Sports nutrition

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

07-May-2024 By Tingmin Koe

From Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice supplement scandal to Unilever's hydration brand Liquid I.V. making its way into more markets, including China and Australia, here are the most-read stories on NutraIngredients-Asia...

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...

‘Moderate’ dose of caffeine intake found to enhance performance of female athletes – new study

01-May-2024 By Audrey Yow

A ‘moderate’ dose of 6 mg/kg caffeine enhances the performance of female athletes for short-term high intensity exercises, according to a new study.

‘Mislabelling and contamination’: Almost 70% of protein products tested in India don’t meet label claims

29-Apr-2024 By Audrey Yow

India’s protein sector is beset with misleading labels and there is also a worrying level toxin and heavy metal contamination, according to a new study, with calls being made for tighter regulatory oversight.

Financials round-up: Spotlight on Danone, Unilever, Otsuka, Kirin, a2 milk

16-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at how international and regional health and nutrition companies have fared in their latest financial performance, featuring insights from Danone, Unilever, Otsuka, Kirin, and The a2 Milk Company.

Supplier news: Spotlight on Sami-Sabinsa, PhytoGaia, Synbio Tech, Kaneka

12-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at some of the latest updates and insights from functional ingredients suppliers, including leadership changes at Sami-Sabinsa, PhytoGaia’s plans for a trial that examines multi-carotenoids’ benefits for weight management, Synbio...

‘The right moment’: Unilever’s Liquid I.V. capitalising on China’s thriving electrolyte drinks sector

10-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Unilever says the launch of its hydration brand Liquid I.V. into China earlier this year came at “the right moment”, citing recent rapid growth in the country’s electrolyte beverage sector as a key factor.

Trend tracker: A closer look at nutra markets across Vietnam, India, and South Korea

05-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Here is the round-up of the latest nutraceutical trends in Asia-Pacific, including exclusive analysis in Vietnam and India market trends, and how South Korea is seeing a fast growth for its functional probiotics market.

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

02-Apr-2024 By Tingmin Koe

From NMN supplements quality to new launches from Nestle China, Meiji, and FY23 results of Haleon and Bayer, here are the most-read stories on NutraIngredients-Asia in March 2024.

Instagram posts by nutrition brands under fire for lacking in quality and accuracy – Aussie researchers

18-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Instagram posts on nutrition are lacking in quality and accuracy, especially those that are posted by brands, says a group of researchers who undertook a study on Australian Instagram accounts.

Regulatory review: China’s electrolyte drinks, TGA’s safety advisory on ashwagandha and more

15-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

In our monthly nutra regulatory round-up, we look at the latest regulatory announcements happening across APAC, including China’s food industry association planning to set industry standards for electrolyte drinks, Taiwan’s harsher penalties for firms...

Hydration for sports: Glycerol ‘could drive NPD’ in market dominated by electrolytes drinks

12-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The sports drink market is largely dominated by electrolytes beverages, but China functional ingredients supplier Innobio believes the use of glycerol could offer a point of differentiation for new beverages designed for hydration purposes.

VitamINSIGHTS

India market opportunities: Weight, beauty, sports driving growth, but more attention needed on FSMP, glucose control

12-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

India’s nutraceutical sector is rapidly expanding with start-ups, local players, and international brands entering the space, but the market is far from overcrowded and there is still growth space, according to insiders.

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,...

Electrolytes in the spotlight: China’s food industry association to set industry standards for drinks

06-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

China National Food Industry Association (CNFIA) is to set industry standards for electrolyte beverages, including its definition, technical and manufacturing, testing, labelling, and packaging requirements.

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

05-Mar-2024 By Tingmin Koe

From India's nutraceutical regulations to consumer behaviour in Indonesia, and FY23 financial results from Kirin, Danone, and Otsuka Holdings, here are the most-read stories on NutraIngredients-Asia in February 2024.

Danone CEO: China’s business ‘extremely strong’ with infant, medical nutrition sales growing

26-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Danone’s CEO says that its business in China has been “extremely strong” in FY23 with growth propelled by its specialised nutrition portfolio, which consists of infant and medical nutrition products.

Myprotein: Breaking stereotypes and empowering women in sports nutrition

20-Feb-2024 By Olivia Haslam

A significant number of women still do not perceive sports nutrition as essential for their fitness goals, a persisting misconception that The Hut Group (THG), owner of supplement brand Myprotein, is working to dispel.

