Could Melatonin and Caffeine Work Together for Performance?
A double‑blind, placebo‑controlled crossover trial examined 14 trained men who received caffeine (3 mg·kg⁻¹), melatonin (6 mg), or both, with performance measured in a 5‑m shuttle run. Caffeine alone improved distance, while the melatonin‑caffeine combination matched or exceeded that boost and lowered peak heart rate and inflammatory markers. Melatonin taken before sleep did not alter sleep duration or quality. Researchers caution that the small sample size warrants larger studies before broad recommendations.
Beta-Glucan Oligosaccharides Could Lower Cholesterol Levels - Thai Study
A Thai‑led, randomised, placebo‑controlled trial of 96 healthy adults examined daily 2 g supplementation of β‑glucan oligosaccharides versus polysaccharides over 12 weeks. Both forms lowered total cholesterol, but only the oligosaccharide group maintained a significant reduction two weeks after stopping the supplement...
Meet the 2026 Probiota Americas Pioneers: ClostraBio, Holobiome and Kioga
The 2026 Probiota Americas conference in Vancouver will spotlight three early‑stage microbiome innovators—ClostraBio, Holobiome and Kioga—each presenting novel therapeutic platforms. ClostraBio is advancing CLB101, a butyrate‑producing Anaerostipes caccae strain with GRAS status and a global distribution deal. Holobiome leverages a...
RTC: 5-MTHF Matches Folic Acid While Lowering Unmetabolized Folic Acid in Prenatal Vitamins
A 24‑week U.S. randomized trial found that prenatal multivitamins containing 6S‑5‑methyltetrahydrofolate (5‑MTHF) achieved maternal and fetal folate levels comparable to those using synthetic folic acid, while markedly reducing circulating unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA). The 5‑MTHF formulation delivered about 30% less...
Microbiome Explorer Challenge Returns Seeking Europe’s Next Microbiome Start-Up Stars
The Microbiome Explorer Challenge (MEC) returns for its 2026 edition, expanding from a Central‑Eastern European focus to cover the entire continent. It invites pre‑seed, seed‑stage startups and research spin‑outs to submit market‑ready concepts for personalized microbiome modulation across gut, skin,...
China Focus: BioGaia, Functional Drinks Demand, Shifts in Retail Landscape and More
China’s health‑food market is undergoing rapid change, with functional drink sales surging and supplement brands shifting to e‑commerce channels. Eastroc reported a 17.3% rise in energy‑beverage sales and a 119% jump in sports‑drink revenue, pushing total revenue to US$3 billion. BioGaia...
HMO Infant Formulas: Regulatory Developments to Drive NPD and Affordability
H&H Group introduced its first six‑human‑milk‑oligosaccharide (HMO) infant formula in mainland China under the new Guobiao (GB) standards, leveraging a French‑made product with six HMOs including a high‑dose 2′‑FL. The launch helped drive a 74.4% year‑over‑year jump in the company’s...
FDA Flags eBay Listing over GLP-1 Claims in Rare Warning Letter
The FDA sent a rare warning letter to an eBay seller for making GLP‑1 and blood‑sugar support claims, marking only the fourth eBay‑related enforcement in recent years. Unlike typical cases, the agency did not purchase or test the product, relying...
Review Positions Early-Life Nutrition as ‘Systems-Level’ Intervention
A new review in Nutrients argues early‑life nutrition should be treated as a systems‑level intervention, linking brain, gut microbiome, and sleep development during the first 1,000 days. The authors propose a “brain‑gut‑sleep triad” model and highlight that a complementary set...
Men’s Health Innovation Should Be Driven by Motivations and Need States: Experts
The men’s health supplement market is shifting from age‑based targeting to motivation‑driven segmentation, with energy, libido and prostate support identified as primary entry points. CPG Radar uncovered 21 distinct consumer profiles based on life‑stage needs, while retailers like GNC report...
New Study Shows Ashwagandha Supports Women’s Stress, Sleep and Brain Health
A three‑arm clinical trial of Arjuna Natural’s Shoden ashwagandha extract studied 120 women aged 30‑59, measuring cortisol, sleep, stress, mood and cognition. The research found Shoden balances cortisol rather than suppressing it, maintaining hormonal equilibrium throughout the day. Pharmacokinetic data...
