Maternal & infant health

Could eating fibre during pregnancy help tackle autoimmune disease burden?

11-Jul-2019 By Nikki Cutler

A lack of fibre during pregnancy could be contributing to the burden of the serious condition preeclampsia, according to researchers who also argue the lack of fibre in Western diets may explain the rapid increase of allergies and autoimmune conditions.

‘A landmark trial’: DuPont supports Gates Foundation with ‘unique’ probiotic for infant sepsis treatment

10-Jul-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Working with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, DuPont is providing a “unique” probiotic strain to help treat sepsis in infants in Bangladesh, but the strain may also have commercial applications closer to home.

Pharmavite review supports choline, DHA role in infant brain and eye health

10-Jul-2019 By Adi Menayang

Insufficient intakes of choline and the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may have lifelong deleterious impacts on maternal and infant health, according to a paper by researchers from Pharmavite LLC, the company behind Nature’s Made supplements.

Wakunaga expands multistrain probiotics line to serve consumers at all stages of life

09-Jul-2019 By Hank Schultz

Wakunaga is betting hard on the multistrain side of the probiotics realm with the planned launch of three new products.

Probi’s ‘pregnancy probiotic’ proves potent in preventing anaemia

24-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

Swedish bioengineering company Probi reveals its probiotic-focused product improves iron status in pregnant women in a study that highlights this gut-related approach in tackling a growing problem

FDA issues pregnancy warning on troubled ingredient vinpocetine

04-Jun-2019 By Hank Schultz

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on Monday advising pregnant women to avoid the use of dietary supplements containing the ingredient vinpocetine. Industry stakeholders wondered if the missive has more to do with ingredient’s regulatory...

High omega-6 intake linked to lower likelihood of male offspring being conceived: Australia study

31-May-2019 By Gary Scattergood

Eating a diet high in omega-6 could play a role in a lower percentage of male babies being conceived, along with a higher risk of pregnancy complications, according to a new Australian study on rats.

BASF and Glycosyn partnership to capitalise on HMO and gut health interest

24-May-2019 By Will Chu

BASF are to enter an agreement with biotechnology firm Glycosyn to develop and commercialise human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) for use in dietary supplements, functional nutrition and medical food.

Study linking vitamin D to autism retracted over reliability issues

21-May-2019 By Will Chu

Journal editors have withdrawn a paper said to be the first randomised controlled trial looking into vitamin D supplement links to autism after concerns over the findings’ reliability.

New products in infant nutrition sift through limited number of ingredients

15-May-2019 By Hank Schultz

The infant nutrition market is characterized by few new ingredients, but lots of new players, according to information shared at a recent event hosted by ingredient supplier DSM.

Probiotics in the first 1,000 days: Fertility is an under-explored area, says expert

13-May-2019 By Stephen Daniells

The first 1,000 days after conception are vital to the long-term health of an infant, and we’re gaining a deeper understanding of the vital role of the developing microbiome in this. But an area that needs more understanding is around how the microbiota...

DuPont to manufacture novel probiotic strain for clinical trial on sepsis in Bangladeshi infants

06-May-2019 By Cheryl Tay

DuPont is manufacturing a new probiotic strain for use in an upcoming large-scale clinical study in Bangladesh, which will test the effects of probiotics on gut microbiome of infants with sepsis.

Rainbow Light teams up with Vitamin Angels to provide vitamin drops to underserved US communities

26-Apr-2019 By Adi Menayang

Rainbow Light, a Clorox Company-owned supplement brand, has pledged to donate portion of its sales to public health nonprofit Vitamin Angels this summer, as well as help organize vitamin drop donations to 25 underserved communities in the US.

NIU’s Global Round-up: Blackmore’s ‘not fantastic’ Q3, Vitamin Angels in Central America, and more

22-Apr-2019 By Stephen Daniells

It’s a global industry and there’s a lot happening. We know it’s not always easy keeping up with everything that’s happening around the world that could impact the US dietary supplements industry. The answer? Our weekly round-up of key news from across...

Vitamin Angels hopes to break 'intergeneration cycle of malnutrition' in Central America

17-Apr-2019 By Kacey Culliney

Non-profit Vitamin Angels wants to strengthen its partnership network in Central America to produce transformative change among women and children facing malnutrition, its program leader says.