March 2, 2021

World's first! Kirin Holdings Discovers Memory Benefits from β-Lactolin*1

Milk-derived peptide carries functional claim of helping consumers retain memory capacity with astable of products soon to come

*1The world’s first discovery of a whey protein-derived peptide supporting human memory function (cued recall, among publications

introduced in Pubmed and Ichushi-Web site, searched by KnowledgeWire Corporation on Feb. 28, 2021.)

TOKYO, Tuesday March 2, 2021 - The Kirin Group and Megmilk Snow Brand Company, Limited will releasefood products claiming to help consumers retain their capacity for memory, which declines with age. The products
include β-lactolin (beta-lactolin), a proprietary ingredient of Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, and will be releasedin succession starting in April.
New products to be released throughout Japan include β-lactolin by Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. on April 20, and a KIRIN
β-lactolin beverage by Kirin Beverage Company, Limited on May 11. A new product to be released in the Kanto andTohoku regions on May 18 is KOIWAI β-lactolin Milk, a dairy-based drink from Koiwai Dairy Products Company,
Limited. Kirin is also expanding collaborative efforts—Megmilk Snow Brand plans to release a Kiokukea Yogurt βlactolin in Japan on June 8.

■About the β-lactolin series
These are foods with functional claims that contain Kirin's
proprietary β-lactolin to support the maintenance of memory
ability, which declines with age.

■About the collaboration with Megmilk Snow
Brand
Megmilk Snow Brand endorsed the results of the Kirin
Group’s β-lactolin research and development, as well as the group’s efforts toward brain health, and collaborated torealize the release of Kiokukea Yogurt β-lactolin.

■β-Lactolin, Kirin’s original milk-derived peptide
β-Lactolin is a milk-derived, functional ingredient for food products that helps retain memory
capacity, which declines with age. It was discovered during cooperative neuroscientificresearch between Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., and Koiwai Dairy Products.
Kirin focused on epidemiological studies*2 that showed that daily consumption of dairy products is beneficial for
retaining memory capacity and other cognitive functions, and Kirin was the first company in the world to discover
the effect of milk-derived β-Lactolin on the maintenance of brain cognitive function*3. Kirin then applied its
expertise in fermentation to develop an ingredient that makes it easy to efficiently consume β-lactolin.
*2 Ozawa M, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013, (5):1076-82*3The world’s first discovery of a whey protein-derived peptide supporting human memory function (cued recall, among publications

introduced in Pubmed and Ichushi-Web site, searched by KnowledgeWire Corporation on Feb. 28, 2021.)– more –1/6

■Working mechanism of milk-derived peptide β-lactolin(1) Increases the neurotransmitter dopamine
β-lactolin stimulates neurons as it moves throughout the brain, increasing the amount of dopamine, which is a
type of neurotransmitter.
SynapseDopamine
β-lactolineMonoamine oxidase B (MAO-B)*An enzyme that breaks down dopamine

Dopamine increase*The working mechanism of β-lactolin is put forward
based on phenomena confirmed with mice. Themechanism has not been confirmed in humans.
(Source: Ano et al., Neurobiology of Aging, 2018 Dec;
72: 23-31.)(2) Stimulates brain activity
The increase in dopamine stimulates neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, the brain
regions responsible for memory. Through this mechanism, β-lactolin helps people retain their capacity formemory.

Prefrontal cortex

Hippocampus

The area tasked withreason,thought,executivefunctions,attention,
workingmemory, and more

The hub ofmemory
formation,
spatial learning,and more– more –2/6

■KIRIN Brain Research
Japan’s average life expectancy has been extending ; the country has entered a super-aged society in which one infour people is elderly.*4 Given that an estimated one in five elderly people will suffer from dementia in 2025,*5 theextend of healthy life expectancy is a social issue.
The Kirin Group understands that the joys and concerns in a daily life are intimately
associated with brain activity, and thus launched KIRIN Brain Research to develop the newsolutions mainly in food to promote brain health and create joy.
KIRIN Brain Research based on Kirin’s distinct technology and ways of thinking
contributes to promote brain health in an effort to help resolve social issues and will create asociety conducive to psychologically prosperous living, where everyone has confidence and ambition and feels
free to experience their emotions.
*4

Annual Report on the Aging Society, 2020
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, MHLW Special Research Project. Research on Future Trends in the Prevalence of Dementia Among Elderly
People in Japan. 2014 Report on General/Specialized Research, 2015.

