Singapore’s MIRIQA expands into immunity category, targets modern family wellness
Singapore firm MIRIQA has expanded beyond beauty supplements into the immunity category, and looks to meet the health and wellness needs of modern families.
Immune support
China health foods stats: US still top exporter, Australia’s exports down 21.5%
The U.S. remained the top health foods exporter to China last year, followed by Germany where exports were up 15.5%, while Australia – once the top exporter between 2018 and 2020 – saw exports fall by 21.5%.
OEA may boost Akkermansia levels and improve gut barrier function: RCT
Daily supplementation with oleoylethanolamide (OEA) may boost levels of the beneficial gut bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, says a new study.
Haleon’s FY25 results: APAC supplements growth offsets US declines
Haleon saw strong sales growth in its health supplement business in Asia-Pacific last year, which it said has partly offset the decline in North America.
LAC opens in Hong Kong, India
Singapore-based supplement brand Leader in Antioxidative Control (LAC) has opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Hong Kong and also entered India via an exclusive franchisee.
Manuka honey maker Comvita taps lozenge, flavor innovation to capture new growth
Manuka honey maker Comvita is capturing new consumers through product format and flavor innovation, following its earlier experiments on synergistic formulations, with success in lozenges a case in point.
Denps taps into ‘wellness window’ in Singapore, eyes further expansion across SEA
Danish supplements brand Denps is looking to leverage Singapore’s premium market environment as a strategic launchpad for the South East Asian region.
Orthomol to scale Asia expansion and launch first blue-hat product in China
German health supplement company Orthomol is scaling growth across Asia under the leadership of its new CEO and is expecting a breakthrough in the Chinese market as it prepares to launch its first blue-hat registered product.
Probiotic strain may ‘fine-tune’ immune responses in children
A specific probiotic strain may reduce the burden of common childhood infectious illnesses by fine-tuning immune responses and enhancing gut resilience rather than through drastic compositional changes, says a new study.
Across the Nutraverse: MLB’s Ohtani get new immune ambassador role, Tru Niagen for beauty, rhodiola for athletic performance
Happy New Year, Nutraverse! Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the global nutrition, functional foods and dietary supplements industries.
MLB star Shohei Ohtani joins Kirin as official ‘Immune Care’ ambassador
Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani has been appointed “Immune Care” promotion ambassador by Kirin Holdings, accompanied by a nationwide TV commercial campaign.
BonPatch expects uptake of patch format to grow, adopts three-pronged strategy
Aussie brand BonPatch foresees a greater uptake of transdermal patches as consumers actively seek formats that simplify wellness, while pursuing a three-pronged strategy to realize its ambitions in market expansion and category leadership.
Dairy and beyond: Yili to grow healthy aging nutrition portfolio
China dairy giant Yili is going beyond general milk products and infant nutrition needs by diving into healthy aging needs against the backdrop of a greying population and increased consumer interest in metabolic health.
Bayer’s Redoxon strides beyond immunity as demand for proactive wellness grows
Bayer-owned supplement brand Redoxon is moving beyond immunity as consumer demand for proactive wellness, including mental performance, mood and energy, rises in Asia.
‘There was never a dull moment’: 8 reasons to attend the IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026
The IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026 is just two months away! The leading event for the probiotics, prebiotics and microbiome community is a must-attend event, and let us tell you why…
Pro, postbiotic intake shown to reduce cold-like symptoms in meta-analysis
A first-of-its-kind meta-analysis of eight clinical studies showed that supplementing with both live and heat-killed Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) could reduce cold-like symptoms by activating a particular group of immune cells known as...
Australia’s top five most popular dietary supplement categories revealed
Women’s health was the most popular dietary supplement category in Australia this year.
Haleon taps into tripartite partnership to drive microbiome R&D in S’pore
Haleon is working with a Singapore-based research institute and start-up to drive microbiome research and innovation.
Vietnamese health supplement firm taps brown algae extract for weight control
TA Vital, a Vietnam-based company specializing in spirulina and algae products, has formulated a supplement containing brown algae extract for weight management, with plans to develop sleep, stress, and immune health products further down the road.
Women’s health NPD: Sleep support, hormone balance and targeting the estrobolome
Brands are recognizing diverse nutrition needs across women’s lifespans with new product launches.
Big name brands on board: Check out the first wave of speakers for our Growth Asia Summit 2026
Today we can announce the first wave of speakers for our Growth Asia Summit 2026, with major brands from Japan, India, New Zealand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and France on the agenda.
Cargill, CP Foods, Tate & Lyle on driving healthy longevity in food innovation
Longevity is attracting the attention of not only nutraceutical companies but companies traditionally in the food sector. Cargill, CP Foods, and Tate & Lyle outlined in a recent panel discussion their strategies in this area.
Urolithin A may counteract age-related immune decline and inflammaging
Daily supplementation with MitoPure urolithin A may help maintain immune function with age and protect against inflammaging, says data from a new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Guardian, Mannings to feature menopause-friendly product aisle in mid-2026
Guardian and Mannings, both pharmacy chains under DFI Retail Group, will feature “menopause-friendly” product aisles in five Asian markets come mid-2026.
