India

NutraCast: Supporting women in India and across the supply chain

07-Jul-2023 By Danielle Masterson

India’s rich heritage of traditional medicine like Ayurveda has made the country a powerful player in the natural products industry. As such, Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) recently announced the appointment of Rajat Shah as Global liaison in India, marking...

Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation shows metabolic health benefits in kids – India RCT

21-Jun-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The supplementation of vitamin B12 and folic acid in toddlers has reduced their plasma concentrations of fasting total homocysteine (tHcy) – an amino acid that is linked to cardiometabolic diseases when in elevated levels.

Ethnobotanical survey points to fragility of traditional medicine knowledge

28-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

A recent survey sheds light on the trove of ethnobotanical information held as a cultural asset by an indigenous people in a remote part of India. Experts say that such traditional knowledge is in danger of being extirpated as world urbanizes and industrializes...

AHP working with AYUSH on support for Ayurvedic stress management superstars

17-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia is cooperating with the Indian government to develop a series of monographs to better substantiate popular Ayurvedic botanicals, including some important in the stress management sphere.

PLT says third-party audit verifies sustainability of its Boswellia sources

28-Feb-2022 By Hank Schultz

A third-party audit commissioned by PLT Health Solutions has verified the sustainability of the company’s Boswellia serrata sources within India, the company claims. The popularity of the botanical combined with its slow growth has raised supply concerns...

Shakeup in ashwagandha sector? India’s AYUSH caution against use of leaves in supplements

25-Oct-2021 By Tingmin Koe

India’s Ministry of AYUSH has released a statement that advised against the use of ashwagandha leaves in Ayurveda and products for therapeutic purposes.

Packing a bigger punch: India’s energy and protein bar firm takes on US market with Amazon listing

25-Aug-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Fitsport Nutrition Foods, a Hyderabad-based company specialising in energy and protein bars, has ventured into the highly competitive US market with a bigger bar via a listing on Amazon US.

Endurance training boost: India’s vegan sports nutrition brand launches sublingual caffeine strips and beetroot extract

29-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

Indian vegan supplement and sports nutrition company Unived has launched a series of new products, from sublingual caffeine strips to beetroot extract, to enhance the training and performance of endurance athletes.

Divine internationalism: Indian supplement brand set for US, Nepal and Dubai expansion

22-Apr-2021 By Tingmin Koe

India nutraceutical brand Divine Nutrition is aiming overseas expansion, including Nepal, Dubai, and the US.

Indian COVID-19 patients have lower levels of selenium, researchers call for supplementation of general population - Study

11-Jan-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

COVID-19 patients from southern India had lower selenium serum level compared to healthy individuals, prompting industry players to call for its supplementation considering selenium’s well-known defence mechanism against infectious diseases.

India’s probiotic controversy: Industry questions methodology used by researchers who criticised label claims

15-Dec-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A study that claims that commercial probiotics sold in India are not true to label claims has come under fire for the methodologies used.

Could 2021 be THE worst year in memory for botanical supply?

Experts sound alarm over 2021 botanical supply challenges

12-Oct-2020 By Stephen Daniells

As sales of dietary supplements and natural products remain high – and many companies report record sales – the strain on the supply chain is immense, and for botanicals in particular, and that means a difficult 2021 could be on the horizon.

Acne achievement: Postbiotic achieves same results as standard benzoyl peroxide treatment - Study

23-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The postbiotic LactoSporin has been found to have the same efficacy for treating mild to moderate acne as the conventional medication benzoyl peroxide.

Indian botanical shown to strengthen adaptive immunity in 30 days trial

02-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Green chiretta, otherwise known as andrographis paniculate, a plant native to India and Sri Lanka, has shown to strengthen the body’s adaptive immunity against pathogens in a 30-day clinical trial.

Overseas interest rockets: How US and Europe nutra firms are seizing opportunities in growing Indian market

26-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A number of nutraceutical companies from the US and Europe, including algae omega-3 maker Qualitas Health and botanical-based supplement firm Legacy Healthcare, are tapping into the fast-growing nutraceutical market in India.

Recovery-associated bacteria: Research highlights potential benefits of Alistipes, Ruminococcus species

12-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A five-year-long research has identified 21 recovery-associated bacteria (RABs) from the Alistipes, Ruminococcus, Parabacteroides species, as well as the more well-known Bifidobacterium species, as key in restoring microbial balance in the gut.

Turmeric tumbles: India’s merchant association says raw material price has dropped 10%

29-Jun-2020 By Tingmin Koe

India’s raw turmeric price this year is about 10% lower than last year partly because COVID-19 lockdowns and market closures have led to a surplus, said a major merchant association in India.

Spice for sleep: Akay’s patented black cumin ingredient to launch in the US

10-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Indian functional spice supplier Akay Natural Ingredients’ patented black cumin (nigella sativa) sleep aid ingredient will hit the US market in the upcoming months.

Setting the pace: Indian sports nutrition firm MuscleBlaze sees annual sales jump by 25%

16-Jan-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Indian sports nutrition firm MuscleBlaze, owned by Bright Lifecare, has seen its annual sales have grown by nearly 25%, as consumers' awareness of the category continues to grow.

