The United Nations health agency has called for a whole-of-society approach to address the double burden of malnutrition which affects populations across southeast Asia, particularly women and girls.
Supplementation with B vitamins significantly improves general mental health, reduces subjective stress and increases vigour and overall mood in mentally demanding situations, according to research from Melbourne’s Swinburne University.
Global and local players in Asia’s heart health sector are adopting radically different strategies – but dubious health claims from some of the latter threaten to undermine the market, according to an industry analyst.
A high percentage of children and teens in southern Australia may be deficient in vitamin D, putting them at increased risk of bone fractures and higher long-term risk of osteoporosis, warn researchers.
Asia has a chance to tackle obesity through a more personalised approach to weight management providing it avoids the mistakes made in the West where not enough attention was paid to the needs of the individual, according to Nestlé’s nutrition head.
‘Significant progress’ has been made in rolling-out voluntary Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) nutrition labelling in Asia over the past four years, but more work is needed to educate consumers and emphasise their benefits to small and medium-sized enterprises...
New Zealand’s a2 Milk Company has signalled its intention to branch out from infant formula into a broader range of dairy-based nutritional products – with the burgeoning China market very much in its sights.
Manufacturers in China should be looking at moving past traditional soy-based drinks by incorporating multiple types of plant protein in functional beverages, says Mintel.
Sales at Chinese infant nutrition firm Biostime dropped by 14% in the first half of 2016 to RMB1.46bn (US$220m), with the Biostime brand – which accounts for 86% of the company’s sales – down 5.4% and the value brand Adimil down 65.7%.
Australian nutraceutical firm Gordagen Pharmaceuticals is preparing to launch its heart health and endurance products in the US by the end of the year.
India’s “shockingly low” level of EPA and DHA intake is storing up a potential health crisis, especially because life expectancy and therefore the rate of chronic illness is forecast to rise considerably over the coming decades.
Indian consumers are increasingly aware that all fats are not bad, are demanding more products that offer “complete wellness” and are becoming increasingly opening to exploring alternative proteins and natural sugars.
Implementing stringent safety and quality regulations, tackling micronutrient deficiencies and maximising the opportunities from inward investment need to be three of key priorities for the food industry in India, amid projections of a doubling of production...
Edible ginger-derived nanoparticles could alleviate symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), researchers claim.
Australian women are well aware that folic acid (PFS) and iodine (IS) are recommended supplements to take during pregnancy, but only a quarter of them adhere to the recommendations, scientists report.
A study of wild edible fruits found in the Himalayas indicates they are a rich source of antioxidants, with researchers concluding they can help meet the nutritional needs of the local population and play a crucial role in nutraceutical development.
Trying to tackle obesity in women when they become pregnant is usually “too little too late”, according to two authors from the University of Sydney and Charles Perkins Centre.
Worsening dietary trends and soaring blood pressure levels will contribute to millions of new cases of heart attacks and strokes in China over the next two decades, researchers claim.
Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and the UKM Medical Centre show that Malaysians in their 30s are now more likely to have arteries similar to a person aged 70 due to their lifestyles.
More high-quality Asia-specific research on local foods and their impact on the population is needed to help improve nutrition and combat the growing number of diet-related illnesses across the continent, a seminar in Singapore has heard.
Fish sauce fortified with thiamine could help fight cases of beriberi in Southeast Asia – a public health concern caused by thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency.
Caffeine combined with artificial bright light improves the driving performance and alertness of chronically sleep deprived young drivers, according to a Queensland University of Technology study.
Malaysian children undergoing long-term treatment for epilepsy are at significant risk of vitamin D deficiency, with youngsters of Indian ethnicity especially affected, a study has found.
The Australian Diabetes Society president has said people with type 2 diabetes should be wary of social media hype about the benefits of going on the paleo diet, arguing there have been no trials going beyond 12 weeks.
Australia's natural nutrition industry body has come out fighting after a government review into pharmacy regulations in the country published concerns over the sale of complementary medicines.
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co Ltd and private equity firm Primavera Capital is to buy Australian vitamin manufacturer Vitaco Holdings for US$239m.
Australia’s food safety regulators have once again called for submissions on whether to permit the sale of food derived from the seeds of low-THC hemp.
Guidance by an independent British committee of experts that advises everyone to take the so-called “sunshine vitamin” whatever the weather has been well received in Australia, where up to 58% of people suffer from vitamin D deficiency in spite of its...
