Cognitive function

Editor's Spotlight

Koios CEO: ‘Brain function is the world’s new currency’

23-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

As industrialized nations continue to move away from manual labor toward tech- and creative-based economies, it is about time that nootropic products become more mainstream, says the CEO and founder of Koios.

CBD and nootropics boom: Bod Australia reveals record revenue and expansion aims

23-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Australian firm Bod Australia reported a record US$872,240 (A$1.22m) revenue for Q4 2018, due largely to portfolio expansion and new distribution agreements.

Sibelius uses proprietary epigenetic assay to find best raw material for new chamomile supplement

21-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

Using a proprietary assay, supplement ingredient developer Sibelius has lined up a special raw material for a new chamomile extract for the US market.

Senators seek clarity from FDA on CBD question

21-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

Two senators from Oregon have urged that CBD be made legal for supplement and food products in interstate commerce.

Commentary

More claims on herbal products now reflect responsible references to science

18-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

As the dietary supplement industry evolves, most claims are now more aligned with the underlying science. But there is still a penumbra of outliers, with new offenders popping up by the day.

New supplement product specifically targets first responders as market

17-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

An entrepreneur who has been a fireman and whose father was a fireman has launched a supplement product aimed at supporting the nutritional needs of this and other similarly demanding professions.

Editor's Spotlight

Om founder: ‘It’s a very great time for all mushroom companies’

16-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

Om co-founder Sandra Carter has noticed a "dramatic change in the sophistication" of knowledge of mushrooms among natural product developers and consumers in the past 10 years.

BAPP ashwagandha bulletin to help industry tell when roots have been adulterated with leaves

16-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

A new BAPP bulletin disseminates ways to detect the adulteration of ashwagandha products with undeclared material taken from the leaves or the stems of the plant.

Microbiome alteration among most promising strategies for boosting polyphenol uptake, review finds

14-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

A recent review finds that several promising strategies can help boost the bioefficiency of grape polyphenols and boost their utility as neuroprotective ingredients. Altering the gut microbiota to improve uptake was seen as especially beneficial.

2019 Trends: The ingredients and categories to watch this year

14-Jan-2019 By Stephen Daniells

As an avid industry watcher, I like to keep a close eye on what’s hot and what’s not in the market. Here’s my list of the top 10 categories and ingredients to keep an eye on for 2019…

Mental health topics trending in book sales, indicating strong market for nootropic supplements

14-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

The coming year could be a good one for nootropic supplements. That idea is supported by data from a major bookstore chain that shows mental health topics are topping the self care category.

Aortic stiffness linked to dementia. Can vitamin K2 help reduce the risk?

11-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

Researchers found that individuals with arterial stiffening have increased risk of dementia, paving a way to market vitamin K2 in the brain health space—an area in which K2 was not previously considered, according to one supplier.

Modified EPA form boosts omega-3 fatty acid levels in brain '100-fold,' study concludes

10-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

Supplementing the diet with a lysophospholipid form of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (LPC-EPA) may increase EPA levels in the brain, opening up possibilities to tackle disorders such as depression.

'Unexplored': Could haskap berries improve blood pressure and memory in older adults?

09-Jan-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Extracts from dark blue haskap berries may improve episodic memory and blood pressure in older adults, suggest results from a small pilot study from Canada.

Review sheds light on caffeine supplementation for combat sport athletes

09-Jan-2019 By Adi Menayang

Caffeine supplementation may improve strength, power, and endurance, according to a systematic review of published studies on the effects of caffeine on combat sport athletes.

Gut yeast crosses blood-brain barrier and triggers Alzheimer's-like inflammation: Study

09-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

Fungal gut populations are capable of migrating to the brain, crossing its blood-brain barrier and triggering the kind of inflammation seen in Alzheimer's disease, according to US researchers.

To be or nut to be: How to maximise the health benefits of nuts for under-nourished seniors

09-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Nuts may be able to help prevent and even reverse under-nutrition in older adults, but clinical studies are needed to test their efficacy, according to a joint Australian and New Zealand study.

