Healthy aging

Neptune's losses steepen as company nears end of recovery phase

17-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Neptune Technologies and Bioressources absorbed a steep loss in the first quarter of its fiscal year as the company nears the end of its recovery from an explosion and fire that destroyed its lone production plant. Net loss for the quarter was $5.3 million,...

Soluble corn fiber may boost calcium absorption for teens

17-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily intake of soluble corn fiber may enhance the absorption of calcium for adolescents, says a new study from Purdue University with implications for bone health.

Mitochondria & aging: ‘Remarkable’ effects for nicotinamide riboside in mice, says new study

15-Jul-2014 By Stephen Daniells

The science to support the potential benefits of nicotinamide riboside for age-related conditions continues to grow, with a new study from Europe indicating the compound may boost the number and size of mitochondria.

NIU's functional foods forum: Sports nutriton, snacks, beverages seen as hottest categories

09-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Functional foods and beverages are the thin edge of the innovation wedge and are growing by leaps and bounds. Panelists in a recent online forum hosted by NutraIngredients-USA laid out the trends in this booming sector.

Heliae enters joint venture to produce astaxanthin in Japan via hybrid algal technology

03-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Astaxanthin has been a red-hot ingredient in the United States for several years and demand is ramping up worldwide. To meet that demand in the Japanese market, Heliae, an algae technology company based in Gilbert, AZ, is teaming up with Sincere Corporation...

Phamachem signs deal for vertically-integrated, US-made astaxanthin

02-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Avoca, a division of New Jersey ingredient supplier Pharmachem Laboratories, has signed a deal to commercialize astaxanthin with biotech company Synthetic Genomics Inc.  SGI will supply the biomass and Avoca will do the final extraction and marketing.

Supplier says vitamin K2 is helping to turn the corner on calcium

01-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Calcium is yet another nutrient that has taken a recent hit in the press and the marketplace with associations of high calcium intake with increased heart disease risk. But a manufacturer of vitamin K2 believes that education on the beneficial interaction...

Special Edition: Bone & Joint Health

Quality, efficacy help collagen ingredients gain traction in joint health market

19-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

Efficacy, quality and smaller dosage sizes are helping suppliers of collagen ingredients gain traction in the joint health marketplace. But suppliers agree that their ingredients occupy the thin edge of the wedge, and that commodity glucosamine and chondroitin...

Special Edition: Bone & Joint Health

Dearth of convincing data retards application of omega-3s in joint health

18-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

A lack of convincing human data has stalled the wider application of omega-3s in the area of joint health, experts say.

Herbal industry increasingly backed by data, Rainbow Light's new science director says

11-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

The transformation of Rainbow Light mirrors that of the herbal industry as a whole, the company's new director of integrative science says.  Christopher Hobbs, a fairly newly-minted PhD, has worked with the firm as a formulator from the beginning...

Qualitas opts for direct route to market with successful NDI filing on its algal EPA ingredient

11-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

Qualitas Health has taken an important step toward commercialization of its algal EPA ingredient with a successful New Dietary Ingredient notification.  Regulations require such a notification be filed 75 days prior to going to market with a new dietary...

Underlying forces will continue to drive functional food growth, analyst says

09-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

The hot market for functional foods shows no signs of cooling off, according to longtime industry consultant Jeff Hilton.  In his view a number of factors will combine to drive continued growth.

Could coffee protect DNA from damage?

09-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Regular consumption of coffee may reduce DNA damage and reduce energy intake and body fat, according to two new studies from Europe.

Nutrition researchers shoot holes in assertion that multivitamins are unnecessary

03-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

A response published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine by four well-known nutrition researchers takes strident issue with an editorial published in the same journal that multivitamins are not useful.  The authors of the first paper “ignored decades...

Glutathione study will boost ingredient's profile, supplier says

02-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

A new human study confirms for the first time that glutathione levels in the body can be effectively boosted via oral supplementation. The study,which also showed immune health effects for the antioxidant, will boost the ingredient's market profile,...

DSM: Additional research will underpin vitamin E's decisive benefits

02-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

Magic bullet syndrome is something that has plagued the dietary supplement ingredient business over the years. While this is often negative for consumers, who put their faith into an overhyped (while still possibly effective) ingredient, it’s not so good...

