The increase of online ‘junk food’ marketing to children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic poses a long term-health risk and has become a major public health concern, claim experts.
China dairy giant Yili is looking to focus on the diversification of its product portfolio to ensure sustained growth after seeing a 42.48% jump in H1 2021 net profits, with the firm seemingly enjoying a boost due to COVID-19 health trends.
Nutraceutical ingredient suppliers and manufacturers are continuing to ramp-up their inventory to keep their supply chain stable amid ongoing uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, including port closures and delayed vessels.
Lebanese consumers had a lower intake of water, fruit, and vegetables, and a higher consumption of sweets and snacks during the COVID-19 lockdown, according to a new study.
A pilot study in India has reported that intake of two strains of beta glucans can lower cytokine storm and coagulopathy biomarkers in COVID-19 patients.
Japanese consumers drank more alcohol and ate additional snacks during the nation’s COVID-19 State of Emergency, but also appear to have eaten more vegetables, fruit and dairy products.
The Philippines will tap on cutting edge technologies including nutrigenomics and metabolomics to develop nutritional strategies to address the persistent issues of stunting and malnutrition in the country.
A combination of Sabinsa’s curcumin and piperine (black pepper extract) showed faster symptomatic recovery among COVID-19 patients in India, according to findings from a recent clinical trial.
The rise of weight management needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the 'paradoxical' increase in both breastfeeding and infant formula are the key themes covered in this trends round-up.
The New Zealand food and grocery industry has lashed out against academic claims that the sector has heavily engaged in ‘COVID-washing’, or used the pandemic to promote ‘unhealthy’ products, calling this an example of ‘confirmation bias’ and ‘not based...
There was a significant increase in the use of vitamin C, honey, black seed, citrus (lemon, orange), ginger, and costus supplements, and a drop in peppermint supplementation among patients with COVID-19 infection in Saudi Arabia.
Australia’s supplements industry has continued to grow amid the pandemic despite a dip in export revenue, with firms finding success by pivoting to immunity products and finding inroads into several new markets, including Iran, Israel and Brazil.
Nine in 10 dietitians in Indonesia have recommended supplements to hospitalised COVID-19 patients, with vitamin C and B complex the most common recommended supplements, a new survey has found.
This round-up of new scientific developments will feature an upcoming clinical trial in New Zealand on deer milk's benefits for muscle strength in seniors, Philippines' latest findings on virgin coconut oil and COVID-19, and more.
Fat-soluble vitamins, specifically vitamin K and D could boost the body’s defence mechanism against COVID-19 infection and prevent complications from arising, according to a new review.
Virgin coconut oil has been found to be effective in reducing inflammation and showed rapid symptom relief in suspected and probable COVID-19 subjects, according to an RCT from the Philippines.
The gut microbiota, which is impacted by diet, the intake of antibiotics and probiotics, has shown to affect the efficacy of various types of vaccines, and this could have important implications for the ongoing COVID-19 global vaccination drive, said...
The rise of the work-from-home culture in Australia ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit has simultaneously led to a rise in snacking frequency, especially among younger consumers, according to a report by Mondelez Australia.
Fortification programmes in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have ample supply of fortified foods and a steady distribution network to reach its target populations amid the COVID-19 crisis, but the lack of quality assurance and control is concerning.
MGC Pharma is working on introducing its product that has shown to speed up recovery in COVID-19 patients, as a natural health or ayurvedic product in several Asian countries, including India, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
The absence of micronutrient deficiency, such as vitamin D, has shown to reduce the incidence of COVID-19, as well as lowering the odds of clinical deterioration in COVID-19 patients, said the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Blackmores has forecasted a weak domestic supplement market over the next year due to lower sales from Chinese travellers and a milder cold and flu season, but has nevertheless highlighted a number of strategies to mitigate the slowdown.
