Locomotive syndrome preventing or improving composition

Abstract

To provide a preventing or improving composition for locomotive syndrome which exhibits locomotive function reduction due to locomotorium disability and has a high risk of causing a state requiring care.SOLUTION: A locomotive syndrome preventing or improving composition contains phycocyanin. The composition, preferably, additionally contains one or more selected from the group consisting of N-acetylglucosamine, chondroitin, a boswellia serrata extract, hyaluronic acid, and collagen.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or ameliorating locomotive syndrome, which is a condition in which disorders of the musculoskeletal system cause a decline in mobility and increase the risk of becoming in a state requiring nursing care. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the aging of society, health foods with various functions, including foods for specified health uses, have been attracting attention, and the market is expanding as an option for promoting and maintaining health without relying on pharmaceuticals. In this trend, consumer needs are becoming more specialized, and health foods with various functionalities are being developed. In particular, with age, the function of the locomotor system, such as muscles, bones, and nerves, declines, leading to a decrease in walking ability and the development of products that can alleviate symptoms that reduce the behavioral activity of the elderly, such as locomotive syndrome, which interferes with daily life, and frailty, which is a condition in which the symptoms have progressed to the point of causing health problems.

[0003] Here, a lipase activity inhibitor containing phycocyanin as an active ingredient has been reported for spirulina (spirulina extract), as phycocyanin derived from spirulina has the effect of inhibiting the activity of lipases such as pancreatic lipase (see Patent Document 1). In addition, a serum lipid lowering agent containing phycocyanin as an active ingredient has been reported, as phycocyanin derived from spirulina has a higher serum lipid improving effect than soybean protein (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-359638 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2003-137805 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, it was not known that oral intake of a composition containing spirulina or phycocyanin could slow the progression of locomotive syndrome and maintain and improve mobility.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a composition that can be orally ingested continuously on a daily basis, which has the effects of preventing locomotive syndrome, ameliorating and alleviating the progression of symptoms, and maintaining and improving mobility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of intensive research aimed at solving the above problems, the inventors have confirmed that spirulina and phycocyanin have effects on joints and improving mobility, and have therefore discovered the effects of preventing and improving locomotive syndrome, which led to the completion of the present invention.

[0008] That is, the present invention includes the following aspects. [1] A composition for preventing or ameliorating locomotive syndrome, comprising one or more of spirulina and phycocyanin. [2] The composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome described in [1], further comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of N-acetylglucosamine, chondroitin, Boswellia serrata extract, hyaluronic acid, and collagen. [3] A composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome according to [1] or [2], characterized in that it is a composition for suppressing joint pain. [4] A composition for preventing or ameliorating locomotive syndrome according to any one of [1] to [3], characterized in that the composition is for suppressing a decline in mobility. [5] A composition for preventing or ameliorating locomotive syndrome according to any one of [1] to [4], which is a food composition.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a composition which can be orally ingested continuously on a daily basis and which has the effects of improving locomotive syndrome, mitigating or preventing the progression of symptoms, and maintaining and improving mobility. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The composition according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. However, the description of the constituent elements described below is an example of one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these contents.

[0011] The composition according to the present embodiment relates to a composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome, which contains at least one of spirulina and phycocyanin. Hereinafter, the active ingredients of the composition according to this embodiment will be described, and then the use and form of the composition will be described.

[0012] <Composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome> The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome. Here, locomotive syndrome refers to a state in which the locomotor system, such as muscles, bones, joints, and nerves, is impaired in function due to aging or the like. Causes of impaired locomotor function include sarcopenia symptoms such as reduced muscle mass, osteoporosis, bone fractures, osteoarthritis of the knee, and osteoarthritis of the spine, which cause reduced bone mass. As locomotive syndrome progresses, it becomes difficult to live daily life alone, the risk of needing nursing care increases, and there is a possibility that the condition may reach a state called frailty, in which the person is more susceptible to health disorders.

[0013] The composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome of the present invention has the effect of preventing or improving various symptoms caused by locomotive syndrome, such as reducing joint pain when walking and improving mobility, as shown in the examples described below.

[0014] <Spirulina> The spirulina used in the present invention is a microscopic spiral alga belonging to the genus Spirulina in the family Oscillatory family of the order Nostocaceae, and is rich in proteins, sugars, various vitamins, minerals, and vegetable pigments.

