Probiotics supplementation may benefit bone health in post-menopausal women: China study
Probiotic supplementation can significantly improve bone health, according to researchers in China.
East Asia
Kewpie on addressing the spread of nutritional “half-truths” on social media
Kewpie is working with nutrition societies and academic professors to address misinformation regarding food and nutrition that is spreading on the social media.
Beyond pads: Rael’s holistic menstrual cycle care business gains traction
South Korea’s Rael, which made a name for itself with organic sanitary pad products, is seeing growth opportunities in the area of holistic menstrual cycle care, including supplements.
Low-fat, high-carb diets, food insecurity linked to obesity – Korea study
A new study has found a close association between low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, food insecurity, and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) among the South Korean population.
TCM focus: Amway to build first organic farm in China
Amway is building its first organic farm in Sichuan, China, to support a growing demand for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) products.
a2 Milk taps on senior nutrition in a move to maximise China’s market potential
The a2 Milk Company is doubling down on its senior nutrition business in China as it explores different ways to maximise the market’s potential.
China sees persistent decline in infant formula, offline pharmacy sales - H&H
Swisse and Biostime owner Health and Happiness (H&H) Group’s Q3 results showed that China, its largest market, has been struggling with continued declines in sales across infant formulas and offline pharmacies.
Patented botanical blend gets Japan’s approval for triple joint health claims
A patented blend of tamarind seeds and turmeric root extracts has received approval from Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) in making three types of joint health related claims.
Milk thistle, vitamin C, E most trusted for liver care in China
Milk thistle, vitamin C and E are the top three most trusted among China’s night owls when it comes to liver care supplements, says a whitepaper recently released by BYHEALTH and the Tmall Innovation Center (TMIC).
Whey-derived peptide lowers self-perceived stress levels – Six-week Kirin study
The supplementation of a whey-derived peptide has been shown to lower self-perceived levels of stress among middle-aged adults, according to a six-week study conducted by Kirin Holdings.
Japan’s ALMADO debuts eggshell membrane-containing FFC targeting sleep, skin and muscle mass
Japanese cosmetics manufacturer ALMADO has launched its first Foods with Function Claims (FFC) product that contains eggshell membrane and GABA, targeting consumers with concerns regarding sleep, dry and ageing skin, and muscle loss.
Meiji expands snack range made with bitter-reducing, nutrient-retaining ‘cacao granules’
Meiji is launching a new product under its WELLCACAO range, which is made with the company’s proprietary cacao-based ingredient that claims to be less bitter and better retain nutrients such as polyphenols.
BYHEALTH’s lacklustre performance continues into Q3 as profits slide 106%
China health supplements giant BYHEALTH continues to see weak performance as net profits fell 106.30 per cent in Q3 of 2024, resulting in a net loss of RMB$22.42m (US$3.15m). The company reported a net profit of RMB$355.7m (US$49.5m) during the same time...
‘Sunburnt and discoloured’: Japan steps up efforts to mitigate global warming impact on food security and quality
Japan is seeking to alleviate the impact of global warming on its domestic food supply chain after new data showed how rising temperatures are hitting crops and increasing food loss.
Caffeine can aid post-exercise recovery, but not anaerobic performance – RCT
High caffeine consumption at 6mg/kg body weight significantly enhances skeletal muscle reactivity at rest, but did not improve anaerobic performance, according to a randomised crossover trial.
Japan’s microalgae supplement firm launches urine test that detects calcium, zinc levels
Japan firm Euglena Co Ltd, which specialises in health supplements and cosmetics developed using the microalgae euglena, has launched a urine test kit which it said could detect the levels of 11 items, including calcium and zinc.
Dietary supplement industry considers the future of U.S.-China tariffs
The dietary supplement industry continues to closely monitor the evolution of tariff policies between China and the United States, pending the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.
‘Pharma drugs’ detected: Nearly 20 supplements from US, Japan, NZ banned by Korean regulator
South Korea’s food and drug regulator has banned almost 20 supplements that claim to support memory and concentration from the US, Japan and New Zealand as they contain ingredients regulated as pharmaceutical drugs in the country, say officials.
