Cognitive function

There's room for growth in supply of omega-3 oils from US sources, GOED official says

10-Nov-2014 By Hank Schultz

The recent closure of the fishing season in Peru will sent a pulse through the omega-3s market. Aldo Bernasconi, PhD of GOED, analyzed some recent data for NutraIngredients-USA to give a picture about how that temporary scarcity might affect niche US...

Optimal selenium status linked to better mood for young adults: Study

10-Nov-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Maintaining optimal levels of selenium may improve mood and be associated with lower risk of depressive symptoms for young adults, says a new study from New Zealand.

Brain health drinks gaining global traction: Canadean

05-Nov-2014

Drinks boating polyphenols and other ingredients that boost brain health are winning over more adult consumers, according to market analyst, Canadean.

Flavonoids may be ‘important to promoting broad health and wellbeing in aging’: Harvard study

03-Nov-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Higher intakes of flavonoid compounds in the diet during middle age may boost healthy aging in women, according to data from 1,517 women from the Nurses’ Health Study.

Green tea extract may boost short term memory: Pilot study data

30-Oct-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Extracts from green tea may boost a range of cognitive functions, with particular benefits observed for short term memory, report researchers from Japan.

We want you: Scientific committee calls for cutting edge science at Probiota 2015

29-Oct-2014 By Nathan Gray

A newly established scientific committee are set to assess cutting edge research for the Probiota 2015 Scientific Frontiers poster session. Don’t miss your chance to present as entries close on November 7.

Supply problems with Peruvian anchovy could create opportunity for alternative marine omega-3 sources

23-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

The closure of the upcoming fishing season in Peru will have a generally positive effect on the suppliers of other niche omega-3 marine ingredients, sources say.  But it is more complex than a mere commodity relationship in which scarcity in one source...

Special edition: Healthy aging

Dietary supplements researchers excited by promise of new human cell culture model for Alzheimer's

17-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

The announcement that researchers have developed a way to construct a three dimensional in vitro model of human brain cells that exhibit features of Alzheimer’s disease could be a game changer for the research of cognitive health dietary supplements,...

Curcumin may boost cognition and mood in a healthy older population: RCT

16-Oct-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of Longvida curcumin may boost working memory and mood in healthy older adults, say results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study from Australia.

Insights from SupplySide West

‘We think the campaign will definitely have an effect’: GOED on ‘positive messaging’ to change omega-3 conversation

15-Oct-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s’ campaign to promote positive messages about omega-3s has finally launched, but more funds needs to be raised to allow a national roll-out, said GOED’s Adam Ismail.

Insights from SupplySide West

The big opportunity over the next decade? Offering a multi-pronged approach to take consumers to a greater level of optimal health

14-Oct-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumers are looking for individual and integrated strategies to optimize their health and wellness, but no company has yet put all the pieces together, says BrandHive’s Jeff Hilton.

Kemin launches polyphenol-rich spearmint extract for cognitive health

08-Oct-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Kemin is launching a proprietary phenolic complex sourced from patent-pending, non-GMO lines of its own purpose-grown spearmint for use in dietary supplements.

Lutein + zeaxanthin may boost visual processing speed: RCT data

02-Oct-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Lutein and zeaxanthin may boost visual processing speed even in young people at their peak, says a new study that ties together the eye and brain health benefits of the carotenoids.

Energy drinks increase sports performance – and insomnia and nervousness, says study

02-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Energy drink consumption improves sports performance by 3%–7%, but also increases insomnia, nervousness and the level of stimulation after a competition, according a study.

Supplier says new copper chelate form boosts 'biocompatibility'

01-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

A company that started with an effort to help an injured relative has morphed into a dietary supplement ingredient supplier offering what the founder says is the “world’s first biocompatible copper chelate.”

DSM backs natural zeaxanthin with exclusive deal

01-Oct-2014 By Shane STARLING

DSM, previously focused on synthetic zeaxanthin, has launched a natural version sourced from longtime carotenoid partner Kemin.

Creative bites: Research backs amino acid to boost creative thinking

26-Sep-2014 By Nathan Gray

Food that contains the amino acid tyrosine could promote creative thinking, according to new research.

