Fibers & carbohydrates

Getting the ‘fiber’ definition helpful but not a panacea for putting word out about prebiotic benefits

25-Mar-2019 By Hank Schultz

Prebiotics that have been classified as dietary fibers still have work to do to educate consumers on their benefits, a supplier says.

US Military, A.I., and mechanisms of action: First speakers announced for IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas

14-Mar-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Delegate registration is now open for the IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas in Vancouver, with speakers already confirmed covering topics including the US Military, Artificial Intelligence, and probiotic mechanisms of action.

Seven key supplement trends from Expo West 2019

12-Mar-2019 By Stephen Daniells

We walked and we talked and we took photos, and here’s our list of 7 key trends for supplements from Expo West 2019 in Anaheim.

Nordic-Indian spirulina producer targets global growth with functional food and drink line

27-Feb-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Finnish-Indian spirulina firm Prolgae Spirulina Supplies has revealed extensive plans for global growth, with its upcoming range of functional consumer foods expected to drive business in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe.

Despite food-only bias, many dietitians use and recommend supplements, survey finds

26-Feb-2019 By Hank Schultz

A survey by Trust Transparency Center has found that despite the cool reception the concept of supplementation historically has received from organizations of dietitians, a majority of the practitioners themselves use dietary supplements regularly.

Fermented soluble wheat fibre found to possess high prebiotic potential: Study

26-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

Subjecting wheat arabinogalactan-peptide (AGP) to the fermentation process results in significantly higher prebiotic activity that could boost proportions of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Chocolate milk performs well in strength test with teens, but real world issues complicate study

25-Feb-2019 By Hank Schultz

Chocolate milk outperformed a commercial sports drink in a study looking at strength gains in adolescent athletes. But study—set up as a field trial—also highlighted the difficulties of translating lab results to the real world.

Country Life chooses yeast prebiotic to underpin new line of 'balance' products

22-Feb-2019 By Hank Schultz

Legacy dietary supplement manufacturer Country Life Vitamins will launch a new line of supplements built on a backbone of a yeast fermentate prebiotic at an upcoming trade show.

Glanbia acquires Watson for $89 million, broadens ingredients footprint

20-Feb-2019 By Hank Schultz

Irish dairy and ingredients conglomerate Glanbia has continued its diversification into the ingredients space with the acquisition of US firm Watson for a reported $89 million.

POS Biosciences pivots business to focus on plants with Keyleaf rebrand

20-Feb-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Canada-based POS Bio-Sciences/Batavia Bio Processing is shifting away from its contract service-based model to offer more of its own plant-based extracts and ingredients as finished products under its new Keyleaf brand.

Prebiotics from acorn & sago show metabolic benefits, boost gut integrity for obese subjects

15-Feb-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Non-digestible polysaccharides from acorns and sago (palm starch) may help improve glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in lab mice eating a high-fat diet, says a new study.

Eggplant flour may be a nutraceutical for functional foods: Study

07-Feb-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Flours made from eggplant may offer polyphenol- and antioxidant-rich ingredients for functional foods, says a new study from Mexico.

Konjac glucomannan may improve symptoms of fatty liver, new study suggests

04-Feb-2019 By Adi Menayang

A recently published study on rats sheds light on the potential liver health benefits of glucomannans from konjac, a plant native to Asia.

Which brands are the most visible in the meal replacement shake space?

01-Feb-2019 By Adi Menayang

Latest data from Kantar Media reveals the most visible brands in the meal replacement shake space, and how brands can get a leg up in a tight competitive atmosphere.

Deadline for entry is April 26, 2019!

IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas 2019 call for abstracts: Got groundbreaking research to shout about?

29-Jan-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Are you researching the latest state-of-the-art developments related to prebiotic, probiotic and microbiome science relevant to human health, well-being, consumers and industry? If so, we would like to hear from you!

Latin American supplement, functional food markets are underdeveloped, but more innovative, chia supplier says

27-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

Benexia, a Chile-based supplier of chia and other plant-based nutraceutical ingredients, says the low market penetration of dietary supplement ingredients in the continent means the market has a huge potential upside.

