Mind & mood

NI+Sleep health supplement launches go melatonin free, target better nights and days

Sleep-support supplements are broadening their focus beyond simply helping consumers get to bed, framing sleep as part of a wider recovery cycle, one that encompasses stress, circadian rhythm, daytime energy and how rested people feel when they wake.

L. paracasei KW3110 alleviates ocular symptoms from hay fever – Kirin

Kirin Holdings recently presented study findings on the effect of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei KW3110 on the alleviation of ocular symptoms associated with hay fever.

NI+Magnesium and sleep: What does the science say?

A recent systematic review of randomized controlled trials raises questions about magnesium’s effectiveness as a sleep aid, concluding that the current evidence is inconsistent and of low certainty.

Gut-brain axis: Postbiotic shows potential to ease stress and brain activity

Heat-treated Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 may boost brain activity for young healthy people and alleviate stress levels, according to a small study from Asahi Quality and Innovations in Japan.

Vitafoods Asia 2026

Menstruation, menopause and beyond: IMCD casts spotlight on women’s health

IMCD seeks to respond to “real consumer needs” with its market-ready women’s health formulations that the company recently showcased at Vitafoods Asia 2026.

BRAND’S targets busy young professionals by putting ginseng in jelly format

Suntory-owned BRAND’S has launched a new functional food product in jelly format that provides convenient intake of ginseng for young and busy consumers.

Study finds KSM-66 ashwagandha safe in sample of more than 1,000 adults

One of the largest prospective, placebo-controlled safety and tolerability evaluations of an ashwagandha root extract reports high tolerance and no adverse events, providing ‘an important puzzle piece’ in the safety debate.

NI+Supplements 101: How climate change is reshaping botanical ingredient sourcing

As a summer of extreme heat, persistent drought and monsoon rainfall draws to a close, increasingly volatile weather patterns are reshaping the botanical ingredients industry—affecting where plants can be grown, how much they yield, their phytochemical...

Caffeine dominates esports supplements - review

More than 75% of nutritional supplements evaluated for electronic sports (esports) performance contain caffeine, according to a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

6 reasons to attend the Nutra Healthspan Summit 2026

The Nutra Healthspan Summit is just over two months away! Bridging cutting-edge science and business strategy to extend healthspan through nutrition and supplements, the Nutra Healthspan Summit is a must-attend event, and let us tell you why…

Could vitamin D and DHA be a winning team for cognitive decline?

Combining vitamin D3 and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is significantly more effective at mitigating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults than supplementing either nutrient alone, according to a new randomized controlled trial (RCT).

All 17 winners of NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2026 revealed   

From proprietary functional ingredients to consumer products and research projects, all 17 winners of the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2026 were announced at an award ceremony held in Bangkok today (September 2).

Vitafoods Asia 2026

Vitafoods Asia 2026 show floor preview: Exhibitors A-G

Vitafoods Asia 2026 returns to Bangkok, Thailand, from September 2 to 4, and nutraceutical companies from across the globe will be exhibiting new innovative ingredients, products and services at the show.

Growth Asia Summit 2026

China’s BYHEALTH tackles stress-related needs

From metabolism and sleep disruption to hair loss, China’s BYHEALTH says it sees an opportunity in addressing consumer needs arising from a high-stress, high-cortisol urban lifestyle.

Health tracking apps could improve weight loss, BMI - Lancet Digital Health

Health tracking apps could improve body weight and body mass index (BMI) but not total cholesterol levels and dietary intake, according to new findings published in The Lancet Digital Health.

Scallop-derived plasmalogens show promise for cognitive function

Older adults showed improved cognitive scores when taking a supplement containing scallop-derived plasmalogens (sPls) compared with placebo, according to a new study.

Across the Nutraverse: Proposed GRAS changes, FFCs in Japan, hair growth supplements surge, Verb’s postbiotic efficacy

Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the Nutraverse.

Growth Asia Summit 2026

Swisse lists hormonal health, perimenopause as women’s health priority areas

Women’s health is today a key priority category for Swisse, with hormonal health and perimenopause support being crucial areas where innovation opportunities lie.

Japan’s FFC sector: Fewer new products launched but market grew 4%

Fewer Foods with Function Claims (FFC) hit the Japanese pharmacies and supermarkets in FY2025, but the market size still grew by 4%, according to a new industry report.

Science shorts: Turmeric for cognition, carotenoids and eye health in the spotlight

This roundup highlights the latest health and nutrition research findings, including how active sesquiterpenoids from turmeric extract could support cognition, the role of carotenoids in eye health, and more.

Proprietary turmeric extract improves orientation and attention scores in 24-week cognitive trial

A dual-extracted Curcuma longa extract (CLE) focusing on active sesquiterpenoids rather than curcuminoids showed promising results on cognitive scores in a new study published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Probiotic may boost mood and emotional health for older adults: RCT

Daily supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici PA53 may improve gastrointestinal health, sleep quality, and happiness scores in older adults, says a new study from China.

NutraIngredients Asia Awards 2026: And the finalists are…

NutraIngredients is pleased to announce the finalists for the NutraIngredients Asia Awards 2026... The winners will be announced during an awards presentation in September.

Monteloeder looks to fill gaps in sleep support following latest regulatory approvals

SuanNutra-owned Monteloeder seeks to fill existing gaps in the sleep support category on the back of regulatory approval of its proprietary RelaxPLX ingredient in South Korea.

Sustained-release melatonin may boost sleep outcomes and wellbeing for poor sleepers: RCT

A low dose of a sustained release melatonin may improve measures of sleep, including the total sleep time, falling asleep faster, and fewer night-time awakenings, says a new study.

