Cognitive function

Cracking results? Egg yolk choline shown to improve verbal memory – Kewpie-funded trial

27-Jul-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of egg yolk choline has been shown to improve verbal memory in a 12-week trial funded by Japan food firm Kewpie Corporation.

Scientific basis for the development of functional food for mental wellbeing

26-Jul-2023 By Olivia Haslam

There is good evidence to support the development of biotic supplements and functional foods to aid mental health via the gut-brain axis, a new review has concluded.

EGCG could assist in microbial dysbiosis in autistic children

25-Jul-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A new review has analysed the potential of the polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to address microbial dysbiosis in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Female entrepreneurs develop hormone-focused personalised nutrition app

25-Jul-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

An entrepreneurial duo have created a personalised nutrition platform to help support women's wellbeing with advice that considers the hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle.

Probiotic LGG supplements may slow age-related cognitive decline: RCT

24-Jul-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Probiotic dietary supplements may improve cognitive performance and memory in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), says a new double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study.

BB-12 probiotic may boost recovery for female martial artists: RCT

24-Jul-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of a probiotic yogurt may improve exercise-related psychological fatigue in female taekwondo athletes, says a new study from China.

Medicalised deliveries: the hidden triple threat to infant health

24-Jul-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Optimal nutrition is becoming ever more important in a world where the infant gut microbiome is exposed to extreme challenges from day one of life, due to habitually medicalised deliveries.

Phytochemicals could bolster physical activity performance through improved sleep

18-Jul-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A new review has unveiled the promising effects of phytochemical (PC) supplementation on sleep recovery and daytime fatigue, leading to enhanced physical performance.

Omega-3 supplementation is emerging as a potential adjunct therapy for depression and obesity – review

12-Jul-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been found to have beneficial effects on inflammatory markers, metabolic dysregulation, and depressive symptoms.

Precision probiotics aid gut health for shift and night workers

11-Jul-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Researchers have concluded that probiotic supplementation could hold the key to maintaining balance and diversity of the gut microbiota in the face of shift working disruption.

China CBEC phenomenon: Tmall Global on overcoming supplements supply chain woes as products hit peak popularity

11-Jul-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Overseas supplements sold into China via cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) can get popular easily, but supply chain pain points are making it difficult for brands to replenish their goods in time, says the head of Tmall Global.

Science builds for novel P.UF1 probiotic as first commercial product launches

06-Jul-2023 By Stephen Daniells

A next generation probiotic may support immune health, vitamin B12 production, and offer a range of other health benefits, with one commercial product already in the market formulated with the beneficial bacteria.

Butanediol ingredient may boost ketosis: Pilot study

29-Jun-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Acute supplementation with (R)-1,3-Butanediol could raises beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels associated with increased mental clarity and endurance, says a new study.

Rhodiola rosea: Adjusting to life as an endangered species

29-Jun-2023 By Asia Sherman

The global demand for Rhodiola rosea – also known as "golden root" or "roseroot" – has been increasing steadily since the late 20th century, so much so that it now faces restrictions in international trade brought on by exploitative...

June 2023 Launch pad

28-Jun-2023 By Olivia Brown

Nootropics and natural energy alternatives to support cognition have dominated product launches throughout June, whilst players in protein and immunity categories hold strong.

New use, new opportunity: Mood support that starts in the gut

27-Jun-2023 By Danielle Masterson

As consumers get more comfortable with probiotics for gut health, “probiotics plus” is emerging as a key motif. The idea of probiotics for mood support, or psychobiotics, is picking up steam as growing research shows the digestive aids hold promise for...

Raisin polyphenols improve cognitive scores in elderly, study suggests

27-Jun-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new RCT observes that daily supplementation with 50g of polyphenol-rich raisins for 6-months improves scores for cognition in an elderly population.

Gut-brain study: 8-week supplementation with probiotic reduces depressive symptoms

23-Jun-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new RCT finds that following an 8-week supplementation period with a probiotic in those with major depressive disorder (MDD) taking anti-depressants, scores for depressive symptoms were significantly improved.

