Diet guidance method and diet guidance support system

Abstract

To provide a diet guidance method and a diet guidance support system with which diet guidance can be given according to the state of a person to be guided.SOLUTION: A diet guidance method includes the following steps (a) and (b): (a) a step of determining which of a group in which the sodium-potassium ratio in urine is equal to or more than a threshold (A group) and a group in which the ratio is less than the threshold (B group) a person to be guided belongs; and (b) a step of calculating the amount of potassium to be additionally taken up per day or the net amount of potassium from a target value for reducing the sodium-potassium ratio in urine in a predetermined period, by using corresponding formulas according to the groups.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dietary instruction method for maintaining or improving health and a dietary instruction support system for carrying out said method. [Background technology]

[0002] Since hypertension has a high incidence rate (prevalence), the importance of preventing and improving it is widely recognized. Hypertension is one of the risk factors for, for example, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Restricting salt intake (hereinafter also referred to as "salt reduction") is known as a typical method adopted for preventing and improving hypertension. There are various specific methods for reducing salt intake, such as replacing regular foods with low-salt foods and providing guidance on reducing salt intake.

[0003] As mentioned above, although the importance of salt reduction is widely known, the recommended salt intake and the actual salt intake of Japanese people are still largely different. The daily salt intake recommended by the Japanese Society of Hypertension for an adult is less than 6.0g, but the daily salt intake of people aged 20 years or older in Japan in 2019 is 10.9g for men and 9.3g for women (Non-Patent Document 1). There are various reasons why salt reduction does not progress, for example, low-salt foods have a weak taste and do not taste good, so the satisfaction of the meal is low.

[0004] In addition to reducing salt (sodium) intake, increasing potassium intake has been attracting attention as an effective means for preventing and improving hypertension. It is known that sodium is excreted from the body by ingesting potassium. Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3 report that the ratio of sodium to potassium in urine (hereinafter also referred to as "sodium-potassium ratio" or "Na-K ratio") is significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure. It is also known that the Na-K ratio in urine reflects the Na-K ratio in the diet.

[0005] For the prevention of hypertension, it is important to reduce the Na-K ratio in urine and make it potassium-dominant. Since sodium excretion is promoted by potassium intake, it is considered desirable to consume foods that are rich in potassium, mainly vegetables and fruits. Non-Patent Document 4 describes that the Na-K ratio in urine is improved by increasing the intake of vegetables or fruits under reduced salt. Non-Patent Document 5 discloses a dietary guidance method using a Na-K ratio measuring device and a Nak count table. Specifically, when giving dietary guidance to a trainee, the Na-K ratio in the trainee's urine is measured, and the trainee is instructed to select foods with a low Na-K ratio by referring to the Nak count table, or to be conscious of food combinations.

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that displays the Na-K identifiers of two or more foods on a food distribution map having a sodium content axis and a potassium content axis, and assists in the creation of a menu that allows the intake of food combinations with an appropriate Na-K ratio from the Na-K identifiers of multiple food combinations. Patent Document 2 discloses a system that displays the net potassium content of two or more foods on a food distribution map having a sodium content axis and a potassium content axis, and provides food and drink information that allows the intake of meals with an appropriate net potassium content. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-26418 [Patent Document 2] JP 2022-159817 A [Non-patent literature]

[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] 2019 "National Health and Nutrition Survey Report" Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (December 2020) [Non-Patent Document 2] Park K. et al., The effect of the Sodium to Potassium on Hypertension Prevalence: A Propensity Score Matching Approach, Nutrients, 2016, Vol.8, No. 8, p.482 (2016) [Non-Patent Document 3] Tabara Y. et al., Descriptive epidemiology of spot urine sodium-to-potassium ratio clarified close relationship with blood pressure level: the Nagahama study, J. Hypertens., Vol. 33, No.12, pp. 2407-2413 (2015) [Non-Patent Document 4] Keiko Mori et al., "Efforts to improve eating habits using a Nat-Cal Meter," Mind and Body Science, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 35-43 (2019) [Non-Patent Document 5] Kazuyo Kuwahara et al., "Development of an effective health education method using a sodium-potassium meter in the workplace," Tateishi Science and Technology Foundation Women's Research Results, No. 26, pp. 1-5 (2017) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 relate to methods and systems for displaying the sodium and potassium contents or net potassium content of foods and beverages, but no dietary advice has been given according to the state of the urinary Na-K ratio of the patient at the start of the advice or the desired state. The object of the present invention is to provide a dietary advice method and dietary advice support system that can give dietary advice according to the patient's state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] As a result of extensive research, the inventors discovered that the rate of decrease in urinary Na-K ratio due to potassium intake differs between subjects with urinary Na-K ratios above the threshold and those below the threshold, and thus completed the present invention.

