Inflammation

Warning letter underscores FDA view of extraction and concentration as factors in NDI status

03-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

A warning letter from FDA to Star Scientific, makers of an antioxidant supplement called Anatabloc, underscores again the agency’s focus on the status of New Dietary Ingredients.

Neptune, Aker end patent struggles with licensure agreement

17-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Some things have seemed immutable: Death. Taxes. The Krill Wars. But the latter has (mostly) fallen off that list with the announcement this morning that fierce competitors Neptune Technologies & Bioressources and Aker BioMarine have reached an 11th-hour...

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.

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...

AlaskOmega set to make omega-3 sustainability splash in European market

11-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Ohio-based fish oil supplier Organic Technologies is expanding its distribution into Europe. But instead of trading on the “made in USA” angle that plays well for its AlaskOmega ingredients domestically and elsewhere in the world, the company plans to...

Could fish oil supply dip provide added opportunity for krill?

07-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Uneven supply in the fish oil market has had an effect on store shelves, according to Royal DSM, one of the world’s biggest suppliers. Could that create a bigger opening for alternative sources such as krill? It’s too early to say for sure, but krill...

Letter from congressman asks FDA to ramp up NDI enforcement

01-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

A letter from the office of Texas congressman Steve Stockman to the Food and Drug Administration urges the agency to better police the filing of New Dietary Ingredient notifications. The letter says that there are some ingredients in the market whose...

Detecting deficiencies: New strategy could speed up mass testing of vitamin and mineral levels

25-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

Analysing levels of proteins in blood could be used to estimate levels of essential vitamins and minerals without directly testing for each nutritional factor, according to new research that suggests the use of mass spectrometry to rapidly detect nutritional...

Special Edition: Brain Boosting Ingredients

EPA stands alone as a depression fighter

22-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

Omega 3s have been studied for their effect on cognitive health for decades. The science linking EPA with this health indication is less well developed than that for DHA, but new results are coming to the fore all the time, experts say.

Neptune notches loss as it strives to maintain market share

16-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

Neptune Technologies and Bioressources, the pioneer in the krill oil sector, has reported a second quarter loss as it recovers from the destruction of its sole production facility. The company will have some work to do to regain market share once it...

New test said to solve problem of false rancidity positives in flavored fish oils

14-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

A new test for flavored fish oils that solves the problem of false rancidity readings could be a big win for industry, sources say.

Dr Oz effect's dark side: Booming demand opens door for adulterated, synthetic astaxanthin

02-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The Dr Oz Show has been a boon for the natural products and dietary supplements industries. It has brought awareness to many less well-known ingredients, boosting usage and sales and, if the efficacy of the ingredients matches the claims, presumably positively...

Synthetic versions of natural ingredients with NDI notifications crop up in marketplace

02-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The question whether an NDI notification opens the door for follow on ingredients has yet to be definitively answered. But sources say the question is a lot clearer when the putative follow on ingredient might not even be the same thing.

Valensa moves to meet astaxanthin demand with new algae supply agreement

27-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

The ongoing demand for astaxanthin has led category formulation leader Valensa to conclude a supply arrangement with algae producer Contract Biotics. But capitalizing on that demand curve will mean using astaxanthin as a component in multi-ingredient...

New algae omega 3s player Qualitas goes head to head with krill

25-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

When Qualitas Health debuts its EPA algal oil at Supply Side West in November it says it believes it will be the only algal omega-3s source based on polar lipids on the market. And to demonstrate the ingredient’s effectiveness, the company has released...

Krill oil now no. 2 omega-3 source behind fish oil, Aker says

12-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

Momentum is a hard thing to acquire in the nutraceutical business, but once you have it, it seems to feed on itself. So it seems with krill oil, which is now the second-best selling form of omega-3s for supplements after fish oil, according to krill...

More than a third of global population have low vitamin D, study finds

06-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

New data from a systematic review of almost 200 population-based studies shows that more than a third of populations worldwide may suffer from low levels of vitamin D.

Citrus extract shows weight management potential: Study

03-Sep-2013 By Shane Starling

A blend of extracts from red orange, grapefruit, sweet orange, and guarana can reduce abdominal fat, waist and hip circumference, French researchers have found.

"An amazing result with possibly enormous implications for the treatment and even prevention of the greatest public health issue of our time"

Microbiome breakthrough: Gut flora implicated in metabolic disorders

29-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

There is a distinct link between the composition of our gut bacteria and incidence of obesity related conditions including heart disease and diabetes, according to new data from the MetaHIT project.

Algae biofuels expertise doesn't always translate to nutraceuticals, expert says

16-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

The money pouring into biofuels research has buoyed the algae sector and helped companies get off the ground with technology development and initial facility buildout. But translating that expertise in growing algae at something approaching commercial...

Mannatech granted 90th patent

16-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Mannatech Inc., a Texas-based supplement manufacturer, announced the granting of its 90th patent, with the granting of five new patents in 2013 relating to the company’s product portfolio.

ChromaDex cuts losses while posting tiny revenue increase

14-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex Corporation reported a 1% rise in overall revenues in the second quarter of 2013 while cutting losses to under $1 million.

