Gut/digestive health

South Korea’s NVP Healthcare banks on gut-liver probiotic for global growth

08-May-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

South Korean biohealth company NVP Healthcare is pending a European patent for its probiotic complex that claims to improve both intestinal health and liver function, in hopes that it would pave the way for global expansion.

'High base' impact: BYHEALTH’s Q1 sales suffer from lower demand for immune health products

06-May-2024 By Tingmin Koe

China dietary supplement giant BYHEALTH reported a nearly 15 per cent slide in its Q1 revenue, which was mainly due to the reduced demand for immune health products as compared to the same time last year.

Science shorts: Benefits of EPA for migraine, vitamin D in reducing menstrual pain and more

03-May-2024 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research on the benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in reducing migraine frequency, the use of caffeine in enhancing sports performance among female athletes, vitamin D for reducing menstrual...

Nestle taps into Dr. Reddy’s nutra distribution network to boost India reach

01-May-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Nestle India is forming a joint venture with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to boost the reach of its nutraceutical products, such as Nature’s Bounty and Optifast, across India.

Sugarcane fix: Revolutionary remote trial to explore health benefits of polyphenols in plant extract

23-Apr-2024 By Audrey Yow

Researchers at Deakin University Australia are planning a fully remote trial to investigate the health beneficial properties of polyphenols in sugarcane extract and their potential to improve gut, heart and mental health.

Mānuka honey helps reduce functional dyspepsia symptoms – Comvita study

22-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of mānuka honey has been shown to reduce symptoms of functional dyspepsia, New Zealand-based mānuka honey maker Comvita announced.

CJ Olive Young launches in-app feature Health+ to cater to rising consumer interest in wellness and personalisation

09-Apr-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Korean health and beauty retailer CJ Olive Young is launching Health+, a wellness-focused feature within its mobile app, to strengthen product curation and offer customised recommendations.

VitamINSIGHTS

Vietnam nutra market: Bone, cognition health trending, with botanicals and traditional formats popular – Exclusive insights

03-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Bone and cognitive health needs are cited as the trending nutraceutical categories in Vietnam, but companies should keep in mind how the market is still heavily rooted in herbal formulations with a preference for basic dosage formats, despite its rapid...

Pricing in trouble: Fonterra predicts volatile year ahead despite stellar China and consumer products performances

03-Apr-2024 By Pearly Neo

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has predicted a volatile year ahead despite stellar performances from its China business and consumer product portfolios in the first half of the year, especially with milk prices expected to rise in the next few months.

BYHEALTH reports nearly 20% revenue growth in FY23 led by protein, probiotics powder sales

25-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

China’s dietary supplement giant BYHEALTH has reported strong revenue growth for its business last year, with operating revenue increasing by nearly 20 per cent led by demand for its protein and probiotics powder supplements.

Morinaga introduces new multifunctional FFCs targeting bone and gut health, fatigue-relief amid growing demand

19-Mar-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Morinaga Milk is slated to roll out several new Foods with Function Claims (FFCs) that target the major health concerns of Japanese consumers and to meet the increasing demand for multifunctional products.

Trend tracker: Nutra sales on TikTok Shop Indonesia, creatine boom in India, probiotics for sports

08-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Here is the round-up of the latest nutraceutical trends in Asia-Pacific, including how the sales of dietary supplements in the re-opened TikTok Shop Indonesia have yet to recover to pre-closure levels, the never-before-seen demand for creatine in India,...

Probiotics database in demand among Singapore healthcare practitioners, says new research

06-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

A comprehensive probiotics database is being sought by healthcare practitioners in Singapore, on the back of greater use and enquiries on such products from the public, according to new research.

Brand new: Kao, Bayer Consumer Health, Tummy Buddies in the spotlight

01-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including Kao’s transfer of its functional beverage brand Healthya to Kirin, Bayer Consumer Health’s insights on market opportunities for prenatal to infant nutrition in...

Portfolio revision: Kao transfers functional beverage brand to Kirin to focus on ‘core businesses’

28-Feb-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Kao Corporation has entered into an agreement with Kirin Beverage Company Limited for the transfer of Healthya, a functional tea-catechin beverage brand, to focus its resources on other business areas to achieve its targets for FY2027.

Buddy up: Synbiotic flavoured water from Aussie start-up seeks to address lack of gut health products for toddlers

27-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Tummy Buddies, a start-up from Australia, has created a range of synbiotics flavoured water designed to address what it perceives as a lack of gut health products for toddlers.

