Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - Europe US edition

Lipid Nutrition's PinnoThin will help chocoholics feel full

Holland's Lipid Nutrition will for the first time see its satiety ingredient PinnoThin added to chocolate bars in the UK market.

Member states agree on minimum vitamin and mineral levels

A working party drawing up levels for supplements and fortified foods have reached a "general agreement" that the lowest levels should be 15 per cent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) - but questions remain on maximum levels.

Science builds for bilberry extracts kidney benefits

Extracts from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) may protect the kidney from the damaging effects of potassium bromate, suggests a new study with mice.

Polyphenol-rich fruit protect against Alzheimer's: study

A diet rich in polyphenol-rich fruit like apples, oranges and bananas may protect against oxidative stress linked to loss of cognitive function and Alzheimer's, suggests a new study.

Nanostructures tested as beta-carotene carriers in beverages

Beta-carotene, used in foods and beverages as colourants and health ingredient, can be stabilised by novel nano-scale carriers, suggests innovative research from Germany.

Pomegranate juice boosts sperm quality: study

Regular consumption of pomegranate juice may enhance the quality and mobility of sperm, suggests a new study with male rats.

Lallemand launches functional cranberry chews

Lallemand Health Ingredients (LHI) yesterday announced the launch of chewy sweets containing PACran cranberry powder, as it moves to find a foothold in the functional confectionery market.

Demand soars for supplement rulebook

A European wide set of guidelines to help companies comply with EU laws on producing and selling supplements has gained "global demand", the publishers have said.

Soy isoflavone linked to blood pressure improvements

Genistein, an isoflavone from soy, may stimulate the expression of an enzyme linked to better blood flow, suggests a new animal study that my have implications for high blood pressure in humans.

Deadline for health claims looms

Member states have until tomorrow to pass health claims dossiers submitted by industry to the European Commission to gain approval under new legislation on what can be said about products and ingredients.

Cranberry extracts show promise against gullet cancer

An increased intake of fruit and vegetables may cut the risk of Barrett's oesophagus, a precursor to oesophageal cancer, suggests a new study form California.

UK food and drink makers to cut water use

A group of leading UK food and drink manufacturers is pledging to reduce water use under a new programme designed to improve their environmental credentials and cut costs.

Indian gooseberry - the new superfruit?

A plant extract based on the Indian gooseberry has an antioxidant capacity higher than scores of other fruits, including blueberries and strawberries, the manufacturers claim.

Berry extracts better than whole fruit for obesity: study

Purified forms of extracted anthocyanins from berries may decrease obesity, but the whole fruit doesn't produce the same benefits, suggests a new study with mice.

Fruit extracts could calm you down

New Zealand based HortResearch is examining the potential fruit may have on mental performance and hopes that a fruit based product will be able to offer consumers a calming effect.

Dutch food agency says probiotics are safe

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA) has said there is no danger in taking probiotic dairy drink - but is planning to release details on possible consequence of the bacteria on vulnerable groups.

Hydrocolloids' health benefits extended

Hydrocolloid ingredients commonly used as gelling agents, emulsifiers and stabilizers may also have benefits for diabetics, suggests new research from the Dow Chemical Company.

Tailored recipes could help boost nutritional intake

The role of nutrition in cancer recovery has been brought to the forefront with a website which gives consumers and patients help in getting more fruit and vegetables into their diets.

Carotenes linked to lower heart disease deaths

An increased consumption of alpha- and beta-carotene in the diet may reduce the risks of heart disease deaths by about 20 per cent, suggests a new study.

Weekly comment

Probiotics, friend or foe?

The headlines are sensationalist: twenty-four people have died in a probiotic trial. Therefore, probiotics may be fatal. Throw those yoghurt shots away!

Late-onset Alzheimer's slowed by DHA omega-3

Supplements of the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can reduce levels an enzyme linked to Alzheimer's disease, suggests a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Quality seal inspires ingredient confidence, DSM says

DSM has said its quality seal for green tea extract is inspiring global consumer confidence in the efficacy of the extract.

