Health Care

Our healthcare business is our point of origin, in that our company was established as a spinoff of the vitamin A business of RIKEN. Although we do not currently produce natural vitamin A, we continue to sell various vitamins as ingredients for pharmaceutical and functional food products. We also perform R&D on the health components contained in natural materials and offer contract processing services with our microencapsulation technology.

Major products and features

Raw material for functional food

Crocetin (Trade name: Crovit)

It is a natural yellow colorant contained in gardenia fruit and saffron, belonging to the same carotenoid category as beta-carotene and lycopene. In addition to being an antioxidant, it is spotlighted for its association with better sleep quality and eye focus adjustment.

Raw material for functional food

Mekabu fucoidan (Trade name: Riken Mekabu Fucoidan)

It is a viscous ingredient extracted from mekabu (fertile leaves of wakame). Riken Vitamin has continued research with a focus on fucoidan, the health-functional ingredient contained in Mekabu, which has been familiar among the Japanese since ancient times.

Raw material for functional food

Carotenoids derived from paprika (Trade name: Papricarotene)

These are carotenoids (capsanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, etc.) contained in peppers (paprika).
We study the functionality of carotenoids derived from paprika.

Raw material for pharmaceuticalsnutritional enrichment

Vitamin

At Riken Vitamin, we manufacture vitamin E from natural materials. We also offer various vitamins as ingredients for pharmaceutical and functional food products. We can also provide pre-mixed products which are a blend of several kinds of vitamins.

Formulation technologies

Microcapsules (Trade name: Rikebeads)

Microencapsulation was a technology developed to stabilize the unstable vitamin A. Today, it is on for a wide range of substances including the active ingredients of pharmaceuticals to help our clients meet the challenges facing them.
For instance, the technology can seal an unstable substance inside a film to stabilize it, mask the bitterness or astringency of medicines, and prolong the flavor of chewing gums and candies.

Fast Facts Riken Vitamin

Here is a brief introduction to Riken Vitamin and our vision for the future.

Here is a brief introduction to Riken Vitamin and our vision for the future.
Product Development History

Here is an introduction to the history of Riken Vitamin, from our founding in 1949 to the present.

Here is an introduction to the history of Riken Vitamin, from our founding in 1949 to the present.
Research and Development

Here is an introduction to our R&D activities which we engage in under our policy of “effectively utilizing natural materials.”

Here is an introduction to our R&D activities which we engage in under our policy of “effectively utilizing natural materials.”