Science shorts: Kewpie, Asahi, Glac Biotech on new findings for hyaluronic acid, pre/probiotics

23-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research from Kewpie, Asahi, Glac Biotech and more, including how hyaluronic acid supplementation could help older adults maintain their knees in “healthy condition”, the role of pre/probiotics for...

Probiotics increase stool frequency in adults suffering from constipation – meta-analysis

20-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Probiotic supplementation has been shown to increase stool frequency in adults suffering from constipation, new findings from a meta-analysis conducted by Chinese researchers have shown.

Multi-strain probiotics show potential to slow progression and improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease – Glac Biotech-funded RCT

12-Feb-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Multi-strain probiotics supplementation has been found to have positive effects on neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress and inflammation, which play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to Taiwan researchers.

Probiotics in Asia: Bloating from dietary habits, women’s health top reasons for supplementation – Life-Space

12-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Bloating arising from dietary habits and women’s health are the top reasons for probiotic supplementation in Asian countries, according Life-Space.

‘Quality over quantity’: Nutrition consumers prioritising value and efficacy – Nutiani data

07-Feb-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Consumers coping with rising costs of living are showing a distinct preference for value-for-money products that not only come with an accessible price tag, but are also backed by science and multifunctional, according to latest data from Fonterra-owned...

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in January 2024

06-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

From Amway's regenerative agriculture initiative to our analyses on emerging nutrition markets in APAC and nutraceutical trends for this year, here are the most-read stories on NutraIngredients-Asia in January 2024.

Google Trends shows Australia tops global searches for gut microbiome, gut probiotics

06-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

An analysis of Google Trends has found that Australia has the highest number of searches for the terms “gut microbiome”, “gut probiotics”, and “dysbiosis” globally, signifying the country’s interest in this category.

Behind the Big Story

How Haleon will meet innovation goals: Deep human understanding, trusted science, partnerships key – WATCH

31-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

A deep understanding of human biology, tapping on trusted science and key partnerships with researchers, start-ups and suppliers are key in achieving new breakthroughs in nutraceuticals innovation, Haleon’s chief of R&D told NutraIngredients-Asia...

Yeast-derived prebiotic could enhance gut motility and sleep quality – Asahi-funded study

31-Jan-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Dietary supplementation of yeast mannan (YM) as a prebiotic could boost gut motility, improve constipation symptoms, and contribute to better sleep quality, say Japanese researchers.

The “biotics” round-up: Plans for postbiotics standards in China, calls to regulate probiotics in Hong Kong and more

26-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest happenings in the booming “biotics” sectors spanning from pre-, pro-, and postbiotics across Asia-Pacific. The latest updates include China industry association’s plans for postbiotics quantification standards, Hong Kong...

Kyowa Hakko Bio partners with A*STAR to unlock ‘full potential’ of HMOs beyond infant health

24-Jan-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Kirin-owned Kyowa Hakko Bio will be collaborating with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore to advance research on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and explore their potential applications, particularly in the areas...

Postbiotics quantification: China health foods association rallies firms to draft industry standards

24-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

China Nutrition and Health Food Association (CNHFA) has decided to draft industry standards for quantifying postbiotics or inactivated cells and is rallying industry players and the public to take part in the drafting process.

Nurture to expand its Digestion + probiotic drink range as it set sights on South East Asia

23-Jan-2024 By Hazel Tang

Fonterra brand Nurture plans to expand its powdered probiotic drink range to target stress-relief and skin health this year.

Supplement distributor Sainhall Nutrihealth expands into consumer product space

17-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Sainhall Nutrihealth, a Singapore company distributing functional ingredients and health supplements for nearly 30 years, has expanded into the finished product space.

Probiotic regulation call: Hong Kong Consumer Council urges government to set up legislation to oversee category

17-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The Hong Kong Consumer Council is urging the government to set up legislation to regulate dietary supplements, including probiotics, the Council announced when releasing the findings of its review of 40 commercially available probiotics products.

HMOs update: FSANZ approves dsm-firmenich’s 2’-FL and three other HMOs for use in infant formulas

17-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved dsm-firmenich’s four human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), including the mixture of 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) and difucosyllactose (DFL), for use in infant formula products.

Growth Asia Summit 2024: Danone, PepsiCo, BYHEALTH, Mondelez among first wave of keynote speakers

16-Jan-2024 By Gary Scattergood

Industry experts from major players Danone, PepsiCo, BYHEALTH and Mondelez are among the first wave of keynote speakers confirmed for our Growth Asia Summit 2024.

