Antioxidants/carotenoids

Hot right now: COVID-19 stories most read on our social media

02-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Industry and scientific developments related to COVID-19 were our top-most read stories on the social media over the past month. Some of them include Filippino scientists’ research on antiviral properties of virgin coconut oil and the surge in vitamin...

GALLERY: The 10 most read APAC health and nutrition stories in March

31-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

See March's 10 most read stories, including Filipino researchers' study of virgin coconut oil as a potential treatment for COVID-19, how firms should communicate immune-boosting properties of micronutrients to consumers, and more.
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India’s COVID-19 lockdown: Dabur, Pure Nutrition, and Akay weigh in on economic impacts

31-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

India’s three-week lockdown has affected the nutrition and health businesses on multiple fronts, most directly on the production, supply chain, and e-commerce delivery, companies including FMCG giant and ayurvedic medicine specialist Dabur have told us.

Trade war bruise: China to US health foods exports drop by over 11%

31-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The trade war between China and US has left China bruised, with the export value of health foods and ingredients to the US down 11.7% last year.

COVID-19 lockdown: NZ supplement firms allowed operation if supplying to 'essential' businesses

30-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The New Zealand supplement firms will be allowed to continue operations so long as they supply to 'essential' businesses, such as pharmacies and supermarkets.

Nutrition Asia Video series

WATCH: Physique and vitality trending topics in APAC’s men’s health

27-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The men’s health supplement category might not be as high profile as those for children’s and women in the APAC market, but two industry insiders have outlined why the category shouldn’t be underestimated.

Regulatory round-up: S'pore COVID-19 health claims clampdown, South Korea's new rules for functional ingredients and more

26-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we shine the spotlight on Singapore's clampdown on products that claim to have COVID-19 health claims, South Korea's new rules for functional ingredients use, and how the Indian state of Odisha is the first to exercise nutrition...

New Zealand pine bark extract can reduce glucose levels in healthy population: RCT

26-Mar-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand pine bark extract is being studied for the first time for its glucose-lowering potential in healthy participants.

Over 30 overseas GMP inspections postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions: TGA

25-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Travel restriction put in place to stem the spread of COVID-19 has led to more than 30 overseas GMP inspections postponed, Australian regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has revealed.

Singapore clamps down on 1000+ e-commerce listings for false COVID-19 health claims

25-Mar-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Singapore’s national regulator for health products, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), has removed a significant number of product listings claiming to prevent or treat COVID-19 from local e-commerce platforms.

COVID-19 and industry shutdown: ANZ supplement firms seek clarification on ‘essential services’ status

24-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The dietary supplement industry bodies in both Australia and New Zealand are seeking clarification that the sector is classed as an ‘essential service’, with both countries imposing movement restriction to curb the spread of COVID-19.

‘The right time’: Swisse MD on venturing into India as firm turns 50

16-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse’s recent entry into India has been described as “the right time” since as the market conditions have ripen, with the the new venture marking a new milestone for the company which turns 50 this year, according to the company’s MD.

COVID-19: China, Vietnam, Australia and Singapore caution against fraudulent health claims

09-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Authorities from a raft of countries have stepped out to caution against the advertising of health supplements that claim to prevent or treat the novel coronavirus.

Taiwan introduces new labelling rules for special medical foods

05-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has introduced new labelling rules for special medical foods.

Trend tracker: Infant formula traceability, COVID-19's vitamin frenzy, and functional foods in India

05-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round up of industry trends, we look at how Danone has incorporated its infant formula products with a dual-QR code for traceability purpose, how COVID-19 spread has led to a spike in demand for vitamins in Singapore, as well as the trends and...

South Korea to re-evaluate 12 functional raw materials, including ginseng

04-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced that it will re-evaluate the safety and functionality of 12 functional raw materials this year.

Ali Health CNY stats: The four key health products consumption trends

17-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Ali Health has identified four key health products purchase trends, as well as the best-selling products, witnessed across the Chinese New Year period.

China focus: Direct-selling, H&H’s kids nutrition, coronavirus, and GNC in spotlight

13-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

This round up provides a glimpse on how direct-selling firms in China are adopting new retail models, how H&H plans to expand its kids nutrition portfolio, the impact of the Covid-19 on businesses, and GNC’s blue-hat products.

