Super chicken soup for everyone

Ella Tan
On November 20, 2015
http://www.medhatter.sg

There is no need to introduce BRAND’S, the ubiquitous essence of chicken we are all given at exam time and when we are recuperating. Generally regarded as a health food (long before the term was coined), BRAND’S has never gone out of fashion.

Top image: http://livehealthyosu.com/2013/07/04/family-reunions/

If anything, the almost two-century old chicken tonic has been rejuvenated with continuing R&D and with science to back grandma’s belief that it does us good. To keep up with the BRAND’S journey, we hear from Dr Philip Tsang Fai of Cerebos Pacific Ltd.

Dr Tsang says, “As a Senior Principal Scientist, I am one of many scientists that our company employs in various areas of the business. One of the key areas that I am involved in is the research of BRAND’S Essence of chicken on body functions, where I am part of a dedicated Research & Development team.

“This team consists of scientists as well as product & ingredient specialists, production experts, quality specialists, food scientists as well as other R&D personnel, who work together to bring a new product to life. We also have a dedicated Quality Assurance Department whose role is to enforce consistent quality management systems and regulatory compliance thereby ensuring that our products conform to internationally recognized quality standards.”

What is the science behind BRAND’S^® flagship product?

BRAND’S^® has invested a lot in research and technology. In fact, we were among the first food product companies (and probably the only one) back in the late 1980’s that invested heavily in scientific research for a food product, to the standards of product scrutiny normally carried out only by pharmaceutical companies for drugs. As a food product, there isn’t a regulatory need for it to undergo such scrutiny, but we wanted to understand the science behind the product and establish its efficacy.

The initial part of our scientific research focused on proving its efficacy. We collaborated with renowned universities to prove its efficacy and publish the evidence that scientifically supports what was traditionally believed.

Today, BRAND’S^® Essence of Chicken remains the first and only essence of chicken that is clinically proven. There are 40 scientific papers on its efficacies published by leading universities in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and China. These studies have identified a number of health aspects including: reduces tiredness and improves concentration.

Has the formulation been tweaked over the years?

The formula is largely the same, but over the years with technological advancement we are able to improve on the extraction process and deliver consistency in quality and efficacy.

Building on the foundation of BRAND’S^® Essence of Chicken, we have over the years developed more than 60 products to meet specific consumer health. These include a range of BRAND’S^® Essence of Chicken variants with traditional Chinese medicine (ginseng, cordyceps, tangkwei), and non-chicken essence related products such as MycoProtec Essence of Mushroom to protect and enhance the immune system, Gen U Ginseng Nutritive Drink to support cognitive performance and clear thinking, and health supplements like ActivMove which helps in promoting joint comfort and mobility.

How does it help to reduce tiredness and improve concentration?

Based on the various studies, essence of chicken has been proven to:

Facilitate the recovery from physical fatigue and reduction of tiredness, which could be contributed by its effect on the improvement of metabolism[1], and this improvement of metabolism could be achieved through its effect in enhancing insulin function[2].
Enhance attention or mental concentration as well as alleviating mental fatigue which are related to its facilitation of cardiovascular support to cognitive function.

[1] (Geissler et al, 1989; Ikeda et al, 2004; Lo et al, 2005)

[2] (Sim et al, 2009)