Lutein-zeaxanthin supplements may boost attention in teenagers: RCT

Daily supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin may boost attention and processing speed in teenagers, says a new clinical trial that claims to be the first to study the effects of the carotenoids in teenagers.

NI+Nootropic supplement launches go lifestyle-first as brain health broadens

Focus, memory, mental clarity and cognitive performance are now central claims across the supplement aisle, but product launches once focused on brain power continue to blur category lines towards more lifestyle-oriented and more multi-benefit...

Growth Asia Summit 2026: Check out the major MNCs in our latest confirmed agenda

Exclusive insights from senior leaders in Asia’s nutra, food and beverage sectors are coming your way this July, via our Growth Asia Summit 2026

CJ Wellcare makes advances in strain-specific prebiotics, personalized sleep care

South Korean company CJ Wellcare recently shared its research on strain-customized prebiotics to improve the viability and functional activity of lactic acid bacteria, and announced its partnership with a sleep tech start-up.

Blackcurrant may boost strength and focus, but not sprint power

A short course of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) supplements showed small improvements in certain strength measures and modest gains in some cognitive performance tests in resistance-trained adults, according to a study published in Nutrients.

NI+Regulators clamp down on vitamin B6 as toxicity debate grows

Vitamin B6 is essential to human health, but excessive doses may cause serious side effects. As a growing number of countries tighten oversight of vitamin B6 supplements, debate is intensifying over whether the restrictions are proportionate to the risk.

Energy bars for stress: India’s The Monday Bar targets market gaps with new launch

Indian brand The Monday Bar looks to fill gaps in the local functional bars market by specifically targeting the issue of work stress and heavy mental load commonly faced by modern consumers.

Guest column

NI+Creatine for women: What the data says about the industry’s most misread buyer

One of the most established ingredients in the industry is quietly becoming one of the largest untapped opportunities in women’s wellness.

Hydrolyzed chicken extract shown to improve perceived sleep quality: Suntory-funded study

Daily consumption of a hydrolyzed chicken extract may improve sleep and memory, and be potentially incorporated as a nutritional supplement within a wider, multi-pronged strategy for sleep management.

Jenerise launches precision-grade creatine monohydrate

Creatine innovation and education company Jenerise has launched a ‘precision-grade’ creatine monohydrate that seeks to raise creatine quality-standards across the dietary supplement market.

Probiotic strain linked to improved sleep quality

A new study suggested probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans IDCC 1201 improved sleep fragmentation and maintenance in sleep-disturbed participants who took it for four weeks.

Sustained release ashwagandha supplement may reduce stress and improve sleep quality: RCT

Daily supplementation with a sustained release ashwagandha supplement may improve stress levels and sleep quality, while also reducing uncontrolled eating and emotional eating in healthy adults, says a new study.

NI+Calm in a can: Savvy launches functional beverage targeting mental, menopausal needs

Aussie brand Savvy has released a ready-to-drink functional beverage targeted at reducing stress and anxiety while maintaining mental performance, which also responds to a growing need for menopause support among women.

B12 supplements for pregnant vegetarians may boost infant neurodevelopment: RCT

Pre- and post-natal vitamin B12 supplements for pregnant vegetarian women may improve neurodevelopment scores for the infants, says a new large, multi-center, double-blind randomized controlled trial.

NI+Menopause supplement launches go symptom- and stage-specific

The menopause supplement category is expanding rapidly, with a marked proliferation of single brands launching multiple, symptom‑specific solutions spanning sleep, mood, libido, cognition and weight for women throughout this life transition.

Weizmannia coagulans BC99 presents promising probiotic strategy for chronic constipation

A study in China supports Weizmannia coagulans BC99’s potential to enhance intestinal motility, regulate gut microbiota and increase SCFA production.

Growth Asia Summit 2026: Updated Advance Programme now live!

Check out the latest updated Advance Programme for our Growth Asia Summit 2026, which takes place from July 8 to 10 in Singapore

Across the Nutraverse: GOED unveils new database, Magtein in the UK, gut microbe and muscle strength

Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the Nutraverse.

KSM-66 ashwagandha may support cognition and sleep in children

Supplementation with KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract in gummy form for eight weeks is well tolerated and may enhance cognitive performance and sleep quality in children between the ages of 6 and 12, according to new research.

Pharmactive to explore more health claim opportunities following approval in South Korea

Madrid-headquartered Pharmactive Biotech Products, SLU, which has received individual license approval by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for its proprietary saffron extract’s stress-relief claim, looks to explore additional health...

Magnesium L-threonate may boost cognitive performance and improve sleep: RCT

Six weeks of supplementation with Magtein magnesium L-threonate may reduce brain cognitive age by 7.5 years, compared to placebo, says a new clinical trial from Australia.

IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026: Market dynamics, pioneers, next gen biotics and ‘from bums to gums’ headline Day 1

The IPA World Congress + Probiota is less than a month away with must-see speakers on Day 1 including Dr. John Hale, Muriel Gonzalez, Ewa Hudson, Dr. Koen Venema, Meghan Taylor and more!

NI+Introducing vitamin A5: A new vitamin concept for brain and nerves

It has been 80 years since the last vitamin was identified, but European scientists are now proposing a new addition to the category: 9-cis-beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A5).

Fish oil oxidation: Experts debate the science and health impacts

Research shows that some fish oil supplements are oxidized, but is there any scientific evidence to support the perception that oxidized fish oil is less efficacious or even detrimental?

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.