Vitamin D should not be recommended to prevent chronic disease because such benefits have not been confirmed and adverse effects of over-consumption can’t be ruled out, according to a review.
The Swedish National Food Agency (SLV) has released its first manual on best food supplement practice – something it says responds to the increasingly complex nature of the growing sector.
The methods of Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council have been panned after expert opinion branded its review of evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy as “shoddy” and “fatally flawed” prior to its publication.
By Ryan Gorman, brand director of Network Nutrition-IMCD
Through the gradual process of rationalisation, corporatisation and sophistication, the world’s supplements manufacturers are now bringing an unprecedented level of competitiveness to the industry.
Higher intakes of flavonoid compounds in the diet during middle age may boost healthy aging in women, according to data from 1,517 women from the Nurses’ Health Study.
Australian complementary health under the spotlight
Each day this week, FoodNavigator-Asia will be looking at elements of Australia’s complementary health industry, and assessing its progress in the face of a regulatory system that might well be trimmed to deliver greater innovation. Today, we look the...
Although Malaysia’s halal certification is pretty much the only such standard that is accepted across the world, the body behind it continues to refuse to allow the accreditation of medicines to avoid causing life or death cases of panic.
The EU’s strict nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) which has barred all probiotic claims means 'living microorganism'-based products could be easier to bring to market as drugs, a 4-year-old French group has said.
The Medical Nutrition International Industry (MNI) is supporting a fair and balanced regulatory framework across geographies, its newly-appointed executive director says.
Pharmaceutical-reliant public healthcare systems are unsustainably expensive and governments around the world know it, but can medical foods go part way to breaching the gap and delivering real savings? Panellists at a recent NutraIngredients-hosted debate...
NutriCigs UK must quit its nutrient-fortified electronic cigarette claims that included sleep, satiety and energy benefits, the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has said.
Swisse Wellness’ global growth is continuing with new office set to open in Europe and Asia soon, but global expansion will require a re-allocation of US resources and a withdrawal from the US market, albeit for a couple of years.
Functional confectionery has made only small gains since approval of Barry Callebaut’s cocoa flavanol health claim but opportunities exist for premiumized chocolate products, says a Euromonitor analyst.
An explosion in microbiome science has prompted Chr. Hansen to appoint a scientific advisory board of “internationally recognised thought leaders in the field” to explore new opportunities for using bacteria to improve human health.
Profile: Carl Gibson, CEO of Complementary Healthcare Council, Australia
For somebody who is often seen to be “slamming” an unfavourable study, or “hitting back” at research showing complementary medicine in a negative light, Carl Gibson is in a less belligerent mood today.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reappointed members to its Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee (HMAC) that advises on matters including the EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD).
According to Australia’s Complementary Healthcare Council, 2014 will put an ever-increasing burden of chronic health problems on the country’s healthcare system. As a result, the body is urging the government increase prominence for complementary medicines...
A survey of enteral nutrition 'key opinion leaders (KOLs)' has found that the research and development of food supplements for battling malnutrition and geriatrics has the highest priority, whilst treatment improvements in the area of intensive...
The launch of the World Health Organisation’s new strategy for traditional and complementary medicines (T&CM) has met with approval from industry groups.
ELC Group, the global services organisation which specialises in regulatory affairs has welcomed clinical scientist and former MHRA assessor John Warren to its advisory board this week.
SoHo Flordis International, an Australian/Indonesian natural medicines company, has acquired two companies in the space, ProThera, based in Reno, NV and Swiss company Ginsana.
Polyphenol-rich extracts from fruit and vegetables may have molecular targets with potential relevance to cardiometabolic and neurological health, according to new data.
Four Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) sold online have been found to contain lead and mercury and can cause anaemia and brain damage, according to the UK medicines regulator.
The dietary supplements industry should be encouraged and not threatened by increased scrutiny of its products by the mainstream medical community, because it means they are taking the products – and the questions from their patients – seriously.
The UK advertising watchdog has told a Guernsey-based supplements retailer-maufacturer to amend advertisements around enzyme supplements claiming joint, digestive, heart and other benefits.
The launch of Nestlé’s Institute of Health Sciences will help the company to provide targeted nutrition for the complex problems of ageing and metabolic health.
The world’s biggest food player, Nestlé, is investing A$17m (€13.6m) to renovate an Australian facility so it can produce medical foods for its Health Science division.
BioGaia has signed an agreement with Ferozsons Laboratories for the exclusive rights to sell probiotic drops and tablets in Pakistan. The products will be sold under the BioGaia brand and launch is planned for 2013.
Biothera has named Ryusendoas its exclusive distributor in Japan of Wellmune WGP and its other immune health ingredients for foods, beverages, and supplements.
Supplement products bearing ingredients like milk thistle, DMAA, valerian, hoodia, porcine thyroid glandular, melatonin and horny goat weed are being targeted by the UK medicines regulator as potential ‘unlicensed medicines’, as EU herbal law enforcement...
The Danish Medicines Agency is continuing to detect the unauthorised weight loss pharma active sibutramine, noting an increase in food products like juice, tea, coffee and milkshakes.
The UK Safer Herbal Medicines Campaign (SHMC) that was conceived last year as an industry initiative to push for greater enforcement of the EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD), will be revamped in a public launch at Westminster...
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...
Medical food marketers need to address the fact many consumers are confused about the ‘food as medicine’ concept, especially as the influence of health care professionals is dwindling.
Profits have surged 60% at Swedish probiotics player BioGaia as its focus on the medical channel sees its business growing in all markets, with Italy and Japan gaining special mention.
Russia’s probiotic market that has shown annual growth rates of around 50% in recent years and settled closer to 10%, is benefitting from medical profession support, according to a leading paediatrician.
The Australian medicines regulator is warning people off a weight management herbal called St Nirvana, after product testing revealed illegal doses of the banned pharma ingredient, sibutramine.
The new Health Science division Nestlé created last September has made its second acquisition by buying $250m a year US gastroenterology and oncology diagnostic specialist, Prometheus Laboratories Inc., for an undisclosed sum.
Australians and Danes are being warned off contaminated, herbal food supplements with both countries highlighting grey or black market internet or overseas trade as the major source of the products.
The banned pharma ingredient sibutramine has been found at dangerously high levels in a Taditional Chinese Medicine weight loss supplement, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said Friday.
Nestlé Health Science, the division the food giant created in September last year to research and develop medical and functional foods, has bought UK medical foods start-up CM&D Pharma Limited, with more acquisitions – both small and large – set to...
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning against a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) after adverse reactions indicated it contained an unauthorised, unspecified pharma ingredient.
The Danish Medicines Agency (DKMA) has upped the ante in its campaign against illegal weight loss products containing banned substances such as ephedrine.
Nestlé has announced the creation of two new organisations to develop personalised health science nutrition to prevent and treat health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and Alzheimer's.
