Olivia Haslam

Threotech’s Magtein Brain Magnesium Research Program has won the NutraIngredients 2026 Nutrition Research Project Award for its translational neuroscience approach combining mechanistic neuroscience, human clinical trials, and magnesium L-threonate research to investigate how oral magnesium may support brain magnesium biology, cognition, and sleep. The long-term programme, spanning 45+ peer-reviewed publications and multiple clinical trials, highlights the importance of magnesium form and blood–brain barrier transport in cognitive nutrition and healthy brain aging.

New randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial from Roquette Life Sciences suggests that baseline dietary fiber intake may influence the gut microbiome response to prebiotic supplementation with resistant dextrin (Nutriose). The study found that supplementation increased beneficial bacteria such as Parabacteroides (including P. distasonis) and enhanced microbial function, with stronger effects observed in participants consuming a higher-fiber diet.

Scottish biotech company Oceanium has won the NutraIngredients Editors’ Award for Sustainability Initiative of the Year for its circular, low-waste seaweed innovation and regenerative biorefinery platform. The Oban-based firm develops seaweed-derived prebiotic ingredients like Ocean Actives H+ that support gut health while advancing ocean restoration, biodiversity, and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

NutraIngredients Awards 2026 submissions highlight major shifts in nutrition science, including rapid expansion of microbiome research, rising interest in polyphenols, and strong momentum in longevity-focused innovation. Women’s health and multifunctional health solutions also emerged as key growth areas, reflecting a broader move away from single-ingredient claims toward system-wide health approaches.

Epax’s cetoleic acid (CA) omega-9/omega-11 supplement derived from herring oil (CECO) shows cardiovascular health promise by reducing LDL cholesterol by 7% after eight weeks in overweight and obese adults in a University of Bergen randomized clinical trial published in The British Journal of Nutrition. Researchers suggest this fish-oil–associated fatty acid may improve lipid metabolism, reduce hepatic cholesterol synthesis, and potentially lower coronary heart disease risk by ~15% compared with control supplementation.

Experts at Vitafoods Barcelona call for a shift in sleep supplements and cognitive health research, moving beyond simplistic sleep tracking toward an integrated, systems-based model linking sleep, stress, mood, and cognitive performance. The panel highlights bidirectional sleep–stress–cortisol dynamics, limitations of wearable metrics, and the need for validated multi-ingredient nutraceuticals targeting sleep onset, maintenance, and cognitive resilience in real-world conditions.

Monacolin K from red yeast rice, chemically identical to the statin drug lovastatin, created a global regulatory conflict over whether a naturally fermented food-derived compound should be classified as a food, supplement or prescription medicine, leading to fragmented policies across jurisdictions including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, and the EU.

Holland & Barrett research highlights widespread brain health nutrient gaps across life stages, including low intake of omega-3 fatty acids, choline, iron and iodine, which may impact cognitive development and function from early life through older age. Dr Sophie Putnam, head of science at Holland & Barrett at the Vitafoods event in Barcelona explored emerging cognitive-support ingredients such as blueberry extract and grape extract, which show potential benefits for memory, attention and executive function alongside established nutritional needs.

Short-term supplementation with HTBA’s vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin, MecobalActive) was associated with improved anaerobic cycling performance in amateur cyclists, including higher peak power, reduced fatigue during repeated Wingate sprints, and increased serum B12 levels. It also enhanced cognitive performance, showing faster reaction times and improved mental agility under high-intensity exercise, potentially via neuromuscular and central nervous system effects.

New mouse study suggests pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and its derivative imidazopyrroloquinoline (IPQ) may support anti-aging benefits, improve healthspan, and reduce midlife mortality risk by enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress, and suppressing inflammatory signaling (NF-κB). In SAMP8 mouse models, both lifelong and midlife supplementation preserved muscle function, delayed sarcopenia, improved fat metabolism, and slowed visible aging, indicating potential to promote healthier aging and extended lifespan.