Cognitive function

Commentary

What is CBD being marketed for? Proponents seem deliberately vague on claims

02-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

In the rush to market for CBD products something seems to have been left by the wayside. What do the marketers of these products believe they will do for people?

News in brief

Algarithm joins GOED’s Executive Council with $100,000 annual funding pledge

01-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Algarithm Ingredients has pledged $100,000 annually to GOED, putting the company on the omega-3 organization’s Executive Council on Education and Outreach (ECEO).

More brands seeking to root out inflammation in healthy aging sphere

30-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

A focus on inflammatory processes underlies much of innovation in the healthy aging space, according to panelists on a recent NutraIngredients-USA event. Another key takeaway: These concerns are starting earlier in life for today’s consumers.

Marketing CBD is mostly about risk tolerance, legal expert says

29-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

The source of CBD should be of concern for the companies marketing the ingredient, said a legal expert at a recent dietary supplement industry event. But he also said the regulatory landscape for the ingredient is shifting so fast that any opinions he...

Tongkat Ali plus multivitamin may improve mood and stress response: Human data

22-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Co-supplementation of a multivitamin with Tongkat Ali may improve quality of life factors mood, stress response and immune parameters in adults, says a new study.

Turmeric’s popularity drives botanical supplement use increases, says CRN data

19-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Almost 20% of US supplement users over 55 are using turmeric and curcumin supplements, according to the 2018 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements.

CBD gummies purveyor adds vegan, tincture, pet options to meet rising demand

18-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

The stress of being an entrepreneur led to the development of one of the newer products in the CBD space—a line of gummies marketed for anxiety relief.

Stepan adds to MCT/keto trend with new product launch

16-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

Despite the cooling fortunes of coconut as a healthful culinary oil, the prospects for its medium chain triglyceride derivative have never been brighter. Stepan has added to its MCT line, boosting a trend of product development in this area.

Adaptogens, nootropics, antioxidants: Latest trends in healthy aging innovation

16-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

Botanicals taken from the Ayurvedic tradition hold great promise in the Healthy Aging category, a product development expert says.

Getting substantiation right for claims especially important in healthy aging, expert says

15-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

Making claims on products in the healthy aging sector is fraught with peril, as older adults, along with children, are seen as the most vulnerable populations, an expert says.

Saffron supplement with anti-Alzheimer's potential to hit stores in India and the US

11-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

A new saffron supplement, which claims to aid cognitive function, will be available for sale in the US from next month, and in India next year.

More omega-3s boost executive function in cohort of older Puerto Ricans

10-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

A population study conducted on a cohort living in Boston has found an association of higher blood levels of omega-3s with better executive function in older individuals. The researchers also found negative connotations with higher omega-6 levels.

Review identifies potential modes of action for omega-3s and anxiety

03-Oct-2018 By Hank Schultz

A review conducted by researchers in New York uncovered six potential modes of action for how omega-3s might alleviate symptoms of anxiety. But the researchers found lots of nits to pick with the research, too, and made recommendations for future studies...

From the Editor's Desk

Probiotics continuously improving, while still showing aspects of variability

28-Sep-2018 By Hank Schultz

Are supplements getting better? It’s a bit of a tricky question when applied to probiotics, as the ingredients are relatively new to the market. There are many examples of quality improvements within this category, but it exhibits some features that are...

Hemp Boom: Thorne’s hemp oil sales exceeds company expectations

27-Sep-2018 By Adi Menayang

Hemp Oil + by legacy supplement company Thorne Research is relatively new, released only in March this year. The product launch proved to be the company’s ‘most successful’ so far, according to one exec.

A scientific first? RCT supports cognitive benefits of chlorogenic acids

21-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Chlorogenic acids – compounds found in coffee – may improve measures like cognitive performance and motor speeds, says a new study from Japan’s Kao Corporation.