Science stacks up for B vitamins and pregnancy

Low maternal vitamin B12 levels in combination with certain genes may have detrimental knock-on effects to the offspring, suggests a new Dutch that reports higher risk of heart problems.

Microalgae extracts beat synthetic antioxidants for food: study

The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris could be a rich source of extractable antioxidants, and provide potent alternatives to synthetics like butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), suggests new research form Spain.

Dutch patients die after taking probiotics

Twenty-four patients taking part in a trial procedure to treat acute pancreatitis with probiotics have died.

Industry and world leaders discuss beating poor nutrition

Improving worldwide nutrition was brought to the international forefront at the World Economic Forum last night.

UK to spend ₤372m to combat obesity curve

The UK government unveiled the first steps it will take in its national strategy to fight obesity, earmarking £372m for the cause. Steps include addressing food issues, as well as increasing education and encouraging physical activity.

Omega-3 with high fat meal eases cardiovascular changes

Consuming the omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid along with a high fat meal may counter the detrimental effects on arterial stiffness, suggests new research.

Nordic team makes hearty waves in sea research

An update on the work of the Nordic Network for Marine Functional Foods - which is looking into developing new functional foods from marine life - was given in Norway yesterday.

Fruit and veg may slash gullet cancer risk

An increased intake of fruit and vegetables may cut the risk of Barrett's oesophagus, a precursor to oesophageal cancer, suggests a new study form California.

Solid Lonza performance beats rising costs

Lonza has posted a "solid performance" for ingredients - which helped the firm report a 36 per cent increase in earnings - despite an increase in raw material costs.

Low vitamin E levels linked to greater physical decline

Low blood levels of vitamin E are linked to greater physical decline in older people, suggests a new study from Yale University School of Medicine.

Review rejects antioxidants' pre-eclampsia benefits

The antioxidant vitamins C and E might not reduce a woman's risk of experiencing pre-eclampsia, according to a Cochrane Systematic Review.

Frutarom defends pollution slur

Frutarom has hit out at the Israeli Ministry for Environmental Protection over claims that its factory in Haifa Bay has caused pollution problems.

New vegetarian glucosamine hits Europe

China-based Hygieia Health has launched a new vegetarian glucosamine, marketing it as a "pure", "stable", "safe" form of the popular joint health ingredient.

Alginate encapsulation could expand probiotic applications

Encapsulating probiotic bacteria in alginate-coated gelatin microspheres could protect the friendly bacteria against the harsh conditions of the stomach and upper intestine, allowing for greater delivery of these value-added ingredients, suggests new research.

Enzymotec sees heart-health ingredient launch in UK

Israeli-based Enzymotec has entered into a partnership to launch a new supplement containing its CardiaBeat heart health ingredient on the UK market.

Green tea shows benefits against fatty liver

Extracts from green tea may stop the build-up of fatty deposits in the liver, and offer benefits for this silent killer linked to obesity, suggests a new study with mice.

Coffee linked to lower ovarian cancer risk

Drinking three or more cups of coffee per day may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by over 20 per cent, according to a new study.

Supplement law could foster more Turkish delight

A new law in Turkey could help make it easier for food supplement companies to break into the emerging market, which has already seen phenomenal growth in the last decade.

Weekly Comment

Exotic fruits or local berries? You choose

As consumer demand for exotic superfruits increases, so will the impact of transport on the environment. But as policy makers and green campaigners devise more ways of monitoring greenhouse gases, who will win the environmental tug of war?

Ingredient popularity more important than claim

Whether a consumer has heard of an ingredient or not is more important than the type of health claim being made, according to new research.

Grape seed extract is natural antioxidant for chicken

Polyphenol-rich extracts from grape seed has potential as a natural antioxidant in chicken meat, and could reduce the pro-oxidative effects of salt, suggests new research.

