Cognitive function

Vitafoods 2023 Highlights: The Active Consumer

16-May-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Companies at Vitafoods 2023 saw active consumers as a key target demographic, with exhibitors presenting innovative concepts targeting a wide range of consumers leading active lifestyles.

Theaflavins may mitigate aging associated cognitive dysfunction via the microbiota−gut−brain axis

15-May-2023

Emerging reports linking the gut microbiota to cognitive dysfunction have provided researchers a potential avenue to enhance cognition via gut microbiota modulation.

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

Startup Goodrays creates “CBD for every occasion”

15-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

UK-based startup Goodrays is seeking to bring the benefits of CBD to multiple consumer occasions throughout the day with its wide range of oils, gummies, and drinks.

Nature’s Way introduces nootropic gummy for brain health

09-May-2023 By Asia Sherman

Nature's Way has launched its Brain Fuel nootropic gummy into the growing brain health category to support adults looking to supplement their short-term memory, focus and concentration.

Finding opportunity for dietary supplements in esports

09-May-2023 By Danielle Masterson

Esport expert Jason Chung said the opportunity is there—but the story isn't.

NutraIngredients Awards 2023 winners revealed

03-May-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

The NutraIngredients Awards 2023 winners were revealed yesterday, Wednesday May 3rd, during an online ceremony.

Study: Psychobiotic positively impacts microbiomes of mild anxiety sufferers

01-May-2023 By Danielle Masterson

As research into psychobiotics picks up, the important role the gut–brain axis plays is becoming better understood.

Black cumin extract may help manage stress, boost sleep: RCT

28-Apr-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with a proprietary thymoquinone-rich black cumin oil extract may increase sleep satisfaction by reducing stress, says a new study from India.

Study links elevated maternal vitamin B12 levels to autism in offspring

28-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new study observes that elevated maternal serum levels of vitamin B12 were significantly associated with the prevalence of childhood autism in offspring, in the large-scale Finnish population studied.

Covid complications: synbiotic may lower risk of adverse outcomes in the vulnerable

27-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

The new RTC in elderly and type 2 diabetic individuals finds that in the group administered a SIM01 synbiotic formulation, there were significantly less reported adverse health outcomes.

CBD coffee: fad or the future?

26-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

Following an increasing popularity and a heightened influx of brands promoting the CBD and coffee pairing, touting an ability to reduce side effects associated with caffeine, a regulatory expert has warned the research backing the benefits is inconclusive.

Grontvedt set to bring “new innovations to the market” with significant new hire

25-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

Norwegian marine oils producer, Grontvedt biotech, has made a significant new hire of Stig Jansson, former R&D manager at Nordic Naturals, for their chief innovation officer following plans to scale up their production.

TopGum acquire R&D specialists in move to advance gummy production

25-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

TopGum, a global leader in the gummy nutritional supplements space, has signed an agreement to purchase pharmaceutical R&D specialist PharmItBe in a move to advance the company’s development efforts for their nutraceutical range.

Review hails Akkermansia as “most promising next-gen probiotic”

19-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

The recent review spotlights the efficacy of Akkermansia muciniphila in reducing the risk and progression of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D), suggesting its strong potential for use for targeted dietary interventions within probiotics.

Supplements show promise for management of childhood aggression: Meta-analysis

17-Apr-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids may help reducing excessive aggression in children and youth, says a new meta-analysis of 22 studies, including 16 were randomized controlled trials.

Study suggests BCAA supplementation may delay cognitive decline

05-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new bidirectional randomised study establishes a causal relationship between lower levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), utilising a large-scale genetic database.

Jiaherb’s Rhodiola rosea receives CITES certification

04-Apr-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Jiaherb, Inc. has received it Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) certification for its Rhodiola rosea ingredient.

Insights from Positive Nutrition Summit

Functional foods for the mind: what are consumers looking for?

04-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

A cognitive health innovation panel hosted at the Positive Nutrition summit last week (March 30th), discussed key consumer demands in a crowded market, legislation challenges, and the future potential for the space.

