Energy

Predictive data analysis can help companies become 'market makers,' consultant says

12-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

Markets, whether for dietary supplements, functional foods or other consumer products, are divided between  “market makers” and “market followers.”  You don’t want to be in the latter group if you can help it, said market research expert Peter Leighton.

Company to debut 'natural' energy ingredients in Anaheim

04-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

A company that got its start fighting cancer has moved into the natural area with the launch of three energy ingredients. Applied Food Sciences Inc. will unveil the ingredients at the Next Innovation Summit this week held in conjunction with the Natural...

Pronutria secures $12.25 million in funding to drive development program

17-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

Pronutria, a company based on the mining of an extensive protein database to uncover pharmacologically active nutrients, is moving forward in its development plan with the beginning of two clinical trials on is lead product candidates and the closing...

Omega-3 and metabolism: DHA may reduce risk of metabolic conditions, study suggests

10-Feb-2014 By Nathan Gray

Omega-3 fatty acids, especially in the form of DHA, may be of ‘significant value’ in reducing the risk of metabolic conditions including fatty liver disease, according to new research.

Vitamin C and E supplements hinder endurance training: Study

04-Feb-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Athletes supplementing with vitamin C and E could be harming their endurance ability, a study by Norwegian researchers suggests.

Special edition: Polyphenols

The big challenges in polyphenols: Providing credible evidence and a quality supply chain

28-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

With surging interest in the potential health benefits of polyphenols around the globe, experts suggest that there are still some major sticking points in the polyphenol success story.

Sports nutrition popularity boosts price of some pre workout supplement ingredients

28-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

Strong demand from consumers for sports nutrition products is working its way backward into teh supply of the popular ingredients for these products, sending their prices up, according to a survey from ingredients supplier GWI.

Reaction to IOM's final report on caffeine meeting: More data needed, but new regs unlikely

20-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

Experts who have reviewed a report from the Institute of Medicine on a meeting on the safety of caffeine in foods and beverages have concluded that based on the information in the report, it’s unlikely that FDA will make sweeping changes to the way in...

Industry applauds FDA's release of final version of liquid dietary supplements guidance

14-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

After a four-year delay, FDA has at last released a final version of its guidance on liquid dietary supplements.  The document doesn’t much change the line of thinking offered in the draft version but does offer more detail and clarification and in general...

Groups devoted to legal ginseng trade blast History Channel show glorifying poaching

13-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

A History Channel ‘reality show’ that glorifies illegal ginseng poaching in Appalachia has raised alarms among groups that advocate for the responsible harvesting of the plant, among them United Plant Savers and the American Herbal Products Association.

ChromaDex signs $62 million deal for Niagen, Purenergy ingredients

07-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex has announced the largest deal in its history, a $62 million agreement with nework marketing company 5LINX that covers its Niagen and Purenergy ingredients.

2013 warning letters: NDIs, beverage vs supplement, and brand holders' obligations among important themes

20-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Reading through the warning letter tea leaves, Denver-based attorney Justin Prochnow has come up with some important themes from the Food and Drug Administration.  Obligations of brand holders, status of liquid products and the regulatory status of new...

Poster deadline extended by one week to December 13

Probiota 2014: Poster proposal deadline extended

04-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

Probiota 2014 – the leading conference bridging the interface of academia and industry for cutting edge science about the prebiotics, probiotics and the microbiome – has extended the call for proposals for its poster sessions by one week to Friday 13th...

FAO backs dairy to raise nutrition among poorest people

26-Nov-2013

Dairy products have an important role to play in improving nutritional levels among the world’s poorest people, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says in a new book.

Energy drinks under the microscope at 'myth-busting’ IFT webinar: How much caffeine are we really consuming, and is it safe?

26-Nov-2013 By Elaine WATSON

While the FDA has raised concerns about the recent proliferation of caffeine-containing products on the market, particularly those marketed at young people, new data suggests energy drinks and shots contribute “minimally” to total caffeine intakes, say...

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

Chromadex CEO: 'If we need to spend millions of dollars to develop an ingredient pipeline, we will do that'

26-Nov-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Buoyed by recent investment from DSM, the CEO of Chromadex says the company is not scared to spend big to develop ingredients that stand up to increased scientific scrutiny and resonate with the market.

