Nutraceuticals International articles from May 2009

Nutraceuticals International archives from May 2009

US vitamins, supps sales boom in recession.
May 1, 2009... Market research firm Information Resources has reported that US sales of vitamins in the fourth quarter of 2008 grew almost 8% versus the like period of 2007, despite, or because of, the economic recession. Anecdotal evidence in the USA and...

UK advert for pomegranate juice banned.
May 1, 2009... An advertisement for POM Wonderful, which the UK's Advertising Standards Authority determined was "misleading" has been banned, the UK's public broadcaster, the BBC, reports. A poster showing a bottle of the pomegranate juice product with a...

Post-op patients on EPA maintain body weight.
May 1, 2009... New research from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, showed omega-3 fatty acids given as part of an oral nutritional supplement resulted in the preservation of muscle mass in patients undergoing surgery for esopahageal cancer, a procedure...

Triglycerides down 60% in rats fed lipoic acid.
May 1, 2009... Studies conducted in rats suggest that supplementing their diet with lipoic acid has a significant effect in lowering triglycerides, which are one of the key risk factors in cardiovascular disease. Published in the March 30 issue of the...

Cochrane Review calls for more R&D on ORS.(oral rehydration solution)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Newer polymer-based formulations of oral rehydration solution given to treat diarrhea may offer some benefits over older sugar-salt formulations, according to a Cochrane Review of recent studies. But the authors note that more research is...

Chemists synthesize herbal alkaloid.
May 1, 2009... A team of US researchers has created an efficient way to chemically synthesize a complex natural molecule, serratezomine A. The herbal alkaloid could have anticancer properties and may combat memory loss. It is produced naturally by the...

Self-aff GRAS status for fruit polyphenols.
May 1, 2009... Oligonol lychee fruit polyphenols has attained self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status. An independent panel of scientists declared the product GRAS after a comprehensive evaluation of research and toxicology data. Oligonol was...

Omega 3 EPA/DHA may decrease risk of developing prostate cancer.
May 1, 2009... A new study presented in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Clinical Cancer Research, shows diets high in omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) may decrease the risk of prostate...

Danone pulls out of Indian joint venture.
May 1, 2009... Groupe Danone of France and India's Wadia Group have agreed to end their existing joint venture relationships in India. This action will enable Danone to pursue its business interests in India independently. As part of this accord, Danone...

Strong revenue growth for Naturex.(Naturex S.A.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Group revenue for Avignon, France-based Naturex for 2008 as a whole came in at 93.2 million euros ($124.1 million), up 23.2% in constant dollars and 17.2% in current dollars. Proforma (including HP Botanicals, Chart Corp and the Innovative...

EPAX again recognized as "Top Supplier".
May 1, 2009... Norway's EPAX AS, a global supplier of marine-derived eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids, was recognized as a Top Supplier of 2008 by the global drug delivery and specialty pharmaceutical company...

Second Casa Herbalife program for Korea.
May 1, 2009... The Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) has announced the establishment of its second Casa Herbalife program in Korea at Child Fund. The HFF grant will enable Child Fund to provide healthier meals to orphans and children being cared for by...

UK's MHRA finds health risks with "herbal Viagra" product Jia Yi Jian.
May 1, 2009... Dangerously high levels of undeclared pharmaceuticals have been discovered in a supposed "Herbal Viagra" being sold in many Traditional Chinese Medicine stores in the UK. Viagra is the brand name for US drug giant Pfizer's blockbuster erectile...

EFSA consults on food enzyme guidelines.
May 1, 2009... The European Food Safety Authority has recently launched a public consultation on draft guidelines for the safety evaluation of food enzymes. The guidelines will specify the type of information that industry should provide to enable the...

Inadequate micronutrient status more common than expected in Europe.
May 1, 2009... European adults and adolescents often do not get the essential vitamins and minerals needed from their diet, even if it is well-balanced. This is the overall consensus shared by outstanding scientists in the field of micronutrient research, who...

