Healthy aging

Qualitas opts for direct route to market with successful NDI filing on its algal EPA ingredient

11-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

Qualitas Health has taken an important step toward commercialization of its algal EPA ingredient with a successful New Dietary Ingredient notification.  Regulations require such a notification be filed 75 days prior to going to market with a new dietary...

Underlying forces will continue to drive functional food growth, analyst says

09-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

The hot market for functional foods shows no signs of cooling off, according to longtime industry consultant Jeff Hilton.  In his view a number of factors will combine to drive continued growth.

Could coffee protect DNA from damage?

09-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Regular consumption of coffee may reduce DNA damage and reduce energy intake and body fat, according to two new studies from Europe.

Nutrition researchers shoot holes in assertion that multivitamins are unnecessary

03-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

A response published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine by four well-known nutrition researchers takes strident issue with an editorial published in the same journal that multivitamins are not useful.  The authors of the first paper “ignored decades...

Glutathione study will boost ingredient's profile, supplier says

02-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

A new human study confirms for the first time that glutathione levels in the body can be effectively boosted via oral supplementation. The study,which also showed immune health effects for the antioxidant, will boost the ingredient's market profile,...

DSM: Additional research will underpin vitamin E's decisive benefits

02-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

Magic bullet syndrome is something that has plagued the dietary supplement ingredient business over the years. While this is often negative for consumers, who put their faith into an overhyped (while still possibly effective) ingredient, it’s not so good...

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2014

Norwegian firm uses natural approach to extract amino acids, short peptides from salmon waste

16-May-2014 By Hank Schultz

Finding value in waste streams has been a consistent story in the development of active ingredients. One of the latest examples of the trend comes from Zymtech Group, a Norwegian company that is extracting a protein ingredient from the waste streams of...

Special edition: Closing the fiber gap

Cereal gets to the heart of fiber deficiency, but is fortification the way to go?

14-May-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

High cereal fiber intake after a heart attack may improve long-term survival rates, research suggests, but these benefits could be achieved with a balanced, healthy diet, rather than through fortified goods, says British Heart Foundation senior dietician. 

Expert panel calls for end to one-size fits all protein recommendations and higher levels for older adults

29-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Dietary recommendations for protein intake should be increased for healthy older adults to 1.0 to 1.2 g protein/kg body weight/day, says an international team of experts.

Special Edition: Sports Nutrition

Swisse Wellness on US sports nutrition sector: ‘We think there’s an opportunity in this space to make a big impact’

24-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Changing consumer attitudes to health and similar consumption levels in the US and Australia give Swisse Wellness an opportunity to excite consumers with a new sports nutrition range that is not just focused on the muscle men and gym junkies, says Ulrich...

Gravity-free probiotics

Space…The final frontier for Yakult probiotics? 6-year study confirmed

22-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

Probiotic pioneer Yakult’s little bottles are to feature in a 6-year, gravity-free study at the International Space Station (ISS).

Advancing nutritional epidemiology to a whole new level? NIH scientists publish metabolomics biomarkers to study diet-disease associations

21-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Scientists from the National Cancer Institute at the NIU have reported metabolomic biomarkers for a variety of foods and vitamins, which, if validated, could become biomarkers in large cohorts to study diet-disease associations.

Ashwagandha interest spilling into mainstream market

16-Apr-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

The so-called flagship herb of Ayurveda, ashwagandha is gaining traction in the mainstream US market as consumers embrace its wide-ranging body of health benefits on the heels of strong clinical support and a few celebrity health practitioner endorsements.

Is dietary supplement use more prevalent than previously thought?

15-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

As many as 69% of American adults may be users of dietary supplements, with up to 53% being regular users, says a new review that gives greater numbers than those reported in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

Iron supplements may boost female physical performance: Meta-analysis

15-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Scientific evidence from 22 randomized controlled trials indicates that daily iron supplements may significantly boost exercise performance for women.

Green and black tea blend may support urinary tract health for men: Kemin Study

14-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements containing extracts from a blend of green and black tea varieties may improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and quality of life in men in as little as six weeks, says a new study.