Nutranomics brings transdermal supplement delivery system to US

19-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Nutranomics, a Utah-based dietary supplement manufacturer and custom formulator, has moved rapidly since going public via a reverse merger by signing new distribution agreements and licensing technology.

FDA seizes another $2 million worth of DMAA products

19-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

The FDA moved to seize more than $2 million worth of DMAA-containing products from Georgia-based Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc.  US Marshals seized the goods after agency investigators determined they contained 1, 3-Dimethylamylamine HCl (DMAA) or its chemical...

UK medicines agency issues OxyElite Pro 'no-no'

08-Nov-2013 By Shane Starling

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has joined the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in warning consumers off pre-workout sports supplement, OxyElite Pro.

Kyowa Hakko's Sustamine continues market penetration with energy gel launch

05-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Kyowa Hakko’s Sustamine sports nutrition ingredient continues to gain traction in the US marketplace with its latest launch in an energy gel.

Beetroot juice supplementation may boost time trial performance

04-Nov-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice for four days prior to a running time trial may boost performance, according to results of a study with trained female runners.

Detecting deficiencies: New strategy could speed up mass testing of vitamin and mineral levels

25-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

Analysing levels of proteins in blood could be used to estimate levels of essential vitamins and minerals without directly testing for each nutritional factor, according to new research that suggests the use of mass spectrometry to rapidly detect nutritional...

Colorado startup shakes up energy drink category with timed release caffeinated beverages

25-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

Colorado-based beverage startup Züm XR has made a splash with its patented technology that delivers slow, sustained caffeine release that has  made its line of beverages the best sellers in their category in the western states region of Whole Foods Market,...

Are bael and its aegeline content set for intense analytical & safety scrutiny?

25-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

It’s a sacred tree to Hindus and the dried fruit is used in teas, but could Bael (Aegle marmelos) soon be the center of intense scrutiny from the herbal community, analytical experts, and regulatory authorities?

Australia and NZ add to OxyElite Pro’s global woes

23-Oct-2013 By Shane Starling

Australia and New Zealand have jointly issued a warning against pre-workout sports supplement OxyElite Pro following its links to an outbreak of acute non-viral hepatitis in Hawaii that killed one person and affected 29.

Craze manufacturer disputes NSF's discovery of drug tainting

17-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The news that NSF and two collaborators have found a methamphetamine-like compound in the popular pre-workout sports supplement Craze is being disputed by the product’s manufacturer, Driven Sports.

USPLabs gets warning letter for Oxy Elite Pro and VERSA-1, but claims aegeline ingredient has a long history of safe use

16-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent a warning letter to Dallas, Texas-based USPLabs for its OxyElite Pro and VERSA-1 products, claiming the ingredient aegeline is not a lawful dietary ingredient, but the company says the ingredient is a...

Beyond caffeine: Alternative energy boosters

15-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

As consumer perceptions of caffeine shift and the threat of more market regulation looms, companies are scrambling to find the next blockbuster to cater to demand for energy-boosting products, says an analyst.

Science, certifications drive export potential of US-made sports nutrition products, experts say

11-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The sports nutrition market continues to expand, and with global demand rising, experts say opportunities are growing, too, for US made products in export markets.

Nestlé research discovers 'distinct metabolic signature' for obesity

11-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

People with visceral obesity share a unique set of biomarkers that may help researchers to identify future health risks and dietary changes that may help to tackle obesity, say researchers from Nestlé.

The ‘shady supplements industry’ vs ‘legitimate medicine’: A tragic tale often told

10-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Acute non-viral hepatitis is tragic, whether it’s potentially linked to a product labeled as a dietary supplement or not. It is also tragic when critics of supplements use it as a stick to beat the entire industry with, despite there being many unanswered...

FDA investigating liver damage reports potentially linked to products labeled OxyElite Pro

08-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

A federal investigation is underway into reports of acute non-viral hepatitis in Hawaii, with many of the cases being linked to a dietary supplement product labeled as OxyElite Pro.

The fountain of youth? Study suggests vitamin B3 may increase lifespan ... in worms

04-Oct-2013

Supplementation with the B vitamin niacin could help to increase lifespan by 10% by, according to new research performed in roundworms.

GNC buys UK's top online sports nutrition supplements retailer

03-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

GNC Holdings, Inc. is continuing its push into the high growth sports nutrition space with the purchase of A1 Sports Limited, the leading multi-brand sports nutrition e-commerce retailer in the UK doing business under the name Discount Supplements.