DSM launches Tolerase for dietary supps.
May 1, 2009... Netherlands-based DSM Food Specialties has announced the launch of Tolerase, a food-grade acid lactase specifically developed for use in dietary supplements. This acid lactase is a positive introduction for manufacturers looking to provide...

Hazards of taking herbal medicines.
May 1, 2009... Since 2005, the poison emergency centers in the German cities of Freiburg and Gottingen have registered a total of 17 patients with health problems after taking Chinese slimming capsules. The pharmacologist Dieter Muller and his co-authors...

Medizym launches at The Vitamin Shoppe.
May 1, 2009... Medizym from Naturally Vitamins is now available in the USA from The Vitamin Shoppe. Medizym is a daily wellness supplement that offers support for joint health, immune wellness and healthy aging. "Many of our customers are looking for...

Health Canada releases progress report on natural health products.
May 1, 2009... The government of Canada is committed to ensuring that regulation of natural health products balances the protection of consumers' health and safety with the freedom to choose alternative products, according to the regulator Health Canada in a...

Cost to Oz public of TGA fees hike.
May 1, 2009... The decision by Australia's Therapeutics Goods Administration to increase its annual fees and charges for complementary medicines by 14.3% will see consumers paying more for popular dietary supplement, says the country's Complementary...

EP deems two ANH petitions "admissible".(alliance for natural health )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... In September 2008, the UK Alliance for Natural Health submitted two petitions on contrasting areas of public health. One of these questioned the scientific methods being used by European authorities to determine the maximum levels for vitamins...

Impact of Belgian Q10 order across EU?
May 1, 2009... A recent Belgian Ministerial Order setting a 200mg maximum daily level for coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) in food supplements could signal the start of a trend towards higher levels for the ingredient in supplements and foods across the European...

Pistachios protect against heart disease.
May 1, 2009... Pistachios are much more than a great-tasting snack. The little green nuts may do more for the heart, blood sugar and waistline than many other snack food choices, according to research presented at Experimental Biology 2009 in New Orleans,...

Type of B vit can treat a cause of blindness.
May 1, 2009... University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, USA, researchers have discovered that a form of vitamin B1 could become a new and effective treatment for one of the world's leading causes of blindness. Scientists believe that uveitis, an...

Fish oil cuts cholesterol in pro-footballers.
May 1, 2009... Fish oil given to professional football players has proven to be effective for improving cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the January/February 2009 issue of Sports Health, A Multidisciplinary Approach. The patented...

Kellogg settles FTC charges on Frosted Mini-Wheats ads.
May 1, 2009... Kellogg Co, the world's leading producer of cereal, has agreed to settle US Federal Trade Commission charges that advertising claims touting a breakfast of Frosted Mini-Wheats as "clinically shown to improve kids' attentiveness by nearly 20%"...

Final US FTC case against Xenadrine EFX marketers.
May 1, 2009... The USA's Federal Trade Commission's case against the marketers of Xenadrine EFX, a purported weight-loss product, has ended, with the final defendant in the case settling charges of false and unsubstantiated advertising. The marketers claimed...

Schwabe extends reach with Peithner buy.(Dr Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals)(Dr Peithner Holding GmbH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... German drugmaker Dr Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals says it has acquired the privately-held Dr Peithner Holding GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria. With this acquisition, Schwabe will expand its presence in Austria and Central and Eastern Europe...

Strong first-qtr 2009 for Sweden's Probi.(Probi)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Swedish probiotics research and development specialist Probi has reported strong financial results improvement in the first quarter of 2009, compared to the like period of the previous year. Net turnover amounted to 15.9 million Swedish...

Stable operating result for Cognis.(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... For 2008, Germany's specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients firm Cognis increased net external sales 5.5 %to 3.0 billion euros ($4.0 billion). On an organic basis (excluding foreign currency effects and the effects of acquisitions and...

