Fibers & carbohydrates

‘Protein is the hottest functional food ingredient trend in the United States’: Packaged Facts

23-Dec-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Weight management, heart health, and digestive health are the top opportunities for functional food and beverage formulators, with growth in the sector driven by increasingly health-conscious consumers, says a new report from Packaged Facts.

Researchers question extra prebiotic use in enteral nutrition

15-Dec-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Additional prebiotics oligofructose and inulin through enteral nutrition does not significantly impact faecal concentrations of ‘friendly bacteria’ bifidobacteria in intensive-care patients, according to research.

Potato extract may reduce weight gain by over 60%: Mice study

10-Dec-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Polyphenol-rich Irish potato extract may help reduce weight gain, according to research in mice.

Sabinsa and Fruit d'Or team up for synbiotic probiotic-cranberry ingredient

08-Dec-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Sabinsa and Fruit d'Or Nutraceuticals are targeting gut and digestive health, and heart health with their patent-pending combination of LactoSpore (Bacillus coagulans (MTCC 5856)) with Cran Naturelle cranberry seed powder.

Boston Therapeutics expands Asian markets for Sugardown ingredient as company scrambles to raise capital

26-Nov-2014 By Hank Schultz

Boston Therapeutics Inc. has announced a new marketing deal for its recently-launched Sugardown blood sugar management ingredient that will expand the potential distribution in Asia. The deal comes at an opportune time as the company is scrambling to...

Gut bacteria ‘shift’ from fibre could aid weight loss

24-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

Dietary fibre can cause a shift in the gut toward beneficial bacteria may have the potential to assist in weight loss, while also reducing the risk of colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases, say researchers.

Low calorie whey-guar mix may help reduce blood sugar: Study

07-Nov-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A low-calorie drink of whey and guar before breakfast could lower blood glucose levels for pre-diabetics and type 2 diabetics, without the calorie burden of a high dose of protein, according to a study.

Bran more effective than whole grain in alleviating obesity symptoms: Study

31-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Supplementation with finger millet bran may help alleviate symptoms of obesity like oxidative stress, inflammation and gut microbial imbalances, according to mice research published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

‘Accelerating the commercial adoption of early stage research’: Leading probiotics event unites science and industry in North & South America

17-Oct-2014

San Diego will host the first ever Probiota Americas in June 2015, which will bring together eminent scientists and business leaders from the pre & probiotic and microbiota focused nutrition industries of North and South America. 

‘No better place than the nutra-science marketplace for financial investors’: BI Chief

16-Oct-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements are attracting a lot of private equity attention, and it’s not surprising, says George Pontiakos, given that ‘it’s a growing market that historically provides efficacy and value to consumers’.

Bamboo fiber, protein beverages, and gummies: Hydrocolloid expert talks innovative delivery systems

15-Oct-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Beverages continue to be one of the hot beds for innovation when it comes to nutrient fortification, with insoluble fiber, nutritional oils, and (of course) protein all catching the eye.

Supply chain concerns become No.1 draw for vegetarian glucosamine, Cargill says

13-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

Glucosamine has become a commodity market, but concerns about quality and sourcing makes increasing room for a top-shelf niche product like Cargill’s Regenasure vegetarian glucosamine, the company said at the recent SupplySide West trade show in Las Vegas,...

Boston Therapeutics launches blood sugar management supplement

29-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Boston Therapeutics (BTI) has entered the full commercialization phase of its Sugardown dietary supplement aimed at the healthy blood sugar management market.  The company is collaborating on the launch with Benchworks, a Maryland-based marketing firm.

Organic/natural acquisitions allow the food industry to align CSR messages with product portfolio: Euromonitor

22-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Desires to align product portfolios with messages of corporate social responsibility are driving some of the M&A activity regarding organic and natural companies, says Euromonitor International.

NutraIngredients-USA Digestive Health Forum: One week to go!

