The importance of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and probiotic interventions for microbiota throughout all stages of life were emphasised at Probiota Asia 2018.
NUS (National University of Singapore) scientists have developed a patented fermentation process to turn a waste by-product of tofu and soy milk production into a probiotic-rich functional beverage.
Our monthly review of the latest brand news reveals the big-name firms set to debate Asia's probiotics future, a bumper Australian retail deal for functional beverage firm VitHit, and more.
The ASEAN market presents a wealth of opportunity for Australian functional food firms, according to a joint report by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and auditor KPMG.
New product development for functional drinks, coupled with innovations at the economy end of the market, could help Indonesia's soft drinks market bounce back from a recent slump in growth.
The health benefits of tocotrienols — chemicals in the vitamin E family — extend beyond the cosmetic, and may have significant benefits for the brain and liver.
Singapore-based e-commerce portal Fitlion has become the official nutrition partner of English Premier League club Burnley FC, in a deal that will focus heavily on a personalised approach for each player.
AstaReal has unveiled two functional beverage prototypes — one to aid stress management and the other to boost muscle health in seniors — and picked up a Vitafoods Asia award in the process.
Modern dietary changes have affected gut microbiota functionality in children, who might benefit from more traditional, plant-based diets, according to researchers in Japan and Thailand.
China firm ICS Biological Technology (Shanghai) is fermenting coffee beans with a human probiotic strain to reduce the amount of caffeine and increase the beans' nutritional value.
Thai regulators and industry have been "engaged in very serious discussion" over which types of products for children should be allowed to be registered and sold as dietary supplements, as current regulation may be hindering innovation.
The local government in the Philippine province of Ilocos Norte in Laoag City is seeking to promote greater consumption of iron-fortified rice, amid fears that higher costs are hampering efforts to increase uptake.
Pregnant Vietnamese women urgently need suitable nutrient intervention, with over 50% failing to meet the recommended daily intake for essential micronutrients, say researchers in Vietnam and Australia.
Blackmores recorded 9% year-on-year revenue growth to A$601.1m for the financial year ending in June, with China and overall Asia sales contributing significantly to this increase.
Singapore chiropractic centre Elite Spine Centres is employing personalised nutrition to supplement its treatments after partnering with Imagene Labs to provide genetic testing services to its patients.
Maternal milk supplementation, combined with breastfeeding support in late pregnancy and the early postpartum period, can have a positive impact on exclusive breastfeeding, according to an Abbott study.
Sea cucumbers have potential use in both health foods and pharmaceutical drugs, but they must be further studied before such applications can proceed, according to the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.
Wacker is seeking to boost its nutraceutical business in South East Asia by introducing its antioxidant nutraceutical ingredients, CAVACURMIN and HTEssence, for the first time in Malaysia at an exclusive event in Kuala Lumpur.
DSM said it was striving to work with manufacturers to tap into the rising trend of snacking and increasing number of convenience stores, in order to make nutritional products more affordable and accessible.
Nova Wellness, a Malaysia supplement firm, is increasing its R&D activities to incorporate local herbs and plants, such as oil palm leaves, in the making of health supplements.
Perilla seed oil is safe as an addition to treatment for sufferers of mild to moderate dementia, but its efficacy — particularly as an antioxidant — requires further study.
Australian firm Freedom Foods is targeting China and parts of South East Asia with its reformulated and repackaged infant formula range, after first entering the Singapore market last year.
Australian nutraceutical brand Entity Health is harnessing its patented sublingual wafer technology to develop health supplements that it claims has therapeutic effects.
Synbiotics may be preferable to laxatives in treating constipation, but more evidence on specific benefits are required, according to the findings of a population study by Selangor's Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Maternal probiotic supplementation appears to be beneficial in terms of infant weight and length at 12 months, but does not affect the incidence of diarrhoea, according to a recent study by Nestlé.
The latest collaboration between the Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) aims to help improve seniors' health through extensive research...
Mulberry fruit may have multiple pharmacological health benefits, but more human studies are needed to determine this, say researchers in New Zealand, China and Malaysia.
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) have invested 1.7 billion yen in Spirulina manufacturer Tavelmout Corporation.
Machine-based learning could be as effective as the human ear when it comes to detecting infant crying or fussing, opening up possibilities for potential clinical applications such as detecting colic.
South East Asia has reached a 'golden age' where opportunities for start-ups in the functional food and supplement sectors abound, according to one industry expert.
Indonesia's young population, buoyed by greater disposable income, are increasingly interested in herbal supplements for their preventative healthcare benefits, according to one industry expert.
There is no 'magic bullet' to tackle obesity and diabetes in Asia, and while industry has made significant gains in reformulation, public sector collaboration is crucial if the longer-term battle is to be won.
Year-long oral supplementation with a mixture of tocotrienols was found to be ineffective in reducing overall symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), according to a Malaysian study.
Postnatal maternal diet can significantly affect a woman's postpartum mental health, according to Singapore's ongoing GUSTO (Growing Up Strong Towards Healthy Outcomes) study.
More evidence is needed to determine the impact of dietary fish consumption on diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular calibre in Asian type 2 diabetes patients, according to a study by the Singapore National Eye Centre.
Danone Nutrition has unveiled its Precision Nutrition D-Lab in Singapore, showcasing some of the technology that will help the company create the next generation of infant nutrition products.
There is insufficient evidence as to omega-3 fatty acids' ability to enhance the effectiveness of drugs that suppress abnormal rhythms of the heart, according to researchers in Singapore.
People have to take ownership of their lifestyle and find new ways to change their behaviour, as the debate over how best to tackle non-communicable diseases roars on in Malaysia.
Minerals and trace elements from deep oceans may have potential as supplement ingredients to improve the response and recovery of middle-aged men during and after exercise, according to a study led by the University of Taipei.