There are vast R&D opportunities in the botanical health supplements and therapeutics sector across Malaysia, where there is already a pool of over 3,000 known medicinal plants to be tapped on, says the CEO of local biopharma firm Medika Natura.
Singapore beverage giants Yeo’s and F&N’s NutriSoy have both launched new fortified soya milk innovations in a bid to tap on surging consumer health trends.
Singaporean supplements firm Sainhall is making a comeback venture into the healthy snacking category with its DeeFruit fruit snacks range, looking to tap on the rising demands for convenience and wellness in the region.
The introduction of a new ‘modern claims’ system in Malaysia has been welcomed by industry players as it could drive more clinical research, expand new product options for consumers, and open local and international market opportunities.
A new formula combining vitamin K2 and red yeast rice extract from SunWay Biotech and Gnosis by Lesaffre is being pitched as ‘pivotal chance’ to boost cardiometabolic health in Asia.
In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across APAC, including South Korea's plans in implementing a customised health functional food system following the success of a four-year pilot program,...
Singapore-based firm Nutricode has developed an AI-backed personalised nutrition platform to close the gap between complex scientific data and layman understanding, with the aim of helping consumers make better supplement choices.
Vietnam has completed and recently launched its new digital food safety management system which was developed in partnership with South Korea, with a particular focus on food poisoning outbreak monitoring across the country.
Elivity, a new longevity supplement brand, has made its debut in Singapore and it aims to move Asia’s understanding of the category beyond the use of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).
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...
Nin Jiom, the Hong Kong-based company known for its cough syrup product Pei Pa Koa, is venturing into the healthy ageing supplement space with a NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) product set to launch in Singapore.
Trigonelline, an alkaloid found in plants and animals, is found to be closely linked to muscle health, with low serum levels reported in seniors suffering from sarcopenia, new findings from a Nestle-funded study have shown.
The ASEAN Alliance of Health Supplement Associations (AAHSA) is planning to run a study that looks at the potential health care cost savings coming from the use of specific dietary supplements, such as omega-3, vitamin D, probiotics, and magnesium.
Green tea intake does not appear to reduce the risk of lung cancer, but researchers say more investigations are needed to understand the potential health benefits of its bioactive compounds.
Members of the Philippines government are calling for regulations that would officially ban manufacturers from using added sugar as an ingredient in foods for young children aged three and below.
The testing of 18 commercially available NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) supplements sold in Singapore found that most products did not meet label claims, and researchers have called for industry-wide effort in resolving the issue.
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.
Consuming meals prepared using extra virgin olive oil for 12 weeks has showed benefits for cardiometabolic health in individuals with central obesity, such as a reduction in bad cholesterol and the inflammatory marker hs-CRP.
The intake of specific dietary nutrients has been linked with a reduced risk of dry eye syndrome (DES) among Korean women aged 40 and above, according to a new study.
A Thai study has found that multispecies probiotic supplementation is protective against postmenopausal bone loss and that its potential as an adjunct treatment for osteoporosis should be further explored.
Convenience chain 7-Eleven Singapore has included local dietary supplement brand Ocean Health’s products, including gummies and fast melt powder, into its offerings.
Indonesia’s dietary supplement market is still at a nascent stage as compared to several other South East Asian (SEA) neighbours, but industry players are seeing opportunities in attracting new consumers by introducing products in lifestyle formats, tapping...
Thailand is the latest market in South East Asia to implement new nutritional labelling policies for the food industry, with the authorities also issuing more stringent ‘science-based’ guidelines for on-pack health claims.
Researchers claim the presence of aflatoxin in some herbal health products and plant food supplements (PFS) in Malaysia could pose a moderate risk of liver cancer if used long term.
The ingredients division of the Dutch dairy co-op said its 2’-fucosyllactose ingredient has been approved for use in both infant formulas as well as young children products.
Philippines is set to replace a 33-year-old vitamins and minerals regulation which essentially reclassifies the category as food or dietary supplement, instead of the existing arrangement where it is categorised as either food or drug.
Thailand is enforcing new maximum levels for the Recommended Daily Intakes (RDIs) of nine vitamins and minerals from July 2, including increasing the RDI of vitamin C, D, and biotin.
A higher dose of vitamin D supplementation effectively helps prevent deficiencies that are linked to adverse health outcomes in pregnant women including pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
Singapore’s Centre for Healthy Longevity (CHL) is conducting human clinical trials on the local population on the potential benefits of health supplements, including multivitamins, alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), for...
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...
Hong Kong Biotechnology firm GenieBiome has set sights on expanding its probiotics range in Singapore, including one that has been clinically studied to improve eczema in young children.
Sainhall Nutrihealth, a Singapore company distributing functional ingredients and health supplements for nearly 30 years, has expanded into the finished product space.
Thai natural fruit juice specialist Manee Manao is banking on the ongoing watermelon smoothie craze dubbed ‘tangmo-pun’ in South Korea to boost the success of its new frozen watermelon puree export business.
For the start of this year, we look at the emerging health and nutrition markets with untapped growth opportunities, including expert insights on the exciting prospects developing in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Australian infant and adult milk formula firm Nutura Organic will be making its debut in Thailand through a distribution deal with major Thai food producer CP Foods.
The supplementation of a product containing iron and five other vitamins and minerals has shown to significantly increase haemoglobin levels in women suffering from mild to moderate iron deficiency anaemia, according to a trial conducted by Procter and...
Infants who were fed on a novel milk formula containing large milk phospholipids coated droplets in the first four months of life were found to have a body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure that were similar to breastfed infants, according to a five-year...
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.
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.
Malaysia company Biotropics has developed chewables and capsules using Kesum, also known as Polygonum minus / Persicaria minor, a leaf commonly consumed as salad or used in the cooking of laksa across South East Asia.
Morinaga Milk says its postbiotic, marketed under the brand LAC-Shield, has been added into Thailand’s positive list of ingredients that could be used in general foods and beverages, opening new opportunities for functional foods development in the South...
The supplementation of vitamin B1, B6, and B12 for 90 days has shown to improve ankle, knee reflex, as well as motor strength in individuals suffering from peripheral neuropathy, a 90-day study from Procter and Gamble (P&G) Health has shown.
Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), together with INTERPOL, removed 4,681 listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms, and seized 60,372 units of prohibited health products as part of an enforcement operation.
Grocery e-commerce platform giant RedMart is seeing health and sustainability trends increasingly driving the purchasing decisions of consumers in Singapore, inspiring the firm to focus its own in-house product innovations on these factors.
Supplementation of certain dietary compounds, such as chronobiotics, polyphenols and prebiotics, to directly modulate and improve circadian rhythmicity could be a key strategy in combatting obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, according to a Singapore-based...
Singapore’s nutraceutical market is showing a preference for premium, science-backed products, with consumers refusing to compromise on quality and efficacy, even under the pressure of inflation.
A newly launched e-pharmacy, Glovida-Rx, is on a mission to provide holistic healthcare in Singapore, with pharmacists advising consumers on the use of both health supplements and pharmacy medications.
A new cross-sectional study from Indonesia has revealed stunting, thinness and micronutrient deficiencies remain problematic among 5-12 year old children, despite the success of some government interventions.
