Enhancer of endurance and improver of quality of sleep

Abstract

To provide a new enhancer of endurance, and to provide a new improver of quality of sleep.SOLUTION: A composition contains a material for enhancing energy production efficiency, and a material for enhancing an oxygen transport capacity. The composition containing a material for enhancing energy production efficiency is used by combining with a material for enhancing an oxygen transport capacity. The composition containing a material for enhancing an oxygen transport capacity is used by combining with a material for enhancing energy production efficiency.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to compositions such as foods, medicines, etc. In typical embodiments, the present invention relates to endurance-improving agents and sleep quality-improving agents. [Background technology]

[0002] Endurance is important for sports such as jogging, swimming, biking, and soccer. Furthermore, improving endurance is known to be beneficial for maintaining good health. For example, several studies have shown that people with higher maximal oxygen intake have lower rates of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). Therefore, there is a strong demand for methods to improve endurance.

[0003] Furthermore, high-quality sleep is extremely important for maintaining physical and / or mental health. For example, growth hormones are secreted in large amounts during sleep, which helps the body recover from fatigue and repair damaged parts. Furthermore, during sleep, the entire body relaxes and muscle tension is released, promoting recovery from physical fatigue. Furthermore, the relationship between sleep problems and mental health problems is widely known. Therefore, there is a strong desire to develop methods to improve sleep quality. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5296366 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2022-21280 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2021-170955 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2021-132645 [Patent Document 5] Patent Publication No. 2017-088549 [Patent Document 6] Patent No. 6749665 [Patent Document 7] Patent Publication No. 2019-062914 [Patent Document 8] Patent Publication No. 2016-094466 [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] JAMA. 2009 May 20;301(19):2024-35. [Non-patent document 2] JAMA. 2005 Dec 21;294(23):2981-8. [Non-patent document 3] Redox Biol. 2019;24:101192. doi:10.1016 / j.redox.2019.101192 [Non-patent document 4] J Oleo Sci. 2015;64(10):1135-1142. doi:10.5650 / jos.ess15118 [Non-Patent Document 5] J Am Coll Nutr. 2020;39(6):547-556 [Non-patent document 6] Nutrients vol. 14,9 1811. 26 Apr. 2022 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In one embodiment, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel endurance improving agent. Also, in another embodiment, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel sleep quality improving agent. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Under these circumstances, the inventors have conducted extensive trial and error with various ingredients and have found that by combining a material that improves energy production efficiency with a material that improves oxygen transport capacity, it is possible to achieve a greater effect in improving endurance and sleep quality than when these materials are used alone. The present invention is based on this novel finding. Accordingly, the present invention provides the following: Item 1. A composition comprising a material that enhances energy production efficiency and a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity.

[0008] Item 2. An agent for use in combination with a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity, including a material that enhances energy production efficiency.

[0009] Item 3. An agent for use in combination with a material that enhances energy production efficiency, including a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity.

[0010] Item 4. The composition according to Item 1 or the agent according to Item 2 or 3 for improving endurance.

[0011] Item 5. The composition according to Item 1, the agent according to Item 2 or 3, or the composition or agent according to Item 4, for improving sleep quality.

[0012] Item 6. The composition according to Item 1, the agent according to Item 2 or 3, or the composition or agent according to Item 4 or 5, wherein the material that enhances energy production efficiency is at least one selected from the group consisting of NMN, vitamin B3 (niacin, nicotinic acid), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), coenzyme Q10, 5-ALA, and PQQ.

[0013] Item 7. The composition according to Item 1, the agent according to Item 2 or 3, or the composition or agent according to any one of Items 4 to 6, wherein the material that enhances energy production efficiency is NMN.

[0014] Item 8. The composition according to Item 1, the agent according to Item 2 or 3, or the composition or agent according to any one of Items 4 to 7, wherein the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity is at least one selected from the group consisting of xanthophylls such as paprika xanthophyll, astaxanthin, and lutein, carotenes such as β-carotene, EPA, and DHA, which can be introduced into the red blood cell membrane.

[0015] Item 9. The composition according to any one of Items 1 to 8, the agent according to Item 2 or 3, or the composition or agent according to any one of Items 4 to 8, wherein the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity is paprika xanthophyll.

[0016] Item 10. Use of a material that increases energy production efficiency and a material that increases oxygen transport capacity to manufacture a composition for improving endurance.