[0015] Examples of these spirulinas include Spirulina platensis, Spirulina maxima, Spirulina geitleri, Spirulina siamese, Spirulina major, Spirulina subsalasa, Spirulina princeps, Spirulina laxissima, Spirulina curta, and Spirulina spirulinoides. Among these, particularly preferred spirulina, which can be artificially cultivated and is therefore easily available, include Spirulina platensis, Spirulina geitleri, and Spirulina siamese.

[0016] The spirulina used in the composition of this embodiment may be spirulina obtained from nature or algae (wet algae) cultured in a liquid medium as is, but it is preferable to use a spirulina extract, which is an extract obtained by extracting spirulina from wet algae with a solvent such as water or ethanol, or by concentrating or drying the extract.

[0017] <<Spirulina Extract>> The extract used in producing the Spirulina extract is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but for example, hot water can be used. In this embodiment, an extract obtained by extracting Spirulina algae with hot water, or an extract obtained by concentrating or drying the extract, can be preferably used. The method for obtaining the Spirulina extract is not particularly limited and can be obtained according to a conventional method, for example, the method for producing the extract described in the above-mentioned Non-Patent Document 1 and JP-A-8-9940, etc. More specifically, the following production method can be used.

[0018] <<Spirulina extract manufacturing method>> Spirulina extract can be produced by extracting Spirulina algae with hot water at a temperature exceeding 100°C, adjusting the pH of the extract to specific acidic conditions, and then removing the insoluble fraction to obtain a Spirulina extract. When the spirulina extract is used in a liquid state, the spirulina extract obtained as described above can be used as it is. The spirulina extract can also be used as a powder obtained by concentrating or drying the spirulina extract. The spirulina extract used in the composition according to this embodiment can be either a spirulina extract or one produced by concentrating or drying the spirulina extract.

[0019] The spirulina used to produce the spirulina extract may be commercially available or may be cultivated by the user. Furthermore, raw spirulina or dried raw spirulina may be used. The cultivation method for Spirulina can be the same as that used for culturing blue-green algae. For example, Spirulina can be cultivated and grown outdoors under alkaline conditions. The Spirulina obtained by cultivation (hereinafter also referred to as Spirulina algae) can be used as it is, or the cultivated Spirulina can be collected on a filter cloth or filter paper, washed with water, and then suspended in water to form a suspension. Furthermore, the culture solution or suspension can be concentrated to form wet algae, or the wet algae can be dried by freeze-drying, spray-drying, or the like to form dry algae, or the dry algae can be powdered. The Spirulina algae cells used for hot water extraction may be wet algae cells, freeze-dried algae cells, spray-dried algae cells, crushed algae cells, etc. For example, crushed algae cells can be obtained by crushing the algae cells using a conventional method, such as high-pressure extrusion using a French press in the industrial field.

[0020] Next, the hot water extraction operation will be described. For example, the Spirulina algae processed as described above are suspended in advance in an extraction solvent, for example, distilled water, in a pressurized container. The suspension concentration is not particularly limited, but considering the extraction efficiency and the cost of recovery, it is preferably 1 to 20% by mass relative to the solvent. The extraction solvent may be tap water, but distilled water is preferable in consideration of the application of the extract as a food material. The extraction temperature is usually a temperature above 100°C, preferably 105°C to 140°C, and more preferably 110°C to 130°C. The extraction pressure is preferably 1.0 to 2.5 atm. In addition, stirring may or may not be performed during extraction, but stirring is preferable in terms of thermal efficiency. The longer the extraction time, the greater the amount of extraction, but considering efficiency, it is usually preferable that the extraction time is 0.5 to 4 hours.

[0021] Next, the algae residue and the aggregated proteins due to heat denaturation are removed from the algae residue suspension (pH = about 6.8 to 7.0) after the above extraction operation. For example, the suspension may be centrifuged or filtered to obtain a supernatant. However, since a large amount of protein is still dissolved in the supernatant, it is preferable to further remove the dissolved protein. To further remove the dissolved protein, it is preferable to add an acid to the suspension to make the pH of the extract acidic below the isoelectric point of the protein. This causes the protein to aggregate, and the aggregated protein can be separated by centrifugation, filtration, or the like to obtain a Spirulina extract. Alternatively, the pH of the algae residue suspension after the extraction operation may be adjusted to below the isoelectric point of the protein as described above without first removing the algae residue, and then the algae residue and the aggregated protein may be separated by centrifugation, filtration, or the like. By removing the aggregated protein, a Spirulina extract containing a high yield of polysaccharides can be obtained.

