The top five APAC research stories of 2016, featuring tea, TCM, astaxanthin, vitamins and Himalayan fruits
Here at NutraIngredients-Asia we strive to bring you the latest research from the across the region, before anyone else.
We report on a vast range of functional food, supplement and nutrition studies, from the potential benefits of little-known fruits in remote regions, to a new wave of studies seeking to establish solid scientific principles behind centuries’ old Traditional Chinese Medicine.
These, however, are the top five stories that created the most interest from readers and subscribers in 2016.
1) Fermented tea could help protect the liver from high-fat diet damage
Water extracts of a fermented tea, known as Pu-erh tea, could help to reduce oxidative stress and protect the liver against damage caused by a high fat diet, research in rats has found.
The study, published in Food Science and Human Wellness, investigated the potential of the polyphenol and theabrownin-rich fermented tea to protect the liver after previous studies linked the tea to a raft of health benefits.
2) Revealed: How Traditional Chinese Medicine plant compounds kill cancer cells
A complex mix of plant compounds derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine works to kill cancer cells, and researchers from Australia have shown how.
Compound kushen injection (CKI) is approved for use in China to treat various cancer tumours, usually as an adjunct to western chemotherapy – but how it works has not been known until now.
3) High vitamin and mineral consumption linked to delayed biological ageing: 10-year study
High consumption of vitamin and mineral-rich foods throughout early adulthood could help delay the biological process of ageing, according to new data from South Korea.
The study, which followed the ageing process of nearly 2,000 middle-aged and older adults for ten years, found that consumption of micronutrients including vitamin C, folate and potassium was associated with delayed biological ageing.
4) New study shows astaxanthin is effective against daily mental and physical fatigue
Japanese nutraceutical firm AstaReal says its astaxanthin has been found to be simultaneously effective against both mental and physical fatigue in a new published study.
The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Therapeutics & Medicines, states that individuals were treated with AstaReal astaxanthin for eight weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
5) Wild Himalayan fruits provide nutritional and nutraceutical opportunities: Study
A study of wild edible fruits found in the Himalayas indicates they are a rich source of antioxidants, with researchers concluding they can help meet the nutritional needs of the local population and play a crucial role in nutraceutical development.
Researchers at the National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development in Uttarakhand, India, said they had noted a lack of detailed studies of the health-promoting bioactive compounds and antioxidants in Himalayan wild edible fruits.
Check out our top seven food an nutrition trends stories of 2016, here.
Next up: The top food and nutrition business stories of 2016.
