Proprietary turmeric extract improves orientation and attention scores in 24-week cognitive trial
A dual-extracted Curcuma longa extract focusing on active sesquiterpenoids rather than curcuminoids showed promising results on cognitive scores in a new study published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Researchers at Japanese health food and functional beverage company House Wellness Foods Corp. evaluated its effect on cognitive scores in healthy participants with subtle cognitive weaknesses.
Findings showed that compared to placebo, the supplement significantly improved scores relating to orientation and attention.
Probiotic may boost mood and emotional health for older adults: RCT
Daily supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici PA53 may improve gastrointestinal health, sleep quality, and happiness scores in older adults.
Data published in The Journal of Nutrition indicated that eight weeks of supplementation was also associated with decreases in markers of inflammation, including IL-6 and TNF-alpha.
Probiotic supplementation was also associated with an improvement in other areas, such as a 9.5% decrease in gastrointestinal symptoms and a 28% improvement in stool consistency (Bristol Stool Scale).
Carotenoids promising for eye, brain development in kids, but more research needed
A review found that carotenoid supplementation could provide vision and cognitive benefits in children, but further long-term studies are needed to validate its efficacy as an adjunct therapy.
Published in Nutrients, the review analyzed observational and interventional studies published up to January 2026.
They reported that carotenoid exposure in early life from maternal serum and human milk may be associated with cognitive function, as these carotenoids may act as the primary concentrated elements in brain tissues during their establishment and development.
Precision synbiotic outperforms probiotics alone for toddler gut-immune health
Combining the human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) 2’-FL with specific Bifidobacterium strains creates a synergistic effect that significantly reduces infectious and atopic disease risk in toddlers, according to new multi-center trial data published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Researchers in China, South Korea and the USA suggested that the evidence paves the way for integrative nutritional strategies in early childhood and the development of next-generation synbiotic formulations.
The 12-week trial involving 390 toddlers compared the effects of a synbiotic supplement or probiotic alone on common conditions such as diarrhea, eczema and respiratory infections.
Hop extract study moves beyond appetite to body composition
A hop-derived nutraceutical may help adults with overweight lose body fat while maintaining muscle mass, according to a 24-week RCT.
Findings published in Obesity Pillars reported that participants taking Calocurb – a proprietary bitter hop extract Amarasate – alongside lifestyle advice experienced greater reductions in body weight, body fat and visceral fat than those receiving a placebo.
Importantly, researchers found no indication of skeletal muscle loss in either group during the six-month intervention.
