Blood sugar management

Niagen shown to be effective against diabetes complications in mice

01-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

A new study done on mice suggests that nicotinamide riboside can help restrict the development of insulin resistance and diabetic neuropathy.

Review supports safety of green tea extracts

25-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

A recent systematic review of clinical trials using green tea extract underscores the ingredient’s overall safety, despite some recent associations with liver damage.

‘We need to achieve a prebiotic health claim to advance research in the category’: Academic

23-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Despite an abundance of health benefits, the lack of a prebiotic health claim in Europe is stalling research in a number of areas, says a leading prebiotic researcher.

Prunus mume extract significantly benefit liver functions over placebo

18-May-2016 By Adi Menayang

The Asian plum of the rosaceae family, has been studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver protecting properties. A study funded by Swiss company Stragen Pharma looks deeper into how this plum extract can benefit the liver.

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2016

Geneva convention: Vitamin K2 leaders meet to discuss quality & collaboration

17-May-2016 By Shane STARLING

Vitamin K2 leaders like NattoPharma and Kappa Bioscience met with others in the sector from India and east Asia in Geneva last week with the aim of developing a common quality standard.

Work on soil improvement leads to mineral ingredient for supplements

16-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Work in organic agriculture led Mineral Biosciences to the development of a “fossil mineral” with a claim to blood sugar management properties.

The retail buyer’s guide to new products at the Healthy & Natural Show: Supplements

06-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Walking the floor at the Healthy & Natural Show and looking for the new and innovative? We round-up the new products in the supplement aisles.

Novel bitter melon extract show metabolic and anti-obesity effects: Study

03-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Oil extracts from the seeds of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) may help reduce body weight, suggests a new study from China.

Vegan meal replacement makers want to reach underserved populations by using hip hop tie-in

20-Apr-2016 By Hank Schultz

VeganSmart, a plant-based line of meal replacements, is penetrating areas plagued with malnutrition via a unique marketing vehicle—the power of hip hop.

Study finds ferric pyrophosphate mix can increase iron bioavailability

12-Apr-2016 By Adi Menayang

Designing a stable product with highly bioavailable iron isn’t an easy task, as the nutraceutical world knows. A group of scientists propose mixing ferric pyrophosphate powder with other ions that can influence the protolytic equilibrium to achieve this...

10 studies from Experimental Biology that caught our eye Part 2: Omega-3s, lutein and mistletoe

11-Apr-2016 By Stephen Daniells

We continue our coverage of some of the standout studies presented at Experimental Biology 2016 in San Diego. So what did we learn about lutein and cognition, omega-3s and cardiometabolic risk, or mistletoe and muscle loss?

Curcumin shows benefits for people with metabolic syndrome: RCT

06-Apr-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Bioavailable curcumin supplements may improve levels of adiponectin, a hormone that plays an important role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and energy, in people with metabolic syndrome, says a new study.

Regulatory experts to open 2016 IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas

23-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Experts from the US FDA, EFSA, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and Anvisa will provide regulatory insights about global probiotic regulations at the 2016 IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas.

Higher magnesium levels linked to healthier arteries: Study

08-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Higher serum levels of magnesium may reduce the risk of hypertension by almost 50% and the risk of coronary artery calcification by 42%, says a new study.

Vitamin K supplements may improve glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity: Review

24-Feb-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of vitamin K1 and K2 may help reduce the risk of diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, says a new review of the scientific literature.

Cocoa flavanols may use gut microbiota pathway to ease metabolic syndrome: Review

29-Jan-2016 By Will Chu

Consuming cocoa flavanols may interact with the gut microbiota as a way of preventing metabolic syndrome or easing the condition’s symptoms, a review has concluded.

Special edition: Microbiome metrics & advances

Beyond microbiota: Prebiotics need hard health endpoints

28-Jan-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Hard health endpoints, not just changes to microbiota, are needed to secure EU prebiotic health claims and bring fibre intakes up to recommended levels, according to European researchers.