Direct-selling firms in China look to new retail channels amid tough market environment

10-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Direct-selling firms in China have adopted new sales models as the regulatory framework tightens and consumers’ perception becomes less favourable.

Asmara to launch new synbiotic powders after success of multi-cultural functional beverages

10-Feb-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Asmara, a Singapore brand owned by F&B consultancy company NU3x, will be launching six functional powders in the first quarter of 2020, following success from its range of health beverages.

Science shorts: A look into diet and brain health, tocotrienol-rich vitamin E’s benefits for kidney

07-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round up of the latest scientific findings, we look at how different diets could impact cognitive health, the benefits of tocotrienol-rich vitamin E on renal function in diabetic patients, as well as a review on the benefits of natural astaxanthin.

Med is best: Five diets linked to lower cognitive decline in older Singaporean Chinese

06-Feb-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Researchers in Singapore have found five healthy dietary patterns consumed in midlife are associated to a lower risk of cognitive impairment in late life in Chinese adults.

Higher CVD threat? Study highlights Australians at risk due to poor sodium:potassium intake ratio

04-Feb-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Australian adults are consuming less than optimal amounts of potassium, while sodium intake is higher than recommended, which may lead to a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), hypertension and other non-communicable diseases.

Coronavirus impact: Nutrition retailers hit by drastic cut in China tourist numbers

03-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The ongoing China Coronavirus outbreak has affected a number of nutrition retailers which rely on Chinese tourists as a key revenue stream, with some putting on hold new plans and adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach.

Hot right now: Industry trends, anti-obesity honey, GNC’s new sports nutrition product trending on social media

30-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Check out the popular stories trending on the social media in the month of January, including the health and nutrition industry trends for year 2020, an anti-obesity honey developed by a Malaysian professor, as well as GNC’s new sports nutrition products...

Pharmactive enters APAC cardiovascular market with aged black garlic extract

29-Jan-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Spanish biotech company Pharmactive plans to target APAC’s heart health market with its aged black garlic, with launches planned in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Australia and Singapore later this year.

'Naturally good': Natural astaxanthin top form for functionality and antioxidant activity - Review

29-Jan-2020 By Gary Scattergood

Natural astaxanthin from algae has been “undisputedly demonstrated” to be the most effective form of the ingredient for a variety of health benefits, according to a new review.

Tourism-led business: AuMake hits record growth with gross profit up 440%

27-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

AuMake - the Australian daigou specialist which operates a chain of retail stores and also produces its brand of health and nutrition products - saw its gross profit hit a new high as Asian tourists’ appetite for Australia’s health foods continues to...

Nutrition Asia Video Series

WATCH: What’s up doc? How dietary supplements can overcome traditional medical scepticism

24-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The use of dietary supplements is often met with scepticism from the western medicine fraternity, so what can the industry do to overcome this?

New standards: GMP and traceability system mandatory for functional health foods in South Korea

22-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea has introduced new regulations for functional health foods, including the need for manufacturers to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Exceeding targets: Amway Thailand ‘confident’ of achieving over US$660m in sales for FY19

21-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Amway Thailand says it is ‘confident’ of achieving sales revenue of 20 billion baht (US$664m) for its 2019 trading year, up 6% from the previous year.

OmniActive targets China’s three key sales channels with its eye-care ingredient

20-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

OmniActive Health Technologies is aiming for market success in China’s three key channels, retail, online, and direct-selling, for its eye-care ingredient LuteMax 2020 and Zeaxanthin Isomers.

Aesthetic benefit a prime consideration for Asian women buying sports nutrition: Lumina Intelligence

15-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Asian women prefer sports nutrition products that claim aesthetic benefits and weight loss more so than female consumers from the other parts of the world, according to exclusive new insights from Lumina Intelligence.

Marketing gone wrong: 15 South Korean influencers breached health foods ad rules

15-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has said 15 Youtubers and Instagrammers breached health foods advertising rules.

