Cognitive function

Could caffeine supplements boost your golf game?

01-Sep-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

A caffeine-containing supplement may improve golf scores and longer drives, according to results of a new trial from Auburn University.

1 day to go! NIU’s Cognitive Health Online Summit to lifestages, market dynamics and key ingredients

01-Sep-2015

How does Abbott Nutrition design cognitive health products for key lifestages? Where are the knowledge gaps for omega-3s and brain health? How much science is there behind the main ingredients? And how is the market performing? 

Lutein/zeaxanthin and cognitive health: New study supports macular pigment as potential biomarker of brain health

27-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Measuring macular pigment offers potential as a biomarker of cognitive health, and Alzheimer’s patients are more likely to be seriously deficient in carotenoids, say data from two new studies.

“Omega-3s, from fish or supplements, should be consumed throughout life," says GOED

Omega-3 supplements fail to halt cognitive decline in the elderly, says AREDS 2 data

26-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

One gram per day of EPA plus DHA omega-3s does not appear to slow normal age-related cognitive decline in people over 70, suggests data from the AREDS 2 eye study.

Canadian company claims its liposomal delivery massively boosts CBD bioavailability

25-Aug-2015 By Hank Schultz

Despite the regulatory haze that clouds the picture of hemp ingredients, innovation continues at an unrestrained pace. In the latest development, early stage company Lexaria says it has developed a liposomal delivery system to boost the bioavailability...

Over 90% of Twentysomethings have suboptimal vitamin E status. What does that mean for health?

24-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Huge proportions of the US population are consuming sub-optimal levels of vitamin E, according to a new study from DSM Nutritional Products and Cornell University which raises questions about potential detrimental health effects.

Supplement may drive brain benefits in ‘action planning’

20-Aug-2015 By Nathan Gray

People consuming the food supplement GABA may have an enhanced ability to react to and prioritise different actions, say researchers.

Tate & Lyle Ventures invests in Evolve BioSystems for newborn probiotics & prebiotics

20-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Evolve BioSystems is receiving a $2 million investment from Tate & Lyle Ventures to support Evolve’s ongoing clinical activities and preparations for commercial launch of its novel probiotic and prebiotic products.

Brain boosting bioactives, Part 2: From citicoline and curcumin to resveratrol

19-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

In the run-up to the NutraIngredients-USA’s Cognitive Health Online Summit on September 2, 2015, we’re taking a look at the leading ingredients… 

Brain boosting bioactives, Part 1: From omega-3 to vitamin E

19-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Memory, attention and focus, development, mood; there are numerous ways that a nutrient or ingredient can affect cognitive health. But which have the most science, how do they work, and how are they performing in the market?

Remember to back up memory claims with precise substantiation, expert says

18-Aug-2015 By Hank Schultz

Losing one’s memory continues to be one of consumers’ number one health concerns. While that represents a healthy market opportunity, companies seeking to address that concern with a dietary supplement need to be very careful about what they say about...

‘Omega-3s: Always a Good Idea’ posts positive results but did not fully return the market to growth

18-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

An integrated marketing campaign to change the conversation on omega-3s and reverse declining sales has contributed to a 3% improvement in year-over-year monthly unit sales in the food/drug/mass channel, says GOED.

‘The US market is ready for stress management supplements’, says Lipogen CEO

10-Aug-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumers are looking for natural products to manage stress, says the CEO of Lipogen. 

‘Groundbreaking’: Citicoline supplements may improve attention in adolescents

06-Aug-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of citicoline may improve attention in adolescent males, and boost motor speed and decreased impulsivity, says a new study using Kyowa Hakko’s Cognizin ingredient.

'Limited evidence' for vitamin B12 & neurological function in elderly: Oxford University review

28-Jul-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Proof of an association between B12 status and neurological function in older people is limited, a review of 12 studies has concluded.

Memory supplements with data to back claims should be acknowledged, says developer with 8 studies to his credit

27-Jul-2015 By Hank Schultz

Thomas Shea, PhD, the academic driving force behind the development of Perceptiv, a memory support dietary supplement, said he was pained to see memory support products tarred with a broad brush via recent statements made by Sen. Claire McCaskill. While...

