YSK Japan invests $5.5 million in NAG production facilities

Published: 28-Sep-2022

This comes in response to the growing demand for N-acetylglucosamin combined with an increase in notifications for knee joints

Japanese manufacturer Yaizu Suisan Kagaku Kogyo Japan (YSK) has invested 800 million yen (US $5.5m) into its facilities that produce N-acetylglucosamin in response to growing demand.

There are currently 66 notifications for food with functional claims that use NAG as a functional component (as of August 26). Some of the products have been reported as function indications for the skin (moisture support and other moisturising), but most of them are notifications that appeal to knee joints.

There is a noticeable movement by major companies to release functionally labelled foods that use NAG, which makes health claims, as an ingredient involved in functionality. In April, Taisho Pharmaceutical launched the supplement "Rocoful" (30-day supply of 90 capsules, 5,400 yen), which contains NAG and black ginger-derived polymethoxyflavone as functional ingredients. 

We propose it to middle-aged and elderly people who are concerned about the muscle strength of their knee joints and leg

A spokesperson for YSK said: “By also appealing to the effect of maintaining the walking power of middle-aged and elderly people, which is reported to be a component derived from black ginger, we propose it to middle-aged and elderly people who are concerned about the muscle strength of their knee joints and legs.”

In the same month, Fuji Film also launched a supplement "Ayumate" (30 days' worth of 90 capsules, 3,980 yen) that uses NAG as a functional ingredient.

In addition, Morinaga Milk Industry submitted a report of a soft drink, although it is not yet on sale at the moment. Megmilk Snow Brand has also submitted a notification of a mini PET-bottle drink indicating the function for the knee joint.

The NAG manufactured and sold by YSK is manufactured using chitin as a raw material in its own factory in Shizuoka Prefecture. The annual sales volume for 2021 was about 180 tons, including exports.

The start of production of NAG through the new facility is scheduled for May next year. Along with the construction work for that purpose, the company aims to advance NAG's research and development and make it possible to make new health claims following skin and knee joints as functionally related ingredients of foods with function claims.

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