Minerals

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.

Special Edition: Personalized Nutrition

Research backs personalized nutrition process, even if data on customized products lacks, expert says

18-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

While personalized nutrition proponents like to push the benefits of the approach, there is little research that backs the notion that products customized for individual consumers lead to better health outcomes than do more generic formulas. But that...

‘A total disregard for scientific research and medical guidance’: NPA 'shocked' by vitamin D-bone health meta-analysis

09-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A new meta-analysis has dismissed the potential bone health benefits of vitamin D. The Natural Products Association slammed the conclusions, stating that they ignore scientific evidence and medical guidance from around the world.

Metagenics' new CMO aims to transform health care delivery

28-Sep-2018 By Hank Schultz

Metagenics is seeking to participate in a transformation in health care delivery by bringing a Harvard- and MIT-trained physician/researcher on as chief medical officer.

Folic acid supplementation does not reduce pre-eclampsia in high-risk women, study finds

13-Sep-2018 By Will Chu

The elusive search for pre-eclampsia prevention rumbles on as researchers find not even a high dose of folic acid is enough to ward off the condition in high-risk women.

Blackmores' supply challenges under control as business plans move ahead, says CEO Henfrey

11-Sep-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Blackmores insists its recent supply chain challenges — documented in its half-yearly results six months ago — have now eased, with CEO Richard Henfrey adding that new measures would hopefully help to avoid future shortages.

Magnesium supplements maker grows new set of consumers with school program on importance of mineral

10-Sep-2018 By Hank Schultz

Magnesium supplements manufacturer Jigsaw Health has partnered in an elementary school curriculum that highlights the importance of this poorly understood mineral.

NutraIngredients-USA Global Round-up: H&H (Swisse) performance, e-commerce in China, and Tmall's nutricosmetic bonanza

10-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

It’s a global industry, but 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 new weekly round-up of key news from across the globe.

From the Editor's Desk

The long lasting benefits of supplements & the fascinating study that nobody is talking about

07-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A recent study reported something very impressive: A decade after the end of a randomized clinical trial, the benefits of dietary supplementation not only persisted, but seemed to be getting bigger. So why are we not talking about this more?

MegaFood launches out-of-stock guarantee to support smaller natural channel stores

04-Sep-2018 By Hank Schultz

Whole food supplement manufacturer MegaFood is launching an out-of-stock program aimed at helping smaller natural channel retailers compete more effectively in the changing marketplace.

Hydration beverage company lands $5 million infusion to support rapid growth

30-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Liquid I.V., a development stage company that has found success with clever marketing of its hydration beverage, has secured $5 million in a star-studded private funding round.

Nutrient deficiencies study example of renewed research emphasis, Nature's Bounty CSO says

27-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Nature’s Bounty continues to ramp up the scientific backing of its products under the leadership of new chief scientific officer Mark Gelbert PhD, JD. An example is a recent study the company conducted on the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies.

Vitamins A, C, E plus magnesium may delay hearing impairment associated with age

21-Aug-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of the vitamins A, C, and E plus magnesium may protect hearing as we age, suggests a new study using lab rats.

Natreon says organic stamp on shilajit ingredient backs quality message

20-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Natreon has announced an organic certification on its PrimaVie shilajit ingredient. As this is not an agricultural commodity, the company views the certification as more of a statement of overall quality rather than primarily a verification of its production...

‘A major reset of the drivers for disease and health’: Protective effects of selenium + CoQ10 may persist for years

20-Aug-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The potential cardiovascular benefits of combining selenium and coenzyme Q10 may persist for a long time after stopping supplementation, according to a new analysis from Sweden.

Perrigo to split off pharma business

14-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Perrigo has announced plans to split off its drug business into a separate entity.

Micronutrient gaps in childbearing years ‘concerning,’ survey stresses

13-Aug-2018 By Will Chu

Females and younger adults in the UK appear to be vulnerable to micronutrient shortfalls, a concern given this life period includes the conception and childbearing years, the survey’s author warns.

