Enzymotec gains novel foods approval for brain health ingredient

The European Commission has granted novel food status to Israel’s Enzymotec for its soy-phosphatidylserine (PS) ingredient, which opens up the use of the ingredient in foods and beverages.

According to the company, the approval allows it to continue its plans for new products launches in the European market, including the functional foods market.

Nobody was available from Enzymotec prior to publication to elaborate on the types of food products in the planning.

The announcement makes Enzymotec the only manufacturer of PS to receive a novel food approval.

PS (phosphatidylserine) is a phospholipid that occurs naturally in organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys. It plays an important role in regulating the functionality of key proteins in cell membranes, and has been reported to have a role in slowing some forms of age-related cognitive deteriorations, such as short term memory and the capacity to learn new tasks.

According to some sources, there are fears that the modern diet, in particular low-fat and vegetarian choices, lead to low PS consumption and may lead to worse-than-normal brain function in old age.

PS has been used as a supplement for over 20 years. Initially it was sourced from bovine brains, but fears over ‘mad cow disease’ led the industry to prefer soy lecithin-derived PS. Although it has a different fatty acid composition, the effects on cognition are reportedly similar.

The Israeli-biotech company offers the ingredient as SharpPS, and its second generation products Sharp PS Gold and Sharp PS Green.