Write-downs hit 3rd quarter at Danisco.(Danisco A/S)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... For the third quarter of 2008/09, ended January 31, Denmark's Danisco reported a loss of 646.0 million Danish kroner ($112.0 million) compared with a profit of 258.0 million kroner a year earlier, hit by write-downs. Revenue was 3.1 billion...

Omega Pharma in JV with Modi to launch products in India, with 2M-euro investment.
May 1, 2009... Belgium-based Omega Pharma and Modi-Mundipharma have signed the final documents for a 50/50 joint venture, Modi Omega Pharma (India) Private Limited, to bring the first eight brands of the Belgian company to the Indian market between October...

Kemin expands in Europe and China.(Kemin Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Human and animal health and nutrition group Kemin Industries hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new innovation and technology center that will be built in Herentals, Belgium. The unit will allow Kemin Europe to expand existing R&D...

Balchem sees higher earnings, sales down.
May 1, 2009... For the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, US firm Balchem Corp achieved record net earnings of $6.1 million, a rise of 31.4%. The $6.1 million generated diluted net earnings per share of $0.32, up 28.0%. Net sales of $53.0 million were down...

Research links vitamin D level with metabolic syndrome and heart disease.
May 1, 2009... A lower blood vitamin D level is associated with metabolic syndrome and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to research supported by US natural nutrition company Shaklee Corp. The study results were presented at the...

Probiotic sweetener boosts immunity.
May 1, 2009... Heartland Sweeteners, an Indianapolis, USA-based developer and producer of innovative food products, in conjunction with Ganeden Biotech has developed the world's first probiotic sweetener, Nevella with Probiotics, which is designed to boost...

Proposal for a new novel food regulation in EU; future uncertain, says EAS.(Law overview)
May 1, 2009... After a substantial disagreement over the issue of cloning, the European Commission's proposal for a new novel food regulation made it through the first reading at the European Parliament and, on March 25, the report by rapporteur Kartika...

EFSA seeking to recruit experts.
May 1, 2009... The European Food Safety Authority is seeking to select 24 external experts for a working group to help the EFSA review the quality of its scientific outputs. This is part of a quality assurance process based on an internal and an external...

Coromega unveils OmegaBaby supp.
May 1, 2009... USA-based premier supplements manufacturer Coromega has introduced Coromega OmegaBaby, a peach-flavored high (docosahexaenoic acid omega-3 squeezable supplement that offers mothers-to-be an effective new way to incorporate essential nutrients...

SCN extends UK deal with two more prods.(Vital Life International, Ltd.)(Scandinavian Clinical Nutrition AB)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Scandinavian Clinical Nutrition AB has extended its collaboration with Vital Life International by adding two further unique products, thin400 and Immulina, to the product portfolio that will be launched and marketed in the UK, Ireland and the...

GOED begins voluntary krill oil monograph.(Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omegas-3s )(Conference news)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omegas-3s (GOED) says that it has begun work to develop a voluntary monograph for krill oil in the hope of providing a framework for this emerging category to flourish responsibly. The GOED hopes to...

PBM Products alleges Mead Johnson "lies about infant formula, again".
May 1, 2009... Virginia, USA-based PBM Products, an infant formula company that supplies store-brand products to Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers, is suing Mead Johnson Nutrition Co and Mead Johnson & Co, division of Bristol...

N. sativa cuts pancreatic cancer in animal models.
May 1, 2009... An herb recently found to kill pancreatic cancer cells also appears to inhibit development of pancreatic cancer as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of...

Ellagic acid reduces UV damage in mice.
May 1, 2009... Using a topical application of ellagic acid, an antioxidant found in berries, South Korean researchers markedly prevented collagen destruction and inflammatory response - a major cause of wrinkles - in both human skin cells and the sensitive...

Mannatech's Ambrotose boosts brain function.(Clinical report)
May 1, 2009... In a recent study, a single one-tablespoon serving of US nutritional firm Mannatech's Ambrotose complex significantly improved visual discrimination and working memory. Researchers from Howard University in Washington DC, conducted a...

