Composition for maintaining or improving tongue function and method for maintaining or improving tongue function

Abstract

To provide a composition for maintaining or improving tongue function which enables reduction of the burden on the user.SOLUTION: A composition for maintaining or improving tongue function comprises a liquid and a solid component, and has a viscosity of 5 mPa s or more and 149 mPa s or less.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition for maintaining and improving tongue function and a method for maintaining and improving tongue function.

Background Art

[0002] Foods for the purpose of maintaining or improving oral functions are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a jelly food for the purpose of maintaining and improving tongue function. The jelly food described in Patent Document 1 includes jelly pieces made of a second jelly harder than the first jelly in a jelly phase made of the first jelly. By crushing the jelly food with the tongue in the mouth and then swallowing it, the jelly food exerts an action of maintaining or improving oral functions.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, the jelly food of Patent Document 1 imposed a burden on the user in that it required a special swallowing different from the case of ingesting the same solid matter during normal eating and drinking.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Each aspect for solving the above problems will be described. [Aspect 1] A composition for maintaining and improving tongue function, comprising a liquid and a solid content, and having a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more and 149 mPa·s or less.

[0006] [Aspect 2] The composition for maintaining and improving tongue function according to [Aspect 1], wherein the content of the solid content is 5% by volume or more and 50% by volume or less.

[0007] [Aspect 3] The median diameter of the solid content is 0.5 μm or more and 140 μm or less, and the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function according to [Aspect 1] or [Aspect 2].

[0008] [Aspect 4] In the solid content, the particle diameter of 50% or more of the particles is in the range of 0.01 μm or more and 350 μm or less in terms of the number ratio, and the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function according to any one of [Aspect 1] to [Aspect 3].

[0009] [Aspect 5] A method for maintaining and improving tongue function, characterized by swallowing the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function according to any one of [Aspect 1] to [Aspect 4]. [Advantages of the Invention]

[0010] According to the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function and the method for maintaining and improving tongue function of the present invention, the burden on the user can be suppressed. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0011] Embodiments embodying the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function and the method for maintaining and improving tongue function of the present invention will be described. [Composition for Maintaining and Improving Tongue Function] The composition for maintaining and improving tongue function contains a liquid and a solid content. Further, the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function may contain other components other than the above components as optional components. The composition for maintaining and improving tongue function includes a composition for maintaining tongue function and a composition for improving tongue function. That is, the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function means a composition having at least one of the effects of maintaining tongue function and improving tongue function. Note that the improvement of tongue function also includes the concept of improvement of tongue function. Hereinafter, the composition for maintaining and improving tongue function of the present embodiment may be referred to as the present composition.

[0012] (Viscosity) The viscosity of the present composition is 5 mPa·s or more and 149 mPa·s or less. The present composition is in a fluid state such as a liquid state with the viscosity within the above range. The viscosity of the present composition is, for example, 10 mPa·s or more, 20 mPa·s or more, 30 mPa·s or more. Also, the viscosity of the present composition is, for example, 100 mPa·s or less, 120 mPa·s or less, 140 mPa·s or less. The viscosity of the present composition is preferably 80 mPa·s or less. In this case, the effect of maintaining and improving the tongue function is enhanced.

[0013] The upper limit value or the lower limit value of the viscosity of the present composition may be, for example, 15 mPa·s, 20 mPa·s, 25 mPa·s, 30 mPa·s, 35 mPa·s, 40 mPa·s, 45 mPa·s, 50 mPa·s, 55 mPa·s, 60 mPa·s, 65 mPa·s, 70 mPa·s, 75 mPa·s, 80 mPa·s, 85 mPa·s, 90 mPa·s, 95 mPa·s, 100 mPa·s, 105 mPa·s, 110 mPa·s, 115 mPa·s, 120 mPa·s, 125 mPa·s, 130 mPa·s, 135 mPa·s, 140 mPa·s, or 145 mPa·s.

