Levels of carcinogenic PAHs in margarines are within recommended
limits, despite conflicting findings from a Swedish consumer
organisation, said Finland's national food agency this week.
Supplementing infant formula with probiotics may be a safe and
effective way to boost the immune system in day care infants,
suggest two new studies. BioGaia's human strain L. reuteri
ATCC 55730 was found to be particularly effective.
Activity in the health industry in the Middle East is building up
with the second trade show in the region announced for this year -
Middle East Natural Products Expo, taking place in Dubai in
November.
Adequate intake of antioxidant vitamins and minerals appears to
significantly reduce the risk of cancers and mortality among men,
report researchers from the French health and medical institute
Inserm.
Soyfoods and soybean isoflavone supplements seem to be most
effective at alleviating the hot flushes experienced during
menopause when the frequency of hot flushes is greater, report
researchers in this quarter's Journal of Medicinal...
A theaflavin-enriched green tea extract significantly reduced LDL
cholesterol in patients with raised cholesterol levels, according
to a study in this week's Archives of Internal Medicine.
A new drink developed by Dutch life sciences company DSM helps
athletes achieve better performance levels than a normal,
sugar-based sports drink, claims the company.
Both high and low levels of vitamin A can increase hip fractures in
older women, reported researchers at a scientific meeting in the US
last week. The study shows that calls to reduce vitamin A
supplementation may need to be reconsidered,...
Complementary health products maker Comvita New Zealand said it
plans to be one of the first companies to list on the NZX's new
Alternative Exchange (AX) when it opens in August.
More information on the effects of phytoestrogens on bone, heart
and breast health is needed before recommendations on
supplementation can be safely made, argues a report in this month's
issue of the Journal of Nutrition.
The UK's Food Standards Agency has updated information on products
made by Australia's Pan Pharmaceuticals, which have been on sale in
the UK and could be a health risk to consumers.
Child nutrition will be the main topic on the agenda tomorrow as
the British Nutrition Foundation prepares to welcome industry
members to its 16th annual National Nutrition Education Conference
in Cambridge in the UK.
Scientists at the UK's Institute of Food Research have begun work
to identify the compounds in strawberries responsible for
inhibiting the growth of cancer cells with the aim of developing
new varieties in which the anticarcinogenic...
Israeli firm LycoRed Natural Products Industries says it has
received GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status for its
Lyc-O-Mato tomato lycopene product. GRAS status will open doors for
the ingredient to be used to fortify foods...
Innovations from mainstream food and beverage manufacturers
continue to focus on health benefits, with companies adding the
newest ingredients to the most traditional products, reveals
Mintel's Global New Products Database this...
Swiss plant extracts business Emil Flachsmann has been bought by
flavours multinational Frutarom, for an undisclosed sum, the
companies said this week. The integrated businesses are expected to
produce sales of more than $150 million.
A group of the world's nutrition experts met at the International
Olympic Committee's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, this
week to review the latest developments in the world of sports
nutrition.
Folic acid, found to lower plasma homocysteine levels, did not
prevent heart attacks and strokes in heart disease patients
receiving supplements of the vitamin, report researchers in the
Netherlands.
Only 38 per cent of people in the UK have heard of Age-Related
Macular Degeneration (AMD), reveals this year's omnibus survey
carried out by lutein manufacturer Kemin Foods.
Consuming high levels of isoflavones, in the form of foods such as
miso soup, may reduce the risk of breast cancer, especially in
postmenopausal women, suggests new Japanese research, which
counters previous studies showing no such...
New Zealand-based Comvita says it will use a grant received in
recognition of its business development to fast-track plans to link
the propolis science communities of Japan and New Zealand.
Milk drinks that contain non-esterified plant sterols can
significantly inhibit cholesterol absorption report researchers,
testing the efficacy of the cholesterol-lowering ingredient when
dissolved in milk.
Intensive marketing and increased health preoccupations could both
be responsible for the mounting consumer awareness of fatty acids
in Australia and New Zealand and the favourable perception of
polyunsaturated 'good' fats...
Preoperative administration of an immune-enhancing oral supplement
helps patients to fight off infections after operations, and spend
less time in hospital, concludes a study presented recently.
The trace element selenium may prove to be an important nutritional
supplement for preventing breast cancer if a person is genetically
predisposed to the disease, suggest researchers in the US.
Ireland's food safety authority has announced a recall of all
products made by Australian supplement maker Pan Pharmaceuticals
from the Irish market, following a major recall of Pan products in
its home market last month.
US plant extract company Unigen Pharmaceuticals has signed new
distribution agreements with six partners in Europe and Latin
America, expanding its sales presence in international markets.
A compound found in the root of the liquorice plant could be more
effective at treating the SARS virus than currently used drugs,
reported researchers from the Institute of Medical Virology at
Frankfurt University Medical School in...
The obesity epidemic affecting the UK's children needs to be
addressed by all sectors, urges a health specialist, or we could
soon see a dramatic rise in diabetes cases.
A meta-analysis of trials on antioxidant vitamins concludes that
they are not effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular
disease. The authors, writing in tomorrow's Lancet, even go
as far as warning that beta-carotene supplements...
The Enova brand cooking oil, produced jointly by ADM and Japan's
Kao, has been shown to increase the body's ability to burn fat and
may also improve appetite control and energy balance, according to
new research.
The herbal and pharmaceutical industries should invest more time
and resources in studying herb-drug interactions, suggest
researchers in the UK, who found 'a widespread lack of interest' in
this area from both industries...
Regulations to implement the provisions of the EU directive on food
supplements in England were laid before the UK parliament this
week. The UK is likely to see the removal of more supplements than
most other Member States.
The more nuts you eat, the lower your cholesterol, a new study
appears to suggest. Researchers at the Lorna Linda University in
California found that people who replaced 20 per cent of their
energy intake with almonds significantly...
The Danish Consumer Council has given a damning indictment of
Danisco's fat replacement product Salatrim, prompting the
ingredients group to issue a statement reiterating its confidence
in the product.
Two researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have received
awards for developing 'nanovehicles' to improve the delivery of
nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals into the body's blood stream and
tissues.
The World Health Organisation has set up an international
organisation which aims to reduce the crippling effects of poor
health around the world through fortifying foods with essential
nutrients like vitamin A and iron.
US company Martek Biosciences has been granted European novel food
status for its microalgae-derived DHA oil. The ingredient can now
be used in certain dairy products, cereals, supplements and medical
foods in the EU.
Finnish dairy company Valio has seen the launch of two infant
nutrition products this spring, both in Finland and abroad,
featuring the probiotic lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus
Gorbach & Goldin (LGG).
Swedish biotech company Probi has signed a licence agreement with
the Australian probiotics supplier Health World, giving the
Australian firm the right to market products containing one of
Probi's patented bacteria on the Australian...
Buckwheat should be considered as a health food, according to
researchers in Madrid, who found that the fibre has both prebiotic
and cholesterol-lowering properties.
A herb used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine could
treat some of the dementia resulting from stroke just as
effectively as conventional drugs prescribed for the condition,
suggests new research.
The Netherlands-based food group Royal Numico is to sell its US
vitamin manufacturer Rexall Sundown to rival NBTY for $250 million
(€213m) in cash, it said today.
German sweeteners firm Nutrinova reports on new research showing
how sweeteners used in hot drinks can alter the flavour profile.
The results allow the company to provide sweetener manufacturers
with useful guidance, it says.
Belgian supplier of prebiotic ingredients Orafti Active Food
Ingredients will hold its fourth research conference, 'Inulin and
Oligofructose: FeelGood Factors for Health and Well-being', in
Paris in February 2004.