Special Edition: Supplements for Pets

Where is the innovation in the pet supplements space?

23-Jan-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Delivery systems and proprietary ingredients are the tip of the innovation spear for pet supplements (think cats and dogs), but nothing is hotter than one ingredient: CBD.

Experts find no validity in osteopathic group's use of survey to make claim that supplements are of no use

18-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

A recent poll conducted for the American Osteopathic Association reached some surprising conclusions, which a spokesman for the group used to justify the view that supplement users are wasting their money. Industry stakeholders said some of the poll’s...

Low FODMAP diet may help reduce exercise-caused tummy issues

16-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

Athletes often cite gastrointestinal complaints as a cause of underperformance in endurance events. New research suggests that a diet low in FODMAP may help prevent this.

2019 Trends: The ingredients and categories to watch this year

14-Jan-2019 By Stephen Daniells

As an avid industry watcher, I like to keep a close eye on what’s hot and what’s not in the market. Here’s my list of the top 10 categories and ingredients to keep an eye on for 2019…

Nutrition could cut the number of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease, study finds

14-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

At least half of all premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths could be prevented by better nutrition such as by increasing consumption of whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids, according to an international study.

January new product launches: Probiotic fruit bar, organic protein milk, and more

10-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

In this round-up of the latest product launches from the end of last year and beginning of this new year, we have fruit bars with probiotics, a pre-workout that ‘tastes like college,’ and organic high protein milk.

To be or nut to be: How to maximise the health benefits of nuts for under-nourished seniors

09-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Nuts may be able to help prevent and even reverse under-nutrition in older adults, but clinical studies are needed to test their efficacy, according to a joint Australian and New Zealand study.

Synbiotics may have dose-dependent effect against IBS symptoms: South Korean RCT

08-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Synbiotics can alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), depending on the dosage administered, according to a South Korean RCT.

Researchers link β-fructan supplementation with digestion benefits in new review

07-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

Looking at the body of published studies on β-fructan’s potential effects on human digestion, researchers from France and the Netherlands reveal a positive correlation.

FSSAI issues guidelines for fortification ingredients in children's supplements

02-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Indian regulator FSSAI has issued a gazette notification of its amendments to the standards for children's supplements in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.

Nature vs nurture: Study finds consistent gut microbiome differences among ethnicities

20-Dec-2018 By Nikki Cutler

Ethnicity has a consistent effect on the microbiome according to new research which fuels the debate about whether diet or genes have the most effect on the microbiome.

The future is fibre: How to cash in on the trend

18-Dec-2018 By Nikki Cutler

2019 could be the year fibre becomes fashionable as consumers learn more about gut health and weight management, according to a leading ingredient supplier.

Synbiotic dietary supplement shows metabolic health benefits in overweight people: DuPont data

14-Dec-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of DuPont’s Howaru Shape probiotic and Litesse Ultra prebiotic may beneficially alter the gut microbiota and improve gut barrier function, says a new study from DuPont Nutrition & Health.

Paper lays out new way to think about carbon capture and land use

12-Dec-2018 By Hank Schultz

A paper publishing today in Nature posits a new paradigm for measuring the carbon capture potential of land uses. Deciding whether a plot is best used for supporting a forest or if agriculture is a more appropriate use requires this baseline calculation,...

Roll over, rolled oats! Manufacturer markets lupin as high protein, high fiber ingredient for bars, granola

10-Dec-2018 By Adi Menayang

Ingredient supplier CK Nutraceuticals is launching lupin-derived flour and flakes to target North American manufacturers in the nutritional bar space.

Not just a sweetener: PureCircle to launch stevia protein, fiber, antioxidant ingredients

06-Dec-2018 By Adi Menayang

Stevia specialist PureCircle announced that it will launch a line of stevia-derived proteins, soluble fibers, and antioxidants in the second half of 2019.

IngredientsOnline expands portfolio with new branded ingredients range

26-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

‘We have revolutionized the way ingredients are bought and sold,’ says Peggy Jackson, VP of sales and marketing for IngredientsOnline.com, as the company expands its portfolio with branded ingredients.