Synthetic versions of natural ingredients with NDI notifications crop up in marketplace

02-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The question whether an NDI notification opens the door for follow on ingredients has yet to be definitively answered.  But sources say the question is a lot clearer when the putative follow on ingredient might not even be the same thing.

Finnish synephrine ban ‘based on unsubstantiated conjecture’: Academic

02-Oct-2013 By Shane STARLING

A dossier of scientific data that convinced Health Canada and Intertek Cantox of the safety of bitter orange extract, synephrine, has been sent to Finnish authorities which recently banned weight loss products containing the stimulant, along with caffeine.

ATP supplement may boost muscular adaptations after resistance exercise: Study

02-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Combining resistance training with supplements formulated with the branded ingredient Peak ATP may prevent declines in performance and boost muscle mass and strength, say results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

What’s driving growth in functional food and beverages? A convergence of nutrition, convenience and taste

27-Sep-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

With the global market for functional foods and beverages on track to reach $176.7 billion this year, this booming category now accounts for 5% of the overall food market and is driving growth for the food industry as a whole, according to Euromonitor. 

Consumers seeking caffeine alternatives that deliver the same energy boost, says Chromadex commissioned survey

27-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Over 70% of Americans may be interested in reduced caffeine energy beverages that can offer the boost of caffeine but without the crash, according to a new survey conducted by Ipsos Research and commissioned by Chromadex.

Special edition: Amino Acids and Protein

Plant or animal: A global protein snap shot

19-Sep-2013 By Shane STARLING

From gym powders and shakes to German ‘evening’ breads to ‘brogurt’ – high-protein yoghurt marketed at men – to the rise of Greek yoghurt in the US, protein bars, meat substitutes and good ol’ ‘trad’ dairy – protein is powering right now.

Special Edition: Amino Acids and Proteins

BCAAs take center stage in targeted sports nutrition products

19-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

Protein as a driver of sports nutrition products is an old story.  The newer twist, however, is the use of individual amino acids, and specifically the branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine, to deliver targeted benefits for their role...

Planning needed to ensure health of US wild ginseng stocks in face of huge Chinese demand, experts say

11-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

A recent TV news segment on the subject of ginseng poaching raised the specter of the plant’s possible extinction in the United States.  While that fear may be overblown, there’s little doubt that a number of factors (including overharvesting) are working...

Energy… minus the caffeine? PepsiCo explores Chinese herbal extracts for fatigue relief, patent application reveals

03-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

PepsiCo is exploring the potential of natural energy drinks containing Chinese herbal extracts that can alleviate fatigue and enhance sports performance without a big dose of caffeine, a patent application indicates.

Piracy blights fragile global botanicals sector

23-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

The global botanical medicines and supplements sector is a fragile one, and one whose fragility is being amplified by a small number of – let’s not beat about the sea buckthorn bush – dodgy players.

UK joins Dutch in banning Dexaprine fat burner; FSA issues DNP warning

21-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

The UK’s medicines agency has followed its Dutch counterpart in banning the fat burner Dexaprine made by Californian firm iForce Nutrition.

Fair trade, flavor keys to Garden of Life's new protein products

20-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

When Garden of Life looked at extending its protein and meal replacement lines with coffee and yerba mate flavors, the company was looking for partners that were the right fit both in terms of ingredient quality and service but also in terms of outlook,...

Dutch ban Dexaprine fat burner after hospitalisations

20-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

Dutch authorities have issued a warning against a US fat burning food supplement called Dexaprine after 11 adverse reactions including hospitalisations and severe heart problems.

MusclePharm hits $28.5 million in sales in second quarter

15-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

MusclePharm Corporation, a Denver, CO-based manufacturer of sports nutrition products, continued its meteoric rise by posting a 51% rise in net sales in the second quarter of 2013.

Emerging market healthy food 'faux pas': Too much pleasure, too soon

14-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

“The most common mistake by western fast moving consumer good (FMCG) companies who launch new food and beverage brands in emerging markets is that they jump straight in to a Pleasure position with their brands.”

Caffeine cards are on table following IOM meeting, observers say

13-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

A recent workshop sponsored by the Institute of Medicine on caffeine and its effect in consumer products such as energy drinks was helpful in making clear the points of view of the various stakeholders, according to observers.  What was less clear was...