Vit E/selenium combo: no prostate cancer effect.
May 1, 2009... The combination therapy of vitamin E, selenium and soy does not prevent the progression from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia to prostate cancer, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological...

White tea extract blocks adipocyte generation.
May 1, 2009... The potential anti-obesity effects of white tea have been demonstrated in a series of experiments on human adipocytes conducted by German scientists. Data published in the open-access journal Nutrition and Metabolism have shown that an extract...

DHA protects brain cells from protein misfolding.
May 1, 2009... New findings presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, Experimental Biology, show that an omega-3 fatty acid in the diet protects brain cells by preventing the misfolding of a protein caused by a gene mutation,...

Inflammation blocked by tomato in the obese.
May 1, 2009... Tomato products may protect against inflammation, according to data from a recent multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. The team of US researchers who conducted the study also found that processed tomato products had a beneficial effect on...

B. coagulans boosts TNF response to flu virus.
May 1, 2009... A new study published in the May issue of Postgraduate Medicine suggests that a specific strain of probiotics, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, increases the body's immune response to the influenza virus. Study data showed significant increases...

Cognis reveals several new science-based Newtrition concepts at Vitafoods.
May 1, 2009... Cognis, a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, presented several new science-based "Newtrition" concepts to Vitafoods visitors in Geneva, Switzerland. Capitalizing on the wellness trend, Cognis...

UK expert panel presents report on front-of-pack nutrition labeling.
May 1, 2009... An independent group of experts who have led the front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition signpost evaluation project for the UK's Food Standards Agency, has published its final report, which has been welcomed by the FSA. The group, known as the...

EFSA panel presents results of labeling reference intake values review.
May 1, 2009... Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority's Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to review and provide advice on labeling reference intakes for energy, fat, saturates...

Nordic Nat launches Omega Longevity.
May 1, 2009... California, USA-based Nordic Naturals, a market leader in omega-3 fish oil, has launched Omega Longevity, a purified fish oil high in omega-3 essential fatty acids combined with two of nature's most powerful antioxidants - resveratrol and green...

Ferrosan debuts Multi-tab omega-3.
May 1, 2009... When Multi-tabs was launched many years ago it made a great impact on improving people's health. Now the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables is much better and if a person's diet is balanced, the daily multivitamin is just an extra...

Medical Nutrition introduces new Pro-Start.(Medical Nutrition Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Medical Nutrition USA, a developer and distributor of proprietary, nutrition medicine products, has introduced Pro-Stat AWC with Citrulline. The product, which is an enhanced formulation of Pro-Stat AWC, is designed for patients in long-term...

With 72 weight-loss prods spiked with Rx drugs, FDA response "inadequate".
May 1, 2009... At least 72 weight-loss products have been found by the US Food and Drug Administration to contain prescription drugs, including four not approved by the FDA for sale in the USA, Public Citizen writes in a Worst Pills, Best Pills News article...

FDA seizes $1.5M of adulterated ingredients.
May 1, 2009... At the request of the Food and Drug Administration, on May 7, US Marshals seized more than $1.5 million worth of food products, including herbs and botanicals, stored under filthy conditions at the American Mercantile Corp of Memphis,...

USP Chinese raw materials testing prog featured in US import safety report.
May 1, 2009... Chondroitin from Shandong Zhongyuan Greentech Co, a China-based dietary ingredient supplier, has recently been tested for purity by the US Natural Products Association's raw ingredient testing program in China. The results of those tests are...

EAS seminar puts spotlight on marketing functional foods with claims in Asia.
May 1, 2009... Health claims regulations in Asia for functional foods will be the focus of an upcoming three-hour intensive seminar hosted by international food and nutrition policy consultancy EAS Asia, part of the Belgium group. The seminar, titled...

Traffic light nutrition labels benefit consumers; recommended for Australia.
May 1, 2009... Consumers are five times more likely to identify healthy food when they see color-coded, traffic light nutrition labels, as have been introduced in the UK (NI passim) than when labels present the information numerically by showing what...

