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Blue California completes groundbreaking human clinical trial on ErgoActive® ergothioneine intervention for cognitive function, memory, and sleep

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue California, an industry leader in science–driven ingredient development, announced the successful completion of a groundbreaking human clinical trial of ergothioneine. A double–blinded placebo–controlled clinical trial sponsored by Blue California has shown that ErgoActive® ergothioneine supports aspects of cognitive function, memory, and sleep in healthy elderly subjects with subjective memory complaints.

“Blue California is proud to have sponsored such an important human study,” said Linda May–Zhang, Ph.D., VP of Science and Innovation at Blue California. “We are pleased by the results showing improvements of cognitive function and ability to get to sleep in subjects consuming ErgoActive for four months.”

Research has suggested that inadequate levels of ergothioneine are associated with a range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, frailty, age–related cognitive decline, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, and dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease. Mushroom consumption and estimated dietary ergothioneine intake have previously been associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and potentially longer lifespan.

Despite decades of preclinical research, association studies, and clinical studies conducted with mushrooms, it remained untested whether supplementation with pure ergothioneine can improve cognitive outcomes. Rigorous clinical studies were lacking. Today, Blue California has made a substantial advancement by sponsoring a double–blinded, placebo–controlled clinical study conducted at a national research institution.

Sharing his insights, Robert B. Beelman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Food Science and Director of the Center for Plant and Mushroom Foods for Health at Pennsylvania State University, stated, “The results of this study provide important clinical evidence supporting the idea that ergothioneine is a ‘longevity vitamin’ that can help mitigate cognitive decline and sleep issues commonly associated with aging.”

Blue California is a proud gold sponsor for the National University of Singapore’s Center of Healthy Longevity global conference on Supplements for Healthy Longevity, held Feb. 29 – Mar. 2, 2024.

ErgoActive ergothioneine is made by precision fermentation with FDA–reviewed safety of GRAS. This ingredient is easy to formulate for dietary supplements, functional food and beverages, pet supplements, and cosmetics.

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About Blue California Ingredients

Blue California is a science–driven, nature–inspired ingredient company dedicated to developing innovative solutions for health and well–being. We provide and manufacture clean, natural, and sustainable ingredients used in food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, dietary supplements, personal care, and cosmetic products.

With a commitment to rigorous scientific research, the company aims to address pressing concerns related to aging and healthspan.  For more information, visit https://bluecal–ingredients.com/ergothioneine.

ErgoActive® is a registered trademark of Blue California, Inc.

Ergothioneine is also referred to as L–Ergothioneine, (ET) and (ERG).

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Following EFSA Ban of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Blue California Launches Clean-label Food Grade Whitening Agents as Alternatives

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following food authority EFSA's ban of food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2), Blue California, the producer of natural science–based ingredients, launched novel food–grade whitening agents as a clean–label alternative to replacing potential health risk white colorant titanium dioxide.

"Brands that seek to replace the titanium dioxide white colorant will find many benefits to Blue California's patent–pending food–grade whitening agents," said Cuie Yan, Ph.D., vice president of encapsulation. "Our alternative to titanium dioxide is industry–changing with opacifying or whitening effects and excellent sensory benefits with a delicious creamy/rich mouthfeel, and contains proprietary ingredients that may have additional benefits such as supporting cognitive health.”

One of the most widely used food pigments is titanium dioxide (E171), an odorless powder that enhances foods' white color or opacity. The most common titanium dioxide products are chewing gum, candies, pastries, chocolates, coffee creamers, and cake decorations. Titanium dioxide is also used as a pigment in paints and medicines.

In recent decades, concerns about the risks of titanium dioxide consumption have grown. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes titanium dioxide as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) at a maximum of 1% weight, but other organizations have issued warnings.

New governing rules in Europe are in action for producers to reformulate their products during a six–month window of phasing out titanium dioxide (E171). This follows the food authority European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decision deeming titanium dioxide (E171) as "not safe" in 2021, and now a complete ban in 2022. France suspended the use of titanium dioxide in January 2020.

"Our clean–label, food–grade, and effective whitening agents are heat and pH stable for a variety of applications that match the performance of titanium dioxide yet overcome its safety concerns," said Yan. "We've innovated these solutions as safe alternatives for brands that need to reformulate products rapidly due to government authorities concerns, bans, and phasing out titanium dioxide."

Blue California's patent–pending food–grade whitening powders have a similar size in diameter to the traditional titanium dioxide with higher L values (whiter), as shown in Table 1 below:

Table 1. Color and particle size comparison between Blue California's novel food–grade whitening agents versus titanium dioxide whitening powder.

Sample ID Color Measurement Redispersion Diameter
L a b nm
Titanium Dioxide (reference) 96.06 –0.26 1.54 310.5
Novel Food Grade Whitening 1 97.42 –0.09 1.45 266.4
Novel Food Grade Whitening 2 97.43 –0.09 1.95 278.2
Novel Food Grade Whitening 3 97.48 –0.11 1.43 305.0

Note: The a and b "Color Measurement' values are color depth markers of red, green, blue, and yellow. The "Redispersion Diameter' measures the particle size.

The food–grade whitening agents have been tested in chewing gum compared to titanium dioxide. The whitening effect results of Blue California's whitening agents are as remarkable as titanium dioxide. The whiteness increases as the dosage increases.

"We're ready to collaborate with product developers to replace titanium dioxide with a clean–label, delicious, and safer whitening agents in their product lines," said Yan.

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About Blue California

Blue California is an entrepreneurial, science–based solutions provider and manufacturer of clean, natural, and sustainable ingredients used in food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, dietary supplements, personal care, and cosmetic products. For more than 25 years, Blue California has built a strong reputation for creating value in these diverse natural products and nature–inspired industries.

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