[0011] The present specification provides the following inventions. [1] A dietary advice method comprising the following steps (a) and (b): (a) determining whether the urinary sodium-potassium ratio of the subjects is equal to or greater than a threshold value (group A) or less than the threshold value (group B); (b) A process of calculating the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day from the target reduction value of the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for a specified period using a corresponding formula for each group. [2] The method according to [1], further comprising the step (c) of: (c) A process for providing the trainee with information on foods and beverages to be ingested based on the potassium content or net potassium content of (b). [3] The method according to [2], wherein the food or beverage is a packaged food or beverage, and the potassium content, sodium content and potassium content, or net potassium content of the food or beverage is indicated on the container. [4] The method according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the threshold value is 4. [5] The method according to [4], wherein the predetermined period is one week, and the corresponding formula according to the group A is the following formula (I) or (I'): Y=1.661×10 -3 X (I) (wherein, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for one week); Y = 2.041 x 10 -3 X (I') (In the formula, X is the net additional potassium intake (mg / day) and Y is the target reduction in urinary sodium-potassium ratio for one week.) [6] The method according to [4] or [5], wherein the predetermined period is one week, and the corresponding formula according to the group B is the following formula (II) or (II'): Y=2.820×10 -4 X (II) (wherein, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for one week); Y=3.427×10 -4 X (II') (In the formula, X is the net additional potassium intake (mg / day) and Y is the target reduction in urinary sodium-potassium ratio for one week.) [7] A first input section for inputting the recipient's urinary sodium-potassium ratio; a second input section for inputting a target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for a predetermined period of time; A calculation unit that determines whether the input urinary sodium-potassium ratio corresponds to a group equal to or greater than a threshold (group A) or a group equal to or less than the threshold (group B), and calculates the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day to achieve a target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for a specified period of time using a corresponding formula corresponding to the corresponding group; and An output section for outputting the amount of additional potassium or net amount of potassium to be ingested per day; A dietary guidance support system equipped with: [8] The system described in [7], wherein the output unit further outputs information on foods and beverages that should be ingested based on the additional amount of potassium or net potassium that should be ingested per day. [9] A dietary advice support program for causing a computer to execute the following processes (d) to (f): (d) a judgment process for judging whether the inputted urinary sodium-potassium ratio of the recipient corresponds to a group above the threshold (group A) or a group below the threshold (group B); (e) A calculation process for calculating the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day from the input target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for a specified period using a corresponding formula corresponding to the corresponding group; and (f) An output process that outputs the amount of additional potassium to be ingested per day or the net amount of potassium.

[10] Provide containers with the recommended daily intake amount listed; The recommended daily intake is set based on the additional amount of potassium or net amount of potassium to be ingested per day, calculated from the target reduction value of the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for a specified period, using a corresponding equation created for the group (Group A) whose urinary sodium-potassium ratio is above a threshold value.

[11] A packaged food or beverage described in

[10] , in which the potassium content, sodium content and potassium content, or net potassium content of the food or beverage is indicated on the container.

[12] A food and beverage distribution map showing the following elements (g) to (i), each of which corresponds to the other: (g) the target reduction in urinary sodium-potassium ratio for a specified period of time; (h) the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day to achieve a target reduction in urinary sodium-potassium ratio over a specified period of time; and (i) Foods and beverages containing the additional daily potassium or net potassium intake required by element (h).

[13] The food and beverage distribution diagram described in

[12] , wherein element (h) is the additional amount of potassium or net amount of potassium to be ingested per day suitable for subjects whose urinary sodium-potassium ratio is above or below a certain level. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dietary instruction method and a dietary instruction support system that are capable of providing dietary instruction according to the condition of a patient. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a plot diagram showing the relationship between the urinary Na-K ratio that one wishes to reduce in one week for those above the threshold (Group A), below the threshold (Group B), and overall, and the amount of additional potassium that should be ingested per day, when the threshold for the urinary Na-K ratio at the start of dietary advice is set to 4.0 in the dietary advice method of the present invention. [Diagram 2]This is a plot diagram showing the relationship between the urinary Na-K ratio that one wishes to reduce in one week for those above the threshold (Group A), below the threshold (Group B), and overall, and the net amount of potassium that one should additionally ingest per day, when the threshold for the urinary Na-K ratio at the start of dietary advice is set to 4.0 in the dietary advice method of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of an example of a dietary instruction method of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a dietary instruction support system according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the study schedule of an open-label crossover comparative study investigating the association between urinary Na-K ratio and potassium intake. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] 1.Definition In this specification, the "net potassium content" refers to a numerical value obtained by subtracting the sodium content of a food or drink from the potassium content, as represented by the following formula (III). Net potassium (mg) = potassium (mg) – sodium (mg) (III)

[0015] In this specification, even if the net potassium content of a food or beverage is not directly labeled, if the potassium and sodium contents are labeled and the net potassium content is easy to calculate, it is deemed that the net potassium content is labeled.

[0016] In this specification, "the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested" refers to the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested to a normal diet before instruction. Any known method may be used to determine the amount of sodium and potassium per unit of food or drink. For example, "Calorie Guide for Eating Out, Convenience Stores, and Prepared Foods" (Josai Eiyo University Press) (2017) and "Calorie Guide for Daily Meals, Third Edition" (Josai Eiyo University Press) (2018) may be used. The amount of sodium and potassium in actual food or drink may also be measured. The "amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day" refers to the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day for a specified period (one week unless otherwise specified).

[0017] In this specification, "urinary sodium-potassium ratio (urinary Na-K ratio)" refers to the value obtained by dividing the amount of sodium contained in a unit amount of urine by the amount of potassium. The amount of sodium and potassium in urine may be measured by any known method. For example, an electrode method may be used.

[0018] In this specification, the term "subject" refers to a human being who generally requires dietary guidance, such as a person suffering from hypertension, a person who needs to prevent hypertension, or a person who wishes to prevent hypertension. Anyone who requires dietary guidance is included, regardless of age, sex, blood pressure, weight, presence or absence of concurrent diseases, presence or absence of medical history, etc.

[0019] In this specification, the term "correspondence equation" refers to a linear regression equation in which the urinary Na-K ratio reduction target value for a specified period is plotted on the vertical axis (Y) and the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested (mg / day) is plotted on the horizontal axis (X). Specifically, it can be expressed as Y=aX. Here, the constant a differs depending on the urinary Na-K ratio threshold to be set and whether the subject falls into the group above the threshold or the group below the threshold. In this specification, the term "correspondence table" refers to a table created according to the correspondence equation for comparing the urinary Na-K ratio reduction target value for a specified period with the corresponding amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day.

[0020] In this specification, the term "predetermined period" refers to a period that is preset to set a target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio. The predetermined period is not particularly limited as long as it is one day or more, but is preferably about one week. In the following specification, unless otherwise specified, the predetermined period will be exemplarily described as one week.

[0021] In this specification, the term "program" refers to a set of commands that instruct a processing procedure for operating a computer. By inputting the program into a computer and performing a predetermined operation, the computer can be made to execute the processing procedure.

