Women's health

Rejected cranberry wins EU medical UTI claim

02-May-2012 By Shane Starling

€3 million and seven years of research and development work have paid off for Medical Brands which has won the right to make medical urinary tract infection (UTI) claims in the EU and beyond with its cranberry partner, Decas Botanical Synergies (DBS).

DuPont buys out Bunge’s share in Solae joint venture in $440m deal

01-May-2012 By Elaine Watson

DuPont has taken full control of soy ingredients giant Solae after buying out Bunge’s stake in their joint venture.

Meta-analysis supports soy isoflavones efficacy against hot flashes

22-Mar-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Isoflavones from soy may reduce the frequency of hot flashes by 21%, according to a meta-analysis of 17 clinical trials.

Whole grains may aid fat loss, boost heart health: Study

09-Mar-2012

Consuming foods made with whole grains may aid weight loss, lead to less body fat, and improve cholesterol levels, says a new study from Europe.

Pine bark extract may ease menopause symptoms: Study

08-Mar-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of a French maritime pine bark extract may ease the symptoms of menopause and ease digestive problems, says a new study with Italian university students.

Irish MEP: “We have opened a can of worms that EFSA and the Commission would have much preferred remained closed”

08-Mar-2012 By Shane Starling

Irish MEP Marian Harkin has become one of the most vocal European parliamentary opponents of the interpretation and application of the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR), and she was not appeased by EC and EFSA statements at a specially...

GSK pitches new 'functional' Ribena at young women in large-scale launch

01-Mar-2012 By Ben Bouckley

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is set to launch a new ‘functional’ Ribena range in the UK this week – its largest drinks launch in 20 years – with new packaging designed to appeal to its “two key target audiences” in young women and mothers.

High-dose vitamin D may alleviate menstrual cramps: Study

01-Mar-2012 By Nathan Gray

Women who experience painful menstrual cramps could find relief from high-dose vitamin D3, according to new research – which suggests the dietary supplement could provide an alternative to painkilling drugs that are currently used.

Volac launches consumer brand to push whey protein beyond macho male niche

29-Feb-2012 By Ben Bouckley

European whey protein manufacturer Volac has launched its first consumer branded products to drive mainstream awareness of the benefits of whey protein beyond a macho male niche, and protect the market from outlandish health claims and poor quality products.

Lallemand targets heartburn with fermented soy

28-Feb-2012

Danish-based Lallemand Health Ingredients (LHI) has launched a fermented soy supplement backed by studies in 600 subjects demonstrating its ability to combat indigestion and heartburn.

‘Mild’ dehydration may modify mood, say scientists

21-Feb-2012 By Nathan Gray

Even mild dehydration can alter a person's mood, energy level, and ability to think clearly, leaving them ‘cranky’ and tired, say researchers.

Dispatches from Feeding the World

GAIN ups micronutrient fight against global malnutrition

09-Feb-2012 By Shane Starling in Geneva

Ten years ago the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) was established to fight rampant malnutrition in the developing world via micronutrient fortification programmes. But for a long time, it struggled to effect change in the face of logistical,...

UK Herbal Quality Campaign concerns are “bogus", says ANH

03-Feb-2012 By Shane Starling

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) has taken a swipe at the newly formed Herbal Quality Campaign (QHC) in the UK, labelling its concerns about herbal food supplements “bogus”.

Healthcare industry can raise EU vitamin D levels and reduce chronic disease

11-Jan-2012 By Shane Starling

70% of Europeans are vitamin D deficient, a situation that is aggravating osteoporosis, loss of motor coordination and bone fractures, researchers have concluded.

UK medicines agency commits to botanicals “crackdown”

12-Dec-2011 By Shane Starling

Borderline botanical products making medicinal or therapeutic claims but not holding appropriate registrations under new European Union laws, are coming under increased scrutiny from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which...

Dietary antioxidants may reduce stroke risk in women: Study

08-Dec-2011 By Nathan Gray

Increasing the intake of antioxidants in the diet is associated with a reduced risk of stroke in women, according to new research.

