Stress Management

The 'promising' role of saffron in stress resilience

25-Jan-2024 By Olivia Brown

New research conducted in partnership with botanical product manufacturer Pharmactive reveals that its standardized saffron extract Affron was able to normalise HPA axis dysregulation following chronic mild stress stimulation in a rat model.

Ashwagandha may reduce cortisol levels in stressed individuals, review finds

11-Dec-2023 By Olivia Brown

A new systematic review observes a significant association between short-term Withania somnifera (WS) supplement intakes and reduced cortisol levels in individuals suffering from stress.

RCT supports Sabinsa’s Ashwagandha for stress management in healthy adults

29-Nov-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a standardized Ashwagandha root extract may reduce stress and anxiety in healthy individuals with mild to moderate stress-related symptoms, compared to placebo, says a new study from Sabinsa.

Verdure’s ashwagandha may offer anti-fatigue benefits: RCT

17-Oct-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a proprietary ashwagandha root extract may significantly reduce symptoms of fatigue, compared to the placebo group, for overweight or mildly obese men and women, says a new study.

Prebiotic peanut polyphenols may boost mood and memory: RCT

09-Oct-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The polyphenols found in peanuts may improve cognition and mood via the gut microbiome, says a new study by researchers at the University of Barcelona and funded by the Peanut Institute.

Ashwagandha-Okra mix shows bowel health benefits in proof-of-concept clinical trial

21-Sep-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a proprietary blend of standardized ashwagandha and okra extracts may provide constipation-relief benefits and improve quality of life, says a new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept study.

Multi-ingredient supplement activates brain response to ease stress

21-Aug-2023 By Asia Sherman

A combination of magnesium, rhodiola, green tea and vitamins B6, B9 and B12 may reduce stress and pain perception in healthy individuals by triggering certain brain activity, according to a recent study.

L. plantarum HEAL9 probiotic may boost cognitive performance: RCT

16-Aug-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with Probi’s HEAL9 probiotic strain may improve learning and working memory in healthy adults, says a new study from Sweden.

Kerry launches 2-in-1 ingredient blend for immunity & stress

07-Aug-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Wellmune Adapt combines Kerry’s Wellmune baker’s yeast beta 1,3/1,6 glucan immune ingredient and its Sensoril ashwagandha root and leaf extract.

Phytochemicals could bolster physical activity performance through improved sleep

18-Jul-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A new review has unveiled the promising effects of phytochemical (PC) supplementation on sleep recovery and daytime fatigue, leading to enhanced physical performance.

Microbiome Briefing

The role microbiota-gut-brain axis plays in stress management

24-May-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The rise of dietary supplements to help manage stress was one of the big success stories from the pandemic years. While much of this success was linked to products containing adaptogenic herbs (we’re looking at you, Ashwagandha), the past couple of years...

Startup Spotlight

Q&A: KA! Empathogenics founder on channeling psychoactive plant healing in chews

15-May-2023 By Asia Sherman

Stephanie Wang, former financial analyst and film producer, explains that she started KA! Empathogenics in response to the need for more heart-centeredness in the world.

Black cumin extract may help manage stress, boost sleep: RCT

28-Apr-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with a proprietary thymoquinone-rich black cumin oil extract may increase sleep satisfaction by reducing stress, says a new study from India.

How ashwagandha supplements may support female sexual health

20-Apr-2023

Female sexual dysfunction affects 41% of reproductive age women worldwide, making it a highly prevalent condition. As current options are lacking, it’s creating an increased demand for supplements to support sexual health and function.

Jiaherb’s Rhodiola rosea receives CITES certification

04-Apr-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Jiaherb, Inc. has received it Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) certification for its Rhodiola rosea ingredient.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY SURVEY

State of the US Dietary Supplements sector in 2023

15-Mar-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Are supply chains still causing problems for businesses? What are the hottest ingredients and most sought-after product claims? And do people really think about FDA’s recent actions against ingredients like NAC and NMN?

Startup spotlight

Mushroom supplement startup helping consumers power up and chill out

06-Mar-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A mind-health supplement startup selling mushroom-powered coffee and a calming pre-sleep powder is expecting to make £5m in revenue within the first year.