Electrolyte drinks boost: Otsuka Holdings says China’s demand drives Pocari Sweat to new heights

20-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Electrolyte drink Pocari Sweat is seeing strong demand, especially in China in the post-pandemic era, having surpassed the growth rate of sports drinks in the APAC market by more than five times.

Nutrachampion podcast

‘Mind-boggling creatine boom’: MuscleBlaze founder on huge growth in India, Singapore, US – LISTEN

14-Feb-2024 By Tingmin Koe

There is a never-before-seen demand and online searches for creatine among gym and sports enthusiasts, says Kaustuv Paliwal, who founded India-based sports nutrition brand MuscleBlaze about 12 years ago.

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.

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.

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.

Postbiotics supplementation improves exercise performance even at lower dose - six-week RCT

13-Dec-2023 By Hazel Tang

Supplementation of the postbiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 (TWK10) has shown to reduce physical fatigue and improve exercise endurance even at a low dose, according to a six-week trial conducted by Synbio Tech, National University of Taiwan...

Power combo: MCT supplementation and walking shown to improve mental health, lower limb strength in older Japanese – RCT

07-Dec-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

The combination of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) supplementation and walking exercise have shown significant improvements in both physical and mental subjective health of older Japanese individuals, according to new findings.

Australia’s new sports supplements regulations come into force from Nov 30, a dozen of member firms affected – CMA

29-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The three-year transition period for sports nutrition products, such as those that make therapeutic claims and come in a tablet form, to complete their registration as therapeutic goods in Australia is coming to an end.

Brand new: MuscleBlaze, Nestle, Dr. Reddy's in the spotlight

24-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including how India's MuscleBlaze has managed to increase its market share in the local protein powder market by 10 per cent through the launch of a protein test-kit,...

Growth Asia Summit 2023

Kick out the cheats: MuscleBlaze gains 10% market share a year after launching whey protein test kits

22-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Indian sports nutrition company MuscleBlaze says its market share in the whey protein powder category had grown by 10 per cent in the past year after launching a test kit that allows consumers and retailers to distinguish between authentic and fake products.

Olympic athletes and supplements: 70% of participants at Tokyo games consumed products – new data

20-Nov-2023 By Hazel Tang

Seventy per cent of athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics consumed dietary supplements, and 50 per cent at the 2022 Beijing winter games, but only half either examined the scientific evidence behind the products or consulted an expert beforehand.

Science shorts: The gut microbiome and its links with brain, cardiometabolic health and more

17-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at the latest health and nutrition research, including the role of the gut microbiome and its links with brain and cardiometabolic health, how glycine supplementation before bedtime has shown to improve sleep quality, and how vitamin...

Paradigm shift in perception of men’s fitness sparks new opportunities for bone and joint category

16-Nov-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Consumers are recognising that health and fitness goes beyond having a muscular physique, and are increasingly seeking products that help improve joint mobility, body functionality and overall health, says an industry expert.

Demand for high-protein products on the rise amid booming active nutrition and healthy ageing categories in Middle East

15-Nov-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Consumers in the Middle East are increasingly looking for protein-rich products to fulfil various needs, with claims ranging from sports performance to age-related muscle support.

Functional flex: TSI Group eyes untapped ‘tremendous potential’ in South Korea’s active ageing and sports nutrition sectors

15-Nov-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Shanghai-headquartered TSI Group says that the approval of its muscle-support ingredient in South Korea will allow it to satisfy the needs of the local ageing population, and seize emerging opportunities in the sports nutrition category.

Growth Asia Summit 2023

Caffeine’s role in sports: Timing of intake subject to significant debate - researcher

07-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

There is currently significant debate taking place over the timing for athletes to consume caffeine and reap the most benefits, a leading sports science researcher has pointed out.

Vitafoods Asia 2023

Going beyond looks: Science-backed ingredients, formulations, formats most crucial for supplements success – TSI CEO

06-Nov-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Supplement firms should not fall into the trap of thinking that novelty and attractive packaging will lead to instant success in China, with clinically proven ingredients, formulations, and delivery formats still the top three priorities, says TSI Group...

