A new report estimates that there will be significant, sustained
growth in America's natural and organic foods categories for
several years to come owing to the "mainstreaming" of the sector
currently worth $15 billion...
New Zealand's biggest company, the dairy foods processor Fonterra,
is backing a medical consortium to develop milk-based "bioactives",
in the aim of gaining a share in the global functional foods
market, reported the...
A team of cancer researchers at John Hopkins University have
identified a new gene, which could help explain the dietary links
to prostate cancer. The gene could have a vital role in the
breakdown of fatty acids found in dairy products...
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have identified
a protein that enables the body to overcome resistance to the
hormone leptin - the findings could help scientists move one step
closer to creating a drug therapy...
Leading Brands, the Canadian food and beverage brand management
company, is launching a range of Optimized Performance drinks,
designed to enhance hydration and performance in athletes.
There is controversy in Britain's medical world over the
government's new backing of Heinz canned products, which will be
labelled as counting towards the recommended daily intake of fruit
and vegetables. The British Dietetic...
Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceuticals group, has reported a 20 per
cent rise in first-quarter profits, exceeding analysts' forecasts,
however this was largely a result of strong growth in
pharmaceuticals and US business, while...
Lipitor, the cholesterol-cutter which is said to be the
biggest-selling pharmaceutical product in the world, helped boost
first quarter sales at Pfizer.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of the risk
from Enterobacter sakazakii infections in hospitalised
newborn infants fed powdered infant formulas.
Italian pharmaceutical group Sigma-Tau has created a new US
subsidiary, Sigma-Tau US, which will group together its three
separate North American businesses for the first time.
Scientists in China are hoping that a new genetic technique will
allow them to discover exactly how many of the traditional herbal
remedies so favoured by the Chinese effect the body.
The continued future of Florida-based producer of weight management
products Health & Nutrition Systems has been called into
question following a substantial downturn in profits in 2001.
First quarter sales at pharmaceutical giant Roche were up 5 per
cent in Swiss franc terms to SFr7.4 billion (€5m), with good
performances from the group's other divisions more than offsetting
a decline at the vitamins arm.
Increasing amounts of scientific data showing the health benefits
of soy helped US sales reach $3.3 billion (€3.7bn) in 2001, up
almost 25 per cent in mainstream stores from the previous year.
Further growth is expected this year.
Olive oil has long been touted as an essential part of the healthy
Mediterranean diet, but new evidence appears to show exactly why -
it helps reduce the oxidation of LDL of 'bad' cholesterol, linked
to the hardening of...
In what it is calling a victory for consumer protection, the US
Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has forced Utah-based company
Biogenics to agree to stop making products containing drugs but
sold as dietary supplements.
The powerful antioxidant properties of polyphenols in green tea
could help protect against the onset of Parkinson's disease,
according to new research from Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston.
Danish food and ingredients group Danisco has launched a new enzyme
product derived from seaweed which it claims will help it extend
its position as the world's leading producer of functional food
ingredients.
PC SPES, the popular herbal supplement which was withdrawn from
sale earlier this year after it was found to contain traces of
blood thinner wafarin, also contained an oestrogen drug and a
painkiller, according to new research.
Millennium Biotechnologies has launched its Resurgex nutritional
supplement via the Medicaid system in the US state of Nevada, the
first time the product has been made available on prescription in
that state.
The UK Soil Association, the organic assessment and promotion
organisation, is to introduce an organic standard for health and
beauty products from 1 May.
Purple grape juice fed to laboratory animals led to significant
reductions in both mammary tumour mass and the number of tumours
per animal, according to a study presented last week at a
scientific conference co-sponsored by Harvard...
A new product designed to help strengthen joints has been launched
by the UK group Vitabiotics. Jointace Fizz is an extension of the
company's existing Jointace brand, and is an advanced new
effervescent formula providing high...
The Arizona Heart Institute (AHI) is to prescribe the Vital Living
Cardiovascular Nutraceutical following a successful three-year
trial of the product.
Herbalife, the weight management and nutritional supplement
company, is to be bought by two private equity firms, Whitney &
Co and Golden Gate Capital, for around $685 million (€773.6m). The
current Herbalife management will continue...
Ireland's food safety agency is investigating whether food
supplements containing animal by-products could cause variant
Cruetzfeldt Jakob Disease, the human form of mad cow disease.
MAF BioNutritionals, a nutraceutical manufacturer founded by Dr
Phil Maffetone, an internationally-recognised expert on nutrition,
complementary medicine and human biology, has acquired the Boulder
Bar brand for an undisclosed sum,...
The US Patent Office has awarded a new patent for Zicam Cold Remedy
to Gum Tech International, protecting the product's formula and
method of use until 2018.
A controlled trial of a soy drink containing phytoestrogens,
naturally occurring substances which are thought to help combat the
effects of the menopause, has shown that the product was
ineffective in combating hot flushes in post-menopausal...
A recent clinical review draws together the growing body of
evidence which points to the benefits for the elderly if they
maintain their vitamin D levels - notably, better muscle strength
and a lower risk from falls.
As the UK considers whether to fortify flour with folic acid in a
bid to improve the health of the nation, not everyone is convinced
of the benefits of such a move.
A pill which could help build muscle without the need for exercise
could be more than just a pipe dream following research from Duke
University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
in the US which has shown how...
The growing trend towards the use of alternative herbal treatments
has prompted the United Arab Emirates to warn consumers about the
potential health risks involved in using unregistered medicines.
Several popular herbal medicines have been found to have
significant oestrogenic effects, despite the fact that they are not
commonly used to treat gynaecological problems.
Final proof that dietary components like green tea, curry spice or
wine can fight cancer in humans and not just laboratory test tubes
remains elusive, but researchers are full of hope for the
unconventional treatments.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has clamped down on the
sale of nicotine lollipops via pharmacies and the Internet, warning
that the products could easily be consumed by children.
Recent scientific studies suggest that women can cut the risk of
breast cancer by up to 90 per cent by increasing their dietary
intake of newly identified forms of vitamin E. But as a study by
the Us-based Life Extension Foundation...
As the number of elderly people increases, demand for biomaterials
used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, cataracts and even
wrinkling, will rise significantly, according to a new report from
analysts Frost & Sullivan.
A new clinical study has found that eating oatmeal and other
wholegrain oat cereals can help control blood pressure levels. With
growing levels of hypertension costing health services millions in
treatment, the research comes as welcome...
A clinical trial of the popular herbal supplement St John's Wort
which suggests that it is no more effective than a placebo at
treating major depression has been slammed by dietary supplement
associations in the US.
Eating fish a few times a week significantly cuts the risk of death
from a heart attack or other heart problems, according to two
separate studies published this week.