Eye health

Fish oil molecule ups brain and eye cell survival odds from stroke

24-Apr-2017 By Will Chu

A molecule made from omega-3 fish oil could help damaged brain and retina cells survive in the event of a stroke or other neurodegenerative and eye-blinding disorders, a study has shown.

For research backing, carotenoids are king, eye health expert says

14-Apr-2017 By Hank Schultz

Perhaps the best case for the effects of supplementation can be made for carotenoids associated with eye health, says an expert who has studied the compounds.

Special edition: Omega-3s

Powerful PUFAs: The many health benefits of omega-3s

11-Apr-2017 By Stephen Daniells

From heart health to better brain function, and from improved exercise recovery to lower PTSD severity, is there nothing omega-3 can’t do?

Lutein and zeaxanthin levels linked to better cognitive function: Study

03-Apr-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Higher blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin may be associated with better cognition, memory, and executive function, says a new study from Ireland.

Resveratrol’s role in eye protection implied as metabolites cross blood barriers

23-Mar-2017 By Will Chu

Resveratrol and its metabolites have been detected in the eye after oral administration, signifying its ability to cross protective barriers and reinforce its potential benefit to vision conditions.

Organic & Natural Health launches omega-3 field study

21-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

The Organic and Natural Health Association has launched a consumer education campaign to encourage consumers to test their omega-3 levels to identify supplementation needs, following on from the success of its “Power of D” campaign.

To prep for April public launch, Supplement OWL site gets a few tweaks

15-Feb-2017 By Adi Menayang

The Supplement Online Wellness Library (OWL) website has been updated to include easier data input instructions, streamlining the data population process for the first industry-wide registry of finished products.

What next for Health Canada’s proposed NHP changes?

14-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Health Canada has received over 3,500 written comments in response to its proposed changes to how natural health products and dietary supplements are regulated.

Vitamin vending machines: Is this the future for supplements retailing in APAC?

14-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

The man who has launched Australia’s first store selling vitamins solely via vending machines wants to launch hundreds more in locations across the country, while also expanding to overseas markets such as China, Singapore, India and New Zealand.

Can a Registry Build Trust?

25-Jan-2017 By Steve Mister, president & CEO, CRN

Trust is a fickle thing. Just ask the political candidates in the recent election. It’s built over time and can be squandered overnight.

Office of Dietary Supplements outlines five-year strategic plan

06-Jan-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Creating and disseminating analytic tools for biomarkers, seeking to better understand the microbiome, and enhancing consumer to the Dietary Supplement Label Database are just some of the new directions outlined by the Office of Dietary Supplements for...

GNC to overhaul in-store experience in bid to halt sales slide

19-Dec-2016 By Hank Schultz

Supplement retailing giant GNC will hit the reset button on its customer experience by closing all of its corporate-owned stores for one day next week to install new checkout terminals and institute a new pricing structure.

Kemin & OmniActive resolve legal differences, begin to form Lutein and Zeaxanthin Trade Organization

12-Dec-2016 By Stephen Daniells

OmniActive Health Technologies, Ltd. and Kemin Industries, Inc. have settled their legal disputes and will cross license ‘use patents’ on lutein, zeaxanthin and their isomers.

Macular carotenoid supplements may improve recovery from ‘disability glare’: Study

08-Dec-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of lutein and zeaxanthin isomers may improve recovery from photostress and disability glare, says a new study using OmniActive’s Lutemax 2020 product.

Could effectiveness of AREDS formula differ by genotype?

05-Dec-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The potential benefits of the AREDS formulation of antioxidants and zinc may be linked to your genotype, says a new study from Tufts and Harvard.

Quality and Prop 65 compliance key to Spirulina growth: DIC Corp

29-Nov-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Spirulina may be nutrient packed, but it’s a focus on quality and a clean supply that will continue to support the steady growth being experienced by this ‘king of superfoods’, says DIC Corporation.

Kemin and OmniActive battle over blue light IP for lutein

28-Nov-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Lutein suppliers Kemin and OmniActive are locked in a legal battle over IP around blue light claims, with the International Trade Commission investigating the dispute, and an inter partes review of the patents.