TikTok clears nearly 800 sellers making exaggerated weight loss, health claims
Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, has clamped down on merchants promoting their general foods, beverages and supplement products via exaggerated weight loss and other unsupported health claims in a three-month long inspection.
Urine test and immune status: Kirin studies new ways to measure pDC activity
Kirin says it plans to develop a “simple” method to measure plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) activity - which is indicative of a person’s immune status - after a recent research showed links between pDC activity and urine test results.
Withanolide glycosides: Ashwagandha study suggests supplement quality criterion
A clinical study identified withanolide glycosides as the key drivers of superior bioavailability in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extracts.
Gencor’s PEA may modulate microbiome activity and metabolic pathways: RCT
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) supplementation may regulate specific microbiome activity, support a balanced inflammatory response and aid in maintaining healthy triglyceride levels, says a new study with Gencor’s Levagen+ ingredient.
‘Never a dull moment’: Save the date for IPA WC + Probiota 2026
Described by one recent attendee as “the bridge between science and marketing”, the IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026 is returning to the Emerald Isle for its 12th edition.
Levelle democratizes precision nutrition with launch of cycle syncing protein
New York-based Levelle Nutrition launched its Cycle Syncing Protein, the first protein powder intentionally developed to support the shifting nutritional needs of menstruating women throughout their cycle.
Behind the Big Story
WATCH: Kirin finds link between frailty and low pDC activity
Kirin Holdings says it has found a relationship between reduced plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) activity and frailty, which it claims is the first time that a link between the two has been established.
Cell Biotech to enter Thailand and Philippines on the back of strong export growth
South Korean firm Cell Biotech looks to enter Thailand and The Philippines within the second half of 2025, on the back of continued performance as one of the top K-probiotic exporters.
NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2025: The finalists are revealed
Today we can reveal the pioneering companies, organisations and researchers that have been named as finalists for the 2025 NutraIngredients-Asia Awards.
Nestlé considers selling supplement assets
Four years after Nestlé acquired the Bountiful Company for $5.75 billion, the Swiss conglomerate may be willing to divest itself of its vitamins, minerals and supplements brands.
Australia approves MFGM for use in infant nutrition for the first time
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved the use of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) as a nutritive substance in infant formula products in Australia for the first time.
Pine-derived vitamin D3 gains entry approval from Indian regulator
China’s functional ingredient supplier INNOBIO hopes to target India’s vast vegetarian and vegan populations with the approval.
Probiotic strain shown to improve respiratory symptoms, dry stool and eczema in children: RCT
A study in China has found that daily supplementation of a probiotic strain isolated from human breast milk significantly reduced the duration of cough, fever, dry stool, and eczema in children.
Nutritional supplements may help manage COPD symptoms, improve patient outcomes: China study
A comprehensive network meta-analysis by researchers at Guangzhou Medical University and Central South University suggests that several nutritional supplements may improve lung function, boost exercise capacity, and enhance the quality of life for COPD...
Barentz to acquire China’s Fengli Group as part of growth acceleration in APAC
Dutch-headquartered ingredients firm Barentz is acquiring China’s Fengli Group to tap into opportunities in the local market and accelerate growth across Asia-Pacific.
How traditional firms and start-ups can tap into booming functional hydration category
The functional hydration category is poised for growth, and both traditional beverage firms and start-ups can tap into opportunities in this space with consumer segmentation and ingredient innovation.
Exclusive: FDA’s ‘no questions’ letter for TurtleTree’s LF+ could accelerate adoption of precision-fermented lactoferrin into everyday nutrition
FDA’s acknowledgement of the safety of LF+ in functional foods, beverages and supplements will encourage more companies to use the animal-free lactoferrin beyond the applications of its bovine counterpart, which due to limited availability and high price...
ABbiotek postbiotic blend shows promise in easing diarrhea symptoms
Including specific postbiotic strains in an oral rehydration solution (ORS) may help alleviate inflammation associated with diarrhea in older adults.
Singapore’s hue aims to carve a niche with mood-focused functional snacks
Singapore start-up hue seeks to carve out a niche in the functional snacks space with its mood-focused products in formats that it says differentiate from existing ones in the market.
Science shorts: Yakult, CKD Healthcare, Nestle probiotics findings
In this round-up, we bring you the latest research findings on health and nutrition, including new research findings on probiotics by Yakult, Chong Kun Dang Healthcare, and Nestle.
Shake Your Plants seeks to fill dehydration and nutrient gaps in UAE with functional beverages
Functional beverage brand Shake Your Plants (SYP) aims to address dehydration and nutrient deficiency issues among the UAE population, while actively seeking global expansion.
Arjuna Natural’s ashwagandha approved by Health Canada, aims global growth
India-based Arjuna Natural aims to capitalise on the approval of its ashwagandha extract in Canada to accelerate its expansion across Asia, Europe, and the US.
Steadfast Nutrition’s new multifunctional supplement taps into growing preference for Ayurvedic formulations
India’s Steadfast Nutrition has launched a new multifunctional product formulated with science-backed compounds and traditional herbs, amid a growing preference for Ayurvedic supplements among local consumers.