[0014] The viscosity of the present composition can be adjusted by the addition amount of a thickener, which is one of the other components, according to the type and blending amount of the solid content. Details of the thickener will be described later. The above viscosity is, for example, the viscosity at 22 to 25 °C. Note that the viscosity in this specification means the viscosity measured by a B-type viscometer.

[0015] (Solid content) The solid content is contained in a dispersed state in the liquid. Also, the solid content may be contained in a state where part or all of it has precipitated in the liquid. In this case, it is preferable that by shaking the present composition, the solid content is in a dispersed state in the liquid.

[0016] The shape of the solid content is not particularly limited. Examples of the shape of the solid content include particulate and fibrous. The raw material of the solid content is not particularly limited as long as it is edible. The solid content may be any of plant-derived raw materials, animal-derived raw materials, and synthetic substances. Specific examples of the raw material of the solid content include grains, tubers, beans, seeds, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and algae. Specific examples of the solid content include vegetable purees, fruit purees, cut vegetables, cut fruits, apple fiber, soybean fiber, wheat fiber, beet fiber, corn fiber, citrus fiber, and other plant fibers, rice bran, bamboo powder, konjac flour, wheat bran, soybean bran, cellulose, crystalline cellulose, hemicellulose, resistant starch, heat-resistant modified starch, heat-resistant thickening polysaccharides, and heat-resistant gelatin. This composition may contain only one kind of the same raw material for the above solid content alone, or may contain a combination of two or more different raw materials.

[0017] Note that the solid content is not limited to components insoluble in water, and may be components soluble in water and precipitated by being contained at a saturated concentration or higher. Examples of such components include the components described in the other components described later.

[0018] The content of the solid content in this composition is, for example, 5% by volume or more, preferably 15% by volume or more, and more preferably 20% by volume or more. The content of the solid content in this composition is, for example, 50% by volume or less, preferably 45% by volume or less, and more preferably 40% by volume or less. Also, the content of the solid content in this composition is preferably 45% by volume or more. In this case, the effect of maintaining and improving tongue function is enhanced.

[0019] The upper limit or lower limit of the content of the solid content in this composition may be, for example, 6% by volume, 7% by volume, 8% by volume, 9% by volume, 10% by volume, 11% by volume, 12% by volume, 13% by volume, 14% by volume, 15% by volume, 16% by volume, 17% by volume, 18% by volume, 19% by volume, 20% by volume, 25% by volume, 30% by volume, 35% by volume, or 40% by volume.

[0020] The volume % in this specification means "v / v%". The solid content can be determined, for example, by measuring the volume of the separated solid content after performing a solid-liquid separation treatment on a specific amount of this composition using a centrifugal separator or the like.

[0021] The median diameter of the solid content is, for example, 0.5 μm or more, preferably 2.0 μm or more, more preferably 15 μm or more. The median diameter of the solid content is, for example, 140 μm or less, preferably 120 μm or less, more preferably 100 μm or less.

[0022] The upper limit or lower limit of the median diameter of the solid content may be, for example, 1 μm, 2 μm, 3 μm, 4 μm, 5 μm, 6 μm, 7 μm, 8 μm, 9 μm, 10 μm, 15 μm, 20 μm, 25 μm, 27 μm, 30 μm, 35 μm, 40 μm, 45 μm, 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, 80 μm, 90 μm, 100 μm, 110 μm, 120 μm, 130 μm, or 133 μm. The median diameter is, for example, the median diameter (d50) measured based on the laser diffraction / scattering method.

[0023] The number-based average particle diameter of the solid content is, for example, 0.5 μm or more, preferably 0.9 μm or more, more preferably 14 μm or more. The number-based average particle diameter of the solid content is, for example, 100 μm or less, preferably 97 μm or less, more preferably 82 μm or less.

