Microbial intake may be a missing piece in modern diets
Dietary guidelines should factor in not just nutrients and vitamins but also the intake of live microorganisms, according to emerging evidence.
Immune support
Culture shift: Could omics advances unlock the full potential of fermented foods?
Fermented foods have been part of the human diet for at least 10,000 years, but researchers are only just starting to understand the microbiomes found in these foods and their impact on health.
China health foods stats: US still top exporter, Australia’s exports down 21.5%
The U.S. remained the top health foods exporter to China last year, followed by Germany where exports were up 15.5%, while Australia – once the top exporter between 2018 and 2020 – saw exports fell by 21.5%.
OEA may boost Akkermansia levels and improve gut barrier function: RCT
Daily supplementation with oleoylethanolamide (OEA) may boost levels of the beneficial gut bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, says a new study.
Haleon’s FY25 results: APAC supplements growth offsets US declines
Haleon saw strong sales growth in its health supplement business in Asia-Pacific last year, which it said has partly offset the decline in North America.
Trend tracking: Euromonitor outlines drivers accelerating the biotic boom
Probiotics are outperforming huge markets such as beauty and clothing as consumers increasingly prioritize health and wellness, according to Euromonitor’s Nick Stene.
February NPD launchpad: Gummies and hormone support top the charts
This month’s launches include a significant brand evolution, targeted gummies and a flurry of formulations designed to support women through hormonal disruption.
LAC opens in Hong Kong, India
Singapore-based supplement brand Leader in Antioxidative Control (LAC) has opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Hong Kong and also entered India via an exclusive franchisee.
‘Pink gold’: Vivici launches fermentation-derived lactoferrin
Dutch company Vivici has launched a precision fermentation-derived lactoferrin, a whey protein, and announced it has achieved self-affirmed GRAS status for the ingredient in the United States.
Manuka honey maker Comvita taps lozenge, flavor innovation to capture new growth
Manuka honey maker Comvita is capturing new consumers through product format and flavor innovation, following its earlier experiments on synergistic formulations, with success in lozenges a case in point.
Centre for Nutraceuticals aims to be ‘global voice’ for the industry
The University of Westminster officially launched its expanded Centre for Nutraceuticals this month, now with a first-of-its-kind tailored capsule machine for personalized nutrition research.
“Its moment has arrived”: Marula fruit ripe for global functional food success
The highly abundant South African polyphenol-rich marula fruit is being under-exploited by the functional food and supplements industry, according to the Marula Fruit Products Association.
Expo West 2026 supplement preview: What’s happening on the show floor
Thousands of exhibitors across the natural products spectrum will descend on the Anaheim Convention Center for the 45th annual Expo West trade between March 3 and March 6.
Authorities play catch-up on caffeine energy pouch regulation
Highly caffeinated energy pouches currently exist in a regulatory grey area, with a patchwork of different rules beginning to emerge across European nations.
Zinzino bolsters US presence with $30M It Works! merger
Swedish health tech firm ZinoZino and US-based health and wellness platform It Works! have combined expertise to provide tailored supplements internationally.
Denps taps into ‘wellness window’ in Singapore, eyes further expansion across SEA
Danish supplements brand Denps is looking to leverage Singapore’s premium market environment as a strategic launchpad for the South East Asian region.
January Launch Pad: Probiotics lead the way
From the gut-skin to the gut-bone to the gut-vaginal axes, new launches are proving biotics benefits extend far beyond gut health.
Survey shows 76% of Americans use supplements daily
Results show foundational supplements anchoring routines as targeted health needs drive portfolio expansion.
Jan 2026 Launchpad: Creatine, collagen, iron and probiotic NPD put women center stage
New product launches in January 2026 suggest women’s health is front of mind for formulators across the industry, with NPD focused on beauty, pregnancy and everyday energy.
Orthomol to scale Asia expansion and launch first blue-hat product in China
German health supplement company Orthomol is scaling growth across Asia under the leadership of its new CEO and is expecting a breakthrough in the Chinese market as it prepares to launch its first blue-hat registered product.
Novel Foods: Major updates on botanical assessments
The European Commission (EC) has updated its Novel Food Catalogue, offering crucial clarification on the status of several traditional botanical ingredients.
Award returns for second year to celebrate the industry’s creative minds
The NutraIngredients Awards are back, and with one more week to apply, one returning category is a little different from the rest.
More time, more impact: NutraIngredients Europe Awards extend entry deadline
The submission dealdine for the NutraIngredients Europe Awards has been extended to Feb. 2, 2026, providing innovators in the nutrition and health sectors with additional time to submit their entries.
Kirin deepens immune health R&D with subsidiaries FANCL, Blackmores
Kirin is advancing its immune health R&D with subsidiaries FANCL and Blackmores, piloting a urine-immune test and launching a new immune health supplement.