18-Sep-2014

Leading minds from the world of digestive health will join NutraIngredients-USA’s Stephen Daniells for an hour-long discussion of the sector, from science and claim substantiation, to market sizing and key consumer demographics.

Almonds are a ‘snack choice for a healthy diet’

16-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

A mid-morning snack of almonds may decrease food intake at lunch and dinner, making the nuts a ‘snack food choice for a healthy diet’, according to a new study from England.

Mangos may lower blood sugar in obese adults: Study

12-Sep-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Consumption of freeze-dried mango may reduce blood glucose levels for obese individuals, according to researchers. 

Yeast-derived beta glucans for immune health have potential competitor in algal source

09-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Algal Scientific, a supplier of bioactive additives for the animal feed markets, has a long term plan targeting the human immune health sector with its beta glucan ingredient derived from algae.

Sports Nutrition 2014 delivers business ammunition

27-Aug-2014 By Shane STARLING

It’s free, jammed full of sports nutrition sector insights – and it’s just days away: Sports Nutrition 2014 .

Russia removes dietary supplements from import ban list

21-Aug-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Russia has amended its ‘total embargo’ on western food imports to exclude dietary supplements, vitamin and mineral mixes, protein concentrates and dietary fibers.

Z Trim Holdings unveils BioFiber Gum for supplement encapsulation, food additive applications

20-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Z Trim Holdings, an Illinois-based producer of functional ingredients derived from corn fiber and other grain byproducts, has launched its BioFiber Gum (BFG) for food, supplement and industrial applications. BFG is said to have both a suite of attractive...

Tree nuts can improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetics: review

14-Aug-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

A review of 12 clinical trials found that daily intake of tree nuts improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. 

Synbiotic gut health benefits limited, say researchers

18-Jul-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Potential gut health benefits of synbiotics may be limited since only specific combinations enhance probiotic survival and growth, say researchers.

Soluble corn fiber may boost calcium absorption for teens

17-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily intake of soluble corn fiber may enhance the absorption of calcium for adolescents, says a new study from Purdue University with implications for bone health.

Cargill rides publicity wave with Trehalose functional ingredient

14-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Cargill has weathered a potential media storm concerning its functional ingredient Trehalose.  The ingredient, a glucose dissaccharide, was one of the potentially ‘scary’ food ingredients seized upon for its use by a well known fast food chain.

Should Argentina's Messi have ditched the sports drink in the second half? Study casts doubt on soccer blood sugar effect

14-Jul-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Drinking a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage before and during a match did not help UK Championship trainee soccer players maintain blood sugar concentrations during the second half according to a new study.

Does Unilever’s Slim-Fast fail signal the end of weight management as we know it?

11-Jul-2014 By Julian Mellentin

Fourteen years after Unilever spent $2.3bn (€1.7bn) to buy Slim-Fast, it has sold up for an undisclosed sum to a private equity player. Analyst and author Julian Mellentin tracks the decline of a mega-brand and considers what he sees as a category in...

‘The awareness of the importance of overall immune health has reached critical mass with consumers’: Biothera CEO

08-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumer awareness of the importance of immune health throughout the year is driving significant growth in that category, and there are still plenty of opportunities in the category, says the CEO of Biothera.

Chlorella supplements show cardiovascular benefits: Human data

07-Jul-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements containing Chlorella may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with mildly elevated cholesterol levels, says a new study from Korea.

Chia and psyllium: Sterilization and adulteration show importance of choosing suppliers carefully

07-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Recent pathogen outbreaks in raw chia powder and concerns over whether some psyllium is actually food grade highlight the ongoing importance of selecting suppliers wisely, says the CEO of BI Nutraceuticals.

Ancient ingredients are the next ‘superfoods’, says analyst

27-Jun-2014 By Nicola Cottam

Global food and drink manufacturers should exploit the ‘superfood’ potential of ancient ingredients such as prickly pear cactus and chia seeds, known for their rich nutrient content and health-giving properties, says Mintel global food science analyst,...