Innophos now competing as formulation R&D partner

01-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Innophos reported $207 million in revenue as it continues its transition from an industrial chemical supplier into an R&D partner for clients in the human nutrition realm. More than 60% of sales for the company now come from this sector.

The nutrition pyramid? Let's not forget hidden hunger, says DSM executive

01-Aug-2018 By Kacey Culliney

Preventative and personalised nutrition brings enormous opportunity but only addresses health needs of a small population segment, warns the president of human nutrition and health at DSM.

Keeping up education pressure counteracts view that only certain nutrition research is valuable, experts say

30-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

Ongoing education is required to combat the view by some clinicians that large scale trials are the only source of nutrition wisdom, experts say.

Johnson & Johnson acquires supplement company Zarbee’s Naturals

30-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

In its first foray into the supplement realm, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. has acquired Zarbee’s, Inc., a manufacturer of dietary supplements and OTC remedies with Supplement Facts panels.

SternVitamin says focus on service, smaller customers will help it compete in North America

19-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

German company SternVitamin is making a concerted push to enlarge its footprint in the US premix market, company officials said this week.

What’s in my product? Supplement brands, suppliers get creative as they vie for consumer trust

18-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

From profiling their ingredient suppliers to setting up codes consumers can look up, supplement brands are using transparency to win over consumer trust.

Product built on effervescent delivery, solid nutrient punch survives fractious foundation

16-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

Putting new energy into what was once a struggling brand has yielded an energy product that an executive believes could be a game changer in the space.

Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in older adults partly attributed to voluntary fortification policy, researchers say

10-Jul-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

One in eight adults in Ireland over the age of 50 aren’t getting enough vitamin B12 from their normal diets while one in seven are deficient in folic acid, but researchers from Trinity College Dublin argued that this could be improved by adopting a mandatory...

CRN rebukes another null study on multivitamins and heart health: 'They are not intended to serve as magic bullets'

10-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

Another study published this year posits multivitamin consumption does not improve cardiovascular outcomes. A supplement industry trade group reminds that they weren’t made for that anyway.

Collagen-based supplement shows skin and joint health benefits: RCT

09-Jul-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Oral supplementation with collagen bioactive peptides, plus chondroitin, glucosamine, L-carnitine, vitamins, and minerals may simultaneously improve both skin and joint health, says a new study.

Next dimension of personalized nutrition? Startup Baze pushes into US dietary supplement market

25-Jun-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Baze, an at-home blood testing kit that measures an individual’s micronutrient levels to determine a set of personalized monthly supplements, has completed a soft launch in the US aiming to introduce consumers to the “next level of dietary supplementation,”...

Adequate selenium in pregnancy can protect mothers' health later in life, supplier says

22-Jun-2018 By Hank Schultz

Adequate selenium levels can help babies get the best start in life, but they are critical to a mother’s long term health, too, a supplier says.

Notes from Nutrition 2018 in Boston

Does the micronutrient disparity in the US deserve more attention?

13-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

From a list of about a dozen shortfall nutrients, US government health agencies recognize only a handful as a public health concern. Some researchers and trade groups argue that this shouldn’t be the case.

Healthy aging in focus: ‘The surface has barely been scratched’

08-Jun-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As the average lifespan continues to increase in many countries due to advances in science and medicine, so too does the conversation around healthy aging, progressing from an interest in understanding its origins to studying how to reduce, delay, or...

Meet Liveli, a brain-health supplement start-up founded by two doctors

04-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

A California-based husband and wife doctor duo wants more people to maintain their brain health, so they launched their own cognitive-care supplement company.

British beauty-from-within brand Perfectil launches in the US with Walgreens

31-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

British company Vitabiotics is betting on the US nutricosmetics market with a nationwide launch of its Perfectil brand announced this morning.

Meta-analysis finds vitamins, minerals don’t lessen CVD risk

30-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

A meta-analysis published yesterday found slim to no evidence of benefit in lessening cardiovascular disease risk for a range of vitamin and mineral ingredients.