[0022] 2. Dietary advice method A first embodiment of the present invention is a dietary instruction method, which is characterized by including the following steps (a) and (b): (a) determining whether the subjects' urinary Na-K ratios are equal to or greater than a threshold (group A) or less than the threshold (group B); (b) A process of calculating the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day from the target reduction value of the urinary Na-K ratio for a specified period using a corresponding formula for each group. According to the method of this embodiment, information on the amount of potassium or net potassium that should be additionally ingested per day, which is appropriate for the trainee, can be easily obtained.

[0023] The inventors had 20 study subjects take three different vegetable drinks containing different amounts of potassium (net potassium) every day for one week in addition to their normal diet, and the urinary Na-K ratio was plotted for each day to obtain a simple regression line to measure the rate of decrease in the urinary Na-K ratio. The threshold value of the urinary Na-K amount at the start of the study was set at 4.0, and the urinary Na-K ratio reduction amount and the additional amount of potassium ingested per day (Figure 1) and the urinary Na-K ratio reduction amount and the additional amount of net potassium ingested per day (Figure 2) were plotted for the group above the threshold (Group A), the group below the threshold (Group B), and the entire group to obtain a simple regression equation for each. As a result, the approximate equations for the amount of potassium and the amount of net potassium for Group A, Group B, and the entire group were as follows. (Potassium content) Group A: Y = 1.661 x 10 -3 X Group B: Y=2.820×10 -4 X Whole: Y=1.080×10 -3 X (In the formula, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for one week.) (Net potassium content) Group A: Y = 2.041 x 10 -3 X Group B: Y=3.427×10 -4 X Whole: Y=1.330×10 -3 X (In the formula, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for one week.)

[0024] As mentioned above, it was found that the amount of potassium required to lower the Na-K ratio by 1 per week, or the net amount of potassium, differed greatly between Group A and Group B. Dietary advice that is effective in reducing or preventing hypertension, more specifically in reducing the urinary Na-K ratio, must use different standards depending on the recipient's urinary Na-K value.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the procedure of an example of the method of this embodiment. The method of this embodiment may be performed manually by an instructor who provides dietary guidance, but may also be performed using a computer system or the like. When a computer system is used, the rounded rectangles in Fig. 3 indicate inputs from the instructor and / or trainee and outputs to the instructor and / or trainee, and the rectangles in Fig. 3 indicate the operation of the computer system.

[0026] The method of this embodiment includes, as step (a), a step of comparing the urinary Na-K ratio of the subject with a predetermined threshold and classifying the subject into either a group above the threshold (group A) or a group below the threshold (group B). The threshold value is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, any of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.5, and 8.0. In particular, it can be set to an average urinary Na-K ratio of 4.0.

[0027] The method of this embodiment includes, as step (b), a step of setting a target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for a specified period of time, and calculating the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day using a corresponding equation for each group.

[0028] When the predetermined period is one week, the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio is not particularly limited, but in the case of group A, it can be, for example, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, or 2.5. This target value for reducing the ratio is preferably a value that is effective for maintaining or improving the health condition and does not place an excessive burden on the trainee in terms of diet (does not force the trainee to take in significantly excessive potassium), and an appropriate value can be set by the trainee, for example, by the trainer, or by the trainee who has been provided with a manual or the like by the trainer.

[0029] For example, when the predetermined period is set to one week and the threshold value is set to 4.0, the corresponding formulas for groups A and B can be as follows: (Potassium content) Group A: Y = 1.661 x 10 -3 X Group B: Y=2.820×10 -4 X (In the formula, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for one week.) (Net potassium content) Group A: Y = 2.041 x 10 -3 X Group B: Y=3.427×10 -4 X (In the formula, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for one week.)

[0030] Here, the index of the additional food and beverage intake to be calculated may be either the potassium content or the net potassium content, but the net potassium content is preferable because it is an index that offsets the effect of sodium in the food and directly affects the reduction of the urinary Na-K ratio.

[0031] The corresponding equation differs depending on the threshold and whether the group is above or below the threshold. When the threshold is not 4.0, the corresponding equation can be obtained by having multiple research subjects ingest foods with multiple known potassium amounts (net potassium amounts) every day for a specified period in addition to their normal diet, and then plotting the rate of decrease in urinary Na-K ratio versus the amount of additional potassium ingested or net potassium ingested per day for group A whose urinary Na-K ratio at the start was above the threshold and group B whose urinary Na-K ratio was below the threshold, to obtain a simple regression equation for each.

[0032] A correspondence table may be used to more easily use the correspondence formula. The correspondence table can be created by listing the target value for the reduction of the urinary Na-K ratio for a predetermined period and the corresponding amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day for each of group A and group B according to the correspondence formula corresponding to the set threshold. The correspondence table may further list specific foods that satisfy the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day. When the predetermined period is set to one week and the threshold is set to 4.0, the tables shown in Tables 1 and 2 can be used as the correspondence table when the potassium amount is used as the standard. When the net potassium amount is used as the standard, the tables shown in Tables 3 and 4 can be used.

[0033] [Table 1] TIFF2025085252000003.tif215152

[0034] [Table 2] TIFF2025085252000005.tif126149

[0035] [Table 3] TIFF2025085252000007.tif247159TIFF2025085252000008.tif109158

[0036] [Table 4] TIFF2025085252000010.tif247158TIFF2025085252000011.tif19157

[0037] The method of this embodiment may include, as step (c), a step of extracting information on suitable foods and beverages from a food list (database or correspondence table) based on the daily amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested obtained in step (b). The extracted information on foods and beverages is provided to the trainee as information on foods and beverages suitable for intake.

[0038] The food or drink provided as information may be a packaged food or drink. In this case, the container of the packaged food or drink may indicate the potassium content, sodium content and potassium content, or net potassium content of the food or drink contained therein. By indicating the potassium content or net potassium content on the container, the trainee can more easily incorporate the food or drink into his or her diet.

