An eight-week RCT has shown that garlic chives (allium hookeri) extract is able to reduce the level of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in pre-diabetic individuals.
Researchers claim Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) rules need to be overhauled, with four in five (79.5%) blood pressure management products ‘lacking’ clear label claims, a study has found.
Consuming apple polyphenol (AP) supplements before UV exposure can reduce the extent of skin pigmentation, and continued consumption for the next 10 weeks can help speed up skin tone recovery, an RCT funded by Asahi Breweries has shown.
FANCL’s beauty brand, Attenir has launched a new joint health supplement (Kansetsu Smart) made from proteoglycan and type II collagen derived from salmon nasal cartilage.
South Korea is proposing to add in ‘precautions for use’ warnings for nutraceuticals containing nine kinds of ingredients, including vitamins and potassium. It is also proposing new testing methods for vitamins.
Regulators from China and importing countries should cooperate to arrest the problem of milk formula not intended for infant consumption being marketed as such in the China market, said an industry observer.
Japan’s Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings is stepping up product development in its nutrition business, as its prescription pharmaceutical struggles to secure significant growth opportunities.
BY-HEALTH is aiming to raise RMB$3.6bn (US$509m) to fund five new projects, including new manufacturing sites in China and Australia, and a health management centre.
The total number of Foods for Special Medical Purpose (FSMPs) approved in China has now exceed 50, helping to boost what e-commerce giant JD states in one of the fastest growing nutrition sectors in the country.
Health supplement firms have been threatened with enforcement action if they fail to adhere to permitted recommended dietary allowance (RDA) levels for vitamins and mineral products, regulator FSSAI has said.
Australian e-commerce platform BuyNatural believes there are “exceptional opportunities” in China for local dietary supplement brands, with consumers eager to purchase “newer and smaller” brands.
South Korea’s authorities have recalled 12 krill oil products after safety tests found banned substances or excessive use of solvents in the products, leading to the authorities calling for tougher inspections at customs.
Ajinomoto has launched its first non-amino acid supplement, a multi-product containing 12 vitamins and nine minerals, which has been designed for seniors in its domestic Japan market.
Yakult Japan has launched its first shelf-stable probiotic supplement – a sachet containing two of its exclusive probiotic strains, its lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota) and bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult).
A cohort study conducted in China found that females suffering from infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) experienced lower oxidative stress in their bodies and can reduce their hormone medication dosage after a brief period of vitamin E supplementation.
Chinese consumers see health benefits in probiotics, with probiotics in fermented dairy and beverages most popular, but misconceptions about the fast-rising ingredient are also rife, said a newly released consumers report.
Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) has approved 2,887 products under the food with function claim (FFC) since its introduction in 2015 – but only 1325 are currently available on the market.
Nestle Health Science aims to launch nine new products from the Garden of Life series – a US health foods brand which it previously acquired – into the China market this year. Of which, immune, beauty, and anti-stress are the key product priorities.
Jatenergy has developed two new lactoferrin-enriched milk powder products as market interest in immune-strengthening functional foods continue to grow amid COVID-19.
Plant extract companies in China are seeing more demand for immune-related raw materials, but most are adopting a cautious stance when it comes to capacity building due to trade uncertainties brought on by COVID-19.
This round-up looks at the latest China infant nutrition brand scandal, how probiotics can improve asthma control, and market developments from big brands, including BY-HEALTH and Nestle.
While probiotic supplementation cannot prevent asthma or wheezing, it may improve lung function and asthma control in infants, according to a new systematic review.
Both local Chinese and foreign infant nutrition brands in China are urged to “push hard on safety cues and messages” in light of the recent infant nutrition scandal happening in the country, according to an industry expert.
Researchers from East Asia are urging more research and clinical studies of the Japanese herbal medicine, Kampo, as a treatment for frailty, as part of a push to increase awareness in global markets.
Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) has approved 2,887 products under the food with function claim (FFC) since its introduction in 2015 – but only 1325 are currently available on the market.
Yakult has opened three new China sales offices, with the Japanese firm hopeful it will lead to an additional 100,000 bottle sales per day in a key market.
BY-HEALTH has refreshed its brand logo and product packaging in a bid to revitalise its vitamins and dietary supplements (VDS) business, at the same time as reporting disappointing revenue figures for the first quarter of the year.
China is stepping up its compliance checks on food manufacturers and retailers to stem the unauthorised production and sales of special foods, including Foods for Special Medical Purpose (FSMPs).
China’s infant formula and supplement retailer, GOVKING Group, is promoting GoldMax – a New Zealand infant formula and supplement brand – through its ‘livestreaming incubator’.
Network marketing giant Herbalife has announced an agreement in principle with US authorities over a bribery scandal in China. The reported pact, which includes a $123 million fine, was part of the company’s first quarter earnings report, which came...
Nestle is conducting consumer testing with a view to expanding its customisable 'superfood' drink product, nesQino, to more APAC markets, after an initial launch in China via e-commerce platform Tmall.
Japan’s food seasoning giant Ajinomoto is proposing amino acids like monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a candidate to help fight dementia and is working on a new range of seasoning products to help improve cognitive health.
FANCL will distribute Kirin’s iMUSE supplements to the Chinese market this May through cross-border e-commerce, as well as seeking to expand online sales in their home markets of Japan.
A combination of a focus on lower-tier markets and innovative marketing strategies can substantially grow sales of maternal and infant nutrition products, according to Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com.
Japanese confectionery company Ezaki Glico has reported strong demand for its Mental Balance Chocolate GABA for Sleep, which carries a food with function claim (FFC).
Chromadex, the nicotinamide riboside (NR) specialist, has entered the beauty-from-within space with its new product exclusively launched in A.S. Watsons Hong Kong both offline and online.
Molecular hydrogen (H2) could be a potential sports nutrition ingredient due to its antioxidant effect on exercise-induced oxidative stress, according to new findings.
Japan’s Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings has released Japan’s first caffeine-free energy drink containing the botanical ingredient, enXtra, which has been clinically proven to improve alertness and focus up to five hours with or without caffeine.
Japanese firms such as Nippn, Kirin, Morinaga Milk Industry, Kewpie, Yakult, Eminet, and FANCL have been sharing their experiences of operating in Japan despite the state of emergency in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.