Leo Cullen, VP of sales and marketing at Kyowa Hakko USA said the company was proud and honored to receive the award.
“Cognizin's unusual ability to cross the blood-brain barrier to enhance communication between brain neurons; extensive science conducted at research institutions including the Brain Institute at the University of Utah and McLean Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard University; and expansive co-branding programs make it an award-worthy ingredient," added Cullen.
The ingredient has been available for dietary supplements since 2003, and was the first branded ingredient to be launched by the company's US arm.
Six years, and multiple studies, later, and the company affirmed the generally-recognised as safe (GRAS) status of its ingredient for use in a range of food and beverage applications.
According to the company, its citicoline ingredient helps increase brain energy, provides structural components for synthesising cell membranes in the brain, and helps the formation of brain nutrients that regulate cognitive function.