Inflammation

Gut-brain axis may be bridge linking chronic pain with microbiome changes

21-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

A Canadian study reveals the gut bacteria’s relationship with chronic pain in findings that identify changes in the gut microbiome in people with fibromyalgia.

Synthetic chili pepper extract gets EFSA approval

20-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) finds no safety concerns with the Novel Food (NF) phenylcapsaicin, a synthetic chemical compound of the chili pepper extract capsaicin.

Bulgaria in contention to be first EU country to allow open sale of CBD

11-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

Bulgaria could be the first country in Europe to permit the sale of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) nutraceutical products on the open market, granting authorisation to US-based firm Kannaway.

Italy’s Supreme Court ruling casts legal doubt among country’s ‘cannabis light’ industry

10-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

Italy’s Supreme Court has ruled the sale of all cannabis derivatives such as oils, resins, buds and leaves as illegal in a decision that in principle outlaws sales of ‘cannabis light’ products.

Sabinsa adds three manufacturing sites to USP GMP verification program

22-May-2019 By Hank Schultz

Three additional manufacturing sites in India now have third party GMP verification, according to ingredient supplier Sabinsa.

UPDATE: Hepatitis cases linked to turmeric supplements rumble on as incidences rise to ten

21-May-2019 By Will Chu

Italy’s National Institute of Health reports a further six new hepatitis incidences linked to the consumption of turmeric-based food supplements bringing the total to ten cases.

Hepatitis cases linked to turmeric supplements rises to four, say Italian authorities

17-May-2019 By Will Chu

Italy’s National Institute of Health has received further notifications of two more hepatitis cases linked to a turmeric-based food supplement distributed by a firm already implicated in two similar incidents earlier this month.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Expert view: How diet reversed my depression

16-May-2019 By Nikki Cutler

A plant-based nutritionist revealed at Vitafood last week how changing her diet reversed the depression that caused chronic health issues throughout her childhood.

VITAFOODS 2019

Supplements and beyond: CBD industry on cusp of cannabis revolution - WATCH

15-May-2019 By Will Chu

The European Commission’s decision to classify cannabidiol (CBD)-containing products as a 'novel food,' continues to irk those in the sector as the nutrition industry gather once more for Vitafoods.

Industry group despair at 'disproportionate & senseless measures' put on CBD products

14-May-2019 By Will Chu

The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has described regulatory measures taken against CBD-containing products as “disproportionate and senseless,” in moves that have bought “negative consequences”.

Arjuna Natural expands stronghold in Europe with curcumin patent approval

11-Apr-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Indian spice and botanical extract manufacturer Arjuna Natural has been granted a new patent in Europe for its applied technology, which improves the bioavailability of curcumin in a 100% natural formulation.

French authorities issue warning for populations to avoid joint health supplements

08-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

Select populations should avoid consuming food supplements containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulphate, French authorities warn after receiving a series of reported adverse events.

Chr. Hansen lends its microbiome knowhow in Lonza biotherapeutics deal

05-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

Chr. Hansen applies its microbiome expertise in the pharma arena as the firm enters a collaboration with Lonza to produce live biotherapeutic (LBP) products that address a range of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular conditions.

Calanus backs Norway’s decision allowing commercial harvesting of omega-3 rich zooplankton

03-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

The Norwegian Government is to allow commercial harvesting of Calanus finmarchicus, an ecologically sustainable omega-3 fatty acid source found in huge quantities in the Norwegian Sea.

Probiotic-infused foods’ influence on gut sets future personalised nutrition agenda

01-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

Scientists have outlined the effect of fermented foods on the gut environment, as the boost in beneficial bacteria numbers may give rise to better defined personalised nutrition schemes in the future.

Germany identified as future pacesetter in buoyant European CBD market

27-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

The European cannabidol (CBD) market is set to blossom over the next four years, according to a market intelligence firm, who also predict that Germany’s growth will outpace that of other EU countries.

ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGIES: BEYOND SUPPLEMENTS

Nano encapsulation of peppermint oil delivers antibacterial wound healing prowess: Study

21-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

Peppermint essential oil (PEO) loaded onto nanostructured lipid carriers (PEO-NLC) may form the basis of a topical formulation for infected wounds as the delivery vehicle may improve PEO bioavailability.

Probiotic supplementation may alleviate chemo-induced diarrhoea, study says

20-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

Probiotic supplementation may be a potential remedy to the effects of chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea (CID) in patients with lung cancer, according to researchers.

Avocado seed extract shows anti-inflammatory promise

20-Mar-2019 By Nikki Cutler

An extract from the seeds of avocados has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in a new study by Penn State researchers.

Green light for green tea as study links its potency to lower obesity risk

19-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

The anti-inflammatory polyphenols found in green tea may be responsible for lowering the risk of obesity, specifically focusing on inflammation that has its origins in the host gut.

Indecision reigns over current CBD Novel Food status as industry groups clash with authorities

18-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

Evidence presented at the Novel Food Commission meeting this week has triggered a rethink for authorities over the decision to classify Cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel food (NF).

EASO on board in AI-powered personalised nutrition project

13-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) has become the latest member of an EU-funded project that looks to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop personalised nutrition concepts.

Seven key supplement trends from Expo West 2019

12-Mar-2019 By Stephen Daniells

We walked and we talked and we took photos, and here’s our list of 7 key trends for supplements from Expo West 2019 in Anaheim.

Synthetic micronutrient the ‘first’ to receive EU Novel Food approval

06-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

A synthetic micronutrient that may prevent oxidative stress has become the first to receive Novel Food approval for the general population.

CBD regulation: Global clampdown or treading a careful path to acceptance?

05-Mar-2019 By Will Chu, Niamh Michail, Hank Schultz, and Cheryl Tay

The interest in cannabidiol (CBD) use in food supplements, foods, and even as an ingredient in cosmetics has gained much momentum in the past five years, but what is the regulatory situation around the world?

New studies uncover probiotics' influence on sperm quality, say researchers

04-Mar-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Recent studies revealing a probiotic's ability to manage male sub-fertility with co-existing chronic pain and obesity, will significantly boost scientific interest in probiotics for infertility treatment, researchers revealed during the recent Probiota...

Probiota 2019

No guts, no glory: ‘Microbiome science ready to enter pharma arena,’ CEO of LNC Therapeutics says

01-Mar-2019 By Will Chu

Microbiome science is mature enough to enter the pharma field, according to the CEO of a microbiota-focused drug developer, who presented at Probiota Copenhagen earlier this month.

Clinical Nutrition in Focus

Medical nutrition futures: Nutritional therapies should not neglect the microbiome, warn researchers

28-Feb-2019 By Nathan Gray

Nutrition solutions for critically ill patients should not ignore the potential of modulating gut bacteria for health, say researchers who suggest current enteral feeding solutions do not support gut defences and the microbiome.

Fermented soluble wheat fibre found to possess high prebiotic potential: Study

26-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

Subjecting wheat arabinogalactan-peptide (AGP) to the fermentation process results in significantly higher prebiotic activity that could boost proportions of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Italy’s ad regulator bans question posed on cranberry supplement’s anti-infective claim

07-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

Italy’s advertising watchdog has ruled an ad that posed the question, "Infections of the urinary tract?" as misleading to consumers regarding the product’s ability to prevent cystitis.

Growing industry calls to Irish Government for VAT supplement hike rethink

05-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

Growing dislike for Ireland’s plans to tax vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fish oils continued this week as the country’s largest retail industry body called on the Government to review the VAT hike.

Konjac glucomannan may improve symptoms of fatty liver, new study suggests

04-Feb-2019 By Adi Menayang

A recently published study on rats sheds light on the potential liver health benefits of glucomannans from konjac, a plant native to Asia.

Nanotech gut role opens up prospect of probiotic nanoparticles for food

04-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

The development of probiotic nanoparticles for food could be on the cards if previously undiscovered insights into their effects on the intestinal flora can be developed further, according to a German research team.

Updated EC ruling for CBD classes supplement ingredient as Novel Food

01-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

The European Commission (EC) has reclassified cannabidiol (CBD) as a Novel Food in a change that may mean CBD and hemp-derived food supplements cannot be legally sold within Europe.

Review finds no evidence of artificial sweeteners’ negative effects on gut health

23-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

No clear evidence exists of any adverse effects of low- / no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) on the gut microbiota at doses relevant to human use, an in-depth review concludes.

Peek Inside: Probiota 2019 - Copenhagen

EC: ‘Prediction & prevention’ on the agenda in future EU microbiome-based projects

15-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

The shift from a ‘diagnose and treat’ mind-set to a ‘predict and prevent’ approach is making rapid gains in the food and nutrition industry as consumers look to innovation to make better dietary and nutritional decisions.

Gut yeast crosses blood-brain barrier and triggers Alzheimer's-like inflammation: Study

09-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

Fungal gut populations are capable of migrating to the brain, crossing its blood-brain barrier and triggering the kind of inflammation seen in Alzheimer's disease, according to US researchers.

Gut-liver axis transfer of vitamin E appears compromised by low vitamin C levels, review finds

08-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

Low vitamin C levels appear to impair the gut-liver axis' role in vitamin E transfer and bioavailability that is crucial in preventing inflammation, as a review reveals its findings in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients.

Put a pin in it: The chart topping health tips shared on social media

03-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

“Self care” is the big theme in health and wellness for 2019, according to the global idea-sharing app Pinterest, with eating trends that show scientific research is capturing the interest of the masses.

Omega 3’s effect on brain blood flow could battle memory decline in ageing

13-Dec-2018 By Will Chu

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation has the potential to enhance neural blood flow possibly preventing memory decline caused by restricted blood flow or brain cell inflammation.

Inflammation is set to be the next big health concern for ageing populations

WATCH: Shrewd over-60's fight inflammation to avoid isolation

05-Dec-2018 By Nikki Cutler

'Anti-inflammatory' is set to be the next big health buzz word as our ageing population looks to avoid isolation and depression, says Rousselot.

Consumers on the hunt for youth-boosting food and drink, says Mintel

21-Nov-2018 By Nikki Cutler

Food, drink and supplement innovators should take tips from the beauty industry as consumers want to fill-up on products that will help them fight the ageing process, says Mintel.

BASF and Nuritas harness AI power to create next-gen peptides

09-Nov-2018 By Nikki Cutler

BASF and Nuritas have unveiled a new generation of plant-based peptides for regulating inflammation within sports nutrition.

The gut a ‘starting point’ for Parkinson’s disease, study suggests

01-Nov-2018 By Will Chu

Parkinson’s disease (PD) ‘starts in the gut’ says an expert, who spoke of a study that identifies the gut-brain axis and change in microbiome environment as playing key roles in disease onset and progression.

Italian authorities fine Life120 over half a million euros for illicit supplement promotion

12-Oct-2018 By Will Chu

Italy’s Competition and Market Authority (AGCM) has fined lifestyle firm Life120 over €500,000 after the company were guilty of making false claims and employing ‘non-transparent’ methods in promoting its food supplement range

Trailblazing AI start-up looks to healthy future with expert advisory board

11-Oct-2018 By Nikki Cutler

Nuritas, a Dublin-based start-up making waves in the personalised nutrition sector, has appointed some world leading experts to its new scientific advisory board (SAB).

First-of-its-kind trial in India to test maternal DHA supplementation's effect on offspring's neurodevelopment

13-Sep-2018 By Cheryl Tay

An ongoing multi-country study led by the Public Health Foundation of India is trying to determine if maternal DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation may have beneficial effects on neurodevelopment in the offspring during its first 1,000 days of life.

Review supports astaxanthin’s role as a ‘mitochondrial nutrient’

07-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Astaxanthin’s strong anti-oxidant activity may help prevent mitochondrial dysfunction, which could explain it’s strong potential benefits for a range of health conditions, says a new mini-review from South Korea.

EDITOR'S SPOTLIGHT: START UP FOCUS

Algama Foods seeks partner for re-launch of spirulina drink

07-Sep-2018 By Kacey Culliney

French microalgae startup Algama Foods is looking for investors and partners to re-launch its spirulina water after extensive product development to improve taste and stability, its R&D manager says.