[0017] Item 11. Use of a material that increases energy production efficiency and a material that increases oxygen transport capacity to manufacture a composition for improving sleep quality.

[0018] Item 12. Use of materials that increase oxygen transport capacity to enhance the endurance-improving effect of materials that increase energy production efficiency.

[0019] Item 13. Use of materials that increase the efficiency of energy production to enhance the endurance-improving effect of materials that increase oxygen transport capacity.

[0020] Item 14. Use of materials that increase oxygen transport capacity to enhance the effect of materials that increase energy production efficiency in improving sleep quality.

[0021] Item 15. Use of materials that increase energy production efficiency to enhance the effect of materials that increase oxygen transport capacity in improving sleep quality. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] In one embodiment, the present invention can provide a novel endurance improver. Also, in another embodiment, the present invention can provide a novel sleep quality improver. In the present invention, by combining a material that improves energy production efficiency with a material that improves oxygen transport capacity and administering the combined material to humans, it is possible to achieve a greater effect in improving endurance and sleep quality than when these materials are used alone. Such effects are unexpected from the effects of using the material that improves energy production efficiency or the material that improves oxygen transport capacity alone. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 shows the results of endurance (vLT) measurements in an example. [Figure 2] 1 shows the results of a sleep quality questionnaire in an example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A composition containing a material that enhances energy production efficiency and a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising a material that increases the efficiency of energy production and a material that increases oxygen carrying capacity.

[0025] In the present invention, "energy production efficiency" can be evaluated by OCR, which measures mitochondrial respiratory function, ATP production amount, membrane potential, respiratory chain complex activity, etc. More specifically, for example, "energy production efficiency" can be evaluated by the method described in Non-Patent Document 3. In a typical embodiment of the present invention, whether a material "increases energy production efficiency" can be evaluated by, for example, measuring mitochondrial energy production function (oxygen consumption rate: OCR) by the method described in Non-Patent Document 3, and determining whether mitochondrial energy production function (oxygen consumption rate: OCR) is significantly improved in a group administered with the material compared to a control group not administered with the material.

[0026] Materials that enhance the efficiency of energy production include, but are not limited to, NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), vitamin B3 (niacin, nicotinic acid), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), coenzyme Q10, 5-ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid), and PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone), with NMN being preferred. These materials that enhance the efficiency of energy production can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0027] For red blood cells to transport oxygen, they must be highly flexible (deformable) and circulate throughout the body. The presence of material components with excellent antioxidant properties in the red blood cell membrane protects the red blood cell membrane components from oxidative damage and maintains and improves the flexibility of red blood cells. Therefore, in the present invention, "oxygen-carrying capacity" can be evaluated by the localization of the material components in red blood cells. In a typical embodiment of the present invention, whether a material "enhances oxygen-carrying capacity" can be evaluated by determining whether the content of the material components in red blood cells increases when the content of the material components in red blood cells is measured using the method described in Non-Patent Document 4. Materials that enhance oxygen-carrying capacity include, but are not limited to, xanthophylls such as paprika xanthophylls, astaxanthin, and lutein; carotenes such as β-carotene; EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid); and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), with paprika xanthophylls being preferred. Examples of paprika xanthophylls include capsanthin, capsorubin, capsanthin epoxide, cryptocapsin, β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and cucurbitaxanthin A. These paprika xanthophylls can be used in combination of two or more types (preferably two or more types, more preferably three or more types, more preferably four or more types, more preferably five or more types, more preferably six or more types, and most preferably seven types). These materials that enhance oxygen transport capacity can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Furthermore, the composition of the present invention may contain isolated and purified materials that enhance oxygen transport capacity, or natural products containing materials that enhance oxygen transport capacity or processed products thereof (extracts, etc.). Examples of natural products containing materials that enhance oxygen transport capacity include plants containing xanthophyll, such as paprika.

