Preparation and application of sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eyestrain and myopia

Abstract

The invention relates to preparation and application of a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eyestrain and myopia, and relates to the technical field of health-care food. The composition is prepared by taking sea cucumber peptide and oyster peptide as bases and cooperating with various active ingredients such as blueberry powder, lutein ester, beta-carotene, vitamin A, zinc and selenium. And a maltodextrin-pectin compound is adopted as a functional auxiliary material, and a microencapsulation process is adopted to prepare the composite. Through a multi-target synergistic effect mechanism, ciliary muscles and optic nerves can be nourished, oxidative damage can be prevented, rhodopsin synthesis can be promoted, and finally the remarkable technical effects of effectively relieving asthenopia, improving the visual function and delaying myopia occurrence and development are achieved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of health food, in particular to a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia and preparation and application thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the trend of full popularization and use of electronic screen devices at a younger age, the incidence of visual fatigue and myopia continues to rise worldwide, which has become a major public health problem affecting the health and quality of life of the nation. Visual fatigue not only manifests as discomfort symptoms such as dry eyes, eye astringency, swelling pain and blurred vision, but also is a key factor for inducing and deepening myopia, especially in adolescents. Its pathological mechanism is complex, mainly involving multiple links such as sustained tonic spasm of ciliary muscle, retinal photo-oxidative damage and excessive consumption of visual light-sensitive substances. However, the existing technology mainly focuses on local relief of symptoms (such as eye drops) or supplementation of single nutrients (such as lutein), which often treats the symptoms but not the root cause, and is difficult to systematically solve the problem from the root cause.

[0003] At present, the formula design of oral products for visual health on the market mostly stays at the level of simple physical mixing of functional ingredients. For example, only collagen peptide and other basic nutrients are supplemented, or only lutein and other antioxidants are provided, and there is a lack of precise synergistic design based on in-vivo biochemical metabolic pathways among the ingredients, resulting in limited bioavailability and comprehensive efficacy. More importantly, the existing schemes generally ignore the physical stability problem of coexistence of lipid-soluble ingredients (such as lutein ester) and water-soluble ingredients (such as sea cucumber peptide), and the bottleneck of absorption efficiency of key minerals (such as zinc) on the overall efficacy.

[0004] Therefore, it is of important clinical significance and market value to develop a systematic solution that can intervene in multiple targets, synergistically enhance each component, and has high bioavailability. SUMMARY

[0005] In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the present application provides a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia and preparation and application thereof.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application is realized by the following technical scheme: in the first aspect, a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia, comprising the following active components by weight fraction: sea cucumber peptide 20-50 parts, oyster peptide 10-30 parts, blueberry powder 5-20 parts, microencapsulated lutein ester 1-5 parts, beta-carotene 0.5-3 parts, vitamin A 0.001-0.005 parts, zinc compound 1-5 parts in terms of zinc element, selenium compound 0.1-1 parts in terms of selenium element; and functional excipients 10-30 parts as embedding carriers and absorption promoters, the functional excipients being a complex of maltodextrin and pectin with a mass ratio of (3:1)-(5:1).

[0007] In the present application, a highly efficient action system is constructed by systematic design. The scheme takes the basic nutritional support provided by sea cucumber peptide and oyster peptide as the core, combines the visual health function module composed of lutein ester, blueberry powder, beta-carotene, vitamin A, zinc, selenium, and innovatively uses maltodextrin-pectin compound in a specific ratio as a functional excipient, achieving synergistic effect in the whole chain from production process to in vivo metabolism. This design not only solves the problem of process stability of coexistence of fat-soluble lutein ester and water-soluble ingredients through microencapsulation technology, but also significantly amplifies the efficiency of the visual conversion pathway of "beta-carotene→vitamin A→rhodopsin" through the unique mechanism of pectin fermentation in the intestine to produce short-chain fatty acids to promote zinc ion absorption, thereby achieving the comprehensive advantages of multi-target synergistic effect, significantly improved bioavailability and high safety at the technical level.