Yiling Pharmaceutical, the company behind TCM/dietary supplement product Lianhua Qingwen, said revenue from its overseas market was up 918.37 per cent in FY2020, after the product was officially recognised by the China authorities as a COVID-19 standard...
In this round-up of recent scientific developments, we highlight new findings on how animal protein is more beneficial than plant protein in increasing lean mass, new findings on COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency and more.
Pre-diabetes and diabetes are factors which could increase the risk of COVID-19 infections and mortality, and therefore the consumption of certain functional foods could be beneficial, says the guest who stars in the 17th episode of Nutra Champion podcast.
The rate of growth for Ausnutria’s Goat milk brand Kabrita slowed significantly in China throughout 2020, with the firm citing reduced promotion and marketing activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this round-up, we look at how Japanese health and wellness retailer Welcia-BHG plans to expand its presence in Singapore, GN Corporation's clinical trial on using beta glucan as an adjunct treatment for COVID-19 treatment and more.
Japan Consumer Affairs Agency (CCA) is warning general food and health food manufacturers against labelling their products as being effective in preventing or treating COVID-19, to avoid consumer misunderstanding and harming public health.
India’s nutraceutical industry’s hopes of a reduced GST rate on supplements was squashed again when there was no mentioned of special grant for the sector during the recent budget announcement.
Indian firm Enovate Bio says the current COVID-19 pandemic has presented growth opportunities for its plant-based nootropic ingredient – EnXtra – in the area of e-gaming.
The Malaysian Dietary Supplement Association (MADSA) says its brand members are being disadvantaged by ‘unauthorised’ online retailers selling their products at lower prices – and is calling on the government to clampdown on the situation.
In this round-up, we shine the spotlight on new scientific findings from Abbott, Ajinomoto, Philippines' virgin coconut oil and COVID-19 human clinical trial, and more.
A recent study led by the Philippines Department of Science and Technology (DOST) revealed that suspected COVID-19 patients administered with virgin coconut oil (VCO) had reduced symptoms and a faster recovery phase compared to the control group.
Japanese health food and dietary supplement firms such as FANCL, Kirin, George & Oliver, Taisho Pharmaceutical, Eminet and Q’sai say its ‘business as usual’ despite certain prefectures coming under a second state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nestle Malaysia’s CEO Juan Aranols has revealed the firm’s priority is to keep its products available and affordable for consumers, even as the firm deals with the impacts of a second COVID-19 lockdown.
Indian supplement manufacturer Windlas Biotech and California-based Mateon Therapeutics and have developed an artemisinin supplement that acts as an adjunctive for COVID-19 treatment.
The composition of patients’ microbiome may influence the severity of COVID-19, as well as how the immune system responds to the infection, according to new research from China, which found lower numbers of F. prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium bifidum to...
COVID-19 patients from southern India had lower selenium serum level compared to healthy individuals, prompting industry players to call for its supplementation considering selenium’s well-known defence mechanism against infectious diseases.
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating interest in functional foods and could prove to be a boon for flavour firms which can help mask undesirable taste profiles.
Malaysia headquartered Ritamix Global has launched a tea modelled on a TCM formula used in China for COVID-19 treatment – but the new product is registered as food and beverage and makes no health claims.
Vitamin B6 may play a potential role in reducing the severity of COVID-19 and its complications, according to an opinion article written by researchers from Japan, China and Thailand.
A group of Australian naturopathic experts is gathering on-the-ground data from health practitioners on the effectiveness of nutraceuticals in helping to combat COVID-19, and will present the findings to health authorities.
See our top 10 most read trends stories of 2020, including the bestselling nutraceuticals amid COVID-19, new immune health product launches, and consumption behaviour in China.
The intake of omega-3 could reduce fatality rates in severe COVID-19 patients, while protein could suppress catabolism and polyphenols could be used to fight inflammation, a group of nutrition experts from China advised.
The business environment has been hard hit by COVID-19 and small players are usually the most affected, but two APAC nutra start-ups are flourishing amid the crisis.