Online brand finds success with weight management line

07-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

An online supplement seller has bet hard on a suite of new weight loss products, further signaling a reinvigoration of this long moribund category.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Marketers making microbiome claims should take lesson from ORAC debacle

04-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

Without care, the dietary supplement industry runs the risk of turning the word ‘microbiome’ into a synonym for shoddy marketing and weak science.

Designs for Health seeks to help clear up Vitamin E confusion with product launch

03-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

Supplement manufacturer Designs for Health enters 2019 with a new product based on a newer form of one of the oldest supplement ingredients in the industry.

What's in store for CBD? The hype and attention will die down, says attorney

03-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While the Farm Bill has removed industrial hemp from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the use of CBD as an ingredient has many more hurdles to overcome especially with the FDA, according to attorney Todd A. Harrison.

PC purveyor sees bright future for ingredient in 2019

02-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

BodyBio, a supplement company that grew out of a blood test, is entering 2019 with a plan to reinvigorate the brand with new products and labeling.

Robuvit supplementation linked to improved sleep quality and mood

18-Dec-2018 By Adi Menayang

Results from a new study suggests that supplementing with aqueous extract of French oak wood may improve the sleep quality and mood of individuals with insomnia and high oxidative stress.

Flora Labs unveils capability of detecting up to 370 synthetic cannabinoids

14-Dec-2018 By Hank Schultz

Flora Research Laboratories has debuted a comprehensive testing suite that can detect potentially dangerous synthetic cannabinoids. The service will be paired with GMP audits for companies in the CBD industry.

Studies on recovery on the cutting edge of sports nutrition, expert says

13-Dec-2018 By Hank Schultz

Ingredients that can help manage inflammation to speed recovery sit on the cutting edge of new science in the sports nutrition realm, an expert says.

Omega 3’s effect on brain blood flow could battle memory decline in ageing

13-Dec-2018 By Will Chu

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation has the potential to enhance neural blood flow possibly preventing memory decline caused by restricted blood flow or brain cell inflammation.

Guest article

EPA and DHA Omega-3s: Reflections on 2018

12-Dec-2018 By Ellen Schutt, Executive Director, GOED (Global Organization for EPA & DHA Omega-3)

New science, developments in contaminant regulations, a new conversation around micro- and nanoplastics, and challenges on the regulatory front: In this guest article, Ellen Schutt, Executive Director of GOED, looks back on a very busy 2018 in the omega-3...

TODAY! Experts to discuss benefits of probiotics beyond digestive health in upcoming webinar

11-Dec-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Experts from Jarrow Formulas, the International Probiotics Association, Increnovo, and Tufts University will discuss the state of the science and what the future holds in a FREE webinar today hosted by NutraIngredients-USA.

Dr. Bruce Ames: ‘The role of vitamins in healthy aging has been less appreciated’

10-Dec-2018 By Adi Menayang

There’s compelling evidence linking adequate consumption of 30 known vitamins and minerals with longevity, says renowned nutrition scientist Dr. Bruce Ames.

Entrepreneur builds bee product line into budding powerhouse

06-Dec-2018 By Hank Schultz

A personal health crisis while traveling led entrepreneur Carly Stein to bee products, and she subsequently founded a thriving supplement and foods brand and has been recognized by a major business publication.

Hemp’s cognitive help: Elixinol’s supplements finding favour amongst Japanese consumers

06-Dec-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Hemp oil supplements are gaining higher acceptance in Japan, with manufacturer Elixinol ramping up its investment in the country on the back of more favourable advertising rules.

Functional beverage start-up Synapse raises $1 million in latest seed funding round

04-Dec-2018 By Adi Menayang

Atlanta-based Synape announced that the start-up has raised $1 million in funding, with investors including beverage industry executives, medical professionals, convenience retail executives, and other private investors in the CPG space.

Closing the DHA data gap: DSM striving to secure information to drive policy recommendations

04-Dec-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Assessment of nutritional status and solutions to micronutrient deficiencies must be in sync if maternal and infant health is to improve, says Peter van Dael, DSM's Senior VP of Nutrition Science and Advocacy.

