Botanicals

Berberine supplementation lowers total cholesterol but increases testosterone in men – 12-week RCT

10-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of berberine for 12 weeks is able to reduce total cholesterol and raise testosterone levels in men, based on the result of a RCT.

Bedtime drink: Asian markets the next priority for UK’s Sleep Well Milk with valerian-rich beverage

10-Aug-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

UK-based Sleep Well Milk is set to launch its functional dairy milk for the first time in Asia later this year, with Hong Kong and South Korea the firm’s first two targets.

China innovation: Firms benefit as first products in new formats and containing new ingredients approved

09-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The first wave of products has been approved in recently permitted formats under China’s filing track, as well as those containing raw materials newly added into the Health Foods Raw Materials Directory.

Nutrachampion Episode 21

LISTEN: Philippines taps nutrigenomics to address persistent stunting, malnutrition – New DOST-FNRI chief

06-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The Philippines will tap on cutting edge technologies including nutrigenomics and metabolomics to develop nutritional strategies to address the persistent issues of stunting and malnutrition in the country.

Nutrachampion Episode 21

LISTEN: Philippines taps nutrigenomics to address persistent stunting, malnutrition – New DOST-FNRI chief

06-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The Philippines will tap on cutting edge technologies including nutrigenomics and metabolomics to develop nutritional strategies to address the persistent issues of stunting and malnutrition in the country.

Diabetic-friendly functional food: MediKane exceeds crowdfunding expectations to help drive international expansion

05-Aug-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Australian food-as-medicine company MediKane has concluded a crowdfunding campaign which raised more than AU$350,000 (US$258,000), to drive the next stage of the company’s growth, including international expansion plans.

CBD in Singapore: Botanical unlikely to be allowed in supplements in near future

04-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Singapore is unlikely to permit the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in supplements in the near future, despite acknowledging it may have a role to play as a medicine.

Ready to fly? South Korea exploring balloon flower as health functional food due to triglyceride lowering effects

04-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) is exploring the use of Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as balloon flower or Chinese bellflower, as a health functional food after studies showed that it could lower blood triglyceride levels.

From medical nutrition to the mainstream: India’s Esperer Nutrition launches 10-strong nutraceutical range

04-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Mumbai firm Esperer Nutrition has launched a range of consumer nutraceuticals for the global market, after making its mark with its flagship cancer medical nutrition products last year.

Sabinsa’s curcumin and black pepper extract combo results in faster recovery of COVID-19 symptoms – clinical trial

03-Aug-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

A combination of Sabinsa’s curcumin and piperine (black pepper extract) showed faster symptomatic recovery among COVID-19 patients in India, according to findings from a recent clinical trial.

Supplements and liver injury: Australian trade body argues critical study lacks sufficient detail and data

02-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Australian trade body Complementary Medicines Australia says a recent report linking a rise in liver injuries due to supplement intake does not provide sufficient information on the ingredients used or the origins of the products, adding that consumers...

MLM in Indonesia: K-Link’s digital strategies attracting youngsters into supplement business

30-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

MLM firm K-Link is ramping up its digital strategy in Indonesia to reach out to customers who are stuck within the confines of their homes due to COVID-19 and also to inject new blood – especially young adults – into its dietary supplement business.

Trend tracker: Beauty-from-within and infant formula in focus

30-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The rise of weight management needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the 'paradoxical' increase in both breastfeeding and infant formula are the key themes covered in this trends round-up.

Rising problem: Viagra and other ED drugs disguised as vitamin C, bromelain supplements to enter South Korea

28-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has uncovered products containing Viagra and other medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) entering the country under the guise of vitamin C and bromelain supplements.

‘High-strength alternatives to pharma’: NZ’s Artemis unveils liquid plant-based formulas for sleep, stress and digestion

28-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand botanical and natural health brand Artemis has released a range of liquid plant-based formulations targeting sleep, stress and digestion health, with export markets, including China, in the firm’s sights.

Mining new opportunities: Herbs of Gold pharmacy expansion accelerates Australian market growth for Vita Life Sciences

27-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Australian brand Herbs of Gold saw sales boosted after branching into the pharmacy channel on top of its traditional health food stores base, says Vita Life Sciences, the company behind the brand.

Nutrition Asia

WATCH: Amado Group and COSMAX on beauty, weight management trends amid COVID-19

23-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Companies are still seeing opportunities in developing supplements that address the evergreen needs of weight management and skin protection, even as consumers tighten their purse strings and spend more on hygiene and immune health supplements.

