Mind & mood
Prosomnial pistachio extract gummy as effective as synthetic melatonin: Study
New research suggests a gummy supplement containing a pistachio extract demonstrates comparable absorption and sleep-promoting effects to a synthetic melatonin gummy.
Harke acquires Green Bioactives’ Memory Complex amid liquidation sale
Harke Pharma GmbH has acquired the Memory Complex supplement ingredient developed by Scottish biotech company Green Bioactives.
How beauty and wellness are converging: Insights from Unilever R&D head
From the brain-skin axis to scalp care, we discover more about Unilever’s future focus on wellness.
5-HTP shows early promise for cognitive support and in seniors: Singapore study
A 12-week randomized trial by the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found that daily 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplementation modestly improved a global cognitive test and reduced depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults.
Too little, too much: TGA finds content discrepancies in imported melatonin products
Several melatonin supplements imported into Australia were found to contain amounts that were either significantly higher or lower than the amount labeled, says the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Top 5 foods fuelling the brain health boom
Brain food is booming. As consumers seek sharper focus and long-term cognitive health, the food industry is responding with powerful ingredients and smarter nutrition
Vitafoods Asia 2025
Brand exclusivity matters for new premium ingredient - Aker BioMarine on Xandro collab
Working with select brands exclusively is important for marketing new premium ingredients, says Aker BioMarine after embarking on an exclusive South East Asia (SEA) partnership with a Singapore firm for its new ingredient.
Gencor’s PEA offers stress management potential, says RCT in university students
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) supplementation may enhance resilience to stress, says a new study with female university students taking Gencor’s Levagen+ ingredient for six weeks.
Across the Nutraverse: Xymogen’s new sports nutrition line, Canola protein fiber-concentrate, combating decision fatigue
Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the Nutraverse.
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.
IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026: Early bird discount expiring soon
With expert speakers confirmed from MaryRuth’s, BLIS Technologies, Traitomic, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, CanBiocin, University of Milano-Bicocca, Teagasc, APC Microbiome Ireland and more, the upcoming IPA World Congress + Probiota 2026 is not to be...
Review supports omega-3 supplementation for cognitive health
Omega-3 supplementation showed improvements in Mini Mental State Examination scores among 26,881 participants aged 40 years or older, according to a review published in Nutrients.
Tocotrienols show promise for cognitive health and sleep
A rice bran tocotrienol supplement marketed as TheraPrimE rice by BGG Americas may improve markers of memory, sleep and inflammation, according to a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Vitafoods Asia 2025
Morinaga Milk launches first mood support postbiotics for global markets
Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd has launched its first postbiotics for mood support for international markets at last week’s Vitafoods Asia 2025 held in Bangkok.
Holistic beauty-from-within trends: The mind-body connection in nutricosmetics
Single-focus products will struggle as consumers demand multi-benefit solutions, according to one beauty-from-within expert.
Sustainability September
NutraCast: Why GLP‑1s, sustainability and TikTok are the next frontier of wellness
Nielsen IQ recently released its The Next Frontier of Wellness Report. The leading global consumer intelligence company identified several trends shaping the industry.
Does the research back ashwagandha safety concerns?
A major scientific review highlights critical knowledge gaps in ashwagandha’s effects on pregnancy and fertility as the EU and UK consider safety-related restrictions.
Laboratoire PYC targets 7 key women’s health areas with new range
White label manufacturer Laboratoire PYC has launched Woman Nature, a range of products to address health concerns across a woman’s lifespan.
Coffee linked to happiness in latest boost to $485.59bn industry
New research reveals caffeine could boost mood and energy - especially in the morning
3H Labs launch gotu kola extract in Europe and US
Korean nutraceutical company 3H Labs has launched its gotu kola extract, marketed as Himalca, in Europe and the United States in a bid to bring ‘natural wellness solutions’ to new markets.
Could flavanols protect the brain from sitting-induced damage?
Cocoa flavanols improved blood flow to the brain in older adults who sat still for two hours, according to a study published in Nutrients.
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.
Magnesium, relaxation, and sleep supplement trends in Australia
The Australian supplement market is seeing an increase in products for energy, sleep, and muscle relaxation, with ingredients like magnesium at the center of the action.
