Respiratory health

Exclusive documentary preview: MicroWarriors Special edition

MicroWarriors: Exploring probiotic power (and the powers that be)

25-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

NutraIngredients went to LA recently to question two leading probiotic academics about probiotics and the microbiome and which we present exclusively here. The interviews form part of a new documentary to be narrated by Leonard Nimoy, better known as...

Walmark buys Polish food supplements range

03-Apr-2014

Eastern Europe’s biggest supplements manufacturer Walmark has bought a range of products from a Polish firm in immunity and sinus food supplements.

Customer relationships are crucial to developing personalised nutrition offerings

17-Mar-2014 By Lynda Searby

If Personalised Nutritional Offerings (PNOs) are to gain a commercial foothold in the marketplace, lessons need to be learned and providers will have to change the way they approach customer relationships, say researchers.

Maternal vitamin A deficiency linked to postnatal asthma: Mouse data

13-Feb-2014

US researchers may have identified the first direct evidence of a link between prenatal vitamin A status and postnatal risk of asthma in offspring.

Special edition: Polyphenols

The big challenges in polyphenols: Providing credible evidence and a quality supply chain

28-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

With surging interest in the potential health benefits of polyphenols around the globe, experts suggest that there are still some major sticking points in the polyphenol success story.

Study: Resveratrol a smoker’s best friend?

23-Jan-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Resveratrol supplements could hold cardiovascular benefits for smokers, a new study has suggested.

Probiotics’ effect against hayfever is not conclusive

17-Jan-2014

Scientists are struggling to prove that the consumption of probiotic foods can help protect people against hayfever.

Dietary fibres may protect against asthma: Mouse data

15-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

A lack of fermentable fibres in people's diet may pave the way for allergic inflammatory reactions such as asthma - and increasing intake of these fibres could help battle asthma, according to new research. 

Probiotics during pregnancy and infancy no benefit for asthma: BMJ analysis

10-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

While consumption of probiotics may have health benefits, preventing childhood asthma is not one of them, according to new data published in the British Medical Journal.

Review questions vitamin D for reducing chronic disease risk

06-Dec-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Low vitamin D levels may be a consequence of ill health and not the cause of chronic disease, says a new review, but industry groups have responded that supplementation is vital for bone health and should not be dismissed.

Nestlé defends plant patenting as 300,000 protest

15-Nov-2013 By Shane STARLING

Nestlé has affirmed its position in the face of an NGO-led petition begun in April that has won 331,500 signatures protesting the food firm's intentions for the nutrient-rich fennel flower.

Vitamin C, zinc and pine bark extract show common cold benefits: Study

17-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A combination supplement containing zinc, vitamin C and Pycnogenol, an extract from French Maritime Pine bark, may be effective in shortening duration of the common cold and lessening the seven ‘pillar’ symptoms, including runny nose, nasal obstruction,...

Probiotics (Bl-04) may reduce common cold risk in active adults: Clinical trial

14-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis subsp lactis Bl-04 may reduce the risk of the common cold (upper respiratory tract infections or URTIs) in active adults, says a new study from Australia.

Meta-analysis: Probiotic reduces infant skin disorders (but not asthma/wheezing)

16-Sep-2013 By Shane Starling

The probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus decreases skin sensitivity in children that can reduce disorders like eczema, researchers have found after a scan of published studies – but other allergic ailments like asthma and wheezing were not affected.

Omega-3s may boost artery function in smokers

07-Jun-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Cigarette smokers – a group at increased risk of heart problems – may benefit from daily omega-3 supplements, suggest new data from Greece.

Low vitamin D levels associated with higher respiratory illness risk among elderly

03-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

A new study has found that lower vitamin D levels is associated with a greater risk of respiratory illness among older patients.

Green-lipped mussel omega-3s reduce exercise asthma: Study

29-May-2013

New Zealand green-lipped mussel omega-3s improved respiratory function in exercising asthmatics, Indiana University researchers have found.

Vitamin C may protect marathon runners from colds, but what about the rest of us?

15-Feb-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of vitamin C may reduce the risk of developing common cold for marathon runners by 50%, but there is little evidence that it helps the rest of us, says a new Cochrane review.

Yeast beta-glucan shows benefits for stressed women

08-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of the beta-glucan based ingredient Wellmune WGP may help stressed women stay healthy by reducing coughs and colds, says a new study.

Probiotics show allergy, immune system benefits: Nestlé study

11-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily dose of Nestlé’s Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 probiotic strain may help manage allergic responses during pollen season, says a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.

Yeast beta-glucan shows benefits for ragweed allergy sufferers

04-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of the beta-glucan based ingredient Wellmune WGP may reduce symptoms and severity of ragweed allergy, and boost overall ‘quality of life’, says a new study.

Multi-nutrient supplement shows big benefits for lung function in asthmatics

07-Dec-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

A supplement containing a combination of fish oil, probiotics, and extracts from fruit and vegetables may improve lung function in young asthmatics, says a new study from Taiwan.

Pycnogenol shows benefits for asthmatics: Study

07-Nov-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the French Maritime Pine bark extract Pynogenol may improve symptoms of asthma, according to results of a clinical trial. 

Randomized trials show benefits of magnesium chelate ingredient

06-Nov-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of magnesium bisglycinate chelate may reduce the frequency and intensity of pregnancy-induced leg cramps, say results from a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Merck and Chr Hansen jointly submit probiotic allergy health claim

15-Oct-2012 By Shane Starling

German pharma giant Merck has teamed with probiotics ingredients player Chr Hansen in a bid to win the European Union’s first probiotic health claim.