XOS alters microbiome of pre diabetic individuals in study

27-Jan-2016 By Hank Schultz

In a UCLA study on xylooligosaccharide the prebiotic fiber showed the potential for altering the gut microbiome of pre diabetic individuals.

Chr. Hansen targets diabetes with next-generation probiotic deal

20-Jan-2016 By Will Chu

A collaboration between Chr. Hansen and Caelus Health will focus on the development of Eubacterium hallii as a next generation probiotic for prevention and treatment of metabolic disease. 

More lycopene linked to longer lives for people with metabolic syndrome

19-Jan-2016 By Stephen DANIELLS

Higher blood levels of lycopene may reduce the risk of mortality in people with metabolic syndrome, says a new study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“Small but significant”: Pea fiber may help cut calorie consumption, says human study

19-Jan-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming 15 grams per day of yellow pea fiber may help reduce body fat and energy intake in overweight and obese adults, says a new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Does search for single component active constituents throw baby out with bath water?

11-Dec-2015 By Hank Schultz

Pharmaceutical-style reductionism has been the order of the day in the dietary supplement business. But strong synergistic countercurrents still exist, generated by product developers adhering to older traditions such as TCM and Ayurveda.

Niagen nicotinamide riboside may reduce obesity-related inflammation

20-Nov-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Nicotinamide riboside, a vitamin B3 derivative, may reduce inflammation linked to obesity, and reduce the risk of diseases linked to this type of inflammation, according to pre-clinical data from scientists at the National Institutes of Health.

P&G meta-analyses supports psyllium fiber’s blood sugar management potential

18-Nov-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming psyllium may help blood sugar management, say meta-analyses of 35 randomized, controlled, clinical studies from scientists at Procter & Gamble and Duke University.

Special edition: Inflammation

High potency omega-3s & curcuminoids: NBTY’s top scientists on what’s next in inflammation

13-Nov-2015 By Stephen Daniells

New product delivery formats, a long list of ingredients, and scientific consensus are driving developments in supplements positioned for inflammation, NBTY’s top scientists tell NutraIngredients-USA.

Microbiota influences impact of dietary strategies for blood sugar: Study

12-Nov-2015 By Louisa Richards

People with better control of blood sugar after eating barley kernel bread also have a different balance of microbes in the gut, a new study in Cell Metabolism reveals.

Tocotrienols may improve cardiometabolic health, for rats at least

09-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Delta- and gamma-tocotrienols may be more effective than alpha-tocotrienol and alpha-tocopherol in attenuating metabolic syndrome, suggests a recent study in diet-induced obese rats.

Higher dietary magnesium linked to lower metabolic syndrome risk, says new meta-analysis

06-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Increased intakes of magnesium from the diet may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome by 22%, says a new meta-analysis.

Dutch supplier unveils egg protein with pre-diabetic positioning

14-Oct-2015 By Hank Schultz

Dutch company Newtricious is bringing a new egg protein hydrosolate ingredient market with data backing its cardiovascular and metabolic health benefits.

‘Palatinose is an innovative solution meant to provide new concepts,’ says Beneo

01-Oct-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Beneo’s isomaltulose ingredient is winning over endurance athletes with its steady carbohydrate energy supply, but what next for the ingredient, and what about reports of GI discomfort?

AlaskOmega jumps into omega-7 arena with new fish oil ingredient

30-Sep-2015 By Hank Schultz

The omega oils story continues to ramify as companies compete to launch products outside the core omega-3s space. The latest entrant is AlaskOmega, which has launched an omega-7 fish oil concentrate.

Ingredion petitions FDA for diabetes risk reduction health claim

17-Sep-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Ingredion has submitted a health claim petition to the FDA for its Hi-Maize high-amylose corn resistant starch and reduction of risk for type 2 diabetes.

Study confirms blood sugar management potential of chromium picolinate

01-Sep-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of chromium picolinate may help to control blood sugar levels in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, says a new study from Brazil.

Coffee polyphenol may help manage blood sugar in healthy people: Study

26-Aug-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Polyphenols from coffee may improve blood sugar levels and boost endothelial function in healthy men, says a new study from Japan.

