within the circadian rhythm, but more robust RCTs are urgently needed, claim researchers.
Policymakers need to review the current methods of ensuring folate sufficiency among women of childbearing age, said a group of Australian researchers who found that food and supplements could not provide optimal folate intake.
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.
Personalised nutrition intervention could be more beneficial than conventional methods in improving the health statuses of overweight and obese Chinese adults.
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.
Nestle has launched China’s first Foods for Special Medical Purpose (FSMP) for patients suffering from tumour related conditions, after going through a five-year long approval process from the Chinese regulator.
Consumption of probiotics could ease constipation, improve stool consistency and increase faecal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus among people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C)
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.
Dietary supplementation with two Lactobacillus strains, the Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032, could alleviate obesity by modulating and increasing microbiome biodiversity.
Researchers from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and precision gut microbiome firm AMILI hope to turn unwanted kale stems into prebiotics products.
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.
Global seafood giant Thai Union says it is placing a significant focus on microalgae omega-3, besides its usual marine sources, as it seeks to diversify its ingredients business.
Women in seven South and South East Asian countries urgently need nutritional intervention and monitoring to battle the double burden of malnutrition (DBM).
Australian nutraceutical outfit Star Combo Pharma is expected to open its new manufacturing facility in early July and could possibly more than double its output from 2m to 5m capsules daily.
Low doses of dietary vitamin E supplementation could prevent exercise-induced muscle damage and have a greater impact on athletes, according to a new meta-analysis.
The Indian authorities have introduced new regulations on Ayurvedic products, including rules covering health claims and the addition of vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin E supplementation can positively affect polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients’ metabolic and hormonal parameters, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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.
Indian paediatric experts in the National Consultative Group (NCG) have for the first time recommended the use of probiotics containing Lactobacillus GG (LGG) and potentially Saccharomyces boulardii to treat children with diarrhoea.
An Indian research found no significant impact of the probiotic Bacillus clausii (B. clausii) when treating acute childhood diarrhoea alongside oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and zinc.
BIO & ME, the consumer health brand of Singapore-based gut microbiome firm AMILI, has launched five probiotic formulations to target immunity, well-being, energy, mental health and strength – all tailored to the Asian population.
New Zealand is ploughing in cash to boost its goat milk formula industry by funding research to assess the impact on healthy ageing, from digestive to muscle health, and overall nutritional status.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients might enjoy a better health-related quality of life (QoL) and nutritional status if they consume more magnesium.
