The big three issues for botanicals of identity, adulteration, and solvent residue can be eliminated by controlling the supply chain from seed to shelf, says Ric Scalzo, CEO of Gaia Herbs
The economic downturn has had a depressing effect on new product launches in the herbal dietary supplement industry, said Steve French, managing director of the Natural Marketing Institute. But the good news is that opportunity abounds, in that herbal...
Omega Protein Corporation is seeing increased benefits from its acquisiton of whey producer Wisconsin Specialty Protein. Revenues from the new division helped the company achieve record profits as the company continues to execute on its plan of moving...
Daily supplements of vitamin D may improve the heart’s response to a stressor, says a new study from Canada with implications for healthy people and those at high risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Evidence for the nutrtional benefits of bioactives is steadily accumulating, and the time has come engage regulators in a process of determining dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for the best-researched substances, said Jim Griffiths, vice president of...
Thought leaders in the natural products field form an academy, similar in concept to those formed in ancient Greece that gave rise to the term. And that academy can help foster the common prosperity of the US and Mexico, said Vicente Fox, former president...
Breast cancer patients with high levels of vitamin D in their blood are twice as likely to survive the disease as those with lower levels, new research has suggested.
Dispatches from the NCA State of the Industry Conference in Miami
Consuming omega-3 supplements or omega-3-rich food may be as effective as reducing sodium or alcohol, or increasing exercise for reducing blood pressure, says a new meta-analysis of 70 randomized controlled trials.
Increasing demand for long chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA means industry must consider land-based sources including microalgae and genetically modified plants, say researchers.
Whey or casein supplementation with combined exercise training was associated with significant improvements in blood pressure and arterial stiffness in young obese women with hypertension, says a new study.
If the nutritional supplements sector is to ever cast off its reputation for ‘dangerous’ and unlabelled contaminants then big online retails must embrace and enforce stricter anti-doping policies, argues Luca Bucchini, PhD.
Fiber-rich almonds and almond skin may selectively boost the populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut, says a new study funded by the Almond Board of California.
Delivering resveratrol via a lozenge that dissolves in the mouth may increase the absorption of the red wine compound more than other dosage forms for absorption in the gut, according to new data.
Carmine DiGiovanni, VP, sales and marketing for British Columbia-based The Rhema Group has hailed the ‘esteemed group of industry leaders’ at the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), as the company joins the association.
An intake of omega-3 fatty acids comparable to those of people living in Japan may be linked to protection against artery calcification and heart disease, according to new research.
Polyphenolics is breaking into the sports nutrition game with the launch of a new version of its line of grape seed extracts called MegaNatural GL. The prouduct is said to moderate blood glucose spikes after meals.
Daily intake of a supplement containing echium oil may boost blood levels of the omega-3s EPA and DHA, and help reduce cardiovascular risk factors, says a new study from Germany.
Hay fever suffers may benefit from daily probiotic supplements, according to a new study that found improvements in ‘quality of life’ scores and ocular symptoms.
Kyowa Hakko USA, Inc. has completed the self-affirmation of the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status for its amino acid L-Citrulline for use in food and beverages.
In the proposal by the Food and Drug Administration to update labels for foods and dietary supplements, the agency declined to set a value for omega-3 fatty acids. This does not mean the agency discounts their health benefits, said Adam Ismail, executive...
A company that got its start fighting cancer has moved into the natural area with the launch of three energy ingredients. Applied Food Sciences Inc. will unveil the ingredients at the Next Innovation Summit this week held in conjunction with the Natural...
The makeup of microbes living in our gut may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer and could drive the development of intestinal tumours, say researchers.
Daily supplements of omega-3 fatty acids may improve attention, processing speed, executive function and hand-to-eye coordination in malnourished children, scientists report.
Daily supplements containing branded pantethine ingredient Pantesin, a vitamin B5 derivative, may reduce LDL and total cholesterol by 11% and 6%, respectively, according to a new study.
Patent enforcement has become more of a hot button issue in the dietary supplement realm for a number of reasons. Companies are gaining a deeper appreciation of how a strong intellectual property portfolio can both add to their bottom line and to the...
Frankfort, IL-based HyPhyto has announced the self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status of its CardioCare phytosterol for use in functional foods and beverages.
The new levels of nutrients specified will be the prime impact of FDA’s proposed changes on the labels for foods and supplements for the dietary supplement industry, experts agree.
Natural Health Solutions says new research confirms the benefits of its BergaMet supplement, a highly concentrated extract of the Calabrian bergamot fruit, has benefits for consumers who show signs of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Updated: USP outlines its improvements for ginkgo testing
A new, simple method can address the problem of identifying adulterants in ginkgo biloba extracts, claim the scientists from Southern Cross University and Integria Healthcare in Australia who developed it.
Biomimicry, or the practice of taking cues from nature for design of products for human use, could transform the way dietary supplments manufacturers interact with their consumers, an expert says.
The Canadian Natural Health Product Directorate (NHPD) has granted a Natural Product Number (NPN) for Naturex’s Svetol green coffee bean extract for its benefits on weight management and cardiovascular health.
Dark chocolate may help restore flexibility to arteries and prevent white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels, but increasing flavanol content will not affect these effects and may even put consumers off, say researchers.
Growth in fish oil sales have been described by the CEO of Vitamin Shoppe as ‘softening’, while data from GOED indicates that 12 million users have left the category in the US, so is the omega-3 sector in decline?
Microbiome Therapeutics, a startup based in Broomfield, CO, has developed a technology that it says can significantly shift the makeup of the gut microflora in prediabetic patients and those with type 2 diabetes. Prelimary data shows the company’s flaghsip...
The Food and Drug Administration is proposing several changes to the nutrition labels on packaged foods and beverages. If approved, the new labels would place a bigger emphasis on total calories and update serving sizes, while also drawing attention to...
ESM Technologies has published new research that shows how its ESM eggshell membrane ingredient supports a healthy inflammatory response by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines in a rat model.
Vitamin D could have a 'critical influence' levels of serotonin in the brain and may directly effect social behaviours associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to new research.
Old garlic bulbs that have grown ‘sprouts’ are often considered past their prime, however new research suggests these aging bulbs have higher levels of heart-healthy antioxidants than their fresh counterparts.
Daily consumption of strawberries may improve blood lipid levels and platelet function in healthy subjects, says a new study from Italy that supports the heart health benefits of the fruit.
Supplement retailer Vitamin Shoppe is continuing to expand its private label offerings having launched more than 60 private label products in 2013, and the latest – Next Step – is said to be its most ambitious launch to-date.
Sustainable sourcing is a big buzzword these days, and companies have different methods for achieving that goal. One way to boost a company’s sustainability profile is to tap into a hidden pool of talent, namely the people who actually buy the stuff:...
From ready meals to breakfast bars, lots of pulse flour-based gluten-free products are coming on stream, says Margaret Hughes from Best Cooking Pulses, Inc., with the favorable nutritional profiles and moderate costs gaining traction with manufacturers...
Seniors who are deficient in vitamin D also tend to have compromised immune functions including inflammation and biomarkers for heart disease, according to new research.
As consumers increasingly gravitate toward functional foods and beverages, HyPhyto Inc. has rolled out a phytosterol product differentiated by its effective dispersibility in liquids, making it ideal for functional beverages like juices, flavored waters...
Higher intakes of fish during pregnancy may lead to infants with a higher birth weight, as well as reducing the risk of pre-term births, according to data from 19 European birth cohort studies.
