Botanicals

COVID-19 daigou downturn: 70% staff reduction, stores closure, and salary cuts at AuMake

03-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The company has seven AuMake stores and another eight Broadway stores along Australia’s East Coast.

Trend tracker: A look into baby nutrition boom, men’s health, vitamin K2 fortification

03-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we hear from China nutrition giant H&H on trends in baby nutrition boom, male consumers’ demand for physique and vitality benefits when purchasing health supplements, how vitamin K2 fortification is becoming popular in Vietnam and...

Soil nutrition: NZ start-up to explore fulvic acid use for sports nutrition, gut, and immune health

02-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand start-up NZ Fulvic is studying the use of fulvic acid, a nutrient from soil extract, in providing sports nutrition, gut, and immune health benefits.

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...

Small amount, big effects: A dose of fucoidan can affect gene expression, says Australian study

01-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Just a single dose Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan (UPF) is able to affect gene expression related to fundamental cellular processes, an Australian study – believed to be the first of its kind – has shown.

COVID-19 and nutra research: Where does the industry need to focus its scientific endeavours?

01-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a spike in demand for immunity-boosting products, but what scope is there for new and credible research to examine if nutra products have a role to play in helping tackle the crisis?

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.

Sweet dreams are made of this: Saffron supplementation linked with better sleep quality

30-Mar-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The world’s most expensive spice, saffron, has shown potential in improving sleep quality and insomnia in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study based on Pharmactive’s saffron extract (affron).

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.

Leaves of Siberian ginseng and drynariae rhizome stems may enhance cognitive functions, Japan RCT

25-Mar-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

A combination two plant extracts, ginseng and Rhizoma, could enhance cognitive function in healthy adults, suggests the findings of a new RCT.

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.

Malaysia’s lockdown: Confusion over whether supplement manufacturing is ‘essential service’

23-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

There is widespread confusion among Malaysia’s dietary supplement industry as to whether it is considered an essential service and production can continue under the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

COVID-19: Opportunities for health supplement firms to communicate immune-boosting role of micronutrients

18-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A panel of science researchers has put up a list of key findings on the role of micronutrients in supporting the immune system, which firms can tap on to educate the consumers in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Export challenge: China’s botanical firms in supply chain battle as global orders rebound for immunity ingredients

18-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to a rebound in demand for plant extracts with immune-boosting effects, but a China industry expert has warned there are difficulties in exporting the goods due to logistic supply chain problems.

Anti-stress ingredient: Japan approves Robertet FFC claim for melon juice concentration

17-Mar-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Robertet’s anti-stress ingredient, Extramel, has been approved as a food with function claim (FFC) by the Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan for use in health supplements.

COVID-19 brings strong China online sales for ANZ’s Comvita and AuMake

17-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Australia and New Zealand health foods companies are seeing strong online sales of immune boosting supplements from the China market.

FANCL’s Calolimit CVD and diabetes supplement backed by two new clinical trials

17-Mar-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

A FANCL-funded RCT study has discovered that the ingestion of tea flower extract, mulberry leaf extract, and chitosan could reduce postprandial blood glucose and triglyceride levels in healthy subjects.

Controlling glucose with dahlia: NZ researchers embark on second human trial

16-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

An extract from dahlia petals has shown benefits for reversing diabetic symptoms and researchers from New Zealand will now embark on a four-week human clinical trial to validate previous findings.

Coconut and COVID-19: Philippines studying antiviral properties of coconut oil as potential treatment

11-Mar-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The Philippines is looking to study virgin coconut oil (VCO) as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has since infected more than 80,000 people and killed more than 2,800 worldwide.

RCT shows Korean dang-gui’s benefits for reducing triglyceride levels

10-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Consuming Korean dang-gui (angelica gigas nakai) for 12 weeks could help reduce blood triglyceride levels, according to a randomised placebo-controlled trial that took place in South Korea.

Spice for sleep: Akay’s patented black cumin ingredient to launch in the US

10-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Indian functional spice supplier Akay Natural Ingredients’ patented black cumin (nigella sativa) sleep aid ingredient will hit the US market in the upcoming months.

New rules: South Korea expands propolis oral formats, removes upper limit for functional ingredients

09-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea authorities will allow propolis extract to be made into any form for oral consumption and the upper limit of 20 functional raw materials will be removed.

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...

Novel duo: NZ study to assess combined benefits of greenshell mussels and fucoidan

05-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A study led by researchers from New Zealand will find out the benefits of combining greenshell mussels (GSM) and fucoidan via human clinical trials.

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.

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

03-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

See February's 10 most read stories, including the impact of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 on nutrition businesses, Singapore's lab-grown breast milk innovation and more. Click through the gallery to see them all.

Weight over skin: Amorepacific’s CUBEME adds weight loss supplement to portfolio

03-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s CUBEME, the nutricosmetic brand of Amorepacific, has added weight loss to its existing range of skincare supplements.

India’s AYUSH and WHO sign US$3.5m deal to advance Ayurveda

02-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

India’s Ministry of AYUSH and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have signed a deal worth US$3.5m for advancing traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda.

Hot Right Now: Probiotics for constipation, SG’s lab grown breast milk, and Nestle China’s FSMPs trending on social media

28-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Probiotics for managing constipation in children, a Singapore company’s innovation in lab-grown breast milk, and Nestle Health Science China’s two new FSMPs products are some of the most read stories on the social media.

Ginkgo vinegar suppresses weight gain and reduces the size of fat cells – study

26-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A mouse-study has found that ginkgo vinegar intake is able to suppress body weight gain caused by a high fat diet and reduce the size of fat cells.

Coronavirus in Singapore: Vitamin demand jumps five-fold in two weeks for supermarket chain

26-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The coronavirus Covid-19 has sparked a sudden spike in demand for vitamin C and multivitamins in Singapore, according to a major retailer in the city state.

Regulatory review: China infant food safety, GMP in South Korea in the spotlight

20-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at the recent regulatory development in the health and nutrition industry in APAC, including the Chinese authorities’ drafted plans for changing the current infant food safety standards.

Ayurveda for diabetics: Indian researchers develop sugar-free herbal medicine

20-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Indian researchers have developed a prototype of a sugar-free version of asava – a traditional Ayurveda medicine traditionally used to treat problems in the nervous, blood circulatory and respiratory systems.

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.

‘Eat and apply’: Monteloeder’s APAC oral UV protection business jumps by 50%

13-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The oral UV protection business in APAC is growing for Monteloeder, with sales growing by 50% between 2018 and last year.

Cinnamon supplementation has no beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes factors – Iran study

11-Feb-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Cinnamon supplement does not have any discernible effect in reducing inflammation factors in people with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers in Iran.

Coronavirus crisis: Demand for immunity supplements surge amid China outbreak

11-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A number of Chinese health food firms have seen an increase in demand for products related to immunity boosting and respiratory health amid the Wuhan virus outbreak.

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.

Brand New: Nestlé Health Science China's new FSMP brands, GNC's 'blue-hat' products, and the fight against coronavirus

06-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Some of the major brands making new moves in recent weeks were Nestlé Health Science China with its newly launched Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) brands, GNC entering China pharmacy chains with its four 'blue-hat' products, and how...