Study: CBD effective at reducing stress responses in dogs

28-Feb-2023 By Danielle Masterson

While many humans rely on CBD for stress and mood support, the effect it has on canines is not as well-documented. Now, scientists have research that shows how a single dose of CBD could benefit healthy dogs in two stress-inducing scenarios while deepening...

ADM on pet supplements: ‘Everything that is visible is a concern to a pet owner’

10-Feb-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Pet ownership soared during the pandemic and pet parents became attuned to the health of their canine and feline companions. Pet supplements will soon be a billion dollar category in the US, but there remains at least one exciting white space…

January Launch Pad: Chill mode activated

31-Jan-2023 By Danielle Masterson

Sleep and relaxation remain in high demand; and despite the lack of progress for CBD in Washington, brands are continuing to churn out product.

Sleep supplement sales contract after two boom years

19-Jan-2023 By Stephen Daniells

After growth of 40% and 22% in 2020 and 2021, sales of sleep supplements contracted in 2022 with the numbers offset by inflation, but unit sales shrank even more, according to data from SPINS.

Report highlights key considerations when designing clinical sleep studies

17-Jan-2023 By Danielle Masterson

As the sleep category continues to witness growth, the Vedic Lifesciences wants to steer supplement manufacturers and functional ingredient suppliers in the right direction by breaking down trends, claims, ingredients and more.

Heights introduces Smart Probiotic into growing braincare category

11-Jan-2023 By Asia Sherman

Braincare startup Heights has added a second product, a bundle of tried-and-true probiotic strains to support mood, stress response, immunity and gut health all at once.

Nutrasource on Stress: “Multi-ingredient formulas are key”

01-Dec-2022 By Danielle Masterson

According to experts, January is the most depressing month of the year. As consumers stock up on formulas to stress-proof their lives, what should formulators be on the lookout for?

Ashwagandha shows wellness benefits in US college students

27-Sep-2022 By Asia Sherman

Supplementation with ashwagandha may improve the psychological well-being and support academic success of college students in the United States, according to recent research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

Low dose Holy Basil may reduce stress, improve sleep: Study

09-Sep-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

Administration of Ocimum tenuiflorum extract (Holixer), or Holy basil, in low doses can reduce stress and insomnia and increase sleep efficiency, according to the results of a recent trial, published in Nutrition.

Multivitamin-ginseng formula relieves stress markers in controlled trial

31-Aug-2022 By Hank Schultz

A supplement formula consisting of vitamins, minerals and ginseng was found to lessen psychological symptoms and blood markers of stress in a controlled trial, the manufacturer claims.

Supplement firm sees opportunity in stress epidemic

23-Aug-2022 By Hank Schultz

A supplement firm capitalizing on the ‘biohacking’ trend has released a new supplement it says addresses the epidemic of stress that followed in the wake of the pandemic.

Ingredient blend may boost attention and focus under stress: RCT

12-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of herbs, minerals and vitamins may improve attention, and lower anxiety under stressful conditions, according to two studies using Sanofi’s commercially available Teadiola product.

‘Sleep and relaxation are still a white space’: Celesta CEO talks formulation opportunities

18-Jul-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Despite significant growth and consumer interest in products for sleep and stress management, the categories remain a white space, says the CEO of a new company exploring multi-ingredient blends to target multiple biological pathways.

Onnit Labs evaluates New Mood effects on college student stress

24-Jun-2022 By Asia Sherman

Health and wellness company Onnit has added a new study to its growing portfolio of clinical trials to validate the benefits of the “total human optimization” brand’s range of multi-ingredient supplements.

IPAWC + Probiota Americas 2022: Markets, retailers, stress & sleep, + tech dominate Day 2

25-May-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The return of the IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas is just one week away. With key scientific insights into one of the industry’s hottest topics, stress management and sleep, register today! Snooze and you lose…

April Launch Pad: Kids, stress-management in focus

26-Apr-2022 By Danielle Masterson

This month's new offerings address a variety of needs specifically for kids, including a new hydration pouch, probiotics for dental health and protein for growing bodies. For the adults, April was all about stress management, with ingredients like...