[0022] In the present invention, the amount of spirulina added is not particularly limited as long as the effect is obtained, but it is preferable that the amount be 10 mass% or more, calculated as the dry weight, in the composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome, and more preferably 15 mass% or more, since this results in a significant effect of improving locomotive syndrome.

[0023] There are no particular limitations on the daily intake amount of spirulina as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but it is recommended to take 200 to 100,000 mg per day, and it is preferable to take 500 to 6,000 mg as this has a significant effect in reducing joint pain.

[0024] <Phycocyanin> Phycocyanin is one of the active ingredients in the composition according to the present embodiment. Phycocyanin is a pigment protein and has phycocyanobilin as a chromophore. Phycocyanin has a structure in which phycocyanobilin and protein are bonded.

[0025] Examples of phycocyanin used in the composition according to the present embodiment include phycocyanins derived from algae such as phycocyanin derived from blue-green algae, phycocyanin derived from red algae, and phycocyanin derived from cryptophyte. Among these, phycocyanin derived from blue-green algae is preferred because it can be harvested in large quantities.

[0026] Examples of cyanobacteria include those of the genera Spirulina, Arthrospira, Aphanizomenon, Fisherella, Anabaena, Nostoc, Synechocystis, Synechococcus, Tolypothrix, Aphanothece, Mastigoclaus, Pleurocapsa, etc. Among these, cyanobacteria of the genera Spirulina and Arthrospira, which are produced on an industrial scale and whose safety has been confirmed, are preferred, and those of the genus Spirulina are more preferred. As a raw material for preparing phycocyanin, raw cyanobacteria may be used, or dried cyanobacteria may be used. As a dried product of cyanobacteria, raw cyanobacteria may be dried according to a conventional method, or a commercially available dried product may be used.

[0027] Examples of phycocyanin include C-phycocyanin, R-phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin. From the viewpoints of quality, safety, and availability, it is preferable to contain C-phycocyanin as the phycocyanin. Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the composition according to this embodiment is a composition containing C-phycocyanin as an active ingredient. Further, a preferred embodiment of the composition according to this embodiment is a composition containing C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin. For example, a mixture of phycocyanin consisting of C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin obtained by extraction from blue-green algae of the genus Spirulina can be contained in the composition.

[0028] Phycocyanin can be obtained, for example, by suspending blue-green algae in water or a buffer solution such as a phosphate buffer or a citrate buffer, and extracting the phycocyanin from the blue-green algae. The method for extracting phycocyanin is not particularly limited, and it can be extracted according to a conventional method. A preferred embodiment of the extraction method is, for example, the extraction method described in JP 2006-230272 A. Specifically, the extraction method described in the following extraction method (i) can be mentioned. By the following extraction method (i), phycocyanin with high purity and vivid color can be obtained.

[0029] <<Phycocyanin Extraction Method (i)>> The extraction method (i) comprises a first step of extracting phycocyanin from cyanobacteria into an aqueous suspension to obtain an extract; a second step of reacting a calcium salt with a phosphate in the extract to produce calcium phosphate and adsorbing phycocyanin impurities to the calcium phosphate to obtain an adsorbate; and a third step of removing the cyanobacteria residue and the adsorbate from the extract.

[0030] Furthermore, it is more preferable that the above extraction method (i) is the following extraction method (ii). <<Phycocyanin extraction method (ii)>> The extraction method (ii) comprises a first step of extracting phycocyanin from cyanobacteria into an aqueous suspension to obtain an extract; a second step of reacting a calcium salt with a phosphate in the extract to produce calcium phosphate and to adsorb phycocyanin impurities to obtain an adsorbate; a third step of removing the cyanobacteria residue and the adsorbate from the extract; and a step of adding a chelating agent to the extract prior to the third step.