Pregnant, Postpartum Women Struggle to Overcome Selenium Deficiency: Study
A multicountry analysis of the Women First trial examined whether a lipid‑based supplement containing 130 µg of selenium could improve maternal selenium status in Guatemala, India and Pakistan. The researchers found that supplementation did not raise serum selenium levels, which actually...
NutraCast: Pendulum Bets on Prebiotics with Gut Fuel as GLP-1 Buzz Reshapes Market
Pendulum Therapeutics launched Gut Fuel, a next‑generation prebiotic blend designed to close the U.S. fiber gap and offer a low‑FODMAP option for people with IBS and other digestive sensitivities. The product combines novel fibers and polyphenols to support the microbiome, positioning...
Rep. Langworthy Continues Push for Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act
The Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act (H.R. 7366) would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prevent states from imposing supplement requirements that conflict with federal law, allowing exemptions only when a state rule is stricter and does not...
Health Canada Publishes Prebiotics Monograph
Health Canada has released a prebiotic monograph that adopts the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) 2017 definition. The document enumerates approved prebiotic ingredients—including inulin, acacia gum, FOS, GOS, XOS, and the human‑milk oligosaccharides 2′‑FL and LNnT—and draws...
Vitafoods Europe Show Floor Preview: H-N
Vitafoods Europe’s H‑P showcase highlighted a wave of novel ingredients aimed at metabolic health, mitochondrial function, and consumer‑friendly formats. HealthTech Bio Actives unveiled Leanara, a GLP‑1 companion ingredient to preserve muscle and energy, alongside bioidentical B12 and vascular flavonoids. Kaneka,...
Create Wellness Vows to Defend Itself Against Class Action on Creatine Gummy Claims
Create Wellness faces a class‑action lawsuit alleging its Creatine Monohydrate Gummies contain 4.01 g of creatine per serving, short of the 4.5 g label claim. The plaintiffs seek over $5 million in damages, citing an independent lab test, while the company points to...
April Launch Pad: Personalized Wellness, Ingestible Beauty and Gut Health
April’s launch roundup highlights a surge in gut‑centric and beauty‑from‑within products. Trace Minerals introduced a creatine‑electrolyte powder that pairs 5 g of creatine with sugar‑free flavors for performance and hydration. Designs for Health debuted a single‑donor probiotic aimed at restoring keystone...
ADM Research Highlights Microbial Benefits for Psychological Symptoms
A randomized, double‑blind trial examined live and heat‑inactivated probiotic strains in healthy adults with self‑reported mild anxiety. The 12‑week live blend of Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT 8361 failed to meet primary anxiety endpoints, though it preserved butyrate‑producing bacteria....
Vitafoods Set to Be Most Expansive and Immersive yet, Director Reveals
Vitafoods 2026 will run May 5‑7 in Barcelona, expanding its footprint by 20% with an additional hall and new networking spaces. The event will spotlight sustainability, AI‑driven upcycling, GLP‑1‑related nutrition solutions, nutricosmetics, and other fast‑growing trends. Relocating from Geneva to Barcelona...
Givaudan Research: Zensera Lemon Balm Supports the Mind During Stress
Givaudan’s patented Zensera lemon‑balm extract (300 mg) was tested in a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial with 130 healthy adults under moderate stress. The study measured mood, heart rate, blood pressure and a battery of executive‑function tasks over five hours. Participants who took...
Infinite Epigenetics Acquires Tally Health in ‘Largest Epigenetic Testing Deal to Date’
Infinite Epigenetics announced the acquisition of Tally Health, creating the largest private‑sector DNA methylation database. The deal merges Infinite's TruDiagnostic biological‑age platform with Tally's at‑home epigenetic test and supplement program, forming a vertically integrated measurement‑to‑intervention stack. Executives say the combined...
Key Trends Emerge in Vitafoods Europe Education Programme
The Vitafoods Europe education programme showcased a series of high‑profile sessions that mapped emerging nutrition trends across gut health, longevity, GLP‑1 impacts, cognitive resilience, performance nutrition and nutricosmetics. Experts from Mintel, Euromonitor, Yakult and Nestlé highlighted how gut microbiome insights...
Transparency Tech: New App Reveals Supplement Ingredient Credibility
Supplemate by Remedy released a new app that matches dietary supplements to users' specific health goals and rates ingredient credibility on a ten‑point scale. The platform scans scientific literature, clinical trial data, regulatory status, dosage levels and potential ingredient interactions,...
