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An ancient flower blossoms into a valued ingredient.

Ingredient Spotlight: Hibiscus

 and reminds us to soak in all the amazing achievements women have made to the nutraceutical space.

 is putting the spotlight on women by compiling women-related content, new and old. From research to health and wellness, women are such an important part of the nutraceutical space that 

is dedicated to covering closely. Enjoy International Women’s Day 2025!

Read more on women-led omega-3 research advances wellness for all women’s life stages.

Highlighting research on women's health and wellness, part I

In this compilation, we present recent research on menstruation and skin health. Check out studies on pain management, natural supplements for skin appearance, and even stress and sleep support.

Celebrating International Women's Day: Highlighting research on women's health and wellness, Part II

In the second part of our research spotlight, we present recent research on pregnancy and menopause.

To celebrate International Women's Day (March 8) we are highlighting articles and roundtables, produced in partnership with Women in Nutraceuticals, on women’s health research and the role of women leaders driving innovation and equity in the industry.

Stay tuned for more International Women's Day-themed content! We will be updating this landing page throughout this week.

International Women’s Day. International Women’s day 2025 campaign theme: Accelerate action 

Check out our exciting 2025 International Women's Day coverage!

Women In Nutraceuticals

Topic

Nutritional Outlook celebrates International Women's Day 2025

OmniActive Health Technologies (Bridgewater, NJ and Mumbai, India) has announced a partnership with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, D.C.) to educate and raise awareness about the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in supporting maternal and fetal health during pregnancy among obstetricians, gynecologists, and other maternal healthcare practitioners. This knowledge will be shared at The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (ACOG) Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting. OmniActive is 

one of six companies CRN has partnered with

 to showcase the latest research and developments in prenatal nutrition through a specially designed “Prenatal Nutrition Center” at the conference. 

“It’s wonderful to have OmniActive as one of our featured partners during the ACOG annual event to help spread the word on the importance of prenatal nutrition,” said Andrea Wong, PhD, senior vice president, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs for CRN, in a press release. “CRN continues our efforts in supporting supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers in bringing clinically studied products to consumers to help meet their nutritional needs. Advancing awareness at the physician’s level is a huge part of this equation and this meeting is an effective way of reaching them.”

Citing market research from SkyQuest Technology, OmniActive explains in its press release that prenatal supplement sales were estimated to be at $740 million in 2023 and projected to rise to $1.4 billion by 2031. Similarly, a recent 

 found that about 60% of gynecologists think that 80-100% of their pregnant patients take dietary supplements. There is therefore a great deal of opportunity to grow and advance this category. Lutein and zeaxanthin are known for their support of eye health, but these benefits are relevant during pregnancy as well, says Deshanie Rai, PhD, FACN, vice president of Global Science, Regulatory and Advocacy at OmniActive Health Technologies.

“Current evidence supports the preferential accumulation of lutein and zeaxanthin in the human eye and neural tissues during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. This suggests that lutein may play a functional and protective role in infant visual and cognitive development. As part of our Lutein for Every Age campaign, our goal is to help educate healthcare practitioners on this latest nutritional science research and the benefits of achieving adequate dietary lutein during pregnancy,” said Rai, in a press release. “OmniActive is proud to partner with the CRN Foundation’s Prenatal Nutrition Centre to promote awareness among healthcare practitioners on the nutritional relevance of lutein for both mom and baby.”

The educational initiative, “Lutein for Every Age,” focuses on raising awareness of early and consistent lutein and zeaxanthin intake to help support eye, cognitive, and general health throughout life, explains OmniActive. The AOCG meeting is taking place from May 17-19, 2024 in San Francisco, CA.

OmniActive Health Technologies has announced a partnership with the Council for Responsible Nutrition to educate and raise awareness about the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in supporting maternal and fetal health during pregnancy among obstetricians, gynecologists, and other maternal healthcare practitioners. 

OmniActive partners with CRN to raise awareness about macular carotenoids for prenatal health

Helaina announced in a recent press release that the biotechnology company will be at Natural Products Expo West 2025 taking place March 4-7 in Anaheim, CA. The company will be exhibiting for the first time and will showcase their clinically studied human lactoferrin ingredient called 

According to the company, the ingredient is the first clinically studied lactoferrin supplement that is able to be 

. In the press release, Helaina mentions an ongoing 

 study that is looking into the potential immunomodulatory property effera may have. The study is investigating cytokine production of primary puerperal blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in healthy adults. Effera is being compared to native human lactoferrin to figure out how the two ingredients compare to one another in functionality, anti-inflammatory properties, as well as which of the two may be superior to the other.

 last year which found that effera may be a better option than bovine lactoferrin. This was due to effera’s ability to survive the digestive process. The ingredient was able to keep its structural integrity and additionally releases peptides that are similar to the peptides found in native human milk. When compared to bovine lactoferrin, the animal lactoferrin isn’t as integral because it appears to break down at a faster rate.

