Natraceutical Group is purchasing French supplement maker
Laboratoires Forté Pharma - a move that propels it into the
lucrative finished production section and that is expected to boost
its turnover by more than 50 per cent.
Quercetin and curcumin, compounds found naturally in onions and
curry, could reduce the risk of colon cancer, suggests a small
clinical trial from the US.
Increased intake of vitamin B6, from diet and supplements, could
cut the risk of Parkinson's disease by half suggests a prospective
study from the Netherlands.
In the past 18 months, consumer awareness of plant lignans and
their human metabolites has grown with media coverage of studies
proposing health benefits. But where does the science stand at
present?
Industry giants are locked in a "fish oil arms race" to develop genetically modified crops that could challenge the supremacy of fish as the best source of omega-3 fatty acid, with both BASF and DuPont reporting progress in the field.
Supplement associations across ASEAN countries have joined forces
with the formation of the ASEAN Alliance of Heath Supplement
Associations (AAHSA), which aims to facilitate industry input into
harmonized regulation currently in the...
Increasing omega-3 fatty acid levels, and decreasing levels of
omega-6, could reduce the risk of prostate cancer, if results from
an animal study also apply to humans.
UK scientists are mid-way through a project in collaboration with
Ribena maker GlaxoSmithKline to boost vitamin C levels in
blackcurrants, and results to date indicate it will yield benefits
for consumer health, as well as the country's...
The short sighted failure of greedy WTO trading partners to achieve
any sort of meaningful agreement on global agricultural tariffs is
bad for Europe's food industry.
Confectionary giant Mars has lauded recently published research as
further evidence of the benefits of flavanols from cocoa for a wide
range of health conditions, and looks set to lead to a new wave of
cocoa flavanol-enriched products...
A new study underscores the importance of eating well during
pregnancy, reporting a link between the calorie intake of pregnant
women and the thickness of their children's artery walls.
A daily supplement of folic acid could reduce inflammatory markers
and therefore offer protection from heart disease for overweight
and obese people, suggests a short study from Italy.
The only way to convince European governments on the safety and
efficacy of kava kava and to restore the industry in the South
Pacific is to conduct clinical studies and look further into the
mechanism, says expert on herbal safety...
Lard, the animal fat with a poor health image, could be stabilised
by adding antioxidants from olive oil milling waste, boosting the
shelf-life and adding nutritional value, says a study from Italy.
A daily magnesium supplement could reduce the levels of a
inflammation that could lead to heart disease in people with low
dietary intake of the mineral, says a US study.
The herb kava kava is to remain banned in both medicinal and food
products in the UK, following a review of the latest scientific
evidence weighing its reputed benefits for alleviating anxiety and
inducing sleep against the risk of...
DSM has said that it will not pass on rising costs to end markets
straight away, despite an otherwise excellent Q2 blighted across
the board by yet more increases in raw material and energy prices
stemming from political tensions.
Eating omega-3-rich fish like tuna has beneficial effects on heart
rhythms, and may offer protection against fatal arrhythmias,
suggests a cohort study lead by Harvard researchers.
UK nutraceutical shell company NeutraHealth has reported a profit
from its first two acquisitions in the first quarter of 2006,
indicating that integration has been swift and that its model of
snapping established but growing companies...
Provexis has entered into a 12 month exclusivity agreement with a
major food company to take its Fruitflow heart health bioactive
into food and dairy products.
An Australian research team has reported that a low-GI
carbohydrate-rich diet leads to weight loss of five per cent or
more and reductions in 'bad' cholesterol levels.
Researchers from Sweden have reported that people suffering from
coronary artery disease (CAD) have low levels of the antioxidant
carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, and could respond to
supplementation.
A new study indicates that light to moderate alcohol drinking may
exert cardioprotective effects in some, but in elderly men at least
the mechanism of action does not seem to be down to a reduction in
inflammatory markers as previously...
New opportunities for health-focussed products in the confectionery
industry have bolstered the market, which is estimated to increase
by 16 per cent in the next four years to more than €115bn.
Functional foods are generally defined as products imbued with
additional nutrients with health-promoting properties. But the
industry needs to be wary of foods that present no actual health
benefit from piggy-backing on the popularity...
Europe's leading food manufacturers and retailers are expected to
announce they plan to shun soy grown illegally in the Amazon that
is resulting in depletion of the rainforest.
The antioxidants vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid slowed the loss of
sight from retinitis pigmentosa in mouse models - yet more evidence
linking antioxidants to improved eye health.
Regular consumption of chilli pepper could improve control of
insulin levels after eating, helping obese people and diabetics
manage their levels, says research from Australia.
Raisio is bolstering the global presence of its Benecol brand,
cooperating with food group ülker to introduce cholesterol-reducing
yoghurt, drinkable yoghurt, milk and margarine products in Turkey.
With Europe-wide health claims regulation moving towards
completion, there is some anxiety within the food industry on how
to best to prepare itself - even though EFSA has not yet published
submissions guidelines or come up with a...
Is that vitamin D oozing from your pores or are you just pleased to
see me? Researchers from Spain have reported that increased
secretion of a vitamin D metabolite by male lizards could make it
easier for them to attract a mate.
ReGen Therapeutics has raised £1.1m through a share placement to
boost commercialisation of its Colostrinin nutraceutical for
cognitive decline and help fund pharmaceutical development.
This week's warnings on the black cohosh and potential liver damage
may be the first time many general practitioners have heard of the
herbal, says complementary health expert, underscoring the need for
doctors to be aware of...
The antioxidant activity and safety of lutein from marigold flowers
have been given a boost by research from a Chinese-Canadian
collaboration - research that has been applauded by lutein
producer, Kemin Health.
The UK's Joint Health Claims Initiative (JHCI) has conducted a
review of its own guidance on health claims submissions, with the
aim of helping the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) develop
processes for when the impending...
The global functional foods market appears to have entered a period
of consolidation, according to Leatherhead International, with
companies concentrating on developing their brands after an intense
period of activity in the late...
A meta-analysis of 59 trials, rated by the reviewers as being of
'low' quality, has led to a conclusion that dietary supplements for
cancer patients do not improve survival or benefit prognosis.
BioReal has been given the green light to market its AstaREAL L-10
for supplements in Europe, after the astaxanthin was found to be
substantially equivalent to other sources on the market under
novels foods legislation.
Apigenin, a plant flavonoid found in herbs, fruits and vegetables,
suppressed the levels of an immune system antibody linked to asthma
and other allergies when fed to mice, report Japanese researchers
in a new study.
Gadot Biochemical Industries is on the lookout for new ingredients
in the health food sector, and has entered into a strategic
alliance with UTEK Corporation to identify and evaluate emerging
technologies from research institutes...
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
is introducing warnings labels for black cohosh products on
potential liver damage, following reports from two committees that
have reviewed the safety data...
