Cognitive function

Sports brands scramble to say abreast of market changes wrought by pandemic

14-Jan-2022 By Hank Schultz

Sports nutrition companies will need to stay abreast of how consumers are interacting with their products—and especially how that has changed during the pandemic—to identify and capitalize on new opportunities, said a prominent market analyst.

See you in San Diego! Our plans to proceed with the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit

13-Jan-2022 By Stephen Daniells

NutraIngredients-USA remains committed to hosting its Sports & Active Nutrition Summit USA, February 14-16 in San Diego.

The NutraIngredients-USA Awards are back! Submit your entries!

12-Jan-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The NutraIngredients-USA Awards are back for 2022 with new two categories but the same commitment to honor the best and brightest in ingredients, finished products, companies, people, and initiatives in the dietary supplements industry.

Hear directly from the CEOs of The Vitamin Shoppe, NOW & Pharmavite

06-Jan-2022 By Stephen Daniells

NutraIngredients-USA’s Business Leaders Forum is back, so sign up for FREE to get insights from CEOs from some of the industry’s leading companies.

NIU’s predictions: The categories, ingredients, & industry issues to watch in 2022

05-Jan-2022 By By Stephen Daniells and Hank Schultz

The year is new, and a lot of people are getting out their crystal balls. NutraIngredients-USA is no exception, and here are our issues and topics to watch in the dietary supplements space in 2022.

Fire heavily damages VDF manufacturing plant

04-Jan-2022 By Hank Schultz

A fire has extensively damaged a Van Drunen Farms/VDF FutureCeuticals facility in Momence, IL. No employees were hurt in the blaze, company officials said.

Guest article

Curcumin: The powerful botanical that could

22-Dec-2021 By Traci Kantowski, Communications Director, Global Curcumin Association

When asked to write this article, the Simple Minds song “Don’t You forget about me” immediately popped in my head. While it’s no longer the exciting new kid on the block, curcumin is the “friend” the industry needs.

Winning NIU award helped open doors for chewable delivery technology developed by Norwegian firm

22-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

An award-winning delivery technology that began as a better way to mimic human tissue for research purposes has opened doors for a Norwegian company.

Nutrition21's Nitrosigine may boost cognitive performance in healthy adults: Study

22-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Acute supplementation with Nutrition 21’s inositol-stabilized arginine silicate ingredient may enhance cognitive function and memory in healthy aduts, says a new study.

Probiotics from Centenarians show anti-aging effects: Mouse data

22-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Four probiotic strains isolated from Centenarians may exhibit anti-aging potential and protect against neuro-inflammation via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, suggests new data from a mouse study.

Omega-3s plus carotenoids and vitamin E show ‘synergistic’ benefits for memory: RCT

21-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, meso-zeaxanthin, and zeaxanthin, and vitamin E may improve working memory in cognitively healthy older adults, says a new study from Ireland.

Sustained release ashwagandha extract shows stress-reducing activity

20-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Ashwagandha root extract sustained-release capsules may boost memory and focus, while also improving sleep quality and lowering stress levels, says a new study.

BAPP lab document for St. John's wort brings clarity to analysis of complex botanical

17-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

A new BAPP publication will help marketers of St John’s wort products find the best analytical methods to verify this complex botanical.

Sports & Active Nutrition Summit attendees will get insider’s look at rapidly growing esports sphere

17-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

The Sports and Active Nutrition Summit 2022 will feature a special session on esports, one of the fastest growing parts of the sector. An early bird discount is still in place for attendees who sign up today.

The Business Leaders Forum is back! Join us in January for insights from the top

16-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Start 2022 with insights from CEOs from some of the industry’s leading companies in a wide-ranging, interactive, and FREE webinar on NutraIngredients-USA.

IFF’s green oat extract may improve mental processing and resilience to mental fatigue: Study

15-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

A single dose of a green oat extract may improve a number of neurophysiological parameters, from cognitive control to attention and processing speed, says a new study.

Super Bowl winner headlines program at Sports & Active Nutrition Summit 2022

14-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

The Sports & Active Nutrition Summit 2022 returns in February as an in-person event. Located in sunny San Diego, the meeting will feature cutting-edge content from subject matter experts that will help companies succeed in this market sector that...

