Immune support
NI Awards: Encouraging businesses to reach new heights
With entries for the NutraIngredients Awards 2026 closing on Jan. 26, last year’s winners have described the personal and professional benefits of winning an accolade designed to set businesses apart from the competition.
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.
Could GMO plants unlock full-spectrum human milk oligosaccharide production?
Totality Biosciences has developed a synthetic biology platform that leverages genetically engineered plants to produce the full spectrum of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and will be presenting the business at the upcoming IPA World Congress +...
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.
NutraIngredients Awards Europe 2026: Meet the judges
The NutraIngredients Awards have become known as the “Oscars of the nutrition world” largely thanks to the caliber of its panel of industry expert judges.
Probiotic combination supports respiratory infection recovery for children: RCT
A combination of four probiotic strains may reduce upper respiratory tract infection symptom duration in children, says a new study from AB-Biotics and Kaneka Probiotics.
‘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…
Pharmalinea’s NutraLoop Summit reveals the trends to watch in 2026
2025’s supplement successes include creatine, cellular health and weight loss solutions with plant exosomes, pet nutrition and shatavari emerging as topics to watch in 2026, according to PharmaLinea’s end-of-year summit.
Holland & Barrett highlights global need for omega-3
More than three-quarters of the global population is not getting enough omega-3, according to a collaborative study sponsored by Holland & Barrett, with the retailer noting a lack of awareness around the nutrient’s brain health benefits.
Nutrikéo x ProtéinesXTC introduces crisis management service
The Nutrikéo x ProtéinesXTC consulting group has launched CriseNutra, a crisis prevention and management service to help industry players safeguard their long-term position and reputation in the market.
Natural vs synthetic: Biovit data backs bioavailability of organic micronutrients
Organic micronutrient startup Biovit has completed a two-year clinical study to back the bioavailability of its 100% organic micronutrients derived from plants, fungi and algae.
NutraIngredients Awards early bird discount closes this week!
With the early bird discount closing this Friday (Dec. 5), now is the opportune time to enter the NutraIngredients Awards 2026.
Special edition: Women’s health
Women’s health focused news updates include the latest research, NPD, market insights, regulatory restrictions and untapped opportunities.
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.
KÄÄPÄ Biotech Secures €9M funding to keep pace with shroom boom
Finnish medicinal mushroom researcher and producer KÄÄPÄ Biotech has closed a €9 million investment round amid thriving global demand for its high quality sustainable extracts.
PharmaLinea acquired by ANJAC Health & Beauty Group in move to accelerate nutraceutical innovation
Premium nutraceutical partner PharmaLinea has been acquired by ANJAC Health & Beauty, a French health and wellness CDMO aiming to bolster its global position in the nutraceutical market.
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.
Calling microbiome focused start-ups and scientists: We want you!
Entrepreneurs and researchers have just a few more days left to enter our Probiota Pioneers and Frontiers competitions.
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.
Oceanium’s sugar kelp extract shows low-dose prebiotic effects
Ocean Actives H+, a fucoidan-rich algae extract, shows prebiotic benefits at a dose of 250 mg per day, potentially reducing risk of bloating pain, according to new research.
Mushroom expert calls for quality quantification beyond ‘easy win’ beta-glucans
The medicinal mushroom industry needs to look beyond beta-glucans and adopt bioactive-specific quality markers to keep up with consumer expectations, according to a new white paper by KÄÄPÄ Biotech.
Ryze Superfoods drops mushroom coffee and matcha health claims after NAD inquiry
The case highlights compliance risk for functional beverages and ingredient claims among dietary supplement and food‐adjacent product manufacturers.
Professor disputes low vitamin D limit recommendation
Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, professor for healthy aging at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, has outlined a number of studies which call into question the recent assessment issued by a recent German report.
