Botanicals

Nutrition Asia

Probiotics and beyond: Digestive health category buoyed by prebiotic growth and emerging ingredients - Watch

27-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Prebiotics other functional ingredients, including mandarin peel extract, are creating new product development opportunities in the digestive health category – alongside ongoing innovation with probiotics, according to industry experts.

Retail round-up: Brand’s Suntory D2C strategy, livestreaming pros and cons, and trending categories in pharmacies

26-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features the retail strategies that brands across APAC are using, including the direct-to-consumer channel by Brand’s Suntory, the pros and cons of livestreaming, and the trending categories in pharmacies.

Co-enzyme Q10, squalene safety: South Korea to re-evaluate nine ingredients’ use in health functional foods

26-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea is re-evaluating the safety and functionality of co-enzyme Q10, squalene, and seven other ingredients’ use in health functional foods (HFFs) this year.

VitamINSIGHTS: Supplements and sustainability – exclusive in-depth analysis

Sustaining success: How Swisse, Comvita, Yakult and more are driving eco agenda across nutra sector

26-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe, Guan Yu Lim

Building a business that is environmentally sustainable is not just ‘for show’, but is also delivering tangible benefits such as saving costs, providing better control over the supply chain, and improving the quality of raw materials used, say a raft...

China proposes health foods for immunity, memory, fatigue to undergo scientific reassessment

25-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Health foods that claim to strengthen the immunity, aid memory improvement, alleviate physical fatigue etc may need to undergo scientific reassessment, such as redoing animal experiments or human trials, the Chinese authorities have proposed.

Brand new: Nestle, Brand's Suntory, Culturelle, EZZ in the spotlight

20-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will look at new developments from major brands including Nestle's launch of a new glucose control supplement in Malaysia, consumer trends that Culturelle is seeing in China and more.

Nestle Malaysia launches pre-diabetes risk assessment website with new glucose control supplement

20-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Nestle Malaysia has launched a website assessing pre-diabetic risk for the public alongside its new glucose control supplement.

India focus: Vegan, hemp, botanicals new product development in the spotlight

18-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features new innovations in the Indian market with a focus on botanicals and plant-based ingredients to address liver, lung, cognitive health issues, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the growth potential of the hemp industry.

Australia focus: Pharmacy retail strategies, kava, new ad code in spotlight

14-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features analysis on pharmacy retail strategies in Australia, Fiji Kava’s growing business, and the country’s new ad code for therapeutic goods.

Insider info: Pharmacist reveals Australia’s bestselling supplement categories…and where innovation should head

12-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

A veteran pharmacist has revealed the trending categories in Australia’s supplements sector and also proposed how innovation could better follow the path of the latest medical developments.

Liver and lung health: India’s new supplement firm tackles ‘lack’ of vegan options in overlooked categories

12-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

A new vegan supplement brand from India is seeking to tackle health categories that it believes have so far been overlooked, such as the lack of vegan offerings for liver and lung health.

Turmeric shown to improve mental health and mood in overweight participants – Japan 12-week RCT

12-Jan-2022 By Guan Yu Lim

Consumption of turmeric extract for 12 weeks improved mental health and mood disturbance, as well as reducing inflammatory markers, in healthy but overweight participants.

‘Unparalleled growth and innovation’: Indian hemp industry ready for lift-off as regulatory landscape improves

12-Jan-2022 By Pearly Neo

India’s hemp industry is predicting a wave of product innovation, from protein bars to flavoured powders and snacks, in the wake of recent regulatory advances that will see hemp seed, oil and flour products classed as food for the first time.

Korea removes spirulina’s skin health claim, adds caution statement to nine raw materials

10-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korean regulator the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is removing spirulina’s skin health functional claim and has also changed the requirements of eight other raw materials.

Livestreaming, TV, pharmacies: Nutrition brands’ sales channel strategies for 2022

10-Jan-2022 By Guan Yu Lim, Tingmin Koe

With the proliferation of communication tools, brands these days can look to various tools in promoting and selling their products.

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

06-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

From multivitamin supplementation and COVID-19 severity, to Nestle Japan's new launch, and Bayer's e-commerce sales growth, here is a round-up of the most-read stories in December.

Need to know: The new regulations set to shape APAC’s nutrition sector in 2022

05-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe, Guan Yu Lim

From China to South Korea, Australia, India, and South East Asia, we bring you the latest regulatory developments facing the nutrition sector in 2022.

