Dr Jian Guan and Jim Grierson of Vitality®New Zealand are sharing some exciting news with our community prior to their public launch in February this year.
The extensive research results from scientists and clinical doctors in New Zealand Universities, demonstrate that a key brain nutrient in New Zealand blackcurrants [cyclic Glycine-Proline (cGP)] is beneficial in regulating and maintaining the normal function of hormones that would usually decline with ageing. This discovery has major significance for the ageing body and mind, particularly in relation to cognitive function.
New Zealand Blackcurrants naturally contain a high level of this nutrient.
During our lifetime, our bodies produce the key nutrient naturally. As we get older, however, the function of this key nutrient can become insufficient. People diagnosed with cognitive impairment, hypertension and strokes all show deficits of this key nutrient.
Research results
Pre-clinical research suggests that giving additional key nutrient can improve cognitive function, reduce blood pressure and improve stroke recovery. Clinical research into Parkinson diseases also shows that the supplementation of New Zealand Blackcurrants can increase the key nutrient in the blood and brain.
Further research
More than 60 Brain Tuners are also contributing the on-going research by taking part in a 45-day trial of Vitality® New Zealand’s Brain Shield™, the natural plant-based solution made from New Zealand blackcurrants and other specially-formulated nutrients that deliver the daily dose required to maintain an optimum level of the key nutrient in the body as we age.
We will let you know more when the public announcement is made.
This sounds very exciting – great that you are keeping us up with what is happening now
We can’t wait until the public announcements are made! As you know, we seldom offer any recommendations about supplements that have not been prescribed by a medical doctor but this six-year research gives us a lot of hope that a natural product available in New Zealand can assist, especially in the realm of cognition.
Is the brain shield study a properly designed controlled study or as are many “health” studies simply give a few subjects the trial drug then asking them if they feel better
This is a very fair question and those who have been with us for a long time know that we seldom (if ever) recommend supplements unless a medical test has identified a deficiency. These blackcurrant trials, however, have been conducted by Dr Jian Guan and her team at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research and have been ongoing for 6 years. We are very interested in the outcome because blackcurrants are a natural food and grow well in New Zealand. Their antioxidant properties are well-known and these new research findings could have far-reaching benefits for all of us. We have no financial interest in the research or the company – we are always looking for ways to improve brain processing and memory performance.
Very interesting specially if it really works.
Wondering if researching fresh, frozen or dried berries.
Hello there
Two answers in this reply:
The research was designed by the Neuro-Degenerative Disease Research Team lead by Dr Jian Guan at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research. Control groups of healthy people and PD, Hypertension and post-stroke patients were included in the clinical research.
Second answer: Yes we have tested a number of berries in various forms as you have suggested. Only one of the 30 berry fruits and vegetables tested had contained any cGP. The fruit that did have the special nutrient cGP was Bilberry, a wild berry growing in Europe, but there was only a very low amount which was not enough to encapsulate.
I am interested in any research related to improving brain function as one ages
I was diagnosed with MS. 18 years ago. I now have short term memory loss which is difficult. I would be interested in improving my brain function.
HI Lindy
If you go onto our Web Site Vitalitynz.nz and click onto the Brain Shield bottle it will take you to the page that has the comments from Dr Jian Guan and three research papers. If you are unable to go onto a computer, please call me on our 0800-006-168 free number and I will respond.
Hi Lorraine
Brain Shield will help you with your short term memory loss after about 4-6 weeks daily usage. If you are unable to go on line call me on our 0800-006=168 number and I will respond. I would like to talk with you to explain the application regime specific to you.