Swiss pharmaceuticals group Roche warned that while work at its
vitamin C plants is proceeding as planned, short to mid-term supply
of the nutrient is expected to remain tight.
German company Natumi launches its So Well Tri-drink in the UK this
month. The new drink is fortified with calcium, is made from soya,
rice and oats and it is said to help prevent cardiovascular
disease.
A combination of B vitamins has been found to reduce the severity
of chronic pain in rats. The new research suggests that relief from
chronic pain, which affects millions every year, could be provided
in the form of vitamin tablets.
Adding flaxseed meal to the diet may help reduce high triglyceride
levels and build-up of fats in the liver, both risk factors for
heart disease and diabetes, report US researchers.
Norwegian firm Nutri Pharma says its soy product Abacor can
additionally lower cholesterol in patients already taking statins.
It suggests that Abacor can offer an alternative to higher statin
dosages.
Eating peanuts on a regular basis has already been shown to help
prevent cardiovascular disease. But a new study reveals that this
may not be entirely due to the high fatty acid content of the nuts.
German pharmaceutical and ingredients group Boehringer Ingelheim
reported a healthy rise in profits for 2002 this week, with
directors describing its current status as "extremely sound and
robust".
New findings suggest that a diet moderately high in grape seed
extract can blunt salt-sensitive hypertension to the same extent as
previous, potentially carcinogenic, treatments. A discovery which
may be significant for the increasing...
The Irish food board held a seminar last month to identify
opportunities for food companies seeking a bigger role in the €40
billion functional foods market.
Health conscious consumers are being misled by supermarkets
capitalising on increasing interest in 'healthy' eating options,
according to a British consumer association.
Phytosterol-enriched margarines, known to significantly lower total
and LDL cholesterol, may also be able to reduce the risk of heart
disease in people with type 2 diabetes, report German researchers.
Researchers have expressed the need for long-term studies on the
effects of low-carbohydrate diets, especially to assess the impact
of the diet on people over 50 years old.
DSM Food Specialties will be presenting its second generation Lafti
probiotic strains, formulated for use in dietary supplements, at
the forthcoming Vitafoods show in Geneva.
Degussa BioActives is to collaborate on a research project with
Belgian company Galapagos Genomics to identify nutraceuticals
beneficial in joint health management.
The efficacy of individual herbs and supplements to help glucose
control in diabetics is still unproven, suggest researchers
compiling a review of all published studies. American ginseng and
Coccinia indica seem to show positive potential...
The Sikh population could significantly reduce their risk of heart
disease by increasing their consumption of oily fish and as such
their levels of beneficial fish oil fatty acids, suggests new
research from the FSA.
With cancer rates expected to rise 50 per cent to 15 million by
2020, a WHO report suggests that if governments act now, there are
several ways to reduce these rates - especially through diet.
The International Alliance of Dietary Supplement Associations
(IADSA) is holding a conference in Brazil to help establish a set
of regulations for food supplements in the Latin America region.
A correlation between high fruit and fruit drink consumption and
risk of Parkinson's disease has been found by researchers in
Honolulu, believed to be due to plant borne toxins, pesticides or
herbicides.
Soy ingredients company Solbar Industries is to launch soy isolates
in September this year as part of its strategy to offer a full
range of soy proteins.
Vitamin E and C supplements may have a positive effect on cognitive
function in older women due to their antioxidative effects, suggest
Harvard researchers.
The UK's Food Standards Agency is to increase its focus on diet and
health, surveying the use of health claims, and campaigning to
reduce salt in processed foods.
The latest news from the build-up to Vitafoods, taking place in
Geneva in May - Cognis Nutrition & Health is executive sponsor
for the show, and Loders Croklaan Lipid Nutrition will present new
research on CLA.
Giving children combined iron-zinc supplements may be less
effective in preventing deficiencies of the minerals than
individual supplementation, find researchers.
Swedish dairy company Skånemejerier has launched a probiotic
supplement under its ProViva brand. The 'shot', which is a
concentrated form of the ProViva fruit drink, contains around 250
million beneficial bacteria per ml...
International scientists, gathering to discuss the growing body of
research on lycopene at a US conference this week, revealed a new
study suggesting the antioxidant may help male infertility.
While the media is increasingly focusing on childhood obesity and
nutrition, a new study suggests that elderly people who eat more
cereal-based foods are less likely to develop heart disease.
Shareholders at Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche welcomed the
start of a new era as the company summarised recent events,
including the divestment of the vitamins business, at its annual
general meeting yesterday.
Simple folic acid-iron supplements taken during pregnancy may be
more effective than multiple vitamins in reducing the risk of low
birth weight babies, according to a US study.
Eating broccoli along with chicken gives us double protection
against cancer, say researchers at the UK's Institute of Food
Research. Combining sulforaphane, found in many dark green
vegetables, and selenium-rich foods could...
Archer Daniels Midland, the giant US agricultural products
processor, has extended its international alliance with
Nutraceutix, a manufacturer of controlled delivery technology for
the pharmaceutical industry.
Vitamin C may be more than a powerful antioxidant and key nutrient
- researchers report that it helped convert lab-based mouse stem
cells into heart muscle cells. This raises questions about the role
of the vitamin in embryo heart...
Unilever brand Flora pro.activ is backing a heart health initiative
organised by the Women's Institute in the UK, with major
sponsorship, promotions and educational programmes.
A French bakery is expanding distribution of a special bread that
can apparently help the slimming process. The Régente baguette
contains a marine algae compound that speeds up fat breakdown.
University of Edinburgh researchers are further investigating the
link between a higher fish oil intake and improved heart health.
The team will study the effects of both supplements and eating more
fish.
Green tea, the beverage linked to an increasing number of health
benefits, may also be able to prevent the onset of arthritis,
according to a UK researcher.
US researchers, trying to understand why vitamin A helps fight
certain diseases and not others, say that the vitamin influences
the types and amounts of immune cells and molecules produced in
response to attack.
Researchers say they have completed the genome sequence of one of
the most prevalent bacteria that live in the human intestine,
increasing the potential for new natural products.
UK bakers Warburtons is targeting pregnant women with the launch of
its 'Good Health Loaf for Women' fortified with various vitamins
and omega-3 DHA, as part of its Good Health range.
Current recommendations for infant nutrition may need to be
reviewed if early findings suggesting a link between lower nutrient
intake and better cardiovascular health later in life are
confirmed, say UK scientists.
Linnea, the Swiss manufacturer and distributor of botanical
extracts for the dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and cosmetics
industries, has extended the range of products available to
customers in the US.
Researchers from biopharmaceutical company Zengen announced this
week that supplements of a naturally occurring hormone may be able
to help patients with brain injury.
