Proteins, peptides, amino acids

Algae biofuels expertise doesn't always translate to nutraceuticals, expert says

16-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

The money pouring into biofuels research has buoyed the algae sector and helped companies get off the ground with technology development and initial facility buildout. But translating that expertise in growing algae at something approaching commercial...

New FDA guidance sheds more light on formulation, marketing of medical foods

15-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

The Food and Drug Administration has given additional clarification to a ill-defined subcategory of foods by issuing a revised draft guidance on medical foods.  The new version clarifies some issues surrounding branding and marketing, and in so doing,...

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.

Whey concentrate prices double in two years

Chinese demand drives whey above €7/kg – but is it over priced?

13-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

Soaring whey prices are changing the face of the protein concentrate market, but hefty Asian-driven premiums won’t signal a flood to plant proteins, says an analyst.

Solazyme algal protein debuts in Twinlab's CleanSeries powder product

12-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Algae producer Solazyme has reached a critical commercial waypoint with the launch of its algal protein ingredient in Twinlab’s new CleanSeries Veggie Protein Powder.  And Twinlab gets a vital differentiator in the increasingly competitive vegetable protein...

Post Foods moves into active nutrition, supplements, with $180m deal to buy Joint Juice and Premier Protein maker PNC

05-Aug-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Ready-to-eat cereals giant Post Holdings has moved into the active nutrition and supplements market with a $180m deal to acquire Premier Nutrition Corporation (PNC) - maker of Titan and Premier Protein bars and shakes, and Joint Juice (liquid supplements...

Going big: MusclePharm announces product deal with Arnold Schwarzenegger

31-Jul-2013 By Hank Schultz

MusclePharm, a Denver, CO-based manufacturer of sports nutrition products, has announced a development deal with the biggest name in the muscle business—Arnold Schwarzenegger.

News in brief

Missed Bone & Joint Health 2013? Listen again free, on-demand

25-Jul-2013

Can you make inflammation claims regarding joint health? How do you differentiate products in the bone health sector where so many products are based on calcium and vitamin D?

You'll sell more sports nutrition products targeting fitness walkers and yoga enthusiasts than team sports players, says Packaged Facts

25-Jul-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Sports nutrition marketers have traditionally focused on young men, sports teams and hardcore athletes. In future, however, they will need to spend more time targeting women, weekend warriors and consumers pursuing individual sports and fitness activities...

Roquette to showcase algae ingredients at IFT after parting ways with Solazyme

12-Jul-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Two weeks after announcing a parting of ways with Californian joint venture (JV) partner and algae expert Solazyme, French ingredients giant Roquette says it will be showcasing two microalgae-based food ingredients at the IFT show in Chicago.

Berry-enriched protein matrices (Nutrasorb) pass sensory and stability tests as functional food ingredients

12-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Proteins enriched with cranberry compounds are nutritionally stable and effective against bacteria that may cause urinary tract infections, says a new study that builds the scientific support for the Nutrasorb ingredients.

Cyvex Nutrition launches new Protomine line of clean-label hydrolyzed fish proteins from Bluewave

11-Jul-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Bluewave Marine Ingredients - which is blazing a trail in the burgeoning protein ingredients market with its ultra-digestible fish proteins - has struck a deal with Cyvex Nutrition to take a hydrolyzed fish protein called Protomine to market.

Worldwide macro trends favor Herbalife, president says

09-Jul-2013 By Hank Schultz

Three mega trends will drive Herbalife’s continued expansion, said president Des Walsh.  The world is getting fatter, it’s getting older, and in the hangover from the 2008 financial crisis economic expansion still lags in much of the world leaving many...

Nestlé, Danone cut Chinese infant formula prices in response to pricing probe

05-Jul-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

Nestlé-owned Wyeth Nutrition and Danone Dumex are slashing the price of their infant formula products in China in response to the launch of an investigation into their pricing practices and suspected anti-monopoly violations.

Hard physical work? Amino acid may offer relief, suggests data from Antarctica

24-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of the amino acid ornithine may improve sleep disturbances associated with hard physical work, says new data from the Japanese Antarctica Research Expedition.

Maker of muscle supp from eggs seeks to grow market with study on women

21-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

MYOS Corporation is seeking to expand applications for its signature muscle-growth supplement from fertilized hens eggs with a new clinical trial that aims to investigate the product’s performance among women.