Collaboration for cognition: Zeon Lifesciences to ramp up botanical solutions for neuro health

04-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Uttar Pradesh-based Zeon Lifesciences is ramping up its offerings in the botanicals, phyto-pharmaceuticals, and medical nutrition space via research and commercialisation partnerships with several local institutes.

Nutra trends 2022: Nestle, Morinaga, Shiseido, Max Biocare weigh in on what’s ahead for the industry

04-Jan-2022 By Tingmin Koe, Guan Yu Lim

We spoke with industry experts from Nestle, Morinaga, Max Biocare and Shiseido to find out their 2022 predictions for health and nutrition trends, spanning insights across healthy ageing, infant nutrition, kids’, women’s, and men’s health.

Regulations boost: Fiji Kava anticipates strong demand from South Pacific Island communities in Australia

04-Jan-2022 By Guan Yu Lim

ASX-listed Fiji Kava says it is anticipating strong demand for its kava drinking powder following a lift on the import ban into country, first imposed in 2007.

Astaxanthin and arthritis: Combination with medication lowers uric acid levels – China study

04-Jan-2022 By Guan Yu Lim

Astaxanthin combined with celecoxib, a drug used to treat pain and inflammation, can lower uric acid levels in people with gouty arthritis, more significantly than celecoxib alone.

Brand focus: Here’s our top 10 most-read brand stories of 2021

23-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

See our 10 most-read brand stories in the year of 2021, including developments from BioCeuticals, China TCM product Lianhua Qingwen, Swisse, and Malaysia’s Flavettes.

‘Simple, plain English’: Aussie industry body says new ad code is a step forward

22-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s complementary medicines industry body said that a new advertising code introduced by the national regulator would be a step forward, but was still awaiting clarifications on some key sections.

Comparable to metformin? Herbal formula improves HbA1c, fasting blood sugar in pre- and diabetic patients – Sabinsa RCT

22-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of a formula containing seven herbal extracts has shown effects comparable to the blood sugar control drug metformin in prediabetic and newly diagnosed diabetic patients, according to a RCT by Sabinsa.

Regulatory focus: Our top 10 most-read regulatory stories of 2021 unveiled

22-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

See our 10 most-read regulatory stories of 2021, including Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) policies in India, South Korea’s monitoring of krill oil and probiotics, and new standards for fish oil in Thailand.

VMS more popular than traditional herbs among Vietnamese amid COVID-19 – Survey

21-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Vietnamese consumers preferred vitamins and minerals supplements (VMS) rather than traditional Vietnamese herbal products, when asked what they would use to aid COVID-19 prevention or treatment, a new survey has found.

‘Australia is in a good position’: Regulations chief on meeting China’s new customs rules

21-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s complementary medicines industry is “in a good position” compared to many other countries when it comes to meeting China’s new customs regulations which will kick in next January, says a leading figure at the Therapeutic Goods Administration...

First for Thailand: Amado Group launches hemp seed oil capsule as country relaxes regulations

20-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Thailand health and nutrition company Amado Group has launched what is said to be the country’s first hemp seed oil capsule product since the Thai FDA had relaxed the use of hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) earlier this year.

Regulatory review: New VMS formats in Korea, probiotic regulations in APAC and more

17-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we will look at the regulatory updates across APAC, from new formats allowed for OTC vitamin and minerals in South Korea to probiotic regulations in different parts of this region.

COVID-19 focus: Top 10 most-read COVID-19 stories of 2021

16-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The 10 most-read COVID-19 related stories for this year include a RCT finding on the use of TCM Lianhua Qingwen and research on various COVID-19 adjuvant therapies across the region, such as the use of honey and black cumin, and virgin coconut oil.

CBD-alternative? Review shows PEA targets similar pathways, ‘but safer and legal’

15-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

An ingredient commonly isolated from soybeans, peanuts, and egg yolks, has been shown in a recent review to act in similar pathways as cannabidiol (CBD), with researchers highlighting that it was a safer and legally recognised alternative.

Tmall Global data: Food and OTC supplements topped most purchased Singapore products in China

15-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Food and OTC supplements are the two most purchased categories when Chinese consumers buy products from Singapore, according to the latest data from Tmall Global.

Mobility matters: Keto diet for knee osteoarthritis, antinociceptive formula for arthritis and more

14-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features new scientific findings and product formulations that alleviate conditions stifling physical mobility, including keto meal benefits for knee osteoarthritis, Bergenia ciliata for managing rheumatoid arthritis and more.

China focus: Our top 10 most-read China stories of 2021 revealed

14-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Yiling Pharmaceutical’s Lianhua Qingwen, NMN market boom, Nestle China’s ‘blue-hat’ certified health foods for seniors, and a2 milk market potential are some of the most popular China-related stories this year.