GALLERY: The 10 most read APAC health and nutrition stories in December

08-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

See December's 10 most read health and nutrition stories, including Nestlé Health Science China's new product innovation centre, FANCL launching its first cold care supplement, and new nutritional labelling requirements from Taiwan FDA.

Bioavailability battle: Natural ingredients for functional foods in demand In APAC but challenges remain

02-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

International ingredient firm Wacker says that the use of natural ingredients, such as curcumin and hydroxytyrosol in functional food is gaining steam in Asia, but there is a need to address issues such as low bioavailability.

The top 10 APAC supplement and nutrition brand stories of 2019 revealed

23-Dec-2019 By Tingmin Koe

We reveal this year’s 10 most read APAC supplement and nutrition brand stories, featuring developments from big brands such as Nestlé, Yakult, Nu Skin, Suntory, Herbalife, and more.

The top 10 most read Japan health and nutrition stories in 2019

20-Dec-2019 By Guan Yu Lim

Read our top 10 most viewed Japan health and nutrition for this year, including the rapidly growing Food with Functional Claims industry, firms entering the lucrative nutricosmetics sector, and mushroom consumption’s benefits against prostate cancer.

The 10 most read China health and nutrition stories in 2019

19-Dec-2019 By Tingmin Koe

See our 10 most read China health and nutrition stories for this year, including Nu Skin's investigation into the death of a Chinese consumer, how China's regulator has introduced programs to stem illegal activities and rise the standards of...

Revealed: 10 most-read APAC supplement and nutrition regulation stories in 2019

17-Dec-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Our 10 most read regulatory stories concerning APAC's health foods and supplement industry include India permits marijuana cultivation for research and medicine, China’s proposal for stricter infant-formula manufacturing processes and more.

Trends unveiled: APAC’s 10 most read supplement and nutrition trend stories in 2019

16-Dec-2019 By Tingmin Koe

We look back at our 10 most read trend stories this year, including functional food and beverage trends in Japan and Thailand, probiotics and sports nutrition trends in China, and the direct selling industry in India.

‘A low-hanging fruit’: MLM firm LifeVantage moves into NZ following steady growth in Australia

11-Dec-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Utah-headquartered MLM firm LifeVantage has expanded into New Zealand, following steady growth in Australia.

WATCH: Social commerce selling in China – top tips for success

28-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Social commerce is a much-talked about topic in China’s health foods retail landscape, with firm’s using everything from WeChat, Tiktok, Little Red Book, and Kuaishou to target consumers.

Name game: China’s SAMR releases new manual for naming of health foods

21-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has introduced the 2019 version of its ‘Health Foods Naming Directory’ to standardise the naming of products.

Asia playing catch-up in personalised nutrition space as big beasts begin to enter the market

21-Nov-2019 By Guan Yu Lim

Asia might be lagging behind Europe and the US when it comes to personalised or precision nutrition products, but growing interest from MNCs, as well as start-ups, suggest that could be about to change.

‘Cost effective and reliable’: Singapore personalised nutrition start-up hails questionnaire-based service

20-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Singapore start-up Paquet has launched a questionnaire-based personalised nutrition service, which it believes is a ‘cost-effective and reliable’ health assessment method.

Double 11 sales bonanza: Swisse retains best-selling supplement spot on Tmall

18-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse retained the top spot for the most purchased health and dietary supplement brand in this year’s Tmall double 11 shopping event.

Diet and depression: Australian study links healthy diet with reduced symptoms in women but not men

12-Nov-2019 By Guan Yu Lim

A healthy dietary pattern with frequent intake of fruits, vegetable and fish was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms in older Australian women, but the association was not significant in men.

BY-HEALTH sets up research centre to focus on nutrition and anti-ageing solutions

06-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

BY-HEALTH and Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences will jointly set up a research centre that studies nutrition and anti-ageing across the whole of China.

Vitafoods Asia 2019

Tibetan goodness: US firm Puredia eyes Asia’s female nutrition market with sea buckthorn products

04-Nov-2019 By Tingmin Koe

California headquartered firm Puredia is eyeing Asia expansion in the beauty and women’s nutrition markets with its flagship sea buckthorn-based health food ingredients.