Company offers simplified 3-prong approach to personalized nutrition

19-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

Nutritional supplement manufacturer 3Care Therapeutics is the latest company to dip a toe into the personalized nutrition pool by offering a simplified system to practitioners to help them integrate the use of the company’s products into their practices...

NAI sues GNC, others over infringement of beta-alanine patents

19-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

Natural Alternatives International has sued GNC and two other companies over alleged patent infringement for the manufacture, distribution and sale of a preworkout supplement featuring high levels of beta-alanine.

Bluewave targets 5-10% market penetration for ‘purist’ protein consumers with new fish powder products

11-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Fish protein producer Bluewave has announced the commercial launch of its AminoMarine brand protein powder available to retail buyers in the USA market.

Supplement use cuts length and cost of hospital stays, study finds

31-May-2013 By Hank Schultz

A large scale statistical study has concluded that the use of oral nutritional supplements can cut the length of hospital stays, cut costs, and reduce the chance of readmissions.

Nutrition 21 gets NDI for arginine silicate ingredient

21-May-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The US Food and Drug Administration has accepted Nutrition 21’s inositol-stabilized arginine silicate (Nitrosigine) as a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI).

Big interview: Kevin Cleary, CEO Clif Bar & Company

Clif Bar CEO: 'The protein trend is hot for men and women right now'

21-May-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Nutrition bars enter - and exit - the snacks aisle at the speed of light these days. So how has Clif Bar managed to sustain the kind of growth rivals can only dream of, year after year? Elaine Watson caught up with CEO Kevin Cleary to find out.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2013

Trend-spotter: The rise of slow-energy

17-May-2013 By Shane Starling

There are two speeds when it comes to energy products: Slow and fast, says Mintel trend-spotting guru David Jago.

Big interview: Andrew Dahl, CEO Health Enhancement Products Inc

HEPI: There’s no money in algal biofuels - yet. But nutraceuticals are a different story…

16-May-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Right now, a gallon of gas costs $4 or less. Produce it from algae, and you can expect to pay $18 or more, says the boss of one firm convinced that cutting edge nutraceuticals - not biofuels - is where algae’s true potential lies, in the near term at...

Plant-based protein craze drives renewed interest in peanut flour

14-May-2013 By Elaine WATSON

While peanut flour has been around for years, recent interest in protein - particularly the plant-based variety - has sparked renewed interest, particularly in the nutritional bars market, according to one leading supplier.

Protein supplements may slow functional decline in the elderly

30-Apr-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Frail older people may benefit from a daily protein supplement suggests new data from a randomized controlled trial that showed a reduction in the progression of functional decline.

Personalized nutrition push drives Usana's results, CEO says

25-Apr-2013 By Hank Schultz

Usana Health Sciences’ personalized nutrition products and applications have boosted the company’s bottom line, according to statements from company officials during a conference call discussing first quarter results.

Pea protein + soluble fiber may slash cholesterol levels: Animal data

24-Apr-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Combining pea protein with oat fiber or apple pectin may help reduce cholesterol, with the effects being additive, suggests new results from the University of Milan in Italy.

Carnitine in blood is indicator of cardiovascular issues, not cause, expert says

22-Apr-2013 By Hank Schultz

A recent headline-grabbing study from the Cleveland Clinic linking L-carnitine with atherosclerosis is a case of shooting the messenger, according a doctor who did much of the early research on the substance.

‘There’s a huge protein gap, and we’re going to help fill it’: RiceBran Technologies blazes trail with new rice bran protein range

28-Mar-2013 By Elaine WATSON

A firm that has made a name for itself by extracting value-added ingredients from rice bran - which always used to be regarded as a waste by-product of rice-milling - is hoping to score another industry first with the launch of high-quality rice bran...

Carnitine researcher recognized with award

26-Mar-2013

Supplement industry pioneer Dr Stephen L. DeFelice has been honored with the 2013 Marconi Science award by UNICO, the largest Italian-American service organization at a recent meeting of the organization in Las Vegas.

Swedish start-up backs pre-loaded satiety proteins

20-Mar-2013 By Shane Starling

Swedish firm Indevex Biotech is marketing low-GI, protein blends designed to be eaten about 30 minutes before meals to increase satiety.

Protein, fiber and flavor key to producing satiety, expert says

14-Mar-2013 By Hank Schultz

The obesity dilemma is complex and offers multiple avenues of attack.  Portion control experts boil it down to this: It’s a question of how much, not what we eat.  But many experts say how food is formulated can play a role in limiting intake.