FDA adds heavy metals contamination to its list of concerns about kratom

03-Dec-2018 By Hank Schultz

The US Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers against kratom products because of heavy metal contamination. The announcement joins numerous warnings the agency has issued in recent years on the botanical.

FTC refunds more than $750,000 to consumers in disease claims case

30-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

The Federal Trade Commission has started to refund more than $750,000 to consumers who were duped into buying supplements marketed with spurious disease claims.

Former vet student turned neuroscientist launches nootropic supplement based on efficacious doses

29-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

A path that began by looking into animal diseases led a former Mayo Clinic neuroscientist to the development of a new nootropic product for humans.

Omega-3 innovation: KD Pharma launches DPA and PRM ingredients

29-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

EPA and DHA: These two fatty acids have been the focus of omega-3 research for a long time, but emerging data is shining the spotlight on DPA (docosapentaenoic acid) and the fascinating world of the pre-resolving mediators (PRMs).

Firm finds way past CBD morass by using other botanicals that target endocannabinoid system

29-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

An extensive history with cannabis products was the foundation for a new line of CBD-free dietary supplements that target the endocannabinoid system, according to the brand’s leader.

Data supports increased role for probiotics, prebiotics in healthy aging, study finds

28-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

Gut dysbiosis is a common feature of the afflictions that come with aging, according a recent Japanese review. The finding opens wider the door for probiotics and prebiotics in a healthy aging positioning.

Consumers on the hunt for youth-boosting food and drink, says Mintel

21-Nov-2018 By Nikki Cutler

Food, drink and supplement innovators should take tips from the beauty industry as consumers want to fill-up on products that will help them fight the ageing process, says Mintel.

Can sage give coffee a run for its money? Sibelius thinks so

20-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

British company Sibelius Natural Products is marketing a sage extract that has been studied for its cognitive boosting properties.

Notes from SupplySide West 2018

Omega-3 trade group GOED ramps up healthcare practitioner outreach to better reach consumers

16-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

The fish oil industry’s leading trade group is tapping into the healthcare practitioner community as its bridge to consumers.

Recent large-scale omega-3s trials are harbingers of better days for omega-3s research, experts say

16-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

Despite the equivocal reports in the mainstream media of the recently released omega-3s trials, the huge statistical power of the studies means the promising secondary endpoints can be trusted, experts say.

Editor's Spotlight

IQ Bar founder: 'I spent months researching what nutrients have the most scientific backing saying they’re good for the brain'

14-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

Boston-based start-up IQ Bar recently became one of the first members of the PepsiCo Nutrition Greenhouse incubator. We caught up with founder Will Nitze to learn about how he grew the company.

CV Sciences says more scrutiny of CBD firms will make them stand out as above board player

13-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

Stuart Tomc, vice president of human nutrition for CBD purveyor CV Sciences, said his company welcomes increased scrutiny of the controversial ingredient category.

ADM expands presence in algal DHA space with launch of powder form

13-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

Archer Daniels Midland Company, or ADM, launched a new powder format for its Onavita DHA algal oil.

Generational preferences affect engagement with dietary supplement brands: Survey

09-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Boomers want healthy aging products, Gen X-ers are interested in weight management, while Millennials are more interested in fitness: These are just three of the insights from a new analysis of 500,000 social media posts over 12 months.

ChromaDex’s TruNiagen sales rise, but legal costs, higher operating expenses drive bigger loss

08-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex reported rising sales of its TruNiagen finished product. But increased operating expenses outpaced rising sales resulting in the company reporting even bigger losses than were forecast.

Supplement trade associations warn retailers to not sell products with phenibut

06-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

Four trade associations have sent out warnings to the public regarding ‘phenibut,’ which they say is a dangerous substance illegally posing as a dietary supplement.

Italy serves notice of plans to set maximum THC levels in supplements

06-Nov-2018 By Will Chu

Italy’s Ministry of Health has notified the European Commission (EC) of its intention to set maximum levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in food supplements.