Study: Antioxidant supplement can offer speedy brain benefits in younger adults

04-Apr-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A new study conducted by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) has investigated the effects of its all-natural ingredient MGCPQQ on cognitive function in adults, concluding that it provided “unexpected and significant” benefits in the younger cohort of participants.

Startup Spotlight

Entrepreneur creates 'living sodas' category with pro- and prebiotic fuelled drinks

03-Apr-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A life-long entrepreneur has created a ‘living sodas’ brand, providing a range of sodas with live probiotics plus prebiotics, which he hopes will open up a new 'living sodas' category.

Low dose, high impact: Daily iron intake improves fatigue and stress among athletes – Taiyo study

03-Apr-2023 By Si Ying Thian

A new RCT proposes that routine, low dose iron supplementation helps reduce the burden of exercise and improve the mood and fatigue among non-anaemic athletes.

Fibre intake reduces cognitive decline risk in older people: study

28-Mar-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Fibre intake is associated with a lower risk of developing cognitive decline in older people with the Alzheimer’s risk gene APOE4, according to a new study.

Osavi’s omega-3 oils for achieving an optimum index

28-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

The UK-based health, nutrition and supplements company has released the ‘Norwegian cod liver oil’ and ‘Osavi daily omega’ products following the finding that “98% of adults fall below the optimum omega-3 index.”

Under-represented plants with antioxidant properties highlighted in new review

27-Mar-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A recent review has explored several lesser-researched plant sources of antioxidants which could be beneficial in supporting cognitive health.

Age-related declines in verbal fluency improve with alpha-linoleic acid, study suggests

24-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

A randomised control trial (RCT) reports that following the administration of flaxseed oil containing high amounts of alpha linoleic acid (ALA), scores for verbal fluency were significantly improved in the older adults, when compared to the control group....

Meet the ‘smart gaming nutrition’ start-up feeding newbies and eSports pros

22-Mar-2023 By Flora Southey

From milkshakes to energy bites, gummies and ‘functional sprays’, German start-up Just Legends has gamers’ specific nutritional needs covered, CEO and co-founder Ole Schaumberg tells FoodNavigator.

Bifidobacterium probiotic may incur “remarkable” benefits to infant gut, study finds

17-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

The randomised control trial notes that frequency of defecation and watery stools reduced following supplementation with B. infantis M-63 in infants up until three months of age, compared to the placebo group.

Science shorts: Latest findings from Maeil, Yili, Meiji

17-Mar-2023 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research from regional dairy firms in Asia-Pacific, namely South Korea’s Maeil, China’s Yili, and Japan’s Meiji.

Review highlights probiotics as adjuvant treatment in cognitive decline

15-Mar-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Probiotic supplementation may be an affordable and safe adjuvant treatment option for cognitivie decline management in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

Synbiotic improves inflammation in ADHD-medicated children, study finds

09-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new randomised controlled trial notes a significant reduction in markers of inflammation in children taking medication for ADHD, whilst SCFA levels were shown to increase, following administration with a synbiotic composed of lactic acid bacteria and...

Vit D and dementia study: experts question cause and effect

08-Mar-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Experts have responded to a new study claiming vitamin D may be a potential agent for dementia prevention, saying cause and effect is still unknown.

Daily vitamins could prevent the onset of cognitive impairment, new data reports

03-Mar-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A multivitamin with folic acid, B vitamins, Vitamin D, and CoQ10 may slow cognitive decline and neurodegeneration in the elderly.

Review assesses neuroprotective qualities of polyphenols

01-Mar-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Free radicals in phytochemicals are noted for their neuroprotective actions but the clinical effectiveness of antioxidants in ischemic stroke is still unknown, a review has concluded.

Review assesses how trace mineral optimisation can mitigate anxiety disorder

28-Feb-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A new narrative review discusses the importance of optimising intake of specific trace minerals for the mitigation of anxiety disorders and preservation of mental health.