[0008] From the mechanism level, the technology plays a role in relieving visual fatigue and preventing myopia through multiple pharmacological pathways: on the one hand, small molecule sea cucumber peptide and oyster peptide directly nourish ciliary muscle and optic nerve by improving ocular microcirculation, fundamentally relieving accommodative visual fatigue; on the other hand, zinc ion as a cofactor catalyzes the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A, promotes the synthesis of rhodopsin to maintain normal visual function, and the antioxidant defense network composed of lutein ester, blueberry anthocyanin and selenium effectively filters harmful blue light and removes free radicals, protecting retinal photoreceptor cells from oxidative damage, in addition to the anti-inflammatory activity of sea cucumber peptide which helps to reduce the sterile inflammatory state of the eye, creating a good environment for tissue repair.

[0009] In one embodiment of the first aspect, the average molecular weight of the sea cucumber peptide and the oyster peptide is less than 1000 daltons.

[0010] In one embodiment of the first aspect, the zinc compound is one or more of zinc gluconate, zinc citrate or yeast zinc; and the selenium compound is one or more of selenium yeast, selenium protein or sodium selenite.

[0011] In one embodiment of the first aspect, the microencapsulated lutein ester is prepared by spray drying with a functional excipient in a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia as a wall material.

[0012] In one embodiment of the first aspect, each active ingredient and functional excipient plays a role through the following synergistic mechanism: The maltodextrin in the functional excipient embeds the fat-soluble lutein ester, ensuring its physical stability coexisting with water-soluble ingredients such as sea cucumber peptide and oyster peptide; The pectin in the functional excipient is fermented by microorganisms in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids, reduce the local pH value of the intestine, and promote the dissociation and absorption of zinc ions; The absorbed zinc ions act as cofactors to catalyze the conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin A in vivo; The converted vitamin A and the amino acids provided by the sea cucumber peptides and oyster peptides jointly participate in the synthesis of rhodopsin; The lutein ester and the blueberry powder synergistically constitute a retinal antioxidant defense network, filter blue light, and scavenge free radicals; The selenium compound strengthens the antioxidant defense network by enhancing the activity of glutathione peroxidase in vivo.

[0013] In a second aspect, a preparation method of a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia includes the following steps: S1: preparing microencapsulated lutein ester: dispersing lutein ester oil-soluble raw materials in an aqueous solution with maltodextrin and pectin as wall materials, homogenizing, and then performing spray drying to obtain microencapsulated lutein ester powder; S2: grinding the sea cucumber peptides, oyster peptides, and blueberry powder through an 80-100 mesh screen to obtain a mixed powder A; S3: mixing the microencapsulated lutein ester, beta-carotene, vitamin A, zinc compound, and selenium compound obtained in step S1 with the remaining functional excipients using an equal amount incremental method to obtain a mixed powder B; S4: placing the mixed powder A and the mixed powder B into a three-dimensional mixer and mixing for 30-45 minutes until uniform; S5: granulating, drying, tabletting, or filling capsules according to requirements based on the uniformly mixed total mixed powder to obtain a final product.

[0014] In a third aspect, a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia is applied in the preparation of a functional food, health food, or dietary supplement for relieving visual fatigue, improving visual function, or delaying the occurrence and development of myopia.

[0015] In a fourth aspect, a functional food contains a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia as an active ingredient. The dosage form of the functional food is granules, tablets, hard capsules, soft capsules, or oral liquids.

[0016] In a fifth aspect, a liquid beverage includes, by weight fraction, 8-30 parts of a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia, 10-30 parts of fruit concentrate juice, 0.01-0.5 parts of edible essence, 0.01-1 parts of sweetener, 0.01-3 parts of acidity regulator, and 40-70 parts of water.

[0017] In a sixth aspect, a solid beverage includes, by weight parts: a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia 40-75 parts, an acidity regulator 0-1 part, a sweetener 0-1 part, a food flavoring 0-1 part, and fruit concentrate powder 20-30 parts.