Lumina details post-COVID new normal for US online probiotics market

14-Dec-2021 By Shane Starling

The US online probiotic supplements market grew 30% to $580 million in 2020 as COVID-19 drove people to that sales platform and toward immunity-focused self-care, according to a just-released Lumina Intelligence report.

New duckweed protein firm signs development deal

13-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

Canadian company Pontus Protein has announced milestones on its path to commercialize a water lentil-derived ingredient as well as the ‘vertical aquaponics’ platform in which it will be grown.

Another phenibut product shows up in warning letter

13-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

An FDA warning letter to the marketer of a product containing phenibut took the company to task over noncompliant disease claims but made no mention of the legal status of the ingredient itself.

Coffee berry extract may boost alertness & mood: PepsiCo study

13-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

A single dose of an extracts from coffee berry – the outer layer of the coffee fruit and a rich source of polyphenols – may boost alertness in healthy men and women, with effects still observable six hours after consumption, says a new study.

B vitamins have ‘significantly favorable effects’ on cognitive scores in older people: RCTs

10-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Older people with mild cognitive impairment experienced significant cognitive benefits from supplementation with B vitamins, but only in people not using aspirin, says a pooled analyses of two randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Guest article

Omega-3s in 2021: Strong Demand Despite Logistic Challenges

09-Dec-2021 By Ellen Schutt, Executive Director, Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s

The omega-3 industry fared well in 2021, which was by no means a guarantee after a roller coaster 2020…

Study provides ‘first’ report of elderly gut microbiota changes and cognitive decline

08-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

The composition of the gut microbiota is different between healthy older people and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), says a new study which may lead to better microbiota-based diagnosis for early stage MCI.

Turmeric extracts may help with weight loss, inflammatory profiles, & mental health: Study

08-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Twelve weeks of supplementation with a turmeric extract led to significant reductions in body weight for overweight but healthy people. The extract was also associated with improvements in mental health scores.

NPA sues FDA over NAC: ‘We’ve been left with no choice,’ says Fabricant

07-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

The Natural Products Association (NPA) has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Maryland requesting the Food and Drug Administration cease its “unlawful retroactive application of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” against N-acetyl-L-cysteine...

Sage extract shows cognitive boosting activity during tiring exercise: Study

07-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of sage extracts may improve cognitive function even during a fatiguing endurance cycling exercise, says a new study using Nexira’s Cognivia ingredient.

USP commentary sounds safety, quality alarm on delta-8 THC

03-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has published a commentary raising potential safety and quality control concerns about the delta-8 THC products flooding the market. The document also raised issues with other cannabinoids that are being isolated...

December Launch Pad: Mushrooms meet the moment

02-Dec-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Step aside mistletoe and poinsettias. This December it's time to deck the halls with flocks of fungi.

Saffron supplement marketer dinged for wide ranging disease claims

01-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

The marketer of a trio of saffron products has received an FDA warning letter citing numerous alleged impermissible disease claims.

‘Life-altering benefits’: DHA Omega-3 supplements boost cognition in malnourished children

01-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Fortifying ready-to-eat therapeutic foods with DHA-rich fish oil may significantly improve brain development in malnourished infants and children, says a triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical feeding trial.

‘FDA kicked the can’: NPA & CRN slam Agency’s ‘tentative’ responses to NAC Citizen Petitions

24-Nov-2021 By Stephen Daniells

The Council for Responsible Nutrition and the Natural Products Association have slammed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for delaying a decision on the regulatory status of NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine) in dietary supplements, as the Agency issues ‘tentative...

Balchem announces call for innovative ingredients

24-Nov-2021 By Hank Schultz

Supplier Balchem Human Nutrition & Health will host an online innovation summit in 2022 to find new ingredient partners.

Ingenious Ingredients self-affirms GRAS status for paraxanthine ingredient

23-Nov-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Ingenious Ingredients (Ing2) has announced it has achieved self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status for its Enfinity-branded paraxanthine ingredient for use in food and beverages.

