Energy

Automated personalisation: Australia’s Vitable going global with data-driven supplement service after $5.5m funding boost

07-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Australia-based personalised nutrition firm Vitable is gearing up for international expansion starting with a launch into the UK later this year, and major Asia nation’s on its hitlist for 2022, after its latest funding round.

Formula for success? More children and student formulas launched in China amid shrinking birth rates

05-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Milk formulas for children and young teens are gaining traction in China, with both local and foreign companies rushing to compete in this emerging market.

Bringing European standards to Vietnam: NutiFood launches Sweden-formulated kids tonic drinks for brain, height growth

05-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Vietnam dairy company NutiFood has launched a new range of kids’ tonic drinks formulated by its newly opened research institute in Sweden.

‘Delighted with growth’: Aussie supplement firms increase market size despite pandemic trials and tribulations – new data

05-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s supplements industry has continued to grow amid the pandemic despite a dip in export revenue, with firms finding success by pivoting to immunity products and finding inroads into several new markets, including Iran, Israel and Brazil.

Regulatory review: Postbiotics redefinition, Taiwan animal test ban, and Thailand's new fish oil standards

02-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The redefinition of postbiotics, Taiwan animal test ban on anti-fatigue health claims, and new fish oil standards in Thailand are some of the topics covered in this regulatory round-up.

Gummies to the rescue: India’s Power Gummies formulates chasteberry, vitamin C and passionflower product to ease PMS

29-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

New Delhi-headquartered dietary supplement brand Power Gummies has developed a formula containing chasteberry, vitamin C, passionflower, and citrus bioflavonoids as key ingredients for alleviating premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Teeing off for success: How PGA-backing is helping Tom Oliver Nutrition swing into golf shops in Singapore, UK and UAE

24-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

UK dietary supplement brand Tom Oliver Nutrition is making inroads into golf pro shops across Singapore, UK, and the UAE – markets where it already enjoys a presence – to tackle declining sales from pharmacies in high streets and shopping malls due to...

Functional foods in Japan exclusive 2: GABA, black ginger, indigestible dextrin most popular ingredients, weight and blood sugar claims top chart

22-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), black ginger and indigestible dextrin are the top three most popular ingredients used in products notified under Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) in fiscal 2020.

Looking LIVELY: Nestle Malaysia’s new adaptogen-enriched teas tap traditional ingredients for stress management

22-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Malaysia’s new range of adaptogen-enriched teas is set for a nationwide rollout in August 2021, and aims to utilize the functionality of traditional natural ingredients to capture the attention of stressed-out consumers.

Unilever’s exclusive insights: Four key trends driving APAC’s online supplements growth

21-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Unilever has identified four emerging trends from online sales of health supplements across Asia Pacific, including the younger generation viewing vitamins and supplements as lifestyle products, and how online shopping events such as Super Brand Days...

Brand New: BYHEALTH, HempFusion, Vital Proteins in the spotlight

18-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will look at the strategies of big brands BYHEALTH, HempFusion, Vital Proteins, and Tipco in expanding their market reach and developing new nutritional products.

Giving Ayurveda a modern twist: Vedix on putting traditional formulas into new formats and adding new ingredients

16-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Vedix, a brand from India, is giving traditional Ayurveda formulations a modern twist by making them into new dosage formats and adding ingredients which can act synergistically with the age-old formulas.

Functional foods in Japan exclusive 1: Record number of FFC notifications in 2020 with beverage-formats on the rise

15-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

A record number of 1,067 products were notified under the Foods with Function Claims (FFC) system in Japan from April 2020 to March 2021, exclusive new data shared with NutraIngredients-Asia reveals.

Wings clipped? Lack of scientific evidence for supplements that claim to benefit air travel symptoms – Australian meta-analysis

10-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

There is a lack of scientific evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for supplements that claim to benefit air travel symptoms such as jetlag and edema, although there is limited support to suggest melatonin and pycnogenol may be worthwhile.

Made for millennials: Auric develops men’s energy drink based on Ayurveda concept

09-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Indian brand Auric has developed a men’s energy drink based on Ayurveda principles, featuring ashwagandha, shedheveli and gokshura to increase stamina and fight fatigue.

Japan focus: Japanese bucking 'pill fatigue' trend and new clinical trial plans

04-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

See new developments in Japan's health foods market, from Lonza's observation on Japanese' preference for capsule and tablet products to Therabiopharma's plans in trialling curcumin's uses for immune, cognitive, and joint health....

China and Vietnam focus: Japan’s kanpo specialist forays into sika deer glue ingredient export

31-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Japan’s kanpo medicine company Health Business Info is expanding its sika deer glue business, with plans to export ingredients into China and Vietnam.