‘Immense Opportunity’ in India’s Sports Nutrition but Challenges Persist
India’s sports nutrition market is rapidly expanding, offering immense opportunity but also challenges such as misinformation, price sensitivity, and inconsistent quality. BigMuscles Nutrition, led by Suhel Vats, has shifted from a channel‑driven model to an omnichannel, consumer‑centric strategy, emphasizing education,...
India Bans Ashwagandha Leaf Use in Any Form, Industry Reacts
India's Food Safety and Standards Authority has banned the use of ashwagandha leaf in all food and supplement products, limiting the herb to root‑only extracts. The directive follows an Ayush ministry letter citing a 2024 safety dossier that flags higher...
Today! Men’s Health Market Momentum Webinar
The men’s health market is expanding beyond traditional muscle‑building narratives, with younger consumers seeking holistic wellness solutions such as supplements, functional foods, and GLP‑1‑related products. Testosterone‑boosting supplements remain a core category but are being repositioned to address energy, metabolism, healthy...
Probiotic Candidate Shows Potential to Suppress UTIs
Researchers reported that the probiotic strain Limosilactobacillus reuteri 3613‑1, which produces the antimicrobial compound reuterin, can inhibit key urinary and vaginal pathogens. In a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial of 130 healthy women taking the probiotic daily for 24 weeks, the...
Fasting Mimetic May Improve Cardiometabolic Health Markers: RCT
A randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial found that an eight‑week regimen of Mimio, a fasting‑mimetic supplement, significantly improved cholesterol fractions, oxidized LDL, and fasting glucose in older adults with elevated BMI and HbA1c. The formulation delivers nicotinamide, PEA, OEA and spermidine...
Sermo Data Challenges ‘Consumer-Driven’ Narrative in Supplement Purchases
A January 2026 Sermo RealTime survey of 374 U.S. physicians found that 92% recommend dietary supplements and 94% have seen patients purchase them after a doctor's suggestion, challenging the view that the market is purely consumer‑driven. Earlier Sermo Barometer research...
Vitafoods Show Floor Preview: Exhibitors A–G
The Vitafoods preview of exhibitors A‑G showcases a wave of functional‑food innovations, from 3H Labs’ steamed ginger extract that cuts body fat and cholesterol to AB‑Biotics’ next‑generation probiotics targeting aging, joint and menopausal health. ADM highlights personalized postbiotic solutions for...
Whey Protein and Resistance Exercise May Improve Hepatic Steatosis
A 4‑week randomized trial in 30 patients with metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) found that calorie restriction combined with resistance exercise raised plasma irisin, and adding whey protein amplified the increase. Elevated irisin levels were significantly linked to larger...
Could Folic Acid Fortification Improve Allergy Rates in Croatian Children?
Croatian researchers measured folate levels in 292 children and found that deficiency was significantly more common among those diagnosed with asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis. Lower folate correlated with higher IgE and eosinophil counts, markers of allergic inflammation. After...
MyBrainCo Partners Pharmacy Veteran to Gain Ground in New Sales Channel
Australian nutraceutical brand myBrainCo has partnered with StirlingFildes Plus, a 90‑year‑old pharmacy solutions provider, to accelerate entry into the pharmacy channel. The partnership gives myBrainCo access to StirlingFildes’ network of roughly 5,000 pharmacies, far exceeding the reach of traditional wholesalers like...
Spate: US Supplement Market Is Moving Toward a ‘Symptom-First’ Consumer
Spate’s analysis shows U.S. supplement shoppers now begin their purchase journey with a symptom—bloating, magnesium deficiency, or high blood pressure—rather than a brand. Year‑over‑year search interest surged 423.5% for high blood pressure, 133.9% for magnesium deficiency, and 83.6% for bloating....
South Korea’s MFDS Reiterates Ban on Gymnema Sylvestre, Bacopa in Supplements
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has reaffirmed its ban on several botanicals and pharmaceutical compounds, including Gymnema sylvestre and Bacopa, after finding them in 18 of 30 overseas‑made health supplements sold via Amazon, eBay and other...
NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2026: Early Bird Entry Fee Closes on Apr 30
NutraIngredients‑Asia has opened entries for its 2026 Awards across 17 categories, with a submission deadline of June 19, 2026, 11:55 pm Singapore time. The early‑bird entry fee is US $299 for most categories, while the NutraChampion, Start‑up Award and the Editors’ Award for Infant...
