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REGULATORY DEA reverses kratom ban Washington Post Citing a need to obtain more research, the Drug Enforcement Agency is reversing its proposed and widely criticized ban on kratom, a drug that researchers say could mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic by providing non-addictive alternatives. The unprecedented move is shocking to drug enforcement watchers, who say DEA does not typically second-guess itself. Read more→ MARKET RESEARCH
NHANES data shows U.S. supplement use stable Nutraingredients-usa.com, JAMA More than half of U.S. adults continue to use dietary supplements, according to the NHANES survey published in JAMA looking at usage from 1999-2012. The data did indicate a decrease in use of multivitamins but that was offset by significant increases in the use of vitamin D and omega-3s. The research seems to indicate that supplement usage has stabilized and become consistent and mainstream among consumers. An accompanying editorial includes commentary from Pieter Cohen, M.D., who is not encouraged by the numbers. Reviewing the NHANES survey data, UNPA notes that the survey numbers are not in alignment with industry growth figures and likely do not include sales and usage of new products that have entered the market and/or become popular in that timeframe. Regarding Pieter Cohen's editorial, UNPA notes that his assumptions on how and why consumers continue to purchase dietary supplements are based on a science-based perspective. He has a view that people should make purchasing decisions based on science. But that’s not necessarily how our consumers make decisions, and consumers have said over and over that they want broad access to supplements to influence and support their healthcare decisions. Cohen's references to scientific studies that “failed to demonstrate beneficial effects on health” only included NIH studies and ignores the global body of data and research as well as the body of products that have been approved by governments around the world as medicines and as supplements. The implication is that regulators around the world are making non-science-based policy decisions.Read coverage: U.S. supplement use remains stable→ Trends in Dietary Supplement Use Among U.S. Adults 1999-2012→ The Supplement Paradox→ REGULATORY The post-N.Y. AG supplements industry: What’s been learned?Nutritional Outlook Donald J. Trump may be providing a new target for N.Y. AG Eric Schneiderman, for now, but the break in the action is giving industry time to reflect on the fallout from the investigation. This article provides an overview of where the industry stands two years into the post N.Y. AG world, looking at the positive developments and silver linings as well as what industry has learned from DNA testing and getting a better handle on its supply chain management. Read more→ LEGAL B&D Nutritional files suit against Unique Biotech over protected information Natural Products INSIDER B&D Nutritional Ingredients filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Florida alleging that its former client, Unique Biotech, and its executives stole protected B&D information which allowed the company to also take B&D customers. Among other things, B&D claims Biotech violated terms of a secrecy agreement and conspired with other clients to cut B&D out of future business deals. Read more→ GLOBAL REGULATORY New Japanese regulatory scheme moves beyond FOSHU; U.K. agency approves CBD products for medicinal category Nutraingredients.com, UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency More than 400 foods have been approved under Japan’s new 2015 Foods with Function Claims (FFC) regulation, with the market already estimated at $70 billion. The FFC scheme was implemented last year to complement Japan’s more stringent Food for Specified Health Use (FOSHU) system, which restricts claims to 14 health benefits and requires clinical trials, while FFC permits any claims and systematic literary reviews. In the U.K., the MHRA has reviewed the classification of products containing cannabidiol and found them to meet the definition of a medicinal product. Read coverage: Japan moves beyond FOSHU: Over 400 products approved under new health claims regime last year→ MHRS statement on products containing cannabidiol→ RESEARCH NIH nutrition task force develops first strategic plan to research nutrition impactsNIH.gov The NIH Nutrition Research Task Force has developed a strategic plan to complement and enhance ongoing research efforts on disease and conditions affected by nutrition. The task force will specifically identify promising research opportunities and gaps to promote interdisciplinary work to achieve common goals in nutrition, solicit feed back on the plan from the scientific community and appoint a leadership group to implement the plan. Read more→ OMEGA-3s DSM invests in technology to reduce omega-3 capsule sizeNutraingredients.com DSM has invested more than €27 million in its 3C technology, which concentrates DHA and EPA by up to 85 percent and helps to reduce capsule size by as much as three times. The company says the investment in the new technology is part of its effort to help grow and change the omega-3 category. The technology uses fraction distillation and vacuum treats the oils in one step, to ensure the quality of the heat sensitive oils. Read more→ INNOVATION U.K. price comparison site offers clarity; company bets on sprays as DS delivery mode of the future