1.Trace Elements and Human Skin Health

Trace elements play a multifaceted and complex role in the human body, closely related to various physiological activities. They mainly affect physiological activities by participating in the synthesis of enzymes, regulating enzyme activity, and adjusting the speed of redox reactions.

Firstly, as co-factors or activators of enzymes, trace elements are crucial for the catalytic function of enzymes. Enzymes are proteins in living organisms that catalyze chemical reactions, and many enzymes require specific trace elements (such as metal ions) to combine with them to exert their catalytic action. These metal ions can stabilize the active center structure of the enzyme, enabling it to catalyze the substrate to be converted into products more efficiently. Nearly one-third of known enzymes indeed require the presence of metal ions to exert catalytic activity, which fully illustrates the importance of trace elements in enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

(Source: New Nutrition)

2.Rehmannia, Ophiopogon japonicus, Asparagus cochinchinensis, and Citrus grandis are approved as food and medicine sources, simplifying the process and may be a future trend

On August 26, 2024, the National Health Commission authoritatively announced that four more substances - Rehmannia, Ophiopogon japonicus, Asparagus cochinchinensis, and Citrus grandis - have been added to the list of food and medicine sources. With four approvals, a total of 106 substances have been included in the list. Rehmannia, Ophiopogon japonicus, Asparagus cochinchinensis, and Citrus grandis may be relatively unfamiliar to the public, but they hold an important position in traditional Chinese medicine. After entering the list of food and medicine sources, they can be more food-based through classic prescriptions, better promoting the concept of Chinese medicine health care. It is recommended to consume these substances as food and medicine materials in traditional ways and in appropriate amounts. Pregnant women, nursing women, and infants are not recommended to consume them. When these substances are used as health food raw materials, they should be managed according to the relevant regulations of health food; when used as Chinese medicinal materials, they should be managed according to the relevant regulations of Chinese medicine.

(Source: Plant Extraction Bridge)

3.The four major trends for the future development of food fermenting agents

1. Biological characterization of fermenting agent strains with excellent production and probiotic characteristics.
2. Functional analysis and molecular regulation of beneficial metabolic products of fermenting agent strains.
3. Analysis of the material basis for symbiosis and synergistic enhancement of compound fermenting agent strains.
4. Quality formation mechanism and directional regulation of specialty fermented foods.

(Source: Functional Food Circle)

4.The vitamin market continues to be hot

Last week, the vitamin market continued to be hot. BASF notified the vitamin distribution plan, with limited supply of VA and VE, factory price increases, and transaction increases; niacin and nicotinamide have a price reversal in domestic and foreign markets, with few market supplies and channels reluctant to sell; Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B1 factories have increased prices, and transactions have moved up.

(Source: Hangzhou Weigao)

5.Australia Post recruits 3,000 seasonal workers

Recently, to cope with the surge in demand during the holiday peak season, Australia Post is actively recruiting 3,000 seasonal temporary workers, covering key positions such as forklift operation, transportation driving, and package handling, across all states, with the most urgent needs in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Executive General Manager Sue Davies said that last year, thanks to the addition of seasonal workers, nearly 100 million parcels were successfully delivered before Christmas.

(Source: Waitu Consulting)

Citrus Oil

 

Vitamin B1 Cocarboxylase

Sodium Ascorbate