, highlighted that participants who took bovine lactoferrin, created antibodies against a protein which showed an immunogenic response. Participants who took effera did not create antibodies which suggests that it may be tolerated better.

Additionally, the press release mentioned Eurofins results that showcased how effera “enables products to have 15X more lactoferrin, the key bioactive in colostrum, per dose than leading colostrum brands.” The lactoferrin ingredient also possibly allows products to have 7X more lactoferrin as a percentage of total protein consumption than other colostrum brand products.

Kim, B.J.; Kuhfeld, R.F.; Haas, J.L.; Anaya, Y.M.; Martinez, R.R.; Sah, B.N.P.; Breen, B.; Newsham, K.; Malinczak, C.-A.; Dallas, D.C. Digestive Profiles of Human Milk, Recombinant Human and Bovine Lactoferrin: Comparing the Retained Intact Protein and Peptide Release. 

Peterson RD, Guarneiri LL, Adams CG, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial to Assess the Effects of Lactoferrin at Two Doses vs. Active Control on Immunological and Safety Parameters in Healthy Adults. 

Helaina announced that they will exhibit and showcase their effera lactoferrin ingredient at Natural Products Expo West 2025.

Helaina to showcase effera lactoferrin ingredient at Natural Products Expo West 2025

A recently published pilot study performed by Fred Pescatore, MD, MPH, a Daiwa Health Development advisory board member, investigated the efficacy of Daiwa Brain Health. The study published in 

, utilized 30 subjects that were split into two groups, each containing 15 participants. One group received Daiwa Brain Health with 0.5 mg plasmalogen per capsule and the other group received 10 mg apoaequorin and 50 μg vitamin D and D3 (cholecalciferol) per capsule. Additionally, the press release mentioned that participants took the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) and Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) so that a baseline could be formed on cognitive function before the study began and when it concluded.

Pescatore witnessed impressive results. The group of participants that received Daiwa Brain Health were shown to have an improvement in both the AMTS and SMMSE. In comparison to the blended-supplement group, the group not receiving Daiwa Brain Health did not reveal much improvement.

Daiwa Brain Health is a cognitive nutritional supplement which contains Hokkaido Scallop Oil Plasmalogen (HSOP) as the main ingredient. According to the press release, HSOP contains strong antioxidant properties which helps make it a prime component of cell membranes. As we age, HSOP levels decline. The press release reports that, “Blood plasmalogen levels in older individuals (average age, 65.5 years) are reported to be approximately 40% lower compared with the levels in younger people (average age, 23.5 years).”

 have discussed results where participants were taking 0.5 mg or 1 mg of scallop-derived plasmalogens each day saw a rise in blood plasmalogen levels. Studies that were conducted on animals

 also showed that brain inflammation andameliorates memory impairment were obtained through oral administration of plasmalogen.

“I don't think there's any person in that age category that doesn't say that they could use some help with their brain or memory,” Pescatore commented in the press release. “And now, especially people in their 40s and 50s are asking for a supplement that protects and promotes healthy brain function. I think people want to keep their brain functioning as well as they can and for as long as they can.”

Pescatore, F., Comparison of Daiwa Brain Health (Hokkaido Scallop Oil Plasmalogen) and Prevagen (Apoaequorin) on Cognitive Function: An In-Office Pilot Study, 

Fujino, T.; Yamada, T.; Asada, T; et al. Efficacy and blood plasmalogen changes by oral administration of plasmalogen in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 

. 2017;17:199 205. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.02.012 23.

Fujino, T.; Yamada, T; Mawatari, S.; et al. Effects of plasmalogen on patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease and blood plasmalogen changes: a multi-center, open-label study. 

Hossain, M.S.; Tajima, A.; Kotoura, S.; and Katafuchi, T., Oral ingestion of plasmalogens can attenuate the LPS-induced memory loss and microglial activation. 

(4):1033-1039. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.01.078

A recently published study delved into the potential cognitive health benefits taking the Daiwa Brain Health supplement may be able to provide.

New study highlights potential Daiwa Brain Health benefits

 interviews Scott Dicker, market insights director from market researcher SPINS, about ingredients and product categories nutraceutical and nutrition product manufacturers should watch in 2025. This interview complements our 2025 Ingredient to Watch coverage which can be read in our January/February issue. SPINS provided sales data that informed our Ingredients to Watch coverage.

In this episode, Nutritional Outlook interviews Scott Dicker, market insights director from market researcher SPINS, about ingredients and product categories nutraceutical and nutrition product manufacturers should watch in 2025. 

Terry R. Lack

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