Healthy ageing

Calcium & magnesium reduce risk of metabolic syndrome: 9000-strong study

13-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Calcium and magnesium may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome – but men need above and beyond recommended levels for this effect, say researchers.

Probiotics won’t help you lose weight, say researchers

12-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotics are not effective for weight loss, say researchers behind a review of current data.

What’s the evidence for probiotics and liver diseases?

11-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

There is growing evidence that probiotics are a useful tool against liver diseases but blind spots remain, according to a review.

Competition remains fierce in cholesterol-lowering niche

Benecol buy-back boosts Raisio Q2 results

11-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

Sales and profits were up in Q2 at Raisio, with CEO of the €500m Finnish agro-food player Matti Rihko content its re-housing of key brand Benecol was paying off.

In the year 2020: Global nutraceuticals market to be worth €35bn; 7% annual growth forecast

10-Aug-2015

Botanicals are the fastest growing nutraceutical ingredient class in a category being driven by ageing populations around the world, a report has found.

Continuous supplementation with carotenoids may further boost eye health: Study

07-Aug-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Sustained supplementation with the macular carotenoids can lead to greater augmentation of macular pigment and improve contrast sensitivity, says a new study.

Special edition: Protein

Mainstream keen on protein foods (but supplements still rule)

06-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

Protein has been hot for some years and shows no sign of abating in the near future as diet trends flip in protein’s favour from largely discredited low-fat to lower-carb/higher-protein regimes and a broader health halo around various protein forms.

Protein: Maybe it’s not just about what’s trendy, but what’s needed

06-Aug-2015 By Nathan Gray

Protein is one of the hottest ingredients in food and nutrition currently, but maybe we should focus more attention on developing protein-rich products for those who actually need more protein.

“We see opportunities for scientifically justified nutritional products…”

EFSA issues medical foods guidance

05-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued guidance on how firms can compile “well-structured dossiers” for medical foods that may be permitted in the EU’s 28 nations as momentum to update archaic laws grows.

Supplements save public health money: Review

05-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Using food supplements in care homes and the wider community could spell big public savings, say the researchers behind a review of 19 papers.

New ‘superberry’ launched

05-Aug-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

A new ‘superberry’ known as blue honeysuckle is set to be launched in the UK by ingredients supplier CPM.

Q2: Sales up, profits down at DSM Nutritional Products

04-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

The food and nutrition ingredients division of Dutch giant DSM has seen sales rise 16% to €1.247bn (US$1.37bn) in Q2 but profits slipped 6% amid ongoing pricing challenges on some vitamins.

The Hacker’s Diet: Should we be looking at nutrition like a computer nerd?

04-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The age of Silicon Valley and Digi-everything has seen the dawn of a new diet trend: ‘Biohacking’.

UK supplier quadruples capacity as nutraceutical business booms

03-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

UK supplier Cambridge Commodities Ltd (CCL) has moved into new facilities that take its pallet capacity from 2300 to more than 9000 as its nutraceutical business surges from its base near Cambridge, north of London.

‘EFSA failed in their evaluation…’

BASF launches stinging attack on EFSA

03-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

BASF says the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) failed to fulfil its health claim assessment remit after the Parma-based agency last month rejected its CLA-weight management appeal.

Tiny plants with huge potential: Introducing two new players to the plant-based protein market

03-Aug-2015 By Elaine Watson

Two firms that generated a lot of buzz at the IFT show this year were Parabel and Hinoman, which are both selling brand new nutrient-packed ingredients from tiny aquatic plants. But do they have what it takes to give more established players in the plant-based...

Putting the probiotics where your mouth is: Probiotics may help oral thrush

31-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotics may help older people tackle antibiotic-induced oral Candida, says industry backed research.

Remember the other 9 DHA health claims? DSM shoots for DHA and memory claim

31-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Dutch nutrition firm DSM has applied for an EU health claim on DHA and “improved memory function” – but is it likely to succeed and what would it bring to the nutrition landscape if it did?

Food industry fail? Elderly nutrition

29-Jul-2015 By Lauren Bandy

The food industry is missing a billion euro trick when it comes to ageing population, says Lauren Bandy, senior nutrition analyst at Euromonitor International.

Probiotics offer potential ‘safe, low cost, non-antibiotic’ strategy for infections

29-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Clostridium difficile infections have been noted by EU and US health authorities as an ‘emerging’ healthcare threat – costing the US $1bn annually. Now, researchers preparing a pilot study are looking at whether probiotics could be a solution. 

'Limited evidence' for vitamin B12 & neurological function in elderly: Oxford University review

28-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Proof of an association between B12 status and neurological function in older people is limited, a review of 12 studies has concluded.

“The comments received do not require any change to the conclusions of the NDA Panel.”

EFSA stands by CLA rejection

27-Jul-2015 By Shane STARLING

EFSA is standing by a CLA-weight loss health claim rejection despite an appeal that accused it of failing to evaluate submitted efficacy data from joint applicants BASF and Stepan Lipid Nutrition.

‘Little evidence’ of vitamin D helping inflammatory biomarkers in elderly

27-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Researchers have questioned the association between vitamin D and inflammatory biomarkers after a year-long trial revealed no impact on the levels of the immune system’s cytokine or adipokine.

US firm wins EU novel foods approval for vitamin K2

24-Jul-2015 By Shane STARLING

Indiana firm Vesta Ingredients has won EU novel foods approval for its vitamin K2 form as it has been determined to be equivalent to a form already on-market and proven to be safe.

Special Edition: Innovations in Delivery Systems

Fortified gel printed onto ready meals set for rapid global commercialization, says company

24-Jul-2015 By Stephen Daniells

A new generation of restaurant quality ready meals targeting seniors is set for commercial launch this year, with a patented technology allowing fortified gels to be printed onto the food.