Vit E an effective aid for sleep in postmenopausal women, study concludes

27-Feb-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Researchers have concluded that vitamin E offers potential as an alternative treatment for chronic insomnia disorder in postmenopausal women as new data suggests it can improve sleep quality, thereby reducing sedative drug use.

Low vitamin D levels associated with post- stroke depression, review suggests

23-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature observes that significantly lower levels of circulating vitamin D were found in those suffering from post-stroke depression (PSD), when compared to those who were not.

Insights from Probiota 2023

Probiotics paving their way into synergistic mental health treatment

20-Feb-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A significant number of clinical studies into the gut-brain axis are providing exciting data on the potential stand-alone and synergistic benefits of probiotics with traditional medications.

Lion’s Mane and the brain: Study identifies new compounds in ‘smart mushroom’

17-Feb-2023 By Asia Sherman

Novel compounds found in the lion’s mane mushroom may improve memory and boost brain cell growth, according to a new study led by the Queensland Brain Institute.

‘Rocky time’ for CBD industry leads to casualties in ‘good brands’

16-Feb-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

An elite-athlete turned CBD supplement brand founder has described the ‘rocky’ road travelled in this fast-evolving market but says he ultimately looks forward to an ‘extremely exciting’ future.

Potential for CBD to treat traumatic brain injuries, review concludes

15-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

Cannabidiol (CBD) shows strong potential for its inclusion in clinical treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), with mechanisms of action including the mediation of the cellular and biochemical changes associated with the injuries, a recent literature...

Brains and brawn? Beta-alanine may support cognitive function for older adults

14-Feb-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Ten weeks of supplementation with beta-alanine may improve cognitive function in older adults with below normal scores, says a new study from Israel.

Review calls for more studies on cinnamon and cognitive function

13-Feb-2023 By Asia Sherman

Cinnamon and its bioactive compounds may support brain function and slow cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative diseases, suggests a new review published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.

Balanced protein-rich diet found to benefit cognition, scientists observe

10-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

Following the identification of dietary patterns from a cohort of Japanese older adults, cognitive function was significantly higher in the protein balanced (PB) group compared to the high carbohydrate (HC) group, a new cross-sectional study finds.

Build consumer confidence: Better info needed to meet stress and gut-brain health concerns – Nutiani

09-Feb-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Consumers are seeking holistic nutrition support as they become increasingly aware of the relationship between stress, sleep and gut health, although barriers to purchase remain to be overcome, according to a new report by Fonterra’s nutrition brand,...

Sustainability at sea: Grontvedt launches ‘unique’ brand of cetoleic acid-rich omega-3 oil

08-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

Sustainable marine products producer Grontvedt has launched a new brand of Norwegian Herring fish oil, completely smell- and taste-free, and rich in cetoleic acid, with immediate processing from “fish to oil in 30 minutes”.

Study highlights role of gut microbiota in brain aging

03-Feb-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Specific members of the gut microbiota are associated with cognitive performance and mental function in middle-aged and older people, says a new study.

Protein and cognition: Increased intake in older age linked with reduced risk of impairment – China data

01-Feb-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Increasing protein intake appears to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in older age, while an extreme decline in animal-based protein consumption is linked with a 48% increase, new data from a long-term China study suggests.

5 take-aways we learned during our Business Leaders Forum

27-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

From 2022 sales numbers to consumer enthusiasm remaining high, and from progress with equality and diversity in the industry to the growth in awareness around the importance of the microbiome for health, there were lots of talking points from our 3rd...

Sold out! IPA World Congress + Probiota in Barcelona sets new records

27-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The upcoming IPA World Congress + Probiota is officially sold out. The event, which will take place 6-8 February, will bring together over 450 delegates in Barcelona.

Evonik launches targeted synbiotic solutions 'In Vivo Biotics'

27-Jan-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Evonik Industries has launched a new line of synbiotics under the brand 'In Vivo Biotics' to cater to key consumer health concerns including beauty-from-within, mental health, and gluten intolerance.