The supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin for preserving eye health is more effective in individuals with healthy BMI (lower than 25kg/m2), a 16-week human clinical trial conducted in Japan has shown.
Infant formula powders inspected in Hong Kong said to contain similar nutritional composition can differ in price by nearly 100%, a report by the Consumer Council has claimed – but a closer look at their methodology appears they are not necessarily comparing...
An Oympian-derived probiotic strain has shown to improve running test and gut microbiota amongst middle- and long-distance runners, a five-week trial in Taiwan has shown.
South Korea is promoting the cultivation and use of homegrown botanicals – including liquorice, radish and astragalus – to create new functional foods, with officials believing COVID-19 will increase demand for these products.
This round-up includes a three-part feature on Japan's Foods with Function Claims (FFC) market, Kirin-Dentsu JV launching a hop extract supplement for cognitive health, Eminet entering the Thai beauty market with a liquid collagen sachet product...
Mumbai-based nutraceutical brand Nutrova is planning to conduct more clinical trials on the Indian population, as it seeks to build its reputation as a scientifically backed industry player.
US-based Frontier Nutrition, a company manufacturing and marketing fortified snacks in Bangladesh, has secured a US$900,000 bridge financing led by DSM Venturing to expand its product line and distribution footprint in Bangladesh.
The consumption of the proprietary probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 has shown to increase exercise endurance in triathletes by improving gastrointestinal health (GI), according to a four-week RCT.
Supplementation of nicotinamide (NAM) – a form of vitamin B3 – could act as an adjunctive treatment for glaucoma, a 24-week RCT from Australia has found.
Hong Kong-based personalised nutrition company Alixir Life is looking to add healthy ageing supplements into its tailored service for consumers, which currently targets 10 different health conditions.
An inspection and review conducted by South Korea’s authorities found that most of the supplements of questionable quality being sold only were from US brands.
There is a revival in consumers’ trust of ayurvedic herbs, as well as a spike in the sales of apple cider vinegar in India, as interest in products with purported immunity benefits gather pace amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Zealand supplement firm Adashiko is planning to launch a ready to drink collagen product this October, as it seeks to tap the rising demand for beauty-from-within products.
Newly-launched Australian supplement brand Kynd is donating an immunity product to a citizen in need for every product sold, with its founder hoping that consumers will appreciate the chance to help others while also improving their own health.
Kirin’s joint venture with Japanese advertising giant Dentsu has launched its first consumer products - a gummy and tablet for cognition containing Kirin’s proprietary matured hop extract.
Supplementation of red chillies actives, capsaicinoids, is able to control appetite and weight, leading to decrease of 2.1% in body weight and 2.2% in BMI, according to a four-week RCT.
Recently published survey findings from Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) have revealed that a high percentage of consumers were not actively taking health or functional foods, with a local expert attributing this to a lack of knowledge, unmet health...
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), indigestible dextrin, and omega-3 are three of the most commonly used ingredients in Foods with Function Claims (FFCs) in Japan, according to exclusive data revealed in the second of our spotlights on the market.
A meta-analysis involving more than 2 million people has reported that a higher whole grain intake is associated with a reduced risk of digestive tract cancer.
Consumption of Pokka’s lemon juice product, Lemon 100, has been found to significantly suppress spikes in blood glucose after a meal of rice, a new study reports.
A greying population is the trend in APAC’s advanced economies and in the case of Singapore, a team of researchers is committed to the mission of identifying ways to help the population live a healthier, happier, stronger life as they age.
Sesame leaves exported from South Korea has been approved as a functional food in Japan to help relieve pollen allergy and related symptoms such as eye discomfort.
More Indian consumers are turning to meal replacement powder to shed unwanted pounds that piled on after gyms were closed and outdoor movement restricted in the midst of COVID-19, according to a local brand.