Persavita gets US patent for Saffron 2020 for eye health

28-Nov-2016

The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted a patent to Montreal-based Persavita Inc. for its flagship natural eye health product, Saffron 2020.

Supplement OWL shows that there’s now a real willingness to be transparent with consumers: CRN

14-Oct-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Companies large and small have been beta-testing the CRN’s product registry – the Supplement Online Wellness Library (Supplement OWL) – and it will soon be open to all dietary supplement companies, but where are things right now and why should companies...

DSM Launches omega-3 campaign for healthcare practitioners

19-Sep-2016

The Know Your Ω campaign, launching at the 2016 AAFP Family Medicine Experience (FMX), is designed to educate healthcare practitioners on the health benefits of EPA + DHA omega-3s.

Companies beta-testing CRN’s dietary supplement product registry

14-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Nine companies are beta-testing the CRN’s product registry – the Supplement Online Wellness Library (Supplement OWL) – which is being developed and administered by UL.

Special edition: Algae

Expert says algae's promise still huge despite disappointments in ingredient development

23-Aug-2016 By Hank Schultz

Algae companies have a habit of over promising and under delivering. According to one longtime expert in the field, that’s almost by default, resulting from the organisms’ almost unlimited potential and the limited ability of current technology to realize...

OmniActive builds science for Lutemax 2020 for eye health

18-Aug-2016 By Stephen Daniells

OmniActive Health Technologies is investing heavily to deepen and broaden the scientific substantiation for its eye health ingredients, with new studies supporting the bioavailability, visual function, and benefits against the detrimental effects of digital...

Tespo: The ‘complete delivery system’ boosting compliance with liquid supplements

26-Jul-2016 By Stephen Daniells

With a dispenser that sits nicely on the counter, Tespo is aiming to boost compliance and deliver the daily nutrients and bioactives in a liquid.

Meta-analysis concludes meso-zeaxanthin improves performance of eye health formulations

18-Jul-2016 By Hank Schultz

A new meta-analysis strongly supports the use of meso-zeaxanthin along with lutein and zeaxanthin for use in eye health formulations.

Pre-natal multivitamins: ‘Pregnancy is no time to gamble’

14-Jul-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Recent headlines related to a review calling pre-natal vitamin and mineral supplements an “unnecessary expense” for most expectant mothers could lead to serious repercussions and a stronger response from all stakeholders is needed to challenge such statements.

Study shows 3-carotenoid formula boosts visual performance for non-impaired subjects

14-Jul-2016 By Hank Schultz

Researchers in Ireland have concluded via a long term trial that supplementation with three carotenoids—lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin—can improve the visual performance of subjects who had normal vision to start.

Kemin gets patent for lutein/zeaxanthin for eye protection

12-Jul-2016

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued Kemin Industries a patent for the role of lutein zeaxanthin in protecting individuals with three common ocular disorders from blue light or light-induced damage.

298 studies reviewed

Omega-3 intake map shows vast deficiencies & health risks

22-Jun-2016 By Natalie Morrison

A new world map of omega-3 levels shows consumption is too low to prevent cardiovascular and cognitive health issues, in many places.

FDA takes company to task over medical food for macular degeneration

16-Jun-2016 By Hank Schultz

A warning letter from FDA emphasizes again that medical foods must meet very specific requirements in order to qualify for that status.

Sea buckthorn compounds show eye health support

10-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Proanthocyanidins (PACs) from sea buckthorn seeds may protect retinas from harmful light effects, says a new study.

Researcher: 'Lutein could be more important than vitamin C.'

Lutein shows brain health promise beyond ‘Alzheimer’s of the eye’

09-Jun-2016 By Shane Starling from Lisbon, Portugal

Eye health nutrient lutein may be even more important for brain function, a congress has heard.

CRN: Dietary supplements industry contributes $122 billion, 750K jobs to US economy

08-Jun-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The US dietary supplements industry’s contributes over $120 billion to the US economy, or 0.68% of GDP, says a new report.