Dispatches from Euro Fed Lipid Congress, Montpellier

UK researcher backs supplements for boosting omega-3 intakes

22-Sep-2014 By Anna Bonar

Omega-3 supplements are key to boosting intakes, a UK researcher says, and marine omega-3 fatty acids are more beneficial than their plant-based counterparts.

American Ginseng Advisory Panel formed to preserve the genetic diversity of wild botanical

19-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals has formed the American Ginseng Advisory Panel, with the development of a national American ginseng germplasm collection a key goal.

DPA, vitamins D and K ‘should be investigated’ for cognitive health, says new review

19-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

A focus on new nutrients, a more holistic approach, and innovative clinical trials using omics technology may help better support the role of nutrition in cognitive health, says a new review.

Rock Creek seems to be near end of supplement road as FDA rejects NDI filing

17-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, formerly known as Star Scientific, has hit another pothole in the road in the form of a negative opinion from the Food and Drug Administration on its New Dietary Ingredient Notification (NDIN).

AHPA issues recommendations on cannabis regulation

15-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

The American Herbal Products Association continues to help lead the conversation about cannabis with the issuance of recommendations to regulators on the best practices for production and consumption of the botanical.

Coffee genome sequenced: Researchers drink to greater caffeine control

12-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

Reducing, enhancing or even eliminating caffeine content in coffee plants will be possible in the near future researchers are saying after completing the genomic map of the coffee plant Coffea canephora.

Omega-3 may reduce epilepsy seizures

11-Sep-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Low doses of omega-3 rich fish oil may reduce epilepsy seizure frequency by around a third, according to research published in the British Medical Journal.

Curcumin takes center stage, suppliers say

11-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Sales of curcumin supplements are soaring. This perpetually almost-ready-for-prime-time ingredient has finally arrived, suppliers say.

SPORTS NUTRITION 2014: FOCUS ON CREATINE SCIENCE

‘Get ripped like Rambo and smart like Picasso!’ VPX rips up sports drink rulebook

11-Sep-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

VPX/Redline CEO Jack Owoc tells Sports Nutrition 2014 delegates how to create a creatine-based sports/energy drink that’s 'omnipresent enough to crush Red Bull, Powerade and Monster'.

Products aimed at kids is a bright spot in murky omega-3s sales picture, emulsion manufacturer says

10-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Products targeting children is a bright spot in the otherwise murky sales picture for omega-3s, said an executive with Coromega, a company that markets omega-3 emulsion products.

Omega-3s and vitamin D first focus for Global Nutrition & Health Alliance

10-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

The just-formed Global Nutrition & Health Alliance (GNHA) is tackling intake levels for vitamin D and omega-3 as the group formed by medical and health experts kicks into life.

Rimfrost going under the krill fishery sustainability knife (again)

09-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

Norway’s Olympic Seafood-owned krill phospholipid and omega-3 supplier Rimfrost is under assessment from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) - a €300,000 process it expects to complete by the “middle of next year”.

Caffeine may have positive effects on Alzheimer’s-related tau deposits, says study

09-Sep-2014 By Anna Bonar

Caffeine could help ease the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease German-French research has shown.

Omega-3s, cognitive health, and Dr Oz: NutraIngredients-USA’s top articles of the summer

04-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

It’s been an interesting summer for the dietary supplements industry, and we’re taking a look back at some of the lessons from the summer to keep front of mind as we head into the busy fall period.

Omega-3 reduces anti-social behaviour in kids: Long term study

04-Sep-2014 By Anne Bruce

High-dose omega-3 supplementation can reduce anti-social behaviour in children - and alter parent attitudes - a 2-year study has found.

Swiss player ready for reduced cost resveratrol launch

03-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

10-year-old Swiss biotech firm Evolva has completed the resveratrol manufacturing cost-reduction programme it embarked on for the antioxidant nearly two years ago when it bought defunct Fluxome’s business for €550,000.

DSM to increase omega-3s capacity in light of dietary reference intake review

28-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

The move by Canadian and US health authorities to look at the establishment of a dietary reference intake for omega-3s will be a boon both for public health and the health of the market for these important nutrients, omega-3s supplier DSM says.  The company...