LifeVantage Vitality Stack Packets drive double-digit growth in order rates

11-May-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

LifeVantage, an international multi-level marketing firm, is seeing strong consumer acceptance of its single-serve Vital Stack Packets that provide a personalized dietary supplement experience.

Multivitamin gummies: Experts share their tips on how to formulate them

07-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

Gummies are an increasingly popular delivery format for dietary supplements. We talk to some experts in the category on how to make sure a product isn’t sacrificing nutrient content over palatability.

Creatine-electrolyte supplementation linked to increased power in study on male cyclists

07-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

Creatine supplementation is popular for muscle growth, but researchers at Western Washington University suggest it might benefit endurance sports too.

Clorox Q3: Execs say they’re ‘bullish’ about new Nutranext business as analysts question acquisition

03-May-2018 By Adi Menayang

CPG giant The Clorox Company has been growing its footprint in the dietary supplement space through acquisitions. During its recent earnings call, the company’s execs fielded questions concerning the logic behind its most recent purchase.

Calcium intake in Asia's populous countries barely hitting half the recommended daily intake

03-May-2018 By Tingmin Koe

In China, India and Indonesia, Asia's three most populous countries, average calcium intake stands at 338mg, 429mg and 342mg a day respectively, far below the recommended daily intake of 1,000mg.

Demographic shifts building bigger market for Active Nutrition end of sports product lines, expert says

02-May-2018 By Hank Schultz

The Active Nutrition end of the sports nutrition market is growing fast, fueled by large scale demographic changes, according to an expert.

Dr Low Dog: Nutrient testing is a key missing part of Western medical training

02-May-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The often-quoted message that "everyone gets everything they need by eating a healthy diet" is clearly not true, says Tieraona Low Dog, MD, but testing for micronutrient deficiencies / status in primary care remains very limited.

Lancet nutrition series: Supplementation during pregnancy 'insufficient' to boost offspring health

27-Apr-2018 By Will Chu

Micronutrient supplementation started in pregnancy can correct important maternal nutrient deficiencies, but it is not sufficient to improve child health, according to research in The Lancet.

Health & nutrition disparities faced by older, low-income Americans reveals marketing opportunity

26-Apr-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

New research showing low-income, older Americans want to eat well to improve their health, but face additional barriers to doing so compared to their wealthier counterparts also reveals a marketing opportunity for better-for-you and wellness-oriented...

Twinlab / Reserveage launch new products for sleep, heart health, and for her

25-Apr-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The company used the recent Expo West show in Anaheim to discuss a raft of new products developed by collaborating with some big name experts.

Special edition: Multivitamins

Selenium, vitamin K2 and nicotinamide riboside ride new research toward roles beyond being multivitamin bit players

24-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

New indications for ingredients that have been featured in many multivitamin products have helped to expand their reach into different formulations and even standalone products.

Good Idea brings functional beverage delivery format to blood sugar management

23-Apr-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Good Idea, a liquid dietary supplement positioned as a ready-to-drink flavored sparkling water, is targeting the roughly 30 million diabetic and 90 million pre-diabetic Americans (according to the CDC) in need of a blood sugar management tool that fits...

Special Edition: Multivitamins

Multivitamins – the implications of a definition for policy, science and consumer expectations

20-Apr-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The choice of multivitamin-mineral products is vast: There are options for women, pregnant women, men, seniors, infants, kids, teens, and they come in many forms and with different doses, but is there a need for a baseline definition?

Even with a GMP clean bill of health, overblown claims can spark warning letter

19-Apr-2018 By Hank Schultz

Operating a fully compliant manufacturing facility is no bulwark against trouble caused by noncompliant disease claims, as a recent warning letter illustrates.

Minerals in multis: 'You’ll always find a mineral form that is going to suit the application'

17-Apr-2018 By Adi Menayang

Minerals aren’t the easiest nutrients to incorporate into multivitamins—they can greatly affect the taste, texture, and even bioavailability of a final formulation. We spoke with several suppliers and brands to learn how they tackle the difficulties minerals...