[0024] When the viscosity of this composition is 8 mPa·s or more and less than 45 mPa·s, the median diameter of the solid content is preferably 94 μm or more and 133 μm or less. When the viscosity of this composition is 45 mPa·s or more and less than 82 mPa·s, the median diameter of the solid content is preferably 94 μm or more and 133 μm or less. When the viscosity of this composition is 82 mPa·s or more and 149 mPa·s or less, the median diameter of the solid content is preferably 16 μm or more and 55 μm or less, or 94 μm or more and 133 μm or less.

[0025] Further, for the solid content, for example, the particle diameters of 50% or more of the particles are in the range of 0.01 μm or more and 350 μm or less in terms of the number ratio, preferably in the range of 0.02 μm or more and 310 μm or less, and more preferably in the range of 1.0 μm or more and 303 μm or less.

[0026] (Liquid) The liquid is water or a solution using water as a solvent. Examples of the solution using water as a solvent include fruit juice, vegetable juice, soy milk, carbonated water, and broth. The type of water contained in the present composition is not particularly limited, and for example, distilled water, pure water, ultrapure water, purified water, and tap water can be used. Further, the water contained in the present composition may be a mixed solvent with an alcohol such as ethanol. The blending amount of the liquid is, for example, 50% by volume or more and 95% by volume or less.

[0027] (Other components) The present composition may contain other components other than the above components as necessary. Examples of the other components include surfactants, flavoring agents, sweetening agents, wetting agents, thickening agents, preservatives, coloring agents, pH adjusters, chelating agents, medicinal components, bases, stabilizers, dispersants, etc. Known ones blended in compositions ingested orally can be used as the other components. The present composition may contain only one kind of each of the above other components alone, or may contain a combination of two or more kinds.

[0028] Examples of the surfactant include nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and cationic surfactants. Examples of nonionic surfactants include sugar fatty acid esters such as sucrose fatty acid ester, maltose fatty acid ester, lactose fatty acid ester; fatty acid alkanolamides; glycerin fatty acid ester; sorbitan fatty acid ester; fatty acid monoglyceride; polyoxyethylene alkyl ether with a polyoxyethylene addition coefficient of 8 to 10 and an alkyl group having 13 to 15 carbon atoms; polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether with a polyoxyethylene addition coefficient of 10 to 18 and an alkyl group having 9 carbon atoms; diethyl sebacate; polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil; fatty acid polyoxyethylene sorbitan, and the like.

[0029] Examples of anionic surfactants include sulfate esters such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate; sulfosuccinates such as sodium lauryl sulfosuccinate and sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfosuccinate; acyl amino acid salts such as sodium lauroyl methyl alanine; sodium cocoyl methyl taurine, and the like.

[0030] Examples of amphoteric surfactants include betaine type surfactants such as lauryldimethylaminoacetic acid betaine and coconut oil fatty acid amidopropyldimethylaminoacetic acid betaine; imidazoline type surfactants such as N-cocoyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine sodium; amino acid type surfactants such as N-lauryl diaminoethyl glycine, and the like.

[0031] Examples of cationic surfactants include distearyldimethylammonium chloride, stearyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, N-coconut oil fatty acid acyl-L-arginine ethyl · DL-pyrrolidone carboxylate, and the like.

[0032] Examples of the fragrance agent include menthol, carboxylic acid, anethole, eugenol, methyl salicylate, limonene, ocimene, n-decyl alcohol, citronellol, α-terpineol, methyl acetate, citronellyl acetate, methyl eugenol, cineole, thymol, spearmint oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil, orange oil, sage oil, rosemary oil, perilla oil, wintergreen oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, pimento oil, d-camphor, d-borneol, star anise oil, cinnamon oil, anise oil, cinnamaldehyde, peppermint oil, vanillin, and the like.

[0033] Examples of the sweetener include sodium saccharin, acesulfame potassium, stevioside, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, perillartine, thaumatin, aspartyl phenylalanyl methyl ester, p-methoxycinnamic aldehyde, and the like.

