Weekly Roundup: Vitamin D consumption during pregnancy may lower infant’s risk of eczema, Gelita’s Verisol receives health claim in Japan

08 Jul 2022 --- This week in nutrition news, researchers from the University of Southampton found that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may lower the risk of babies developing atopic eczema. Gelita unveiled that its Verisol collagen peptides have received a Foods with Function Claim (FFC) for skin elasticity in Japan. Meanwhile, Muniq was rebranded as Supergut.

In brief: Business news
AkerBiomarine has contributed US$1 million to the Antarctica Wildlife Research Fund (AWR). The fund will support and encourage research on the ecosystem, thereby ensuring the resilience of Antarctica. The contribution has funded 20 research projects and 15 host institutions since its inception in 2015, including three projects in 2021. Aker BioMarine, the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition and WWF-Norway founded AWR in 2015.

Gut health brand Muniq was rebranded as Supergut. The brand will feature new packaging along with two new products. The products include shakes, bars and fiber mix. The shakes are a meal pack that contains 20 g of prebiotic fiber featuring resistant starch and 15 g of protein that may balance the gut and boost metabolism. Meanwhile, the bars include a scientifically-validated resistant starch blend that “reboots” the metabolism through the gut microbiome. Muniq’s fiber mix is an on-the-go flavorless powder that contains resistant starch and can be added to food and beverages.

Health and wellness manufacturer Ananta Medicare is expanding to North America. The company currently produces food supplements, herbal products and medicines in India..The company will enter the North American market with the aim to cater to US citizens who have health-related troubles and lifestyle constraints.

In brief: Launches and releases
Gelita’s Verisol collagen peptides received an FFC for skin elasticity in Japan.Greenfilled, a health and wellness brand, compiled a list of supplements based on phytoplankton that may improve memory, energy and performance. With its memory supplement, Greenfilled can assist in treating brain fog, a frequent ailment that many people – 600 million globally – experience regularly. According to Greenfilled, the memory supplement helps fill the brain’s nutritional deficiencies. The product contains B, Panax ginseng, ginkgo biloba, bacopa monnieri and TetraSOD – the brand’s active ingredient for brain support.

In brief: Announcements and certification
Manufacturer of gelatin and collagen peptides, Gelita unveiled its Verisol collagen peptides have received a Foods with Function Claim (FFC) for skin elasticity in Japan. F&B manufacturers using the bioactive collagen peptides can now claim on their packaging that the product contains Verisol. The Japanese health claim category “Foods with Function Claims” was introduced in April 2015 to improve the availability of products labeled with nutritional or health functions. Verisol is pegged as beneficial for skin health and can be incorporated into various liquid and solid functional food applications, as well as nutricosmetics.

Oleon continued its expansion in Malaysia with the land acquisition agreement with Central Spectrum. Through this acquisition, Oleon will increase its environmentally sustainable palm, promote Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil to clients who support sustainable palm and sponsor smallholder projects to aid suppliers in adopting environmentally friendly approaches and agricultural practices. International organizations, including EcoVadis, a market-leading sustainability rating platform that evaluates the sustainability performance of businesses, have acknowledged Oleon. Oleon is ranked among the top 1% of “the most ethical businesses” in the world by EcoVadis.

In brief: Research and studies
A US study unveiled that high iron intake may be one approach to eliminating prostate cancer cells in remission.Researchers from the University of Southampton found that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may lower the risk of babies developing atopic eczema. The study demonstrated a decreased risk of atopic eczema in children whose mothers took vitamin D supplements during pregnancy. In the survey, more than 700 pregnant women participated; 352 took the supplements from 14 weeks until delivery, whereas 351 received a placebo. The findings unveiled that supplementing with 1000 international units of vitamin D daily from 14 weeks of pregnancy until delivery decreased their newborns’ chance of atopic eczema in their first year. The impact was more noticeable in infants who later received more than a month’s worth of breast milk.

A US-based Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University study unveiled that high iron intake may be one approach to eliminating prostate cancer cells in remission. However, there is currently no known cure for prostate cancer. The US researchers are developing a plan to enable ferroptosis – a process that results in death by iron for prostate cancer resistant to treatment. Despite being necessary for cell activity, high quantities of iron also produce dangerous free radicals, or ROS, which can damage lipids, or fats, which are also essential for cell function.

According to a US consumer survey commissioned by Danone North America, many people are still unsure of the terms used to describe plant-based diets. The survey revealed that more than half of US citizens (54%) were not yet familiar with the word, even though 20% of US citizens identify as flexitarians or reducetarians – another similar movement that focuses on lowering rather than eliminating meat. While 84% of US citizens said they were familiar with veganism, only 1% of US citizens identify as vegan and only 3% of respondents stated they are vegetarian. Additionally, 19% of consumers in the poll were aware that a flexitarian diet allows some meat and only 12% are aware that dairy products are allowed.

By Nicole Kerr