Probiotic strain shows anti-stress and anxiety benefits in RCT

20-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum P8 may alleviate stress and anxiety in stressed adults, says a new randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study with over 100 participants.

BAPP bulletin details adulteration of Maca root and root extract

19-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The latest Botanical Adulterants Bulletin focuses on the increasing popular botanical ingredient: maca (Lepidium meyenii, syn. L. peruvianum, Brassicaceae) root and root extract.

Calming botanical drink Kalm & On, formerly known as Koppla, comes back to market

12-Sep-2018 By Adi Menayang

After a three-year hiatus, a calming botanical beverage is coming back to the market.

From the Editor's Desk

No BBC, probiotics are not 'quite useless'

07-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A new BBC article dismisses the benefits of probiotics because a study failed to find colonization. It is a serious mistake to confuse colonization with efficacy and we need to get this message across to consumers.

Review supports astaxanthin’s role as a ‘mitochondrial nutrient’

07-Sep-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Astaxanthin’s strong anti-oxidant activity may help prevent mitochondrial dysfunction, which could explain it’s strong potential benefits for a range of health conditions, says a new mini-review from South Korea.

New research service offers insights for probiotics manufacturers

05-Sep-2018 By Hank Schultz

A new research service offered by William Reed, parent company of NutraIngredients-USA, will offer business insights to probiotics manufactures and brand holders as well as companies in other categories.

Health

Cocoa for cognition: Study proposes how to assess what exactly in chocolate may give brains a boost

04-Sep-2018 By Adi Menayang

Belgian researchers propose a chocolate ‘mood pyramid’ to assess which of chocolate’s constituent compounds may affect the mood of chocolate eaters.

Nutrition may influence brain health more so in women than men, study suggests

31-Aug-2018 By Will Chu

Women may need a more nutrient-rich diet to support a positive emotional well-being, US researchers conclude, pointing to polyphenols, omega-3 oils and folate as being particularly beneficial.

USDA approves Nufarm/Nuseed's plant-based long-chain omega-3; FDA approval still to follow

28-Aug-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has given official sanction to Nuseed’s proprietary omega-3 canola for cultivation in the United States, bringing plant-derived long-chain omega-3s a step closer to the market.

Marketer of alternative delivery mode supplements and CBD products close to breaking into black

23-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

NutraFuels, a development stage company that focuses on alternative delivery systems for nutritional supplements and CBD-containing products, has broken the $1 million quarterly revenue barrier for the first time.

Higher omega-3s status linked to less depression in population with heart failure

22-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

A recent pilot study has linked a higher Omega 3 Index with lessened symptoms of depression in a cohort of subjects suffering from chronic heart failure.

Study confirms emulsification boosts EPA and DHA uptake

21-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

A recent study conducted by researchers in the UK concluded that an emulsified cod liver oil boosted the uptake of EPA and DHA. Experts are divided about how the results might affect the marketplace.

EDITOR'S SPOTLIGHT

Nutritional psychiatry: Accessing the gut to address the brain

17-Aug-2018 By Will Chu

As evidence mounts for the existence of the gut-brain axis, nutritional psychiatry has emerged as a promising research field within the food and nutrition community.

CRN announces 11 new members

16-Aug-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has added eleven new companies to its membership network.

Microbiome seen as key factor in resilience/immunity equation

16-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

The microbiome plays a key role in determining how different individuals respond to psychological and physical stress, researchers have concluded.

RCT backs long-term safety of high-dose vitamin D supplements

14-Aug-2018 By Nathan Gray

The long-term safety of high-dose supplementation with vitamin D has been backed up by trial data from a four-year study, say researchers.

Review: Hazy polyphenols picture hinders recognition of compounds' health benefits

13-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

A recent review postulates that the continued imprecise information that surrounds polyphenols has retarded the recognition of the health-promoting aspects of these compounds.

IPA, other experts roundly reject conclusions of 'brain fog' paper

13-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

An observational study that purported to show a link between 'brain fogginess' and probiotics use has so many problems with it that the International Probiotics Association has concluded this is a case where "the peer review process has...