InsideTracker CEO: ‘The one-size-fits-all intervention approach to nutrition makes no sense - Personalization is the future’

31-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

It may have been said before, but the future of nutrition is through personalization, especially for athletic individuals who want to achieve the optimal and not just normal levels, says Rony Sellam, CEO of Segterra, the company behind InsideTracker.

Boomer retirees present continued huge opportunity, report says

28-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

Baby Boomers, who have driven the growth of the natural products and dietary supplements space in recent decades aren’t done yet. A recent report from the Natural Marketing Institute says the impending retirement of millions of boomers will present a...

Chromadex CEO: ‘We think Niagen has a much bigger market, like omega-3’

26-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The potential of nicotinamide riboside, the next generation vitamin B3, goes beyond dietary supplements, into functional food and beverages, medical foods, infant nutrition and more, says the CEO of Chromadex.

Dietary restriction: Very low nutrient diet may offer anti-aging clues

18-Mar-2014 By Nathan Gray

A new theory of why dietary restrictions can work to reduce disease risk and increase longevity suggests that it is a sever restriction in nutrient intake, rather than calorie intake, that may result in the well known effect.

Diet high in animal protein may help prevent functional decline

13-Mar-2014 By Nathan Gray

A diet high in animal protein could help elderly people to function better physically, psychologically and socially, say researchers.

Predictive data analysis can help companies become 'market makers,' consultant says

12-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

Markets, whether for dietary supplements, functional foods or other consumer products, are divided between  “market makers” and “market followers.”  You don’t want to be in the latter group if you can help it, said market research expert Peter Leighton.

Future looks increasingly bright for herbal supplements, market researcher says

11-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

The economic downturn has had a depressing effect on new product launches in the herbal dietary supplement industry, said Steve French, managing director of the Natural Marketing Institute. But the good news is that opportunity abounds, in that herbal...

Lozenges show potential as novel resveratrol delivery system: Study

06-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Delivering resveratrol via a lozenge that dissolves in the mouth may increase the absorption of the red wine compound more than other dosage forms for absorption in the gut, according to new data.

Science pushing regulatory boundaries, consultant says

17-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

New ideas in science tend often to disrupt earlier modes of thinking. So it is with nutritional science, as researchers discover new modes of action and new delivery vehicles that increasingly push at the regulatory envelopes meant to define and confine...

Pronutria secures $12.25 million in funding to drive development program

17-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

Pronutria, a company based on the mining of an extensive protein database to uncover pharmacologically active nutrients, is moving forward in its development plan with the beginning of two clinical trials on is lead product candidates and the closing...

Probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis shows immune support for elderly people

13-Feb-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 may improve the activity of white blood cells in elderly adults, a population with higher susceptibility to infections.

Amway notches $11.8 billion in sales in 2014

07-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

Amway, the world’s largest network marketing company, reported $11.8 billion in sales, a 4.4% growth over the $11.3 billion in sales the company notched in 2012.

Canada OKs enhanced health claims for Ixoreal's KSM 66 ashwagandha

07-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

KSM-66, an ashwagandha root-only extract from Ixoreal BioMed, has been approved in Canada for health claims that include stress reduction, sports nutrition benefits and support for healthy testosterone levels.  The approval of the claims, which go beyond...

CRN says 2015 dietary guidelines should include supplements

06-Feb-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

The Council for Responsible Nutrition urged the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) to adopt a new posture on dietary supplements in the next round of federal dietary guidelines, encouraging the use of multivitamins and supplements as a low-cost,...

Special edition: Polyphenols

The big challenges in polyphenols: Providing credible evidence and a quality supply chain

28-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

With surging interest in the potential health benefits of polyphenols around the globe, experts suggest that there are still some major sticking points in the polyphenol success story.

Special edition: Polyphenols

Polyphenol science needs to catch up to better inform regulators and consumers, say experts

28-Jan-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

A paradigm shift is needed in the study of polyphenols to better understand the bioavailability, bio-activity, and the role of the gut microbiota in polyphenol metabolism and health benefits, say experts from academia and industry.

Observers disagree about whether report of tainted thyroid supplements points to wider problems in market

24-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

A recent blog in The New York Times raised questions about some thyroid supplements, but passed over the legitimate role dietary supplements scan have in the support of health thyroid function, observers say.

