VITAL and REDUCE-IT: Positive results around omega-3 for heart health, but media mixed

TOP STORY
VITAL and REDUCE-IT: Positive results around omega-3 for heart health, but media mixed
​New data from two high-profile trials indicate that omega-3 consumption may indeed significantly benefit a number of heart health outcomes. But the mainstream media coverage (and therefore messaging to consumers) has been mixed. Data from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) and Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with EPA—Intervention Trial (REDUCE-IT)  saw positive presentations and papers. Both trials used pharmaceuticals, not dietary supplements, so omega-3 manufacturers should be careful not to link results to their products. GOED will be looking to integrate statistics from both trials with existing data to determine how much it strengthens the argument. Read more→

UNPA NEWS
UNPA PCQI training, Dec. 5-7, in Lehi, UtahIN THREE WEEKS! Sign up today for UNPA's Preventive Controls for Human Food and Dietary Supplements: PCQI Training, Dec. 5-7, in Lehi, Utah. This training is certified by FSPCA in cooperation with FDA and is an integral and necessary requirement of FSMA.FINANCIALS
Nature’s Sunshine shows strong growth in Asia, Eastern EuropeNature’s Sunshine has shown strong sales gains in Asia and Eastern Europe. But that wasn’t enough to make up for sales slides elsewhere.
 The Vitamin Shoppe sales and income fall slightlyVitamin Shoppe’s 3Q results reflected retail trends in the dietary supplement sector—online sales continue to grow while brick-and-mortar sales are declining. The company closed three stores this quarter.
 GNC reports 3Q net loss as revenue falls for 11th consecutive quarterGNC's same-store and e-commerce sales both fell, causing revenue to drop more than 5 percent compared with 3Q17. Company executives announced that consolidated revenue for 3Q18 dropped 5.3 percent from 3Q17 to $580.2 million. As a result, the company saw a net loss of $8.6 million, compared with income of $21.1 million for the same quarter a year ago.LEGISLATIVE
Trump to give nation’s highest civilian honor to Utah Sen. Orrin HatchPresident Donald Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sen. Orrin Hatch, praising him as the longest-serving Republican in Senate history and for sponsoring the most bills that have become law. The award is the nation's highest civilian honor given to Americans who made especially meritorious contributions to U.S. security or national interests, world peace, or cultural or other significant endeavors.GMOs
Gene-edited food is coming, but will consumers buy?The next generation of biotech food is headed for the grocery aisles, and first up may be salad dressings or granola bars made with soybean oil genetically tweaked to supposedly be good for your heart.M&A ACTIVITY
Science in Sport looks to beef up protein offering in PhD Nutrition acquisitionScience in Sport has revealed plans to acquire fellow sports nutrition firm PhD Nutrition in a €36.8 million (£32 million) deal, with the majority financed by a share offering subject to conditions.
KRATOM
HHS recommends that the DEA make kratom a Schedule 1 drug, like LSD or heroinThe Department of Health and Human Services has recommended a ban on the chemicals in kratom that would make the popular herbal supplement as illegal as heroin or LSD, according to documents obtained by STAT.ICSB
ICSB is accepting abstract submissions for the 2019 conferenceOrganizers of the International Conference on the Science of Botanicals (ICSB) are now accepting abstract submissions for the 19th Annual ICSB, scheduled for April 8-11, 2019, in Oxford, Miss. UNPA is a title sponsor of this event. Abstracts ( a maximum of five), must be submitted through the online submission portal. Deadline for abstract submissions is Dec. 15, 2018, and should be fully entered and marked as "final" within the portal to be considered.INVESTMENT
PepsiCo launches accelerator in the U.S. with 10 startups with innovative productsAfter helping multiple startups in Europe increase their combined sales fourfold throughout the duration of a six-month Nutrition Greenhouse accelerator program, PepsiCo is now offering entrepreneurs in the U.S. a helping hand and a shot at $100,000 in funding and a long-term partnership with the industry giant.
PATENTS
Puzzling out patent eligibility of natural productsCourts and patent offices have sometimes allowed natural products to be patented and other times not.HEMP/CBD
U.S. Hemp Authority certification launchesThe industry has launched the U.S. Hemp Authority, a self-regulatory program designed to give consumers and regulators confidence that products are safe and legal. Participants that meet the Authority’s standards and pass a third-party audit can use the Certified Seal of the U.S. Hemp Authority on products beginning Jan. 1, 2019.
 CV Sciences says more scrutiny of CBD firms will help them stand out as top playersStuart Tomc, VP of human nutrition for CBD purveyor CV Sciences, said his company welcomes increased scrutiny of the controversial ingredient category.OBITUARY
Bill Stewart, food service pioneer, passesThe natural products industry lost another friend this past week when longtime foodservice pioneer Bill Stewart passed on Nov. 3, in Durango, Colo., after suffering from complications of ALS. Stewart founded Real Food Sales, a brokerage dedicated to bringing natural and organic products to foodservice operations throughout the country.GLOBAL REGULATORY
Biova secures first of its kind EU approval for eggshell membraneThe European Commission has given its seal of approval to Biova’s eggshell membrane for use in food supplements,  representing the first approval of its kind for this ingredient.
 Spain to officially adopt NutriScoreSpain has become the third European country to adopt the front-of-pack NutriScore as its official nutrition label.CLEAN LABEL
Alliance of key tablet and capsule suppliers launched to address clean-label positioningThe Clean Label Alliance is an industry initiative launched last week as a cooperative venture between several companies, spearheaded by rice bran supplier RIBUS. The group’s intent is to help the marketers of encapsulated and tablet products meet the challenges of a clean-label positioning.SPORTS NUTRITION
Focus on functional sports benefits seen as opportunity within microbiome researchResearch in the effects of exercise on the microbiome has boosted not just a recent startup but will fuel a growing category within the wider field of probiotics, according to Johnathan Scheiman, Ph.D., cofounder of Fitbiomics.
 Beef extract linked to improved exercise performance, reduced fatigueWhey protein may be the most popular product of a cow used in the sports nutrition space, but researchers in Taiwan make the case for using beef extract.BOTANICALS
New technique aims to eliminate adulteration of ginkgo biloba leaf extractsNetwork Nutrition recently published its scientific research into the numerous mechanisms for the adulteration of Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts. The research includes examination of the latest and most sophisticated mode of adulterating this popular herbal material, being the inclusion of an entirely different plant species, Styphnolobium japonicum (syn. Sophora japonica).UNPA MEMBER NEWS
Sirio’s manufacturing expansion anticipates huge growth for gummy demand in the U.S.Chinese supplement manufacturer is betting hard on the demand for gummy delivery forms in the North American market.
 Capstone Nutrition wins Utah Manufacturer of the YearContract manufacturer Capstone Nutrition has received the 2018 Utah Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Utah Manufacturers Association (UMA). The UMA selected Capstone for its outstanding vision, starting and ending with culture. “This award is recognition of our team’s tremendous effort to embrace our cultural values. Capstone’s success begins and ends with our talented people and their families who support them,” said Jared Leishman, CEO.
 CBD and Hemp Symposium to address challenges, responsibilitiesEurofins has assembled a panel of experts for a deep dive into the challenges and responsibilities facing manufacturers of CBD and hemp products. The CBD & Hemp Symposium is scheduled for Dec. 11, at Eurofins Microbiology in Lafayette, Colo. The event will take place from 9:00 am-3:00 pm and lunch will be provided.INNOVATION
BASF and Nuritas harness AI power to create next-gen peptidesBASF and Nuritas have unveiled a new generation of plant-based peptides for regulating inflammation within sports nutrition.How are digital technologies altering the nutrition industry?Digital technologies are rapidly changing the way the industry operates. Nutraingredients asked the industry how growing digitalization is having an impact.MOU PARTNER NEWS
GOED appoints new board officersThe board of directors of GOED, the Global Organization of EPA and DHA Omega-3s, has elected new officers for the 2018-2019 fiscal year and also voted to add a new officer position of monetization officer. This new officer will oversee and support the GOED executive director with monetization efforts.ACTIVE LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS
Coca-Cola proposes energy drinks in clash with Monster BeverageCoca-Cola is planning to launch a line of energy drinks made with naturally derived caffeine and guarana extract. The timing comes as the soft drink giant “intensifies efforts to break away from its traditional fizzy sodas and shift to health-focused trends.” Coke has previously taken a cautious approach to energy drinks.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

