Vitamins & premixes

ChromaDex cuts losses while posting tiny revenue increase

14-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex Corporation reported a 1% rise in overall revenues in the second quarter of 2013 while cutting losses to under $1 million.

Vitamin D supplementation may not have blood pressure benefits, say researchers

14-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with vitamin D3 does not appear to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension, new research suggests.

Vitamin B12 breakthrough offers bacterial production promise

13-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

A breakthrough in the understanding of the molecular pathways involved in the production of vitamin B12 may offer promise for better production efficiency, say researchers.

UV light flashes can super charge vitamin D in mushrooms, say researchers

09-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Short flashes of ultraviolet light can boost the levels of vitamin D in mushrooms in just seconds, say researchers.

FTC mails checks from $2.1m fund created by NBTY to settle deceptive marketing charges over kids' multivitamins

09-Aug-2013 By Elaine WATSON

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has mailed 10,144 checks to reimburse consumers who bought Disney- or Marvel Hero-themed supplements for kids from NBTY and two subsidiaries under allegedly false pretenses.

PQQ set to make splash in sports nutrition beverages

06-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Two firms have joined forces to bring the multifunctional molecule pyrroloquinoline quinone, or PQQ, into the sports nutrition market via beverage applications.  The partnership pairs Virun’s delivery technology with Nascent Health Sciences' supply...

Arches President: We think we can easily double the size of our tinnitus-relief business

02-Aug-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Utah-based Arches Natural Products has expanded its suite of products for tinnitus relief, and is confident that it can double its business by increasing awareness among the millions of sufferers who live with no support.

Science brief

Vitamin E tocopherol does not deplete tocotrienol levels: Rat data

01-Aug-2013

Regular intake of vitamin E alpha-tocopherol may not deplete tissue levels of tocotrienols, says a new study with lab rats.

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.

US children’s supplement use is ‘moderate and appropriate’, says new survey

26-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The use of dietary supplements by an estimate 2.9 million US children is ‘moderate and appropriate’, according to a new survey.

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?

Strong China sales push Usana to record results

25-Jul-2013 By Hank Schultz

Usana Health Sciences has achieved another quarter of record financial results based largely on strong sales within China. In an earnings call with analysts discussing the company’s second quarter 2013 financial results, Paul A. Jones, Usana’s CFO, said...

Low vitamin D again linked to mobility issues for older people

23-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Vitamin D deficiency may increase a senior citizen’s risk of physical limitations like walking up and down stairs, and being able to dress and undress, says a new study from The Netherlands.

BASF on ‘convenient nutrition’: We can tap our pharma solutions to enhance supplement compliance

22-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

‘Convenient nutrition’ offers options for dietary supplement consumers to improve their compliance, and experience from the pharma sector can provide solutions, says BASF’s Samy Jandali.

'We need a quantum leap in vitamin E research'

DSM expert issues 'wakeup call' for new science on vitamin E

12-Jul-2013 By Nathan Gray

Industry and academics must make a 'quantum leap' in vitamin E research if we are do begin to understand the mass of as yet unknown information about the vital vitamin, according to DSM expert Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer.

Low vitamin D levels may speed up bone aging

11-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Vitamin D deficiency may not only reduce bone density, but also detrimentally affect bone quality, and speed up the aging of human bone, says a new study.

Thorne Research teams up with Chromadex to take Niagen to healthcare-practitioner channel

10-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Thorne Research has agreed a three-year marketing deal to take Chromadex’s Niagen-branded nicotinamide riboside  into a series of first-to-market products for the healthcare-practitioner channel.

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...

High dose vitamin supplements may reduce lifespan by up to a quarter: Animal data

09-Jul-2013 By Nathan Gray

A high intake of vitamin C and vitamin E could 'dramatically' reduce life expectancy by up to 26%, according to new research in voles.

More consumers talking to their physicians about supplement use, but discussions still scarce

03-Jul-2013

The number of consumers who talk to their primary care phsycians about supplement use is slowly increasing, but discussions remain ‘sparse’, says a new study from UCLA.

Antioxidant combination may curb inflammation and manage dyslipidemia: Human data

02-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of vitamin E tocotrienol in combination with antioxidant polyphenols and niacin may improve inflammatory markers and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in seniors, says a recent clinical trial.

Omega-3 from fish and flax backed to prevent broken hips: Study

02-Jul-2013 By Nathan Gray

Consuming high levels of omega-3 fatty acidsmay reduce the risk for hip fractures in postmenopausal women, research suggests.

ChromaDex announces two new research collaborations

01-Jul-2013 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex has announced two new research collaborations, one of which involves its newly introduced Niagen nicotinamide riboside ingredient.

PL Thomas and Nattopharma reforge past links to promote vitamin K2

27-Jun-2013

Old vitamin K links have been reforged as NattoPharma ASA and PL Thomas Inc., announce a new strategic alliance to promote the patented MenaQ7 Crystals Natural Vitamin K2 in the dietary supplement, food/beverage and nutricosmetic industries.

Water soluble vitamin K2 form targets ‘significant demand for K2 in food products, especially beverages’

26-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A new water soluble vitamin K2 powder could satisfy the demand for vitamin K2 in food and beverage products, with the suppliers stating that the ingredient has ‘no organoleptic impact and is odorless’.

Vitamin B6 linked to DNA protection: Study

26-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Increased levels of vitamin B6 are associated with less damage to DNA for men, suggests new data from Japan.

