Eye health

Cyanotech posts record sales, marred only by production issues, legal fees

13-Feb-2013 By Hank Schultz

Microalgae producer Cyanotech recorded a record $7.2 million in sales in the third quarter, an 8% rise year-over-year. Net income declined, however, coming at at $607,000 compared to $1.1 million a year earlier.

Lutein pills may boost night vision: RCT

29-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of lutein may improve vision and help with tasks such as driving at night, say data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Special edition: Innovations in minerals

Zinc benefitting from EU health claims game

24-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling

Used in cigarette filters, as a corrosive, pigment and in the manufacture of rubber and concrete, zinc forms like zinc oxide and zinc suphate are also important nutrients for physiological wellbeing. And 18 new European Union health claims – the most...

Letter to the editor – Eye health nutrients

Kemin: 'Statement that all three carotenoids found in the macula may be needed in a formulation is premature'

23-Jan-2013 By Richard Roberts, PhD; Justin Green, PhD; Samanta Maci, MS. Kemin

The statement by eye health researchers that all three carotenoids found in the macula may be needed in a formulation to boost levels of these carotenoids in the macula is 'premature', say leading scientists from Kemin.

Letter to the editor

Comment is free, but fact is sacred: The 3 macular carotenoids are required to enrich macular pigment and optimise vision

22-Jan-2013 By Dr. John Nolan and Prof. Stephen Beatty - Macular Pigment Research Group, Vision Research Centre, Waterford, Ireland

Claims that meso-zeaxanthin is not required for eye health formulations in addition to the established ingredients, lutein and zeaxanthin, are "misleading" and "erroneous", leading eye-health researchers tell NutraIngredients.

'Well-established science does not support need for 3 carotenoid combinations for eye health formulations': Kemin experts

18-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A recent study that proposed the necessity of including meso-zeaxathin in eye health formulas along with lutein and zeaxanthin has been challenged by scientists at Kemin.

Eye health formulations may require three-carotenoid combinations, says ‘important and novel’ data

15-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A combination of three carotenoids - lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin – may be needed to boost retinal levels and support eye health, suggests new data from Ireland and the UK.

2000-year-old food supplements found in Tuscan shipwreck

08-Jan-2013 By Shane STARLING

Italian researchers have uncovered zinc food supplements thought to treat eye problems from a shipwreck off the coast of Tuscany.

Vitamins: A Centenary of essential nutrients

Birthday gifts: Vitamins celebrate centenary with EU health claim wins

28-Nov-2012 By Shane Starling

2012 is turning out to be a very good year for the vitamins sector. Aside from the feel good factor of the essential nutrients turning 100, vitamins have also won a bag of health claims in the European Union to go with those already existing in other...

Bioriginal to distribute Norwegian krill

08-Nov-2012

Canadian lipid specialist Bioriginal has inked a deal with Olympic Seafood to distribute the Norwegian firm’s krill offerings.

ABC bilberry article seeks to close door on adulteration

05-Nov-2012 By Hank Schultz

An article published by the American Botanical Council for the first time gathers in one place all of the information available on how bilberry extracts are being adulterated in the marketplace, said coauthor and ABC executive director Mark Blumenthal.

Starch better than alginate for lutein and zeaxanthin bioavailability: Industry study

11-Oct-2012 By Shane Starling

Research into the bioavailability of carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin has confirmed that bioavailability is very much dependent on formulations used, with starch blends performing better than alginate.

Vitamin D shows eye health benefits: Study

29-Aug-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary supplements of vitamin D3 may boost visual function in lab mice, suggests a new study from the UK with potential implications for the eye health market.

Special edition: The infinite potential of algae

Algae Biosciences: What will differentiate us in algal omegas market is purity

23-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

Near perfect growing conditions for algae combined with an ultra-efficient production process will give AlgaeBio a competitive edge in the algal ingredients market, its boss has claimed.

Special edition: The infinite potential of algae

Welcome to the jungle: New entrants square up for battle in the algal ingredients market

23-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

There is room for multiple players in the burgeoning algal-ingredients market, but having a cost-efficient and sustainable production process will be mission critical to long-term survival, say bosses at new market entrants bidding for a piece of the...

DSM promises “business continuity” as it completes €436m omega-3 buy

19-Jul-2012 By Shane Starling

Royal DSM has emphasised “business continuity” and “smooth integration” following the completion of its $CAD540m (€436m) buy-out of the world’s largest omega-3 fish oil supplier, Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC), today.

Olympic Seafood begins krill lipid research partnership

05-Jul-2012 By Nathan Gray

Norwegian krill ingredient supplier Olympic Seafood AS has kicked off a new research partnership to investigate the fundamental science behind krill phospholipids.

Kemin enters ‘strategic partnership’ for naturally-sourced zeaxanthin

05-Jul-2012 By Nathan Gray

Carotenoid player Kemin has announced the exclusive licensing of naturally-sourced zeaxanthin from marigolds.

Kemin enters natural zeaxanthin market: ‘It’s a natural thing for us to do’

05-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

FloraGLO lutein supplier Kemin has bolstered its presence in the eye health market with a deal to secure exclusive access to a natural source of potent yellow antioxidant zeaxanthin.

Algal omega-3s gain momentum as BioProcess Algae strikes deal with KD-Pharma to supply EPA-rich omega-3 oils

02-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

US microalgal oils firm BioProcess Algae has struck a deal with KD-Pharma - the German fats and oils division of Swiss firm Bioseutica - to supply it with ultra-concentrated EPA-rich omega-3 oils for nutraceutical and pharma applications.