[0028] The ratio of the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity to 100 parts by mass of the material that enhances energy production efficiency is not limited, but may be set within the range of, for example, 1000 parts by mass or less, preferably 100 parts by mass or less, more preferably 90 parts by mass or less, more preferably 50 parts by mass or less, more preferably 30 parts by mass or less, more preferably 10 parts by mass or less, more preferably 7.0 parts by mass or less, more preferably 5.0 parts by mass or less, more preferably 3.0 parts by mass or less, and more preferably 2.0 parts by mass or less, relative to 100 parts by mass of the material that enhances energy production efficiency. The lower limit of the ratio of the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity to 100 parts by mass of the material that enhances energy production efficiency is also not limited, but may be set within the range of, for example, 0.01 parts by mass or more, preferably 0.1 parts by mass or more, more preferably 0.5 parts by mass or more, more preferably 1.0 parts by mass or more, and more preferably 1.5 parts by mass or more. The range of the ratio of the material that enhances energy production efficiency to the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity is not limited, but the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity can be set in the range of, for example, 0.01 to 1000 parts by mass, preferably 0.1 to 100 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass, more preferably 1.0 to 5.0 parts by mass, and more preferably 1.5 to 3.0 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the material that enhances energy production efficiency.

[0029] In the present invention, the combination of the active ingredients of the present invention, that is, the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity, may be used as is, or the combination may be used as a composition combining the combination with various carriers that are pharmaceutically acceptable or that can be added to foods (e.g., isotonicity agents, chelating agents, stabilizers, pH adjusters, preservatives, antioxidants, solubilizers, thickeners, excipients, binders, lubricants (or flowability improvers), etc.). In this embodiment, the contents of the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity in the composition of the present invention are not limited, and the total amount of the combination of the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity can be appropriately set within the range of 0.0001% by mass to 100% by mass. For example, 0.0001 mass% or more, 0.0005 mass% or more, 0.001 mass% or more, 0.005 mass% or more, 0.01 mass% or more, 0.05 mass% or more, 0.1 mass% or more, 0.5 mass% or more, 1 mass% or more, 3 mass% or more, 5 mass% or more, 7 mass% % or more, 10 mass% or more, 15 mass% or more, 20 mass% or more, 30 mass% or more, 40 mass% or more, 50 mass% or more, 60 mass% or more, 70 mass% or more, 80 mass% or more, 90 mass% or more, 95 mass% or more, 99 mass% or more, etc. There is no upper limit to the content of the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity, but the total amount of the combination of the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity may be, for example, 100% by mass, or can be appropriately set within a range such as 99% by mass or less, 95% by mass or less, 90% by mass or less, 80% by mass or less, 70% by mass or less, 60% by mass or less, 50% by mass or less, 40% by mass or less, 30% by mass or less, 20% by mass or less, 15% by mass or less, 10% by mass or less, 7% by mass or less, 5% by mass or less, 3% by mass or less, 1% by mass or less, 0.1% by mass or less, etc.

[0030] Examples of isotonicity agents include sugars such as glucose, trehalose, lactose, fructose, mannitol, xylitol, and sorbitol, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, polyethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and inorganic salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride. These isotonicity agents can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0031] Examples of chelating agents include edetate salts such as disodium edetate, calcium disodium edetate, trisodium edetate, tetrasodium edetate, and calcium edetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, nitrilotriacetic acid or a salt thereof, sodium hexametaphosphate, citric acid, etc. These chelating agents can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0032] The stabilizer may, for example, be sodium hydrogen sulfite.

