Energy

The Vitamin Shoppe refreshes online shopping experience pushing personalization

12-Jul-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The Vitamin Shoppe, which has struggled with declining sales from its brick and mortar business, continues to place more focus on its digital business, working with e-commerce solutions provider GroupBy to optimize and personalize its online shopping...

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Popping crystals aim to be as big as gummies for nutrient delivery

11-Jul-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

PFHIX started as a food ingredients company selling its effervescent popping crystals in bulk and under private label, but has recently made a hard pivot into the nutraceutical space, working with companies such as Applied Food Sciences, Glanbia, and...

"It's time we stopped using both terms interchangeably"

'Sports drinks' versus 'energy drinks': The two must be differentiated, argues ESSNA

11-Jul-2018 By Nathan Gray

It is vital that sports drinks designed to enhance the performance of athletes are clearly differentiated from highly caffeinated energy drinks that are not, says the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA).

CRN updates guidelines on SARMs, caffeine

09-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

The Council for Responsible Nutrition has updated two guidelines for members, bringing practices in line with the latest changes in federal regulations. One deals with SARMs, another with high potency forms of caffeine.

Mixfit deal sees DSM enter consumer market for personalised nutrition

04-Jul-2018 By Nathan Gray

Global nutrition and health giant DSM has taken its first step into the B2C personalised nutrition market with a deal to acquire 50% of consumer-facing start-up Mixfit.

Researchers propose new caffeine mode of action in protecting ageing heart

29-Jun-2018 By Will Chu

A mode of action that explains a new and potentially protective effect of caffeine on the heart could serve as a strategy in tackling cardiovascular (CV) disease and boosting the healthy ageing process.

June new product launches: Bars, brains and shots

26-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

From liquid supplement shots to a subscription kit of cognitive health supplements, here are nine new finished product launches from the last few weeks.

Equating bitter orange extract with ephedra just 'an old wives tale,' researcher says

19-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

A researcher with long experience in p-synephrine, the active ingredient in bitter orange extract, says he’s frustrated with the intransigence of certain authorities who deem the ingredient unsafe because of a superficial chemical resemblance to the banned...

FORTO ramps up distribution entering Walmart stores nationwide

19-Jun-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

FORTO Coffee Shots, a two-ounce, single-serve coffee drink brand, is migrating from check-out counters populated by other energy shot brands and into the coffee aisles of 3,700 Walmart stores beginning this month.

Synapse co-founders want to bring nootropics to college students and tired travelers

04-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

A college internship at a medical lab brought together three students with a knack for entrepreneurship and interest in nootropics. Then, Synapse was born.

Pass the maca...Herbal shot startup NOURI on a mission to 'make herbs sexy again'

31-May-2018 By Kacey Culliney

Berlin-based startup NOURI wants to expand into the UK supplements market with its line of highly-concentrated stimulant shots that it says shake up a very 'dusty' herbal market.

Use of aromatase inhibitor forms basis of warning letter

30-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

A recently posted warning letter cites a New York company for the presence of an aromatase inhibitor in one of its dietary supplements. This class of chemicals is popular with strength trainers for its purported ability to suppress estrogen levels.

Probiotics developer finds functional candidates in athletes' microbiomes

29-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

Jonathan Schieman, PhD has chartered a research course and founded a research company based on the search for good bacteria that want to be great.

Active Nutrition concepts help marketers reach consumers in their individual ‘tribes’

25-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

Connecting with the concepts driving Active Nutrition can help brands reach consumers who are subdivided into individual communities of interest, experts told an online audience this week.

Having ingredients that can make a cross platform play key to prospering as sports nutrition market develops, supplier says

23-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

The sports nutrition market continues to ramify beyond the dedicated gym goer set. In this era of Active Nutrition, those companies with ingredients that can play in multiple spaces will prosper, a supplier says.

Mind Lab Pro exec: ‘Nootropic is not yet a household word, but mystery only adds to its sex appeal and marketing sizzle’

17-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

Not many cognitive support supplements actually use the word ‘nootropic’ in their product name. British brand Mind Lab Pro is one of the few that do.

How do you test a nootropic supplement for efficacy? Analytical labs weigh in

16-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

There has been an increased demand for testing nootropic dietary supplements, according to several analytical labs. How can companies substantiate claims around cognitive benefits?

Jaksch says move into chairman role part of ChromaDex's pivot toward finished goods

14-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

A strategic pivot toward finished products underpins his impending move toward an advisory role, said ChromaDex CEO Frank Jaksch.