Australia's CHC/ASMI warn of "flu supps".
May 1, 2009... In Australia, the Complementary Healthcare Council and the Australian Self Medication Industry are warning consumers to stay away from complementary medicines and products that claim to treat or prevent swine flu. The two industry groups are...

EU mutual recognition Reg "could be a vital tool for food supplements sector".
May 1, 2009... A new European Union Regulation setting down rules for operators and national authorities on how to apply the principle of mutual recognition - a process for gaining EU approval for medicinal products -became applicable from May 13, 2009), the...

Steps toward national rules on "other substancess" in EU.(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Following the European Commission's report that the harmonization of the use of substances other than vitamins and minerals in food supplements is not necessary at this stage (NIs passim), some European Union member states have begun taking...

"Golden Rice" an additional source of vitamin A.
May 1, 2009... The beta carotene in so-called "Golden Rice" converts to vitamin A in humans, according to researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu) and Tufts University, USA, in an article that appears in the current issue of the American...

WellGen/Amphion's Te-Ame debuts on web.(Amphion Innovations plc)(WellGen, Inc)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The web site www.Te-Ame.com will sell nutritional supplements based on US firm WellGen's scientific expertise in nutrigenomics and natural product chemistry, its UK-based partner Amphion Innovation has announced. WellGen's...

Dairy Australia and Healthlinx isolate LAP001, which could help in weight loss.
May 1, 2009... A breakthrough in the collaboration between Healthlinx Ltd and Dairy Australia has resulted in the isolation of a dairy-derived bioactive, (LAP001), which can reduce production and storage of fat in cells. The result comes after three...

Natural Alternatives sees operational profit.(Natural Alternatives International Inc.)(Market share report)
May 1, 2009... Natural Alternatives International, a US formulator, manufacturer and marketer of customized nutritional supplements, posted a net loss of $504,000 or $0.07 per share on net sales from continuing operations of $17.3 million for the third...

Nutrition 21 posts lower sales, reduces loss.(Nutrition 21 Inc.)(Market share report)
May 1, 2009... USA-based Nutrition 21, the developer and marketer of nutritional supplements under the Iceland Health, Chromax and Diabetes Essentials brands that help consumers manage blood sugar levels, improve cardiovascular health, enhance memory and...

Chromium histidinate and obesity/diabetes.
May 1, 2009... Nutrition 21, the developer and marketer of nutritional supplements under the Iceland Health and Diabetes Essentials brands, recently presented results of a study testing its chromium histidinate in animal models of obesity and of diabetes. The...

Priobiotics may help ward off obesity in pregnant women, ECO 2009 hears.
May 1, 2009... One year after giving birth, women were less likely to have the most dangerous kind of obesity if they had been given probiotics from the first trimester of pregnancy, found new research that suggests manipulating the balance of bacteria in the...

NI advisor has new way to treat ovarian cancer.(Clinical report)
May 1, 2009... A chance meeting between a member of NI's editorial advisory board and the program director of the Seton Hall Internal Medicine Residency Program has led to promising data on a new way to treat ovarian cancer, the Westfield Leader reports. ...

Pre-pregnancy folic acid cuts risk of early birth.
May 1, 2009... Women who take folic acid supplements for at least one year before they become pregnant may cut their risk of having a premature baby more than by half, according to research published in the on-line journal, PLOS Medicine. The study links...

Wild blueberries may have CV benefit; study.
May 1, 2009... New research, published in the Journal of Medicinal Food and the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, shows that wild blueberries may have a cardio-protective effect, improving vascular function and decreasing the vulnerability of blood vessels...

Rocket shown to have anti-ulcer properties.
May 1, 2009... A research group from Saudi Arabia has released research into the anti-ulcer properties of the salad herb Rocket, also known as Eruca sativa. They found that Rocket extract possesses antisecretory, cytoprotective and anti-ulcer activities...