[0039] The extraction of suitable food and drink information may include selecting food and drink that is more acceptable to the trainee based on information such as the presence or absence of food allergies and dietary preferences of the trainee. The dietary preferences referred to here may be determined, for example, from a questionnaire given to the trainee, information such as the trainee's usual menu, gender, health condition, and place of origin. The extraction of food and drink information based on such food allergies and dietary preferences may be performed using artificial intelligence (AI). When using AI, first, in order to judge food allergies, a trained model constructed through machine learning using a known neural network can be used with data such as the raw materials of a wide variety of foods and drinks, the presence or absence and content of allergens, etc. as training data. In addition, in order to judge dietary preferences, a trained model constructed through machine learning using a known neural network can be used with data such as the usual menu, age, gender, health condition, place of origin, and dietary preferences (foods that are preferred and foods that are not often eaten) of a large number of people as training data. Using this, first, from among many food and beverage candidates, foods and beverages to which the trainee may have an allergy are excluded, then, from information such as the trainee's age, sex, health condition, and place of origin, the trainee's dietary preferences are estimated, and information on foods and beverages that better suit the dietary preferences can be provided from among a group of foods and beverages that show the desired potassium content or net potassium content. When providing such information, it is necessary to receive information such as age, sex, health condition, and place of origin from the trainee in advance, in addition to the urinary Na-K ratio and the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for a specified period of time.

[0040] According to the method of the present embodiment, the trainer can properly train the trainee on the amount of potassium or net potassium to be ingested and information on foods and beverages suitable for intake. Alternatively, the trainee can directly refer to a correspondence table or the like to obtain information on the amount of potassium or net potassium to be ingested and information on foods and beverages suitable for intake.

[0041] 3. Dietary Guidance Support System The second embodiment of the present invention is a dietary instruction support system. The dietary instruction support system of this embodiment is characterized by comprising: a first input unit for inputting the urinary Na-K ratio of the trainee; a second input unit for inputting the target value of the urinary Na-K ratio reduction for a predetermined period; a calculation unit for determining whether the inputted urinary Na-K ratio corresponds to a group equal to or greater than a threshold (group A) or a group equal to or less than a threshold (group B), and calculating the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day to achieve the target value of the urinary Na-K ratio reduction for a predetermined period using a corresponding formula corresponding to the corresponding group; and an output unit for outputting the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day. By using the system of this embodiment, information on the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day suitable for the trainee can be easily obtained.

[0042] The system of this embodiment may be a system consisting of a manual, a chart, a correspondence table, and a report for the instructor to obtain dietary guidance information. In this case, the entry column for the urinary Na-K ratio in the entry column corresponds to the first input section, the entry column for the target value of the urinary Na-K ratio reduction for a predetermined period corresponds to the second input section, the correspondence table corresponds to the calculation section, and the report corresponds to the output section. The correspondence table may be, for example, the tables shown in Tables 1 and 2 and / or Tables 3 and 4 above. The instructor or the trainee enters the value of the urinary Na-K ratio at the start of the instruction and the target value of the urinary Na-K ratio reduction for a predetermined period in the entry column. Here, the reduction target value is effective for maintaining or improving the health condition and does not place an excessive burden on the trainee in terms of diet, and may be, for example, a value appropriately set by the instructor or by the trainee who has been provided with a manual by the instructor, etc.

[0043] The instructor determines whether the patient belongs to group A (above threshold) or group B (below threshold) based on the urinary Na-K ratio value, prepares a correspondence table according to the corresponding group, and calculates the additional amount of potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day from the correspondence table based on the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for a specified period. The instructor shows the calculated amount of potassium or net potassium to the patient.

[0044] The trainer may show the trainee specific foods and beverages containing the potassium amount or net potassium amount in addition to or instead of the potassium amount or net potassium amount, and train the trainee to ingest them. The information on the specific foods and beverages may be listed in a correspondence table, or may be described in a list or the like attached separately. Alternatively, the information may be obtained using the systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Note that, as an example, the trainee may determine the daily amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested and suitable foods and beverages, but the trainee may directly do so according to a manual or the like provided by the trainer.

[0045] The system of this embodiment may be a computer system. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the computer system. In the case of a computer system, the trainer or trainee can input the urinary Na-K ratio at the start of training in the urinary Na-K ratio input field (first input section) on the input screen of the terminal 1. Alternatively, the urinary Na amount and the urinary K amount may be input separately, and the urinary Na-K ratio may be automatically calculated by the computer, thereby substantially inputting the urinary Na-K ratio. Alternatively, the input of the urinary Na-K ratio (or the urinary Na amount and the urinary K amount) to the computer system may be automatically transferred from a system for measuring the urinary Na-K ratio, for example.

[0046] The trainer or trainee can input the reduction target value in a urinary Na-K ratio reduction target value input field (second input section) for a predetermined period on the input screen of the terminal 1. Alternatively, the reduction target value may be a value that is effective for maintaining or improving a health condition according to the urinary Na-K ratio and that does not place an excessive burden on the trainee in terms of diet and that is preset in the computer and automatically input.

[0047] The input information is sent to the calculation section of the computer main body 2, and according to the set program, a correspondence equation to be used is selected from among the correspondence equations corresponding to the group above the threshold (group A) and the group below the threshold (group B) from the urinary Na-K ratio, and then the input target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for the specified period is substituted into the correspondence equation to calculate the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day. The calculated value is displayed on the output screen of the terminal 1. The terminal 1 may be a monitor attached to the computer main body 2, or may be a smartphone, tablet, etc. connected to the computer main body 2 via a network.

[0048] In addition to or instead of the potassium amount or net potassium amount, information on specific foods and beverages containing the potassium amount or net potassium amount may be displayed on the output screen. The computer main body 2 may include a database in which information on a large number of foods and beverages and their potassium amounts or net potassium amounts is stored. The information on foods and beverages output on the output screen of the terminal 1 may be information on foods and beverages having suitable potassium amounts or net potassium amounts, extracted from the information stored in the database of the computer system.