Oak wood extract may boost energy levels, reduce tension: Pilot data

23-Jul-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplementation with an extract from French oak wood may improve energy, tiredness, and tension, says a new study.

‘Expanding the innovative ingredient options’: Glanbia launches omega-3 powder

16-Jul-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Glanbia Nutritionals has launched a new omega-3 powder for inclusion in multi-ingredient applications, including tablet, capsule, melt and powdered beverage applications.

High-fat diets may change gut microflora and signals to the brain: Rat data

13-Jul-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

A high-fat diet may affect the bacterial populations in the gut and detrimentally affect satiety signaling to the brain, says a new study using lab rats.

Science and market build for Kemin’s spearmint extract for cognitive health

10-Jul-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of Kemin’s Neumentix spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) extract may improve the quality and accuracy of working memory in older adults, say data from a gold-standard randomized controlled trial.

‘An exciting finding’: Are the brain health benefits of B vitamins dependent on omega-3 levels?

06-Jul-2015 By Stephen Daniells

B vitamins may protect against age-related brain wasting, but only in people with high omega-3 levels, says a new study from the University of Oxford that extends our understanding of how nutrients work together.

RCT data questions benefits of vitamin B12 supplements for older people

02-Jul-2015 By Nathan Gray

Vitamin B12 supplements offer ‘no benefit’ for nervous system and brain function in older people with moderate vitamin B12 deficiency, according to new RCT data.

Fatty and sugary foods linked to lower cognitive functions: Mouse data

29-Jun-2015 By Nathan Gray

A diet rich in fat and sugar could cause changes in the make up of our gut bacteria, which in turn lead to losses of cognitive functions, suggest researchers.

Probiota Americas

Collaboration among stakeholders needed for probiotics research to move forward, experts say

23-Jun-2015 By Hank Schultz

The immediate future of the probiotics space is clouded by regulatory uncertainty but is buoyed by new science and technology, speakers at the recent Probiota Americas event said.

Supplement sales slow, but hope emerges in probiotics, protein, omega-3s and aloe

18-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Market saturation, negative press and increased competition from fortified foods are taking a toll on dietary supplement sales, growth of which is slowing dramatically, according to research from IBISWorld and Euromonitor International. 

McCaskill opens inquiry into brain health supplements targeting seniors

17-Jun-2015 By Stephen Daniells

US Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has sent letters to the Food and Drug Administration and 15 major retailers after launching an inquiry into products, regulations, and retailers in the dietary supplement industry that specifically market to seniors...

Probiotas Americas

Pivotal study on effect of gut microbial makeup on brain activity changed course of researcher's career

15-Jun-2015 By Hank Schultz

The dawn of inexpensive, rapid genetic sequencing has opened up new avenues for explaining the connection of the gut to the brain.  With this new understanding of the precise makeup of the  gut microbiome, medical science, and by extension the probiotic...

Probiotic Bifidobacteria may boost cognition in anxious mice: Study

15-Jun-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Select strains of Bifidobacteria may positively impact cognition in anxious lab animals, says a new study from Ireland that deepens our understanding of the gut-brain axis.

Zeaxanthin + lutein may speed up visual processing: RCT data

15-Jun-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of zeaxanthin with or without lutein may boost macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and visual processing speed in young adults, says a new study.

Fermented food intake linked to fewer anxiety symptoms: Study

10-Jun-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Increased intakes of fermented foods may be associated with fewer symptoms of social anxiety, particularly for people at higher genetic risk, says a new study. 

Norwegian krill player appoints new chief

09-Jun-2015 By Shane Starling

Matts Johansen has been appointed CEO of krill major Aker BioMarine with a mandate to “to continue to develop one of Norway's most exciting biotechnology companies into a solid and predictable company”.

Euromonitor runs rule over recent nutraceutical award winners

25-May-2015 By Simone Baroke

Market analyst Euromonitor International dissects recent NutraIngredients Awards winners to provide category perspective from sustainable omega-3 to healthy ageing in this guest article.

Omega-3 consumption could enhance ‘cognitive flexibility’ in older adults

22-May-2015 By Nathan Gray

A higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids could lead to better cognitive flexibility in adults at risk of late-onset Alzheimer's, say researchers.

