Yasoo Health, Inc. is to develop and commercialize a novel
nutritional formulation for sufferers of cystic fibrosis after
receiving almost $1 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
A growing body of research is driving strong growth in supplements
and foods fortified with vitamin D, inversely linked in several
studies to lower risk of certain cancers and osteoporosis.
A small number of supplements on the UK market have been found by
authorities to contain amounts of iron, manganese or zinc above
levels recommended by experts, said the Food Standards Agency
yesterday.
Zila Nutritional's agreement with Asahi Godo to distribute Ester-C
in Japan marks a milestone in its international strategy and could
be the US company's key to other countries in the Pacific Rim.
New raw material supplier TR International is to distribute a
bioavailable form of vitamin B6 made by Shanghai Jiubang, giving
American supplement makers an alternative to the more expensive
product made in Europe.
Perrigo is planning to develop and market store brand nutritional
products using SCOLR Pharma's proprietary controlled delivery
technology (CDT) drug delivery platform.
A new report highlights the fact that vitamin D, otherwise known as
the sunshine vitamin, is just as essential in the fight against
oral diseases as calcium.
The UK's Food Standards Agency said yesterday that people at risk
of osteoporosis should avoid taking supplements containing vitamin
A, including fish liver oils.
A new study from Norway has cast doubt on years of research
suggesting that vitamin B6 and folic acid may have a protective
effect on the cardiovascular system - findings that could lead to a
rethink of supplements advice dished out...
Vitamin B5 supplier Charles Bowman is taking steps to prevent a
shortage in the US market, following the acquisition by Xinfu
Biochemical Company of the next biggest player in China.
Plummeting prices for the animal feed ingredient lysine and the
costs of restructuring pressurized vitamin C production virtually
eliminated profits at BASF's fine chemicals division this year,
reports Dominique Patton.
Beverage fortification solutions on display at the IFT show suggest
that manufacturers do not need to sacrifice clarity or taste in
order to meet growing consumer demand for functional products,
writes Anthony Fletcher.
A report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week has
come in for criticism from the Council for Responsible Nutrition,
which says it was based on a flawed study, reports Jess
Halliday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added fuel
to the fire over vitamin E with the publication of a report showing
that 11.3 percent of survey respondents consume more than 400 IU a
day from vitamins, minerals...
The court ruling on the European food supplements directive has
resulted in a win-win situation for industry, says one of the
groups that took the Commission to court over the laws, reports
Dominique Patton.
A recently published article suggests that consumer enthusiasm for
taking vitamin C as a treatment for the common cold may be
unjustified, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Australian beverage makers will be able to add defined amounts of
vitamins and minerals to mainstream products under regulatory
changes being proposed by the food authorities, writes Dominique
Patton.
DSM is to close down production of bulk vitamin C in the US and cut
costs at its plant in Dalry, Scotland, as part of a series of
measures to ease pressure on its vitamin business, reports
Dominique Patton.
Many parents start supplementing their childrens' diets with
vitamins and minerals from birth even though they are deriving
adequate nutrition from food, according to a University of Iowa
study.
A review of the evidence on vitamins C and E, currently one of the
most controversial nutritional products, will give industry support
following the safety questions raised by recent studies.
Smokers need more vitamin E, say researchers who have found that
the vitamin is used up more quickly than in non-smokers to fight
off the damage done by cigarettes.
Danish food and health authorities have launched a campaign to
promote the use of vitamin D supplements by the elderly and
dark-skinned immigrants, both groups prone to deficiency, writes
Dominique Patton.
A bread fortified with very high levels of vitamin D appeared to be
much better at protecting bone health in elderly people than
bone-building drugs, according to a study presented this week.
BASF has expanded its range for beverage makers, adding a
water-soluble vitamin E with processing advantages over competing
products, reports Dominique Patton.
Almost half the mothers and a third of infants tested in a new
study were deficient in vitamin D, say Canadian researchers,
revealing potential risks to health.
The hundreds of amendments tabled by MEPs on the EU health claims
regulation shows that consensus is still a long way off but
companies should do more to influence the final outcome, says a
food industry consultancy.
DSM has reached an agreement with China's leading pharmaceuticals
group to buy out its stake in a vitamins joint venture,
strengthening the Dutch group's presence on the Chinese market,
reports Dominique Patton.
The first attempt in Europe to set maximum safe levels for
nutrients in supplements and fortified foods demonstrates that
numerous products could be considered unsafe if the same approach
is adopted across the European community.
People genetically prone to high concentrations of homocysteine
have a higher risk of stroke than other individuals, according to a
new study that supports the theory of a causal relationship between
the amino acid and stroke.
The Netherlands has been told that it must allow the marketing of
foods with added vitamins and minerals without requiring
manufacturers to prove that there is a 'nutritional' need for such
products.
Consumers remain concerned by the conclusions of the recent
meta-study on vitamin E and may be putting their lives at risk,
according to a study released last week.
Combining B vitamins with a powerful antioxidant could lower blood
levels of the amino acid homocysteine enough to prevent dementia,
claims a UK research firm preparing to test the theory in clinical
trials.
Number two vitamin maker BASF has developed a new beta-carotene
product, designed to meet increasing demand from fortified
beverages and vitamin-enriched juices, reports Dominique
Patton.
About 40 per cent of diabetic patients can reduce their risk of
heart attacks and of dying from heart disease by taking vitamin E
supplements, according to new research out of the Technion-Israel
Institute of Technology.
Pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline is to produce nutritional
supplements for the ATP, the governing body for men's tennis, under
a new scheme designed to limit the risk of supplements causing
tennis players to test positive.
BioProgress, the developer of film strips for vitamin delivery, is
increasing its international presence, signing its first agreement
for a line of products for the Chinese market.
The international community has congratulated sub-Saharan Africa on
its progress in reducing vitamin deficiency but says almost no
action has been taken to fight iron deficiency.
Dietary supplements have suddenly become a hot topic in the UK,
where consumers spend £300m on them every year- the Science Museum,
London will open up the debate on September 30, when it invites
experts and amateurs to air their...
Health experts said at a news briefing last week in London that a
quarter of Britons may suffer from a winter deficiency of vitamin D
and that supplementation and further fortification of foods may be
the answer.
DSM Nutritional Products has lifted its vitamin E capacity to
25,000 tons - the world's largest - at a new plant that is being
hailed for its production efficiencies, reports Dominique
Patton.
The outbreak of SARS in China caused rapid growth in vitamin sales
and despite a slowing of demand this year, it may have a lasting
impact on the industry.