NI Awards: Encouraging businesses to reach new heights
With entries for the NutraIngredients Awards 2026 closing on Jan. 26, last year’s winners have described the personal and professional benefits of winning an accolade designed to set businesses apart from the competition.
Probiotic strain may ‘fine-tune’ immune responses in children
A specific probiotic strain may reduce the burden of common childhood infectious illnesses by fine-tuning immune responses and enhancing gut resilience rather than through drastic compositional changes, says a new study.
Rae Wellness returns after operational overhaul
“When Rae had to pause, I thought that chapter was over,” said Rae Wellness founder and CEO Angie Tebbe. “But our community never stopped showing up, thousands of messages, tens of thousands of site visits, even when we had nothing to sell.”
Could GMO plants unlock full-spectrum human milk oligosaccharide production?
Totality Biosciences has developed a synthetic biology platform that leverages genetically engineered plants to produce the full spectrum of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and will be presenting the business at the upcoming IPA World Congress +...
Across the Nutraverse: MLB’s Ohtani get new immune ambassador role, Tru Niagen for beauty, rhodiola for athletic performance
Happy New Year, Nutraverse! Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the global nutrition, functional foods and dietary supplements industries.
MLB star Shohei Ohtani joins Kirin as official ‘Immune Care’ ambassador
Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani has been appointed “Immune Care” promotion ambassador by Kirin Holdings, accompanied by a nationwide TV commercial campaign.
BonPatch expects uptake of patch format to grow, adopts three-pronged strategy
Aussie brand BonPatch foresees a greater uptake of transdermal patches as consumers actively seek formats that simplify wellness, while pursuing a three-pronged strategy to realize its ambitions in market expansion and category leadership.
NutraIngredients Awards Europe 2026: Meet the judges
The NutraIngredients Awards have become known as the “Oscars of the nutrition world” largely thanks to the caliber of its panel of industry expert judges.
Dairy and beyond: Yili to grow healthy aging nutrition portfolio
China dairy giant Yili is going beyond general milk products and infant nutrition needs by diving into healthy aging needs against the backdrop of a greying population and increased consumer interest in metabolic health.
Immune health functional foods see new high in Japan
A record number of 71 products making immune health claims were notified under Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) between April 2024 and March 2025.
Probiotic combination supports respiratory infection recovery for children: RCT
A combination of four probiotic strains may reduce upper respiratory tract infection symptom duration in children, says a new study from AB-Biotics and Kaneka Probiotics.
Bayer’s Redoxon strides beyond immunity as demand for proactive wellness grows
Bayer-owned supplement brand Redoxon is moving beyond immunity as consumer demand for proactive wellness, including mental performance, mood and energy, rises in Asia.
OnSwitch: Energy drink collab goes beyond caffeine to target systemic optimization
What if an energy drink could do more than just wake you up? Formulator Shawn Wells sat down with NutraIngredients to introduce OnSwitch, a collaborative, new energy drink concept that made its way around the show floor during SupplySide Global this year.
‘There was never a dull moment’: 8 reasons to attend the IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026
The IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026 is just two months away! The leading event for the probiotics, prebiotics and microbiome community is a must-attend event, and let us tell you why…
Pharmalinea’s NutraLoop Summit reveals the trends to watch in 2026
2025’s supplement successes include creatine, cellular health and weight loss solutions with plant exosomes, pet nutrition and shatavari emerging as topics to watch in 2026, according to PharmaLinea’s end-of-year summit.
Holland & Barrett highlights global need for omega-3
More than three-quarters of the global population is not getting enough omega-3, according to a collaborative study sponsored by Holland & Barrett, with the retailer noting a lack of awareness around the nutrient’s brain health benefits.
Bioshroom pure mushroom startup re-established for global success
South African purity-focused mushroom supplier Bioshroom is set to reopen production with new leadership following major facility investment setting the firm up for global expansion.
Nutrikéo x ProtéinesXTC introduces crisis management service
The Nutrikéo x ProtéinesXTC consulting group has launched CriseNutra, a crisis prevention and management service to help industry players safeguard their long-term position and reputation in the market.
Pro, postbiotic intake shown to reduce cold-like symptoms in meta-analysis
A first-of-its-kind meta-analysis of eight clinical studies showed that supplementing with both live and heat-killed Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) could reduce cold-like symptoms by activating a particular group of immune cells known as...
Natural vs synthetic: Biovit data backs bioavailability of organic micronutrients
Organic micronutrient startup Biovit has completed a two-year clinical study to back the bioavailability of its 100% organic micronutrients derived from plants, fungi and algae.
Australia’s top five most popular dietary supplement categories revealed
Women’s health was the most popular dietary supplement category in Australia this year.
NutraIngredients Awards early bird discount closes this week!
With the early bird discount closing this Friday (Dec. 5), now is the opportune time to enter the NutraIngredients Awards 2026.
Haleon taps into tripartite partnership to drive microbiome R&D in S’pore
Haleon is working with a Singapore-based research institute and start-up to drive microbiome research and innovation.