Carotenoid composition with cognitive function protection effect

Abstract

The invention discloses a carotenoid composition with a cognitive function protection effect. The carotenoid composition with the cognitive function protection effect is prepared from the following components in percentage by mass: 0.5 to 2.5 percent of alpha-carotene, 32.6 to 36.8 percent of beta-carotene, 0.2 to 1.0 percent of beta-cryptoxanthin, 0.2 to 4.8 percent of lycopene, and 56.0 to 66.1 percent of lutein and zeaxanthin. The carotenoid composition with the cognitive function protection effect can also be used for preparing health care products for early prevention of cognitive function decline. The carotenoid composition with the cognitive function protection effect is of great significance in preventing and delaying AD brain pathology development and AD generation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a carotenoid composition. Under the specified component ratio and specific dosage of the composition, the reduction of cognitive function decline at the population level can be observed, thereby assisting in preventing cognitive function decline. Background Art

[0002] Dementia is a syndrome characterized by acquired cognitive dysfunction, which leads to a significant decline in the patient's daily living ability, learning ability, work ability and social interaction ability. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common pathological type of senile dementia and is an important public health issue that threatens the health of the elderly. Over the years, global pharmaceutical companies have invested huge amounts of money in the research and development of Alzheimer's disease drugs, but most of them have ended in failure. In the past 20 years, the FDA has only approved 11 AD treatment drugs, including: Tacrine, Donepezil, Revastigmine, Galantamine, Menantine, Namzaric, Sodium Oligomannate, Aducanumab, Lecanemab-irmb, Donanemab and Zunveyl. However, most of the drugs are limited to relieving symptoms and have certain side effects. Tacrine has been withdrawn from the market due to serious adverse reactions. The etiology and pathogenesis of AD are complex, and the disease outcome is difficult to completely reverse and cure. Therefore, it is of great significance to prevent the development of AD brain pathology and the occurrence of AD based on the modifiable risk factors of dementia. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to fill the gap of the lack of a composition for preventing early cognitive decline, the present invention provides a composition containing specific contents and proportions of various subclasses of carotenoids. Under a specific intake dose, the reduction of cognitive decline in the population can be observed.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0005] On the one hand, the present invention provides a carotenoid composition with cognitive function protection effect, including α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. The mass percentage range of each type of carotenoid is: α-carotene 0.5%-2.5%, β-carotene 32.6%-36.8%, β-cryptoxanthin 0.2%-1.0%, lycopene 0.2%-4.8%, lutein and zeaxanthin 56.0%-66.1%. Among them, the preferred mass percentages of α-carotene: β-carotene: β-cryptoxanthin: lycopene: lutein and zeaxanthin are 1.7%: 34.9%: 0.7%: 2.9%: 59.8%.

[0006] In the above technical solution, further, the mass ratio of lutein to zeaxanthin is 7.5:1, that is, the proportion of lutein and zeaxanthin in the total carotenoid intake is 52.8% and 7.0%.

[0007] The present invention also provides a carotenoid composition with cognitive function protection effect, which can be used to prepare a health product for preventing early cognitive function decline, wherein the main component of the health product is the carotenoid composition with cognitive function protection effect. The total carotenoid intake is 21.5-44.5 mg / d.

[0008] The inventive principle of the present invention is:

[0009] Carotenoids are a general term for a class of natural non-nutrient active substances widely found in dark fruits and vegetables. The human body cannot synthesize them by itself and needs to obtain them from food. The main carotenoids in daily diet include α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. The inventors have observed that supplementing various carotenoids at specific composition doses in the early middle-aged and elderly can delay subsequent cognitive decline and play a certain neuroprotective role. The dosage calculation is derived from daily dietary intake, and the dosage is safer.

[0010] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0011] The carotenoid composition of the present invention having a protective effect on cognitive function is taken in, and each component in the composition adopts a specific ratio (the ratio of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin is: 1.7%, 34.9%, 0.7%, 2.9%, 52.8%, 7.0%). When the total carotenoid intake reaches 21.5-44.5 mg / d, it helps to delay cognitive function decline. Specifically, the carotenoids in the composition have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities, can effectively remove free radicals, and reduce the damage of oxidative stress to neurons. The brain accounts for 2% of the body mass, but consumes about 20% of the total oxygen, and its high oxygen metabolism rate makes it easier to generate free radicals. In addition, brain neurons are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are easily attacked by free radicals, causing lipid peroxidation and damaging the integrity of cell membranes, but at the same time, the level of natural antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase and catalase) in brain tissue is low, and the defense ability is limited. Oxidative stress can lead to the inactivation of key enzymes and receptor proteins in nerve cells, affect the signal transmission and metabolism of neurons, and lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, causing cell apoptosis and necrosis. Oxidative stress can also stimulate the overactivation of microglia, aggravate neuroinflammation, further damage neurons, and aggravate oxidative stress. Carotenoids can effectively scavenge free radicals through the blood-brain barrier, reduce the damage of oxidative stress to neurons, inhibit the release of inflammatory factors, reduce neuroinflammation, and play a certain membrane protective role. Different carotenoids have different anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities, and their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier is also different. Therefore, dietary carotenoid compositions can protect the brain from many aspects through the complementarity and synergy of each component, which can not only slow down oxidative stress and inflammatory damage, but also improve neural signal transmission and cognitive function. However, when the concentration of carotenoids is too high, such as when taking carotenoid supplements for a long time and at high doses, carotenoids themselves may be converted into free radical donors, increase the generation of free radicals, lead to increased oxidative stress, and cause cytotoxicity and health risks. The effect of carotenoids depends on the suitability of their intake. Within the appropriate range, they can significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses; however, excessive intake may disrupt the balance between oxidation and anti-oxidation in the body, leading to adverse reactions. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the specific ingredient ratio of the safe and effective intake dose through dietary intake, and combine subgroup carotenoids in a specific ratio to maximize their efficacy and ensure that the overall effect is better than the effect of a single component. This scientific design makes the carotenoid composition of the present invention an effective cognitive protection solution, especially suitable for people at risk of cognitive decline due to aging or other factors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 The rate of cognitive decline in people in different carotenoid intake groups. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] In a nationwide cohort study in China, the "China Health and Nutrition Survey", investigators used a 3-day 24-hour recall method to investigate the subjects' food intake and calculated the subjects' average daily intake of various foods.

