Vitamins & premixes

Brand new: Singapore postbiotic innovation, Australian coffee launch and Korea sachet expansion revealed

18-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at how brands from Singapore and Australia have formulated postbiotic supplements and coffee, as well as how a South Korean vitamin sachet brand is planning to expand its presence in South East Asia.

FDA’s takedown of NMN raises fairness, transparency concerns

15-Nov-2022 By Hank Schultz

NMN, an anti-aging ingredient, has been disallowed by FDA because of its prior investigation as a drug. The determination, which came as something of a surprise given the ingredient’s market history, has raised questions of fairness and transparency.

Seven up: Kerry reveals the top health and nutrition categories to grow ProActive Health business

15-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Kerry has identified seven health categories that it hopes to focus on for its ProActive Health ingredient business across Asia.

VITAMINSIGHTS

Getting it right: How policymakers and businesses design fortification programs and supplement products

09-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), and Tolerable Upper Intake Level (TUL) have been used by different health authorities to find out the appropriate nutrient intake.

Science shorts: Latest research news in vitamin D, probiotics, and longevity studies

04-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest research news in the study of vitamin D, probiotics, and healthy ageing.

Liquid goal: Korean vitamin sachet brand eyes expansion into South East Asia

03-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korean firm SuperNaturals is eyeing expansion in the tropical South East Asia region with its range of vitamin liquid sachet products.

Vitafoods Asia 2022

Data delivery: DSM’s new micronutrient database aims at cost-saving, more efficient NPD

02-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

DSM has developed a database that could identify the key micronutrient gaps in 11 markets across Asia-Pacific, and in turn, help health supplement brands and manufacturers design products to meet these needs.

Vitamin D supplementation unlikely to reduce incidence of cataract surgeries – Five-year RCT

27-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The oral supplementation of vitamin D among the elderly is unlikely to reduce the incidence of cataract surgeries, according to a five-year long RCT conducted in Australia.

Growth Asia Summit 2022

Longevity research funding boom: Prominent researcher on why healthspan should be the focus

26-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Prolonging health span – the number of years when one spent healthily – is the direction to work towards to when it comes to longevity research, a world-leading academic told our Growth Asia Summit.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2022

NMN combo: Award winner Vital Care addressing ageing through cellular rejuvenation and DNA repair

25-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The winner of NutraIngredients-Asia’s Women’s Health Innovation of the Year Award said it sought to address age-related issues by looking at cellular regeneration and DNA damage repair, on top of addressing common needs such as joints, skin, hair, and...

Veggies, vitamins, metal elements intake linked to HMOs production – Abbott funded study

24-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Breastfeeding mothers with a higher intake of vegetables, vitamins and metal elements produced more human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in their breast milk, according to an observational study funded by Abbott Nutrition R&D Center in Shanghai.

New in: Latest product launches from Fonterra, Meiji, Megmilk Snow Brand

05-Oct-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features the new product launches from nutrition firms across Asia-Pacific, including Fonterra’s supplement brand that focuses on cognitive performance, Meiji’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) for reducing belly fat, and more from Megmilk...

Science shorts: COVID-19 trial in India, defatted rice, berries for glucose control

30-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Read the latest scientific research on health and nutrition, including a new trial assessing the effects of vitamin D, zinc supplementation in COVID-19 patients, as well as the use of defatted rice and berries for glucose control.

Fonterra enters cognitive performance supplement market with new brand – WATCH

28-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra is diversifying its business with the launch of BioKodeLab – a supplement brand aimed at improving cognitive performance.

Under investigation: Vitamin D, zinc supplementation to be assessed among COVID patients in India

26-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A new trial in India is set to assess if vitamin D and zinc supplementation could be a safe, inexpensive and effective regimen when caring for COVID-19-positive patients.

Trend tracker: Growth opportunities in immunity, beauty, healthy ageing, and oral spray VMS

23-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Find out what’s trending in Asia-Pacific’s health and nutrition industry, especially in the areas of immunity, beauty, healthy ageing, as well as the growing interest in the novel vitamin and mineral oral spray sector.

Grave concern: Severe malnutrition rising in Afghan kids and mums – Kabul researchers

22-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Afghanistan continues to battle extreme stunting and maternal malnutrition, with a combination of economic, political and social factors creating a perfect storm that shows no signs of abating.

