Degussa introduces new PS forms for foods

The ingredient has previously only been used in memory-enhancing chocolate bars but the German firm believes that PS also has potential in foods targeted at young people for stress control and improved concentration.

The company said today it can offer non-GMO versions of the brain health supplement in concentrations up to 90 per cent. It has also developed new prototypes such as a chocolate bar and oat-based pellets to demonstrate how the stability issue associated with the ingredient can be overcome.

It can also produce a water dispersible powder suitable for instant drinks or dairy products fortified with PS on request.

"We have been interested in food applications for years. Our strength is as a food ingredient company but very little PS is currently being used in foods,"​ said Dr Karl-Heinz Zirzow, marketing director of health & nutrition at Degussa Food Ingredients​.

Phosphatidylserine is present in all biological membranes and particularly concentrated in the brain. It regulates many metabolic processes including neuronal signalling. However it cannot be synthesized by the body and changes in the western diet over recent years have led to a decline in dietary uptake of the nutrient.

In supplements, PS has been shown to enhance memory and cognitive performance, and they are mainly targeted at the elderly.

However German nutritional products firm Giventis is currently marketing a coffee-flavoured chocolate bar with 200 mg of Degussa PS under the name IQ PLUS.

The 'brain bar' is said to help the brain manage information overload more efficiently and reduce stress.

Degussa already offers its Leci brand PS in powder form and in a semi-solid form offering good stability for use in capsules. The non-GMO versions of the range are between 10-20 per cent more expensive, owing to increased documentation costs.

The ingredient is also available as effervescent and chewable tablets in various flavours providing 100 mg PS.