Cardiovascular health

Grontvedt set to bring “new innovations to the market” with significant new hire

25-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

Norwegian marine oils producer, Grontvedt biotech, has made a significant new hire of Stig Jansson, former R&D manager at Nordic Naturals, for their chief innovation officer following plans to scale up their production.

Impaired vitamin B6 and folate status linked to low birth weights, study suggests

24-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

The new prospective cohort study finds that low vitamin B6 and impaired folate levels were associated with low birth weights (LBWs) in the south Indian pregnant women studied.

Vitamin D deficiency: study highlights “concerning reality” in pregnant women during Covid-19

20-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

The new retrospective study of Spanish pregnant women during the Covid-19 epidemic highlights significant vitamin D deficiencies (VDDs), resulting from the imposed strict lockdown in the region.

Review hails Akkermansia as “most promising next-gen probiotic”

19-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

The recent review spotlights the efficacy of Akkermansia muciniphila in reducing the risk and progression of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D), suggesting its strong potential for use for targeted dietary interventions within probiotics.

Review concludes vitamin D may reduce mortality risk, blaming “substandard” studies for contradictions

18-Apr-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new systematic review and meta-analysis of available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) identifies a significant relationship between a lower risk of all-cause mortality (ACM) and vitamin D supplementation in higher quality studies, with no such association...

Review: ‘No concern about excess CVD risks associated with calcium supplements’

14-Apr-2023 By Asia Sherman

A recent review published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition dispels concerns that have swirled around calcium supplementation and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Calanus oil matches krill and fish oil for Omega-3 Index boosts: Study

30-Mar-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Calanus oil may be equally as effective at increasing the Omega-3 Index as fish oil and krill oil, says a new study that supports the copepod-derived oil as an alternative marine omega-3 source.

NMN and arterial stiffness: Individuals with above-average BMI or blood glucose could benefit – Japan DHC Corp study

30-Mar-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Individuals who have above-average body mass index or blood glucose levels have seen a reduction in arterial stiffness following 12 weeks of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation.

Osavi’s omega-3 oils for achieving an optimum index

28-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

The UK-based health, nutrition and supplements company has released the ‘Norwegian cod liver oil’ and ‘Osavi daily omega’ products following the finding that “98% of adults fall below the optimum omega-3 index.”

Amino acid and antioxidant offer heart health benefits in post-menopausal women

27-Mar-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

A new industry-funded study involving healthy post-menopausal women suggests that the amino acid citrulline combined with the antioxidant glutathione can improve cardiac function in this population.

GC Rieber on future of omega-3: Fish and algae go hand-in-hand

24-Mar-2023 By Stephen Daniells

With a new algal-oil ingredient and a $75 million facility coming online, GC Rieber Vivomega sees a bright future for its premium omega-3 portfolio.

NutraCast: Beets by HumanN: Tapping into nitric oxide benefits

17-Mar-2023 By Danielle Masterson

From heart health to enhanced performance, HumanN’s CEO Joel Kocher is hailing nitric oxide and its ability to address a broad range of health needs by supporting blood flow in different ways.

Review points to whey proteins for glucose control, calling for long-term studies

09-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

Collated literature concludes that consuming whey protein could have beneficial effects on postprandial and glycaemic responses in the short-term, as well as on arterial wall integrity, suggesting their potential to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes (T2D)...

Sonomaceuticals upcycles Chardonnay pomace into health benefits

08-Mar-2023 By Asia Sherman

Two wine industry veterans are channeling research and leftover grape pomace into a superfood ingredient chocked full of bioactive compounds for gut and heart health.

Cochrane review: Vitamin D cannot reduce asthma risk

06-Mar-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Contrary to previous findings, a new Cochrane review has concluded vitamin D supplementation does not reduce risk of asthma exacerbations or improve asthma control.

Novel coconut sap powder shows cardiovascular benefits: Study

03-Mar-2023 By Asia Sherman

Coconut sap powder – derived from the coconut palm tree – may boost cardiovascular health by lowering associated risk factors in middle-aged and older adults, according to a recent study.

Flavonoid intake inversely associated with high blood pressure, but not dose-responsive, according to cohort study

03-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

A large-scale prospective cohort study of a Korean population finds strong inverse associations between total flavonoid intake and risk of hypertension, which was more pronounced for flavonoid sub-classes, and in men with a high BMI.