Fatty liver disease is a major untapped opportunity for nutraceuticals; platform established

23-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Research, focus and regulatory cunning will be needed if the nutraceutical industry is to tap into the relatively unexplored area of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), says the consultancy firm behind a new dedicated clinical trial platform.

Perrigo invests in €30m German meal replacement player

22-Jul-2015

Irish pharma giant Perrigo has paid an undisclosed sum for Germany’s second biggest food supplement player, Yokebe, which specialises in meal replacements.

science short

Vitamin E significantly improves liver function for fatty liver patients: Meta-analysis

22-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Vitamin E can significantly improve liver function in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) including non-alcoholic steatohepatisis (NASH), a meta-analysis of five clinical trials.

EFSA considers health claim for creatine and elderly muscle function

16-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is reviewing a health claim application for creatine and muscle function in the elderly following an application from German chemical company AlzChem AG.

LGG may ‘transiently’ boost anti-inflammatory functions in the gut microbiota: Human data

14-Jul-2015 By Stephen Daniells

The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 may not change the host’s gut microbiota but may stimulate anti-inflammatory activities of microbes already resident, says a new study.

EFSA sets requirements for vitamin B12

13-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set dietary reference values (DRVs) for cobalamin (vitamin B12).

Chinese crack down on ginkgo

09-Jul-2015

The Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has taken action against local suppliers found to be engaged in supplying substandard versions of the botanical, ginkgo biloba.

EU copper intakes up for review

06-Jul-2015 By Shane STARLING

Stakeholders have until August 6 2015 to submit comments to EFSA on draft dietary reference values (DRVs) for copper in the European Union.

‘An exciting finding’: Are the brain health benefits of B vitamins dependent on omega-3 levels?

06-Jul-2015 By Stephen Daniells

B vitamins may protect against age-related brain wasting, but only in people with high omega-3 levels, says a new study from the University of Oxford that extends our understanding of how nutrients work together.

“Our aim with this cooperation is to get food products made with ‘algility’ microalgae into consumers’ hands faster.”

Roquette boosts algae project with beverage partner

01-Jul-2015 By Shane STARLING

French supplier Roquette has inked a deal with a food and beverage innovator it met at the SIAL food industry trade show last year to develop products for its nascent chlorella microalgae offerings.Fellow French firm Algama won an award for innovation...

Increased potassium reduces blood pressure in hypertensive people: Nestlé meta-analysis

30-Jun-2015 By Shane STARLING

Increasing potassium intake via whole food or fortification reduces blood pressure in hypertensive patients not on drugs, Nestlé scientists have concluded in a 15-paper meta-analysis.

Cognitive-boosting blackcurrants show Parkinson’s potential

25-Jun-2015 By Niamh Michail

Two varieties of blackcurrant have been found to boost cognitive performance and alertness, with one variety showing particular promise in blocking the enzymes associated with Parkinson's.

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Carotenoids lower lipid oxidation and DNA damage in middle-aged men

18-Jun-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Daily carotenoid intake lowers lipid and oxidative stress markers in middle-aged men, say researchers.

DuPont and Gelita apply for bowel and joint health claims

17-Jun-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

DuPont Nutrition and Gelita have filed health claim applications for bowel and joint health. 

Polish supplements market to grow 8% yearly: 2017-2020

15-Jun-2015 By Shane STARLING

Growth has slowed in the Polish food supplemets market as prices have risen following years of solid growth but forecaster PMR expects growth to spike again in 2017.

Bench-pressing women can boost immunity with fish oil: Study

11-Jun-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Fish oil coupled with strength training could help improve the immune system of elderly women, Brazilian researchers have found. 

Benecol enters China

10-Jun-2015 By Shane STARLING

Finnish food-agriculture giant Raisio has launched its cholesterol-lowering, plant stanol-based Benecol brand in China in a powder form via mostly medical channels in its big coastal cities.

Commission, UK and Gates Foundation put big nutrition cash on table

05-Jun-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged €689m to help tackle malnutrition as the European Commission announced €23.5m for a new nutrition initiative and €3.5bn by 2020.

Netherlands investigates safe vitamin A intake from supplements

04-Jun-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Netherlands is looking at whether legislation on vitamin A should be changed after a report calculated how much could be ingested from supplements.

Emerging markets drive global health & wellness growth (but one size does not fit all)

03-Jun-2015 By Shane STARLING

38 ‘developed’ nations delivered 54% of functional food and supplement and other health & wellness (HW) product sales in 2014, but these same nations will account for only 14% of growth between now and 2019.

Sweden to expand mandatory vitamin D fortification

28-May-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Swedish National Food Agency (NFA) has proposed an extension of the products subject to mandatory vitamin D fortification.

ASA ruling

Healthy water slugged over claims abuse

27-May-2015 By Shane STARLING

Scotland-based supplement and infused water distributor Water for Health (WFH) has been censored by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for making non-authorised immunity and other claims for chlorella and other infusions in the European Union.

Euromonitor runs rule over recent nutraceutical award winners

25-May-2015 By Simone Baroke

Market analyst Euromonitor International dissects recent NutraIngredients Awards winners to provide category perspective from sustainable omega-3 to healthy ageing in this guest article.

Omega-3s may slow age-associated muscle loss: RCT data

22-May-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Fish oil-derived omega-3s may slow the normal decline in muscle mass and function in healthy older people, says a new study from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.

'Stay active in old age' - dairy targets the elderly

21-May-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Arla Foods Ingredients has responded to a rise in elderly consumers in Europe by launching its Nutrilac Ageless whey protein and calcium ingredient, to boost protein content in yogurts and desserts.