Review supports soy's weight management potential

A new review taking in animal, human populations, and clinical trials supports the potential role of soy protein to reduce cholesterol levels, and aid weight loss.

Citrus flavanones show neuroprotection potential

Antioxidant compounds in citrus fruit may have a role to play in protection against neurodegenerative diseases, suggests a new lab study from Taiwan.

Probiotics may ease stress-related gut problems

Gastrointestinal problems associated with stress may find relief from probiotic supplements, reports a new study from Lallemand.

Drinkable whey protein to hit the mainstream

Reflex Nutrition is on the verge of trialing its whey protein drink through a mainstream food wholesaler in the UK, which if successful could be a shot in the arm for further whey products on the market.

EFSA seeks experts for two new panels

The European Food Safety Authority has started seeking experts to sit on its two new panels on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and food contact materials, following the decision to split the existing Additives and Food Contact Materials panel in two.

Young women's bones also benefit from soy: study

Habitual consumption of soybeans and isoflavones may increase bone mineral density in young women, suggests a new study that adds to others looking at older women.

Supplements can help cut 3.5m infant deaths, report finds

Vitamin A supplementation, zinc fortification and improved breast feeding could help save the lives of 3.5 million children who die from undernutrition, a major study on infant nutrition has found.

The simpler the better for food labelling, says study

Simple front-of-pack nutritional labelling and endorsement by health organisations are most efficient in informing consumers, according to a new Unilever study.

Vitamin B6 may slash colorectal cancer risk

Increased intake of vitamin B6 from dietary and supplements may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by over 20 per cent, suggests a large Scottish study.

Soy's cholesterol-lowering mechanism identified

The cholesterol-lowering effects of soy protein may by located in the liver, suggests new research from Korea University and Nestlé Research Center that fills in the gaps in our understanding of the heart healthy benefits of soy.

Bio Serae targets joint health with milk proteins

France's Bio Serae has unveiled a joint health ingredient using milk proteins, which it says has produced good results at lowering inflammation and cartilage degeneration.

EFSA gears up for health claims avalanche

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is preparing to "significantly" boost resources to deal with what may be thousands of health claims passed to it for evaluation.

Novel fruit varieties can capture consumer attention, HortResearch said

New fruit varieties under development by HortResearch which can be higher in antioxidants compared to their more natural counterparts are tapping into consumer's understanding and demand for healthy products.

GM carrots could cut osteoporosis risk

Scientists have genetically modified carrots to enhance the transport of calcium once inside the body, potentially establishing the vegetable as a bone-boosting food.

Vitamin D2 may cut risks of elderly falls

A daily vitamin D2 supplement of 1,000IU may cut the number of falls among elderly people by about 20 per cent, says a new study.

No nano in organic foods, says UK certifier

The use of nanomaterials has been banned from organic foods by the UK's Soil Association, the leading certifier of organic products in the country.

Garlic cancer advert was misleading, ASA said

An advert which claimed garlic supplements have a plethora of benefits including inhibiting cancer cell growth has been removed following an Advertising Standards' Agency (ASA) probe.

Lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin E eyed for cataracts

A higher intake of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as vitamin E, could reduce the risk of developing cataracts by about 15 per cent, suggests a new study.

Nestle explores probiotics' impact on metabolism

Strains of probiotic bacteria can affect metabolism, says a new study from Nestle and Imperial College London that could help the development of new probiotic products tailored for individuals.

Wine waste extract to be used in functional foods

Work is underway to see New Zealand Extract's Vinanza Gold added to a host of functional foods, including cereal products, health bars and even chewing gum.

Industry postpones infant nutrition rules

A high court judge has suspended the implementation of new rules on infant nutrition in the UK after a legal challenge was made by the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association (IDFA).

UK to test vitamins on inmate behaviour

A pilot program to test the effects of vitamin and mineral supplements on inmates at UK young offenders' institutes will be carried out to see if adequate nutrition helps curb violent behaviour.

