A lack of dietary intake and supplementation of EPA and DHA in pregnant Japanese women, especially during the second trimester, are risk factors for low birth weight (LBW) babies, say researchers.
Intake of α-linolenic acid (ALA) during pregnancy may stabilise maternal mental health, with high levels of maternal blood ALA lined with the mitigation of psychological distress, a new study reports.
The three-year transition period for sports nutrition products, such as those that make therapeutic claims and come in a tablet form, to complete their registration as therapeutic goods in Australia is coming to an end.
Of Dreams & Knowledge (Asia), a functional food firm which won the start-up category at the recent NutraIngredients-Asia Awards, is seeking to drive consumer awareness of its products by looking more deeply into metabolic and maternal health concerns.
The Japanese government is planning to commit approximately US$20mn into projects to expand the use of rice flour across more food product innovations in its latest initiative to improve local self-sufficiency and food security.
Haleon is aiming to develop personalised self-care solutions, including health supplements and digital wearables, for supporting areas such as healthy ageing, cognitive health, women’s health, gut microbiome, and general wellbeing.
Type 2 diabetes patients experienced significant improvement in blood glucose and cholesterol levels when administered vitamin D supplementation in addition to conventional treatment, according to a retrospective analysis of 162 patients in China.
Climate conditions in Asian countries are a key driver behind lower production costs and ‘ready-made’ opportunities for the region to emerge as a major insect farming market, providing a more affordable alternative source to the global protein supply.
Chinese consumers’ increasing demands for functional and fortified foods and beverages to support a lifestyle based on ‘punk nutrition’ has opened up massive innovation opportunities for brands across various product categories.
South Korean nutricosmetics brand Vital Beautie, owned by K-beauty giant Amorepacific, has launched a retinol-based dietary supplement that claims to be safe even for people who are sensitive to the ingredient.
Tofu and beverage brand Vitasoy hopes the performance of its soy milk and tea businesses in Asian will help it bounce back from manufacturing and logistical challenges faced in Oceania over the past six months.
Indonesia was one of top five health food exporters of health foods to China last year, and has continued to surpass even Japan, with edible bird’s nest making up the bulk of the South East Asian country’s export.
See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including how India's MuscleBlaze has managed to increase its market share in the local protein powder market by 10 per cent through the launch of a protein test-kit,...
Malaysia company Biotropics has developed chewables and capsules using Kesum, also known as Polygonum minus / Persicaria minor, a leaf commonly consumed as salad or used in the cooking of laksa across South East Asia.
Indian sports nutrition company MuscleBlaze says its market share in the whey protein powder category had grown by 10 per cent in the past year after launching a test kit that allows consumers and retailers to distinguish between authentic and fake products.
Personalised nutrition could progress from mass customisation to full personalisation as companies leverage on factory automation, supply chain management, and 3D printing to increase the efficiency of providing customised products.
The Aptamil owner has signed a letter of intent with Else Nutrition, a start-up making formula for babies and kids from almonds, buckwheat and tapioca.
The transformative potential of pharmacist-led interventions in the realm of neonatal nutritional care has been underscored by a new China study that found it boosted iron levels.
Morinaga Milk says its postbiotic, marketed under the brand LAC-Shield, has been added into Thailand’s positive list of ingredients that could be used in general foods and beverages, opening new opportunities for functional foods development in the South...
Vitamins, probiotics, lactoferrin for infants and toddlers, and over 30 nutrition products saw their transaction value at least doubled in China’s Double 11 shopping festival this year, says JD Health, amid muted consumer spending in the country for the...
At increased levels, vitamin B6 and folate have a synergistic relationship in lowering the risk and possibly preventing migraines, according to an analysis that appeared in Nutrition Research.
This round-up features the application potential of a natto-derived ingredient, a probiotic strain for cognitive support across age groups, launch of AgTechNavigator.com, challenges of personalised nutrition, and Blackmores’ expansion and product development...
Seventy per cent of athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics consumed dietary supplements, and 50 per cent at the 2022 Beijing winter games, but only half either examined the scientific evidence behind the products or consulted an expert beforehand.
The supplementation of vitamin B1, B6, and B12 for 90 days has shown to improve ankle, knee reflex, as well as motor strength in individuals suffering from peripheral neuropathy, a 90-day study from Procter and Gamble (P&G) Health has shown.
Kirin says that revenue from LC-Plasma, its flagship immune health ingredient, has grown significantly even during spring and summer this year, although these are seasons when consumers tend to take fewer precautions against infectious diseases.
This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research, including the role of the gut microbiome and its links with brain and cardiometabolic health, how glycine supplementation before bedtime has shown to improve sleep quality, and how vitamin...
Consumers are recognising that health and fitness goes beyond having a muscular physique, and are increasingly seeking products that help improve joint mobility, body functionality and overall health, says an industry expert.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s heavy reliance on grain imports as a source of dietary calories and protein poses major risks to food security and nutrition level among its populations, say researchers.
Research on the gut-brain axis is growing, but it is still a ‘chicken or the egg’ situation when it comes to whether it is gut dysbiosis that affects brain health or vice versa, says the guest on the latest episode of our Nutrachampion podcast.
Consumers in the Middle East are increasingly looking for protein-rich products to fulfil various needs, with claims ranging from sports performance to age-related muscle support.
Asia-Pacific’s beauty-from-within category is seeing rising demand for products that address not only beauty concerns, but also those that provide multiple benefits spanning gut health and mental support, says a panel involving experts from Haleon, Blackmores,...
Shanghai-headquartered TSI Group says that the approval of its muscle-support ingredient in South Korea will allow it to satisfy the needs of the local ageing population, and seize emerging opportunities in the sports nutrition category.
Demand for paediatric probiotics and nutritional supplements in mainland China declined in Q3, as parents were shopping less in pharmacies for immunity related products, according to Hong Kong-headquartered Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group).
Kirin Holdings’ health science-focused arm Kyowa Hakko says the versatility and stability of its postbiotic ingredient has enabled it to continue to enjoy commercial success beyond the surge of COVID-19.
Affordability and accessibility are just as important as product innovation if food firms are going to help meets Asia’s nutritional needs, in a region that is still beset by childhood stunting and rising rates of obesity and diabetes.
Nestle India has launched a variety of new products focused on millets as a key ingredient this year, in an effort to increase consumer acceptance and awareness via familiar product formats while also aligning with the Indian government’s International...
An upcoming webinar will explore the exciting potential of probiotics for weight management, and will feature experts from BIOHM, Kaiviti Consulting, and Lumina Intelligence.
Supplement firms are increasingly launching products for dual blood sugar and weight management purposes, with a recent example being Eimele Wellness from Australia.
Japan's FANCL is focusing on metabolic health supplements that target blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and body fat, for its nutrition business in the second half of FY2024.