[0049] The calculation unit of the computer main body 2 may include, for example, an AI for judging the food allergy and dietary preference of the trainee and extracting information on suitable food and drink when extracting information from the food and drink database. The AI ​​for judging food allergies may be a trained model constructed through machine learning using a known neural network with data on the raw materials of a wide variety of food and drink, the presence or absence of allergens and their contents as teacher data. The AI ​​for judging dietary preferences may be a trained model constructed through machine learning using a known neural network with data on normal menus, ages, sex, health conditions, hometowns, etc. of a large number of people and dietary preferences (foods that they like to eat, foods that they don't eat often) as teacher data. When judging the food allergy and dietary preference of the trainee when extracting information on food and drink, the input screen of the terminal may include, in addition to the first and second input units, a third input unit for inputting food allergy information and a fourth input unit for inputting background information such as age, sex, health conditions, hometown, etc.

[0050] The input and output information to the computer system may be read by the instructor or directly by the trainee.

[0051] The system of this embodiment is a system for use in the dietary advice method described in Section "2. Dietary advice method" unless otherwise specified or inconsistent. In the system of this embodiment, the definitions of each term, the setting of "thresholds", the configuration and creation method of the "correspondence formula" and "correspondence table" used, and the detailed conditions of the dietary advice method to which the system is applied are the same as those described in Section "2. Dietary advice method" unless otherwise specified or inconsistent.

[0052] 4. Dietary support program A third embodiment of the present invention is a dietary instruction support program. The dietary instruction support program of this embodiment is a program for causing a computer to execute the following processes (d) to (f): (d) a judgment process for judging whether the inputted urinary Na-K ratio of the trainee corresponds to a group above the threshold (group A) or a group below the threshold (group B); (e) A calculation process for calculating the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day from the input target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for a specified period using a corresponding formula corresponding to the corresponding group; and (f) An output process that outputs the amount of additional potassium to be ingested per day or the net amount of potassium.

[0053] Specifically, the program of this embodiment can be used as a program for causing a computer to perform the operation of dietary guidance support when "3. Dietary Guidance Support System" is a computer system. In the program of this embodiment, the definitions of each term, the settings of "thresholds," the configurations and creation methods of the "correspondence formulas" and "correspondence tables" used, the detailed conditions of the system in which the program is used, etc. are the same as those described in sections "2. Dietary Guidance Method" and "3. Dietary Guidance Support System" unless otherwise specified or unless otherwise contradicted.

[0054] The process (d) is a process of classifying the trainee into either group A or group B based on the trainee's input urinary Na-K ratio at the start of training. The "input" Na-K ratio here may be a value manually input by the trainee or the trainee, or may be a value automatically transferred from a device (system) that measures, for example, the amount of urinary sodium, the amount of urinary potassium, or the amount of urinary Na-K ratio. The value input here may be the urinary Na-K ratio itself, or the amount of urinary sodium and the amount of urinary potassium may be input to substantially input the urinary Na-K ratio. In this case, the command from the program of this embodiment also includes a process of calculating the urinary Na-K ratio from the amount of urinary sodium and the amount of urinary potassium.

[0055] The process (e) is a process of calculating the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day by selecting a corresponding formula according to the classification result of the process (d) and substituting the input target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for a predetermined period. The "input" target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for a predetermined period may be input by the trainer or by the trainee who has been provided with a manual or the like by the trainer, or may be automatically input as a value that is effective for maintaining or improving the health condition according to the urinary Na-K ratio and does not place an excessive burden on the trainee in terms of diet and is preset in the computer.

[0056] After the process (e) and before the process (f), the program may include a process of extracting food and drink information including the amount of potassium or the net potassium amount based on the amount of potassium or the net potassium amount to be additionally ingested per day. In this case, it is preferable that data on a large number of foods and drinks and their potassium and / or net potassium amounts are stored in advance in the computer database. In addition, the program may include a process of using AI or the like to select appropriate foods and drinks based on the background circumstances of the trainee, such as food allergy information and dietary preferences, in the extraction of food and drink information.

[0057] Process (f) is a process for outputting the amount of potassium or net potassium per day to be additionally ingested obtained in process (e). Here, in addition to or instead of the amount of potassium or net potassium per day to be additionally ingested, food and drink information including the amount of potassium or net potassium may be output.

[0058] 5. Packaged food and beverages The fourth embodiment of the present invention is a packaged food and drink. The packaged food and drink of this embodiment is characterized in that it includes a container on which a recommended daily intake is written, and the recommended daily intake is set based on the amount of potassium or net potassium to be additionally ingested per day, calculated using a correspondence equation created for a group (group A) whose urinary Na-K ratio is equal to or higher than a threshold value.

[0059] The packaged food and drink of this embodiment is a packaged food and drink that displays the recommended daily intake amount for a potassium amount or net potassium amount that exhibits a high urinary Na-K ratio reducing effect in a group with a urinary Na-K ratio equal to or higher than a threshold, i.e., a group with a high urinary Na-K ratio. Therefore, it is a food and drink that displays the effective intake amount for risk reduction for a group with a high urinary Na-K ratio, specifically a group with a high risk of hypertension, rather than a group with a low urinary Na-K ratio.

[0060] The threshold value is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.5, or 8.0. Preferably, the threshold value is set to 4.0. When the threshold value is 4.0, the corresponding formula can be, for example, a formula represented by the following formula (I) or (I'). Y=1.661×10 -3 X (I) (wherein, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for one week); Y = 2.041 x 10 -3 X (I') (In the formula, X is the amount of additional net potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target reduction in urinary Na-K ratio for one week.)

[0061] When the predetermined period is one week, the target value of the reduction in the urinary Na-K ratio is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, or 2.5. The target value of the reduction may be set to, for example, 1.0. When the threshold value is set to 4.0, the predetermined period is set to one week, and the target value of the reduction in the urinary Na-K ratio for one week is set to 1.0, the amount of potassium to be additionally ingested per day calculated from the above formulas (I) and (I') is 602 mg, and the net amount of potassium is 490 mg. When the net amount of potassium in the food or drink in one container is 500 mg, the recommended intake amount displayed on the container may be "one package (or one bottle) per day."