Weekly comment

How natural is 'natural'?

The refusal by regulators to provide a formal definition of the term 'natural' will ultimately lead to confusion for consumers and a legal headache for manufacturers.

Study questions lignans for colorectal cancer protection

Increased intake of lignans, and subsequently levels of metabolites in the blood, may not be associated with colorectal cancer risk, says a new study that challenges previous findings.

Industry challenge to infant nutrition rules

The Infant and Dietetic Foods Association (IDFA) has called for a judicial review of proposed new rules governing the advertisement of infant nutrition just days before the law was due to come into force in the UK.

Soy linked to less belly fat in postmenopausal women

A daily soy supplement may prevent abdominal fat increases in post-menopausal women, suggests a new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Commission u-turn on health claims will boost innovation

A decision has been made by the European Commission to allow health claims based on new scientific data to be submitted next month - two years ahead of its original schedule.

Novel food waiting may reduce to one year

Changes to the European novel food regulation could bring the waiting time for approval down from around three years to just one, according to the European Advisory Service.

Meta-analysis questions cinnamon's diabetes benefits

Despite numerous studies championing the role of cinnamon for diabetes management, a new meta-analysis has raised questions as to the potential benefits of the supplements.

Daidzein-rich supplement shows menopause potential

A dietary supplement rich in the soy isoflavone daidzein can reduce the incidence of hot flushes by 52 per cent, suggests new research from Harvard Medical School.

High prices continue to dog UK bakers

Two leading UK bakery firms are raising customer prices in order to combat high commodity prices, a strategy they say is now necessary to keep sales profits high.

Industry wakes up to inner beauty

One of the newest trends in nutritional foods is the emergence of the "beauty from within" segment, which is predicted to become a strong niche over the next few years and may follow in the footsteps of the already firmly established Japanese market.

Pomegranate flower extracts also show heart benefits

Extracts from the flower of pomegranates may reduce the lesions associated with artery hardening by 70 per cent, higher than levels observed by the juice, suggests new research.

Digestion to take over from heart health, report claims

The increasing use of probiotics and antioxidants will continue to develop in 2008 but products positioned at heart health will not perform so well, a report has said.

Review backs oats' heart health benefits

An up-to-date review of the recent science behind oatmeal supports its cardiovascular benefits, and supports the FDA's decade-old conclusions.

Raisio prepares Asian entry with Benecol trial

A trial period of Raisio's Benecol ingredient could, if successful, mark the first entry of the product onto the Asian market.

Superfruit taste, health will over-ride sourcing worries

The superfruits trend is set to endure for the long term, according to a Datamonitor analyst, as consumers will prioritise their own health over environmental concerns like food miles and carbon footprint.

More support for lycopene's prostate benefits

Lycopene may show benefits against benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), a condition said to affect more than half of all men over the age of 50, suggests a new study from Germany.

Vitamin C fortification coming to dairy

LycoRed is working on a way to overcome the fortification of dairy products including milk with vitamin C, and is hopeful to see a solution this year.

Fingerprints could help stop fake food

Researchers at the University of the Basque Country are working on a way to develop a "fingerprint" using polyphenol groups to help cut adulteration in foodstuffs.

Pre- and probiotic combo linked to better antioxidant status

Supplements of pre- and probiotics can reduce levels of biomarkers linked to oxidative stress, suggests new results from an EU study.

Industry progress sparks structural change at Leatherhead

Leatherhead Food International has put in place a new structure for its research services, basing them around three platforms that have major relevance for the food industry today: nutrition, food innovation and food safety.

Naturex buys Berkem's Actifs Innovants

France's Naturex has bought the active ingredients division of compatriot Berkem - its second strategic acquisition in three weeks and one that will open up major new sales channels for Berkem's science-backed ingredients.

Low vitamin D levels linked to increased heart disease risk

Low levels of vitamin D could increase the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack, heart failure or stroke by 62 per cent, suggests a new study from the US.