[0034]

[0035] Examples of thickeners include cellulose derivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl ethyl cellulose salt, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, crystalline cellulose, and crystalline cellulose - sodium carmellose; microbial - produced polymers such as xanthan gum; natural polymers or natural gums such as tragacanth gum, karaya gum, gum arabic, guar gum, carrageenan, dextrin, agar, pectin, pullulan, gellan gum, locust bean gum, and sodium alginate; processed starches such as acetylated adipic acid cross - linked starch, acetylated phosphate cross - linked starch, acetylated oxidized starch, sodium octenyl succinate starch, acetic acid starch, oxidized starch, hydroxypropyl starch, hydroxypropylated phosphate cross - linked starch, and phosphate cross - linked starch; starches such as tapioca starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, corn starch, and rice starch; synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carboxyvinyl polymer, polyvinyl methyl ether, and sodium polyacrylate; inorganic thickeners such as thickening silica and beegum; and cationic thickeners such as O - [2 - hydroxy - 3 - (trimethylammonio)propyl] hydroxyethyl cellulose chloride, etc.

[0036] Examples of preservatives include parabens such as methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, and butyl paraben; sodium benzoate; phenoxyethanol; and alkyl diminoethyl glycine hydrochloride, etc.

[0037] Examples of colorants include legal dyes such as Blue No. 1, Yellow No. 4, Red No. 202, and Green No. 3; mineral - based pigments such as ultramarine, fortified ultramarine, and navy blue; and titanium oxide, etc. Examples of pH adjusters include citric acid, phosphoric acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, glycerophosphoric acid, acetic acid, nitric acid, or their chemically possible salts, and sodium hydroxide, etc.

[0038] Examples of the chelating agent include edetic acid, sodium edetate, potassium edetate, phytic acid, and the like. Examples of the medicinal ingredient include vitamin Es such as dl-α-tocopherol acetate, tocopherol succinate, and tocopherol nicotinate; vitamin Cs such as ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate; vitamin B6s such as pyridoxine hydrochloride; glycyrrhizinate and its derivatives, glycyrrhetinic acid; amphoteric bactericides such as dodecyldiaminoethyl glycine; nonionic bactericides such as triclosan, isopropylmethylphenol, and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether; anionic bactericides such as sodium cocoyl sarcosinate and sorbic acid; cationic bactericides such as chlorhexidine hydrochloride, chlorhexidine gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, and benzethonium chloride; enzymes such as dextranase, amylase, protease, mutanase, lysozyme, and lytic enzyme (lytech enzyme); alkali metal monofluorophosphates such as sodium monofluorophosphate and potassium monofluorophosphate; sodium fluoride; tranexamic acid and epsilon-aminocaproic acid; aluminum chlorhydroxyl allantoin; dihydrocholesterol; hinokitiol; sodium copper chlorophyllin; chlorophyll; sodium chloride; caropeptide; allantoin; carbazochrom; potassium nitrate; paratinit, and the like.

[0039] Examples of the base include alcohols, silicon, apatite, white petrolatum, paraffin, liquid paraffin, microcrystalline wax, squalane, plastic base, and the like.

[0040] Examples of the alcohols include ethyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, and the like. Examples of the abrasive include calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, zeolite, sodium metaphosphate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, bengara, calcium sulfate, silica, anhydrous silicic acid, and the like.

[0041] Examples of the stabilizer include sodium thiosulfate, sodium sulfite, calcium lactate, lanolin, triacetin, castor oil, magnesium sulfate, and the like. (Application Forms and Uses) The application forms of this composition can be an oral composition taken orally, for example, used as a beverage, a pharmaceutical product, or a quasi-drug.