Quercetin may support lung health for smokers

11-Oct-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Increased intakes of quercetin, a compound found in fruit and vegetables, may change the expression of genetic material in the lung function of smokers and reduce the risk of lung cancer, report researchers from Yale and the National Institute of Health...

Vitamin D pills show no common cold benefits for people with sufficient vitamin levels

03-Oct-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Mega-doses of vitamin D once per month did not reduce the number of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), compared to placebo, but would differences have been observed in people with lower levels?

Souped-up soup: Could vitamin E fortified foods help in fight against childhood asthma?

10-Sep-2012 By Nathan Gray

A new research project will investigate whether a vitamin E rich diet can help to modify the risk of childhood asthma, by supplying mothers-to-be with a vitamin-rich fortified soup.

Vitamin D may decrease lung infection risk in children: Study

21-Aug-2012 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with vitamin D has been shown to slash the risk of winter time respiratory infection by half, according to a new randomised trial.

Carotenoids may improve asthma symptoms: RCT data

06-Aug-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Increased intake of carotenoids from the diet may improve measures of asthma in asthmatic adults, says a new clinical trial.

Low vitamin D levels may worsen lung function in smokers: Study

20-Jul-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Ensuring sufficient blood levels of vitamin D may reduce the risk of reduced lung function in smokers, suggests a new study from Harvard and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

LGG probiotic may protect day care kids from respiratory illness: Study

18-Jun-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Long term consumption of milk containing the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain may protect children in day care from respiratory illness, says a new study from Finland.

Beta-glucan ingredient may benefit cold and flu symptoms

25-Apr-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the beta-glucan based ingredient Wellmune WGP may reduce the number of days suffering from cold and flu symptoms, says a new study from the UK.

Vitamin D status does not affect lung disease risk: Study

04-Nov-2011 By Nathan Gray

Low levels of vitamin D levels are not related to the risk of acute deterioration in people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to new research.

Vitamin D may activate immune response to TB: Study

13-Oct-2011 By Nathan Gray

New research revealing the mechanisms behind how vitamin D helps to fight tuberculosis will provide a rationale for clinical trials to test whether supplements of the sunshine vitamin can help to fight the disease in at-risk populations, say scientists.

Supplements for lung injury patients may do more harm than good, suggests study

06-Oct-2011 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with dietary omea-3 and antioxidants does not improve the primary outcomes of patients with acute lung injury, and may in fact be harmful for such patients, says new research

Pterostilbene may protect against asthma: Cell study

20-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Pterostilbene, a compound found in blueberries, may counteract the role of environmental pollutants and prevent the development of asthma, a study suggests for the first time.

Vitamin E supplements may reduce lung disease risk: Cornell study

13-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with vitamin E may reduce the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by about 10 per cent in women over 45, says a study from Cornell University.

UK company to fight ASA antioxidant water ad ban

18-May-2011 By Shane Starling

The UK company behind a high pH, electrolysed water product says it fully expected the advertising watchdog to rule against its cancer, ageing and other claims, and will appeal.

Research brief

High dose vitamin D may boost exercise capacity for lung disease patients

16-May-2011

High dose supplements of vitamin D may increase the exercise capacity and strength of respiratory muscles in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggests a new study.

Probiotics may reduce cold/’flu symptoms for male athletes: Study

15-Apr-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum may reduce the duration of symptoms of respiratory tract infections in male athletes, says a new study from Australia.

Low vitamin D levels may reduce lung function: Mouse study

01-Feb-2011 By Nathan Gray

Australian researchers have presented evidence of a causal relationship between vitamin D status and lung function, for mice at least.

Yakult: EFSA must recognise cold symptoms

13-Dec-2010 By Shane Starling

Japanese probiotics giant Yakult says its recent EFSA probiotic health claim rejection discounted peer-review validated respiratory tract health measures, and called on the European Commission to facilitate a discussion on the matter.

Dispatches from HIE 2010

Cognis focuses on soft health claims for plant extracts

24-Nov-2010 By Ben Bouckley

Cognis says it is following a “dual pillar” approach to product marketing that involves stressing market awareness of health benefits for some ingredients such as plant extracts, rather than investing in EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) submissions.

Let’s talk, Yakult tells EFSA after negative opinion

19-Oct-2010 By Jess Halliday

Yakult Europe has signalled its desire to talk to EFSA about the evaluation process and scientific criteria that led to the negative outcome of its proposed health claim on upper respiratory tract health, but pledges to take the decision into account...

Malta hosts second immunity ingredients conference

08-Oct-2010

Malta will host the second World Congress on Immunity Ingredients on October 28 where a science-led programme focusing on antioxidants, prebiotics and probiotics will unfold.

Merck launches new allergy ingredient in South Africa

08-Oct-2010 By Mike Stones

Merck Consumer Health has launched its allergy relief ingredient Lectranal in South Africa after signing a distribution agreement with Croatian functional ingredients company Milsing.

Probiotics may protect infants from respiratory illness

30-Sep-2010

Daily supplements of a probiotic may reduce the incidence of respiratory illness for infants during their first eight months of life, says a new study.

Probiotics show potential against common cold: Study

21-Sep-2010 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements with probiotic Lactobacillus strains may reduce the incidence of acquiring the common cold by 12 percent, according to new research from probiotic player Probi.

Quercetin's respiratory benefits limited to over 40s

06-Sep-2010 By Nathan Gray

Supplements of quercetin may cut the number of sick days linked to respiratory infections, but the effects are not shared by all age groups, according to new research.