[0062] In addition to the above-mentioned labeling, it is preferable that the container of the packaged food or drink of this embodiment has the potassium content, sodium content and potassium content, or net potassium content of the food or drink labeled on it.

[0063] Examples of the food and drink include, but are not limited to, general foods and processed foods, such as beverages (juice, black tea, tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, soft drinks, etc.), confectioneries (gum, caramel, candy, chocolate, cookies, biscuits, snacks, jellies, gummies, tablets, etc.), noodles (soba, udon, ramen, etc.), dairy products (milk, ice cream, yogurt, etc.), seasonings (miso, soy sauce, dressing, etc.), soups, health foods (tablets, capsules, etc.), and nutritional supplements (supplements, nutritional drinks, etc.). Preferably, the food and drink is a beverage, particularly a vegetable beverage.

[0064] The packaged food and drink of this embodiment can be made into a functional food or a food for specified health uses based on the useful action of reducing the urinary Na-K ratio when ingested by a person with a urinary Na-K ratio above a threshold value. Regarding the usefulness and functionality of the packaged food and drink of this embodiment, the following indications may be attached when commercializing the product, but the indications are not limited to these. For example, indications such as "functionality to improve urinary sodium-potassium ratio", "functionality to reduce urinary sodium-potassium ratio", "functionality to reduce the risk of developing hypertension" and similar indications can be included. In addition to attaching these indications to the container packaging by a known method, the above explanations can be displayed or distributed in advertisements, price lists, or transaction documents related to the product, or information containing these contents can be provided by electromagnetic (Internet, etc.) methods.

[0065] In the packaged food and beverage of this embodiment, the setting of the "threshold value", the configuration and creation method of the "correspondence formula" and "correspondence table" used, and the detailed conditions of the dietary advice method to which the packaged food and beverage is applied are the same as those described in section "2. Dietary advice method" unless otherwise specified or unless there is any contradiction.

[0066] 6. Food and drink distribution map The fifth embodiment of this embodiment is a food and drink distribution map. The food and drink distribution map of this embodiment includes a plurality of the following elements (g) to (i), and each element (g) to (i) is described so as to correspond to each other. (g) Target reduction in urinary Na-K ratio for a specified period; (h) the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day to achieve the target reduction in urinary Na-K ratio over a specified period; and (i) Foods and beverages containing the additional daily potassium or net potassium intake required by element (h).

[0067] By referring to the food and beverage distribution map of this embodiment, a user (instructor or trainee) can obtain the additional amount of potassium or net potassium to be ingested per day, and information on the specific foods and beverages that contain it, from the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for a specified period of time.

[0068] In the food and drink distribution map of this embodiment, it is preferable that multiple elements (g) are written in ascending or descending order of numerical values. Examples of food and drink distribution maps include the correspondence tables shown in Tables 1 to 4. In the examples of food and drink distribution maps shown in Tables 1 to 4, elements (g) are written from top to bottom in descending order of numerical values, and corresponding elements (h) are written to the right of element (g). Furthermore, elements (i) corresponding to these are written to the right of element (h). In the food and drink distribution map of this embodiment, the order and method of writing are not particularly limited as long as the correspondence between elements (g) to (i) is clear to the user.

[0069] The food and drink distribution map of this embodiment is preferably different depending on whether the urinary Na-K ratio is above a threshold (Group A) or below a threshold (Group B). In other words, element (h) corresponding to element (g) and the associated element (i) are preferably elements suitable for subjects whose urinary sodium-potassium ratio is above a certain level (above a threshold (Group A)) or below a certain level (below the threshold (Group B)). The food and drink distribution map of this embodiment can be one that corresponds to only Group A, only Group B, or both. When it corresponds to both, the food and drink distribution map can be two-part.

[0070] The form of the food and beverage distribution map of this embodiment is not particularly limited, and may be a printed matter printed on paper, etc., or may be image data displayed on the screen of a computer, tablet, smartphone, etc. EXAMPLES

[0071] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0072] [Example] Urinary Na-K ratio at the start of the experiment and the effect of potassium intake on reducing urinary Na-K ratio (1) Research subjects This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Kagome Co., Ltd. (reception number 2020-R12, date of approval September 30, 2020) and the Ethics Committee of the National Clinical Research Council (serial number 385, September 18, 2020), and was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and ethical guidelines for medical research involving human subjects. In addition, UMIN registration was conducted before the start of the study (registration number UMIN000041954). A preliminary questionnaire was conducted, and healthy Japanese men and women aged 20 to 64 years old who had a diet that was expected to have a high urinary Na-K ratio (not conscious of reducing salt, did not like light flavors, did not drink vegetable drinks frequently) and who provided informed consent were selected as study subjects. However, because menstrual blood may affect the urinary Na-K ratio, only menopausal women were allowed to participate, and the following individuals were excluded: those with a history of digestive surgery, those with allergies to any components of the test foods, those receiving dietary advice regarding potassium from a doctor or nutritionist, those who drink vegetable drinks three or more times a week, and those who are conscious of reducing salt in their daily diet and prefer light-flavored foods.

[0073] Twenty people (11 men and 9 women) who met the above criteria were selected as study subjects. Although some data were missing due to incomplete collection of urine samples, all 20 people were included in the analysis. The subjects' age was 49.4 ± 11.2 years, weight was 59.3 ± 9.2 kg, and BMI was 21.5 ± 1.8 kg / m 2 It was.

