News, Analysis & Insights on Nutrition, Supplements, and Health
In the first round-up of year 2025, we bring you the latest research happening across Asia-Pacific, including new studies funded by dsm-firmenich that look at the use of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) for immunity and ageing.
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) could potentially support neurological function, immune and metabolic health, offering a unique differentiation against existing prebiotic formulations in the market.
This year’s most-read research news articles on NutraIngredients-Asia centred on safety and quality, as well as new scientific findings on the role of probiotics, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and more.
There may be a positive correlation between nutrient-rich plant-based diets and improved sleep health among older adults, according to a study by researchers in China.
Researchers in Taiwan, Egypt and the US have found that an Adlay-based formula could significantly reduce menstrual pain and discomfort in women with primary dysmenorrhea, offering a promising natural alternative to traditional pain medications.
A study in Japan shows that simultaneous consumption of barley and natto could be a promising nutritional approach for obesity prevention through enhanced conversion of dietary fibre into energy.
Glutamine supplementation in doses of more than 30mg/day for less than two weeks improves gut health by reducing gut permeability, according to systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs conducted by researchers.
Acute consumption of a flavanol-rich cocoa drink may protect the body’s vasculature against stress even after eating high-fat food, says a new study from the University of Birmingham in the UK.
Probiotic and vitamin D co-supplementation reduced migraine headache symptoms in adults but had no effects on mental health and inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), observed researchers in an RCT.
Probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 (RH 3201) can improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), according to RCT findings.
Daily supplementation with whey protein powder rich in milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), taurine and B vitamins may improve cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Yellow pea-based pasta significantly reduced oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk in healthy adults, suggesting its potential as a functional food ingredient, according to a Japanese study.
Eating meals cooked with plant sterol fortified palm oil has shown to significantly reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in people with mild to moderately high cholesterol levels, says an eight-week clinical trial funded...
Probiotics had no statistically significant benefits for glycaemic control, lipid profiles, or weight in people with Type-2 diabetes, according to an RCT conducted by Chinese researchers at West China Hospital of Sichuan University.
A study has found that increased dietary intake of magnesium and fibre is associated with reduced likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Kuwaiti women, underscoring the need to encourage diets rich in these nutrients.
Vitafoods Asia 2024
Korean company Seoul Propolis is exploring novel uses of propolis, such as its effects on cognitive health, amid an ongoing trend where natural and functional foods are sought after.
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.
Probiotic strain Lactobacillus paragasseri OLL2716 can help improve gastric discomfort and mental health in healthy adults with gastric complaints, a Meiji-funded study revealed.
The dose and timing of caffeine intake is known to affect sleep patterns, but a new study from Australia found that taking 400mg at four hours before bed would be significantly disruptive to sleep.
The supplementation of a Lactobacillus strain could lengthen sleep duration by about an hour in healthy adults under mild stress, say findings of a 28-day clinical trial that took place in China.
Probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 has been linked with improvements in both happiness and stress scores among healthy adults, according to a New Zealand study.
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.
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.
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.
We look at the latest regulatory announcements across Asia-Pacific's health and nutrition sector, including the New Zealand government's plans in designing a new bill to regulate natural products, China's policy draft for allowing health foods in the...
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.
Taking 1,500mg of curcumin daily for 12 months has been shown to improve insulin, fasting blood glucose levels and body mass, based on a clinical study conducted in Thailand.
Dark chocolate reduced depression scores among menopausal women but had no significant effect on sleep quality and anthropometric indices, according to researchers.
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.
This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research findings, including how chronic inflammatory skin diseases are linked to iron, zinc levels, how tomato concentrate could benefit blood pressure and more.
A recent study by Chinese researchers has found that iron metabolism is linked to the onset of psoriasis, and that the intake of zinc and selenium could lower the risk of atopic dermatitis.
A recent study by Chinese researchers has found that iron metabolism is linked to the onset of psoriasis, and that the intake of zinc and selenium could lower the risk of atopic dermatitis.
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.
Supplementing with a combination of a probiotic and vitamin D may have beneficial effects for adults suffering from migraine headaches.
A synbiotic yoghurt could help reduce oxidative stress in adults with metabolic syndrome, according to a new RCT.
Studies from India have showed that curcumin supplementation could reduce carbon monoxide (CO) levels and researchers are now planning for large scale adoption of curcumin supplementation across India to lower CO levels caused by smoking and air pollution.
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.
The supplementation of fermented soybean has been shown to reduce symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), including heartburn, as well as lowering inflammatory markers, based on findings from a 12-week RCT.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients with higher magnesium intake had lower risk of all-cause mortality, say researchers.
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.
Prenatal supplements containing lutein and zeaxanthin may boost both maternal and infant carotenoid levels and improve ocular development and function in the babies, says a new NIH-funded study.
A tailored iron supplementation plan based on growth, birth weight, and gestational age could be more effective in managing preterm iron deficiency, said Sichuan University researchers.
Algae-based proteins are viable and sustainable alternatives to soy in relation to taste and metabolic outcomes, say researchers.
Consuming fresh tomato, or Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., could lessen the impact of metabolic syndrome among overweight postmenopausal women, according to an RCT.
Long-living people consistently have higher abundance of bacterial species linked to reduced risk of conditions like gout, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, says a new study from China.
Fortifying soy whey with selected strains of Bifidobacteria and propionic acid bacteria can increase vitamin B12 levels in plant-based products, according to an academic from the National University of Singapore.
With new product launches in multiple countries and a newly published review of the science to date, Digexin—a proprietary blend of standardized ashwagandha and okra extracts—is aiming to shake up the digestive health space, says the company behind the...
Myo-inositol supplementation is beneficial for managing gestational diabetes and decreasing the need for insulin treatment, according to a meta-analysis of RCTs.
The use of an oral nutrition supplement for over six months has shown improvements in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 levels among Singapore’s elderly aged 65 and above, say new findings from a study by Abbott.
An extract from bitter hops may reduce hunger and food cravings in fasting women, says a new study from New Zealand that found the product reduced energy intake by up to 14%.