*5

The Kirin Group aims to become “a global leader in CSV,*6 creating value across our world of Food & Beverages
to Pharmaceuticals” as indicated in Kirin Group Vision 2027, the group’s Long-Term Management Vision. Towardthat end, the group is moving ahead with efforts to launch and develop a Health Science domain (Health ScienceBusinesses) to contribute to human health. The new domain is based on the group’s advanced fermentation andbiological technology cultivated over many years, and joins the existing domains of Food & Beverages (Alcoholicand Non-Alcoholic Beverages Businesses) and Pharmaceuticals (Pharmaceuticals Businesses). One aim of the newdomain is to use original Kirin ingredient β-lactolin to help consumers retain their cognitive functions, thereby
providing “the most trustworthy and most needed brain care services.”*6 CSV: Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.

– more –3/6

●Product overview
Product Name

KYOWA HAKKO BIO β-Lactolin

Release date

Tuesday, April 20, 2021
*Available through the Kyowa Hakko Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Bio online store

KIRIN β-Lactolin

KOIWAI β-Lactolin milk

Kiokukea Yogurt βlactolin

Tuesday, May 18, 2021
*Available only in theTuesday, June 8, 2021
TohokuandKanto
regions

30 bags, 10 grains in each bag
Volume/container

100 mL/Transparent bottle(30-day supply @ 10 grains/day)

200 mL/MicrocartonPrice(suggested retailprice without
consumption tax)

Source5,500 yen

200 yen

Kyowa Hakko Bio

Kirin Beverage

170 yen

Koiwai Dairy Products

90 g/Paper cup
120 yenMegmilk Snow
Brand Co., Ltd.

Brain function support supplement that・The
unmistakablesupports the problems of people who, ・Yogurt-flavored
to90-gdesigntosweetness and richness ofas they age, are experiencing more and facilitate
everydayfacilitate
everydaymilk in a crisp, clean, easyProductmore situations such as careless consumption
consumption
attributes, flavors
to-drink beverage for aforgetting, not being able to remember ・Single-serving size (100・Standardyogurt
natural taste that neverwhat they just did, and not being able ml)
flavorgets oldto decide forever.
Number on
application for
F1
E798
E837
F458
approval

Product image

Label onapplication for
approval

Functional
component

This product contains β-lactolin, andthus helps middle-aged and elderly
consumers who are healthy, but haveThis product includes
started to notice that they are
β-lactolin, a substanceforgetting the names of people
reportedtobeand objects or making carelessbeneficialfor
This product includes βmistakes, retain their capacities This product includes βretaining capacity forlactolin,asubstancefor memory (the ability to recall lactolin,
asubstancememory (the ability toreported to be beneficial
associations
ofmultiple reported to be beneficial forrecall things based on
for retaining capacity forproperties, such as shape and retaining
capacity
forprompts),
whichmemory (the ability tocolor, and important information memory (the ability to recall
declines with age.
recall things based onin response to triggers) andthings based on prompts),prompts), which declinesattention (the ability to quickly which declines with age.
with age.
and accurately notice what is
important amid an abundance of
information when performing
tasks that require concentration),
two of the cognitive functions thatdecline with age.
β-lactolin: 1.6 mg
Foods with function claims
・Consumers are responsible for the balance of their diets, which should include staples, main dishes, and side dishes.
・This product has not been approved by the government of Japan.
・This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent illness or diseases.

– more –4/6

<Press Contact>
Corporate Communication Department
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
Nakano Central Park South, 4-10-2 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
Tel +81-3-6837-7028 email address:kirin-cc@kirin.co.jp
Kirin Holdings Homepage:www.kirinholdings.co.jp/english/＃＃＃5/6