Dosage forms & delivery formats

How transparent is the EU when it comes to supplement scares?

17-Sep-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Europe has various measures in place to report risky supplements – but it’s questionable if these warnings ever make it outside the closed circuit of national authorities. This lack of complete information is to the detriment of both consumer safety and...

Future fortified: Global summit calls for universal food fortification to combat ‘hidden hunger’

16-Sep-2015 By Shane STARLING

International governments and health and nutrition stakeholders have backed universal food fortification to combat undernutrition and malnutrition that affects about two billion people worldwide.

ESSNA: “Thousands of people engaging in sport and activity at all levels use and benefit from legal sports nutrition products."

Euro sports nutrition sector: Supplements no gateway to doping

16-Sep-2015 By Shane STARLING

Consuming sports supplements is not a step on the slippery slope to doping, the European sports nutrition sector has said in response to a US sports coach turned whistle blower who questioned their use.

Supersonic spray will transform bioavailability, says BASF

15-Sep-2015 By Fiona BARRY

BASF is developing extra-soluble nanoparticles for better drug delivery using faster-than-sound technology.

ESSNA: Specific sports food laws would ‘hurt rather than help’ in Europe

15-Sep-2015 By Shane STARLING

Europe’s peak sports nutrition trade group has affirmed broad support for better and more relevant sports food, drink and supplement regulation across Europe, but emphasised not all parties agree on how to get there.

Recalls for ‘supplement’ with hidden Viagra API

15-Sep-2015 By Fiona BARRY

A Florida company is recalling 26 sexual enhancement and diet pills after the US FDA discovered some contain undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

Calls mount to evolve EU sports foods regulations

14-Sep-2015 By Shane STARLING

European food bodies have reiterated calls to better regulate the sports food, drink and supplement category to ease uncertainty and inconsistency across the EU’s 28 member states – and boost innovation.

EU grants cardiovascular research €3m; vitamin K player involved

11-Sep-2015

A cardiovascular industry-academia research network has won €3m in European Union funding with Norwegian member NattoPharma  highlighting its importance to vitamin K study.

Kaneka gains EU novel food extension for liquorice extract

11-Sep-2015 By Eliot Beer

Japanese supplier Kaneka has secured an extension for the Novel Food status of its liquorice extract Glavonoid, which is now approved for use in medical foods and energy-restricted diets.

IBS health claims approval

11-Sep-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Lesaffre Human Care, the northern France-headquartered manufacturer of bacteria-based health ingredients, has received health claims approval from the Canadian Health Authorities (CHA) for its product Ibsium, which helps to relieve the symptoms associated...

Myprotein gains BRC accreditation, plans expansion

09-Sep-2015 By Eliot Beer

UK-based sports nutrition specialist Myprotein has secured BRC accreditation for its products, as it steps up its international expansion plans to add four new markets by the end of the year.

Omega-3s and cognition: dosage matters!

07-Sep-2015 By Adam Ismail

Yet another study questioning omega-3 efficacy has been picked up by the mainstream press. Why finger the nutrient when the dosage is all wrong? argues Adam Ismail, executive director of the Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), in this...

Onion extracts lower blood pressure for hypertensives: study

07-Sep-2015 By Eliot Beer

Taking onion skin-derived food supplements of the flavonol quercetin can lower blood pressure for people with hypertension, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Botanicals giant refines fruit & veg extracts range for food supplements

04-Sep-2015 By Shane STARLING

French botanicals leader Naturex has emphasised its ambition to be the “world leader in the specialty fruit & vegetable category” by launching an extract range targeting food supplements including gummies.

Lactating women should restrict flaxseed intake: Researchers

04-Sep-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Flaxseed intake during lactation should be limited as it may change maternal adrenal function, research in rats has suggested. 

Arla's protein-rich cake formula takes advantage of snackification trend

04-Sep-2015 By Hal Conick

Arla Foods Ingredients is showcasing a new high-protein ingredient for cake mixes that the company hopes can take advantage of the 'snackification' trend.

‘Crowdfunding Jedi’ takes on Soylent with Ambronite, the ‘world's first organic drinkable supermeal’

04-Sep-2015 By Elaine Watson

Food is fun, says the self-described ‘serial optimist’ and ‘crowdfunding Jedi’ behind 500-calorie vegan ‘drinkable supermeal’ Ambronite. But not every eating occasion can be an epic, Mediterranean-style gathering fueled by wine and great conversation,...

Just one coffee affects glucose metabolism in overweight men: Study

03-Sep-2015 By Shane STARLING

Just one cup of coffee is enough to impair glucose metabolism, which can contribute to overweight and obesity, research has found.

Up fibre intake to lower blood pressure: 2000-strong study

03-Sep-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Higher intakes of fibre may contribute to lower blood pressure, say researchers.

Unilever wins right to say pro.activ cholesterol spread doesn't cause side effects

02-Sep-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A German court has dismissed campaign group FoodWatch’s law suit against Unilever’s cholesterol-lowering spread pro.activ – but FoodWatch continues its assault by urging the European Commission to retract its novel food approval.

Elderberry extract may improve obesity inflammation

01-Sep-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Black elderberry extract may improve obesity-related metabolic disturbances like triglyceride (TAG) levels, inflammation and insulin resistance, research in mice finds.

Vitamin K level not Vitamin E could be to blame for cancer links: Symposium

01-Sep-2015 By Shane STARLING in Stuttgart, Germany

Diminished levels of vitamin K forms - not high levels of vitamin E - could be the key factor in prostate cancer links, a Stuttgart symposium has heard today.

Vitamin D increases muscle strength: Review

01-Sep-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Vitamin D supplementation significantly increases upper and lower limb strength, a review of seven trials has found.