Axiom CEO: 'Whey now shares the sports nutrition trophy with rice protein'

14-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A new study that indicated ‘identical’ effects of rice protein isolate and whey protein isolate for sports nutrition shows that rice protein now ‘shares the trophy’ as sports nutrition’s protein source of choice, says the CEO of Axiom Foods.

Special edition: Protein!

08-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

From building muscle to satiety and reducing the risk of sarcopenia, protein is hot. The ingredient has been ever present in our headlines in 2013, and in this special edition we look at the key developments that are sure to influence this powerful trend.

Soy industry: FAO protein findings only useful in malnourished populations

07-Mar-2013 By Shane Starling

The European soy sector says a UN report that found dairy proteins offer a superior amino acid profile to plant proteins is only meaningful for the malnourished.

GNC seeks to boost sports market share with new technology, products

06-Mar-2013 By Hank Schultz

Supplement retailing giant GNC has announced new product technologies and marketing initiatives to boost its penetration in the sports nutrition and active lifestyle markets.

FAO-recommended measurement method demonstrates dairy protein 'superiority' - IDF

06-Mar-2013 By Mark ASTLEY

The International Dairy Federation (IDF) has given its backing to a new Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)-recommended method of protein quality measurement that “clearly demonstrates the superiority” of dairy proteins over...

HMB may protect against muscle loss during bed rest: Abbott Nutrition

06-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements containing HMB, a metabolite of the branched chain amino acid leucine, may preserve muscle mass during bed rest, says a new study by Abbott Nutrition.

BioExx’s canola proteins: ‘Wholly comparable to soy protein isolate’

01-Mar-2013

Protein hydrolysates and isolates from canola are ‘wholly comparable to soy protein isolate’ for amino acid bioavailability in humans, says a new study from Germany.

MLM model increases meal replacement compliance, Qivana's new chief science officer says

27-Feb-2013 By Hank Schultz

Donald Layman has taken on the position of chief scientific officer with Provo, UT-based supplment manufacturer Qivana, cementing a relationship that began when the company developed a line of meal replacements and supplements based on his nutritional...

Low-dose L-carnitine can yield weight loss (in motivated overweight individuals): Study

26-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling

A daily dose of 500mg of L-carnitine coupled with motivation training can help weight loss in overweight individuals, according to a Lonza-sponsored pilot study.

Burcon: We’re encouraged by overall market conditions for protein

18-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Launching high quality protein ingredients is ‘timely’ as the world seeks out sustainable, plant-based protein, said the COO of Burcon, as the Canadian protein specialist records its first revenues in its history.

Bluewave: Hydrolyzed fish protein set for US sports nutrition splash

15-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

New sports nutrition product launches containing a new hydrolyzed fish protein are imminent, says Bluewave Marine Ingredients as it brings its branded AminoMarine ingredient to market.

Gatorade G Series Fit failed because it offered 'entry level products to advanced users at high prices’, says Euromonitor

14-Feb-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Growth in the US sports nutrition market has been pretty explosive in recent years, but the failure of high profile launches such as PepsiCo’s Gatorade G Series Fit range shows that even the biggest players sometimes get things badly wrong, says one market...

ISSN position statement on HMB for sports nutrition

12-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) has issued a position paper for the use of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) as a nutritional supplement.

Blends, probiotics and enzymes: Experts discuss the future of protein for sports nutrition

12-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Protein blends will become increasingly prevalent in sports nutrition products, but the science needs to catch up to the possibilities, according to industry experts.

Soy protein shows heart health benefits: RCT

01-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of soy protein may reduce compounds in the body linked to dysfunctional blood vessel health, says new evidence that adds to the potential heart health benefits of the ingredient.

Creatine’s ‘myriad of benefits’ out-muscle possible oxidative stress effects

31-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A new study reporting that creatine supplements may increase levels of oxidative stress in athletes, while also boosting muscle strength, is a ‘mere footnote in the annals of sports supplement research’, says a leading expert.

Special edition: Protein-rich foods: The next generation

Cost and supply benefits are 'icing on the cake' for soy proteins

30-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

After a few years of difficult market conditions, the soy protein market is enjoying ‘dynamic growth’, but what does the future hold for this ingredient, and what kind of impact will the GMO issue have?