Japan focus: Morinaga Milk, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2024 finalists and more

Gut approach: Morinaga Milk spotlights probiotic strain’s efficacy in counteracting obesity and age-related metabolic issues​​

Since discovering its flagship probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium longum BB536​​, 50 years ago, Morinaga Milk has been actively researching on the relationship between the gut condition and metabolic health.

Today, the company boasts four bifidobacterium strains and one postbiotic. Specifically, B. breve ​B-3 has been clinically proven to be effective for various areas of weight management.

New CEO at Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, outgoing chief to return 50% pay after red yeast rice scandal​​

Satoshi Yamane, formerly the senior managing director and general manager of the sustainability management division, has succeeded as CEO and president from August 8^th​.

Outgoing CEO and president Akihiro Kobayashi will remain with the company as the director in charge of compensation. He will return half of his six months remuneration in the aftermath of the firm’s red yeast rice scandal.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2024: The finalists are revealed!​​

Check out the suppliers, brands, researchers and projects that are the finalists for this year's NutraIngredients-Asia Awards.

The winners will be announced at an invitation-only celebration at the Abandoned Mansion in Bangkok on September 18.

Taiwan’s ‘miracle mushroom’: Greenyn taps Antrodia cinnamomea for hangover relief and liver health in Asia​​

Taiwan's Greenyn Biotechnology is working to get regulatory approvals in key Asia markets for Antrodia cinnamomea, after the so-called 'miracle mushroom' was found to improve the liver function of regular drinkers and chronic Hep B patients in trials funded by the firm.

In an RCT, 44 Japanese adults took either an Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia extract (ACME) capsule or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The study found that ACME significantly reduced Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in regular drinkers, suggesting potential liver health benefits without adverse effects.

Bifidobacterium adolescentis SBT2786 improves sleep and mood – Japanese study​​

Researchers in Japan found in a RCT that B adolescentis​ SBT2786 can improve sleep quality and mood of stressed adults.

Writing in Nutrients, ​the researchers reported that the strain has increased sleep duration, improved the feelings of being well-rested, as well as reduced fatigue.