Chemi intros new concentration of cognitive ingredient

Chemi Nutra president Scott Hagerman told NutraIngredients-USA.com that the company already offers SerinAid in 20, 30, 50 and 80 PS percentages. Although it claims it already has the widest PS offering on the market, it developed the 70 percent version because it felt there was a need for another product at the higher end of the scale.

Hagerman said that clients are often working with complex formulations. It benefits them to use the highest concentration possible since this means they can use smaller quantities.

The free-flowing powder is derived from soy. Since it has GRAS status, it is suitable for use in functional food products as well as dietary supplements.

Two qualified health claims linking PS to dementia and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly have been approved, and it has also been studied in connection with children's learning ability, stress management, mood and, most recently, exercise performance.

The first study on its effect on exercise capacity is published in the current issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise​ (38(1):64-71, January 2006) and concluded that it "might possess potential ergogenic properties".​

Hagerman said that Chemi Nutra has seen growth in PS every year, since it entered the US market five years ago.

"The health claims helped propel it a little bit,"​ he said.

But industry insiders have identified cognitive function as one of the hot trends to watch in the supplements market in 2006.

Hagerman said that there is a recognized need for PS as it is one of only a small handful of nutrients that are firmly linked with cognitive function, and it occurs in food in only very small quantities.

"Everyone is concerned about having their most important faculty in old age - memory."​ Fear of losing one's memory in old age kicks in during our 40s, he said.

"Also, we live in an information-jammed society. We want to think we can recall things, be sharp and reason as that is a measure of intellect."​