Omega-3s & nutritional oils

Omega-3 finger-prick test now available in some Australian pharmacies

07-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

A new self-administered omega-3 finger-prick blood test is now available in some Australian community pharmacies.

‘Substantial evidence’ that DHA has a favourable effect on liver disease treatment: Meta-analysis

06-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

New meta-analysis from China “provides substantial evidence” that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation, especially DHA, can play a positive role in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Indonesia unexpectedly limits omega-3 supplement claims

26-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Badan Pom (BPOM), the National Agency of Drug and Food Control of Indonesia, has unexpectedly limited supplement claims for EPA and DHA.

Looming perfect storm will lead to Aussie CBD boom, pioneer predicts

25-Jan-2017 By RJ Whitehead

An anticipated perfect storm in Australia, involving the recent legalisation of medical cannabis and the expected approval of hemp in foods and nutrition later this year, has led to the government stopping the export of hemp products to ensure national...

Nutrition Asia video series

VIDEO: Functional foods in South East Asia - trending ingredients, pressing consumer needs and 'preposterous' health claims

23-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

In the first of our Nutrition Asia video series we take a deep dive into South East Asia's functional foods industry to gauge the state of the market and assess how it can meet the health needs of consumers across the region.

Government funding and nutritional composition leads to high functional food hopes for Malaysian red seaweed

19-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Tropical red seaweed, G. changii, can become an important functional food ingredient and is a prime crop for large-scale commercial farming, according to new research from Malaysia.

Finding the fish: Rethinking nutrition amid modern diets

19-Jan-2017 By Gerald Quigley

In a perfect world you would get all the omega-3s you need by eating fish, but less than 10% of Australian adults consume the required level of fish regularly, writes Gerald Quigley.

CVD: Blinkered training pushes young doctors away from supplements

19-Jan-2017 By RJ Whitehead

Doctors show low willingness to recommend omega-3s to their patients because the training they received lacked any attention to nutrition and lifestyle.

Essential fatty acid deficiency higher in children with ADHD, Taiwan research reveals

18-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been found to have a higher deficiency of essential fatty acids despite consuming similar amounts of omega-3 as those without the condition, research from Taiwan suggests.

Aquatic plant potential: Why duckweed could become a source of protein and omega-3 beyond South East Asia

12-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Duckweed has long been consumed as an inexpensive protein and source of omega-3 in three South East Asia countries, but now researchers are questioning if it has the potential to be adopted by south Asian and even Western consumers too.

Supplements and functional foods driving APAC fish oil market growth to 2020

05-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The Asia-Pacific fish oil market is forecast to grow by 5% to 2020 helping the global total to hit US$1.5bn, with supplements and functional foods tipped to be the region’s fasting-growing industry segment.

Asian mothers on a ‘seafood-noodle’ diet at reduced risk of gestational diabetes: Study

03-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Researchers have demonstrated a significant association between a seafood and noodle-based dietary pattern and the reduced likelihood of gestational diabetes.

Exclusive interview

How Australia’s omega-3 map will feed frenzied fatty acid research

03-Jan-2017 By RJ Whitehead

“We are building it while we’re flying it,” says William Harris, the distinguished American omega-3 researcher, of a mapping project to find out the true level of omega-3s in Australians’ blood, at a time when three-quarters of the population are believed...

US manufacturer Mannatech launches its supplements in China via e-commerce

13-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

US supplement firm Mannatech is now selling its products in China via e-commerce at www.MeiTaiChina.com.

Focus on food synergies to boost bioavailability, urge researchers

05-Dec-2016 By Nathan Gray

A greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing the bioavailability of key nutrients in foods by focusing on synergies to help fight under nutrition, say researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Phytosterol warning: Fat used in ‘lower cholesterol’ products impacts performance

28-Nov-2016 By Nathan Gray

The type of fat used as a carrier for phytosterol in fortified foods and drinks could have a major impact on the ability of the ingredient to lower cholesterol, according to a new meta-analysis of trials.

China omega-3 company awarded Friend of the Sea accreditation

09-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Shanghai nutritional oils company NovoSana (Taicang) has recently obtained Friend of the Sea certification for its omega–3 products.

Supplement firm Mannatech prepares for China entry with new e-commerce strategy

07-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

US supplement firm Mannatech is entering the China market via e-commerce - a clear change in tack for the Texas company, which usually focuses on multi-level marketing or direct selling.

Omega-3 PUFAs could aid Alzheimer’s fight by boosting glymphatic system: Macau mouse study

28-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

New research from Macau suggests that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could improve the function of the glymphatic system, which facilitates the clearance of waste from the brain.

Freshwater clam extract supplement could aid wound healing, rat study reveals

19-Oct-2016 By Nathan GRAY

Supplementation with freshwater clam extract could improve wound healing, according to a new study in rats.

Omega-3 body GOED signs China partnership with US-CHPA

18-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Omega-3 trade body GOED is entering a partnership with the US-China Health Products Association (US-CHPA) to better serve its member companies in the Chinese market.

DHA supplement benefits older adults with mild cognitive impairment: China study

17-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

A new Chinese study has shown omega-3 supplementation improved IQ among older people with mild cognitive impairment.