May new product launches: Plasma-blasted protein, probiotics for vaginal health, and more

11-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

In this month’s round-up of recently released finished products, we see some product launches in the probiotic space, a protein powder manufactured with relatively new technology, and an iconic pre-workout supplement powder now in canned and carbonated...

Cellucor C4 On The Go Carbonated aims for positioning between sports performance and energy drink segments

09-May-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Cellucor, a brand under NutraBolt, is poised to take advantage of the steady rebound the conventional energy drink category is seeing with the recent launch of C4 On The Go Carbonated beverages positioned as a healthier alternative.

Recapitalized Vitargo recalibrates strategy, dosing as it exits bankruptcy

07-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

Newly recapitalized sports nutrition brand Vitargo is bolstering its scientific staff, rethinking its strategy and refining its dosing as it exits bankruptcy.

Dr Low Dog: Nutrient testing is a key missing part of Western medical training

02-May-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The often-quoted message that "everyone gets everything they need by eating a healthy diet" is clearly not true, says Tieraona Low Dog, MD, but testing for micronutrient deficiencies / status in primary care remains very limited.

Sens. Hatch, Whitehouse push bill to help DEA target SARMs

25-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

A bill to give DEA more authority to get SARMs off the market has been introduced by longtime dietary supplement industry supporter Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT.

Special edition: Multivitamins

Selenium, vitamin K2 and nicotinamide riboside ride new research toward roles beyond being multivitamin bit players

24-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

New indications for ingredients that have been featured in many multivitamin products have helped to expand their reach into different formulations and even standalone products.

With restructuring charges put to rest, MusclePharm’s turnaround plan gains credence

23-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

Embattled sports nutrition brand MusclePharm has turned a corner in its recovery efforts, according to CEO Ryan Drexler. The company, whose continued existence at one time seemed to hang in the balance, is on a solid growth curve, he said.

Thrive+ founder: ‘We want to be used any time someone drinks alcohol’

20-Apr-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Trademarked as an “After-Alcohol Aid”, Thrive+ is targeting legal drinking age adults who regularly consume alcohol with its patented combination of Dihydromyricetin (DHM) and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC).

Even with a GMP clean bill of health, overblown claims can spark warning letter

19-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

Operating a fully compliant manufacturing facility is no bulwark against trouble caused by noncompliant disease claims, as a recent warning letter illustrates.

FDA issues guidance on pure powdered caffeine

16-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

FDA has issued a guidance which says certain highly concentrated caffeine products will henceforth be considered adulterated. The guidance follows the agency’s concerns about the appearance on the market of pure powdered caffeine sold in bulk.

As availability of Halal certified ingredients continues to rise, NoorVitamins shifts focus to optimizing formulations

16-Apr-2018 By Adi Menayang

It is easier to come across Halal-certified ingredients in the dietary supplement space today than it was when NoorVitamins started in 2011, CEO Dr. Mohamed Issa told NutraIngredients-USA.

BioPQQ shoots beyond cognitive health benefits to capture younger consumers

13-Apr-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Since receiving an NDI for its BQQ Ingredient in 2008, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America is uncovering further potential benefits beyond cognitive health functions such as increased energy and stamina.

Baby boomers are the past and present of the nutraceuticals industry, millennials and Gen Z are the future

12-Apr-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The needs of aging baby boomers is shaping the future of the nutraceutical industry, research done by Vitafoods Europe suggests, but the US market is telling a different story, according to co-founder and chief marketing officer of BrandHive, Jeff Hilton....

Study linking astaxanthin and sesamin to reduced mental fatigue 'bears the hallmarks of a modern urban lifestyle'

10-Apr-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The combination of astaxanthin and sesamin (AS) may help promote recovery from mental and physical fatigue, according to a study from Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan.

NEWS IN BRIEF

GNC partners with Rapid Nutrition to enter Australian market

05-Apr-2018 By Adi Menayang

Pittsburgh-headquartered retailer GNC announced today that its products are entering the Australian market through a partnership with Rapid Nutrition.

Niagen study confirms NAD+ boost, points to future opportunities in blood pressure, arterial stiffness endpoints

03-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

A new study on ChromaDex Corp.’s Niagen ingredient confirms that supplementation with the vitamin B3 form boosts NAD+ levels in human tissue and suggests future avenues of research in blood pressure and arterial stiffness endpoints.