[0033] Examples of pH adjusters include acids such as hydrochloric acid, carbonic acid, acetic acid, and citric acid, as well as alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates or hydrogen carbonates such as sodium carbonate, alkali metal acetates such as sodium acetate, alkali metal citrates such as sodium citrate, and bases such as trometamol. These pH adjusters can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0034] Examples of preservatives include sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, parahydroxybenzoic acid esters such as methyl parahydroxybenzoate, ethyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, and butyl parahydroxybenzoate, quaternary ammonium salts such as chlorhexidine gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride, alkylpolyaminoethylglycine, chlorobutanol, polyquad, polyhexamethylene biguanide, and chlorhexidine. These preservatives can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0035] Examples of antioxidants include sodium hydrogen sulfite, dry sodium sulfite, sodium pyrosulfite, concentrated mixed tocopherols, etc. These antioxidants can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0036] Examples of solubilizing agents include sodium benzoate, glycerin, D-sorbitol, glucose, propylene glycol, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, macrogol, D-mannitol, etc. These solubilizing agents can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0037] Examples of thickeners include polyethylene glycol, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carmellose sodium, xanthan gum, sodium chondroitin sulfate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. These thickeners may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0038] Examples of excipients include lactose, corn starch, L-cysteine, trehalose, maltitol, sorbitol, etc. These excipients may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0039] Examples of binders include crystalline cellulose, starch, sucrose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, gelatin, powdered gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, pullulan, dextrin, cyclodextrin, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, etc. These binders can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0040] Examples of lubricants (or flow improvers) include silicon dioxide, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, talc, polyethylene glycol, etc. These lubricants can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0041] The composition of the present invention may be in the form of an oral composition. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the present invention provides an oral composition containing a material that enhances energy production efficiency and a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity. In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention includes food and beverage compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, and the like. In the present invention, the food and beverage compositions also include health functional foods (nutrient functional foods, foods for specified health uses, and foods with functional claims). Examples of food and beverage compositions include beverages such as tea drinks, vegetable juice drinks, fruit juice drinks, mixed vegetable and fruit juice drinks, fermented milk drinks, and almond-containing drinks; and foods such as ice cream, frozen desserts, almond-containing foods, biscuits, chocolates (including semi-chocolate), and fermented milk foods (yogurt and cheese). The food and beverage compositions of the present invention also include supplements. Among these food and beverage products, supplements are preferred in the present invention. Examples of supplements include capsules, powders, tablets, and the like, with capsules being preferred. The dosage form of the pharmaceutical composition is not limited, and includes orally administered formulations such as capsules, powders, granules, and tablets; injections; and patches, with orally administered formulations being preferred.

[0042] In the present invention, the "composition comprising a material that enhances energy production efficiency and a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity" encompasses embodiments in which both the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity are incorporated into the same food, drink, medicine, etc., as well as embodiments in which the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity are incorporated into separate food, drink, medicine, etc. Accordingly, the "composition comprising a material that enhances energy production efficiency and a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity" of the present invention may also encompass, for example, a combination of a food or drink (e.g., capsules, etc.) containing the material that enhances energy production efficiency with another food or drink (e.g., capsules, etc.) containing the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity. The "composition" of the present invention may also be in the form of a kit. Accordingly, the "composition" of the present invention may also encompass a kit containing the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity. In addition to the active ingredients, i.e., the material that enhances energy production efficiency and the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity, kit embodiments may also include, for example, instructions describing how to use the composition (kit) (e.g., a method for improving endurance, a method for improving sleep quality, etc.).

[0043] The composition of the present invention can be used by being ingested by a subject (preferably a mammal such as a human). The intake amount of the composition of the present invention is not limited, but the daily intake of the active ingredient, a material that enhances energy production efficiency, is preferably 1 mg or more, more preferably 10 mg or more, more preferably 100 mg or more, more preferably 200 mg or more, more preferably 300 mg or more, more preferably 400 mg or more, and more preferably 450 mg or more. The upper limit of the intake amount of the composition of the present invention is also not limited, but the daily intake of the active ingredient, a material that enhances energy production efficiency, is preferably 1000 mg or less, more preferably 900 mg or less, more preferably 800 mg or less, more preferably 700 mg or less, more preferably 600 mg or less, and more preferably 550 mg or less. The range of intake of the composition of the present invention is, for example, preferably 1 mg to 1000 mg, more preferably 100 mg to 900 mg, more preferably 200 mg to 800 mg, more preferably 300 mg to 700 mg, more preferably 400 mg to 600 mg, more preferably 450 mg to 550 mg, as the daily intake of the material that enhances energy production efficiency as an active ingredient. The lower limit of the intake of the composition of the present invention is, for example, preferably 0.01 mg or more, more preferably 0.10 mg or more, more preferably 0.30 mg or more, more preferably 0.50 mg or more, more preferably 0.70 mg or more, more preferably 0.80 mg or more, more preferably 0.85 mg or more, as the daily intake of the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity as an active ingredient. The upper limit of the intake of the composition of the present invention is, for example, preferably 100 mg or less, more preferably 70 mg or less, more preferably 50 mg or less, more preferably 30 mg or less, more preferably 10 mg or less, and more preferably 9.5 mg or less, as the daily intake of the active ingredient, the material that increases oxygen transport capacity.The intake amount of the composition of the present invention, as the daily intake amount of the active ingredient, a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity, is, for example, preferably 0.01 mg to 100 mg, more preferably 0.10 mg to 70 mg, more preferably 0.01 mg to 100 mg, more preferably 0.30 mg to 70 mg, more preferably 0.50 mg to 50 mg, more preferably 0.70 mg to 30 mg, more preferably 0.80 mg to 10 mg, and more preferably 0.85 mg to 9.5 mg. The number of times the composition of the present invention is taken per day is not limited, and can be appropriately set within a range of 1 to 4 times, 1 to 3 times, 1 to 2 times, or once per day. When taking the composition multiple times per day, for example, the amount per intake can be adjusted so that the total daily intake falls within the above range. The composition of the present invention may be taken before, during, or after a meal, but is preferably taken after a meal. If taking the composition after a meal, it is preferably taken within 3 hours, more preferably within 1 hour, after finishing the meal. Within 30 minutes is more preferable, and within 15 minutes is particularly preferable. Before a meal, within 3 hours of the start of the meal is more preferable, and within 1 hour is more preferable. Within 30 minutes is more preferable, and within 15 minutes is particularly preferable.