Timing is everything: Calcium and vitamin D supplements before exercise may aid bone responses

25-Jun-2013 By Nathan Gray

When it comes to helping keep bones healthy during exercise, the timing of calcium and vitamin D supplementations may just as important as the amount taken, according to new research.

Multivitamin trial suggests some benefits for mood and wellbeing

24-Jun-2013 By Nathan Gray

Daily intake of a multivitamin supplement may have some beneficial effects on stress, anxiety and physical fatigue, according to new trial data.

Vitamin K may affect arterial calcification for hypertensives: Multi-ethnic study

21-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Low vitamin K1 levels may increases in the progression of arterial calcification, or hardening of the arteries, says a new study that may have greater implications for vitamin K2 than K1.

New research pinpoints mechanism behind tocotrienol stroke protection

21-Jun-2013 By Nathan Gray

The vitamin E compound alpha-tocotrienol may offer protection from further damage after a stroke by preventing the loss of important genetic transcripts during stroke, according to new research.

NIH releases database with info on 17,000 dietary supplement labels

18-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

A new government dietary supplement database now provides information on the ingredients thousands of finished products for the benefit of researchers, health care providers and consumers, according to the National Institutes of Health, which hosts the...

Newly available test will help qualify vitamin K2 sources, originators say

18-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

A new test will help bring clarity to the supply situation for vitamin K2, according the test’s originators. The test, developed by ingredient development and marketing firm Xsto Solutions and its supply partner Kappa Bioscience, fixes the ratios of cis-...

Vitamin D slashes blood pressure and CVD risk, study confirms

17-Jun-2013 By Nathan Gray

There is a direct and causal relationship between vitamin D status, high blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to new genetic research data.

Supplement users make healthier lifestyle choices: CRN Survey

13-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Users of dietary supplements seem to make healthier lifestyle choices compared to non-users, including exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and trying to eat a balanced diet, says a new survey from the  Council for Responsible Nutrition...

Probiotic may boost vitamin D levels: First human data

13-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 may boost circulating vitamin D levels in the blood by 25%, say results of a post-hoc analysis of a published randomized controlled trial.

Supplement shows strong results in supporting cognition, mood in Alzheimer's study

07-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

A research team led by Tom Shea, PhD, from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell will present new research on a nutraceutical formulation at an upcoming scientific meeting that shows positive effects on cognitive performance and mood among participants...

Are vitamin D levels linked to body weight?

07-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Non-obese people with low vitamin D levels may be at a higher risk of becoming obese in the years that follow, suggests new data from Spain.

Abbott awards $8 million to 7 studies probing cognition-nutrition link

05-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

Abbott Nutrition and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have announced nearly $8 million in funding for nutrition and cognition studies in the second year of their research partnership.

Going non-GMO in dietary supplements: ‘The supply community is not there with us yet’, say manufacturers

05-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Increasing consumer pressure and potential state legislation mandating labeling are leading dietary supplement manufacturers to face up to the challenges of going non-GMO, but the situation is complex and suppliers have more work to do than many would...

Low vitamin D levels associated with higher respiratory illness risk among elderly

03-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

A new study has found that lower vitamin D levels is associated with a greater risk of respiratory illness among older patients.

Amway continues massive manufacturing expansion with $81 million facility

30-May-2013 By Hank Schultz

MLM giant Amway has broken ground on an $81 million manufacturing and warehouse facility at its headquarters in Ada, MI.  The 317,000 sq-ft. facility will manufacture some of the Nutrilite lines of vitamins and dietary supplements.

Green-lipped mussel omega-3s reduce exercise asthma: Study

29-May-2013

New Zealand green-lipped mussel omega-3s improved respiratory function in exercising asthmatics, Indiana University researchers have found.

Vitamin D may ease exercise-related muscle damage: Animal data

29-May-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplementation with vitamin D may reduce muscle damage and inflammation linked to exercise, suggests a new study with lab rats.

First powered study shows CoQ10 can reduce heart failure by half

28-May-2013 By Shane STARLING

Vitamin-like nutrient CoQ10 can reduce mortality rates by half in patients with moderate to severe heart failure, researchers have concluded in what they say is the first adequately powered trial to do so.

CoQ10 boosts power in German athletes: Study

27-May-2013 By Shane STARLING

A study of 100 German athletes has found daily supplementation with 300mg of CoQ10 form Ubiquinol significantly boosted their power performance.

Special edition: Battling malnutrition

Malnutrition in hospital: Avoidable ... but not a priority?

24-May-2013 By Nathan Gray

The majority of older patients admitted to hospital are malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished. Yet the increased health risks and spiralling healthcare costs associated with this global problem are largely avoidable.

Special edition: Battling malnutrition

Vitamin Angels: We could reach 100 million kids tomorrow if we had the funding

24-May-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

It started with an earthquake. Then a call from a local relief agency led to a mobilizing of connections. Nineteen years later and Vitamin Angels is reaching 30 million kids with micronutrients. But it could be so much more...

Special edition: Battling malnutrition

Dutch food companies collaborate to combat malnutrition in Africa and Asia

24-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Dutch food companies have announced a partnership with government and NGOs to help improve nutrition in selected countries in Eastern Africa and Southern Asia.

Higher doses of vitamin C show promise as cancer treatment adjunct

23-May-2013 By Hank Schultz

Vitamin C as a cancer treatment adjunct received a boost with the release of recent research results in the May edition of Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology.

High dose B vitamins help prevent Alzheimer’s, says researchers

21-May-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

A new study is suggesting that a high dose of B vitamins could stop the onset of Alzheimer’s by preventing shrinkage of the medial temporal lobe, the area of the brain that defines the disease.