Omega-3 firm makes $40m investment in 'next-level' molecular distillation technology

02-Mar-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Marine lipid specialist Epax has undertaken a major facility upgrade and launched 'next-level' molecular distillation technology to improve its processing of highly concentrated Omega-3.

Stability of selenium supplement improves using orchid extract, study finds

01-Mar-2023 By Olivia Brown

A recent study observes that synthesising selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using Anoectochilus burmannicus extract (ABE) significantly improved stability in terms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, following freeze-drying and long-term storage.

Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of vein thrombosis, meta-analysis concludes

24-Feb-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A newly published meta-analysis of sixteen observational studies, including 47,648 individuals, concludes that Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Both short and long sleep durations may increase metabolic syndrome risk, study concludes

21-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

Those reporting an average of nine hours of sleep a day, as well as those sleeping below seven hours, were observed to have greater metabolic syndrome severity scores (MSSS), highlighting the importance of incorporating sleep with diet and activity intervention...

Omega-3s against disease: review states need for RCTs to focus on primary prevention

20-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new review collating the highest level of research on n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and chronic disease prevention establishes significant inconsistencies in the literature, resulting from an expectation of a “drug” like effect by the researchers...

Review explores Ginkgo biloba’s ‘undervalued’ cardiovascular potential

17-Feb-2023 By Will Chu

Researchers from the University of Lisbon say that evidence of the beneficial cardiovascular effects of Ginkgo biloba in healthy subjects has been overlooked. Their review, published in the journal Biology, details findings of the plant’s action on cardiac...

Garlic powder may boost cardiovascular health in people with metabolic syndrome: RCT

16-Feb-2023 By Will Chu

Supplementation with garlic powder as prebiotic could decrease the cardiovascular risks associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), according to new findings from a group of Iranian researchers.

Study: CBD may lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients

16-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

After five-weeks of CBD administration to hypertensive patients, reductions in blood pressure were paired with significant drops in the catestatin peptides involved in hypertension pathophysiology, a randomised controlled trial observes.

‘Bad cholesterol’ linked to high bread and low rice dietary pattern for Japanese – Cohort study

16-Feb-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Japanese researchers found that the ‘high bread and low rice’ dietary pattern leads to higher serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol for both sexes, while the ‘high confectioneries and low alcohol’ diet did the same only for men.

A century of the sunshine vitamin part II: Towards new benefits and dosages

14-Feb-2023 By Asia Sherman

A hundred years after the discovery of vitamin D as a cure for rickets, science is exploring new niches for the sunshine vitamin and zeroing in on the dosages for maximum health.

Urolithin A supplementation promotes microbiota alpha diversity and benefits blood vessel health, study concludes

09-Feb-2023 By Will Chu

Urolithin A (UA) appears to alter the gut microbiota by improving its diversity, according to Japanese scientists, who link this modest effect with improvements to vascular endothelial function.

Sustainability at sea: Grontvedt launches ‘unique’ brand of cetoleic acid-rich omega-3 oil

08-Feb-2023 By Olivia Brown

Sustainable marine products producer Grontvedt has launched a new brand of Norwegian Herring fish oil, completely smell- and taste-free, and rich in cetoleic acid, with immediate processing from “fish to oil in 30 minutes”.

Watermelon juice may decrease dysfunction linked to hyperglycemic episodes

07-Feb-2023 By Asia Sherman

Drinking watermelon juice preserves heart rate variability (HRV) response to high blood sugar spikes in young healthy adults, according to a study from a group of U.S. researchers.

Review outlines benefits and future health care opportunities with bitter apple extract

06-Feb-2023 By Olivia Haslam

The scope for protective metabolic potential of the medicine plant bitter apple, aka Citrullus colocynthis, has been explored in a new review published in ‘BMC Food Production, Processing and Nutrition’.

CRN highlights coronary artery disease prevention, savings in new report

31-Jan-2023 By Danielle Masterson

The Supplement to Savings report has exposed over $17 billion in unrealized savings if specific dietary supplements are used by those prone to CAD.

Review provides consensus on vitamin D recommendations for Poland

31-Jan-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Clinicians and researchers from across Poland have contributed to a review of scientific literature, concluding with a consensus of vitamin D recommendations, pointing out the importance of the vitamin to reduce the risk of spectrum of diseases.