Painstaking effort: India’s Viridis BioPharma to commercialise national institute’s botanical formula for rheumatoid arthritis

02-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Mumbai-based Viridis BioPharma will be launching a botanical formula for managing pain related to rheumatoid arthritis.

Botanical shots: Australia’s Rogue Beverages rolls out health tonics in New Zealand, outlines global expansion plans

02-Dec-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Australia’s Rogue Beverages is launching its botanical health tonics into 40 outlets in New Zealand including retailers such as Bin Inn, Mojo Coffee Roasters and Natural Organics, and is setting a target of penetrating 2000 outlets within the next six...

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

01-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

See the 10 most-read stories in the month of November, including Nestle China's insights on the country's infant liquid milk market, Malaysia's Holista Colltech NPD plans for its highly popular probiotic brand Lacto-5, consumption trends...

Low-to-no excipients: New Aussie brand Ora tackles market gaps with organic and vegan offerings

01-Dec-2021 By Tingmin Koe

A former Blackmores and TSI exec has launched a new brand in Australia, and is targeting the health food channel with its organic, vegan, and low-to-no excipients offerings.

Patent pending: Hong Kong’s Govita to expand metabolic tests and personalised nutraceutical business in China

01-Dec-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Hong Kong’s Govita is looking to expand its patent pending metabolic testing and personalised nutrition business into China, with talks underway with potential partners and investors.

Fab four: How emerging NZ research can help take high value nutrition products to global markets

30-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand’s High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge (HVN NSC) has published updates on how its digestive, immune, infant and metabolic health research programmes are progressing, all of which are designed to foster exports of local products...

Max Biocare nutraceutical improves mobility and joint flexibility in people with mild knee osteoarthritis

30-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Max Biocare’s polyherbal joint health nutraceutical Tregocel has been shown to significantly improve joint flexibility and walking distance progressively over 36 weeks of supplementation in people with mild knee osteoarthritis.

For the night owl: BYHEALTH reports strong sales of milk thistle, melatonin products in 11.11

29-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

BYHEALTH said that milk thistle was its bestseller from its international product range during the recent Double 11 online shopping festival in China, with newly launched melatonin also gaining popularity among consumers.

Brand new: Shiseido's new beauty-from-within range, Nestle's infant liquid milk in China and more

26-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

This round of industry update features insights from Shiseido, Nestle, Australia's Melrose, and Hoslita Colltech.

Do Kiss & Tell: Hong Kong’s saliva glucose testing kit enters US market via partnership with supplement firm Sugarbreak

24-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

A Hong Kong company which specialises in developing saliva-based screening test kits has recently partnered US supplement firm, Sugarbreak, in introducing its glucose testing kit into the US market.

Atomic anti-diabetes innovation: Functional food made from banaba leaf and bitter melon extracts to launch in Korea

22-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

An anti-diabetic health functional food containing banaba leaf, bitter melon, and peony root extracts is expected to hit the South Korean market next year.

China’s double 11 trends: Top-selling supplement brands revealed as TikTok takes-off as retail channel

22-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The biggest-selling supplement brands in China’s mammoth Double 11 shopping festival have been revealed, while insights from Swisse have revealed the growing popularity of TikTok as an e-commerce channel.

Nutrition Asia

WATCH: Liver care messaging needs to be clearer, backed by science – Nova Laboratories, DrinkAid

19-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Clearer product messaging, science-backed products, and educating consumers and health practitioners are needed to advance Asia’s fledgling liver care category, according to Malaysia’s Nova Laboratories and Singapore start-up DrinkAid.

Korean authorities clampdown on supplement ads claiming to improve students’ memory, sleep, immunity

17-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has completed yet another clampdown exercise – this time round on advertisements of general foods and health functional foods that make claims in improving students’ memory and immunity.

H&H Q3: Swisse and Biostime owner reports China probiotics slump, but overall growth in ANZ

17-Nov-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group), the parent company of Swisse and Biostime, has reported slowing sales of probiotics in China, although growth remained robust in its infant formula and adult nutrition businesses in the first nine month of this...

‘Clean’ TCM: Tait Labs eyes Asia collaboration around citrus peel extraction method, plans to launch prebiotic supplement to China

16-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Canada’s Tait Laboratories is planning to export its digestive health supplement to China as well as pushing the concept of ‘clean’ TCM ingredients in the region on the back of a new patent for its extraction technology for citrus peels.