Interest in natural solutions and a variety of diseases has never been greater, not least here in Asia-Pacific, where we have featured a raft of groundbreaking research projects.
Here are the top five most read research stories across the past 12 months.
1) Cannabinoids as effective as pharmaceutical treatments for migraine attacks
Cannabinoids are just as suitable as commonly prescribed medications for preventing migraine attacks, and can reduce pain by as much as 55%, according to data presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Amsterdam.
2) Eye health and vitamins: Supplement intake 'can increase degeneration', review reveals
Scientists cautioned that antioxidant consumption in supplement form is not as effective as a nutrient-rich diet to improve eye diseases, with some evidence suggesting they can actually worsen existing conditions.
3) Probiotics and Alzheimer's: Personalised nutrition tipped to become crucial area of treatment research
Modulation of gut microbiota through personalised diet or probiotic intervention will increasingly become a key focus for treating brain disorders including Alzheimer's Disease, Chinese academics concluded in a review.
4) 'Extreme superfoods': Diets yielding high levels of acetate and butyrate protect against type 1 diabetes
Specialised diets designed to release large amounts of acetate or butyrate after bacterial fermentation in the colon protected against type 1 or juvenile diabetes in mice, said researchers from Monash University in Australia.
5) Coffee and anti-ageing: Consumption 'contributes to the prevention' of age-related diseases
Coffee consumption has been shown to offer anti-ageing benefits and contribute to improved insulin resistance, according to research from Japan.