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2014

Norwegian firm uses natural approach to extract amino acids, short peptides from salmon waste

16-May-2014 By Hank Schultz

Finding value in waste streams has been a consistent story in the development of active ingredients. One of the latest examples of the trend comes from Zymtech Group, a Norwegian company that is extracting a protein ingredient from the waste streams of...

Special edition: Closing the fiber gap

Cereal gets to the heart of fiber deficiency, but is fortification the way to go?

14-May-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

High cereal fiber intake after a heart attack may improve long-term survival rates, research suggests, but these benefits could be achieved with a balanced, healthy diet, rather than through fortified goods, says British Heart Foundation senior dietician. 

Expert panel calls for end to one-size fits all protein recommendations and higher levels for older adults

29-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Dietary recommendations for protein intake should be increased for healthy older adults to 1.0 to 1.2 g protein/kg body weight/day, says an international team of experts.

Special Edition: Sports Nutrition

Swisse Wellness on US sports nutrition sector: ‘We think there’s an opportunity in this space to make a big impact’

24-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Changing consumer attitudes to health and similar consumption levels in the US and Australia give Swisse Wellness an opportunity to excite consumers with a new sports nutrition range that is not just focused on the muscle men and gym junkies, says Ulrich...

Gravity-free probiotics

Space…The final frontier for Yakult probiotics? 6-year study confirmed

22-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

Probiotic pioneer Yakult’s little bottles are to feature in a 6-year, gravity-free study at the International Space Station (ISS).

Advancing nutritional epidemiology to a whole new level? NIH scientists publish metabolomics biomarkers to study diet-disease associations

21-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Scientists from the National Cancer Institute at the NIU have reported metabolomic biomarkers for a variety of foods and vitamins, which, if validated, could become biomarkers in large cohorts to study diet-disease associations.

Ashwagandha interest spilling into mainstream market

16-Apr-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

The so-called flagship herb of Ayurveda, ashwagandha is gaining traction in the mainstream US market as consumers embrace its wide-ranging body of health benefits on the heels of strong clinical support and a few celebrity health practitioner endorsements.

Is dietary supplement use more prevalent than previously thought?

15-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

As many as 69% of American adults may be users of dietary supplements, with up to 53% being regular users, says a new review that gives greater numbers than those reported in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

Iron supplements may boost female physical performance: Meta-analysis

15-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Scientific evidence from 22 randomized controlled trials indicates that daily iron supplements may significantly boost exercise performance for women.

Green and black tea blend may support urinary tract health for men: Kemin Study

14-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements containing extracts from a blend of green and black tea varieties may improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and quality of life in men in as little as six weeks, says a new study.

InsideTracker CEO: ‘The one-size-fits-all intervention approach to nutrition makes no sense - Personalization is the future’

31-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

It may have been said before, but the future of nutrition is through personalization, especially for athletic individuals who want to achieve the optimal and not just normal levels, says Rony Sellam, CEO of Segterra, the company behind InsideTracker.

Boomer retirees present continued huge opportunity, report says

28-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

Baby Boomers, who have driven the growth of the natural products and dietary supplements space in recent decades aren’t done yet. A recent report from the Natural Marketing Institute says the impending retirement of millions of boomers will present a...

Chromadex CEO: ‘We think Niagen has a much bigger market, like omega-3’

26-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The potential of nicotinamide riboside, the next generation vitamin B3, goes beyond dietary supplements, into functional food and beverages, medical foods, infant nutrition and more, says the CEO of Chromadex.

Dietary restriction: Very low nutrient diet may offer anti-aging clues

18-Mar-2014 By Nathan Gray

A new theory of why dietary restrictions can work to reduce disease risk and increase longevity suggests that it is a sever restriction in nutrient intake, rather than calorie intake, that may result in the well known effect.

Diet high in animal protein may help prevent functional decline

13-Mar-2014 By Nathan Gray

A diet high in animal protein could help elderly people to function better physically, psychologically and socially, say researchers.

Predictive data analysis can help companies become 'market makers,' consultant says

12-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

Markets, whether for dietary supplements, functional foods or other consumer products, are divided between  “market makers” and “market followers.”  You don’t want to be in the latter group if you can help it, said market research expert Peter Leighton.

