Hot Right Now: ASEAN food science and nutrition network launched, Thai collagen brand making waves and more

Fighting the double burden of malnutrition and overnutrition: ASEAN food science and nutrition network launched​

A new nutrition and food science network to drive collaboration amongst researchers in South East Asia has been formed.

Named as the ASEAN Nutrition and Food Science Network (ANFSN), the network was launched​ by the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC) – a unit of Singapore’s research institute A*STAR.

Keynote speaker and key organiser, Prof Jeyakumar Christiani Henry, also the director of CNRC, said that the purpose of the initiative was to bring scientists from different disciplines of nutrition and food science to work together.

Beyond beauty: Thai firm bets on record growth with burgeoning collagen-for-the-elderly market​

Thai supplement firm Amado is betting on a record revenue of THB$700m (US$22m)​ for this year on the back of growing demand for collagen products in the joint health market.

The target is nearly five times higher than its total revenue last year – when the supplement industry was badly hit by the government’s stringent attempts to police illegal goods.

Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia​, Tana Limpayaraya, CEO of Amado Thailand, said the firm was in good stead to achieve its financial goals.

Improving mood: Medlab underlines how microbiome modulation can improve cognitive disorders​

Probiotics supplementation could improve a dysbiotic gut, and in turn manage mood disorders, including major depression.

This is according to scientific research findings from Professor Luis Vitetta, the director of medical research, and his team at Medlab Clinical.

He was speaking at Probiota Asia​ summit organised by NutraIngredients-Asia​ in Singapore, where he spoke in detail about the research conducted at the Australia-based firm.

WATCH: Why the power of probiotics is far greater than just gut health​

The landscape of the probiotics industry has changed drastically in recent years, with more firms creating products that seek to improve a wide variety of health conditions,​ aside from gut health.

These other conditions include skin problems such as eczema, or mood disorders such as depression. 

This episode of Nutrition Asia, filmed at our Probiota Asia Summit in Singapore, explores the forces driving the use of probiotics for uses besides improving gut health.

Growing active lifestyle market and Thai regulations driving interest in Lonza’s joint health ingredient​

A burgeoning active lifestyle market, as well as the regulatory framework, has helped drive market interest for Lonza’s joint health ingredient​ in Thailand.

The ingredient, trademarked as UC-II, is an undenatured type II collagen that is able to rebuild healthy joints.

It is made from chicken cartilage via a patented, low temperature, and non-enzymatic process to protect its undenatured structure.