Research Supports OmniActive’s Capsimax as a GLP-1 ‘Booster’
OmniActive’s Capsimax, a 2% capsaicinoid chili extract, boosted plasma GLP‑1 levels by 13% after a seven‑day regimen in a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled crossover study of 40 resistance‑trained men. The same trial reported significant improvements in peak force, power output, muscular...
NOW Foods Enters Popular Gummy Market with Vitamin Offerings
NOW Foods has introduced vitamin C and D3 gummies after a six‑year development effort, delivering 250 mg of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 per gummy in gelatin‑free formats for ages four and up. The launch aligns with gummies capturing...
Vitamin K2 May Influence Neuromuscular Signaling: RCT
A 12‑week randomized controlled trial examined vitamin K2 MK‑7 (Balchem’s K2VITAL) in healthy adults 18‑40 and 65 plus following muscle‑damaging resistance exercise. Across the full cohort, supplementation did not improve strength, soreness, or inflammation. However, participants aged 65 and older showed a shorter electromechanical...
TRIP Expands Night-Time Portfolio with CBD-Free Sleep Range
TRIP has introduced a dual sleep‑supplement line, Dream Blend, featuring plant‑based gummies and a powder that are free of CBD. The formulations combine magnesium, chamomile, valerian root and other botanicals, and each purchase comes with a three‑month premium Calm app...
ADM’s Probiotic Shows Promise for Constipation: Study
Researchers at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) reported that their probiotic BPL1, containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, significantly improved stool frequency, weight and moisture in loperamide‑induced constipated rats. A higher dose (3 × 10⁹ CFU) produced stronger laxative effects than a lower dose (1.5 × 10⁸ CFU)...
Regulatory Review: Andrographis, Caffeine Warning, Biotics and More
Regulators across several markets are tightening rules for dietary supplements and natural health products. Australia’s TGA is consulting on removing Andrographis from its low‑risk ingredient list after anaphylaxis reports, while the EU continues to block probiotic health claims and has...
Men’s Health Moves Beyond Muscle as Data Reveals a Broader Shift in Wellness
Men’s health is moving from a muscle‑centric, performance focus to a broader, holistic view, according to Nextin Research. Surveys show immunity, energy, mood and longevity are now top wellness priorities, with roughly one‑fifth of men citing immunity as a current...
FTC Order in TruHeight Case Signals Scrutiny of Height Claims and Incentivized Reviews
The FTC issued an administrative order against TruHeight, finding its height‑increase claims for children unsubstantiated and its review practices deceptive. The agency required the company to back any health claims with competent, double‑blind clinical evidence and to stop incentivizing 5‑star...
Where AI Meets the Aisle: How The Vitamin Shoppe Is Reinventing Supplement Retail
The Vitamin Shoppe has opened an innovation store featuring Shoppe Advisor, an AI‑powered discovery tool that merges its extensive digital content with in‑store expertise. The platform delivers real‑time inventory, education, and product suggestions through a conversational interface, while also offering...
Women’s Health Brand Valerie Abandons ‘Perimenopause’ Label to Expand Audience
Valerie, a female hormone health brand for women over 35, is dropping the ‘perimenopause’ label to broaden its reach. Co‑founder Wizz Selvey says the change removes a psychological barrier and aligns with feedback that many women feel the term is...
Centre for Nutraceuticals Designing Clinical Trials for Active Women
The Centre for Nutraceuticals at the University of Westminster is rolling out gender‑specific clinical trial protocols to address the chronic under‑representation of women in nutraceutical research. Researchers highlighted how hormonal fluctuations across life stages alter nutrient absorption, gut microbiome composition,...
CoQ10 Boosts Exercise Performance, Recovery: Thailand Crossover Study
Researchers at Mahidol University conducted a crossover trial in Thailand examining post‑workout supplementation with 300 mg CoQ10, a lemon‑flavored Gatorade, or placebo in normal‑weight and overweight men aged 18‑30. The study found that CoQ10 significantly increased resistance‑exercise volume and reduced urinary...
Capital Q Ventures Funds Nutrition Brand Nur to ‘Redefine’ Protein Category
Capital Q Ventures, through its accelerator Capital Q Velocity, is backing nutrition startup Nur to scale its hydration‑based protein platform that uses fermented beta‑lactoglobulin (BLG). The undisclosed investment will secure co‑investors for current and future rounds, enabling Nur to commercialize...