[0018] The product adopts a form including but not limited to a bagged powder type, a freeze-dried powder type, and an oral liquid type.

[0019] The present application has the following beneficial effects: 1. The technical solution realizes the whole-chain innovation from the production process to the in-vivo metabolism by constructing a precise system with multi-target and multi-level synergistic effect. The core advantage lies in the organic combination of the basic nutritional support of sea cucumber peptides and oyster peptides with the visual protection module composed of lutein ester, blueberry powder, etc., and the innovative use of functional excipients to realize the dual improvement of process stability and bioavailability. This solution not only effectively overcomes the one-sided limitations of traditional single components or simple compound mechanisms, but also, through the unique "component-process-function" linkage design, produces significant synergistic effects of each component in vivo and in vitro, thereby fundamentally breaking through in relieving visual fatigue, improving visual function, and delaying the occurrence and development of myopia; 2. This solution reflects its high safety and wide applicability. All components are derived from medicinal and edible or nutritional enhancers, ensuring the safety of long-term consumption. At the same time, based on this core technology, granules, tablets, soft capsules, oral liquids, and various snack food forms can be flexibly developed, which can meet the needs of different age groups and consumer scenarios, providing a solid technical foundation for large-scale market application, and truly realizing the unity of efficacy, safety, and commercial feasibility. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of the present application.

[0021] Example 1: Preparation of sea cucumber peptide composition granules 1. Raw material preparation: Sea cucumber peptides: 25 kg, average molecular weight 800 Da, purity ≥ 90%; Oyster peptides: 15 kg, average molecular weight 950 Da, purity ≥ 85%; Blueberry powder: 8 kg, anthocyanin content ≥ 25%; Lutein ester oil: 1.5 kg (equivalent to lutein ester content of 2.0 kg, purity 5%); Beta-carotene: 0.8 kg, 10% suspension (equivalent to 0.08 kg of pure product); Vitamin A acetate: 0.003 kg; Zinc gluconate: 4 kg (equivalent to about 0.4 kg of zinc element); Selenium yeast: 0.6 kg (selenium content 2000 ppm, equivalent to 0.0012 kg of selenium element); Functional excipients: malt dextrin (18 kg) and pectin (6 kg), mass ratio 3:1; Other excipients: citric acid 0.5 kg, sucralose 0.1 kg, strawberry flavor 0.2 kg, and dextrin in an appropriate amount to a total weight of 100 kg.

[0022] 2. Preparation of microencapsulated lutein ester: Slowly add 6 kg of pectin to 50 kg of purified water at 60 °C under stirring, and fully dissolve it under high-speed shearing to obtain a pectin solution.

[0023] Mix the pectin solution with 18 kg of malt dextrin, and stir at 55 °C until completely uniform, as the water phase.

[0024] Preheat 2.0 kg of lutein ester oil (5% purity) to 50 °C, and slowly add it to the above water phase under high-speed shearing (10,000 rpm) for 5 minutes to form a primary emulsion.

[0025] Pass the primary emulsion through a high-pressure homogenizer twice at a pressure of 40 MPa to obtain a fine emulsion with uniform particle size distribution.

[0026] Spray dry the fine emulsion: inlet temperature 175 °C, outlet temperature 85 °C, atomizer speed 15,000 rpm, to obtain a microencapsulated lutein ester powder with good flowability, with a yield of about 22 kg.

[0027] 3. Mixing: Mixing powder A: separately crush sea cucumber peptide (25 kg), oyster peptide (15 kg), and blueberry powder (8 kg) with a crusher, pass them through a 100-mesh sieve, and then put them into a three-dimensional mixer for mixing for 15 minutes to obtain mixing powder A.