Say 'no' to nootropics? Expert advises extreme caution and extensive research

13-Aug-2018 By Cheryl Tay

An Australian researcher has expressed concerns about consumers' tendency to 'stack' nootropics — also known as 'smart drugs' — claiming it has unknown effects on health, and urgently requires more research.

Gut-brain axis: New study proposes probiotic strain’s benefit in ameliorating IBS-related depression

10-Aug-2018 By Adi Menayang

Depression and anxiety are common symptoms among people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A study out of India suggests that probiotic supplementation may improve these symptoms among those with IBS.

Ketone supplement may boost athletic decision-making ability, study suggests

08-Aug-2018 By Will Chu

Ketone esters may have cognitive boosting properties that enable athletes to make crucial decisions during the final stages of a match, according to two Dublin City University (DCU) researchers.

Fibre-rich foods said to reduce gut stress and ‘anxiety-like behaviour’

06-Aug-2018 By Will Chu

Evidence for the gut-brain axis’ influence was shared in new research identifying the role high-fibre foods have in reducing the effects stress has on the gut and in anxiety-like behaviour.

AKA says it can see signs that government position on kratom is evolving

03-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Kratom advocates say they can see cracks developing in the wall the federal government has tried to build around access to this botanical.

Omega-3s associated with better executive function in cohort of young children

01-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Young children with the highest levels of omega-3s in their blood outperformed their peers on a measure of executive function, according to new research conducted in West Africa.

The nutrition pyramid? Let's not forget hidden hunger, says DSM executive

01-Aug-2018 By Kacey Culliney

Preventative and personalised nutrition brings enormous opportunity but only addresses health needs of a small population segment, warns the president of human nutrition and health at DSM.

Phytonutrient boom? Extraction tech and science-backed NPD will help, says Frost & Sullivan

26-Jul-2018 By Kacey Culliney

There are significant opportunities in global phytonutrients to develop superior variants and innovative delivery formats through extraction technology advances, according to a report from Frost & Sullivan.

Is fibre a depression fighter? China researchers identify reasons for optimism

26-Jul-2018 By Cheryl Tay

The consumption of different types of fibre could aid in alleviating depressive symptoms in adults, according to a study by China's Qingdao University.

Polyphenol extract helps elderly subjects cut their 'mental age'

25-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

A polyphenol rich extract of grape and blueberry has been shown to improve a specific memory marker among older subjects suffering from cognitive decline. The results were characterized as having lowered the subjects' ‘mental age.’

Trials on nutraceutical supplementation for Alzheimer's too short to produce useful results: Industry expert

25-Jul-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Clinical trials on supplementation for Alzheimer's disease are conducted over "too short a time scale", an industry expert has revealed after new research showed limited effects.

Product development continues in medical food category with launch of Vayarin Plus

24-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

Question marks abound regarding what can be classified as a ‘medical food.’ But despite the uncertainty, product development continues in the space.

Company looks for metabolites associated with gut health via pinprick blood test

20-Jul-2018 By Hank Schultz

A personalized nutrition startup called Ixcela is taking a unique tack toward microbiome health by measuring metabolites in the blood that are associated with healthy gut functioning.

Coffee consumption has limited effects on cognitive function in later life: Meta-analysis

20-Jul-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Coffee consumption has minimal impact on cognitive function in mid- to later life, according to the findings of an international meta-analysis.

Stress transfer via vaginal microbiota may contribute to brain disorders in later life

19-Jul-2018 By Will Chu

A mechanism that details the transfer of stress exposure via vaginal microbes is the focus of a new study that may also be a risk factor for future psychiatric disorders in offspring, such as schizophrenia.

Burning out at work? French oak wood extract may help, says study

13-Jul-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with an extract from French oak wood may help reduce symptoms of fatigue associated with burnout syndrome, says a new pilot study from Italy.