[0042] This composition can be applied to uses aimed at maintaining and improving tongue function, and uses aimed at the effects obtained by maintaining and improving tongue function. Examples of the effects obtained by maintaining and improving tongue function include, for example, maintaining and improving oral function, maintaining and improving oral strength, maintaining and improving tongue pressure, maintaining and improving tongue strength, maintaining and improving tongue dexterity, maintaining and improving smooth tongue, maintaining and improving swallowing ability, maintaining and improving swallowing power, improving choking, maintaining and improving chewing function, maintaining and improving chewing ability, improving snoring, improving facial sagging, improving mouth breathing, improving nasolabial folds and wrinkles, improving jaw sagging, improving double chin, preventing aspiration pneumonia, maintaining and improving eating ability, and improving sleep apnea syndrome. In addition, this composition can also be applied to uses aimed at oral training, tongue training (tongue muscle training), or training of the muscles around the mouth. Examples of the muscles around the mouth include suprahyoid muscle groups such as genioglossus, anterior belly of digastric muscle, posterior belly of digastric muscle, and stylohyoid muscle.

[0043] <Method for Maintaining and Improving Tongue Function> The method for maintaining and improving tongue function using this composition includes the step of the user taking in this composition from the mouth and swallowing it. An example of the method for maintaining and improving tongue function is taking 3 g or more and 50 g or less of this composition in the mouth, and taking the swallowing action of swallowing it within 20 times as one cycle, and performing it once or multiple times. Another example of the method for maintaining and improving tongue function is continuously swallowing 3 g or more and 50 g or less of this composition very slowly.

[0044] Further, the method for maintaining and improving tongue function may be a method including a preparation step of preparing the present composition. The preparation step is, for example, a step of preparing the present composition by mixing a composition raw material containing the above-mentioned solid content and a predetermined amount of the above liquid. The composition raw material may be in a powdery form that does not contain liquid, or may be in a liquid form that contains a higher concentration of solid content than the present composition. Examples of the powdery composition raw material include powdered beverages and powdered soups. Examples of the liquid composition raw material include concentrated liquids. In the preparation step, the liquid mixed with the composition raw material may be water or a solution such as fruit juice.

[0045] <Actions and Effects> Next, the actions and effects of the present embodiment will be described. (1) The present composition contains a liquid and a solid content, and has a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more and 149 mPa·s or less.

[0046] When the present composition is swallowed, based on the appropriate viscosity and the stimulation by the solid content, the suprahyoid muscle group around the mouth, such as the genioglossus muscle, the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, and the stylohyoid muscle, contracts strongly. That is, during swallowing, the movement of the muscles around the mouth is strongly induced. Therefore, by swallowing the present composition, the muscles around the mouth are exercised, and as a result, the effect of maintaining and improving the user's tongue function can be obtained.

[0047] As described above, the present composition exerts the effect of maintaining and improving the tongue function on the user by performing oral ingestion similar to that of a normal beverage having fluidity such as a beverage, that is, the user takes it into the mouth and swallows it. Therefore, when using the present composition to maintain and improve the tongue function, there is no need to perform any special actions. Therefore, according to the present composition, it can be used in the same feeling as when swallowing a normal beverage, so the burden on the user can be suppressed.

[0048] (2) The content of the solid content is 5% by volume or more and 50% by volume or less. In this case, the effect of maintaining and improving the user's tongue function can be obtained more significantly. (3) The median diameter of the solid content is 0.5 μm or more and 140 μm or less. In this case, the effect of maintaining and improving the tongue function of the user can be obtained more significantly.

[0049] (4) For the solid content, the particle diameters of 50% or more of the particles are in the range of 0.01 μm or more and 350 μm or less in terms of the number ratio. In this case, the effect of maintaining and improving the tongue function of the user can be obtained more significantly.

Examples

[0050] The composition for maintaining and improving tongue function of the present embodiment (hereinafter may be referred to as the composition) will be described in more detail. Note that the composition is not limited to the configuration described in the example column.