Arjuna launches ‘highly potent’ ashwaganda; clinical trials on ingredient ongoing

29-Mar-2018 By Adi Menayang

Indian ingredients company Arjuna launched a new ashwagandha extract product called Shoden for the US market this week.

Dutch authorities call for legal limits on synephrine in food supplements

26-Mar-2018 By Tim Cutcliffe

Dutch authorities are calling for legislation defining legal limits of synephrine in food supplements, which is increasingly used in dietary supplements, after potentially adverse health effects were been identified in a risk assessment.

Growing China functional beverage market leads to increased capacity for Danone's Mizone drinks

22-Mar-2018 By Lester Wan

OEM firm Nanjing Ziquan is investing in new production capabilities for functional drink brand Mizone in China, with the domestic market tipped for double-digit growth.

New whey isolate pioneers protein’s appearance in clear, carbonated beverages

21-Mar-2018 By Hank Schultz

Milk Specialties Global is helping to forge a new category for protein with a form of whey protein that can function in clear, carbonated beverages.

Kill Cliff exec shares challenges in marketing specialty carbohydrates in age of sugar reduction

21-Mar-2018 By Adi Menayang

Atlanta-based Kill Cliff, a sports beverage brand focusing on clean label formulations, launched a new line of sports drinks called Endure, which features a slow-burning specialty carbohydrate, at the Natural Products Expo West show. However, the carbohydrate...

Special Edition: Sports Nutrition

Immense potential: Can microbiome science and probiotic developments drive sports nutrition gains?

21-Mar-2018 By Nathan Gray

Insights gained from developments in microbiome science could have huge potential to boost sports performance through nutrition — with recent findings showing the make-up of our gut bacteria can help shape elite athletic performance and sports recovery.

Special Edition: Botanicals

From calming capsules to energizing teas: Botanical product launches at Expo West

20-Mar-2018 By Adi Menayang

What’s new in the botanical supplements and functional foods this year? We caught up with some botanical-focused companies at the Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim, CA, earlier this month to get the scoop.

SCIENCE SHORT

Carbohydrate mouth rinse fails to improve performance in short distance cycling time trial, study finds

16-Mar-2018 By Tim Cutcliffe

The use of a carbohydrate mouth rinse (CMR) failed to improve the performance of cyclists in a four kilometre (km) cycling time trial, reveals a new study in Nutrients.

Caffeine’s skeletons firmly locked in closet as sales of products soar

15-Mar-2018 By Hank Schultz

Whatever headwinds have afflicted caffeine as an ingredient seem to have had no effect whatever on sales of caffeinated beverages. Monster Beverage, which was once hauled before a congressional hearing on its practice of marketing its beverages to minors,...

Celsius' revenues skyrocket in advance of large-scale China launch

13-Mar-2018 By Hank Schultz

Fast-growing energy drink brand Celsius Holdings recorded nearly 60% growth in revenue year over year, even as investments in its China launch mean it is still reporting losses overall.

Coromega goes into sports space with packets of protein and MCT energy gel

13-Mar-2018 By Adi Menayang

The omega-3 specialist company Coromega launched its first products specifically positioned for sports at the Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim, CA, last weekend.

Health Canada issues warning about product containing yohimbe

28-Feb-2018 By Hank Schultz

Health Canada had extended a warning on dietary supplement products being sold in Canada with Natural Products Numbers and containing illegal ingredients such as yohimbine and sildenafil analogues.

News in Brief

Inno-Bev gets US patent on botanical formula for alterness

27-Feb-2018 By Hank Schultz

Israeli company Inno-Bev Ltd., says it has received a US patent on a plant-based alterness formula called WakeUp, which is sold both as a liquid supplement shot and in a separately branded ready to drink beverage.

Energy drinks, sugared beverages associated with sleep disruption among adolescents

27-Feb-2018 By Adi Menayang

Canadian researchers analyzed data of more than 9,000 adolescents in Ontario and found that short sleep duration was associated with energy drink and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among middle and high school students.

News in Brief

Kyowa Hakko positions Setria glutathione for food applications with GRAS affirmation

23-Feb-2018 By Hank Schultz

Kyowa Hakko USA has announced self-affirmed GRAS status on its Setria ingredient, which is a branded form of glutathione.

In a category dominated by fruity flavors, energy shot brand Cafecito stands out

21-Feb-2018 By Adi Menayang

The aroma and flavor of coffee, to many people, is what one associates with energy and waking up. But not everyone wants a full cup of coffee, and even fewer people in the US have the time or equipment to make an espresso.