Comvita studying Mānuka honey’s benefits on digestive health among functional dyspepsia patients

10-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Comvita is studying the benefits of Mānuka honey on digestive health, after discovering a unique compound that could inhibit an enzyme matrix associated with various digestive inflammatory conditions.

Trending this year: Five nutra developments not to be missed for 2024

09-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

As we step into 2024, we dive into the five key trends that health and nutrition brands believe will dominate the sector in Asia-Pacific this year, spanning categories such as metabolic health, immunity, skin health, gut microbiome, and mobility.

Growth Asia Summit 2024: Our flagship summit returns to Singapore in July – delegate registration now open!

08-Jan-2024 By Gary Scattergood

After a hugely successful second event in 2023, our Growth Asia Summit returns for 2024 with a new July date and an agenda packed with the latest food, beverage and nutrition growth opportunities.

Science shorts: Benefits of synbiotics, plant-based diets and kale for obesity, GDM, and constipation

05-Jan-2024 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research, including the role of L-carnitine and synbiotic supplementation in improving lipid and glycaemic indices in obese women, how early-life exposure to the Great Chinese Famine is linked to...

Early-life exposure to Great Chinese Famine linked to gut microbiome disruption, greater type 2 diabetes risk: Cohort study

03-Jan-2024 By Cheryl Marie Tay

Individuals who experienced early-life exposure to the Great Chinese Famine are more likely to suffer from gut microbiome disruption and face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, say Chinese researchers.

Moo-ving forward: Nuchev launches its first bovine product targeting school-going children and adults

03-Jan-2024 By Hazel Tang

Australian infant goat milk formula specialist Nuchev is launching its first bovine product for older children and adults as it looks to introduce a series of products aimed at enhancing digestion and immunity over the next 12 months.

Kale consumption significantly improves bowel movement and alters certain gut microbes – Japan RCT

02-Jan-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

The intake of kale has been found to modify the gut microbiota and increase defecation frequency, especially among those with low stool amounts, say Japanese researchers.

Probiotic supplementation could lower inflammatory markers and improve liver function in cirrhosis patients

18-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

Modulation of the gut microbiome via probiotics could enhance the clinical outcomes of cirrhosis patients by reducing inflammatory factors, according to a new meta-analysis.

Vitafoods Asia 2023

Sports and gut health: Fermented whey protein, synbiotic blend could help tackle widespread problems

13-Dec-2023 By Tingmin Koe

There is a widespread, unmet demand for products to support gut health among athletes and active lifestyle consumers, with almost nine out of 10 sports people suffering from gut problems.

Ginger supplementation improves GI symptoms in RRMS patients – new trial

12-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

Consumption of ginger supplementation can alleviate constipation, nausea, bloating, and abdominal pain in patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), according to a new trial.

Long-term consumption of whole eggs escalates growth and may boost microbiome in youngsters – Thai trial

06-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

School going children who ate 10 additional eggs per week had higher growth hormone levels, and consumption may also lead to benefits for the gut microbiota, according to a Thai trial.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023

Metabolic and maternal mission: Our Start-up of the Year winner on functional foods knowledge plan

29-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Of Dreams & Knowledge (Asia), a functional food firm which won the start-up category at the recent NutraIngredients-Asia Awards, is seeking to drive consumer awareness of its products by looking more deeply into metabolic and maternal health concerns.

Self-care solutions: Haleon to focus on personalised healthy ageing and gut microbiome products

28-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Haleon is aiming to develop personalised self-care solutions, including health supplements and digital wearables, for supporting areas such as healthy ageing, cognitive health, women’s health, gut microbiome, and general wellbeing.

Kickstarting kale: Chinese trend for ‘punk nutrition’ lifestyle opens major functional food innovation opportunities

28-Nov-2023 By Pearly Neo

Chinese consumers’ increasing demands for functional and fortified foods and beverages to support a lifestyle based on ‘punk nutrition’ has opened up massive innovation opportunities for brands across various product categories.

China’s health food imports: Indonesia in the top five exporters as edible bird’s nest popularity spikes

27-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Indonesia was one of top five health food exporters of health foods to China last year, and has continued to surpass even Japan, with edible bird’s nest making up the bulk of the South East Asian country’s export.

Nutrition Asia Video Series

From mass customisation to individualisation: How automation, supply chain management, 3D printing can drive personalised nutrition forward

22-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Personalised nutrition could progress from mass customisation to full personalisation as companies leverage on factory automation, supply chain management, and 3D printing to increase the efficiency of providing customised products.