Omega-3 may help preserve brain volume in old age: Study

23-Jan-2014

People with higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA may also have larger brain volumes in old age equivalent to preserving one to two years of brain health, according to new research.

Understanding the aging gut: Microbiome modifications may be linked to health and lifespan

17-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

Modifications to the microbiota could lead to changes in health and lifespan that are associated with aging, according to new research in fruit flies.

Simpler blood test for vitamin D could enhance preventive care, developer says

13-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

In another way point in the personalized healthcare movement, Purity Labs of Portland, OR has announced the development of a vitamin D blood test that involves obtaining only small spots of blood applied to cards. The new test lowers costs, simplifies...

ChromaDex signs $62 million deal for Niagen, Purenergy ingredients

07-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex has announced the largest deal in its history, a $62 million agreement with nework marketing company 5LINX that covers its Niagen and Purenergy ingredients.

Most vitamin studies are flawed by poor methodology, say Linus Pauling researchers

06-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

Many large clinical trials of vitamin supplements, including those concluding vitamins are of no value or may even be harmful, have a flawed methodologies that means they are 'useless' in determining the real value of such micronutrients, according...

New info details size of potential Chinese export market for US supplements

18-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

New information released by the US-China Health Products Association gives insight into the massive export opportunity that awaits US dietary supplement manufacturers.  A high proportion of Chinese consumers buy health products, and a large proportion...

Vestiage hires direct-media partner with history of building brands

16-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Vestiage, Inc., a California-based nutraceutical company pursuing an off-the-shelf launch strategy, has enlisted ROI Media to conduct a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign.

Purified omega-7 supplement hits market

13-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

A supplement called Cardia7, built around the benefits of omega-7 palmitoleic acid, a long chain fatty acid found in fish oil as well as sea buckthorn berries and macadamia nuts, has been launched by Ohio-based Omega Wonders.

Grant of patent vindicates cognitive support supplement's protracted gestation, researcher says

12-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

The patent granted on Perceptiv, a cognitive support dietary supplement, is a vindication of the approach taken on developing the product, one of the researchers says.  From the start the team worked on a finished, fixed formulation and painstakingly...

Review questions vitamin D for reducing chronic disease risk

06-Dec-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Low vitamin D levels may be a consequence of ill health and not the cause of chronic disease, says a new review, but industry groups have responded that supplementation is vital for bone health and should not be dismissed.

Poster deadline extended by one week to December 13

Probiota 2014: Poster proposal deadline extended

04-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

Probiota 2014 – the leading conference bridging the interface of academia and industry for cutting edge science about the prebiotics, probiotics and the microbiome – has extended the call for proposals for its poster sessions by one week to Friday 13th...

New test aims to measure 'wellness' via metabolic state, developer says

03-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Nutraceutical technology development firm Health Enhancement Products Inc. has a new urine test in field trials that will measure a participant’s ‘wellness’ level via biomarkers for oxidative stress, the company announced recently.

Is research on delayed aging a better investment than cancer and heart disease?

03-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

Greater investment in research to delay aging may be a 'highly efficient' way to prevent disease, extend healthy life, and improve public health, according to new research.

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

Chromadex CEO: 'If we need to spend millions of dollars to develop an ingredient pipeline, we will do that'

26-Nov-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Buoyed by recent investment from DSM, the CEO of Chromadex says the company is not scared to spend big to develop ingredients that stand up to increased scientific scrutiny and resonate with the market.

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

Magnesium is 40% of our business and it keeps growing: Albion

22-Nov-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

It has been described as the ‘hottest ingredient in the mineral category’, and leading mineral supplier Albion most definitely agrees as sales of its magnesium ingredients now account for 40.6% of Albion mineral sales.

Do recent changes in marijuana laws make room for CBD as a supplement ingredient?

20-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Cannabidiol, a non-narcotic fraction of cannabis, has been studied for a variety of health effects, from antioxidant properties to anti seizure effects. The health effects appear to be real, increasing the interest of some supplement formulators in the...

Calcium and heart health: ‘Nutrition savvy dietitians do not recommend calcium in isolation’

31-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Studies linking calcium intakes to heart concerns continue to be published, but studies showing no effects and even benefits can also be found in the literature, so what are the lessons to learn and what questions remain unanswered?