RCT: Grape and blueberry extract improves cognitive health in ageing consumers

23-Jun-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

New data suggests six-months of supplementation with the polyphenol-rich grape and blueberry extract 'Memophenol' may improve information processing and visuospatial learning in adults with mild cognitive impairment.

RCT suggests long-chain PUFAs with lutein and zeaxanthin could reduce cognitive decline

22-Jun-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Supplementation with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids alongside lutein and zeaxanthin improved memory function in healthy older individuals with cognitive decline in a newly published RCT.

Mushrooms hailed “treasure troves” of bioactives which may prevent cognitive decline

21-Jun-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new review suggests that mushroom constituents, including polysaccharides, peptides, and phenols, exhibit significant anti-neurodegenerative (ND) activities, and urges further research to explore these mechanisms further.

Saffron may boost mood for postmenopausal women: RCT

20-Jun-2023 By Olivia DeSmit

Postmenopausal women who consumed saffron reported higher happiness levels, says a new study from Iran published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.

The evolution of pre-workout powder for the digital generation

19-Jun-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Pre-workout powder is re-imagining and re-defining its role for the “digitally native consumer”, according to a recent webinar from Nutrition Integrated.

GOED identifies key areas to advance omega-3 brain health research

19-Jun-2023 By Olivia Brown and Olivia Haslam

GOED (Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3s) has published a comprehensive overview of the available literature investigating EPA and DHA omega-3s and their impact on brain health, examining areas such as cognition, stress and anxiety, depression,...

Exploring the relationship between microbiome, immune system and cognitive health

16-Jun-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A recent review has shed light on the interplay between gut microbiota, the immune system, and cognitive health, highlighting their profound impact on human well-being, particularly in children.

Prior conditions impact effectiveness of sleep supplements, study finds

15-Jun-2023 By Olivia DeSmit

In a study recently published in Nutrients, researchers found a link between prior conditions and the effectiveness of sleep supplements. The four supplements tested, l-theanine, GABA, AVLE and l-serine resulted in better sleep overall, and improved certain...

First-of-its-kind clinical trial supports CBD’s efficacy to boost sleep quality

13-Jun-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Four weeks of CBD (cannabidiol) supplementation at 15 mg per day led to clinically important improvement in their sleep quality, performing to a similar level to 5mg as melatonin, says a new study.

Synbiotic Health reports new health benefits for flagship probiotic B. adolescentis strain

13-Jun-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Nebraska-based Synbiotic Health has reported data from genomic evaluation in vitro testing that reveals that B. adolescentis, iVS-1, produces gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Folate, expanding the strain’s known attributes and representing an enhanced...

Fennel-valerian combination may support sleep for menopausal women: RCT

12-Jun-2023 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of extracts from fennel and valerian may improve sleep disorders and the severity and frequency of hot flashes in menopausal women, says a new study.

Ketone ester may boost mental alertness in ultra-runners: Study

12-Jun-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a ketone ester may increase dopamine levels in ultra-endurance athletes and boost their mental alertness, says a new trial from Belgium.

Active Nutrition Summit: First speakers revealed!

12-Jun-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

As we come close to the Early Bird ticket deadline for NI's Active Nutrition Summit 2023, we reveal some of the first confirmed speakers to join the agenda, which is already packed with diverse and engaging content.

Taurine supplements may extend lifespan, for animals at least

09-Jun-2023 By Stephen Daniells

A deficiency of taurine may drive aging in animals, while supplementation with the compound was associated with a 12% increase in healthy lifespan, says a new study published in Science.

Alkemist Labs advances psychoactive testing as interest in psychedelics grows

09-Jun-2023 By Asia Sherman

Alkemist Labs – an independent lab specializing in botanical screening for the dietary supplement industry – has developed and validated an analytical method to quantify psychoactives in plants and fungi.

BLS touts next-gen NAD booster in vegetable wax matrix

01-Jun-2023 By Asia Sherman

Bioenergy Life Science (BLS) presents its wax-matrix packaged NAD booster as a game-changing format for the sustained release and improved absorption of its longevity supplement.

