NutraIngredients Europe Awards 2026 winners announced!
The NutraIngredients Europe Awards crowned 16 worthy winners last night during a VIP party in Barcelona.
Gut/digestive health
Coffee’s cognitive benefits may act through the microbiota–gut–brain axis
New research from APC Microbiome Ireland suggests coffee-driven changes in the gut microbiome may relate to brain function and behaviour.
Vitafoods show floor preview: Exhibitors 0-Z
With just four days until Vitafoods Europe (May 5–7), we offer a third instalment of exhibitor previews providing a sneak peek at what will take place on the show floor.
Key trends emerge in Vitafoods Europe education programme
Vitafoods Europe will return to Barcelona from May 5–7, 2026 with more than 37 hours and 100 speakers of educational content highlighting key industry trends.
Transparency tech: New app reveals supplement ingredient credibility
A nutraceutical consultant hopes to elevate science-backed ingredients after creating an app which can analyze the scientific credibility, regulatory status, dose efficacy and ingredient interactions for any supplement on the market.
Vitafoods show floor preview: Exhibitors A–G
Taking place in Barcelona next week (May 5-7), Vitafoods Europe 2026 will once again bring together experts from across the functional food and supplements industry for an unmissable trade show.
Kerry research: Ashwagandha root and leaf safe at 19 times standard dose
New research conducted by Kerry Group concluded Sensoril ashwagandha root and leaf extract was safe to take at 4,000 mg/kg/day, as regulators across the globe show increasing caution over the ingredient’s safety.
Fermented dairy alternatives show enhanced biofunctionality
A new study suggested that fermentation of oat and soy dairy alternatives substantially improves their properties and potential cardiovascular health benefits.
Saskatoon berry intake linked to improved heart and gut health
Daily consumption of dried Saskatoon berries (SB) could improve cardiometabolic health and reduce inflammation in healthy adults, according to new research published in the International Journal of Molecular Science.
WINCEE launch: Women’s health research top of the agenda
Women are the foundation of healthy families and prosperous economies as they make 80% of purchasing decisions and invest their salaries in loved ones, yet are still underrepresented in clinical trials. WINCEE aims to bring this to an end.
Evanium raises €2.2 million to deliver dual encapsulation technology
German life-science startup Evanium has raised €2.2 million to address botanical inefficiency with dual encapsulation technology which it claims will power the next generation of bioavailability-enhanced ingredients.
Wellness brands dominate Alantra fast-growth poll as Dirtea takes gold
Dirtea, the once-niche mushroom coffee pioneer, has been named the UK’s fastest-growing food and drink brand in Alantra’s Food & Beverage Fast 50 with functionality taking over the mainstream poll.
Slimbiotics study suggests postbiotic can reduce weight, increase muscle mass and support cognition
Three months supplementation with Slimbiotics’ heat-killed L. fermentum strain led to reduced body fat and waist circumference alongside increased muscle mass, according to a pilot study.
Solnul expands European presence with Lehvoss distribution deal
MSP Starch Products Inc. has announced an exclusive partnership with Lehvoss Group to distribute its Solnul-branded resistant starch to the European market.
Enbiosis reveals 2.0 platform: AI-powered nutraceutical discovery
UK-based biotech firm Enbiosis is set to launch its ‘game changing’ digital twin platform which it claims will enable the fast creation of clinically credible, AI-powered gut health formulations.
Musheez creates formulators’ guide to functional food and drink
Organic mushrooms supplier Musheez has published a guide to medicinal mushrooms in an aim to help formulators avoid common and costly functional food and drink errors.
Healthy competition: Qura creatine sets sights on premium market disruption
Qura Creatine, a new “challenger ingredient brand”, is aiming to disrupt the premium creatine market with its ultra-pure, soluble and transparent white label solution.
NutraIngredients Europe Awards 2026: And the finalists are…
NutraIngredients is pleased to announce the finalists for the NutraIngredients Europe Awards 2026... The winners will be celebrated at the industry party of the year in Barcelona in May.
Could a gut microbe improve muscle strength and slow sarcopenia?
A species of gut bacteria may be associated with higher grip strength in humans and could convert muscle fibers to fast-twitch (type II) in mice, says a new study from researchers in Spain and the Netherlands.
Across the Nutraverse: Human milk analytics hub, precision fermented collagen, pharmacovigilance for natural products
Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the Nutraverse.
Early life probiotics may support gut and immune development, study suggests
Bifidobacterium infantis supplementation in infants for 12 weeks was associated with reduced stomach ache, lower incidence of diarrhea and fewer diarrhea-related clinical visits, according to a study in Frontiers in Nutrition.
‘Probiotics have peaked’: Postbiotic pioneer takes gut barrier solution across European market
Postbiotic pioneer Nordic Rebalance, launched in 2006, is taking its oat-based metabolite-rich product beyond the borders of Denmark and Sweden as the team launches its B2B business.