EU folate fortification failure caused 8,400 neural tube defects in 11 years

31-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Europe is facing an “epidemic” of folic acid-preventable neural tube defects (NTD) spina bifida and anencephaly, researchers have said.

‘Incubator’ steps aside as Danish probiotic start-up seizes control

31-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

After a few years of rapid growth the part owners of nascent Danish probiotics specialist Biocare Copenhagen have bought out the private and public investors that birthed it in 2012 for an undisclosed sum.

Vitamin D cuts asthma exacerbation by 74% in children: Review

28-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Vitamin D supplementation may cut the risk of asthma exacerbation in children but it does not impact respiratory infections in healthy children, a review has found.

All eyes on supplement sold with 77 x recommended vitamin E

27-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Luxembourg’s ministry of health has warned consumers not to buy a product containing 77 times the recommended daily dose of vitamin E.

Low vitamin D linked to schizophrenic brain dysfunction

27-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to the dysfunction of the hippocampus – a region of the brain thought to play a role in schizophrenia, say researchers.

DSM files patent for ‘snail fever’ fighting omega-6

26-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

DSM has filed an international patent for a product it says could prevent or treat the parasitic condition schistosomiais.

Should probiotics star in Helicobacter pylori therapy?

25-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

There are some promising results but no firm conclusions when it comes to using probiotics against the stomach germ Helicobacter pylori, a review finds.

Fennel supplements – why do Europeans take them and are they safe?

25-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Fennel may be the sixth most consumed botanical in some European countries, but little is known about its safety or rate of consumption, say PlantLIBRA researchers looking at it for the first time.

Smart water bottle company Hidrate gets huge launch from Kickstarter

24-Aug-2015 By Hal Conick

After successfully raising $627,644 from 8,015 supporters via Kickstarter, Minneapolis-based Hidrate Inc will launch its HidrateMe smart water bottle product in December.

The link between psychosis and malnutrition

24-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

First-time psychosis sufferers are far more likely to be deficient in micronutrients and protein than the general population – and more intervention studies are needed to explore strategies against this, say UK researchers.

'No further' takeover talks with Dean Foods and Freedom Foods: a2 Milk Company

21-Aug-2015 By Mark ASTLEY

The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) has had "no further communication" with Dean Foods and Freedom Foods since it rejected the takeover bid tabled by the pair.

Early lutein doesn’t impact kids’ diabetes, heart disease, stroke risk: 2000-strong 5-year study

20-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Taking lutein at 13 months of age does not benefit the child’s cardiometabolic health at six, say researchers.

Insect oil: Bugs aren’t just about protein

19-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Is it time to look beyond insect protein to… insect oil? This is the next opportunity within edible bugs, says researcher.

Will novel konjac-combo weight loss ingredient hit EU market?

19-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

US nutraceutical supplier InovoBiologic has applied for EU novel food approval for its proprietary mix of konjac, sodium alginate and xanthan gum for weight loss.

Brain boosting bioactives, Part 1: From omega-3 to vitamin E

19-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Memory, attention and focus, development, mood; there are numerous ways that a nutrient or ingredient can affect cognitive health. But which have the most science, how do they work, and how are they performing in the market?

Energy drinks up swimmer performance: Research

18-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Moderate caffeine consumption may help athletes improve performance, finds research with swimmers.

261% in 124g: New sweet potatoes new answer to ‘rampant’ vitamin A deficiency

17-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

South African researchers have created new beta carotene- rich sweet potatoes that could offer a solution to rampant vitamin A deficiency.

High fat diet in middle age could raise later malnutrition risk

17-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A high energy intake from total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat in middle and older age increases the risk of malnutrition ten years later, say Swedish researchers.

Swiss herb player reaping benefits of eastern Europe expansion

14-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

Swiss botanicals player Frutarom is pushing hard into botanical medicines and supplements markets in the EU, with pharma-grade extracts produced at its recently acquired Slovenian facility.

Protein-packed breakfast prevents body fat gain in overweight teens

14-Aug-2015 By Nathan Gray

A high-protein breakfast could help prevent further gains in body fat and might also reduce calorie intakes and improve blood sugar management, according to research in overweight teenagers.

What degree of evidence is required to make an EU health claim?

14-Aug-2015 By Dr Christiane Alexander

Eight years after the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) came into force the question of how to win a health claim is still not satisfactorily answered in the eyes of many food operators.

Cholesterolimbroglio: Inside an EU claims mess

13-Aug-2015 By Bert Schwitters

On September 1 a Hamburg court will on the case brought by FoodWatch against Unilever over marketing for its cholesterol-lowering margarine Becel pro.activ.

Calcium & magnesium reduce risk of metabolic syndrome: 9000-strong study

13-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Calcium and magnesium may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome – but men need above and beyond recommended levels for this effect, say researchers.

Probiotics won’t help you lose weight, say researchers

12-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotics are not effective for weight loss, say researchers behind a review of current data.

Sky pro cycling hand safe supplements yellow jersey to Guernsey firm

11-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

Sky Pro Cycling – the Rupert Murdoch-backed team that won the Tour de France yellow jersey with British rider Chris Froome last month – has inked a deal with UK food supplements firm, Healthspan Elite.

What’s the evidence for probiotics and liver diseases?

11-Aug-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

There is growing evidence that probiotics are a useful tool against liver diseases but blind spots remain, according to a review.

Competition remains fierce in cholesterol-lowering niche

Benecol buy-back boosts Raisio Q2 results

11-Aug-2015 By Shane STARLING

Sales and profits were up in Q2 at Raisio, with CEO of the €500m Finnish agro-food player Matti Rihko content its re-housing of key brand Benecol was paying off.