[0028] Mixed Powder B: Take the microencapsulated lutein ester powder (10 kg), β-carotene suspension (0.8 kg), vitamin A acetate (0.003 kg), zinc gluconate (4 kg), selenium yeast (0.6 kg) prepared above, and mix them with the remaining functional excipients (the remaining part of maltodextrin and pectin complex), citric acid (0.5 kg), sucralose (0.1 kg), and strawberry flavor (0.2 kg) using an equal-incrementing method: First, grind and mix the small amount of vitamin A acetate with an equal amount of microencapsulated lutein ester powder thoroughly, and then add the remaining amount of microencapsulated lutein ester powder and other components one by one until they are all mixed evenly to obtain Mixed Powder B.

[0029] Total mixing: Transfer all of the mixed powder A to a three-dimensional mixer, then slowly add mixed powder B, set the mixer speed to 15 rpm, and mix for 40 minutes until a uniformly colored mixed powder is obtained.

[0030] 4. Granulation and Packaging: The total mixed powder was wet granulated using an 85% ethanol solution as a wetting agent and passed through a 14-mesh sieve.

[0031] The wet granules were placed in a hot air circulating oven and dried at 60°C until the moisture content was ≤5%.

[0032] The dried granules are then sieved through a 14-mesh sieve for granulation.

[0033] The sea cucumber peptide composition granule product is obtained by packaging each bag in aluminum-plastic packaging at 3g per bag.

[0034] Example 2: Preparation of soft capsules containing sea cucumber peptide composition The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that microencapsulated lutein ester and fat-soluble components such as β-carotene and vitamin A are used directly as contents, rather than being mixed in a solid form.

[0035] Contents preparation: Lutein ester (2.0 kg), β-carotene (0.08 kg), vitamin A acetate (0.003 kg) were mixed with 15 kg of soybean oil, heated to 60°C and stirred until completely dissolved, forming the oil phase. Separately, sea cucumber peptide (25 kg), oyster peptide (15 kg), blueberry powder (8 kg), zinc gluconate (4 kg), selenium yeast (0.6 kg), and appropriate excipients were prepared into a total mixed powder according to the method in Example 1.

[0036] Filling and pelleting: Using a soft capsule pelleting machine, the above oil phase is used as the contents and gelatin liquid is used as the shell to compress soft capsules with each contents weighing 0.5g and the shell weighing 0.2g.

[0037] Drying and Packaging: The pressed soft capsules are dried in a rotating drum at 25°C and 30% humidity for 24 hours, then screened and packaged to obtain the final product.

[0038] Example 3: Effect Verification Experiment To verify the effectiveness of the composition of the present invention, the following animal experiments were conducted: Experimental subjects: Healthy Balb / c mice, randomly divided into a blank control group, a model control group, a positive control group (a certain brand of lutein tablets) and the group of Example 1 of this invention.

[0039] Modeling and drug administration: Except for the blank control group, mice in the other groups were exposed to high-intensity blue light for 6 hours daily for 4 consecutive weeks to establish a model of visual fatigue and myopia. At the same time, each drug administration group was administered the corresponding dose of the test substance by gavage.

[0040] Testing indicators: Dark adaptation recovery time: After modeling, the dark adaptation recovery time of mice after exposure to strong light was measured. The results showed that compared with the model control group, the dark adaptation recovery time of mice in this invention group was significantly shortened (P<0.01), which was better than that of the positive control group.

[0041] Retinal antioxidant indicators: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected in mouse retinal tissue homogenates. The SOD activity in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the model control group, while the MDA content was significantly lower (P<0.01), indicating that it can effectively reduce retinal oxidative damage.

[0042] Ocular blood flow: Blood flow velocity in the ciliary muscle region of the mouse eye was detected using laser Doppler flowmeter. The blood flow velocity in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the model control group (P<0.05), indicating that it can improve ocular microcirculation and relieve ciliary muscle fatigue.

[0043] Application Example 1: Children's Eye-Protecting Jelly Product positioning: Targeting the children and teenagers market, with a cute dosage form, sweet and sour taste, and easy to consume.

