Suntory embarks on real-world evidence studies as part of NPD strategy
Suntory’s Institute for Science of Life is conducting a series of RWE studies on its nutraceutical products as part of its new product development strategy.
Known as the Wellness Life Study, this is a series of longitudinal observational studies that measure multidimensional well-being indicators, including physical condition, mental state, and social relationships.
These studies allow the company to tap into its vast consumer database, which currently spans more than 2m users annually through its mail-order service.
Errant health supplements: Chinese customs highlights three classic examples
The Chinese customs has highlighted three classic examples of health supplements sold via cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) that have violated local laws.
One of them is the presence of banned additives, including food-grade gold.
While food-grade gold is a permitted additive in countries such as Singapore and Japan, it is not permitted for sale as a health supplement in China under local regulations.
Sensory receptor study: Green tea elevates glucose tolerance and GLP-1 through taste receptors
A new study showed that green tea’s primary flavanol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), acts as a ‘metabolic trigger’ via sensory receptors—indicating that systemic absorption isn’t required to unlock its health benefits.
Researchers in Japan and Italy observed improvements in glucose metabolism and muscle size, as well as neuroprotective effects, in animals administered a green tea supplement, with effects mediated by sensory receptors.
“By demonstrating that bitter-related chemosensory signaling regulates systemic homeostasis and provides neuroprotective effects, this study supports a new concept of ‘sensory nutrition’,” they wrote in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Mix of 2’-FL and high-HMO-utilizing probiotic overcomes limitations – Morinaga study
A study conducted by Morinaga Milk Industry found that the benefits of 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) in infant and young child formulae may be restricted by inter-individual and age-dependent differences in gut microbiota responses, and supplementation with a high human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)-utilizing probiotic could overcome this limitation.
The results suggested that to ensure that infants and young children receive the full health benefits of HMOs, it is crucial to have Bifidobacterium with high HMO-utilization capacity, such as B. infantis, in the gut. In the absence of these bacteria, oral supplementation with probiotic strains may be an effective strategy.
Additionally, the researchers said that these findings may provide new insights for the improvement of infant and young child formulae.
Probiotic-fermented yogurt improves glucose control, gut microbiota: Meiji study
Daily consumption of probiotic-fermented yogurt was associated with improvements in glucose dynamics (state of blood glucose control) and significant remodeling of the gut microbiota.
This is based on a single-arm, 84-day intervention study conducted by Meiji Co Ltd in collaboration with THE PHAGE Inc and Chiba University.
These findings suggest the potential role of the gut microbiome in modulating the metabolic effects of yogurt and underscore the value of personalized dietary strategies.
