Vitamins, Diet and Sports Nutrition

VICTORIA, Australia — Sales of Swisse Ultivite multivitamins in the Australian and Asian markets have been a big driver behind overall sales, according to a Nielsen report cited by the company. 

Across both Australia and Asia, VMS sales were up 16% to $197 million for the year ended June 2012. Leading the charge was Suisse Ultivite, which grew by more than 40% "thanks to a high ad spend and launches that boost the profile of the whole range,” Nielsen said. 

LONDON — Vitamin D supplementation could be considered an immunomodulatory agent for systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease characterized not only by skin, joint, neurological and renal symptoms, but also by inflammation of tissue linings in the body, according to a new clinical study published Tuesday in BioMedCentral's open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy. 

An immunomodulatory agent has an effect on the immune system. 

 SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — According to Nielsen analyses issued Thursday, higher consumer confidence levels, increased impulse buying and consumer intent to spend more could all lead to an upside surprise in 2012 holiday spending. 

For sales in 89 categories across five key departments (food, beverages, alcohol, health/beauty and homecare), Nielsen is forecasting spending for November and December 2012 to reach $98.3 billion. Nielsen expects dollar sales to increase 2.3% and unit sales to remain generally flat (0.1%). 

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle on Thursday announced it will help families better manage their grocery budgets by locking low prices through the holidays on hundreds of the items customers purchase most. 

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Wednesday announced the addition of six new members: Chr. Hansen, Cyvex Nutrition, Dicentra, InterHealth Nutraceuticals, Nature’s Gifts, and Neptune Technologies and Bioressources.

Chr. Hansen is a developer of natural ingredient solutions for the food, pharmaceutical, nutritional and agricultural industries. With U.S. offices in Milwaukee, Wis., the company is best known for its probiotics, dairy enzymes and natural colors.