Demand driver: Satisfying Gen Y’s appetite for premium sports and active nutrition products key to sector growth – Growth Asia Summit

31-Oct-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Asian millennial consumers’ demand for novel and higher-value sports and active nutrition products could play instrumental role in accelerating growth of the sector, insights from GlobalData reveal.

Brand new: Swisse, Bayer, Heliocare in the spotlight

27-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

See the latest developments from health and nutrition brands across Asia-Pacific, including Swisse’s launching its first ‘assessed listed’ complementary medicine in Australia next year, Bayer Consumer Health Division’s approach to infant nutrition innovation,...

Pedal power: Food-derived oligopeptides shown to benefit lipid metabolism in young male cyclists

24-Oct-2023 By Shali S

Consumption of food-derived oligopeptides has been linked with an increased rate of triglyceride breakdown, enhanced the uptake of non-esterified fatty acids, and the promotion of fat oxidation, both during periods of inactivity and exercise among cyclists.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023

Body composition and ageing: How SRW Laboratories’ award-winning sports nutrition product targets market gaps – WATCH

24-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

SRW Laboratories, which took home the Product of the Year (Sports Nutrition) in this year’s NutraIngredients-Asia awards, said the award-winning product was designed to support body composition and muscle building as one aged – an area which the firm...

Hemp for active nutrition: Regulatory support and debunking of myths ‘crucial’ to unlock potential

18-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Stronger government regulatory support and the ‘debunking’ of myths surrounding hemp are still at a ‘crucial’ stage in Asia, the success of which is key to unlocking its active nutrition potential.

Pre-sleep protein impact on muscle recovery following swimming sprints similar to carbs

17-Oct-2023 By Shali S

Pre-sleep protein is known to improve muscle recovery overnight following exercise-induced muscle damage, but a new study from China suggest its impact is similar to carbohydrate intake following highly intensive sprint interval training (SIT) in swimmers....

Growth Asia Summit 2023

Dairy the core base, but greater co-existence with plant-based, precision fermented proteins to come – Friesland Campina

11-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

While dairy is the basis of protein nutrition, the use of plant-based and precision fermented protein is bound to increase in products such as infant formula, healthy ageing, and sports nutrition, says dairy multinational firm Friesland Campina.

GALLERY: The 10 most-read APAC health and nutrition stories in September 2023

03-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

From the announcement to the list of NutraIngredients-Asia 2023 winners to China's new function claims system and South Korea's health functional food import trends, here are the most-read stories in September 2023.

‘Revive with exports’: Japanese associations gearing up for functional foods export opportunities

02-Oct-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Several Japan health foods associations are gearing up for export opportunities for Foods with Function Claims (FFC), such as providing export consultation services and establishing networks with regional dietary supplement associations.

And the winners are…Check out who took the top prizes at the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2023

26-Sep-2023 By Gary Scattergood

We have announced the winners of the 2023 NutraIngredients-Asia Awards, held to recognise the brightest and best products, ingredients and initiatives across the nutrition industry.

Lactoferrin for sports: TurtleTree to commercialise precision fermentation ingredient in Singapore, US

19-Sep-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Singapore-headquartered TurtleTree is targeting sports nutrition success with its lactoferrin ingredient, with commercialisation in the US and Singapore expected this year and next year respectively.

Business boost: Optimising nutritional profiles offer scope for China infant and performance growth

19-Sep-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Infant and performance nutrition “still offer massive opportunities” in the next phase of development in China, claim industry players.

Beetroot juice intake found to improve muscle recovery among female athletes after high-pressure training – Iran RCT

07-Sep-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Beetroot juice supplementation among female volleyball players was found to improve muscle endurance and pain reduction after high-pressure training, says researchers.

Last box to check: Regulatory approval delay remains final hurdle for commercialisation – Singapore cricket-protein manufacturer

06-Sep-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore start-up Altimate Nutrition has developed a range of cricket-based products that are ready for mass manufacturing and distribution, except that it continues to be hindered by regulatory approval delays.

Beefing up on sustainability: NZ firm ‘upcycles’ male calves into protein-rich beef bar

16-Aug-2023 By Si Ying Thian

New Zealand’s Alps 2 Ocean Foods is launching a protein-rich and nutrient-fortified beef bar made from male calves that are otherwise killed shortly after birth or made into lower-value ground beef – a move that the firm believes is more sustainable for...