[0044] Recipe (based on the production of 1000 jelly pieces, 25g each): Sea cucumber peptide composition (total mixed powder obtained in Example 1): 2000g; Fruit juice (blueberry + apple mixed juice): 10kg; Carrageenan: 150g; Konjac powder: 100g; Citric acid: 40g; Sucralose: 15g; Blueberry flavoring: 20g; Purified water: Add to a total of 25kg; Preparation process: Sol: Dry mix carrageenan and konjac powder with some white sugar until evenly mixed. Slowly add the mixture to room temperature purified water while stirring at high speed, stirring until evenly dispersed and free of lumps. Heat to 85°C and keep warm while stirring for 15 minutes to allow it to fully swell into a uniform and transparent sol.

[0045] Mixing: Mix the sea cucumber peptide composition, fruit juice, citric acid, sucralose, flavoring and other materials evenly in another mixing tank and heat to 60°C.

[0046] Filling and sterilization: Slowly add the liquid from step 2 to the adhesive from step 1, stir to homogenize, and keep the temperature above 70°C for filling.

[0047] Cooling and molding: Seal immediately after filling and place in a cold water bath to cool to room temperature, allowing it to gel and solidify.

[0048] Product Features: This product is light purple in color, has a chewy texture, a sweet and sour taste, and a rich blueberry flavor. It satisfies children's love for snacks while precisely supplementing the nutrients needed for eye health, making it especially suitable for school-aged children's daily consumption.

[0049] Application Example 2: High-end Eye Care Oral Liquid Product positioning: Targeting the high-end white-collar and gift market, with a high-end dosage form, rapid absorption, and significant efficacy.

[0050] Formula (based on a production run of 1000 vials, 10mL per vial): Sea cucumber peptide composition (total mixed powder obtained in Example 1): 800g; Xylitol: 500g; Honey: 300g; Potassium sorbate: 2g; Menthol: 0.5g; Purified water: Add to a total of 10L; Preparation process: Solution preparation: Heat purified water to 60-70°C, add xylitol and honey while stirring, until completely dissolved.

[0051] Mixing: Slowly add the sea cucumber peptide composition to the above solution and shear for 5 minutes using a high-speed shearing machine (3000 rpm) to ensure it is fully dispersed and uniform.

[0052] Flavoring and volume adjustment: After dissolving potassium sorbate by stirring, cool the solution to room temperature. Add the ethanol solution of menthol, stir well, and then adjust the volume to 10L.

[0053] Filtration and filling: The oral liquid was filtered using a diatomaceous earth filter to obtain a clear and transparent solution. It was then filled into 10mL oral liquid bottles using an oral liquid filling machine and sealed with caps.

[0054] Sterilization: Use a water bath sterilizer to sterilize at 80°C for 20 minutes. After cooling, wipe the bottle to obtain the product.

[0055] Product Features: The oral liquid is clear and bright, with a refreshing and sweet taste and a hint of minty coolness. Small molecule peptides and nutrients are present in liquid form, allowing for rapid absorption and high bioavailability. It is suitable for high-intensity work professionals who overuse their eyes to quickly replenish energy and relieve fatigue.

[0056] Application Example 3: Sports Nutrition Eye Protection Compressed Candy Product positioning: Targeting sports enthusiasts and young consumers, the product is stylish, portable, and multifunctional (sports recovery + eye protection).

[0057] Formula (based on a production run of 10,000 tablets, 1.0g per tablet): Sea cucumber peptide composition (total mixed powder obtained in Example 1): 6000g; Sorbitol (powder): 2000g; Microcrystalline cellulose: 800g; Magnesium stearate: 40g; Peppermint powder flavoring: 30g; Sucralose: 20g; Silicon dioxide: 50g; Preparation process: Mixing: Add the sea cucumber peptide composition, sorbitol, microcrystalline cellulose, sucralose, and peppermint flavoring to a three-dimensional mixer in sequence and mix for 30 minutes until homogeneous.