[0031] By using the above-mentioned phycocyanin extraction method (i) or (ii), high-quality phycocyanin can be extracted from cyanobacteria. By using the above extraction method (i) or (ii) for cyanobacteria of the genus Spirulina, in particular, it is possible to extract high-quality phycocyanin having a good mixture ratio of C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin. In the above extraction method, the mixture ratio of C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin may be adjusted to a desired range by appropriately selecting the extraction conditions.

[0032] The phycocyanin type may be all C-phycocyanin, or it may contain allophycocyanin, with the composition containing a mixture of C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin. The mixing ratio of C-phycocyanin to allophycocyanin is, for example, preferably 3-9.5:0.5-7, more preferably 6-9.5:0.5-4, and even more preferably 7-8:2-3, by mass ratio.

[0033] In the present invention, the amount of phycocyanin added is not particularly limited as long as the effect can be obtained, but it is preferably 0.1% by mass or more in terms of dry weight in the composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome, and more preferably 1.0% by mass or more because the effect of improving locomotive syndrome is significantly obtained.

[0034] The daily intake of phycocyanin is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but it is recommended to take 5 to 1,000 mg per day, and it is preferable to take 15 to 5,000 mg because the effect of reducing joint pain is remarkable.

[0035] The composition for improving locomotive syndrome of the present invention preferably contains, in addition to the spirulina, one or more animal or plant-derived raw materials such as N-acetylglucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, Boswellia serrata extract, etc., as additional components. These components may be commercially available raw materials, and may be appropriately added to enhance the effects of the present invention. Among them, N-acetylglucosamine and chondroitin are preferred because they enhance the effect of improving locomotive syndrome.

[0036] <N-アセチルグルコサミン> The N-acetylglucosamine used as an additional component in the present invention is a compound in which the hydroxyl group at the 2-position of glucose is replaced with an acetylamino group. The N-acetylglucosamine used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, and commercially available products or products modified by appropriate chemical treatments may be used.

[0037] When N-acetylglucosamine is added in the present invention, the amount added is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are obtained; however, it is preferable that the amount added be 20 to 90% by mass of the composition, and it is preferable that the amount added be 30 to 80% by mass, since a more significant effect on the joints is obtained.

[0038] There are no particular limitations on the daily intake of N-acetylglucosamine, but it is recommended to take 300 to 1,500 mg per day, and it is preferable to take 400 to 600 mg as this has a significant effect on reducing joint pain.

[0039] <Chondroitin> The chondroitin used as an additional component in the present invention is a kind of mucopolysaccharide that exists in the human body as chondroitin sulfate. The chondroitin used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention can be obtained, and sulfate salt, sodium salt, etc. may be used. As these chondroitins, commercially available ones may be used, and there is no particular limit.

[0040] When chondroitin is added in the present invention, the amount added is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are obtained, but it is preferable to add 0.01 to 10% by mass of the composition, and it is preferable to add 1 to 7% by mass, as this has a more pronounced effect on joints.

[0041] There are no particular limitations on the daily intake of chondroitin, but it is recommended to take 5 to 1,500 mg per day, and it is preferable to take 15 to 30 mg as this has a significant effect in reducing joint pain.

[0042] <Hyaluronic acid> The hyaluronic acid used as additional component in the present invention is a kind of linear mucopolysaccharide.The hyaluronic acid used in the present invention is not particularly limited within the scope that can obtain the effect of the present invention, and sodium salt, etc. can be used.These hyaluronic acids can be commercially available and are not particularly limited.

[0043] When hyaluronic acid is added in the present invention, the amount added is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but it is preferable to add 0.01 to 10% by mass of the composition, and it is preferable to add 1 to 5% by mass, as this will have a more significant effect on the joints.

[0044] There is no particular limit to the daily intake amount of hyaluronic acid, but it is recommended to take 10 to 240 mg per day, and it is preferable to take 20 to 120 mg as this has a significant effect in reducing joint pain.

[0045] <Boswellia serrata extract> The Boswellia serrata extract used as an additional component in the present invention is an extract made from Indian frankincense. The Boswellia serrata extract used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, and those produced by various extraction methods and processing methods may be used.

[0046] When Boswellia serrata extract is added in the present invention, the amount of the extract added is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained. However, the amount of the extract added is preferably 1.0 to 30% by mass in the composition, and more preferably 5.0 to 20% by mass, since a more significant effect on the joints can be obtained.

