Trends & Business

Women’s health is undergoing a renaissance. Scientists and manufacturers are finally recognizing the critical need for research and product innovations that truly represent women and their actual needs. In honor of Women’s Health Month, Nutritional Outlook is spotlighting the science, innovations, and leaders driving progress in the women's health category.

Trisha Sugarek MacDonald, market development manager for Akay Bioactives discusses the importance of addressing menopause in stages (pre-, peri-, and post-menopause) and understanding the impact of hormones on women's overall health, not just fertility, monthly cycles and menopause.

A NOW study of 28 lavender oils found 89% failed authenticity tests due to dilution, synthetic additives, and species substitution, linking low cost to poor quality.

The Dietary Supplements Access Act proposes expanding tax-advantaged healthcare accounts to include eligible supplements, reflecting growing attention on preventive wellness and consumer-directed health spending.

Auke Zeilstra, Regional Sales Director for FrieslandCampina Ingredients, shares insights into the capabilities of the new applications lab.

Multi-benefit supplements are the wave of the future, but successfully concepting, developing and marketing them is a present-day work in progress.

Participant selection can be an important part of achieving consistent outcomes across study population. Phenotype-based recruitment, for example, is one strategy that can help achieve clearer results compared to more heterogeneous populations.

Perimenopause blindsides even clinicians. Amanda Frick, ND, senior vice president of Medical, Clinical, & Scientific Affairs at Thorne shares her personal experience going through perimenopause and emphasizes the importance of proactive, woman-led research for transforming the way women's health solutions are developed.

Nutritional Outlook interviews Idil Kavakli, managing director of FrieslandCampina Ingredients about the company's new North American applications lab.

Ministry of Ayush restricts the use of ashwagandha leaves in extracts citing potential injury. While these restrictions were put into place in India where many ashwagandha products are produced, it's unclear what the impact will be on US ashwagandha inventory. Additionally, brands that use ashwagandha leaves in extracts defend the effectiveness and safety of their products.

Perimenopause spotlights a bigger gap: trials ignore life-stage biology. Learn why evidence must match real women, new moms, and aging men.

Pharmactive announces launch of Kyoh, a hair health supplement that is an extract of Eruca sativa leaf (rocket leaves).

Jennifer Chase, director of business development for Saanroo, sat down with Nutritional Outlook at SupplySide Connect NJ to highlight the findings of recently published research demonstrating the metabolic health benefits of its Trpti OEA.

Choosing design over proximity in clinical research. Why robust design, objective endpoints and clear biology outweigh geography in FDA and EMA reviews.

At a SupplySide Connect New Jersey session, industry experts unpack the trends reshaping product development, from protein dominance and fiber innovation, to sustainability, certifications, and shifting consumer trust.

A court recently granted the restraining order, while industry groups challenge multiple hemp regulations imposed by the state DSHS and HHSC last month.

At this SupplySide Connect presentation, panelists discussed how lasting supplement trends are being shaped at the intersection of consumer demand for performance and longevity, the convergence of food and supplements, and the need to balance innovation with disciplined legal and regulatory compliance.

Unilever’s acquisition of Grüns is anticipated to increase its growth in the beauty and wellbeing space, reflecting the interest in greens nutrition and convenient supplement formats.

In a recent public meeting hosted by FDA called "Exploring the Scope of Dietary Supplement Ingredients," stakeholders met to unpack the current language behind dietary supplement regulation and how modern products fit into the language of the statute.

The leadership transition highlights the company’s intent to scale its operations while maintaining a commitment to customers and innovation.

Out of 35 oregano oil supplements on Amazon, NOW testing finds nearly two-thirds fail carvacrol potency claims, highlighting ongoing quality and testing challenges in the nutraceutical industry.

Nutritional Outlook spoke to Kristin Dalton, associate director, product management, specialty polymers for Lonza CHI about organic capsule and supplement formulation, as well as the opportunity organic certified supplements presents for manufacturers.

Competent and Reliable Scientific Evidence (CARSE) is a requirement set by the Federal Trade Commission, but how the agency defined "competent" is unclear. Let's unpack what makes a research team competent.

Snacks can address consumers' various needs, but to compete in this saturated space, manufacturers should identify who they want to formulate for.

Algae-based ingredients are moving into mainstream acceptance, driven by advances in cultivation, clinical research, formulation science, and sustainability-focused supply chains.

Live from Natural Products Expo West, Shannon Coco, Senior Sales and Marketing Director with Kerry, details how current trends are translated into flavor and product innovation.

Nutritional Outlook invites you to attend its upcoming one-day conference, The Outlook on Women's Wellness, taking place June 4, 2026, at The National Conference Center, 399 Monmouth Street, East Windsor, New Jersey. The event will bring together leading nutraceutical scientists, formulators, brand strategists, and market experts for a full day of education examining the most in-demand benefits and ingredients in women's health.

In this interview, Dana Osborn, Marketing Manager at California Natural Color discusses overcoming technical challenges resulting from the industry-wide shift toward natural colorants, following recent FDA regulatory updates.