‘No surprise’: RCT data supports Nawgan’s ability to boost alertness, attention and cognitive performance

28-Aug-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming Nawgan, the ‘alertness beverage’ containing citicoline and caffeine, can boost attention and alertness in young adults, according to results of a randomized clinical trial.

Krill sustainability backed in 18 month review

28-Aug-2014 By Shane STARLING

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has backed the sustainability of Norwegian firm Aker Biomarine’s Antarctic krill fishing activities, with improved scores.

New Omega-3 product sourced from Alaskan Pollock stresses freshness, sustainability, traceability

25-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

A new omega-3 product sourced from Alaskan Pollock has hit the market. Offered by Seattle-based American Marine Ingredients, the new ingredient is in the form of a finished product branded as 54°North Omega-3 with Vitamin D3.

Caffeine’s neuroprotective effects dependent on genetic makeup, says study

19-Aug-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden say they have discovered genetic variations in caffeine’s protection against Parkinson’s Disease.

Curcumin ingredient beats placebo in treating depression

18-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

A recent study on a curcumin formulation branded as BCM-95 has shown the botanical to be more effective than a placebo in treating symptoms of major depression.

Deal cements supply relationship for more bioavailable curcumin, quercitin out of Japan

15-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Thera Innovations, a Canadian importer of dietary supplement ingreidients, has anounced a new supply deal for more bioavailable forms of curcumin and quercitin. The ingredients, branded as Theracumin and EMIQ, and are souced from Theravalues Corporation,...

Research supports ever-wider role for vitamin D, CRN says

13-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

The outlook for vitamin D is getting ever brighter, as scientific results continue to pile up for the prohormone’s benefits.  The latest study on the relationship of vitamin D to the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease reinforces that picture, said...

Red Queen Rules: Understanding nutra space acquisition and evolution

11-Aug-2014 By Dr Matthew Jones

By analysing the long-lasting commitments and acquisition activity of major companies Dr Matthew Jones at CPL Business Consultants uses the Red Queen theory to develop an understanding of their corporate mind-set and appetite for acquisitions and partnerships...

Practitioners ignore bad press, continue to recommend omega-3s, survey finds

08-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Despite recent negative publicity surrounding omega-3s, a new survey has found that practitioners who commonly recommend supplements to their patients still strongly support the use of omega-3s.

Stressed men may benefit from soy-based phosphatidylserine, say researchers

08-Aug-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Soy-based phosphatidylserine may normalise the stress reactions of the nervous system and hormone glands in highly stressed males, according to research.

Largest-ever study of its kind

Vitamin D deficiency could double dementia risk, says six-year study

07-Aug-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Vitamin D deficiency in older people may double the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to the largest study of its kind.

DSM and Merck form high-end folate alliance

06-Aug-2014 By Shane STARLING

DSM Nutritional Products (DNP) is not abandoning its folic acid (vitamin B9) offering but has added a high-end, folate form aimed at global supplement and food makers in a deal with Merck in Switzerland.

Eating more fish linked to lower cognitive decline in the over 65s

06-Aug-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consuming more fish could significantly reduce the annual rate of cognitive decline in older adults, says a new study from researchers at the University of North Carolina and Duke University.

DSM Q2 nutrition profits slip 11% as key markets struggle

05-Aug-2014 By Shane STARLING

Sales slipped 6% and net profits 11% in Q2 for DSM’s human and animal nutrition arm as adverse currency movements, a slow US vitamins and omega-3 food supplements market and the Asian botulism infant formula scare affected earnings.

‘Not enough people are talking about nutrition and brain function’, says DSM's VP of Science, Communication & Advocacy

05-Aug-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Vitamins and the omega-3 DHA are a ‘viable alternative approach to delaying brain aging’, says a new review of the scientific literature, but are people talking about nutrition and brain function?

Science in brief

Folic acid supplements fail to boost mood in young people

04-Aug-2014

Dietary supplements containing folic acid did not improve influence the incidence of mood disorder in young people with an increased familial risk of the condition, says a new study.