[0047] The daily intake amount of Boswellia serrata extract is not particularly limited, but it is recommended to take 50 to 200 mg per day, and it is preferable to take 70 to 150 mg because the effect of reducing joint pain is significant.

[0048] <Collagen> The collagen used as an additional component in the present invention is a protein constituting cartilage, tendons, ligaments, dermis, etc. of vertebrates. The collagen used as an additional component in the present invention may be either animal-derived collagen or synthetic collagen, and may further include collagen protein, collagen peptide obtained by hydrolyzing collagen protein, or atelocollagen obtained by treating collagen molecules with protease to remove telopeptide portions. As the animal-derived collagen, fish-derived collagen is preferred.

[0049] The average molecular weight (weight average molecular weight) of the collagen used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, 500 to 1,000,000, and more preferably 1,000 to 300,000.

[0050] When collagen is added in the present invention, the amount added is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but it is preferable to add 0.1 to 10 mass% of collagen to the composition, and it is preferable to add 0.2 to 5 mass% because a more significant effect on the joints can be obtained when collagen is added in an amount of 0.1 to 10 mass%.

[0051] There is no particular limit to the daily intake of collagen, but it is recommended to take 0.5 to 100,000 mg per day, and it is preferable to take 1 to 50 mg as this has a significant effect in reducing joint pain.

[0052] The composition for preventing or ameliorating locomotive syndrome of the present invention can be used as an oral food composition or pharmaceutical composition as described below.

[0053] (Food composition) In the field of food, the composition according to the present embodiment can be provided as a food composition having a desired action by blending an effective amount of an active ingredient capable of effectively exerting a desired action as a food ingredient into various foods, in addition to general foods. The composition according to the present embodiment can be suitably used in food compositions such as health foods, functional foods, nutritional supplements, supplements, health functional foods, foods for specified health uses, nutritional functional foods, functional foods, foods with functional claims, foods for sick people, food additives, feeds and feed additives. The form of the food composition is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and can be, for example, solid, liquid, gel, etc.

[0054] A functional food is a food that displays functionality based on scientific evidence at the responsibility of the business operator, and information on the basis of safety and functionality is reported to the Commissioner of the Consumer Affairs Agency before sale. The food composition according to the present embodiment may be labeled with claims such as "improves knee joint problems when moving", "for those who are concerned about walking or going up and down stairs", "relieves knee movement problems", "relieves discomfort in the knee", etc., as a food composition intended to prevent or improve locomotive syndrome.

[0055] Examples of food compositions include non-alcoholic beverages such as soft drinks, carbonated drinks, drinks containing fruit juice, drinks containing vegetable juice, drinks containing fruit juice and vegetable juice, milk and other livestock milk, soy milk, dairy drinks, drink-type yogurt, drink-type and stick-type jellies, coffee, cocoa, tea drinks, nutritional drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, mineral water, near-water, and non-alcoholic beer-flavored drinks; carbohydrate-containing foods and beverages such as rice, noodles, bread, and pasta; dairy products such as cheese, hard or soft yogurt, fresh cream made from livestock milk or other oils and fats, and ice cream; Western confectionery such as cookies, cakes, and chocolate, Japanese confectionery such as manju and yokan, tablet confectionery (refreshing confectionery) such as ramune, candies, gums, cold and frozen desserts such as jellies and puddings, and snacks; whiskey, bourbon, spirits, liqueurs, wine, fruit wine, Japanese sake, Chinese sake, shochu, beer, and drinks with an alcohol content of 1%. These include the following alcoholic beverages: non-alcoholic beer, happoshu, other miscellaneous alcoholic beverages, chuhai, etc.; processed foods using eggs, processed seafood and meat (including liver and other offal) products (including delicacies), processed foods such as miso soup and other soups, condiments such as miso, soy sauce, furikake, and other seasonings, and liquid foods such as thick liquid foods. In addition, when the food composition is, for example, a health food, functional food, nutritional supplement, supplement, health functional food, food for specified health uses, nutritional functional food, food with functional claims, food for the sick, food additive, feed and feed additive, etc., it may be in the form of a tablet (including chewable tablets, etc.), capsule, troche, syrup, jelly, granules, powder, etc.

