Nutrasource Blog

Medical Foods is a unique regulatory category wedged between supplements and drugs, a category where nutrients can be marketed with a claim for the management of a disease. A claim that has led some to call this category “supplements on steroids”.

Whether you are launching a new product or looking to substantiate a novel claim, strong science is crucial to the success of your health product. In Canada, many ingredients have been “pre-cleared” for specific claims at particular doses. Monographs give guidance and provide substantiation for these ingredients, so you don’t have to.

The global health product industry is constantly innovating—leveraging current science and consumer trends to launch products that pique the interest of health-conscious consumers. Probiotics are among the most popular health supplements worldwide, with global sales surpassing $44 billion USD in 2019 (Euromonitor, 2019).

As a contract research organization (CRO), we field many inquiries about stability storage testing here at SGS Nutrasource. Despite being extremely important, analytical product testing for stability and shelf-life is often overlooked. Keep reading to find our analytical team’s answers to the most commonly asked questions about stability storage testing for different dosage forms.

In this special series, we highlight a member of the Nutrasource team so you can get better acquainted with the experts behind your project.

Cannabis has taken Canada by storm since legalizing recreational use in October 2018, and the highly anticipated second wave of regulations has finally arrived. Cannabis edibles, extracts, and topical products will hit the shelves mid-December 2019, and consumers and companies alike are buzzing with anticipation.

How has the probiotics market evolved over the last 12 months?

We have seen some interesting market shifts over the past 12 months. A small pull back on market growth in the US, probably fueled by a combination of education gaps at the HCP and consumer level and too many copycat products in the market. Then in APAC, that market is starting to experience exponential growth. Where in Europe we are starting to see a small comeback in the supplement market. So varying situations which are region specific, just like the regulatory environments around the globe.

In this special series, we highlight a member of the Nutrasource team so you can get better acquainted with the experts behind your project.

Clinical research is an important investment for the entire supply chain, from ingredient companies to brands selling finished health products. Primary research serves many purposes, and is most commonly used to validate efficacy, safety, and substantiate claims that increase the impact of a company’s marketing messages.

The Western world is hungry for health products, and industry is meeting that demand with increased product innovation and global expansion like never before. In Canada, consumer health products are categorized as foods, drugs, cosmetics, and natural health products (NHPs). NHPs (referred to as dietary supplements in the U.S.) are health products sold in traditional medicinal formats. Vitamins and minerals, protein powders, herbal medicines, probiotics, and many others, are all examples of products that are sold as NHPs. A 2010 survey showed that 73% of Canadians consume NHPs regularly, proving Canadian consumers are more interested in alternative health products than ever before.