The New Zealand blackcurrant industry is strengthening its presence
in the Japanese nutraceutical and functional food market, as the NZ
Berryfruit Group (NZBG) becomes one of the first five companies to
sign up to the new Tokyo 'beachhead'.
Flavours and plant extracts firm Frutarom is investing in clinical
trials in South Korea to tap into the strong growth of functional
food and beverages in this market.
Researchers from the University of Manchester are to test a "secret
herb" to stop the hot flushes associated with hormonal therapy for
breast cancer sufferers.
Nestle Nutrition may develop products for metabolic syndrome using
Phospha E, an advanced form of vitamin E that has shown promise in
protecting against and alleviating the condition in animal trials.
DSM Nutrition has reported five per cent growth in both sales and
operating profits in Q1 2005 - a result that sits well with an
excellent picture for the group overall and could point towards
another positive year.
Another study has concluded that a combination of vitamins C and E
do not help reduce the risk of pregnancy complication
pre-eclampsia, but a leading charity has voiced hope that the door
is not closed and that research with these...
BASF is introducing two new grades of coenzyme Q10 in the US next
week, which it says makes it the first company to offer customers a
choice between formulations for use in multivitamin tablets and for
softgels.
A daily supplement of the French maritime pine bark, Pycnogenol,
could reduce the markers of inflammation by 15 per cent, says a
joint German-Slovak study.
Firmenich is unveiling the first innovation to come out of its
newly formed nutrition and health unit - Duralife Omega 3, which
uses microencapsulation technology to overcome stability issues of
working with the healthful ingredient.
Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and vitamin E in the diet could slash
the risk of motor neurone disease (MND) by 60 per cent, say new
research from the Netherlands.
Cargill is looking forward to exhibiting a range of new
health-focused ingredients at next month's Vitafoods exhibition
following its successful acquisition of Degussa Food Ingredients.
Long-term heavy coffee drinking does not increase the risk of
coronary heart disease (CHD) say Harvard researchers, results that
also have positive implications for the stimulant drink industry.
Gadot Biochemical Industries has developed a new calcium citrate
compound that could help formulators overcome fortification issues
with soy milk, fluid milk, smoothie, infant formula, and other milk
replacement products.
A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in olive oil, fresh vegetables and
vitamin E, could reduce the risk of obstructions in blood vessels
in the elderly, says Italian research.
The food industry could enhance the nutritional value of beans -
and reduce the unpleasant side effect of flatulence - by fermenting
them with good bacteria, advise Venezuelan experts today.
Swiss company Emmi has developed a new beverage concept to overcome
stability issues with coenzyme Q10 and other micronutrients, which
will appear on shelves in key European markets from this summer.
SharpPS gold, a PS-DHA conjugate from Israeli company Enzymotec, is
being used in a US supplement for the first time with the
reformulation of Cognitex from Life Extension.
Solbar's selection of Danetto Food as its distribution partner for
soy proteins in Finland is the latest initiative designed to
strengthen the firm's position in the European soy protein sector.
Elderly women, the group at most risk of osteoporosis, are less
likely to develop fractures if they actually take the calcium
supplements they've been given, says a new study.
Fortitech Europe is looking to increase customers and confidence in
its nutrient premixes by having its Danish manufacturing and
testing facility certified Halal-compliant.
When a company 'gives back' to the world through charitable
donations, should we wholeheartedly commend it for being a good egg
or sniff cynically at the profit potential that underlies every
business decision?
Number one dairy producer Danone has recorded strong results for
the first quarter of 2006, bolstered by a focused leadership and
continuing record sales in Asia.
The withdrawal of supplements containing saw palmetto from the
Danish market is due to a 2002 evaluation that expressed concerns
about the effect the botanical has on hormones,
NutraIngredients.com has learned.
Sheep's milk has a higher content of essential vitamins and
minerals than cow's milk and could be used to cater to consumers'
appetite for healthy products. But presently it seems only
small-time producers are sizing...
Adopting a low-carb diet may improve fertility problems and hormone
profiles of women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),
says US research.
Provexis has suffered a set-back in the distribution of its Sirco
heart health juice, with UK retailer Sainsbury's ditching it as
part of a chilled juice reorganisation.
Most adults should include soy products in their diet, says a new
white paper that reviews literature and studies investigating the
health benefits they may confer.
Plant sterol (PS)-enriched yoghurts better lower cholesterol levels
when consumed at mealtimes than between meals, regardless of the
fat content of the drink, says research from Unilever.
A review of 19 studies has concluded that kids do not benefit from
calcium supplements and fortified foods, despite many not meeting
recommended daily intakes of the mineral.
Irish biotech firm Alltracel is moving closer to taking its
cellulose fibre bioactive into functional foods, and is currently
in discussions with companies in the EU, US and Japan about
commercialisation.
German children and teenagers are profiting from the wide
availability of vitamin supplements, but some intakes exceed
tolerable upper limits, says new research.
Chinese health ingredients supplier Fenchem has been awarded
organic certification in the EU, US and Japan for its plant oils
and green tea extracts, and expects this will boost sales by as
much as 20 per cent.
Awareness of lutein in Europe is growing apace, according to a new
consumer survey. But many consumers have not heard of age-related
macular degeneration, meaning that the carotenoid's potential in
reducing risk of the condition...
Finnish company Valio is continuing R&D into fruit juice-based
probiotics, with a study in the journal LWT reporting
excellent stability, survivability and tolerability of two strains.
The European inventors of a process for deriving higher yields of
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from microalgae have licensed the patent
to Advanced BioNutrition - a deal that could ultimately impact the
human nutrition market for DHA.
The UK's National Osteoporosis Society has issued a stark warning
that fad dieting is leading women to put their bones at risk by
consuming less calcium-rich foods than they did 20 years ago.
A combination of lycopene and vitamin E suppressed the growth of
prostate cancer in mice, but had no effect when used independently,
say Dutch researchers.
A major international study has shown that many people with type-2
diabetes are not achieving optimal blood sugar control despite the
availability of effective treatments - a shortfall that may
underscore the benefits of dietary approaches.