
Immune support


NutraIngredients Europe Awards 2026 winners announced!
The NutraIngredients Europe Awards crowned 16 worthy winners last night during a VIP party in Barcelona.

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.

NutraWomen Wednesday: Catalina Fernández de Ana Portela, founder of Hifas de Terra
Being raised in a family of mycology researchers in Spain helped shape Dr. Catalina Fernández de Ana Portela’s 25-year career studying medicinal fungi.

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.

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.


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.

‘No safe intake’ level for berberine: EFSA opens consultation
Experts have warned the future for berberine containing plants looks bleak after EFSA published a draft opinion questioning their safety, with a stakeholder consultation now open until May. 4.

Microbial intake may be a missing piece in modern diets
Dietary guidelines should factor in not just nutrients and vitamins but also the intake of live microorganisms, according to emerging evidence.

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.

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.

‘Pink gold’: Vivici launches fermentation-derived lactoferrin
Dutch company Vivici has launched a precision fermentation-derived lactoferrin, a whey protein, and announced it has achieved self-affirmed GRAS status for the ingredient in the United States.


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.

Authorities play catch-up on caffeine energy pouch regulation
Highly caffeinated energy pouches currently exist in a regulatory grey area, with a patchwork of different rules beginning to emerge across European nations.

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.

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.


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.