Higher vitamin D dose in infants may reduce mental health risks in children

31-May-2023 By Asia Sherman

Supplementation with higher doses of vitamin D during a critical emotional developmental window may reduce mental health issues like depression and anxiety in children as they age, according to a recent study.

“Regulators floating along on hearsay and misinformation”: Experts defend ashwagandha amid safety concerns

30-May-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

The industry has vehemently rejected a regulatory assessment leading to the ban of ashwagandha in Denmark and defended the ingredient's safety, as an increasing number of member states show concerns.

‘Remarkable’: Multivitamin may boost memory, slow cognitive decline in older people

25-May-2023 By Stephen Daniells

A daily multivitamin may improve memory performance in older adults by the equivalent of 3.1 years compared to the placebo, according to new data from the large-scale COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS).

RCT: Blueberries may alleviate symptoms of gastrointestinal disorder

25-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new randomised controlled trial reports that, in subjects suffering from functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), abdominal symptom relief was significantly greater following consumption of freeze-dried blueberries when compared to a control group....

Microbiome Briefing

The role microbiota-gut-brain axis plays in stress management

24-May-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The rise of dietary supplements to help manage stress was one of the big success stories from the pandemic years. While much of this success was linked to products containing adaptogenic herbs (we’re looking at you, Ashwagandha), the past couple of years...

Omega-3 fatty acid lipid findings could be a game-changer in the aging brain

23-May-2023 By Danielle Masterson

The new understanding could lead to the development of dietary supplements aimed at help mitigating the damaging effects of aging on the brain.

Study identifies importance of personalisation with sleep supplements

22-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new intervention trial reports that the efficacy of sleep supplements, including l-theanine, GABA, and l-serine, was dependent on the participants preconditions (PCs), including lifestyle habits and sleep problems.

Caffeinated convenience: TopGum launches new coffee gummies

19-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

Gummy supplement manufacturer, TopGum, has launched a caffeinated gummy range, marking the first use of its novel microencapsulation technology for effective and controlled absorption.

“Positive EU regulatory environment” primed for cognitive market growth

18-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

The supplements market is set for an influx of products hailing cognitive health claims, and opportunities are great for those who pay attention to the regulatory landscape.

Vitafoods 2023 Highlight: Holistic Health

18-May-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Holistic health solutions can provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to wellness aligning with consumer preferences for natural solutions and preventive health strategies, evidenced by innovations showcased at Vitafoods.

New data supports Kemin’s Neumentix for nutrition support of the eyes

17-May-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Oral intake of Kemin’s Neumentix spearmint extract may preserve the activity and viability of ganglion cells in the retina and support an expanded role for the nootropic for neural tissues beyond the brain.

Gut-brain axis: Novozymes exhibit psychobiotic to target stress

17-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

Novozymes OneHealth, supplier of probiotics, enzymes, and bioactive ingredients, exhibited its ‘ProbioBrain’ psychobiotic containing the targeted Bifidobacterium Longum 1714 strain, at Vitafoods last week.

Vitafoods 2023 Highlights: The Active Consumer

16-May-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Companies at Vitafoods 2023 saw active consumers as a key target demographic, with exhibitors presenting innovative concepts targeting a wide range of consumers leading active lifestyles.

Theaflavins may mitigate aging associated cognitive dysfunction via the microbiota−gut−brain axis

15-May-2023

Emerging reports linking the gut microbiota to cognitive dysfunction have provided researchers a potential avenue to enhance cognition via gut microbiota modulation.

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

Startup Goodrays creates “CBD for every occasion”

15-May-2023 By Olivia Brown

UK-based startup Goodrays is seeking to bring the benefits of CBD to multiple consumer occasions throughout the day with its wide range of oils, gummies, and drinks.

Nature’s Way introduces nootropic gummy for brain health

09-May-2023 By Asia Sherman

Nature's Way has launched its Brain Fuel nootropic gummy into the growing brain health category to support adults looking to supplement their short-term memory, focus and concentration.