Expert reaction: Low vitamin D recommendation could be ‘serious risk’ to German consumers
A German risk assessment has raised safety concerns over intermittent doses of vitamin D and recommended a daily supplement limit of 800 IU per day, which an expert describes as a “serious risk” to German consumers.
NutriLeads’ Benicaros ingredient gets green light from EFSA
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) deemed Benicaros, a precision prebiotic fiber derived from upcycled carrot pomace, safe for human consumption.
US herbal supplements sales hit a record $13.2 billion in 2024
Sales of herbal supplements in the United States increased by 5.4% in 2024 to reach a record $13.23 billion, according to the American Botanical Council’s latest Herb Market Report.
Climate change, quality loss, and adulteration: Summit calls for sustainable botanical supply chains
Rapid climate change and rising consumer demand are hitting botanical supply chains and impeding the production of sustainable, high quality products.
Advancing microencapsulation opportunities with plant exosome innovation
Plant-derived exosomes offer a new opportunity for microencapsulated active botanical ingredients with additional health benefits.
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.
GA Naples: Professor warns of blind spots in fast-growing mushrooms market
Medicinal mushrooms are gaining the interest of previously plant-focused consumers, businesses and academics alike. But with new-found glory comes fast-growing concerns around quality control.
Botanical quality in question: High strength, low cost innovation gives industry a bad rap
Scientists and industry gathered this week to address the quality control conundrum within the botanical supplement sector, noting cost-focused innovation, highly concentrated extracts, weak regulatory oversight, and the need for data to challenge safety...
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.
Deadline for entry is 24 October, 2025!
Got groundbreaking microbiome-related research to shout about? We want to hear from you!
Are you researching the latest state-of-the-art developments related to prebiotic, probiotic, postbiotic and microbiome science relevant to human health, well-being, consumers and industry? If so, we would like to hear from you!
Global supplement use on the rise, yet ‘trust gap’ persists
Nearly half (47%) of global consumers are using supplements at least twice a week, according to a new report from HealthFocus International. However, there is a significant ‘trust gap’, with only 50% believing supplements can support health concerns.
‘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.
Yeast beta-glucans may enhance antibody response to flu vaccine
Adults taking beta-glucans demonstrated higher antibodies to the flu vaccine compared to placebo, according to a study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.
BAPP Bulletin puts echinacea adulteration under the microscope
A new bulletin from the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) details the latest adulteration and mislabeling detected in the echinacea supply chain. It reports the presence of undeclared Echinacea species and plant parts, as well as...
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.
Is Reishi still the ‘Queen of Mushrooms’ in the eyes of the consumer?
Reishi has long held a dominant position in the medicinal mushroom market, but with younger consumers seeking immediate effects that the variety cannot offer, will it be able to continue its popular trajectory?
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.
From GLP-1 to gut health: Real California Milk Excelerator 2025 seeks dairy disruptors
Start-ups behind scalable dairy innovations stand to benefit from financial, mentorship and marketing support to bring their products to market
Study: U.S. babies lacking crucial gut bacteria
Persephone Biosciences is ringing the alarm on the gut microbiome composition of infants born in the United States, pointing to a study that found that 25% of babies had no detectable levels of beneficial Bifidobacteria.
NutraWomen Wednesday: Sinclair Kennally, founder and CEO, Detox Nation
The certified nutrition consultant and toxicity and detox specialist shared her journey into detox education which stemmed from her own experiences with complex chronic illnesses.
Must Read: The top 5 NIE articles of Q2 2025
The most-read NIE articles of Q2 2025 spotlight industry leaders, big name reformulations, and opportunities in trending areas such as weight management, sleep and women’s health.
Vitamin C levels linked to lower respiratory infections in children and adolescents
Higher vitamin C serum levels may slash the risk of respiratory infections in children and adolescents by 50%, according to new research published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Infant gut microbiome composition linked to risk of respiratory infections
New research exploring the connection between the infant gut microbiome and respiratory infections highlights the ‘critical nature’ of Bifidobacterium in early life.
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.