Future looks increasingly bright for herbal supplements, market researcher says

11-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

The economic downturn has had a depressing effect on new product launches in the herbal dietary supplement industry, said Steve French, managing director of the Natural Marketing Institute. But the good news is that opportunity abounds, in that herbal...

Lozenges show potential as novel resveratrol delivery system: Study

06-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Delivering resveratrol via a lozenge that dissolves in the mouth may increase the absorption of the red wine compound more than other dosage forms for absorption in the gut, according to new data.

Science pushing regulatory boundaries, consultant says

17-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

New ideas in science tend often to disrupt earlier modes of thinking. So it is with nutritional science, as researchers discover new modes of action and new delivery vehicles that increasingly push at the regulatory envelopes meant to define and confine...

Pronutria secures $12.25 million in funding to drive development program

17-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

Pronutria, a company based on the mining of an extensive protein database to uncover pharmacologically active nutrients, is moving forward in its development plan with the beginning of two clinical trials on is lead product candidates and the closing...

Probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis shows immune support for elderly people

13-Feb-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 may improve the activity of white blood cells in elderly adults, a population with higher susceptibility to infections.

Amway notches $11.8 billion in sales in 2014

07-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

Amway, the world’s largest network marketing company, reported $11.8 billion in sales, a 4.4% growth over the $11.3 billion in sales the company notched in 2012.

Canada OKs enhanced health claims for Ixoreal's KSM 66 ashwagandha

07-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

KSM-66, an ashwagandha root-only extract from Ixoreal BioMed, has been approved in Canada for health claims that include stress reduction, sports nutrition benefits and support for healthy testosterone levels.  The approval of the claims, which go beyond...

CRN says 2015 dietary guidelines should include supplements

06-Feb-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

The Council for Responsible Nutrition urged the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) to adopt a new posture on dietary supplements in the next round of federal dietary guidelines, encouraging the use of multivitamins and supplements as a low-cost,...

Special edition: Polyphenols

The big challenges in polyphenols: Providing credible evidence and a quality supply chain

28-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

With surging interest in the potential health benefits of polyphenols around the globe, experts suggest that there are still some major sticking points in the polyphenol success story.

Special edition: Polyphenols

Polyphenol science needs to catch up to better inform regulators and consumers, say experts

28-Jan-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

A paradigm shift is needed in the study of polyphenols to better understand the bioavailability, bio-activity, and the role of the gut microbiota in polyphenol metabolism and health benefits, say experts from academia and industry.

Observers disagree about whether report of tainted thyroid supplements points to wider problems in market

24-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

A recent blog in The New York Times raised questions about some thyroid supplements, but passed over the legitimate role dietary supplements scan have in the support of health thyroid function, observers say.

Omega-3 may help preserve brain volume in old age: Study

23-Jan-2014

People with higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA may also have larger brain volumes in old age equivalent to preserving one to two years of brain health, according to new research.

Understanding the aging gut: Microbiome modifications may be linked to health and lifespan

17-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

Modifications to the microbiota could lead to changes in health and lifespan that are associated with aging, according to new research in fruit flies.

Simpler blood test for vitamin D could enhance preventive care, developer says

13-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

In another way point in the personalized healthcare movement, Purity Labs of Portland, OR has announced the development of a vitamin D blood test that involves obtaining only small spots of blood applied to cards. The new test lowers costs, simplifies...

ChromaDex signs $62 million deal for Niagen, Purenergy ingredients

07-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex has announced the largest deal in its history, a $62 million agreement with nework marketing company 5LINX that covers its Niagen and Purenergy ingredients.

Most vitamin studies are flawed by poor methodology, say Linus Pauling researchers

06-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

Many large clinical trials of vitamin supplements, including those concluding vitamins are of no value or may even be harmful, have a flawed methodologies that means they are 'useless' in determining the real value of such micronutrients, according...

New info details size of potential Chinese export market for US supplements

18-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

New information released by the US-China Health Products Association gives insight into the massive export opportunity that awaits US dietary supplement manufacturers.  A high proportion of Chinese consumers buy health products, and a large proportion...

Vestiage hires direct-media partner with history of building brands

16-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Vestiage, Inc., a California-based nutraceutical company pursuing an off-the-shelf launch strategy, has enlisted ROI Media to conduct a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign.