Preliminary results from an intervention trial that aimed to change
eating habits in a UK school and provide an omega-3 supplement are
positive with regards to behavioural benefits, says Foods for the
Brain, and may spur further research.
A compound produced by specially grown soybeans may prove to be
successful in the prevention the growth and/or spread of breast
cancer, says a new study.
Alltracel says it expects to announce shortly a global alliance
with a North American cardiovascular health specialist that take
its cellulose fibre derived bioactive into the functional foods
market for the first time.
The UK's Food Standards Agency may review its advice that people
should eat at least two portions of fish a week for its health
benefits, in the light of environmental concerns.
Several natural products have yielded promising results in studies
on their potential to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis,
particularly during air travel. Could they form a key step towards
countering the life-threatening condition?
A daily supplement of chromium picolinate and biotin improved
glucose tolerance by 15 per cent, compared to placebo, says a new
study from Yale University.
The bonds between the Japanese and European functional foods
industries are strengthening, as industry and regulators recognise
the mutual benefits of working together.
The British way of drinking tea with milk may block the
cardiovascular benefits of the catechins, according to a small
study that highlights the need for nutrition studies to consider
confounding factors from the surrounding food...
Nutrition studies of beverages funded solely by industry are four
to eight times more likely to report favourable conclusions for the
sponsors than studies with no industry funding, say researchers
from the US.
The battle of wills between the UK food watchdog and industry
heavyweights over nutrition labelling threatens to destabilise the
balance of power between industry and government.
Moderate intake of olive oil, a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet,
was successful in reducing the blood pressure of healthy men who
don't usually eat a Med-type diet, suggests a new study.
Lycopene, microencapsulated in gum arabic-sucrose capsules, slowed
the degradation of vitamins A and D3 in skimmed milk by 45 per
cent, says new research.
Food industry and consumer groups are poles apart over the question
of mandatory nutrition labelling, according to the results of a
public consultation conducted last year, with government opinion
somewhere between the two.
As the food industry is embracing technologies that have until now
been the preserve of pharmaceuticals, such as nutrigenomics,
metabolomics and nanotechnology, global regulations are being more
closely aligned between the two categories...
A diet is not just for January. Sure, the wagon-ride to a healthy
weight is a bumpy one and some won't manage to cling on. But global
government efforts to reduce the impact of the obesity crisis on
public health are ongoing,...
The Hungarian Ministry of Health has today released a list of
over-the-counter drugs including high-dose vitamins that can now be
sold in the country's supermarkets and petrol stations, where
previously they were available only...
The blood levels of beta-carotene are tied to the total level of
antioxidants, not solely to the carotenoid itself, says a new study
that may help explain discrepancies in the science about the
nutrient.
A combination of catechins, caffeine, capsaicin and tyrosine were
found to boost heat generation and energy expenditure without any
adverse effects on blood pressure or heart rate, says a new study
from Denmark.
Scandinavian Clinical Nutrition (SCN) has signed a 10-year research
grant agreement with the renowned Karolinska Institutet, which aims
to emulate similar academic-industry partnerships for
pharmaceuticals and boost credibility of...
Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) is looking beyond its current focus of
omega-3 ingredients, investigating marine microbial species to
produce carotenoids and co-enzyme Q10.
The possibility of setting maximum levels for bioactive substances
in foods and supplements looks set to be a global regulatory theme
for 2007, with the EC, several governments and the Codex committee
considering the need for risk...
Women who regularly consumed at least one serving of full-fat diary
every day gained about 30 per cent less weight than women who
didn't, says a study from Sweden.
Provexis is seeking to raise new funds to bolster its working
capital, after depleting its coffers with the extended timeline for
developing an advanced form of its Fruitflow technology.
Supplements of folic acid may prevent age-related hearing loss in
older men and women, says a new double-blind, randomised,
placebo-controlled trial from the Netherlands.
Increasing the intake of the soluble fibre beta-glucan decreased
the glucose and insulin response in overweight men, and could help
reduce the risk of diabetes, says a new study.
Norwegian fish oil producer EPAX is to be acquired by compatriot
Austevoll Seafood - a move that will give it a vertically
integrated supply from fishing to omega-3 oil supply and avoid
potential sourcing problems for the future.
Dietary supplementation with the prebiotics inulin and
oligofructose reduced the build up of fatty plaques associated with
atherosclerosis, reports an animal study from France.
Ireland's Marine Institute is seeking to define and prioritise
themes for a new research programme to commence this year into
marine-derived ingredients and functional foods.
A multivitamin and mineral supplement boosted the birth weight of
children born to undernourished women, says a trial from India,
results that could have lifelong implications for the offspring.
Christmas-time is closely associated with feasting on special foods
and (dare we say it?) gross overindulgence that ends only after
bells have rung in the New Year. But many of the seasonal treats we
enjoy also have a healthy aspect....
Daily magnesium supplements led to significantly increased bone
mineral content in adolescent girls, and could lead to long-term
protection from osteoporosis, suggests new research from Yale
University School of Medicine.
Teas, both green and black, have potent anti-cancer effects against
a wide range of tumours, says a new study led by the US Department
of Agriculture that adds to an ever growing body of science behind
the compounds.
Functional and energy drinks in Japan are coming under pressure
from perceived healthy options such as ready-to-drink teas, mineral
water and tonic drinks, according to a recent report from
Euromonitor International.
Higher levels of vitamin D in the body may reduce the risk of
developing the neurological disease multiple sclerosis by as much
as 62 per cent, Harvard researchers report.
Consuming six or more portions of fruit and vegetables very day
could halve the risk of kidney cancer in men, says an
epidemiological study from Harvard University.
Polyphenols in tea may preferentially suppress the growth of
pathogenic bacteria in the gut, but not the growth of 'friendly'
bacteria, says a new study from Singapore.
The industry's collective pipeline has delivered a raft of new
ingredients for supplements and health foods this year.
NutraIngredients.com take a look back at some of the new additions
to formulators' tool kits.
The year 2006 has seen notable expansions in the nutraceutical
industry as companies made acquisitions based on their need for
increased geographic scope or manufacturing capacity.
Hot flushes associated with the menopause are not helped by black
cohosh supplements, say results from the largest and longest trial
for the herb to date.
US researchers have reported that the herb Echinacea, commonly used
against colds, could stimulate the growth of certain gut bacteria,
some potentially pathogenic.
A new source of gamma glutamyl cysteine, a precursor of powerful
antioxidant glutathione for anti-ageing supplements and skin care
products, is expected to become available in 2007, after nine years
of research at Australia's...
Vitamin K2 derived from the fermented soy product natto has a
higher bioavailability than vitamin K1, results that may have
implications for functional food formulators.
The past 12 months have seen several important developments on the
European regulatory scene, which will play a big role in shaping
the supplements and health foods industries for the future.
Cutting fat intake to 20 per cent of the daily total calories could
reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence by about 25 per cent,
researchers from the US have reported.
As 2006 draws to a close, NutraIngredients.com takes a look back at
some of the mergers and acquisitions that have shaped the landscape
over the last 12 months.