Givaudan partners with Michigan State University and PitFit to test the performance benefits of Cereboost™

Givaudan, a global leader in taste and wellbeing, has announced the results of an open-label clinical study, conducted with Michigan State University (MSU) and PitFit Inc, a premier training facility for professional racecar drivers in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The study used state-of-the art tools to, in part, assess the impact of Cereboost™, Givaudan’s patented American ginseng extract, on the drivers’ reaction time.

Notable improvements in driving performance with Cereboost™

The study revealed notable improvements in driving performance among drivers who took Cereboost™ for two weeks, including a significant reduction in the fastest lap time (3 sec) and significantly faster throttle application on corners.

After taking Cereboost™, participating drivers also reported in a subjective questionnaire feeling positive effects:

• 94% agreed Cereboost™ effectively enhanced their focus
• 91% perceived the effects faster than other products they have tried in the past

Jim Leo, CEO of PitFit, commented: “As the industry leader in human performance coaching for motorsports, PitFit has always taken a proactive approach to researching anything that might improve our customers’ performance. Given our strong interest in supporting drivers’ performance, we began exploring research on nutritional supplements that could assist us in our quest. Cereboost™ was an obvious choice, as it’s backed by peer-reviewed research to support attention and focus.”

Cereboost™: think faster, perform better

“Working with Michigan State University and PitFit gave us the opportunity to evaluate the real-world benefits of an already clinically studied ingredient and understand how athlete drivers perceived its effect, getting us closer to understand consumer perception.”

Romain Le Cozannet, Mind & Energy Category Technical Leader at Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing

Full results of the new study are available here and all the Cereboost™ clinical studies into one review here.

About Givaudan
Givaudan is a global leader in Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing. We celebrate the beauty of human experience by creating for happier, healthier lives with love for nature. Together with our customers we deliver food experiences, craft inspired fragrances and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good. In 2024, Givaudan employed over 16,900 people worldwide and achieved CHF 7.4 billion in sales with a free cash flow of 15.6%. With a heritage that stretches back over 250 years, we are committed to driving long-term, purpose-led growth by improving people’s health and happiness and increasing our positive impact on nature. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Discover more at: www.givaudan.com.

About Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing
Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan’s passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game changing innovations in food and beverage. Let’s imagine together the future of food. Learn more at www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing.

About Cereboost™
Cereboost™ is a clinically proven natural ingredient for cognitive performance, which is supported by patents. Backed by seven articles published in peer-reviewed journals, Cereboost™ reduces mental fatigue, and supports attention and cognitive performance in healthy subjects.^{1, 2, 3, 4} Cereboost™ derives its power from six naturally occurring ginsenosides found in American Ginseng. According to several human clinical trials, just 200 mg of Cereboost™ a day delivers positive benefits for attention, focus and working memory support. For more information about Cereboost™, please visit our Health Solutions Hub.

About Michigan State University
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for 170 years. One of the world’s leading public research universities, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery to make a better, safer, healthier world for all while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 400 programmes of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

About PitFit Inc.
PitFit Inc. is the industry leader in human performance coaching for motorsports athletes and high-performance individuals. With cutting-edge programmes integrating strength, neurocognitive, and cardiovascular training, PitFit enhances reaction time, mental acuity, and physical endurance. Its science-based, race-proven system prepares drivers, pit crews, and other high performers to thrive under pressure. Whether in-person or remote, PitFit delivers championship-caliber results. Learn more at www.pitfit.com.

1. White D.J. et al. (2020) ‘Effects of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) on the steady state visually evoked potential during cognitive performance’, Human Psychopharmacology, Clinical and Experimental, 35(6):1-6.

2. Bell L, et al. (2022) ‘A randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the acute and chronic benefits of American Ginseng (Cereboost®) on mood and cognition in healthy young adults, including in vitro investigation of gut microbiota changes as a possible mechanism of action’, European Journal of Nutrition, 61(1):413-428.

3. Ossoukhova A. et al. (2015) ‘Improved working memory performance following administration of a single dose of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) to healthy middle-age adults’, Human Psychopharmacology, Clinical and Experimental, 30(2):108-122.

4. Shin K. (2016) ‘Cereboost™, an American Ginseng extract, improves cognitive function via up-regulation of choline acetyltransferase expression and neuroprotection’, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 78:53-8.

For further information please contact
Eve Landen, Taste & Wellbeing Communications
E eve.landen@givaudan.com