Stories behind the ingredients: Natural Remedies seeks to meet demand for botanical transparency and sustainability

31-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Natural Remedies says that brands and consumers in Asia are increasingly interested in the story behind botanical ingredients used in herbal supplements, which has led to greater attention on how botanical raw materials are sustainably sourced.

Beyond beauty: Nestlé Health Science China to launch Vital Proteins’ immune and lifestyle range via CBEC

31-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Nestlé Health Science China has opened a flagship store on Tmall for Vital Proteins, its peptide collagen brand from the US, and aims to educate the Chinese consumers that collagen supplements are not only for skin beauty, but beneficial for immune, joint...

Nutrition Asia Video Series

WATCH: JD Health, GO Healthy on how active nutrition is cutting across multiple health concerns

21-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The active nutrition category is increasingly cutting across multiple health needs, including digestive health, weight management, as well as joint and bone health, in addition to the more traditional sports and energy considerations, two experts believe.

‘Cross category solutions’: NZ’s Me Today CEO outlines expansion plans in Japan, Australia and Ireland with supplement and skin care lines

18-May-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand-based wellness brand Me Today has signed distribution agreements in Japan, Australia and Ireland as part of its expansion push.

China focus: BioGaia's new launch, Herbalife's esports initiatives, Lianhua Qingwen boom in the spotlight

14-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at new commercial developments in China's health and nutrition industry, including BioGaia's bone health probiotic launch, Herbalife's esports nutrition initiatives and more.

Nutrition labelling in Taiwan: Infant, toddler foods, FSMPs to follow standards for pre-packaged foods

12-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Pre-packaged foods for infants, toddlers, and special medical purposes will now need to follow nutrition labelling standards applicable for all pre-packaged foods in Taiwan, the country’s regulator has ruled.

‘Tryvertising’ for TCM: Eu Yan Sang partners SingPost in attracting try-before-you-buy younger crowd

11-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) company Eu Yan Sang has partnered Singapore Post’s (SingPost) Sample Store in expanding its consumer reach, especially to the younger generation, by allowing consumers to try out the company's TCM product before...

H&H on plant-based nutrition: Swisse to launch more vegan supplements while infant brands tap growing trend

10-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Nutrition giant H&H has said it will continue to develop more plant-based products for its dietary supplements and infant formula categories across different brands, with the firm believing consumers are increasingly looking for more sustainable solutions.

NutraChampion Podcast Episode 18

LISTEN: Causing a buzz: Prof Ken Nosaka on muscle cramp benefits in athletes, elderly, and pregnant women

07-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of electrolytes could potentially reduce the incidence of muscle cramps due to different factors, including exercise, ageing, and pregnancy, according to the latest guest on our NutraChampion podcast, Professor Ken Nosaka.

H&H’s sustainability strategy: Swisse, Good Goût, CBII to benefit from packaging innovations – exclusive interview

04-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

H&H Group is pushing for the use of sustainable packaging, including recyclable, renewable, compostable materials, across its brands, including Swisse, Good Goût, CBII and its infant formula range.

Anti-fatigue health claims: Taiwan animal test ban to increase cost and time for registering products

03-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Health foods manufacturers wanting to make anti-fatigue claims in Taiwan can expect to spend a higher cost and a longer period of time registering products, after the local authorities banned animal testing on such items and insisted on human trials.

China’s e-sports nutrition: Herbalife on big opportunities in fitness, sleep and stress relief segments

30-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Herbalife says there are vast opportunities to tap into the fitness, sleep, and stress relief nutritional needs of China’s booming e-sports industry.

Endurance training boost: India’s vegan sports nutrition brand launches sublingual caffeine strips and beetroot extract

29-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Indian vegan supplement and sports nutrition company Unived has launched a series of new products, from sublingual caffeine strips to beetroot extract, to enhance the training and performance of endurance athletes.

Domestic strife: Blackmores forecasts weak Australian market into 2022 as borders stay shut

27-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Blackmores has forecasted a weak domestic supplement market over the next year due to lower sales from Chinese travellers and a milder cold and flu season, but has nevertheless highlighted a number of strategies to mitigate the slowdown.

We want to hear from you! Help us shape the future of NutraIngredients-Asia

26-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

2020 was a year of changing business practices, challenged global supply chains, and skyrocketing sales of dietary supplements and functional foods as consumers took more control of their own health and wellness.

Nutrition Asia Video Series

WATCH: Resting state: Adaptogens and spices for sleep aid and stress relief benefits

23-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

In this episode of Nutrition Asia, we shine the spotlight on nutraceutical firms that have developed innovative sleep aid and stress relief products using adaptogens and spices.

Divine internationalism: Indian supplement brand set for US, Nepal and Dubai expansion

22-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

India nutraceutical brand Divine Nutrition is aiming overseas expansion, including Nepal, Dubai, and the US.

