Kirin Holdings’ Dr. Eri Nakazaki Receives 2022 JSBBA Award for Women Corporate Researchers

Award winners

Dr. Eri Nakazaki, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Chosen Studies

Research to develop applications of Citicoline as a functional food

Outline of Study

The Kirin Group is developing efficient production technologies for pharmaceutical raw materials and food ingredients that take advantage of microbial fermentation, as well as exploring and evaluating the health functions of these substances. In previous studies, the efficacy of Citicoline in healthy people was limited to attention, in this case meaning a function of "paying attention to something" among brain functions.

On the other hand, many elderly people suffer from memory problems, which is the function of remembering or recalling something among other brain functions, as a common problem associated with aging.

This study evaluated the effects of Citicoline on memory in healthy elderly men and women with Age Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI). As a result, it was confirmed that the overall memory of healthy elderly men and women with AAMI was improved by taking Citicoline for 12 weeks. Furthermore, it was found that among memory abilities, values related to episodic memory - which is said to be prone to decline in old age - were particularly improved. These results provide scientific evidence that Citicoline can be used as a functional health food ingredient to support memory.

The findings in this study add new options for the use of Citicoline and enable us to meet the various needs of our customers for improving brain function.

Comments by award winners

Dr. Eri Nakazaki, Ph.D.

Kirin Central Research Institute, R&D Headquarters
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

We have continuously developed our research on the health functionality of Citicoline and have expanded the possibilities of its utilization. A number of health food products containing Citicoline have already been developed, mainly in the United States. By accumulating research results, we hope that Citicoline will be widely used as a material for brain health for people around the world in a wide range of fields from food to medicine. We hope to contribute more to the health of people around the world through our research to uncover the health functions of food ingredients.

About the Japan Society for Bioscience, Bioscience, and Agrochemistry (JSBBA)

The Society was founded in 1924 to advance basic and applied research in the field of agricultural chemistry and thereby contribute to the development of science, technology, and culture, thereby improving the welfare of humankind. It became an incorporated association in 1957 with the approval of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and was converted to a public interest incorporated association as of March 1, 2012.

Comprised of researchers, engineers, students, and organizations in diverse fields centering on bioscience and biotechnology, the society promotes international activities, achieves active support for holding international scientific meetings, and widely introduces the importance of agricultural chemistry based on its practicality and applicability.

About the JSBBA Award for Women Corporate Researchers

The award is given by the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry (JSBBA) to female regular members who have made outstanding contributions to research or product development in the field of agricultural chemistry in their companies.