Vitamin D an “effective adjunctive” for blood glucose control in diabetic patients, says meta-analysis
Vitamin D is an “effective adjunctive” for blood glucose management in people suffering from type II diabetes, says a new meta-analysis that looks at the results of 39 randomised controlled trials.
South Korea’s FromBIO banks on wide-ranging product formats, celebrity branding to expand footprint in SEA
South Korean firm FromBIO aims to venture into more markets in South East Asia (SEA) by capitalising on its ability to produce health functional foods in myriad formats, as well as endorsements by Korean celebrities popular in the region.
Kids’ bedtimes affects gut microbiota: Study
A study published in Scientific Reports compared the gut flora species composition and abundance in children who were early sleepers to that of late sleepers.
Safe food, safe kids: South Korea eyes legislation-led improvements in rural Children’s Diet Safety Index
South Korea is looking to improve the Children’s Diet Safety Index in its rural areas, after seeing poorer results compared to urban cities and the national average.
Consuming zinc may reduce endometriosis risk
Women who included zinc in their diets had lower odds of having endometriosis, according to a study that examined thousands of consumption patterns among Americans.
Greater consumer awareness and more players could be key for boosting postbiotics growth – Ildong Bioscience
South Korean firm Ildong Bioscience says that raising consumer awareness and the entry of more players may be crucial for pushing the growth of postbiotics in the local market.
Big bucks: Hong Kong consumers spend an average of US$100 on health supplements each month – survey
Hong Kong consumers spend an average of HK$781.59 (US$100.53) on health supplements each month, say findings of a new survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Health Food Association (HKHFA).
Water-soluble tomato concentrate’s efficacy in reducing blood pressure shows promise for novel CVD-preventive approaches – BYHEALTH-funded study
A recent study has found water-soluble tomato concentrate (WSTC) to have a significant impact on blood pressure regulation, which could contribute to the development of novel dietary approaches for protecting heart health.
Guava goodness: Taiwan’s Han-Sient taps patented extraction tech for guava leaves to target ASEAN diabetic and weight loss markets
Taiwan-based Han-Sient believes it has struck gold with its patented technology to produce guava leaf extract for blood sugar control and fat-burning, eyeing the diabetic and weight loss markets in South East Asia as its next major expansion step.
Gut microbiome, blood glucose clinical trials most requested among Japan’s FFC producers
Clinical trials that assess the effects of Foods with Function Claims on the gut microbiome and blood glucose levels are the most requested by industry players, says a contract research organisation that has conducted trials for Kirin and Suntory.
LG H&H’s Vital Garden launches edible retinol supplement to address increasing interest, keep up with beauty-from-within trends
LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H)’s Vital Garden has released an edible retinol supplement to keep up with global beauty-from-within trends and boost the competitiveness of its health food business.
Sweet move? China may allow chocolates, candies, jellies, beverages for health foods filing
China may allow health foods in the form of chocolates, candies, jellies, and beverages to go through the official health foods filing process.
Vitafoods Asia 2024
Powder power: South Korean women’s wellness and beauty specialist NGT eyes Asian expansion with Active Enzyme sticks
South Korea’s Natural Good Things (NGT) is eyeing an expansion across Asia with its Active Enzyme sticks after successfully making a name for itself in the domestic women’s beauty and wellness market.
Chong Kun Dang launches dual-format product to capture bigger share of South Korea’s thriving hangover cure market
Seoul-headquartered Chong Kun Dang has released a dual-format hangover relief comprising liquid and tablets, which the firm says is the first of its kind to be available at convenience stores.
Matcha intake shows tendency for improved sleep quality in seniors – 12-month trial
The consumption of matcha green tea powder over 12 months has shown the tendency for improved sleep quality among seniors, according to a trial conducted in Japan.
Japanese health care firm Daiichi Sankyo acquires sports nutrition brand DNS
Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co Ltd has acquired sports nutrition brand DNS as it continues to grow its portfolio from pharmaceuticals to functional foods, oral and skin care.