UK teen energy drink ban: Is caffeine really the culprit?
The UK government will consult on banning high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s in England over health concerns. However, a new study suggests energy drinks may only be indirectly linked to poor adolescent health, so what makes them risky?
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...
Green Bioactives falls victim to cautious investor landscape, enters liquidation
“We were so close,” says Chris Meaney, chief business officer at Green Bioactives as Scottish biotech company enters liquidation.
NZ firm uncovers how blackcurrant actives can alleviate diabetic complications
A molecule in blackcurrants could alleviate diabetes-related vascular complications, such as peripheral neuropathy, by rebuilding blood vessels and capillaries, reveals New Zealand-based The cGP Lab Ltd.
OmniActive’s low dose ashwagandha effective for stress, sleep and mood benefits: RCT
Twelve weeks of supplementation with Zenroot ashwagandha may improve sleep quality and decrease occasional anxiety and mood swings, says a new study from India.
Study finds paprika aids endurance, brain function
Pigments from paprika improve oxygen delivery to both muscle and brain, according to new research conducted in university students.
Cocoa extract may support healthy blood pressure: COSMOS data
Supplementation with a cocoa extract may reduce incident hypertension by 24% in participants with normal systolic blood pressure, according to a new analysis of data from the COSMOS study.
Vitamin E tocotrienols ‘emerging as promising neuroprotective agents’
Two new scientific reviews suggest that tocotrienols, a potent form of vitamin E extracted from rice, palm and annatto, may show protective effects on the brain and cognition, supporting healthy aging.
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!
Turning trash into treasure: Researchers uncover benefits of upcycling cherry waste
Researchers from the University of Kent have deciphered a method to utilize cherry waste— upcycling bruised, soft or discolored cherries and transforming the pulp into a food supplement ingredient.
Jellyfish collagen for brain health: Why Longevity By Nature calls it a ‘true category disruptor’
While most consumers are aware of collagen, they typically associate it with beauty and joint support sourced from bovine or fish. Abdul Alkayali, founder, Longevity By Nature, says that his Jellyfish collagen peptides break the mold entirely.
‘Longevity vitamin’ ergothioneine could protect the aging brain
A new study from ergothioneine supplier Blue California suggests that supplementation with its ErgoActive ingredient leads to dose-dependent improvements in subjective memory and sleep in healthy older adults.
The rise of hybrid formulations
CosmaxNBT is tapping into the multi-benefit trend by combining popular wellness goals, such as metabolic boosters, mood enhancers and digestive aids into one convenient formulation.
‘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.
Magnesium gummies for children found to contain unauthorized melatonin
UK brand Nutrition Ignition’s magnesium glycinate gummies for kids tested positive for the drug melatonin in a case which is down to “either a gross manufacturing mistake or fraud.”
L-theanine may be neuroprotective in sleep deprivation
Administering L-theanine to sleep-deprived mice inhibited hippocampal ferroptosis, a process causing cell death in the brain, according to a study published in Phytotherapy Research.
Behind the scenes at the world’s first industrial-scale microalgae biorefinery
In July, French biotech firm Microphyt officially inaugurated its new microalgae biorefinery, which it said opens “a new era for the European bioeconomy.”
Moderate exercise may boost brain function via gut microbiota
New research reveals moderate intensity exercise can enhance cognitive function in mice, and these benefits can be transferred to sedentary mice via fecal microbiota transplantation.
The rise of mind and mood formulations for sports nutrition
Sports and active nutrition consumers are increasingly seeking out products that can also support cognitive and emotional health in addition to maximizing physical performance, according to a new report from PLT Health Solutions.
Neurocosmetics: A ‘paradigm shift’ for dermatology and cosmetic science
A new clinical study has investigated the potential of neurocosmetics, concluding that it “signals a paradigm shift within dermatology and cosmetic science,” which also brings many complexities for future NPD.
Across the Nutraverse: Haleon eyes growth in LICs, menopause support, milk protein for sleep
Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the Nutraverse.
Longevity bars may signal what’s next in functional snacking
Ingredient innovation and demand for preventive health drive growth in the nutrition and snack bar category