[0056] In addition to the above-mentioned active ingredients, the food composition according to the present embodiment may contain one or more ingredients that can be used in general food compositions. For example, all additives that can be used in general food fields, such as various seasonings, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, excipients, lubricants, flavors, colorants, preservatives, and pH adjusters, may be contained.

[0057] Pharmaceutical Composition The composition according to the present embodiment can be provided as a pharmaceutical composition having a desired effect in the field of pharmaceuticals by blending an effective amount of an active ingredient capable of effectively exerting a desired effect together with a pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier, additive, etc. The composition according to the present embodiment can be suitably used, for example, as a pharmaceutical composition for treating, preventing, or improving locomotive syndrome. The pharmaceutical composition may be either a pharmaceutical drug or a quasi-drug. The form of the pharmaceutical composition is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, it can be in a solid, liquid, gel, or other form.

[0058] The pharmaceutical composition may contain additives such as pharma- ceutically acceptable ordinary carriers, binders, stabilizers, excipients, diluents, pH buffers, disintegrants, solubilizers, dissolution aids, and isotonicity agents. The pharmaceutical composition may be for oral or parenteral use, but is more preferably for oral use. For oral use, it may be in the form of a commonly used dosage form, such as tablets, powders, granules, capsules, syrups, suspensions, etc. For parenteral use, it may be in the form of a commonly used dosage form, such as injection (subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, etc.) of a dosage form such as a solution, emulsion, or suspension, or intranasal administration in the form of a spray, etc.

[0059] An example of a food composition and / or pharmaceutical composition in the form of a tablet is shown below. When the food composition and / or pharmaceutical composition is in the form of, for example, a tablet (also called tablet), the active ingredient can be appropriately combined with additives such as excipients, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, preservatives, antioxidants, isotonicity agents, buffers, coating agents, flavoring agents, solubilizers, bases, dispersants, stabilizers, colorants, etc., and prepared according to conventional methods.

[0060] The manufacturing method of the tableted food and beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but it is manufactured through a process including a mixing process in which various raw materials are mixed, and a tableting process.

[0061] In the mixing step, mixing using a V-type mixer, a W-type mixer, or a Bohle container mixer can be adopted, and mixing using a V-type mixer is particularly preferable.

[0062] In the tableting step, tableting using a rotary type tableting machine, a single punch tableting machine, or a twin punch tableting machine can be adopted, and tableting using a rotary type tableting machine is particularly preferred.

[0063] Excipients include starch and its derivatives (dextrin, carboxymethyl starch, etc.), cellulose and its derivatives (methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, etc.), sugars (lactose, sucrose, glucose, trehalose, etc.), citric acid or salts thereof, malic acid or salts thereof, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or salts thereof.

[0064] Examples of binders include starch and its derivatives (gelatinized starch, dextrin, etc.), cellulose and its derivatives (ethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.), gum arabic, tragacanth, gelatin, sugars (glucose, sucrose, etc.), ethanol, etc.

[0065] Disintegrants include starch and its derivatives (carboxymethyl starch, hydroxypropyl starch, etc.), cellulose and its derivatives (sodium carboxymethylcellulose, crystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, etc.), carbonates (calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, etc.), tragacanth, gelatin, agar, etc.

[0066] Examples of the lubricant include stearic acid, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, talc, titanium oxide, calcium hydrogen phosphate, dried aluminum hydroxide gel, sucrose fatty acid esters, edible fats and oils, and the like.

[0067] Preservatives include paraoxybenzoic acid esters, sulfites (sodium sulfite, sodium pyrosulfite, etc.), phosphates (sodium phosphate, calcium polyphosphate, sodium polyphosphate, sodium metaphosphate, etc.), dehydroacetic acid, sodium dehydroacetate, glycerin sorbate, sugars, etc.

[0068] Examples of antioxidants include sulfites (sodium sulfite, sodium hydrogen sulfite, etc.), erythorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, cysteine, thioglycerol, butylhydroxyanisole, dibutylhydroxytoluene, propyl gallate, ascorbyl palmitate, dl-α-tocopherol, etc.

[0069] Examples of isotonic agents include sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, dextrin, glycerin, glucose, and the like.