Dispatches from FIE 2011

Cranberry claim winner tells Ocean Spray: “Stay in your bogs”

05-Dec-2011 By Shane Starling from Paris

Last week global cranberry leader, Ocean Spray, announced it was working on settling the long-running and divisive debate about how best to measure the berry’s active constituents – but the move has not been welcomed by the man who won the world’s first-ever...

Low fat dairy consumption lowers diabetes risk in postmenopausal women, study

18-Nov-2011 By Ben Bouckley

A diet high in low-fat dairy products is associated with lower diabetes risk in postmenopausal women, particularly those who are obese, according to a new US research study.

Spanish women do not consume enough vit D during menopause: Study

21-Oct-2011 By Nathan Gray

The majority of Spanish women have deficient dietary intake of vitamin D during the menopause, according to new research.

Dispatches from SSW11

Horphag Research: We're going after sports nutrition and women's health

14-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The newly formed Horphag Research is targeting women's health and sports nutrition, its new VP of sales and business development tells NutraIngredients-USA.

European probiotic conferences given fresh push via William Reed acquisition

30-Sep-2011 By Shane Starling

William Reed Business Media (WRBM), the publisher of NutraIngredients.com, has taken control of two leading European probiotic conferences – Probiotech and Microbiota – from French firm Gate2Tech.

Probiotic video game in the works

31-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

The makers of the Microwarriors probiotic and prebiotic documentary that has been raising probiotic awareness since its release at the beginning of the year, are working on a video game set for launch next year.

African Union: Time to scale up nutritional interventions

23-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

Nutritional interventions need to be scaled up to tackle malnourishment and undernourishment that affects more than 200m Africans, the African Union (AU) has said.

Soy supplements show no menopause benefit, says research

09-Aug-2011 By Nathan Gray

Soy isoflavone shows no benefits in terms of reducing bone loss, or menopausal symptoms, according to new research.

Cranberry price fluctuates at 8th Ocean Spray auction

08-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

Ocean Spray saw price fluctuations compared to May auction levels as the cranberry leader sold 148,750 gallons of concentrate at its eighth auction since switching to the sales system in 2009.

EFSA health claim opinions

Red yeast rice and creatine win positive health claim opinions (but…)

01-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

European health claim experts say the devil may be in the detail of two positive European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim opinions for red yeast rice and creatine that featured in the final batch of article 13, general function claims issued...

Sunshine vitamin may mitigate muscle and joint pain in breast cancer patients

28-Jul-2011 By Nathan Gray

High-dose vitamin D supplementation may relieve muscle and joint pain for many breast cancer patients taking estrogen-lowering drugs, according to a new study.

Antibiotics better for UTIs than cranberry, but may increase drug resistance, say researchers

27-Jul-2011 By Nathan Gray

Antibiotics may achieve better results at preventing recurrent urinary tract infections, but they also increase the risk of antibiotic resistance three-fold, according to new research.

Folate may reduce pre-menopausal breast cancer risk: Study

11-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Increased intakes of folate may reduce the risk of breast cancer, but the benefits appear linked to a woman’s menopausal state, suggests a new study.

EFSA health claim opinion

French cranberry claim winner says EFSA failed to evaluate submitted claim wording

05-Jul-2011 By Shane Starling

French cranberry firm Pharmatoka says the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) failed to assess its submitted urinary tract infection (UTI) health claim wording, which was the very same as that approved by the French Food Agency (ANSES) in 2004.

India calls for probiotic research for women-children

17-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is calling on researchers to submit projects investigating probiotic benefits in women and children, and has set an August 15 submission deadline.

Pycnogenol retail value tops $500m as double-digit growth continues

10-Jun-2011 By Elaine Watson

The retail value of products containing Pycnogenol, a potent antioxidant from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, is estimated to top $500m, according to bosses at producer Horphag Research.

Science in brief

Magnesium supplements may ease hot flashes for breast cancer patients

07-Jun-2011

Daily supplements of magnesium may ease hot flashes in women with breast cancer, suggest data from a pilot phase II trial from Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.