Star Scientific posts sales surge amid legal troubles

12-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Star Scientific, which markets the anitoxidant supplement Anatabloc, has reported third quarter earnings of $2.5 million, compared with $1.4 for the same period in 2012. The positive earnings was welcome news for a company that in recent months has seen...

Guest Commentary

A Whale of a Fish Story for Omega-3s

07-Aug-2013 By Steve Mister

There’s something fishy going on with omega-3s these days, and it appears that some of the consumer media who reported on the study fell for it – hook, line and sinker. Of course I’m talking about the study that recently published in the Journal of the...

Supplement company winds up mentioned in IRS complaint, criminal probe after celebrity endorsement went awry

05-Aug-2013

The case of a dietary supplement company that became ensnared in an IRS complaint and a potential criminal investigation related to a couple of celebrity politician endorsers points out the possible pitfalls of the practice of hitching your marketing...

Indian gooseberry extract (Capros) may counter endothelial dysfunction in diabetics: RCT

30-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of an extract from Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) may improve the health of cells lining the blood vessels, and reduce levels of markers of oxidative stress in type-2 diabetics, according to results of a randomized, double-blind,...

Introducing phytochemomics: A new way to help win herbal health claims, say researchers

29-Jul-2013 By Nathan Gray

The use of novel phytochemomics technologies will define cause and effect relationships for phytochemicals that will assist in the substantiation of health claims for herbals and botanicals, say researchers.

Proprietary Nutritionals applies full court press to marketing of Celadrin ingredient

15-Jul-2013 By Hank Schultz

Proprietary Nutritionals president Dean Mosca said the company employs a “push and pull” strategy to help whip up demand in the consumer marketplace for the supplements that contain the company’s ingredients. And lately, part of that strategy has included...

Chokeberry potential could see it rival the cranberry market: Artemis Int’l President

15-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Once used for enhancing the diets of Russian astronauts, the chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) could have a stellar future, with the US’ leading supplier predicting extracts and concentrates could one day rival the cranberry market.

Unknowns related to bioavailability enhancers troubles pharmacy researcher

12-Jul-2013 By Hank Schultz

Is bioavailability enhancement a cause for toxicological concern? It’s a question that came up for debate at the recent Toxicology Forum summer meeting in Aspen, CO. The answer was a highly qualified yes, when looking at a case-by-case basis.

Multi-species probiotics again show benefits for IBS sufferers: RCT data

12-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A combination of six probiotic species may relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), say results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Probiotics may ‘counter obesity and diabetes’: NIH study

10-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily dose of probiotics may prevent weight gain and insulin resistance in mice, says a new study from scientists at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) with implications for obesity and diabetes.

Antioxidant combination may curb inflammation and manage dyslipidemia: Human data

02-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of vitamin E tocotrienol in combination with antioxidant polyphenols and niacin may improve inflammatory markers and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in seniors, says a recent clinical trial.

Omega-3 from fish and flax backed to prevent broken hips: Study

02-Jul-2013 By Nathan Gray

Consuming high levels of omega-3 fatty acidsmay reduce the risk for hip fractures in postmenopausal women, research suggests.

Do cranberry’s urinary tract benefits start in the gut?

The potential gut health benefits of berries offer fruitful research area

21-Jun-2013 By Stephen Daniells in Charlotte, NC

Hippocrates once said, ‘All disease starts in the gut’, and the potential for berry compounds to influence the gut microbiota and positively impact human health is only beginning to be understood, according to presentations at this week’s Berry Health...

Synbiotic supplements may influence metabolic status for diabetics: RCT data

17-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A combination of probiotics and prebiotics may reduce levels of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, suggest findings of a new study publishing in the journal Clinical Nutrition.

Lakeview Farms and Oceans Omega claim industry first with gelatin cups fortified with omega-3 EPA and DHA

13-Jun-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Dips and desserts specialist Lakeview Farms and omega-3 emulsions expert Oceans Omega have unveiled what they claim are the first gelatin cups fortified with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Could NAC supplements be a ‘hindrance’ for sports nutrition?

06-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements containing N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of glutathione, may hinder muscle performance and recovery, says a new study.

Nordic Naturals targets emerging EPA-only omega-3 sector with new supplement

28-May-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Leading omega-3 supplement manufacturer Nordic Naturals has extended its EPA-only omega-3 supplement range with ‘one of the most powerful EPA-only concentrates available without a prescription’.

Red blood cells harbor Pycnogenol metabolite, research shows

21-May-2013 By Hank Schultz

Horphag Research knew the what about their flagship ingredient, Pycnogenol, as it pertained to its many health benefits. But until a recent study, the company was a little hazy on the how and the where.

Big interview: Andrew Dahl, CEO Health Enhancement Products Inc

HEPI: There’s no money in algal biofuels - yet. But nutraceuticals are a different story…

16-May-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Right now, a gallon of gas costs $4 or less. Produce it from algae, and you can expect to pay $18 or more, says the boss of one firm convinced that cutting edge nutraceuticals - not biofuels - is where algae’s true potential lies, in the near term at...

Warning letters show companies still vague on nature of website language

01-May-2013 By Hank Schultz

Now, almost 20 years after DSHEA became law, some companies seem to be just starting to get the message that the regulations governing health claims language don’t apply just to product labels. Websites are fair game, too, and can form easy pickings for...

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