[0014] Based on the average daily food intake of the research subjects obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and combined with the US Department of Agriculture's food composition database, the inventors calculated the dietary carotenoid intake from each food, including α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. The intake of all carotenoid subgroups was added together to obtain the total carotenoid intake.

[0015] The total carotenoid intake was divided into 5 quartiles according to the population distribution, and the group with the lowest intake (the first quartile group) was used as the control group. The association between total carotenoids and cognitive function decline was calculated using a mixed linear model. It was observed that the fourth quartile group compared with the first quartile group, the rate of cognitive function decline slowed down by 0.028 units / year, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.11-0.046, and the fifth quartile group compared with the first quartile group, the rate of cognitive function decline slowed down by 0.018 units / year, with a 95% CI confidence interval of 0.001-0.035 (see Tables 1 and 2 for details). Figure 1 ).

[0016] Table 1 Association between carotenoid intake and slowing cognitive decline

[0017]

[0018] The mixed linear model was adjusted for age, age squared, sex, education level, region of residence, type of residence, income level, smoking status, drinking status, body mass index, total energy intake, physical activity level, whole grains, nuts, aquatic products, red meat, desserts, tea and coffee intake, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction and other chronic diseases.

[0019] In the carotenoid subgroups, for every one standard deviation unit increase in carotenoid intake in each subgroup, cognitive function decline slowed down by 0.005-0.007 units / year. Therefore, it is believed that different subgroups of carotenoids have potential protective effects on cognitive function (see Table 2 for detailed results).

[0020] Table 2 Association between each subclass of carotenoids and cognitive decline

[0021]

[0022] Since the strongest protective effect of cognitive function was observed in the fourth quartile group, the proportion of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin in the total carotenoid intake was calculated based on the carotenoid intake of the fourth quartile group. The upper and lower quartile ranges of the proportions of each subclass of carotenoids were: α-carotene 0.5%-2.5%, β-carotene 32.6%-36.8%, β-cryptoxanthin 0.2%-1.0%, lycopene 0.2%-4.8%, lutein and zeaxanthin 56.0%-66.1%. Since lutein and zeaxanthin are isomers, the dietary intake data were combined and calculated. According to the previous data, the dietary intake ratio of lutein to zeaxanthin was about 7.5:1, so the proportions of lutein and zeaxanthin in the total carotenoid intake were further obtained to be 49.5%-58.4% and 6.5%-7.7%. Furthermore, the proportions of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin were averaged to obtain the optimal proportion: the average proportions of each subclass of carotenoids were 1.7%, 34.9%, 0.7%, 2.9%, 59.8% (lutein: 52.8%, zeaxanthin: 7.0%). In addition, the protective effect of cognitive function was observed in the fourth quartile group of carotenoid intake (median intake was 23.5 mg, upper and lower quartiles were 21.5, 26.3 mg) and the fifth quartile group (median intake was 37.0 mg, upper and lower quartiles were 32.2, 44.5 mg). Considering the differences between different populations, it is believed that carotenoid intake within the range of 21.5-44.5 mg / d can have a positive protective effect on neurocognitive function (see Table 3 for details).

[0023] Table 3 Proportion and content of each subclass of carotenoids in total carotenoids

[0024]

[0025] From the above, it can be seen that the intake of the carotenoid composition of the present invention (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin are respectively: 0.11-1.11 mg / d, 7.01-16.38 mg / d, 0.04-0.45 mg / d, 0.04-2.14 mg / d, 10.64-25.99 mg / d, 1.4-3.43 mg / d, and the total carotenoid intake reaches 21.5-44.5 mg / d) helps to protect cognitive function.

Claims

1. A carotenoid composition having a cognitive function protective effect, characterized in that: The invention comprises the following components by mass percentage: 0.5%-2.5% of alpha-carotene, 32.6%-36.8% of beta-carotene, 0.2%-1.0% of beta-cryptoxanthin, 0.2%-4.8% of lycopene, and 56.0%-66.1% of lutein and zeaxanthin.

2. The carotenoid composition having cognitive function protective effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: α-carotene 1.7%, β-carotene 34.9%, β-cryptoxanthin 0.7%, lycopene 2.9%, lutein and zeaxanthin 59.8%.

3. The carotenoid composition having cognitive function protective effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mass ratio of lutein to zeaxanthin is 7.5:

1.

4. Use of the carotenoid composition having cognitive function protection effect according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in the preparation of a health product for preventing early cognitive function decline.

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