‘Candy counter’ for functional drinks: New personalised beverage service seeks to mimic sweet shop excitement

22-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Malaysian supplements and personalised nutrition outfit Nourished Asia has launched a new brand, Daile Food, focusing on customising milk, coffee, tea, fruit juice, and yoghurt with added functional ingredients.

‘No coincidence’ that South Korea continues to crackdown on probiotics and krill oil as non-compliance cases increase

20-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) will continue with its high profile crackdown on non-compliant probiotic and krill oil products, with a market expert telling us it is ‘no coincidence’ that these categories remain in the spotlight.

Kava’s TCM appeal? Fiji Kava’s new CEO on how the brand aims to tap into China market

20-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

ASX-listed Fiji Kava is exploring how kava could be incorporated into traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as it seeks to expand its market presence in China, its recently appointed CEO told us.

From supplements to snacks: Australia’s Nuzest goes global with Good Green Vitality multivitamin bar

19-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Australian nutra firm Nuzest will launch a multivitamin snack bar in APAC, the UK and USA this July, expanding its portfolio beyond powdered supplements for the first time.

Malaysian supplements policy: Trade body MADSA calls for sales tax removal and less stringent rules for new formulations

19-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Malaysia’s dietary supplement industry body is pushing for the removal of sales and service tax (SST), import taxes, and the approval of innovative supplement products in its efforts in promoting the use of supplements in the country.

China focus: Infant formula market, SAMR's proposal, BY-HEALTH's APAC expansion

16-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up covers new developments in China's infant formula market, SAMR's proposal to distinguish solid beverages from infant formula, and BY-HEALTH's plans in expanding its presence in Asia-Pacific.

Nutricosmetics increasingly ‘acceptable’ to dermatologists, but more scientific evidence required – veteran practitioner

14-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The use of beauty-from-within supplements, or nutricosmetics, is becoming “more acceptable” to dermatologists, but more scientific and safety evidence is needed to encourage widespread use, says a veteran dermatologist.

Sleep and sprout: Broccoli extract increases melatonin in Japanese adults experiencing poor sleep - Trial

13-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Consumption of broccoli sprout extract increased melatonin production and may enhance sleep quality among Japanese adults, according to a study conducted by Kagome.

Format flexibility: Australian nootropic brand Neuratech switches to powders after regulatory shift

08-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Australian nootropic company Neuratech is switching from capsules to powders after regulators introduced new rules meaning pill-based products would be classed at therapeutic goods.

From general foods to functional foods: How a NZ organisation is creating opportunities for exporting indigenous functional ingredients

07-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand has long enjoyed a good reputation for high-quality and safe food exports, and the industry is now beefing up its efforts in the functional ingredient and foods space, with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and China top of mind.

Automated personalisation: Australia’s Vitable going global with data-driven supplement service after $5.5m funding boost

07-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Australia-based personalised nutrition firm Vitable is gearing up for international expansion starting with a launch into the UK later this year, and major Asia nation’s on its hitlist for 2022, after its latest funding round.

China cognitive health success: Visdon expands e-commerce presence with JD listing of Rebrain supplement

05-Jul-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Australian health supplement firm Visdon, the maker of brain health supplement (Rebrain), is expanding its online presence in China with a listing on JingDong on the back of sales approaching US$800,000 in the past six months.

‘Delighted with growth’: Aussie supplement firms increase market size despite pandemic trials and tribulations – new data

05-Jul-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s supplements industry has continued to grow amid the pandemic despite a dip in export revenue, with firms finding success by pivoting to immunity products and finding inroads into several new markets, including Iran, Israel and Brazil.

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

29-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Our most-read stories for June include a Philippines COVID-19 trial on how virgin coconut oil could reduce inflammation and provide symptom relief, the role of gut microbiota in affecting vaccine efficacy, and Nestlé Health Science China's launch...

Gummies to the rescue: India’s Power Gummies formulates chasteberry, vitamin C and passionflower product to ease PMS

29-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

New Delhi-headquartered dietary supplement brand Power Gummies has developed a formula containing chasteberry, vitamin C, passionflower, and citrus bioflavonoids as key ingredients for alleviating premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Safety first? South Korea proposes new use precautions for ginseng, milk thistle, alongside maltodextrin intake changes

28-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The South Korean authorities have proposed new precautionary information for eight functional ingredients, including ginseng and milk thistle, as well as adjusting the daily intake level of indigestible maltodextrin and aloe gel.