Tomato extract may modulate gut microbiota and reduce TMAO levels

30-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

DSM’s Fruitflow tomato extract may beneficially change the gut microbiota and reduce levels of TMAO (trimethylamine-n-oxide), a gut metabolite linked to cardiovascular disease.

Offspring obesity: review stresses “urgent need” to address maternal vitamin D deficiencies

30-Jan-2023 By Olivia Brown

A recent literature review highlights collated evidence that maternal low vitamin D (VD) levels may result in abnormal growth of the offspring, as well as disordered lipid and glucose metabolism disorders.

Could B vitamins protect against the metabolic syndrome?

26-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary intake and blood levels of folate, and vitamins B6 and B12 were inversely associated with MetS risk in young American adults, says a new study from Texas State University.

Postbiotics show blood pressure lowering potential: RCT

23-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Acetate and butyrate – compounds derived from the gut microbiota – may lower blood pressure in untreated hypertensives, says a new study from Australia.

L. paracasei strain shows weight management potential, for mice at least

20-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Probiotic supplementation was found to reduce weight gain and decrease accumulation of fat in the livers of lab mice fed a high-fat diet, according to a new study from the China Agricultural University in Beijing.

DSM builds algal portfolio to help meet the growing demand for omega-3

18-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

DSM is expanding its algal omega-3 portfolio, driven by a gradual convergence in prices between fish and algal oil, and a focus on sustainability.

Probiotic strain may help manage CVD risks

16-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Consumption of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Inducia may exert cardio-metabolic benefits in healthy adults, according to data from two parallel-armed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.

Prebiotic supplementation reduces blood pressure among people with hypertension – Australian trial

11-Jan-2023 By Gary Scattergood

A high-fibre supplement helped reduce blood pressure among people with hypertension by changing their gut bacteria, a small trial from Australia has reported.

7 Reasons to Enter the NutraIngredients Awards!

09-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The 2023 NutraIngredients Awards are back with new categories but the same commitment to honour the best and brightest in ingredients, finished products, companies, people, and initiatives in food supplements and functional food & beverage.

Meta-analysis: Some micronutrients may be better for the heart than others

15-Dec-2022 By Asia Sherman

Supplementation with some but not all micronutrients may benefit cardiometabolic health, says a new review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Others may even be bad for your heart.

Guest Article: Issues and challenges for omega-3s in 2022

12-Dec-2022 By Ellen Schutt, Executive Director, GOED

While 2022 may be categorized as the year the world returned to somewhat normalcy, the last 12 months still held their share of challenges, and for omega-3s, questions remain about how the market will change in 2023.

Study findings: "The good, the bad and the ugly"

09-Dec-2022 By Nikki Hancocks

There is "room for the improvement" of design, analysis and reporting of nutrition studies, researchers have concluded following a meta-epidemiological analysis of more than 2,000 studies.

Study sheds light on how omega-3s may affect nitric oxide production

29-Nov-2022 By Hank Schultz

A study of Polish runners has found evidence for the way omega-3 supplementation can increase nitric oxide synthesis.

Industry association called to action: Time to prove food is not enough

23-Nov-2022 By Nikki Hancocks

Relying on a varied diet to provide all the nutrients your body needs is simply not realistic in today's society and the industry needs data to prove this, industry advocates agreed during the Food Supplements Europe event last Friday (Nov 18).

Research: SCFA mitigates vit D and nicotine induced vascular calcification

22-Nov-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

Using a vitamin D and nicotine (VDN) induced vascular calcification model in rats, researchers evaluated the interactions between the short-chain fatty acid (SCRF) propionate with intestinal microbiota and vascular calcification.

The NutraIngredients Awards are back! Submit your entries!

21-Nov-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The NutraIngredients Awards are back for 2023 with new categories but the same commitment to honour the best and brightest in ingredients, finished products, companies, people, and initiatives in the dietary supplements industry.

CRN: AstraZeneca’s statin study slanted playing field in favor of drug

08-Nov-2022 By Hank Schultz

A recent study on cholesterol outcomes that was publicized at a medical society meeting misses the point of supplementation and was slanted to make the case for a drug intervention, the Council for Responsible Nutrition says.