[0044] Endurance-boosting composition In the present invention, a combination of a material that improves energy production efficiency and a material that improves oxygen transport capacity can achieve a significant endurance-enhancing effect. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for improving endurance, comprising a material that improves energy production efficiency and a material that improves oxygen transport capacity. In this embodiment of the present invention, the endurance-enhancing effect preferably includes an effect of improving whole-body endurance (cardiopulmonary endurance), and more specifically, an effect of improving vLT (the running speed when blood lactate concentration corresponds to a 2 mmol / L lactate threshold (LT)). More specifically, in the present invention, the endurance-enhancing effect can be evaluated, for example, by the lactate curve test described in the Examples. In the present invention, "improved endurance" means an improvement in endurance compared to when the composition of the present invention is not ingested, and can also include, for example, suppressing a decline in endurance due to aging or the like and maintaining endurance. As described above, in the present invention, a significant endurance-enhancing effect can be achieved by combining a material that improves energy production efficiency and a material that improves oxygen transport capacity. Therefore, in the present invention, it can be said that the endurance-enhancing effect of a material that improves energy production efficiency can be enhanced by a material that improves oxygen transport capacity.Furthermore, it can be said that the endurance-enhancing effect of a material that improves oxygen transport capacity can be enhanced by a material that improves energy production efficiency.

[0045] In this embodiment, the details of the types of materials contained in the composition that increase energy production efficiency and materials that increase oxygen transport capacity, the proportions used, other ingredients, and the form of the composition are as described above.

[0046] In addition to the materials that increase energy production efficiency and oxygen transport capacity, the composition may further contain a substance known to have an endurance-enhancing effect. Examples of substances known to have an endurance-enhancing effect include β-alanine, anserine, S-allyl cysteine, and carnitine. These substances may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0047] In this embodiment, the present invention can provide an endurance-improving effect to a subject (preferably a mammal such as a human). In a typical embodiment, the present invention is highly effective because it can provide an endurance-improving effect not only to elderly people but also to young people (typically 15 to 34 years old). In a typical embodiment, the present invention can also provide an endurance-improving effect to athletes such as professional athletes and student athletes belonging to athletic teams. Because athletes' endurance has already been improved through daily training, it is more difficult for them to further improve their endurance from that state compared to subjects who do not engage in intense exercise. Nevertheless, the present invention is useful because it can provide an endurance-improving effect to athletes as well.

[0048] Composition for improving sleep quality In the present invention, sleep quality can be improved by combining a material that enhances energy production efficiency with a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for improving sleep quality, comprising a material that enhances energy production efficiency and a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity. In this embodiment of the present invention, the improvement in sleep quality preferably includes an effect of improving the feeling of deep sleep. More specifically, in the present invention, the effect of improving sleep quality can be evaluated, for example, by the method described in the Examples. As described above, in the present invention, sleep quality can be improved by combining a material that enhances energy production efficiency with a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity. Therefore, in the present invention, it can be said that the sleep quality improvement effect of a material that enhances energy production efficiency can be enhanced by a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity. It can also be said that the sleep quality improvement effect of a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity can be enhanced by a material that enhances energy production efficiency.

[0049] In this embodiment, the details of the types of materials contained in the composition that increase energy production efficiency and materials that increase oxygen transport capacity, the proportions used, other ingredients, and the form of the composition are as described above.