[0058] Final mixing: Add magnesium stearate and silica as lubricants and flow aids, and continue mixing for 5 minutes.

[0059] Tableting: The mixed powder is compressed into tablets using a rotary tablet press, with a tablet weight of 1.0g, a tablet diameter of 8mm, and a hardness controlled at 8-10kg.

[0060] Packaging: The compressed tablets should be immediately packaged in aluminum-plastic blister packs or bottles.

[0061] Product Features: The tablets have a smooth surface, uniform color, and a refreshing minty flavor. Small molecule peptides aid in post-exercise recovery, while the complex eye-protecting ingredients combat UV damage and radiation from electronic device screens during exercise, meeting the dual needs of modern young people for "sports + health."

[0062] Experimental Example 1: Validation of Synergistic Effect of Compositions (In Vitro Cell Assay) 1. Experimental objective: By comparing the effects of the complete composition of this invention with the composition lacking key components in a cell model, the synergistic effect between the components is quantitatively verified.

[0063] 2. Experimental Materials and Methods: Cell line: Human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19).

[0064] Modeling: An oxidation damage model was established by irradiation with 450nm blue light (2000 lux).

[0065] Grouping and treatment (the test substance in each group was added to the culture medium 4 hours before blue light irradiation, at a concentration of 100 μg / mL): NC group: Normal culture, without blue light exposure.

[0066] Model group: Blue light exposure, no intervention provided.

[0067] Single group (lutein ester): Blue light irradiation + ordinary lutein ester powder with only added ingredients.

[0068] Partial group (zinc deficiency): Blue light irradiation + the formulation of this invention that does not contain zinc compounds.

[0069] Physical group (physical mixture): Blue light irradiation + contains all ingredients but lutein esters are not microencapsulated, and is only a physical mixture of ordinary powder.

[0070] Full group (this invention): Blue light irradiation + the full composition of this invention (via microencapsulation process).

[0071] Detection indicators: CCK-8 assay for cell viability; flow cytometry (Annexin V-FITC / PI staining) for apoptosis rate; DCFH-DA fluorescent probe for intracellular ROS levels.

[0072] 3. Experimental Results and Data Analysis: 4. In-depth explanation and conclusion: Basic efficacy verification: Compared with the NC group, the cell survival rate in the Model group was significantly reduced, while the apoptosis rate and ROS level increased sharply, indicating that the blue light damage model was successfully constructed.

[0073] Limitations of single-component approach: Although the single group (lutein esters only) had a protective effect, the effect was limited, proving that the single-component strategy cannot address the complex oxidative damage pathway.

[0074] Zinc deficiency-induced efficacy bottleneck: The partial group (zinc-deficient) showed significantly weaker effects than the full group (P<0.01). Data demonstrates that zinc deficiency leads to inefficient β-carotene-to-VA conversion pathways, preventing optimal cell protection even with an antioxidant network. This directly verifies the indispensable catalytic role of zinc and quantitatively reflects the synergistic effect of the biochemical cascade between components.

[0075] The process determines efficacy: the Physical group (physical mixing) showed significantly lower efficacy than the Full group (P<0.01). This data is crucial to this experiment: it demonstrates that even with identical components, the lack of microencapsulation leads to low bioavailability and poor stability of lutein esters, ultimately resulting in significantly reduced efficacy. This eloquently illustrates that the preparation process of this invention is not a conventional method, but rather a core technology that directly determines the final efficacy.

[0076] Synergistic Advantages of the Full Formulation: The Full formulation (the present invention) demonstrated the best performance across all metrics and showed statistically significant differences compared to any incomplete formulation. This quantitatively proves that the present invention, through component synergy and process innovation, does indeed produce a synergistic effect.

[0077] Experimental Example 2: In vivo validation of the absorption-enhancing effect of functional excipients (pectin) 1. Experimental objective: The invention precisely quantifies the unique role of the functional excipient "pectin" in promoting zinc absorption and thereby improving the efficiency of the entire pathway, thus verifying the "process-function" linkage mechanism.