GRMA: Publication of dietary supplement standards ‘imminent’

21-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Consensus-based standards for dietary supplements developed by the Global Retailer and Manufacturer Alliance (GRMA) will be published very soon, says the alliance’s president.

Increased parental interest in gut health of their children creates opportunities for prebiotics

19-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

As parents become more aware of the importance of the developing gut microbiome in their infants and children there will be opportunities for prebiotics, says ingredients supplier Beneo.

Commentary

Choice of statistical framework colors answer to question of whether supplements actually work

16-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

Dietary supplements have held out the promise of greater health. Has the category delivered on that promise? Are people healthier now than they were decades ago?

Special edition: Pre- and Probiotics

Prebiotics as a concept still not well understood by many consumers, experts say

07-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

Research done by the Global Prebiotic Association shows that prebiotics as a concept is gaining traction with dedicated supplement users but has a long way to go to gain mainstream acceptance.

Prebiotic combination shows metabolic benefits for adults with acne: Pilot data

07-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) prebiotics may improve glycemic and lipid metabolic measures in women with acne, suggests a small study from Italy.

'Precision agriculture for nutraceutical industry': Indian start-up details ambitious plans to raise standards

07-Nov-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Indian agri-tech start-up Sattvaponics Solutions has outlined its ambition to be a game-changer in the nutraceutical industry, spurred in part by a recent investment from the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE).

Mood support one way plant-based diets help type 2 diabetes sufferers, study finds

07-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

Mood support is one of the mechanisms by which a plant based diet can help suffers of type 2 diabetes, a new meta analysis has found.

Evidence continues to build linking fiber supplementation and improved cholesterol levels

05-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

There’s mounting evidence that psyllium, oat bran beta-glucan, and PolyGlycopleX each confer blood lipid management benefits, but more studies are needed for the fibers’ effects on weight, hypertension, and blood sugar levels, researchers argued.

Staying healthy post-marathon: Study supports Wellmune beverage for immune benefits after intense exercise

02-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Marathon runners consuming a beverage formulated with immune ingredient Wellmune saw a 19% reduction in the severity of upper respiratory tract infection (URTIs), compared to the placebo group, says a new study.

Highlights from the Harvard Probiotics Symposium

26-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The recent Harvard Probiotics Symposium brought together scientific experts from across the globe to discuss: “Gut Health, Microbiota & Probiotics Throughout the Lifespan: Dietary Influences”. Here’s what we learned.

Top picks from SupplySide West’s Education program for 2018

23-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

With barely two weeks left before the industry makes it annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas for SupplySide West, we look ahead to the events educational workshop program.

Turmeric’s popularity drives botanical supplement use increases, says CRN data

19-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Almost 20% of US supplement users over 55 are using turmeric and curcumin supplements, according to the 2018 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements.

Brazil’s next big grain? Researchers propose pearl millet as an alternative to rice and maize

16-Oct-2018 By Adi Menayang

Brazilian researchers found that pearl millet has higher protein and fiber than rice, and isolated bacterial strains from the fermented bran may have probiotic potential.

Bee pollen a 'treasure trove' of metabolites as nutrient update raises safety considerations

16-Oct-2018 By Will Chu

The nutritional profile of bee pollen is 'a treasure trove of active natural metabolites', according to scientists, who've updated the food's nutritional values, which may have food safety considerations for the future.

Popular Indian kitchen spice shows indigestion benefits: Study

10-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with oleo-gum-resin from Ferula asafoetida, a traditional Indian medicine and popular kitchen spice, may ease dyspepsia-related discomforts, says a new RCT from India.

Jennewein Biotechnologie’s facility acquisition looks to expand HMO production

10-Oct-2018 By Will Chu

Jennewein Biotechnologie is to acquire the former facilities of Arthus Mineral Spring Company, in a deal set to ramp up the company's production of oligosaccharides derived from human milk (HMO).

Maize starch, glucose sports drink improved hydration among Australian footballers, study suggests

01-Oct-2018 By Adi Menayang

Downing maize starch as a solution to stay hydrated in hot summer months seems counter-intuitive at first, but researchers in Australia found that supplementing with a resistant starch may improve hydration.