[0051] (Preparation of Comparative Examples 1 to 4 and Test Examples 1 to 10) By mixing the components shown in Tables 2 and 3, the compositions of Comparative Examples 1 to 4 and Test Examples 1 to 10 were adjusted. The unit of the numerical values in the component columns of Tables 2 and 3 is mass%. The solid contents A to C in Tables 2 and 3 are the insoluble solid contents shown in Table 1. The solid content A is a solid content made from rice bran and is in the form of a powder with a relatively small median diameter. The solid content B is a solid content made from bamboo and is in the form of a powder with a relatively medium median diameter. The solid content C is a solid content made from konjac and is in the form of a powder with a relatively large median diameter. The median diameters of the solid contents A to C shown in Table 1 are the median diameters (d50) measured using a nanoparticle size distribution measuring device (SALD-7500nano manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) based on the laser diffraction / scattering method. The particle size distribution measurement was carried out for the solid contents A, B, and C using 1 mass% (w / w%) solutions prepared with distilled water respectively, according to the manual attached to the above nanoparticle distribution measuring device. Also, for reference, the minimum diameter, maximum diameter, and number-based average particle diameter of the solid contents A to C are shown in Table 1.

[0052] The specific preparation method of the composition is described below. First, xanthan gum as a thickener and insoluble solids were added to granulated sugar as a dispersant, and powder mixing was performed. Next, water less than the amounts described in Tables 2 and 3 was measured into a stainless-steel container, and the powder obtained by powder mixing was slowly added to the water in the container while stirring so that no powder remained, thereby obtaining a mixture. The mixture was heated at 90 °C for 3 minutes or more to obtain a mixed solution in which the thickener was dissolved. After adding the remaining water to the mixed solution, it was allowed to cool to room temperature (22 - 25 °C) to obtain the target composition. When solid C was blended as the insoluble solids, the insoluble solids were added after the mixed solution was cooled instead of adding the insoluble solids during powder mixing.

[0053] (Measurement of Viscosity) The viscosity of the composition of each example was measured using a digital B-type viscometer (VISCO manufactured by ATAGO CO., LTD.). The viscosity measurement was carried out according to the manual attached to the above digital B-type viscometer. Specifically, beaker S (15 mL capacity) and spindle A1 attached to the above digital B-type viscometer were used, and the viscosity 1 minute after the rotation speed of the rotor reached 200 rpm was measured. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3. The temperature of the composition during measurement was 22 - 25 °C. As shown in Tables 2 and 3, Comparative Examples 1 - 4 and Test Examples 1 - 10 can be classified into a low-viscosity range where the measured viscosity is 8 mPa·s or more and less than 45 mPa·s, a medium-viscosity range where it is 45 mPa·s or more and less than 82 mPa·s, a high-viscosity range where it is 82 mPa·s or more and 149 mPa·s or less, and an ultra-high-viscosity range where it exceeds 149 mPa·s.

[0054] (Measurement of Solids Content) The solid content in each composition (hereinafter referred to as the solid content) was measured. Using a tabletop centrifuge (Model 2420 manufactured by Kubota Corporation), centrifugation was performed on 10 ml of the composition at 22 - 25°C (rotation speed 3000 rpm, rotation radius 14.5 cm, for 10 minutes) to sediment the solid content in the composition. The solid content volume calculated using the average of the upper and lower limit values of the height of the sedimented precipitate was used as the measured value to calculate the solid content of the composition. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0055] (Measurement of relative genioglossus muscle activity ratio) With the electrodes of an electromyograph (manufactured by Logical Product Co., Ltd.) attached to the suprahyoid muscle group in the mandibular region of the subject, a tongue pressure probe (a single-use balloon-shaped intraoral probe) of a tongue pressure measuring device (manufactured by JMS Co., Ltd.) was inserted into the subject's oral cavity, and the subject was made to gently grip the hard ring of the tongue pressure probe with the front teeth. Then, the subject was made to push the tongue upward against the palatal rugae with the maximum force to crush the balloon of the tongue pressure probe for 7 seconds. The tongue pressure and the muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group during the crushing period were measured by the tongue pressure measuring device and the electromyograph. Based on the measured tongue pressure and the muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group, the muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group per second at the time of maximum tongue pressure exertion was calculated. The maximum tongue pressure means the maximum value of the tongue pressure measured during the above-mentioned crushing period.

