The herbal extract aloe vera, more commonly used in cosmetics, is
increasingly being added to foods, with the latest innovation from
German dairy company Onken in the form of an aloe vera-enriched
low-fat yoghurt.
Probiotics leader Yakult is hosting an international symposium in
Germany next month, to explore recent research on probiotics and
its role in immunology and cancer.
Researchers from Germany have genetically engineered plants to
produce particles of human papillomavirus (HPV) that could be used
in the creation of vaccines or as edible vaccines themselves.
Numico Research has received a US patent for a supplement
preparation containing lecithin, red wine extract and vitamin E,
said to have numerous health benefits, including help prevent
cancers and heart disease.
A green algae supplement has been shown to boost the immune
system's response to the flu vaccine in people aged 50-55 years
old, although the findings, published in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal, were not consistent...
Preoperative administration of an immune-enhancing oral supplement
helps patients to fight off infections after operations, and spend
less time in hospital, concludes a study presented recently.
Swiss marketing group SiberHegner, exhibiting at Vitafoods under
its new name DiethelmKellerSiberHegner (DKSH), is to roll out the
WGP Beta Glucan in Europe and Asia over coming months.
Dutch company Loders Croklaan Lipid Nutrition yesterday presented
the findings of new research to support the immune boosting
function of its conjugated linoleic acid product Safflorin.
Drinking tea appears to prime the immune system to fight infection
and chronic disease, according to US researchers, who report on
both laboratory and in vivo studies this week.
DSM Food Specialties will be presenting its second generation Lafti
probiotic strains, formulated for use in dietary supplements, at
the forthcoming Vitafoods show in Geneva.
US researchers, trying to understand why vitamin A helps fight
certain diseases and not others, say that the vitamin influences
the types and amounts of immune cells and molecules produced in
response to attack.
Linnea, the Swiss manufacturer and distributor of botanical
extracts for the dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and cosmetics
industries, has extended the range of products available to
customers in the US.
Researchers in Canada are developing a natural antibody cocktail
that they claim can help prevent the most common foodborne germs,
including E. coli and Salmonella, which cause thousands to become
ill or even die each year.
Fish oil has been found to greatly reduce the symptoms of lupus
disease, offering hope to millions of sufferers with little
alternative to steroid treatment.
Extracts from white tea may be able to protect the skin from
cancer, report researchers in the US, who believe that the tea's
antioxidant properties may boost the immune function of skin cells,
protecting against the oxidation...
Italian company Indena launched a new echinacea extract at
SupplySide West in the US last week. The product, said to be an
unparalleled immunostimulant, is obtained through a patent-pending
extraction procedure. Studies show it is...
The capacity to mop up harmful oxygen free radicals seems to be
reduced in people with periodontal disease, finds research in this
month's Molecular Pathology. However it is not sure if
antioxidant supplements can improve symptoms...
As probiotics find increasing favour with food manufacturers a new
European funded study, PROGID, is set to investigate the impact of
two probiotic strains on easing the symptoms of inflammatory bowel
diseases (IBD).
A nine-year study on AHCC, the nutraceutical developed from
different species of mushrooms cultivated in Japan, has found that
it has a positive influence on immune function, and that it can
improve the prognosis for postoperative...
Dutch life science company DSM, together with Agennix, a US
developer of recombinant human lactoferrin, has opened a new
manufacturing facility on DSM's fermentation site in Capua, Italy.
Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever said today it would
sell its edible oils unit Loders Croklaan Group to Malaysia's IOI
Corporation for €217 million in cash.
A survey by Mera Pharmaceuticals has found that its
microalgae-derived supplement, AstaFactor, could act as an
anti-inflammatory agent. The primary ingredient, astaxanthin, is
also a powerful antioxidant.
Danisco has launched the first of two new probiotic bacteria
cultures - called HOWARU - which it claims can help boost the human
immune system. The culture is the first product to be launched
following the Danish group's acquisition...
BotanicLab, already facing censure over its PC-SPES supplements,
sees seven more herbal products withdrawn from sale in Canada for
containing undeclared drugs.
The Dr Enuf energy drink range has been extended with the addition
of a new herbal variant, Herbal Dr Enuf, a cherry-flavoured drink
containing ginseng and guarana.
Evidence suggesting that soya-based infant formulas could damage
infants' abilities to fight off disease has been published this
week. Research from the US suggests that some chemicals contained
in soya can suppress the immune...
Research shows that daily supplements of a form of yeast
beta1,3-glucan may stimulate the immune system of mice to
significantly reduce mortality from a lethal anthrax spore
infection.
Thymic protein A can be effective at fighting the symptoms of
Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), according
to a recent study. CFIDS is characterised by unexplained,
persistent fatigue that interferes with the...
A compound found in the spice turmeric could help slow the
progression of the debilitating disease multiple sclerosis (MS),
according to preliminary studies on rats.
New Zealand's biggest company, the dairy foods processor Fonterra,
is backing a medical consortium to develop milk-based "bioactives",
in the aim of gaining a share in the global functional foods
market, reported the...
A US District Court has issued a permanent injunction prohibiting a
company called High Performance Living Corporation from selling
nutritional supplements containing yeast beta 1,3 glucan in
violation of patents owned by Biopolymer...
The US Agricultural Research Service is launching a study to
investigate the potential benefits of fortifying breads, pastas,
and other flour-based foods with the trace element selenium.The
ARS, run by the US Department of Agriculture,...
A Japanese medicinal mushroom extract, sold as a raw ingredient and
used to strengthen the immune system, has won the Nutracon Best New
Product of 2002 award, otherwise known as the NutraAward.
Marlyn Nutraceuticals, the US group which trades as Naturally
Vitamins, has extended its contract with Germany's Mucos Pharma
group giving it exclusive rights to distribute Wobenzym in the
United States.
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a voluntary
recall of two popular supplements - PC SPES, which is used for
prostate health, and SPES which is used to boost the immune system
- because they allegedly contain...
Many African HIV sufferers are benefiting from a combination of
plant sterols and sterolins, according to Professor Patrick Bouic,
chief immunologist at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South
Africa. Now he is hoping to win support...
So-called cold fighting vitamins are ineffective among older men
who smoke, according to the findings of a new report. Researchers
from the University of Helsinki in Finland said they could find no
positive effects from vitamin C...
People using the herbal remedy echinacea to treat allergies may be
prone to adverse reactions, according to new research published in
the January issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
A new means of fighting diabetes could be just round the corner, if
a synthetic antioxidant which can delay and prevent the onset of
autoimmune diabetes in mice is found to be as successful in humans.
Vitamin E could play a major role in prolonging life, according to
a report in the Harvard Health Letter. The publication focuses
primarily on the results from a study in Italy which emphasises
vitamin E's role as an antioxidant.
People, particularly young children, the elderly and those with
weak immune systems, should avoid eating raw sprouts because the
crunchy, protein-packed foods could cause salmonella and other
possibly fatal infections, U.S. federal...