Fermented gold kiwi intake shown to reduce self-reported gut discomfort – Eight-week RCT
The supplementation of fermented gold kiwi has been shown to reduce the severity of self-reported gut discomfort, including abdominal pain and heartburn, according to an eight-week trial conducted in South Korea.
Beyond cosmetics: K-beauty brand Clio debuts beauty-from-within supplements in Japan
South Korean firm Clio has debuted its ingestible beauty brand, TRUE RX, in drugstores across Japan, underlining its expansion endeavours in this market beyond the cosmetics sector.
Cell Biotech’s DUOLAC to capitalise on entry into Taiwan’s Costco for further expansion in Chinese-speaking markets
Cell Biotech-owned supplement brand DUOLAC expects its recent entry into Taiwan’s major supermarket chain to accelerate expansion in the greater China region, amid strong efforts to promote Korean probiotics globally.
Fatigue, anxiety, bad skin top health concerns among Japanese aged 18 to 34 – Suntory survey
A new consumer survey conducted by Suntory found that fatigue, anxiety, and bad skin conditions were the most common health issues for Japanese aged 18 to 34.
Japan’s Fordays seeks to address consumer needs across lifespan with nucleic acid supplements, eyes global expansion
Japanese firm Fordays aims to build on the success of its nucleic acid-based supplements, which it claims to be particularly beneficial for immunity, infant growth and ageing woes, and extend its reach to more markets in Asia and globally.
China’s liver health supplement market led by detox and skin brightening needs – JD report
China’s growing liver health supplement category is being driven by consumers seeking products for detoxification, skin brightening, and less so for anti-hangover.
BYHEALTH focusing on NPD for women’s health to fulfil demand in China – Growth Asia Summit
Dietary supplement giant BYHEALTH is channelling efforts to developing and launching products to meet the evolving needs of Chinese female consumers, which constitute a major portion of vitamin and dietary supplement (VDS) users in the country.
Premium infant formula, palatable children supplements are continued avenues for growth in Asia – FrieslandCampina
FrieslandCampina Ingredients says infant formula with premium, multi-benefit ingredients and easy-to-consume supplements for children are continued avenues for growth in Asia.
CoQ10 demand in China persists but gross margin is low – Doctor's Best owner Kingdomway
China’s demand for coenzyme Q10 remains high but gross margin from the business is at the lower end, says Kingdomway, also the owner of health supplement brand Doctor’s Best.
Synbiotic supplementation raises resting energy expenditure in overweight adults – Ezaki Glico study
The supplementation of a synbiotic has shown to increase resting energy expenditure in overweight or mildly obese adults, according to a clinical trial funded by Japan confectionery company Ezaki Glico.
High-end hopes: Feihe's half-year profit up 18% as it steps up consumer engagement
Formula giant Feihe’s half-year profit for FY24 is up 18.1 per cent on the back of increased marketing activities which is said to have acquired over 1.4 million new customers.
Holistic wellness: Menstrual health, prenatal nutrition, and menopause are opportunities for product innovation
There are extensive opportunities for 'holistic product innovation' across three key areas of women’s health: menstrual health, prenatal nutrition, and menopause, says Mintel.
Malaysia botanical extract supplement marks entry into South Korea via exclusive deal
Malaysia’s Medika Natura, which specialises in health supplements made using local botanical extracts, is expecting to sell its products in South Korea next July through an exclusive partnership with NS Home Shopping.
NMN in China: Safety first, with health foods registration underway for some companies
The recent ban on nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) into China via cross-border e-commerce was due to safety considerations, says a local industry association, which added that several China companies have put forth their products for health foods...
Mixed protein may drive better golf performance: RCT
A combination of calcium casein, whey protein and pea protein isolate may significantly boost your golf swing, including driver distance and driver ball speed, says a new study from South Korea.
ASEAN advancement: Jung Kwan Jang focuses on accelerating functional product growth in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam
South Korea’s health functional food brand Jung Kwan Jang recently launched its flagship ginseng products in major health and beauty stores in Malaysia, which has been identified as one of the firm’s key markets in ASEAN.