Psychobiotics intake shows stress, insomnia and gastrointestinal relief among IT professionals – Eight-week pilot study

19-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of psychobiotic Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 could provide stress, insomnia and gastrointestinal relief among high-stressed workers, in this case IT professionals, according to the findings of an eight-week pilot study.

Immunity gift: Korea’s Youguth launches fermented red ginseng with probiotic supplement in Singapore, unveils NPD plans

15-Apr-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

South Korean probiotic supplement brand Youguth has launched its fermented red ginseng with probiotic supplement for immune health in Singapore, with aims to tap on the gifting culture to promote sales.

Supplementation of caralluma fimbriata reduces calorie intake, waist circumference, and weight loss – Gencor-funded study

14-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of caralluma fimbriata extract has been shown to reduce calorie intake, waist circumference, and weight loss in a 16-week study funded by Gencor Pacific.

Muscle mass: Animal protein more beneficial than plant sources in increasing lean mass in adults below 50

13-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Adults below 50 could gain more absolute lean mass by consuming animal protein such as whey instead of plant protein, a meta-analysis has shown.

Safety and effectiveness more important than professional advice for Malaysians buying nutraceuticals – study

12-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

A nutraceutical that has clearly proven to be safe and effective is a more attractive factor than professional advice for urban Malaysians when choosing to buy a nutraceutical.

Multi-strain probiotics improve glycaemic control of patients with diabetic nephropathy – 12-week RCT

08-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

A combination of probiotic strains could improve glycaemic control when taken by patients with diabetic nephropathy, a 12-week RCT conducted in China has shown.

Functional gummy growth: China’s BUFFX gears up for new product launches with ambitious US$15m sales goal

05-Apr-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

China’s functional food start-up BUFFX is gearing up to launch 16 new products as part of its target to achieve RMB100 million (US$15m) in sales this year.

Nutrition Asia Video Series

WATCH: Microbiome, personalised nutrition, and protein…Life-Space and Nutritional Growth Solutions on R&D for kids’ supplements

26-Mar-2021 By Tingmin Koe

In this episode of Nutrition Asia, two firms specialising in kids’ supplements – Life-Space and Nutritional Growth Solutions – have revealed their R&D priorities, including probiotics, personalised nutrition, and protein shakes for active children.

Rage against the coffee machine: India’s Rage Coffee banks on vitamin-infused brews and fuller flavour to triple sales

24-Mar-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

India-based Rage Coffee, maker of vitamin-infused instant coffee, is targeting a tripling of revenue from US$2m to US$5.5m/6m by the end of 2021 – just three years after launching.

Japan focus: Welcia-BHG's expansion plans, beta-glucan as COVID-19 adjunctive treatment in the spotlight

19-Mar-2021 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at how Japanese health and wellness retailer Welcia-BHG plans to expand its presence in Singapore, GN Corporation's clinical trial on using beta glucan as an adjunct treatment for COVID-19 treatment and more.

Offline still king: Japanese supplement, beauty retailer Welcia-BHG on track with Singapore store expansions

17-Mar-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Japanese health supplement, personal care and beauty product retailer Welcia-BHG is on track to expand its offline presence in Singapore, with five new stores planned for this year, despite concerns on how COVID-19 could affect foot traffic.

Supplements education: NZ healthcare professionals interested in herbal medicine training as usage grows

17-Mar-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand’s healthcare professionals have expressed interest in receiving training on herbal medicine and acupuncture, as the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) grows in the country.

Health foods litigation in China: Unregulated influencer marketing and fake goods spur nearly 1000 actions

17-Mar-2021 By Tingmin Koe

A total of 964 cases of public interest litigation have been filed against individuals and companies for the illegal production, marketing and sales of health foods in China in the last 15 months.

Psychobiotic RCTs: Bened to trial PS128 on Tourette and Rett syndrome patients following new findings on Parkinson’s

16-Mar-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Bened Biomedical is making inroads into the study of psychobiotics as it embarks on a human clinical trial that looks at its flagship strain Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 on Tourette syndrome and Rett syndrome.

Permitted indications rules: Around 10% of Australian supplement products not transitioned to new list

15-Mar-2021 By Tingmin Koe

About 10 per cent of complementary medicines in Australia did not manage to transit to the new list of health indications permitted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and have been cancelled.

Trend tracker: Muscle health, clean nutrition, emergence of ‘light and strong’ functional foods in China

12-Mar-2021 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we shine the spotlight on trends across APAC’s health and nutrition market, including the use of BCAA-leucine, astaxanthin for muscle health in elderly, clean nutrition trends in India, and the rise of ‘light and strong’ functional foods...