News in Brief

Health Canada approves Kemin’s Neumentix for brain health

19-Nov-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Kemin’s spearmint extract Neumentix Phenolic Complex K110-42 has received approval from Health Canada for use in helping support cognitive function, sustained attention and working memory.

Microbiome modulation to improve sleep: What does the science say?

18-Nov-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Consumers are increasingly aware of the detrimental effects of not getting enough sleep, and emerging links between the gut microbiota and sleep could create opportunities for prebiotics and probiotics in the booming natural sleep aid category.

Mice study finds low fiber diet impairs cognition

18-Nov-2021 By Hank Schultz

A low fiber diet alters the gut microbiome in a way that impairs cognitive function, a new study done in mice suggests.

What really matters to the esports community?

16-Nov-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Skinz.gg weighs in on how they stay authentic to gamers and the key areas that impact performance.

Compound Solutions study highlights nootropic benefits for esports

15-Nov-2021 By Danielle Masterson

A new study at Statespace's Aim Lab examined how nootropics would impact esports athletes’ cognitive and motor performance.

Sports & Active Nutrition Summit to focus on CBD, esports, personalized nutrition and more

11-Nov-2021 By Hank Schultz

The Sports & Active Nutrition Summit returns in 2022 as a in person event. This unique opportunity will bring scientists, formulators, consultants and regulatory experts together in a venue overlooking Mission Bay in San Diego.

Private equity firm acquires Nutrition 21 as base of new functional ingredients platform

10-Nov-2021 By Hank Schultz

Private equity firm Roundtable Healthcare Partners announced today the acquisition of ingredient supplier Nutrition 21, which will be housed within a new functional ingredients platform.

IPA Chief talks ongoing growth for probiotics and the online explosion

04-Nov-2021 By Stephen Daniells

“Growth for probiotics this past year on Amazon was 50%, and it’s pointing still north,” George Paraskevakos, Executive Director of the International Probiotics Association (IPA), tells NutraIngredients-USA.

‘This is caffeine-evolved’: Ingenious Ingredients co-founder talks up potential of paraxanthine

03-Nov-2021 By Stephen Daniells

In addition to benefits for focus and athletic performance, without any of the negative effects of caffeine, Ingenious Ingredients’ new paraxanthine ingredient is being felt by consumers "in a way that they’ve never felt caffeine".

FTC fines firm $1.3 million over fraudulent pain, healthy aging supplements

26-Oct-2021 By Hank Schultz

FTC announced it is sending out more than $1.1 million in compensation to consumers were deceived by fraudulently marketed pain management and healthy aging supplements.

Omega-3 has “no significant effect” on self-regulation in preschoolers

21-Oct-2021 By Lynda Searby

The Omega Kid pilot study has failed to demonstrate that omega-3 supplementation improves self-regulation in pre-school age children.

Second study bolsters relaxation benefits of AlphaWave brand of l-theanine, supplier says

19-Oct-2021 By Hank Schultz

Ingredient supplier Ethical Naturals said a second study on its AlphaWave shows the ingredient eased stress among participants who were completing a mental arithmetic test. Several measures, including a brain wave scan, supported the conclusion.

News in brief

Kaneka self-affirms GRAS status for gut-brain axis DR7 probiotic

15-Oct-2021

Texas-based Kaneka has announced that it has completed the self-affirmation Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) process for its Floradapt Brain (Lactobacillus plantarum DR7) probiotic.

News in Brief

Yakult and APC Microbiome Ireland launch gut-brain axis consumer guide

15-Oct-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Yakult UK and Ireland has launched a guide to the gut-brain axis, in collaboration with APC Microbiome Ireland, after research revealed that just 29% of consumers have heard of this link.

Molson Coors, Hexo Corp serve up CBD sparkling water in more states

11-Oct-2021 By Danielle Masterson

With the success of Veryvell in Colorado and Canada, Truss is expanding its distribution.

World's 5th biggest economy now fully open to hemp/CBD products

07-Oct-2021 By Hank Schultz

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law making hemp/CBD supplements and foods legal after an unsettled period in which the state health department was following a federal lead in ruling that CBD was not a legal dietary ingredient.