Astaxanthin wars: Cyanotech and Valensa row over competition, IP

02-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

Hawaii-based microalgae specialist Cyanotech and Florida-based nutraceutical firm US Nutraceuticals (doing business as Valensa International) have become embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over the potent red antioxidant astaxanthin.

Beta-carotene and vitamin E offer ‘no benefit’ for AMD: Cochrane review

20-Jun-2012

Supplementation with vitamin E of beta-carotene will not prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration, while there is not enough evidence to assess the benefits of other popular supplement combinations including lutein and zeaxanthin, according...

Nordic Naturals taps into demand for ‘fishless fish oil’ with new algal EPA/DHA products

14-Jun-2012 By Elaine Watson

Omega-3 supplement specialist Nordic Naturals has met growing demand for products that deliver the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA - minus the fish - with the launch of its new vegetarian Algal Omega brand.

Neptune: ‘Krill oil is the fastest growing ingredient in the omega-3 market’

06-Jun-2012 By Elaine Watson

Krill oil is “the fastest growing ingredient in the whole omega-3 market”, Canadian krill oil firm Neptune Technologies & Bioressources has claimed after unveiling its preliminary results for the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

Meso-zeaxanthin needed for eye health benefits for high-risk AMD population?

04-Jun-2012 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of three carotenoids - lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin – may be needed for eye health benefits in people with abnormal retinal pigmentation, suggests new data from Ireland.

Neptune posts 31% rise in nutraceutical sales in Q4 as krill oil demand grows

25-May-2012 By Elaine Watson

Canadian krill oil firm Neptune Technologies & Bioressources has posted a 31% surge in sales in its nutraceutical business in the final quarter of fiscal 2012, and a 15% rise in sales in this division over the full year.

DSM eyes generic omega-3 drug space with €420m ONC buy

18-May-2012 By Shane Starling

DSM will use its global reach to drive its latest acquisition - fish-sourced omega-3 leader, Ocean Nutrition Canada, beyond its core North American market – but sees opportunities in generic drugs that may prove more lucrative.

Lutein, zeaxanthin may reduce cataract risk: Study

15-May-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Lutein and zeaxanthin may protect the lens of the eye from oxidative stress and reduce the risk of cataracts, says a new study.

Researchers reveal ‘dark side’ to high beta-carotene intake

03-May-2012 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of high amounts of beta-carotene could pose a health risk to people by blocking the action of vitamin A rather than enhancing it, according to new research.

PL Thomas to distribute ‘potent’ blackcurrant ingredient

27-Apr-2012 By Stephen Daniells

PL Thomas has been named the exclusive North American sales and marketing representative for New Zealand’s Just the Berries blackcurrant ingredients.

Oral supplements just one tool in armory vs sun damage, says new market entrant

23-Apr-2012 By Elaine Watson

While it would be irresponsible to suggest you can pop some pills and spend all day in intense sunlight without damaging your skin, there is a growing market for supplements that can protect skin from ‘incidental’ exposure to sunlight, says one new entrant...

Biotech firm launches bid to turn L-Ergothioneine into household name as ‘EGT’

20-Apr-2012 By Elaine Watson

Energy drinks and foods, eye health supplements and skin creams are just some of the products likely to emerge from an LA-based firm on a mission to turn L-Ergothioneine – an antioxidant it claims has “unparalleled” benefits – into a household name.

60-second interview, Stuart Tomc, Nordic Naturals

Are you getting enough omega-3? ‘Stop guessing and start testing’

16-Apr-2012

Elaine Watson caught up with Stuart Tomc, global educator at omega-3 expert Nordic Naturals at Expo West to get the lowdown on omega-3s.

Fish protein could provide basis for new wave of functional foods, suggest researchers

12-Apr-2012 By Nathan Gray

There is great potential to develop novel, marketable, omega-3 rich functional food products from inexpensive sources such as fish protein isolate, according to new research.

Aker on Antarctic krill fishing: “All we have been doing is geared toward building a sustainable industry”

06-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

In this podcast, Hallvard Muri, CEO and president of krill giant Aker Biomarine talks about the company’s heritage in fishing, evolving markets in the US, Europe and Asia, and why sustainability is driven by a company ethic that has fishing, “in our DNA”.

NFL star John Elway signs up to promote Neptune krill oil

27-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

Former National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl Champion and Hall-of Fame quarterback, John Elway has signed a multi-year deal with Neptune Technologies & Bioressources to serve as a brand ambassador for its krill oil.

Antioxidant claims continue to grow – but have consumers 'checked out' of the ORAC debate?

27-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

US retail sales of products making antioxidant claims grew a healthy 8.6% to $64.8bn in 2011, although marketers are still struggling to articulate their benefits to consumers, according to a new report from Packaged Facts.

The yuck factor? US survey reveals consumer demand for omega-3s... minus the fish

21-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

Nearly four out of 10 (37%) US supplement users say they would rather take something other than fish oil as an omega-3 supplement, according to a new survey.

Omega-3 DHA may boost eyesight, but fails to affect mental function: Study

15-Mar-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Three months of supplementation with DHA may boost eyesight in older people, but the omega-3 did not affect cognitive function, says a new triple-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Court to stay patent infringement litigation vs Enzymotec while Neptune’s krill patent is re-examined

08-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

The court handling a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Neptune Technologies and Bioressources against Israeli nutritional lipids supplier Enzymotec has agreed to stay proceedings until a re-examination of the krill oil patent at issue is completed.

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