Insights for brands: Watsons China establishes new centre to gather consumer data

21-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Retailer Watsons China has established a brand centre which uses multiple offline plus online (O+O) touchpoints, such as its store outlets and Enterprise Wechat, to gather consumer insights for partnering health and nutrition brands.

Growing gains: Four key categories for growth highlighted by thriving Australian supplements sector

20-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Australian trade body Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) has identified four health areas, namely immunity, natural beauty, healthy ageing, and pet health as categories for growth opportunities.

Nutrition Asia

Seize the spray: Why oral spray vitamins are gaining traction across APAC – WATCH

19-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Oral spray vitamins and mineral supplements are gaining interest across Asia-Pacific markets beyond the novelty factor, due to the ease of convenience and efficacy that they can provide, according to two pioneering firms in the category.

Tapping potential: Indian nutra firm Diabliss to develop 10 new herbal water products

13-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Chennai-based nutraceutical and food firm Diabliss Consumer Products is developing another 10 herbal water supplements – on top of its five existing products – to tap the lucrative potential of the general wellness market in the country.

Science shorts: Novel botanical blend for fatty liver, COVID-19 adjuvant, mother-and-baby health

09-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Read the latest scientific research on health and nutrition, including the benefits of a novel botanical blend in improving fatty liver, the role of vitamin C, D in supporting COVID-19 treatment and more.

Vitamin D supplementation did not improve effects of antidepressant medication – 12-week RCT

07-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Supplementation with vitamin D does not improve the effects of antidepressant medication, specifically escitalopram, according to a 12-week RCT conducted in India.

Nature’s Way strikes first brick-and-mortar pharmacy deal in South Korea with Onnuri Pharmacy

07-Sep-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s Pharmacare Laboratories is growing the market presence of its dietary supplement brand Nature’s Way in South Korea via its first pharmacy deal with local chain Onnuri.

Winners revealed: Find out who took the top prizes at this year’s NutraIngredients Asia Awards!

06-Sep-2022 By Gary Scattergood

We have announced the winners of the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards for 2022.

More choices: Aussie plant-based formula brand Sprout Organic on packaging and NPD innovation – CEO interview

01-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Australia’s plant-based infant formula brand Sprout Organic aims to introduce new packaging sizes and widen its offerings in the infant formula and supplementary food categories for young children, according to its founder and CEO Selasi Berdie.

Export goals: Attention turns to new Asia markets and the US – BYHEALTH International

30-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

BYHEALTH International is seeking opportunities in more overseas markets, including South East Asia and the US.

Calcium, iron, zinc the most consumed minerals in Japan – Govt-funded survey

30-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Calcium, iron, zinc are the most consumed minerals in the form of supplements or fortified foods, an online survey funded by the Japanese government found.

Acquisition boost: McPherson’s reports strong growth for former Blackmores brand Fusion

29-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

ASX-listed Australian firm McPherson’s has reported almost 90 per cent annual growth in its health business in FY22, with the herbals brand Fusion – previously owned by Blackmores’ Global Therapeutics – performing particularly well.

Safety first: NMN, protein powder, product traceability round-up

24-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the initiatives put in place to safeguard supplements safety and quality across the APAC health and nutrition market, including the Chinese industry issuing self-regulating standards for controlling nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)...

Fermentation for ‘hibernation’: Infants more likely to sleep 10+ hours if mothers eat fermented foods during pregnancy

24-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Infants and toddlers are more likely to sleep 10 hours or more if their mothers consume fermented food when pregnant, according to a Japanese study on 64,200 pairs of mothers and children.

Potential COVID-19 adjuvant: Vitamin C, D supplementation could support COVID-19 treatment – Review

24-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The consumption of vitamin C and D supplements, in addition to a healthy diet, could be promoted as a co-adjuvant therapy for COVID-19, according to a team of international researchers.

New in: Product launches from Junlebao, MD Pharma, Nestle China

19-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up features the new product launches from nutrition firms across Asia-Pacific, including Chinese brand Junlebao’s lactoferrin infant formula, Singapore firm MD Pharma’s ‘faster-acting’ vitamin D, and new launches from Nestle China.

Quality control: Industry sets self-regulating standards to safeguard NMN quality in China

17-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

A group of companies making nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and industry big names such as hyaluronic acid specialist Bloomage Biotechnology have published a set of technical standards to safeguard the quality of NMN products sold in China.