UNPA member companies have posted the following employment opportunities. To include a job posting, email editor@unpa.com.

Clinical Brand Manager (ND, DC, Nutritionist), posted by OrthoMolecular ProductsMARKETING
Are you ready for nanoinfluencers?Nanoinfluencers, or nanos for short, are people who have as few as 1,000 followers and are willing to advertise products on social media. “Their lack of fame is one of the qualities that make them approachable. When they recommend a shampoo or a lotion or a furniture brand on Instagram, their word seems as genuine as advice from a friend,” according to an article in The New York Times.MARKET RESEARCH
Sales slow for sports nutrition and weight management productsConsumers trending away from sugar and weight loss, evolving toward a more holistic, weight "management" approach, should be good news for the category, but not all companies are celebrating success. NBJ data shows that growth in the sports nutrition and weight management segment was 4.4 percent in 2017, down from a  less-than-stellar 5.9 percent in 2016.
 The adventurous consumer tops Innova Market Insights’ 2019 Key Trend ListTargeting increasingly adventurous consumers, set on new discoveries and experiences, will be key for brands in the food and beverage industry in 2019, according to Innova Market Insights. The connected world has led consumers of all ages to become more knowledgeable of other cultures, contributing to 35 percent growth of “discovery” claims.
 Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are top health fears for older menDiabetes and cardiovascular disease are the most common health concerns for older men in the west, according to a new survey by Lycored. The research indicates that heart disease is now more feared by American men than cancer.RESEARCH
Jury out on zinc supplementation for autism riskA ‘mechanistic link’ may explain the onset of autism and a deficiency in zinc during early development. However, the researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine remain undecided as to the benefits of zinc supplementation.
 Pycnogenol may help improve benign prostate hypertrophyResearchers in Italy suggest that supplementation with French Maritime Pine extract may help manage benign prostatic hypertrophy, also known as enlarged prostate.FDA WARNING LETTERS & GUIDANCES
Current FDA enforcement actions and guidancesKeep up to date on FDA’s current enforcement actions, including general warning letters, recall information and GMP compliance issues, with this link to FDA's website. 

Search and sign up for a variety of FDA Guidances.