[0074] (2) Study design and schedule The study design was an open-label crossover (3 × 3) comparative study. In other words, the study subjects were divided into three groups by a block randomization method so that the age and gender ratios were similar between the groups, and after a three-day pre-observation period, as shown in Figure 5, they were asked to consume three types of vegetable beverages with different potassium contents (low K vegetable beverage, medium K vegetable beverage, and high K vegetable beverage) shown in Table 5 for one week each (study periods I, II, and III). The time of vegetable beverage intake was specified as between lunch and dinner, rather than at the time of three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), in order to minimize the effect on the content and amount of the three meals. During the three days of the pre-observation period and from the first day (before consuming each vegetable beverage) to the eighth day (washout day 1) of each test period, the subjects were asked to collect their first urine every day after waking up in a designated container. The collected urine was used for the measurements described below. There was a three-day washout between each test period. From the pre-observation period to the end of the study, there were no restrictions or restrictions on meals other than the vegetable beverage used, and the subjects were asked to continue their dietary habits before participating in the study. To confirm that subjects were continuing their dietary habits from before participating in the study, they were required to keep a dietary record (including photos of meals and names of dishes, etc.) of all meals eaten except for vegetable drinks during the pre-observation period and each study period, and their salt and potassium intakes were estimated.

[0075] [Table 5]

[0076] (3) Measurement of urinary Na-K ratio and estimation of salt and potassium intake The collected urine samples were refrigerated at the subjects' homes and collected approximately once a week, and the urinary Na-K ratio was measured at Kagome Co., Ltd. using a sodium-potassium meter. A portion of the urine collected on the third day of the pre-observation period and the sixth day of each test period was immediately collected and used for a salt intake test by Healthcare Systems Co., Ltd. (Masutomi Hirofumi et al., Journal of the Japanese Society of Food and Nutrition, Vol. 31, pp. 103-109 (2020)). In addition, the contents of the dietary records for the three days of the pre-observation period and the seven days of each vegetable drink intake period were entered into the nutrition management app "Caromyl" (Lifelog Technology Co., Ltd.) (Tsunemi A. et al., J. Clin. Med. Res., Vol. 13, No. 8, pp. 425-433 (2021)) at Kagome Co., Ltd. to estimate salt and potassium intake. The presence or absence of differences in salt intake test values ​​and estimated salt and potassium intakes between the pre-observation period and each beverage intake period was evaluated using one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni's multiple comparisons.

[0077] The salt intake test values ​​for the pre-observation period, low-K vegetable drink intake period, medium-K vegetable drink intake period, and high-K vegetable drink intake period were 8.8±1.3g, 8.3±1.8g, 8.6±1.7g, and 7.9±1.7g, respectively, and no significant differences were observed. The estimated salt intakes based on the diet record survey for the pre-observation period, low-K vegetable drink intake period, medium-K vegetable drink intake period, and high-K vegetable drink intake period were 9.0±3.3g, 9.1±3.3g, 9.4±3.1g, and 8.8±2.9g, respectively, and the estimated potassium intakes were 1718±590mg, 1955±599mg, 1925±615mg, and 2000±655mg, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the estimated salt intakes. On the other hand, in terms of estimated potassium intake, a statistically significant difference was confirmed between the pre-observation period and the period in which high-K vegetable drinks were consumed, but no significant differences were observed among the intake periods of the three types of vegetable drinks.

[0078] (4) Urinary Na-K ratio before and after intake of each vegetable drink Twenty study subjects were divided into two groups: those with a urinary Na-K ratio of 4.0 or more at the start of the study, and those with a urinary Na-K ratio of less than 4.0. The urinary Na-K ratio of each group was measured before and after ingesting each vegetable drink for one week. Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation. Comparisons of the urinary Na-K ratios before and after ingesting each vegetable drink were performed using paired t-tests. In order to standardize the daily fluctuations in the urinary Na-K ratio, the mean values ​​of the urinary Na-K ratio data on day 1 (before ingesting the vegetable drink) in study periods I, II, and III were used to determine the urinary Na-K ratio "before ingesting" each vegetable drink, and the mean values ​​of the urinary Na-K ratio data on days 7 and 8 of ingesting each vegetable drink were used to determine the urinary Na-K ratio "after ingesting" each vegetable drink.

[0079] Table 6 shows the results of comparing the urinary Na-K ratio before and after ingestion of each vegetable drink. Considering the daily fluctuations in the urinary Na-K ratio, the average values ​​of the urinary Na-K ratio on the first day of test periods I, II, and III were used as the pre-ingestion data, and the average values ​​of the urinary Na-K ratio on the seventh and eighth days of each test period were used as the post-ingestion data. Analysis of all subjects revealed a statistically significant decrease in the urinary Na-K ratio after ingestion of the high-K vegetable drink compared to before ingestion. The urinary Na-K ratio also decreased after ingestion of the medium-K vegetable drink compared to before ingestion, but no statistically significant difference was observed.

[0080] Next, a stratified analysis was conducted on subjects whose urinary Na-K ratio before ingesting the vegetable drink (average urinary Na-K ratio on the first day of study periods I, II, and III) was 4.0 or higher and less than 4.0. As a result, a significant effect of lowering the urinary Na-K ratio by ingesting a high-K vegetable drink was observed in subjects with a ratio of 4 or higher, but no significant effect was observed in subjects with a ratio of less than 4.

[0081] [Table 6]

[0082] (5) Relationship between the rate of decrease in urinary Na-K ratio and vegetable drinks To compare and evaluate the effects on urinary Na-K ratios among vegetable beverages, the urinary Na-K ratios from day 1 (before ingestion of each vegetable beverage) to day 8 (the day after ingestion of each vegetable beverage for 7 days) during the vegetable beverage intake period were plotted for each day to obtain a simple regression line, and the rate of decrease in urinary Na-K ratio (decrease in urinary Na-K ratio per day) was calculated. The calculated rate of decrease in urinary Na-K ratio was compared among vegetable beverages (Dunnett's test, control was low-K vegetable beverage). In addition, the tendency for the rate of decrease in urinary Na-K ratio to increase depending on potassium content was evaluated (Jonckheere-Terpstra test). Participants were divided into group A, in which the urinary Na-K ratio on day 1 of each vegetable beverage intake period was 4.0 or more, and group B, in which the ratio was less than 4.0, and comparisons between vegetable beverages and evaluations of the relationship with potassium content or net potassium content were similarly performed.