Probiotic combination may ease acute stress in healthy people: RCT

20-Apr-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of three probiotic strains may help manage acutely stressful situations such as an arithmetic stress task, says a new study using a GSK product.

Nature Made launches Wellblends range for immunity, sleep & stress

14-Apr-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The new curated line of Wellblends products includes 13 scientifically developed blends of ingredients to support immune health, sleep, and stress management.

M.I.T., Stanford, Mount Sinai: More speakers announced for IPAWC + Probiota Americas

13-Apr-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The upcoming IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas will feature a Tech Showcase covering advances in data collection, microbiome analysis, and the application of machine learning to create novel probiotic formulations.

CV Sciences reports 18% revenue drop for ‘challenging’ 2021

04-Apr-2022 By Stephen Daniells

San Diego-based CV Sciences, one of the bell-weather companies in the hemp and CBD space, has reported a decline in revenues for the past financial year, but new initiatives have positioned the company for long-term growth, says its CEO.

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.

Mood support supplements sales surge with novel microbiome opportunities

17-Mar-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Sales of mood support supplements have grown by over 75% year-on-year, according to data provided by SPINS.

Measuring psychological stress in health research

17-Mar-2022 By Danielle Masterson

Between the pandemic, inflation rates, global issues and more, an increasing number of consumers are turning to supplements to support their mental health. According to SPINS, vitamins & supplements for stress relief and sleep support products saw...

Stress: What can you claim on a product label?

17-Mar-2022 By Danielle Masterson

According to the 2021 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, 16% of dietary supplement users said they turned to supplements for mental health support (e.g. anxiety, depression, stress management).

Rising research pace, secure supply broadens ashwagandha's playing field in stress management

17-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

Ashwagandha is cementing its place in the stress management sphere with booming sales and developing science, observers say. It’s one of a trio of adaptogenic herbs that have come to dominate the current marketplace, said an herbal expert.

Six key supplement trends from Expo West 2022

15-Mar-2022 By Stephen Daniells

We walked and we talked, and we took photos, and here’s our editor’s list of 6 key trends for supplements from Expo West 2022 in Anaheim.

Black cumin oil may boost sleep quality, help with stress: Human data

08-Feb-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with a standardized oil from black cumin (Nigella sativa) may significantly improve sleep quality in people with sleep problems, says a new study from India.

Immune support plus: Expect formulations to broaden their benefit profiles, says ADM

14-Jan-2022 By Stephen Daniells

The future of the immune support category will include other benefits like sleep, stress management, and metabolic health anchored to the core immunity ingredients, according to experts from ingredients giant ADM.

NIU’s predictions: The categories, ingredients, & industry issues to watch in 2022

05-Jan-2022 By By Stephen Daniells and Hank Schultz

The year is new, and a lot of people are getting out their crystal balls. NutraIngredients-USA is no exception, and here are our issues and topics to watch in the dietary supplements space in 2022.

Sustained release ashwagandha extract shows stress-reducing activity

20-Dec-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Ashwagandha root extract sustained-release capsules may boost memory and focus, while also improving sleep quality and lowering stress levels, says a new study.

Unigen debuts two new botanical ingredients at SupplySide West

11-Nov-2021 By Danielle Masterson

There are plenty of products out there that claim to boost your immune system, help you sleep better or be more focused. But those claims mean little if they have no scientific substantiation. Unigen is a company that says proven health benefits are what...

Second study bolsters relaxation benefits of AlphaWave brand of l-theanine, supplier says

19-Oct-2021 By Hank Schultz

Ingredient supplier Ethical Naturals said a second study on its AlphaWave shows the ingredient eased stress among participants who were completing a mental arithmetic test. Several measures, including a brain wave scan, supported the conclusion.

Dark chocolate may alter gut microbiome, improve mood: RCT

24-Sep-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming an 85% cocoa dark chocolate significantly altered the diversity of the gut microbiome and improved mood in a randomized controlled trial with healthy young adults.