02/06/09 Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., the wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd., has announced it has completed GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) self-affirmation for the novel brain health ingredient Cognizin Citicoline.

Cognizin is a branded form of Citicoline, a natural nutrient found in every cell of the body. Citicoline provides an essential nutrient for cells — particularly brain cells. Cognizin supports brain health in several ways.
           
First, brain imaging technology has shown that Cognizin helps increase brain energy.* Second, Cognizin provides essential structural components for synthesizing brain cell membranes, which may help facilitate brain cell communication. Lastly, Cognizin helps support the formation of several brain nutrients that regulate cognitive function. Cognizin has been the subject of several human clinical trials.
           
The most recent trial studied the effect of Cognizin on healthy middle-aged adults. Using the latest brain scanning technology, researchers at the Harvard-associated Brain Imaging Center at McLean Hospital in Boston, observed increases in brain activity among people who had taken Cognizin for six weeks, particularly when individuals performed tasks that required sustained attention or memory.
           
Because Cognizin helps make more energy available to brain cells, they are better able to perform their daily tasks. Cell membranes are synthesized and maintained. Vital brain nutrients are produced and electrical impulses are generated.

These activities may help improve the overall functioning of the brain, which is why Cognizin may significantly increase the ability to focus, concentrate, and make decisions.*
           
Cognizin Citicoline or CDP-choline will be marketed by Kyowa Hakko USA as a food ingredient in the United States for use at levels of 250 mg/serving in various food products, beverages and beverage bases, breakfast cereals, chewing gum, dairy product analogs, frozen dairy desserts, grain products and pastas, hard candies, milk and milk products, processed fruits and fruit juices, and soft candy.

In addition to Cognizin brand Citicoline, Kyowa is the maker of other leading branded ingredients including Hydrafend Hyaluronic Acid, Lumistor L-Hydroxyproline, Kyowa CoQ10, Setria Glutathione and Sustamine Alanyl Glutamine. Kyowa offers manufacturers and formulators one of the industry’s most extensive lines of over 50 amino acids and related compounds, including D-Amino acids and branch-chain amino acids, as well as nucleic acids, bio-products and fine chemicals.