Nutraingredients.com A dedicated supplement and health food price comparison site, Filtur.com, will provide comparisons for approximately 20,000 products. Founder Jaspal Singh Nijjar says consumers are frustrated by prices that can vary as much as 70 to 80 percent among retailers. A young French firm, Erbalab, part of the ERSA Group, is banking that its botanical line of nutrition sprays are the wave of the future as herbal extracts re-emerge in the EU. The range includes St. John’s wort, black radish, and vitamins D and K2. Read coverage: Supplement price comparison website offers clarity to consumers→ Nutrition sprays: The modern format for traditional botanicals→ UNPA MEMBER NEWS OmniActive Health Technologies' proprietary curcumin found to support cardiovascular function Nutraingredients-usa.com Curcumin supplements with enhanced bioavailability may improve vascular health, according to a new study from TCU using OmniActive Health Technologies' CurcuWin ingredient. Findings from the study suggest that supplementation with 200 mg per day enhances endothelial function and may provide a simple strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Read more→ Alkemist Lab’s Sudberg sheds light on phony certificates of authenticity Nutritional Outlook Fighting the problem of adulteration will take the efforts of the whole industry, according to Elan Sudberg of Alkemist Labs, who notes that testing, education and communication within the industry is critical. Recent reports of fake certificates of analysis jeopardize this effort, and he stresses industry must protect C of A credibility. Sudberg reiterates that industry must be extra vigilant by asking suppliers to verify their tests. Read more→ BrandHive's Hilton: new rules of engagement for supplement consumers New Hope Network In this interview, Jeff Hilton, chief marketing officer and co-founder of marketing consultancy BrandHive, discusses changing shopping patterns and how the fast-paced move to digital communication is changing the way companies communicate to their customers. He notes smart companies are finding ways to tell their brand story via online videos, a preferred medium to make emotional connections and convey trust. Watch video→ MARKET RESEARCH Natural, organic outpaces overall market; carotenoid awareness rises; obesity stats underscore need for action; consumers scrutinizing labels Nutraceuticals World A new report from Packaged Facts estimates that natural and organic industry sales are 32 percent higher than five years ago, with growth outpacing the overall food and beverage market. Consumers are now considering health and wellness, safety, social impact, experience and transparency in their food purchasing decisions, which is predicted to drive the segment to $69 billion this year. Growing consumer awareness of the vast health benefits of carotenoids is propelling growth of the category, according to the latest report on the global carotenoids market from research firm Technavio. New figures from the World Obesity Federation suggest that if current trends continue there will be some 268 million overweight school children worldwide by 2025. The data, published to mark World Obesity Day 2016, emphasizes the need for urgent government action to tackle the problem. New data from Euromonitor International shows that consumers are more conscientious than ever about food and beverage labels and look for green product features. The findings are from Euromonitor’s annual global trends tracking survey of 28,000 online consumers in 20 markets worldwide. Read coverage: Natural, organic retail foods and beverage market reaches $69 billion→ Technavio analyzes the global carotenoids market→ Globally 268 million school children will be overweight by 2025→ Euromonitor finds consumers are more carefully examining product labels→ RESEARCH Vitamins offer lifestage benefits; migraines linked to vitamin levels; mangosteen may treat schizophrenia; low vitamin K2 just as bad for CVD as smoking Nutraingredients.com, New Hope Network, Nutraingredients-asia.com, Natural Products INSIDER A selection of vitamin D and E studies re-emphasize their contribution at a number of different life stages with findings stressing the long-term consequences of vitamin deficiencies. New research from Cincinnati’s Children's Hospital Medical Center strengthens the link between migraines and the levels of certain vitamins, such as vitamin D, rioboflavin, CoQ10 and folate. Nimbolide, abioactive terpenoid compound derived from Azadirachta indica, more commonly known as the neem plant, could reduce the size of prostate tumors by up to 70 percent and suppress its spread or metastasis by half, according to academics at the National University of Singapore. Researchers in New Zealand have begun clinical trials to assess if an extract from mangosteen can help treat schizophrenia. A new study funded by NattoPharma and published in the journal Cureus found that vitamin K2 was inversely correlated with early cardiovascular disease mortality at the same degree that tobacco was positively correlated with mortality from the disease. Read coverage: Vitamin research points to multi-life stage benefits→ Further links between vitamins and migraines→ Neem plant compound could suppress development of prostate cancer: Singapore study→ Clinical trial to assess if mangosteen extract can help treat schizophrenia→ Vitamin K2 deficiency, tobacco equally risky for CVD→ Comments are closed.
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