[0078] 2. Experimental Materials and Methods: Animals: Male SD rats, weighing 180-220g, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8).

[0079] Grouping and intervention (continuous gavage for 14 days): Control group: Gavage with an equal volume of physiological saline.

[0080] Maltodextrin group: administered by gavage a mixture of zinc gluconate (10 mg / kg Zn) and β-carotene, using ordinary maltodextrin as a carrier.

[0081] Invention group: The whole formula of the present invention was administered by gavage (i.e., using maltodextrin-pectin complex as the wall material), with the same zinc content as the Maltodextrin group.

[0082] Sample collection: Two hours after gavage on day 14, blood from the abdominal aorta and liver tissue were collected after anesthesia.

[0083] Testing indicators: Serum zinc concentration: detected by ICP-MS.

[0084] Liver vitamin A content: Detected by HPLC, vitamin A is enriched in the liver, and its content can directly reflect the absorption and conversion efficiency.

[0085] SCFAs in colon contents: GC-MS method for detecting short-chain fatty acid (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid) content.

[0086] 3. Experimental Results and Data Analysis: 4. In-depth explanation and conclusion: Direct evidence of enhanced absorption: Serum zinc concentrations in the Invention group (the present invention) were significantly higher than those in the Maltodextrin group (P<0.01). This indicates that, with identical composition and dosage, the composition of the present invention, using a maltodextrin-pectin complex as a carrier, significantly improves zinc bioavailability. This is not due to zinc itself, but rather to the unique effect of pectin.

[0087] Downstream effects were amplified: as a direct result of increased zinc absorption, the liver vitamin A content in the Invention group was also significantly higher than that in the Maltodextrin group (P<0.01). This perfectly validates the logical chain of "more zinc, leading to higher catalytic efficiency, leading to more VA generation," demonstrating the foresight and scientific rigor of this invention.

[0088] Conclusive evidence of the mechanism: The colonic butyrate content was significantly increased in the Invention group (P<0.01), while no such change was observed in the other two groups. Butyrate is a characteristic product of the fermentation of dietary fiber such as pectin by gut microbiota. This data is a key bridge connecting "pectin" and "promoting zinc absorption," directly proving the mechanism described in this invention: pectin fermentation in the intestine produces SCFAs such as butyrate, which lowers the local pH, thereby promoting the dissolution and absorption of zinc.

[0089] Conclusion: In this experimental example, pectin promotes fermentation to produce butyric acid, enhances zinc absorption, and increases vitamin A production. This data confirms the multifunctional role of pectin (processing aid + absorption promoter) in this invention.

[0090] In summary, the results of Experiment 1 indicate that the complete composition of this invention (Full group) exhibits the best performance in alleviating blue light-induced oxidative damage to retinal cells. Its cell survival rate (92.7%), apoptosis inhibition rate (11.5%), and ROS scavenging effect (fluorescence intensity 145.8) are significantly superior to the control group lacking the key component (Partial group) or without microencapsulation (Physical group) (P<0.01). This quantitatively demonstrates that the catalytic effect of zinc and the microencapsulation process are indispensable for achieving synergistic effects among the components, which cannot be achieved by simple mixing.

[0091] Experimental Example 2 further reveals the core value of the process-function linkage from the perspective of in vivo mechanisms: compared with the group using ordinary maltodextrin (Maltodextrin group), the functional excipient of the maltodextrin-pectin complex of this invention significantly increased the serum zinc concentration (201.7 vs 158.3 μg / dL) and liver vitamin A reserves (95.4 vs 68.9 μg / g) in rats, accompanied by a significant increase in colonic butyrate content (29.7 vs 16.8 μmol / g) (P<0.01). This data chain clearly constitutes a complete evidence loop of "pectin, to fermentation to butyrate production, to promoting zinc absorption, to increasing vitamin A production," conclusively confirming the active role of the excipient system of this invention in promoting the absorption of key nutrients and amplifying the final physiological effects.