[0070] Examples of the buffer include sodium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, boric acid, and phosphates (such as sodium hydrogen phosphate).

[0071] Coating agents include cellulose derivatives (hydroxypropyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, etc.), shellac, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyridines (poly-2-vinylpyridine, poly-2-vinyl-5-ethylpyridine, etc.), polyvinyl acetyl diethylamino acetate, polyvinyl alcohol phthalate, methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers, etc.

[0072] Examples of flavoring agents include sugars (glucose, sucrose, lactose, etc.), sodium saccharin, sugar alcohols, etc.

[0073] Examples of solubilizing agents include ethylenediamine, nicotinamide, sodium saccharin, citric acid, citrate salts, sodium benzoate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polysorbates, sorbitan fatty acid esters, glycerin, propylene glycol, and benzyl alcohol.

[0074] Examples of bases include fats (such as lard), vegetable oils (such as olive oil and sesame oil), animal oils, lanolin, petrolatum, paraffin, resins, bentonite, glycerin, glycolic oil, and the like.

[0075] Examples of dispersants include gum arabic, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives (such as methylcellulose), sodium alginate, polysorbates, and sorbitan fatty acid esters.

[0076] Stabilizers include sulfites (such as sodium hydrogen sulfite), nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and the like.

[0077] The total content of active ingredients in the food composition and / or pharmaceutical composition of this embodiment (the combined content of all active ingredients contained in the composition) varies depending on conditions such as the type, ingredients, and form of the food or pharmaceutical, and is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, and can be selected as appropriate.

[0078] In particular, when the food composition and / or pharmaceutical composition according to the present embodiment is in the form of a tablet, the total content of the active ingredient in the tablet is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but is preferably 20% by mass or more, more preferably 50% by mass or more, calculated as the dry weight of the active ingredient in the total mass of the food composition and / or pharmaceutical composition. The total content may be 100% by mass or less, and is preferably 99% by mass or less.

[0079] In the present invention, the total intake amount of each component is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but it is preferable that each component is contained within the above-mentioned blend amount and daily intake range. EXAMPLES

[0080] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0081] Tablets of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 of the present invention were produced by mixing the components according to the ratio shown in Table 1 below and tableting. Commercially available components were used for each blend, and blue No. 2 was added for color matching to unify the appearance. The daily intake of each Example and Comparative Example was 1,800 mg, and 6 tablets were produced for each.

[0082] <How to check the effect> Twenty men and women in their 40s to 70s who felt that their mobility was declining were divided into five groups of four people each. Each group was instructed to take two tablets of the present invention's Examples 1, 2, and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening, for four weeks, and the following questionnaire was administered two weeks and four weeks after the start of the test.

[0083] <Relief of joint pain> A scale with equal intervals from 0 to 10 was prepared, with 5 being the center, meaning no change from before the start of the test, and each subject was asked to plot their subjective evaluation of the effect of reducing joint pain felt while walking, with 0 being worse and 10 being improved. The plotted points for each subject were used as the evaluation of the test, and the average scores for each group of participants two weeks and four weeks after the start of the test are shown in Table 1.

[0084] <Effects on improving mobility> A scale with equal intervals from 0 to 10 was prepared, with 5 representing no change in the center, and each subject was asked to plot their physical evaluation, with 0 representing it becoming more difficult to walk and 10 representing it becoming easier to walk. The plotted points for each subject were used as the evaluation of the test, and the average scores for each group of participants two weeks and four weeks after the start of the test are shown in Table 1.

[0085] [Table 1]

[0086] From the results in Table 1, it was found that spirulina and phycocyanin have an effect on joints and an effect on improving mobility. On the other hand, the composition of Comparative Example 1 had an effect on joints but no effect on improving mobility.

Claims

1. A composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome, comprising phycocyanin.

2. The composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome according to claim 1, further comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of N-acetylglucosamine, chondroitin, Boswellia serrata extract, hyaluronic acid, and collagen.

3. 3. The composition for preventing or ameliorating locomotive syndrome according to claim 1 or 2, which is a composition for suppressing joint pain.

4. The composition for preventing or ameliorating locomotive syndrome according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a composition for suppressing a decline in mobility function.

5. 3. The composition for preventing or improving locomotive syndrome according to claim 1 or 2, which is a food composition.

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