Health Food Ingredients

Under the motto "Food and Health," Kikkoman is focusing on the health food business in order to respond to the needs of Japan's growing elderly population. Based on its experience in the development of pharmaceutical products, Kikkoman develops original, scientifically tested health food ingredients. Scientific findings-related to product safety and effectiveness have been presented at academic conferences, where they received broad recognition. In addition to being supplied to the health food industry and general food industries in Japan and overseas, these ingredients are also used in Kikkoman's original health food products.

Gravinol

(Winner of the 1999 Japan Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry Society Award for Achievement in Technological Research)
Gravinol is an antioxidant that contains grape seed polyphenol (the primary component of which is Proanthocyanidin) as an active ingredient. (Gravinol is included on lists of food additives as a grape seed extract.) Data has been published on its various physiological functions, such as its ability to suppress arteriosclerosis, to suppress the development process of colon cancer, to prevent diabetes and its complications, to prevent oxidative stress, and to control loss of muscle strength during exercise.