New data: South Korea’s health functional food production value up nearly 20% last year

17-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s Health Functional Food (HFF) production value was up nearly 20 per cent in year 2021, latest data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) showed.

Welcome move: New Zealand health ministry plans to regulate supplements via self-assessment - Updated

17-Aug-2022 By By Tingmin Koe and Gary Scattergood

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health is intending to regulate natural health products via a self-assessment / declaration process, a move welcomed by the local industry body.

High hopes: China sales surge for NZ-manufactured kids supplement Healthy Heights

15-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Israel-based outfit Nutritional Growth Solutions (NGS) says China sales have grown 958% quarter-on-quarter for its New Zealand-manufactured paediatric supplement Healthy Heights, which is now set to launch in South Korea too.

Business round-up: Updates from Asmara, BYHEALTH, hy Co

12-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will look at business updates across APAC’s health and nutrition sector, including a potential MNC acquisition deal for Singapore functional food firm Asmara, financial results of China’s BYHEALTH in the first six months of this year, and...

Singapore firm MD Pharmaceuticals and DSM develop ‘faster-acting’ vitamin D supplement to boost immunity

09-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

MD Pharmaceuticals, a Singapore-based healthcare distributor and marketer, has developed a new vitamin D supplement with DSM, which is said to be faster acting for immune health.

Science shorts: Swisse’s krill oil, Amway's personalised nutrition RCT findings, India’s CBD research

05-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will feature scientific findings from big brand names, including Swisse and its study of krill oil supplementation on knee osteoarthritis, Amway’s personalised nutrition, and India’s national research agency’s plans for studying cannabidiol...

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in July

03-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

hy Co.'s (formerly Korea Yakult) clinical trial on how the supplementation of two Lactobacillus strains could alleviate obesity, Nestle Health Science's acquisition of GO Healthy, and the list of NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2022 finalists are...

‘Strong supporter’: Singapore industry body says voluntary notification initiative helpful for local, overseas consumers

02-Aug-2022 By Tingmin Koe

The Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore (HSIAS) has voiced its support for a newly introduced voluntary notification scheme, explaining that it could support the credential of locally made products in both domestic and overseas markets....

Exports threat: NZ industry body objects government’s recommendation to schedule levomefolate

26-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Trade body Natural Health Products New Zealand (NHPNZ) said it would object the government’s recommendation to schedule products containing over 500mcg of levomefolate as pharmacy-only products, explaining that this could hamper export opportunities.

Obese women with high intake of vitamin C and B6 associated with lower breast cancer risk – cohort study

26-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Obese women who took vitamin C and B6 at amounts that exceeded the recommended daily intake levels were associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, according to a five-year long South Korean cohort study.

Brand new: Amway’s traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing launch, Blackmores’ COVID-19 trial

22-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at the latest developments from big brand names, including Amway’s Nutrilite traceability program, Meiji’s healthy ageing product launch in Japan, and a clinical trial assessing Blackmores’ products in Singapore.

China’s health foods filing: Only two overseas firms received approval in first seven months of 2022 – new data

19-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s Healthy Care and Canada’s Jamieson Laboratories were the few overseas firms to receive China’s health foods filing approval in the first seven months of 2022, according to a new report.

India’s Mankind Pharma launches first multivitamins gummies for kids’ immune health

19-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

India’s pharmaceutical firm Mankind Pharma has launched its first set of multivitamin gummies for kids under the brand Health OK.

SEA focus: Blackmores and Singapore's COVID-19 study, Tipco on healthier beverages, Malaysia regulatory updates

15-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up on developments in Southeast Asia include Blackmore's largest ever single product donation for supporting a COVID-19 clinical research in Singapore, Tipco's assessment of the healthier beverages market, and Malaysian authority's...

Vitamin D may help reduce eczema in early infancy

12-Jul-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

Routine vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy can reduce incidence of atopic eczema in the first year of life, according to researchers at the University of Southampton.

Brand new: US formula shortage, Nestle Health Science’s acquisition, Regenosis in focus

12-Jul-2022 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up will look at developments of brands in the health and nutrition industry, including how brands such as Bubs Australia and Bellamy’s Organic have successfully gained access to the infant formula market in US, as well as Nestle Health Science’s...