NIU’s Global Round-up: Probi & Viva5 announce JV, Vitafoods goes Digital, and more
Europe
Vitafoods hosts Digital Week for online innovation experience
UK-based Informa announced that its Geneva, Switzerland-based Vitafoods will no longer place in May, but has been postponed until 1st to 3rd September 2020 but will be replaced by Digital Week (11-15 May 2020), including a series of webinars and podcasts covering topics including European ingredients trends, healthy ageing, immunity, sports nutrition and sustainability.
The five-day virtual event will also feature product showcases and provide access to a range of downloadable reports, articles and galleries, which will be made available for free throughout the week.
“In light of the unprecedented challenges facing the global industry, we wanted to bring the nutraceutical community together in a way that allowed us to collaborate as we usually do in person to understand how we can continue to support consumer health into the future,” said Chris Lee, Managing Director, Health and Nutrition Network, Europe, at Informa Markets.
For more about this, please click HERE.
Asia
Study explores fucoidan’s impact on gene expression
A single dose Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan may be able to gene expression related to fundamental cellular processes, suggests a new study from Australia funded by Marinova and the Australian Department of Industry and Innovation.
The single fucoidan dose may bring about changes in the composition of micro RNAs (miRNA), according to the study with 17 healthy male volunteers who consumed either the placebo or two capsules of Marinova’s Maritech fucoidan (500mg/capsule).
Data published in Marine Drugs indicated that there were 15 miRNAs up-regulated and 38 down-regulated in the fucoidan group.
Using the TALOS software, the researchers found that 31 cellular pathways that have been influenced by the fucoidan supplementation.
“This new clinical research not only confirms previous data demonstrating that fucoidan has beneficial effects on immunity, cancer cells, inflammation and neurological function, but provides insight into new pathways not formerly associated with fucoidan,” said co-author of the paper and chief scientist at Marinova, Dr Helen Fitton.
“These are exciting results that further increase the potential for fucoidan to be utilized in a wider range of therapeutic treatments,” she added.
For more on this story, please click HERE.
Europe
Probi and Viva5 announce probiotic JV
Probi and Viva5 Group have formed a joint venture called VivaPro to focus on developing a range of probiotic-based products for the functional food and beverage sector.
The JV will initially focus on Bacillus coagulans GX-1, a spore-forming strain developed for inclusion into supplements and powders amongst other products.
“VivaPro probiotic applications will include delivering BC Plus into diverse food and beverage delivery formats such as bars, cereals, fruit and vegetable juices, flavored waters, smoothies, hot drinks, frozen food, dairy and plant-based milk drinks and powdered drink mixes,” said Albert Dahbour, executive vice president of Viva5.
For more on this, please click HERE.