NIU’s Global Round-up: ESSNA warns of risk of failed drug tests with CBD products, Blackmores eyes India, and more

11-Nov-2019 By Stephen Daniells

What's happened this week around the Nutra-Verse? Stay on top of things with our weekly round-up of key news from across the globe.

Verdure tackles sustainability measures to secure Boswellia supply

25-Sep-2019 By Danielle Masterson

In a move toward incorporating sustainability practices into everyday life, Verdure Sciences is rolling out an initiative with their longtime supplier in India.

Curcumin may enhance green tea's anti-hyperlipidaemia effects: Indian rat study

03-Jul-2019 By Cheryl Tay

The presence of curcumin in green tea can enhance the drink's health benefits against hyperlipidaemia, according to a study by researchers at India's Shahu College of Pharmacy and Research.

Hypertension-stemming seaweed: Indian institute seeks industry backing to commercialise new nutraceutical

06-Jun-2019 By Cheryl Tay

India's Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has developed a novel nutraceutical product from seaweed that is said to be able to combat hypertension, and is now on the lookout for industry partners to help bring it to consumers.

Offline optimisation: Indian e-commerce outfit HealthKart to up retail presence and in-house product range

22-May-2019 By Cheryl Tay

HealthKart — India's largest omni-channel nutrition platform — is planning further offline expansion and a more extensive in-house range of supplements, supported by a fresh round of financing to the tune of US$25m.

Indian innovations in probiotics and functional food shine as incubator drives production and commercialisation

24-Apr-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Indian entrepreneur incubation hub Biovalley Incubation Council has announced the five start-up products it will fund in the nutrition and biotechnology sectors, among them a high-protein chilli and a novel probiotic technology that speeds up fermentation.

Industry expert warns of dwindling natural resources and importance of clinically validated by-products for NPD

05-Apr-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Wastage minimisation, standardisation of herbal extracts, and catering to niche market segments are vital to longevity in APAC's nutraceutical market, according to a long-standing R&D expert.

Ayurvedic standards in India: Regulator considers separate classification within food supplements regime

27-Mar-2019 By Cheryl Tay

The Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) has announced its collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush on possible standards for ayurvedic ahaar, or traditional ayurvedic foods, as a separate category.

Traditional Indian wisdom: Amway raises awareness of herbal supplements as consumer acceptance blooms

26-Mar-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Amway India is striving to promote the health benefits of traditional Indian herbs to consumers in the market, having recently conducted a series of seminars showcasing its Nutrilite Traditional Herbs range of supplements.

Bone, joint and women's health, and diabetes: Indian supplement start-up TruHealthy seeks to address 'lifestyle diseases'

21-Mar-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Mumbai-based dietary supplement start-up TruHealthy is embarking on an aggressive plan to expand its product offerings that address lifestyle diseases.

Marijuana cultivation in India permitted for research and medicine, but nutraceuticals remain left out

13-Mar-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Medical marijuana may soon make some progress in India, but any hope of more relaxed regulations on CBD or hemp for nutraceuticals has gone up in smoke, according to one industry expert.

Nordic-Indian spirulina producer targets global growth with functional food and drink line

27-Feb-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Finnish-Indian spirulina firm Prolgae Spirulina Supplies has revealed extensive plans for global growth, with its upcoming range of functional consumer foods expected to drive business in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe.

Reclassification of vitamin C as supplement, not drug, may see end of shortages in India

15-Feb-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Vitamin C shortages in India may soon end, thanks to a proposal from the country's Department of Pharmaceuticals regarding the vitamin's official status.

Indian and Korean researchers develop functional probiotic beverage from fermented coconut water

20-Nov-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Researchers in India and South Korea have developed a functional fermented coconut beverage using the bacterial strain Lactobacillus casei L4.

'Precision agriculture for nutraceutical industry': Indian start-up details ambitious plans to raise standards

07-Nov-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Indian agri-tech start-up Sattvaponics Solutions has outlined its ambition to be a game-changer in the nutraceutical industry, spurred in part by a recent investment from the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE).

Saffron supplement with anti-Alzheimer's potential to hit stores in India and the US

11-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

A new saffron supplement, which claims to aid cognitive function, will be available for sale in the US from next month, and in India next year.

The top trending Ayurveda ingredients right now…and why they are destined to remain niche products in the West.

14-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Tulsi, ashwagandha and cardamom are three of the hottest Ayurvedic ingredients right now, but the likelihood of them gaining mass appeal in Europe and the US is limited by scepticism of complementary medicine, it has been claimed.

Can moringa, amla and turmeric spur India towards superfoods success?

05-Sep-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Indian manufacturers and suppliers can tap in to the latest wave of superfood trends both domestically and internationally by playing to the strengths of the country’s traditional ingredients.

Firm eyeing India’s 'first scientific weight loss programme'

05-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

An Australian natural nutrition company has announced plans to invest INR100cr in an Indian manufacturing and sales operation to provide, it claims, the country's only scientific weight loss programme.