British biochemist David Bender contends that most nutrients are a
waste of time, and that the so-called evidence to show their
apparent benefits either ignores the potential risks or focuses
only on certain results - a claim which...
An increasing willingness to try alternative medicines, especially
among women, is set to drive sales of vitamin and mineral
supplements across Europe, according to a new report from market
analysts Datamonitor.
Four new herbal confectionery products have been launched by
Canadian company Kitsune Foods which are designed to help give
athletes an extra energy boost.
Loders Croklaan Lipid Nutrition, the Dutch health ingredients
company recently put up for sale by Unilever, has launched two new
marine-based omega-3 fatty acid products in the US.
Claims that the US Food & Drug Administration was unduly
influenced by the US food industry when drawing up its guidelines
on fish consumption and mercury have been refuted by the National
Food Processors Association (NFPA).
The weight loss programme called Body Solutions, created by the US
group Mark Nutritionals, will now be available in retail outlets
throughout the US, the first time the product has been available in
shops.
Nutrition 21, the US producer of chromium picolinate products, has
announced that it will provide data to the US Institute of Medicine
(IOM) to help it assess the safety of the product.
Martek Biosciences Corporation, the US group which produces DHA and
EPA omega-3 ingredients, is to consolidate all its sales activities
related to products for the food and beverage industry in a bid to
streamline operations.
A clinical trial featuring Menotab, the herbal formula produced by
Himalaya USA, has shown that the product can help alleviate the
symptoms of the menopause, good news for women in the light of
recent revelations about the dangers...
A new study suggests that the recent rise of deaths from heatstroke
in American football players could be caused by the explosion in
popularity of supplements like ephedra and creatine.
An American study finds that omega-3 fatty acids may prevent heart
disease by improving arterial elasticity. The study adds to the
body of evidence which supports a high consumption of fish in the
diet.
More research published in the lastest issue of the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds further cause to promote
wholegrains. The food protects against cardiovascular disease ,
type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers thanks...
Action against kava kava looks set to result in legislation against
the sale of the herb in Britain, while in Singapore, the product is
classified as a poison.
A study published in the recent issue of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition finds that health benefits from soy protein
may not, after all, depend on the levels of soy isoflavones
present.
A study published in The Lancet this week suggests that
although people in developing countries often lack zinc in their
diets, taking supplements during pregnancy could harm the early
mental development of their children.
Dutch life science company DSM this week posted a net profit of
€959 million. DSM Food Specialties and DSM Bakery Ingredients
posted improved operating profits on the same period last year.
The European Commission is asking Austria to remove its ban on the
distance selling of food supplements as it opposes legislation of
free trade in the community.
America's dietary supplement trade body is to stress the importance
of nutrition and alternative medicine in a request to the
government for more funding for research.
Six popular supplement products will be the focus of an Institute
of Medicine programme designed to help the FDA decide whether
further saftey tests are needed.
BioDelivery Sciences International (BDSI), a US company which
specialises in nanotechnology for the pharmaceutical industry, has
signed an agreement with a major processed foods manufacturer to
collaborate on a project to determine...
Twinlab, the US-based manufacturer and marketer of nutritional
supplements, has announced a major restructuring plan designed to
help improve its financial performance.
Peanuts are not normally considered a diet food - primarily because
they are known to have a relatively high caloric level - but a new
study in the US has shown that they can be an effective diet food
because they act as an appetite...
Second quarter results at Merck, the German pharmaceutical group,
were impacted by competition from generic versions of its
top-selling product, the anti-diabetes drug Glucophage.
The US Food & Drug Administration is reconsidering its advice
about whether or not tuna fish is safe for pregnant women after its
earlier recommendation that a few servings of most fish are safe
was criticised for bowing to pressure...
A major study of the effects of hormone replacement therapy has
been halted after scientists discovered a major risk of ovarian
cancer - but there are plenty of natural alternatives to help women
deal with the menopause.
Insufficient intake of minerals iron, zinc and calcium in the diet
can lead to unhealthy increases in cadmium uptake in the kidney and
liver, according to scientists from the USDA's Agricultural
Research Service.
A new product which could help reduce the debilitating effects of
chemotherapy and radiotherapy among cancer sufferers is being
produced from pine bark.
A combination of high levels of homocysteine and low levels of
vitamin B12 is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease
among African Americans, according to a paper presented today at
the International Conference on...
NBTY posts strong rises in sales and profits for the third quarter
of the year, an impressive performance in a market which has been
in decline over the last six months.
Two studies of children's breakfast eating habits appear to show
that kids who eat oatmeal at the start of the day perform better in
memory tests - good news for Quaker Oats which sponsored the
studies.
A new website, AskAboutMeds.com, has been set up to provide
accurate, unbiased and, above all, useful information to the public
and professionals about drugs and supplements.
Niacin, the B vitamin which is known to raise blood glucose levels
when consumed in large quantities - making it inappropriate for use
as a diabetes treatment - could in fact be effective in treating
the disease, provided the dosage...
Pregnant women who take multivitamins can help reduce the risk of
their child having a major heart, limb or facial defect, according
to the latest research from scientists in the US.
Consumers for Health Choice, a natural products lobby group with a
number of high profile supporters, claims the Medicines Control
Agency has deliberately misled ministers about the impact of the EU
herbal products directive.
A new survey published in the US has shown that 87 per cent of
sports coaches across the country believe that dietary supplements
are a safe and effective means of improving performance.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Diabetes UK have issued a
joint statement condemning foods which claim to be suitable for
diabetics as of no real benefit.
Ninety-three people in Japan have suffered adverse reactions from
Chinese diet supplements, including three people who have died as a
result of taking the pills.
Vanson HaloSource, the US company which specialises in
chitosan-based products, has completed a new round of financing
which will help it finance the development of new supplement
products.
The European Commission has established new rules governing the
labelling of caffeine and quinine in drinks and food in a bid to
protect consumers who might be prone to adverse reactions.