Roquette and Biogrund to bring starch based film coatings to market

A starch-based film coating for nutraceuticals which can be tailored to manufacturer's needs is being developed through a strategic partnership by Roquette and Biogrund.

Legumes linked to lower diabetes risk

An increased intake of legumes like peanuts and soybeans could reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by over 40 per cent, suggests a new study.

Demand for superfruit aronia rockets

The superfruit aronia has seen a massive rise in launches over the past 10 years and has shown no sign of slowing down, according to data from Mintel.

Weekly comment

Back to tap: bottled water's enviro-woes

It looks set to be a vintage year ahead for Chateau Eau De Source Public - or as it is more humbly known, tap water - as consumers find themselves encouraged to shun the mineral variety of the product to reduce packaging waste.

Solbar moves soy isoflavones into beauty market

Israeli company Solbar has extended its Solgen soy isoflavones extracts onto the cosmeceutical market, a move which shows another example of the increasing use of functional foods in the beauty industry.

More support for whole grains for healthy hearts

An increased intake of wholegrain products, in combination with a reduced calorie diet, led to weight loss and cut levels of a protein associated with heart disease, says a new study.

Supplement growth spotlight turns to Turkey

Regulatory changes are allowing emerging markets in Eastern Europe to significantly expand, a trade group has said.

Vitamin C linked to lower stroke risk: study

Increased blood levels of vitamin C may reduce the risk of stroke by 42 per cent, suggests a large European-based study.

Vitamin D2 just as good as D3?

Challenging the view that vitamin D3 is more potent than D2, researchers from Boston University have reported that both forms are equally effective at maintaining 25-hydroxyvitamin D status.

Healthy gum drives growth trends

Opportunities are rife for the manufacturers of functional and sugar-free gums, as consumer analysts predict that these items will far outstrip chocolate and sugar confectionery in terms of value growth.

Fish just as effective as pills for omega-3 boost: study

Researchers from the US have waded into the debate over fish versus supplements stating that the omega-3 fatty acids from both sources are equally bioavailable.

Change in diet can clear the air and ease flatulence

Baked beans have long been named the culprit for causing flatulence, but researchers have now come up with a long list of foods likely to egg on gassiness.

Wine waste shows promise for dental health

Early results of a collaboration to investigate the impact of compounds from grapes could relate to oral bacteria indicate a role for polyphenols in preventing caries.

Soy isoflavones linked to easier breathing

Four weeks of supplementation with genistein, an isoflavone from soy, may suppress the inflammatory process and ease breathing and explain previous reports linking the isoflavone to reduced asthma severity, suggests a new pilot study.

Tate & Lyle invests in edible films market

Tate & Lyle Ventures and Scottish Enterprise hope to prosper from the emerging market for dissolvable and edible films as a delivery mechanism for active ingredients, with the acquisition of BioFilm Limited.

Beta-cyclodextrin tested for encapsulation

Extracts from plant essential oils (terpenes) can be stabilised by encapsulation in the polysaccharide beta-cyclodextrin and modified starch, suggests new research from Greece.

Omega-3 Alzheimer's benefits identified

Increased intake of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may boost the production of a protein known to destroy the plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, reports a new study.

Wine polyphenols may reduce effect of fatty food: study

Polyphenols from wine may reduce the negative impact of high-fat foods, according to a small study from Israel that suggests a role in the formulation of healthier food products.

Novel alginate-pectin beverage shines as satiety booster

A beverage containing alginate-pectin and calcium forms a stable gel in the stomach and boosts the feeling of fullness, report researchers from the University of Buffalo in collaboration with McNeil Nutritionals.

UK kicks off winter vitamin D campaign

The UK government is advising pregnant and breastfeeding women to boost their intake of vitamin D during the winter, and is initiating a campaign to spread the word amongst health care practitioners as well as consumers.