A five-year-long research has identified 21 recovery-associated bacteria (RABs) from the Alistipes, Ruminococcus, Parabacteroides species, as well as the more well-known Bifidobacterium species, as key in restoring microbial balance in the gut.
A preliminary study has confirmed that an intake of plant-based compounds called labdane, derived from Japanese white turmeric, could relieve knee discomfort in healthy, older persons.
Researchers from Thailand’s Rajamangala University of Technology Isan (RMUTI) Khon Kaen Campus are planning to develop herbal supplements that combine CBD with local botanicals.
Australia-based supplement company Vmores’ newest launch is a bird’s nest supplement manufactured using its freeze-drying technology, which the firm hopes will provide a more convenient format for consumers beyond the traditional cooking process.
In this round-up, we look at how Danone is banking on new HMO, A2 toddler formulas for success in China, financial performance from BY-HEALTH in the first six months of 2020, and the expansion plans of probiotics firm Scitop Bio-tech.
Drinking a high bioavailability curcumin formulation before and after exercise could speed up recovery, allowing athletes to resume training quicker and exercise at higher thresholds, says a new study funded by Gencor Pacific.
Taking inulin after an antibiotic therapy could reduce the amount of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) – an enzyme linked to liver damage – in individuals suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a study has shown.
See July's 10 most read stories, including new findings on the types of health supplements that could reduce COVID-19 severity, products that consumers in China have been taking during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as brand stories.
Australian regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has doubled-down on its stance that online supplements and nutritional adverts intended for health professionals should not be accessible by the public and tools such as username and password...
South Korea will see the opening of 150 brick-and-mortar stores specialising in selling personalised nutrition products in the next two year as part of a pilot project, said the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).
A nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplement made by US supplement firm Doctor’s Best had hit the US$1m sales in the first 10 days of its launch in China.
In this round-up, we highlight the ongoing trends in the health and nutrition industry, including the best-selling vitamin, calcium, Q10 brands in China, how India is leading APAC in terms of new immune health foods launch and more.
Hong Kong-based start-up Heavens Please is hoping to ‘destigmatise’ CBD in Asia as it looks to expand its online marketplace with more locally made products targeting the immune system.
Vitamin B12, K, and D are found in insufficient amount in breast milk amongst mothers from China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Pakistan, a study has found.
South Korean probiotic brand Youguth is planning to launch new products for pregnant women, to tap into what it believes to be the unmet needs of skin health as well as the more widely-known gut problems among these consumers.
An ingredient made from alpinia galanga – a plant from the ginger family – has shown to increase mental alertness and sleep quality without causing side effects such as cardiovascular problems in a 12-week RCT.
Several domestic and imported probiotics brands in South Korea have been told to improve their product labelling following a report by the Korea Consumer Agency.
A randomised controlled trial funded by Nestle has found that a nutritional combination and exercise induced by electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) for 12 weeks could improve walking speed and increase knee strength in elderly Japanese adults with limited...
A pilot study from Japan found that astaxanthin supplementation for three months can suppress oxidative stress and improve cardiac function and exercise tolerance in patients suffering from heart failure.
Blackmores’ practitioner-only health supplement brand BioCeuticals will be replacing the labelling for its botanical-based immunity product ArmaForce, after consumers complained of unknown side-effects such as taste loss.
Japanese brand Eminet is entering Thailand’s collagen market with a liquid beauty-from-within fish collagen launch, which is touted to be the first such sachet product in the country.
Supplementation with Kirin’s mature hop bitter acid (MHBA) for 12 weeks has been found to improve attention and reduce stress in healthy older adults in Japan.
Japanese dairy product company Morinaga Milk Industry has revealed plans to expand its yoghurt range by introducing more products with functional benefits, accelerate its lactoferrin research and e-commerce business as part of its key initiatives for...
A 12-week RCT has shown that healthy individuals consuming a microalga-based omega-3 supplement had seen a 25% drop in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and 3% drop in total cholesterol (TC) level.