UCSD launches first human milk analytics hub
The Human Milk Institute at UC San Diego has announced the first-of-its-kind analytical hub for human milk: The Milk Analytics Core, which aims to close critical knowledge gaps, investigate bioactive molecules in milk and inform ingredient innovation.
ADM study: Postbiotic supports metabolic health markers in labradors
Supplementing labradors with the postbiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis CECT 8145 may influence metabolic health markers during weight change, according to ADM research.
Athlete gut health: Research spotlights microbiota modulation by protein source
Researchers observed differential responses of bacterial groups to plant and animal protein supplements in professional footballers, highlighting the importance of personalized recommendations.
Culture shift: Could omics advances unlock the full potential of fermented foods?
Fermented foods have been part of the human diet for at least 10,000 years, but researchers are only just starting to understand the microbiomes found in these foods and their impact on health.
How A.I. is accelerating probiotic R&D processes
Machine learning and robotics could accelerate a two-year probiotic development process to four to five months, with a recent presentation at the IPA World Congress + Probiota highlighting the potential of this disruptive technology for strain optimization.
The gut health restore diet: Opportunities and challenges
Microbiome research reveals our ability to undo the damage of industrialized diets and shift health markers away from chronic disease risk within just a few weeks.
Trend tracking: Euromonitor outlines drivers accelerating the biotic boom
Probiotics are outperforming huge markets such as beauty and clothing as consumers increasingly prioritize health and wellness, according to Euromonitor’s Nick Stene.
February NPD launchpad: Gummies and hormone support top the charts
This month’s launches include a significant brand evolution, targeted gummies and a flurry of formulations designed to support women through hormonal disruption.
Early BioGaia probiotic use linked to gut comfort at age 10
New data reveals a significant correlation between supplementation with L. reuteri DSM 17938 during the first three months of life and lower abdominal pain at age 10.
Probiota Pioneer Microvitality gives researchers access to upper GI analysis
Zoe Watson, co-founder and CEO of Microvitality, joined NutraIngredients’ Probiota conference in Dublin to discuss the importance of small intestine testing.
Vitamin B1 supplementation may improve gut motility and constipation
Vitamin B1 supplementation has emerged as a potential tool to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional constipation in a multi-ancestry study.
Centre for Nutraceuticals aims to be ‘global voice’ for the industry
The University of Westminster officially launched its expanded Centre for Nutraceuticals this month, now with a first-of-its-kind tailored capsule machine for personalized nutrition research.
“Its moment has arrived”: Marula fruit ripe for global functional food success
The highly abundant South African polyphenol-rich marula fruit is being under-exploited by the functional food and supplements industry, according to the Marula Fruit Products Association.
Non-GM strain optimization: Lessons from a brewing giant
Carlsberg scientists have developed non-GM strain optimizing technology with the potential to discover superior probiotic strains at speed.
Zinzino bolsters US presence with $30M It Works! merger
Swedish health tech firm ZinoZino and US-based health and wellness platform It Works! have combined expertise to provide tailored supplements internationally.
Prebiotic may improve gut and body composition for overweight prediabetics: RCT
Dietary supplementation with prebiotic short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) may produce modest improvements in body composition without restricting calorie intakes, says a new study from France.
Daily synbiotic promotes post-antibiotic microbiome recovery, study suggests
New research suggests Seed Health’s multi-species synbiotic accelerates the restoration of microbial diversity and enhances gut barrier integrity following antibiotic exposure.
Groupe Berkem study reveals impact of Biombalance on gut-brain axis
The grape seed extract Biombalance can modulate microbial metabolic pathways and influence key gut–brain axis mediators, according to new research.
The IPA World Congress + Probiota: One week to go!
The highlight of the microbiome health industry calendar, this year’s Probiota conference (Feb. 11-13) will provide its unrivalled mix of world-leading expert presentations, inspiring roundtables, innovative pioneers and unmissable networking opportunities.
Jan 2026 Launchpad: Creatine, collagen, iron and probiotic NPD put women center stage
New product launches in January 2026 suggest women’s health is front of mind for formulators across the industry, with NPD focused on beauty, pregnancy and everyday energy.
Novel Foods: Major updates on botanical assessments
The European Commission (EC) has updated its Novel Food Catalogue, offering crucial clarification on the status of several traditional botanical ingredients.
Award returns for second year to celebrate the industry’s creative minds
The NutraIngredients Awards are back, and with one more week to apply, one returning category is a little different from the rest.
Study: Lactobacillus acidophilus may support sexual function and QoL in menopause
Daily probiotic supplementation improved sexual health and quality of life for menopausal women experiencing sexual dysfunction, according to new research.
The microbial crisis of modern infancy: Bifidobacterium loss reshapes children’s immune health from birth
The widespread loss of critical, evolutionarily important microbes is the “defining issue for modern infancy,” according to Stephanie Culler, PhD, CEO of Persephone Biosciences.