[0056] Next, with the electrodes of the electromyograph attached to the suprahyoid muscle group in the mandibular region of the subject, 3 g of the composition was put into the mouth, and the subject was made to perform the action of swallowing it in one go. The muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group during swallowing was measured by the electromyograph. Based on the measured muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group, the muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group per second during swallowing was calculated.

[0057] The maximum muscle activity ratio was calculated by dividing the calculated "muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group per second during swallowing" by the "muscle activity amount of the suprahyoid muscle group per second when the maximum tongue pressure was exerted". Then, for each composition of each case, the relative value of the maximum muscle activity ratio corrected with the maximum muscle activity ratio of the comparative example described in the comparison target columns of Tables 2 and 3 as 100% (hereinafter referred to as the relative maximum muscle activity ratio) was calculated. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0058]

Table 1

[0059]

Table 2

[0060]

Table 3

[0061] Next, the results of Test Examples 1 to 9 will be discussed in detail. In the low-viscosity range, Test Example 3 with a large median diameter of the solid content has a higher relative muscle activity ratio compared to Test Example 1 with a small median diameter and Test Example 2 with a medium median diameter. From this result, when the viscosity is in the range of 8 mPa·s or more and less than 45 mPa·s corresponding to the low-viscosity range, it is suggested that by setting the median diameter of the solid content to 94 μm or more and 133 μm or less, the effect of moving the suprahyoid muscle group during swallowing becomes greater.

[0062] In the medium-viscosity range, Test Example 6 with a large median diameter of the solid content has a higher relative muscle activity ratio compared to Test Example 4 with a medium median diameter. From this result, when the viscosity is in the range of 45 mPa·s or more and less than 82 mPa·s corresponding to the medium-viscosity range, it is suggested that by setting the median diameter of the solid content to 94 μm or more and 133 μm or less, the effect of moving the suprahyoid muscle group during swallowing becomes greater.

[0063] In the high-viscosity range, Test Example 7 with a small median diameter of the solid content and Test Example 9 with a large median diameter have a higher relative muscle activity ratio compared to Test Example 8 with a medium median diameter. From this result, when the viscosity is in the range of 82 mPa·s or more and 149 mPa·s or less corresponding to the high-viscosity range, it is suggested that by setting the median diameter of the solid content to 16 μm or more and 55 μm or less, or 94 μm or more and 133 μm or less, the effect of moving the suprahyoid muscle group during swallowing becomes greater.

[0064] Also, when comparing Test Example 4 and Test Example 5, Test Example 5 with a large solid content has a higher relative muscle activity ratio compared to Test Example 4 with a small solid content. From this result, it is suggested that by setting the solid content to 45% by volume or more, the effect of moving the suprahyoid muscle group during swallowing becomes greater.

Claims

1. A composition for improving and maintaining tongue function, comprising a liquid and a solid content, having a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more and 149 mPa·s or less.

2. The composition for improving and maintaining tongue function according to Claim 1, wherein the content of the solid content is 5% by volume or more and 50% by volume or less.

3. The composition for improving and maintaining tongue function according to Claim 1, wherein the median diameter of the solid content is 0.5 μm or more and 140 μm or less.

4. The composition for improving and maintaining tongue function according to Claim 1, wherein the solid content has a particle size of 0.01 μm or more and 350 μm or less for 50% or more of the particles in terms of the number ratio.

5. A method for improving and maintaining tongue function, characterized by swallowing the composition for improving and maintaining tongue function according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

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