Science boss: Omega-3s could get boost by aping pharma doses

14-Oct-2016 By RJ Whitehead

It was has a huge challenge for Nils Hoem, Aker Biomarine’s chief scientists, to understand the specifics of nutraceuticals when he first arrived at the Norwegian krill oil manufacturer in 2008 after a career in pharmaceuticals.

Government trawlers help Chinese firms to enter omega-3 krill market

14-Oct-2016 By RJ Whitehead

As global krill oil major Aker Biomarine awaits regulatory approval for its new Superba 2 product line in China, increased consumer demand for omega-3s is bringing increasingly more local suppliers to the market.

Sage extract could offer encapsulation benefits for omega-3: Study

13-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Encapsulating omega-3 supplements with sage polyphenols and gum arabic could be a more healthy and economically viable option than techniques currently used, while also opening up the possibility of boosting protein intake, research from India suggests.

Shifting omega-3/omega-6 ratio may be key to cutting atherosclerosis risk

10-Oct-2016 By Nathan GRAY

Maintaining an omega-3/omega-6 ratio of 4:1 in the diet could be just as important as increasing intakes of marine-based omega-3s, say researchers.

Chemport becomes first Korean company to secure Friend of the Sea certification for omega-3

10-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

South Korean fish oil manufacturer Chemport has obtained Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification for its Omega 3 products originating from European and Peruvian anchovies.

SeaDragon officially opens NZ$10m omega-3 refinery as new investor talks collapse

03-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

New Zealand Omega-3 company SeaDragon has officially opened its new refinery in Nelson, which the firm previously said has the potential to generate NZ$50m annual sales.

Algae omega-3 wins €1m+ Oz research boost

26-Sep-2016 By Kacey Culliney

Scientists are using metabolic engineering to scale up omega-3 rich algae production in Australia.

Protein microcapsules could help create ‘ultra high’ DHA content powders

26-Sep-2016 By Nathan GRAY

Whey protein stabilised microcapsules could be used to create omega-3 powders with higher content of oil and improved shelf life, say researchers.

Indian firm Arjuna to launch 'one shot' high-concentrate Omega-3 product

21-Sep-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Indian firm Arjuna Natural Extracts is launching a high-concentrate, "one shot", 90% omega-3 supplement derived from sardines.

Study supports bioavailability of omega-3s from wax ester-rich marine oil

16-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Calanus oil is a highly bioavailable source of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, says a new study that supports its potential as a suitable alternative source of omega-3s.

Australia leading the way with ‘everyday’ sports nutrition trend

14-Sep-2016 By Nathan Gray

There is a rising trend for a new category of ‘everyday’ sports products, and Aussies can’t get enough of it, says Mintel.

AUD$9m project puts algae under the nutritional spotlight in New South Wales

26-Aug-2016 By Gary Scattergood

An AUD$9m (US$6.9m) project to boost the potential for algae in the nutrition, supplement and bio-industry has been launched in New South Wales.

‘Healthy fat’ claims growing as consumer awareness rises

16-Aug-2016 By Nathan Gray

On-pack claims for ‘good fat’ are on the rise as manufacturers begin to tap in to changing consumer sentiment, says Mintel.

Blackmores voted Australia’s ‘most trusted’ supplement brand

29-Jul-2016 By Nathan Gray

For the eighth year in succession, Blackmores has been awarded Australia’s most trusted vitamin and supplement brand.

Superfood potential: Cockroach milk could be ‘fantastic protein supplement’

28-Jul-2016 By Nathan Gray

A ‘highly nutritious’ secretion from cockroaches has potential to be a new superfood ingredient for foods and supplements, say researchers.

Vitafoods Asia heading to Singapore in 2017

25-Jul-2016 By Nathan Gray

Pan-Asian nutraceutical event Vitafoods Asia will move to a new home in Singapore next year, confirm the event organisers.

Rat study finds rancid fish oil deadly, but humans shouldn't worry

25-Jul-2016 By RJ Whitehead

A third of the offspring of rats fed with high doses of oxidised fish oil during pregnancy did not survive beyond two days, a New Zealand-authored study has found, prompting safety officials to stress that there is no evidence of a food-safety risk from...

Functional poultry and pork? Thai researchers look to improve fat profiles of meats

19-Jul-2016 By Nathan Gray

It is may be possible to improve the lipid composition of poultry and pork to contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids, say researchers.

Omega Health takes Australian-sourced omega-3s to China

04-Jul-2016 By RJ Whitehead

A specialist Australian algae and fish oil supplier will tackle China’s high-end dietary supplements market by exporting home-sourced omega-3 products.

Increased omega-3 status could lower your risk of death

29-Jun-2016 By Nathan Gray

Increasing your omega-3 status by just 1% could be linked to a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality, according to a new meta-analysis.

INDIA

Seafood by-products could provide novel functional ingredients

28-Jun-2016 By Nathan Gray

Seafood processing by-products are rich sources of valuable bioactive molecules that can provide the nutrition industry with novel functional food ingredients and products, say researchers.

Swisse Wellness debuts new range of sugar free kids’ supplements

22-Jun-2016 By Nathan Gray

Australian supplement manufacturer Swisse Wellness has launched a sugar-free, tooth friendly, range of wellness products for children, the company says.