[0083] Table 7 shows the rate of decline in urinary Na-K during the intake period of each vegetable beverage. Analysis of the relationship between the amount of potassium ingested from each vegetable beverage and the rate of decline in urinary Na-K confirmed that the rate of decline in urinary Na-K ratio increased significantly in a potassium amount-dependent manner in all subjects. For groups A and B, which were separated based on the urinary Na-K ratio values ​​during the intake period of each beverage, the rate of decline in urinary Na-K ratio increased in a potassium amount-dependent manner in group A, but no statistical significance was observed in group B.

[0084] [Table 7]

[0085] The rate of decline in urinary Na-K ratio per week for Group A, Group B, and the overall group was plotted against the potassium content of each vegetable drink to obtain a simple regression equation (rate of decline in urinary Na-K ratio per week (Y) = slope × potassium content (X)) (Figure 1). The simple regression equation for each group was as follows: Group A: Y = 1.661 x 10 -3 X Group B: Y=2.820×10 -4 X Whole: Y=1.080×10 -3 X

[0086] Using this simple regression equation, the amount of potassium that should be supplemented into the daily diet to reduce the urinary Na-K ratio by 1 in one week was calculated to be 602 mg / day for Group A and 926 mg / day for the entire population.

[0087] Similarly, the rate of decline in the Na-K ratio for each group was converted to a value per week and plotted against the net potassium content of each vegetable drink to obtain a simple regression equation for each (rate of decline in urinary Na-K ratio per week (Y) = slope × net potassium content (X)) (Figure 2). The simple regression equation for each group was as follows: Group A: Y = 2.041 x 10 -3 X Group B: Y=3.427×10 -4 X Whole: Y=1.330×10 -3 X (In the formula, X is the amount of additional potassium to be ingested (mg / day), and Y is the target value for reducing the urinary Na-K ratio for one week.) Using this simple regression equation, the net amount of potassium that should be supplemented into the daily diet to reduce the urinary Na-K ratio by 1 in one week was calculated to be 490 mg / day for Group A and 752 mg / day for the entire population.

[0088] As described above, it was found that in subjects with a high urinary Na-K ratio, the intake of vegetable drinks with high potassium content significantly increased the rate of decrease in urinary Na-K ratio. In addition, it was shown that the above-mentioned simple regression equation can effectively calculate the potassium and net potassium intake required to reduce the urinary Na-K ratio by a desired amount.

Claims

1. A dietary guidance method including the following steps (a) and (b): (a) A step of determining whether the person being coached has a urinary sodium-potassium ratio above a threshold (Group A) or below a threshold (Group B); (b) A step of determining the amount of potassium to be supplemented per day or net potassium based on the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over a predetermined period, using a corresponding formula for each group.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following step (c): (c) A step of providing the person being directed with information on foods and beverages that should be consumed based on the amount of potassium or net potassium in (b).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the food or beverage is a packaged food or beverage, and the amount of potassium, sodium, and potassium of the food or beverage, or the net potassium amount, is indicated on the container.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold is 4.

0.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined period is one week, and the corresponding formula for group A is the following formula (I) or (I'): Y=1.661×10 －３ X・・・(I) (In the formula, X represents the amount of potassium to be supplemented (mg / day), and Y represents the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over one week.) Y=2.041×10 －３ X・・・(I’) (In the formula, X represents the net amount of potassium to be supplemented (mg / day), and Y represents the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over one week.)

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined period is one week, and the corresponding formula for group B is the following formula (II) or (II'): [#.###|×)0 －４ ?・・・(II) (In the formula, X represents the amount of potassium to be supplemented (mg / day), and Y represents the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over one week.) [##.##|×)| －４ ・・・(II') (In the formula, X represents the net amount of potassium to be supplemented (mg / day), and Y represents the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over one week.)

7. First input section for inputting the urinary sodium-potassium ratio of the person being coached; A second input unit for inputting a target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over a predetermined period; A calculation unit that determines whether the input urinary sodium-potassium ratio belongs to a group above a threshold (Group A) or a group below a threshold (Group B), and calculates the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be taken per day to achieve the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over a predetermined period using a corresponding formula for the group; and An output unit that outputs the daily amount of potassium or net potassium that should be supplemented; A dietary guidance support system equipped with the following features.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the output unit further outputs information on foods and beverages to be consumed based on the amount of potassium or net potassium to be consumed per day.

9. A dietary guidance support program to cause the computer to perform the following processes (d) to (f): (d) A determination process to determine whether the input urinary sodium-potassium ratio of the person being coached belongs to the group above the threshold (Group A) or the group below the threshold (Group B); (e) A calculation process that uses a corresponding formula for the applicable group to calculate the amount of potassium or net potassium to be taken per day based on the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio for the specified period entered; and (f) Output processing that outputs the daily amount of potassium or net potassium that should be supplemented.

10. It comes with a container that shows the recommended daily intake. The recommended daily intake is determined based on the amount of additional potassium or net potassium to be taken per day, calculated from the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over a predetermined period, using a correspondence formula created for the group (Group A) whose urinary sodium-potassium ratio is above a threshold. Packaged food and beverages.

11. The packaged food or beverage according to claim 10, wherein the container displays the amount of potassium, sodium, and potassium, or the net potassium, of the food or beverage.

12. A food and beverage distribution map is provided, which includes several of the following elements (g) to (i), with each element (g) to (i) corresponding to the others: (g) Target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over a specified period, (h) The amount of potassium or net potassium to be taken daily in addition to achieve the target value for reducing the urinary sodium-potassium ratio over a specified period, and (i) Foods and beverages containing the daily recommended intake of potassium or net potassium of element (h).

13. The food and beverage distribution chart according to claim 12, wherein element (h) is the amount of potassium or net potassium to be taken daily in addition to a suitable amount for a subject whose urinary sodium-potassium ratio is above or below a certain level.

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