Vitamin D has no real benefit for obese teens’ heart health or diabetes risk, pilot study suggests

24-Aug-2015 By Nathan Gray

Supplementing obese teens with high doses of vitamin D may not have benefits on endothelial functions related to the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, say researchers.

L. reuteri supplements may modulate gut insulin metabolism: RCT

21-Aug-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri probiotics may boost insulin release in healthy people, says a new study.

Early lutein doesn’t impact kids’ diabetes, heart disease, stroke risk: 2000-strong 5-year study

20-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Taking lutein at 13 months of age does not benefit the child’s cardiometabolic health at six, say researchers.

Calcium & magnesium reduce risk of metabolic syndrome: 9000-strong study

13-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Calcium and magnesium may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome – but men need above and beyond recommended levels for this effect, say researchers.

Ethnic South American fruit may offer polyphenol-packed flour for functional foods

04-Aug-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Flour made from chañar fruit (Geoffroea decorticans) may be used as a functional food ingredient to help reduce the risk of conditions associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, researchers report.

Magnesium supplements may help blood sugar management for pre-diabetics: RCT

04-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Magnesium chloride supplements may lower blood sugar levels and counter insulin resistance, says a new study from Mexico.

Fatty liver disease is a major untapped opportunity for nutraceuticals; platform established

23-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Research, focus and regulatory cunning will be needed if the nutraceutical industry is to tap into the relatively unexplored area of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), says the consultancy firm behind a new dedicated clinical trial platform.

Flaxseed beats probiotics for improved insulin sensitivity & altered microbiota

06-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A study comparing fibrous flaxseed with probiotics has questioned the latter’s ability to alter gut microbiota and improve obesity-related metabolic diseases. 

Protein and veg before carbs helps keep blood sugar in check, say researchers

02-Jul-2015 By Nathan Gray

The order in which we eat food could play a vital role in how our bodies manage post-meal blood sugar and insulin levels, a small study has reported.

Ecological characteristics of human gut still only dimly understood, researcher says

30-Jun-2015 By Hank Schultz

Ecological models of the human microbiome, underpinned by statistical techniques, have made significant strides over the past 15 years. But much remains to be discovered, including how to make a more or less symptom-free intestinal tract work better,...

Cargill on Trehalose: The biggest challenge is limited awareness but every new product is helping

29-Jun-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

One year on from the ‘Taco Bell affair’ and Cargill is continuing to see growth in demand for its Trehalose additive, but the biggest challenge continues to be limited awareness of ingredient’s numerous functional properties.

Probiota Americas

Can gut microbes affect eating behavior? It's an intriguing field of research, expert says

12-Jun-2015 By Hank Schultz

Evidence continues to mount that the gut microbiome affects gut health in a number of ways, one of which appears to be by inducing the nervous system to send signals to the brain via the vagus nerve and other pathways. Can the makeup of this microbial...

Patent watch

Abbott Labs files patent for ‘better tasting’ nutritional powders

09-Jun-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Abbott Laboratories has filed an international patent for a process it says allows it to produce better-tasting powders with improved nutrient content.

Supplement launches that aims to help people prone to Type 2 diabetes make healthy lifestyle switch

01-Jun-2015 By Hank Schultz

Type 2 diabetes continues to stalk the US population. It’s a public health crisis that has created market opportunities, and one of the companies rushing to fill that breach is Glucose Health, Inc. which has launched a supplement of the same name.

Higher fibre intake could cut diabetes risk

28-May-2015 By Nathan Gray

New research data, coupled with a fresh meta-analysis of previous studies, has added to evidence that increasing dietary fibre reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

‘Game changer’: ChromaDex inks deal with Suntava to produce concentrated anthocyanin ingredient

26-May-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Irvine, CA-based ChromaDex has signed a worldwide license and supply agreement for Suntava Purple Corn to produce a highly concentrated anthocyanin ingredient at a price point that should appeal to mass markets, the companies have announced.