‘Timely findings’: Canola oil offers blood sugar management potential for diabetics

17-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Alpha-linolenic acid-rich canola oil, in combination with a low glycemic index diet, may help improve blood sugar control and other measures of heart health, says a new study from Canada.

Prebiotic fibers may improve metabolic factors in obese individuals: Study

16-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of inulin-type fructans prebiotics may boost levels of beneficial Bifidobacteria species in the gut of obese people, and reduce metabolic risk factors, says a new study from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

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.

More than half of supplement users rely on doctors for advice on how to use products, survey finds

28-May-2014 By Hank Schultz

More than half of supplement users rely on their doctors for information on what products to use and how to use them, according to a new survey by the Council for Responsible Nutrition. This places a burden on the part of healthcare consumers to engage...

Low glycaemic carbohydrate enhances mood and memory in older adults: Study

26-May-2014 By Lynda Searby

Lower glycaemic load (GL) meals have been shown to benefit cognition and mood in young people, and now a new study has found that Beneo’s low glycaemic carbohydrate Palatinose (isomaltulose) can improve mood and memory in over-45s with good glucose tolerance.

Special edition: Closing the fiber gap

Bread still rules high-fiber realm; Latin America rising fast

15-May-2014 By Shane STARLING

When it comes to fiber, baked goods are king. That might sound obvious, but in a world where the nutrient, its source and end application are often separated, it is worth stating.

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. 

Pistachio consumption linked to weight management: Study

08-May-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

Recent research presented at the 2014 Experimental Biology conference found that eating up to 20% of daily calories from pistachios in the diet does not contribute to weight gain or body fat changes, and may even potentially improve blood lipids and blood...

Prebiotic fiber plus probiotics shows immune-boosting effects in healthy adults

07-May-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of xylo-oligosaccharide prebiotic fibers with probiotics may modulate immune function in healthy adults, says new study.

Synbiotics show promise for cutting inflammatory biomarkers in obese kids

06-May-2014

Daily supplements containing seven probiotic bacterial strains and a prebiotic fiber may reduce markers of inflammation in obese children, says a new study.

Punching holes in pop-science theory: Whole grains may cut inflammatory biomarkers in obese kids

22-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consuming whole-grain-rich foods for six weeks may slash levels of inflammatory biomarkers in overweight children, according to findings published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.

An effective strategy for public cardio-metabolic health promotion? Resistant starch shows blood lipid and body composition benefits

18-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Using resistant starch-enriched flour in place of regular flour may reduce cholesterol levels in people with metabolic syndrome, report researchers from South Dakota State University.

Probiotics, enzymes, and fiber are the ingredient categories to watch for M&A: NCN CEO

10-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

After much consolidation in the fish oil sector, probiotics, enzymes, and fiber could be the ingredient categories to watch moving forward for M&A activity, says the CEO of the Nutrition Capital Network.

Special edition: Innovations in delivery systems

Keep a weather eye on regs when deciding on new delivery modes, experts say

20-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

Product developers are in constant search mode for ways to differentiate their products, and that search has always included delivery system innovation.  But without keeping a weather eye on US regulations, they may end up being too smart for their own...

Healthy eating may reduce the risk of preterm delivery: Population data

11-Mar-2014 By Nathan Gray

A healthy diet packed with fruit, vegetables, and omega-3 rich fish could help to reduce the risk of pre-term babies, according to new research.

Almonds & their skins show prebiotic potential: Human data

06-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Fiber-rich almonds and almond skin may selectively boost the populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut, says a new study funded by the Almond Board of California.

Microbiota makeup linked to intestinal cancer risk

04-Mar-2014

The makeup of microbes living in our gut may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer and could drive the development of intestinal tumours, say researchers.

Proposed changes to supplement labels could cause many products to be reformulated

03-Mar-2014

The new levels of nutrients specified will be the prime impact of FDA’s proposed changes on the labels for foods and supplements for the dietary supplement industry, experts agree.