Chicken extract builds brain health links

16-Jun-2010 - Last updated on 17-Jun-2010 at 11:40 GMT

The maker of a 175-year-old chicken extract that peer-reviewed research demonstrates can benefit mental function has established a brain health research centre – with a focus on anti-aging in the brain.

Dr Keiichi Abe, vice president of research and development at Singapore-based Cerebos Pacific Limited, said the centre would aim to build on links between chicken extracts containing anserine, carnosine, and other peptides, proteins and amino acids and mental function.

Cerebos manufactures a chicken extract, liquid supplement called BRAND'S Essence of Chicken that have been the subject of 27 published studies in the past 20 years. Other studies published in journals such as the Journal of Food Science and Nutrition which is published by the the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition and the British Journal of Nutrition focused showed immunity, metabolism and immunity benefits.

The BRAND'S Brain Research Centre will further explore these associations from Cerebos’s Singapore headquarters. In addition to exploring the anti-aging effects of the extract in the brain, preliminary research that indicates the extract can aid recovery after surgery or childbirth, and improve lactation quality will be furthered.

“BRAND'S has steadfastly committed to research that establishes the evidence-based efficacies for all our products,” Dr Abe said. “Establishing a dedicated facility for this research, the BRAND's Brain Research Centre, reflects BRAND'S commitment to the ethos of evidence-based, high-efficacy and quality health products.”

In 2006, BRAND’S Essence of Chicken became the first functional food to win the Grand Prize from the International Association of Physiological Anthropology.

The brand is sold predominantly in Asian markets such China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

In one study published in the Malaysian Journal of Medical and Health Sciences (Mal. J. Med. Health Sci. 2008;4:57-68.), volunteers in a control given Brand’s Essence of Chicken were found to be less susceptible to irritation and performed better in focus and concentration exercises.

But the claims being made for the products do not specifically refer to these benefits. One such claim on the Brand’s Singapore website states only:

“You can enjoy the goodness of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken anytime anywhere you like, as part of your balanced diet. You can do so just before exams, meetings or sports. Take BRAND'S Essence of Chicken daily to help you be at your best to face the daily demands of life, and to live life to the fullest.”