Science shorts: Muscle strength, COVID-19, eczema in the spotlight

25-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up of new scientific developments will feature an upcoming clinical trial in New Zealand on deer milk's benefits for muscle strength in seniors, Philippines' latest findings on virgin coconut oil and COVID-19, and more.

Understanding the mechanisms: Supplement firms upping their game in weight management, sports nutrition trials – Vedic Lifesciences

24-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Supplement firms are raising the bar to better understand the mechanism of actions of weight management and sports nutrition products, claims Indian contract research organisation Vedic Lifesciences.

Functional foods in Japan exclusive 2: GABA, black ginger, indigestible dextrin most popular ingredients, weight and blood sugar claims top chart

22-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), black ginger and indigestible dextrin are the top three most popular ingredients used in products notified under Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) in fiscal 2020.

Looking LIVELY: Nestle Malaysia’s new adaptogen-enriched teas tap traditional ingredients for stress management

22-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Malaysia’s new range of adaptogen-enriched teas is set for a nationwide rollout in August 2021, and aims to utilize the functionality of traditional natural ingredients to capture the attention of stressed-out consumers.

Brand New: BYHEALTH, HempFusion, Vital Proteins in the spotlight

18-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will look at the strategies of big brands BYHEALTH, HempFusion, Vital Proteins, and Tipco in expanding their market reach and developing new nutritional products.

Giving Ayurveda a modern twist: Vedix on putting traditional formulas into new formats and adding new ingredients

16-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Vedix, a brand from India, is giving traditional Ayurveda formulations a modern twist by making them into new dosage formats and adding ingredients which can act synergistically with the age-old formulas.

Functional foods in Japan exclusive 1: Record number of FFC notifications in 2020 with beverage-formats on the rise

15-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

A record number of 1,067 products were notified under the Foods with Function Claims (FFC) system in Japan from April 2020 to March 2021, exclusive new data shared with NutraIngredients-Asia reveals.

Ratio matters: CBD and THC ratio plays key role improving quality of life in brain cancer patients – BioCeuticals-funded trial

15-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

The ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in medicinal cannabis has shown to play a crucial role in improving the physical and functional wellbeing of brain cancer patients, according to newly published findings in a trial funded by...

Nutrachampion podcast episode 19

Listen – ‘Evidence-based priority’: Dr Janet Schloss’ cancer nutrition mission to combat misleading claims

11-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Consumers suffering from chronic diseases or cancer could be vulnerable to the empty promises and misleading health claims, which is why Dr Janet Schloss, the latest guest on our NutraChampion podcast, has made it her mission to drive an evidence-based...

Wings clipped? Lack of scientific evidence for supplements that claim to benefit air travel symptoms – Australian meta-analysis

10-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

There is a lack of scientific evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for supplements that claim to benefit air travel symptoms such as jetlag and edema, although there is limited support to suggest melatonin and pycnogenol may be worthwhile.

Made for millennials: Auric develops men’s energy drink based on Ayurveda concept

09-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Indian brand Auric has developed a men’s energy drink based on Ayurveda principles, featuring ashwagandha, shedheveli and gokshura to increase stamina and fight fatigue.

Max Biocare’s herbal formulation shown to reduce pain in people suffering from mild knee osteoarthritis

09-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Supplementation of Max Biocare’s herbal formulation, Tregocel, for 36 weeks has been found to reduce pain and improve walking distance in people suffering from mild knee osteoarthritis.

Japan focus: Japanese bucking 'pill fatigue' trend and new clinical trial plans

04-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

See new developments in Japan's health foods market, from Lonza's observation on Japanese' preference for capsule and tablet products to Therabiopharma's plans in trialling curcumin's uses for immune, cognitive, and joint health....

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

02-Jun-2021 By Tingmin Koe

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

Stories behind the ingredients: Natural Remedies seeks to meet demand for botanical transparency and sustainability

31-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Natural Remedies says that brands and consumers in Asia are increasingly interested in the story behind botanical ingredients used in herbal supplements, which has led to greater attention on how botanical raw materials are sustainably sourced.

Trend tracker: Firms beef up immune product range and research in probiotics for skin health

28-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at how companies have expanded their immune health product range with the use of botanical ingredients, lactoferrin, and vitamins. We also shine the spotlight on research in probiotics for alleviating acne and eczema.

Tipco Foods CEO interview part II: Juice company diversifying into herbal supplements, plant-based protein amid shrinking fruit juice market

26-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Thailand’s Tipco Foods is diversifying into the herbal dietary supplements and plant-based protein, as it seeks new growth engines amid a shrinking fruit juice market in the domestic market, its CEO told us.