Large-scale, long-term cocoa flavanol study looking at heart, cognitive health enters recruitment phase

15-May-2015 By Hank Schultz

Cocoa flavanols are an ingredient that has been poised at the edge of the runway for a few years now. A new large-scale, long-term study into their cardiovascular and cognitive function benefits that is entering its recruitment phase may help provide...

Psychobiotics: Modulation of gut microbiota may ‘hold the key to’ neuropsychological disorders

15-May-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Using probiotics and prebiotics to alter the gut microbiota and influence the gut-brain axis may open up new ways of influencing neuropsychological conditions, says a new review.

Single multivitamin-mineral dose may boost mood in older people

12-May-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

A single dose of a multivitamin and mineral and herbal supplement may reduce stress in healthy older women, says a new study from Australia.

Sabinsa expands Ayurvedic herb cultivation as demand grows

08-May-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Botanical supplier Sabinsa is expanding its existing cultivation program for Indian herbs to ensure sustainable supply of ingredients such as turmeric, gac, and black ginger, in order to match demand in the global US$1.6 billion market.

Five weeks to go! Probiota Americas to unite science and industry in North & South America

29-Apr-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Probiota Americas is five weeks away, where pre- and probiotic stakeholders will share the latest insights in science, regulatory, market and business opportunities in North and South America. 

Dispatches from the International Yakult Symposium

No health claims but probiotics remain on medical agenda

27-Apr-2015 By Shane Starling from Berlin

Probiotics are yet to win a health claim in the European Union but they continue to receive backing by various bodies for gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea.

‘Vitamin E helps preserve and protect our fat heads!’: NIH funded study shows role of vitamin E for brain health

17-Apr-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Vitamin E may help maintain levels of DHA in the brain, says a new study with zebrafish funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Low maternal DHA seriously impacts baby brain development: Frog findings

16-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

Maternal deprivation of essential omega-3 fatty acids has a significant impact on the development of the brain, in particular dendrite maturation and synaptic connectivity, say researchers.

Forget about your woes? Probiotics may lower focus on bad feelings and experiences

16-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with a multi-species probiotic may be associated with lower feelings of sadness and less focus on bad feelings and experiences from the past, say researchers.

What impact will mid-life vitamin D levels have on cognitive health 13 years later?

15-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Higher vitamin D levels at middle age may pre-determine better cognitive outcomes later in life, according to a 13-year follow-up study.

Moody microbes? Gut bacteria found to play key role in serotonin production

13-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

Our gut microbiota may play a vital role in driving our mood by regulating the production of serotonin in the intestines and blood, say researchers.

Vitamin D2 vs D3: Same for boosting D levels but D3 superior for sustaining levels?

13-Apr-2015 By Stephen Daniells

There is no difference between vitamin D2 and D3 for raising blood levels of the vitamin, but D3 is superior for sustaining those levels, says a new study from Argentina.

Chinese suppliers angling to snare bigger share of natural astaxanthin market

13-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

Demand for astaxanthin continues to rise and new suppliers are stepping to the fore to meet that demand. Among the newer players in the market are BGG and InnoBio, both Chinese companies extracting astaxanthin from algae grown in closed systems.

Omega-3 supplementation could offer MCI benefits: Pilot study

09-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with a drink containing 2000 mg of omega-3 and mixed botanicals could have ‘significant’ immune and biochemical effects in people that have minor cognitive impairment (MCI), new research suggests.

Dietary curcumin may boost brain DHA: Study

07-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

Increased intake of curcumin could boost levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the brain by enhancing its conversion from other omega-3 precursors in the liver, say researchers.

April 8, 14:00 CET: Experts debate hot issues in NutraIngredients omega-3 forum

Omega-3 hits €25bn but can it keep growing?

03-Apr-2015 By Shane STARLING

Are omega-3 fisheries really under threat? How many functional foods have cracked omega-3 blockbuster status? How is the sector recovering from the ‘Brasky effect’? How are developing markets developing? How is the latest research influencing regulation?...

What do we know about caffeine and Alzheimer's?

01-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

It is ‘imperative’ more research is conducted on the potential benefits of caffeine in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, say scientists.