Cranberry players debate meaning of fresh French advice

24-May-2011 By Shane Starling

The cranberry industry, divided over differing methods of measuring the active proanthocyanidins (PACs) content of the berries, are offering differing interpretations of new advice from the French food agency (ANSES).

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2011

Measure for measure: Cranberry wars rage on

20-May-2011 By Shane Starling

The long-standing dispute within the cranberry industry about the most appropriate way to measure the urinary tract infection (UTI)-battling berry’s active constituents was resolved in France recently when a government body backed a version of the DMAC...

Danone debuts probiotic yoghurt Activia in 69th country: Australia

17-May-2011 By Shane Starling

French dairy Danone has built on its 2010 joint venture with Australian co-op Murray Goulburn by belatedly launching its €4bn global selling probiotic yoghurt Activia on the market there.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2011

Ocean Spray and Artemis team up for cranberry supplements

13-May-2011 By Jess Halliday

Ocean Spray’s Ingredients Technology Group has forged a new partnership with Artemis International to help it extend the use of its cranberry extracts in nutraceuticals and gather market intelligence.

Coffee may reduce risk of certain breast cancers: Study

11-May-2011 By Nathan Gray

High daily intakes of coffee may significantly reduce the risks of certain types of breast cancer by about 60 per cent, according to new research.

Iron-fortified orange juice may ease anemia for women

03-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Fortification of fruit juice with a microencapsulated iron salt may be an easy and cost-effective way of boosting iron levels in at-risk women, says a new study from Spain.

Whole cranberry powder shows activity against recurrent UTIs

05-Apr-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of a supplement containing a whole cranberry powder may reduce the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), says a new study.

New test for black cohosh quality ‘helpful’ for GMPs and safety

21-Mar-2011 By Stephen Daniells

A new test method may enhance the identification of adulterants in black cohosh products, and allay concerns over potential liver toxicity from the presence of other related herbal species in black cohosh formulations.

Increased B vitamins may ease PMS symptoms: Study

03-Mar-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Higher intakes of the B vitamins thiamine and riboflavin from the diet may reduce the incidence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by about 35 percent, suggest new findings.

UK watchdog rules against fermented soy-flax menopause supplement marketing

23-Feb-2011 By Shane Starling

UK supplements manufacturer Passion for Life Healthcare has amended marketing materials for a menopausal fermented soy-flax supplement called Femarelle after the Advertising Standards Authority there upheld a complaint against them.

Chinese probiotics firm files patents on technologies and conditions

22-Feb-2011 By Jess Halliday

China-Biotics has filed five new patents for its probiotics as it plans to enter new condition areas like feminine hygiene and infant diarrhea, and microencapsulated probiotics for harsh manufacturing conditions.

NGO set to file THMPD legal challenge by end of March

17-Feb-2011 By Ben Bouckley

Non-governmental organisation ANH-International is set to file its legal challenge to the controversial Traditional Herbal Medicines Product Directive (THMPD) at the High Court in London by the end of March, NutraIngredients.com has learnt.

Cranberry may prevent recurrent UTIs (& so may the placebo)

04-Feb-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Six months of cranberry juice consumption was associated with lower recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs), but so was placebo consumption, according to new data.

Five-year campaign launched to ease malnutrition in Africa

25-Jan-2011 By Shane Starling

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) have teamed up for a five-year programme to tackle malnutrition in Africa – particularly among the young.

Calls for voluntary folic acid fortification in NZ grow

25-Jan-2011 By Shane Starling

New Zealand opposition party members are calling on the government to fortify the country’s flour supply and bread output with folic acid, following reports of the success of a similar program across the Tasman Sea in Australia.

Calcium plus vitamin D shows bone boosting benefits for teenage girls

24-Jan-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of calcium and vitamin D may boost the bone health of girls undergoing puberty, and potentially reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life, suggests a new study from Down Under.

Essential fatty acid supplements may ease PMS, says trial

17-Jan-2011 By Nathan Gray

A supplement containing a mix of essential fatty acids and vitamins may significantly reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to new research.