TABS Analytics Vitamins & Minerals Study: Are heavy users in decline?

23-May-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Heavy buyers of vitamin and mineral supplement products are in decline, according to new research from the TABS Analytics.

NAXA adds finished products to natural astaxanthin testing scheme

19-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Differentiating natural vs synthetic sources has been the raison d'être for The Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association. NAXA has expanded that mission to finished products with the announcement of the extension of its verification program.

Algae Life Sciences announces 239 structure/function claims

05-May-2016

The claims relate to the company’s AstaZine Natural Astaxanthin product, which is extracted from certified organic Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae.

Founding member AstaReal withdraws from NAXA

02-May-2016 By Hank Schultz

Founding member AstaReal has withdrawn from the Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association, while at the same time the association announced a new member, Chinese company Yunnan Alphy Biotech Company, Ltd.

Tomorrow! NutraIngredients-USA's Omega-3 Forum

27-Apr-2016

Experts from GOED, NBTY, Wiley’s Finest, Cornell University, and will discuss the market forces, science, supply chain, and future opportunities in omega-3s in a FREE forum hosted by NutraIngredients-USA.

Insights into banana carotenoids could hold key to fighting blindness

26-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

Insights into how bananas make and store carotenoids could help in the future development of banana varieties to combat vitamin A deficiency and blindness, say researchers.

BGG to use new Mexico City office as springboard for Latin America expansion

21-Apr-2016 By Hank Schultz

Chinese supplier BGG is taking a big step to expand the global footprint of its ingredients with recent establishment of an office in Mexico City to go along with a new European site.

Special Edition: Omega-3s

Convenience, concentrates, and 3rd generation forms: Where’s the innovation in the omega-3 space?

21-Apr-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Are natural retail buyers bored with fish oil? Can concentrates, convenience, combination products, and third generation forms re-engage them?

From science to shelves: the development of MacuView

Study says MacuView helps with eye health and AMD

20-Apr-2016 By Jim Cornall

A recent study published in the Journal of Ophthalmology has shown the benefits of consuming a dairy drink, MacuView, containing lutein-, zeaxanthin- and DHA-enriched egg yolk.

Healthy tears: Vitamin C may protect against cataracts

25-Mar-2016 By Will Chu

Increasing vitamin C intake may have a protective effect against the progression of cataracts, a British study has revealed.

MusclePharm continues to post sales increases, but stumbles with cash flow, governance issues

07-Mar-2016 By Hank Schultz

MusclePharm Corporation, a sports nutrition firm noted for its aggressive marketing via athlete endorsements, continues its meteoric growth curve even as the company required additional funding earlier this year and the stock price continues to fall.

BGG folds astaxanthin, future algal ingredient development into new subsidiary Algae Life Sciences

03-Mar-2016 By Hank Schultz

A new player has entered the astaxanthin market as Chinese ingredient supplier BGG has formed a subsidiary named Algae Life Sciences to market the carotenoid produced from a facility in Yunnan province.

More astaxanthin capacity in market benefits ingredient's growth prospects, Algatech says

22-Feb-2016 By Hank Schultz

The sky is the limit for astaxanthin now that secure levels of supply are in the market, a group of journalists touring Israeli companies were told recently.

Special Edition: Innovations in Minerals

Zinc: 40% sales growth sees mineral closing in on magnesium

18-Feb-2016 By Stephen Daniells

An increased interest in zinc’s clinical effects is driving consumer interest in zinc supplements, with supplier Albion reporting sky-rocketing sales of its zinc ingredients.

Trade association opposes U.S. Customs proposal to reclassify certain bilberry and blueberry extracts

29-Jan-2016 By Adi Menayang

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) submitted a comment to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), expressing their opposition to proposals that would “change the tariff classification of certain bilberry and blueberry extract powders,” the...

Curcumin, synbiotics, omega-3s & garlic: The Top 10 Science of 2015

16-Dec-2015 By Stephen Daniells

From breakthrough studies to controversial hypotheses, it has been a fascinating year for science for dietary supplements. In this special gallery we review the top science headlines from 2015.