[0092] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia, characterized in that, The active ingredients, by weight, include: 20-50 parts sea cucumber peptide, 10-30 parts oyster peptide, 5-20 parts blueberry powder, 1-5 parts microencapsulated lutein ester, 0.5-3 parts β-carotene, 0.001-0.005 parts vitamin A, 1-5 parts zinc compound (calculated as elemental zinc), 0.1-1 parts selenium compound (calculated as elemental selenium); and 10-30 parts functional excipients as encapsulation carriers and absorption promoters, wherein the functional excipients are a complex of maltodextrin and pectin in a mass ratio of (3:1)-(5:1).

2. The sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia according to claim 1, characterized in that: The average molecular weights of the sea cucumber peptide and oyster peptide are both less than 1000 Daltons.

3. The sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia according to claim 1, characterized in that: The zinc compound is one or more of zinc gluconate, zinc citrate, or yeast zinc; the selenium compound is one or more of selenium yeast, selenoprotein, or sodium selenite.

4. The sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microencapsulated lutein ester is prepared by spray drying using the aforementioned functional excipients as the wall material.

5. The sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each active ingredient works in synergistic way with the functional excipients through the following mechanisms: The maltodextrin in the functional excipients encapsulates fat-soluble lutein esters, ensuring their physical stability in coexisting with water-soluble components such as sea cucumber peptides and oyster peptides. The pectin in the functional excipients is fermented by microorganisms in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids, which lowers the local pH value of the intestine and promotes the dissociation and absorption of zinc ions. The absorbed zinc ions act as a cofactor, catalyzing the conversion of β-carotene into vitamin A in the body; The vitamin A produced by the conversion, together with the amino acids provided by the sea cucumber peptide and oyster peptide, participates in the synthesis of rhodopsin; The lutein esters and blueberry powder work synergistically to form a retinal antioxidant defense network, filtering blue light and scavenging free radicals; The selenium compound strengthens the antioxidant defense network by enhancing the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the body.

6. A method for preparing a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Preparation of microencapsulated lutein ester: The oil-soluble raw material of lutein ester is dispersed in an aqueous solution with maltodextrin and pectin as wall materials, homogenized and then spray-dried to obtain microencapsulated lutein ester powder. S2: Grind sea cucumber peptide, oyster peptide, and blueberry powder separately through an 80-100 mesh sieve to obtain mixed powder A; S3: The microencapsulated lutein ester, β-carotene, vitamin A, zinc compound, selenium compound obtained in step S1 are mixed with the remaining functional excipients using an equal-incrementing method to obtain mixed powder B; S4: Add powder A and powder B into the three-dimensional mixer and mix for 30-45 minutes until homogeneous; S5: Granulate, dry, tablet, or fill capsules according to requirements to obtain the final product.

7. The application of a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia in the preparation of functional foods, health foods or dietary supplements that relieve eye fatigue, improve visual function or delay the onset and progression of myopia.

8. A functional food, characterized in that, The active ingredient is a sea cucumber peptide composition as described in any one of claims 1-5 for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia. The dosage form of the functional food is granules, tablets, hard capsules, soft capsules, or oral liquid.

9. A liquid beverage, characterized in that, The product comprises, by weight, 8-30 parts of a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia as described in any one of claims 1-5, 10-30 parts of concentrated fruit juice, 0.01-0.5 parts of edible flavoring, 0.01-1 parts of sweetener, 0.01-3 parts of acidity regulator, and 40-70 parts of water.

10. A solid beverage, characterized in that, The product comprises, by weight, 40-75 parts of a sea cucumber peptide composition for relieving and preventing eye fatigue and myopia as described in any one of claims 1-5, 0-1 parts of an acidity regulator, 0-1 parts of a sweetener, 0-1 parts of an edible flavoring, and 20-30 parts of a fruit concentrate powder.

Images