[0050] In addition to the materials that increase energy production efficiency and oxygen transport capacity, the composition may further contain a substance known to improve sleep quality. Examples of substances known to improve sleep quality include theanine, GABA, glycine, serine, and sesamin. These substances may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0051] In this embodiment, the present invention can provide an endurance-enhancing effect to a subject (preferably a mammal such as a human).

[0052] Compositions containing materials that enhance the efficiency of energy production In another embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising a material that increases the efficiency of energy production, for use in combination with a material that increases oxygen carrying capacity.

[0053] In this embodiment, the material that enhances energy production efficiency, which is the active ingredient of the present invention, may itself be used as a composition to be used in combination with a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity (in such an embodiment, "a composition to be used in combination with a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity" may also be read as "an agent to be used in combination with a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity"). The material that enhances energy production efficiency may also be used in combination with various carriers that are pharmaceutically acceptable or can be added to foods. The types of components to be combined with the material that enhances energy production efficiency, such as various carriers, are the same as those described above. In this embodiment, the content of the material that enhances energy production efficiency in the composition is not limited, and can be set appropriately within ranges such as 0.0001% by mass or more, 0.0005% by mass or more, 0.001% by mass or more, 0.005% by mass or more, 0.01% by mass or more, 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.5% by mass or more, 1% by mass or more, 3% by mass or more, 5% by mass or more, 7% by mass or more, 10% by mass or more, 15% by mass or more, 20% by mass or more, 30% by mass or more, 40% by mass or more, 50% by mass or more, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, 95% by mass or more, 99% by mass or more, etc. The upper limit of the content of the material that improves energy production efficiency is not limited, but may be, for example, 100% by mass, or can be set appropriately within ranges such as 99% by mass or less, 95% by mass or less, 90% by mass or less, 80% by mass or less, 70% by mass or less, 60% by mass or less, 50% by mass or less, 40% by mass or less, 30% by mass or less, 20% by mass or less, 15% by mass or less, 10% by mass or less, 7% by mass or less, 5% by mass or less, 3% by mass or less, 1% by mass or less, 0.1% by mass or less, etc.

[0054] In this embodiment, details such as the types of materials contained in the composition that increase energy production efficiency and materials that increase oxygen transport capacity, the ratio of the two materials used, other ingredients, the form of the composition, uses (improving endurance, improving sleep quality), and methods of use (amount taken, method of taking, etc.) are as described above.

[0055] Compositions containing materials that enhance oxygen carrying capacity In another embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising a material that enhances oxygen carrying capacity, for use in combination with a material that enhances the efficiency of energy production.

[0056] In this embodiment, the material that enhances oxygen-carrying capacity, which is the active ingredient of the present invention, may itself be used as a composition to be used in combination with a material that enhances energy production efficiency (in such an embodiment, "a composition to be used in combination with a material that enhances energy production efficiency" may also be read as "an agent to be used in combination with a material that enhances energy production efficiency"). The material that enhances oxygen-carrying capacity may also be used in combination with various carriers that are pharmaceutically acceptable or can be added to foods. The types of components to be combined with the material that enhances oxygen-carrying capacity, such as various carriers, are the same as those described above. In this embodiment, the content of the material that enhances energy production efficiency in the composition is not limited, and can be set appropriately within ranges such as 0.0001% by mass or more, 0.0005% by mass or more, 0.001% by mass or more, 0.005% by mass or more, 0.01% by mass or more, 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.5% by mass or more, 1% by mass or more, 3% by mass or more, 5% by mass or more, 7% by mass or more, 10% by mass or more, 15% by mass or more, 20% by mass or more, 30% by mass or more, 40% by mass or more, 50% by mass or more, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, 95% by mass or more, 99% by mass or more, etc. The upper limit of the content of the material that improves energy production efficiency is not limited, but may be, for example, 100% by mass, or can be set appropriately within ranges such as 99% by mass or less, 95% by mass or less, 90% by mass or less, 80% by mass or less, 70% by mass or less, 60% by mass or less, 50% by mass or less, 40% by mass or less, 30% by mass or less, 20% by mass or less, 15% by mass or less, 10% by mass or less, 7% by mass or less, 5% by mass or less, 3% by mass or less, 1% by mass or less, 0.1% by mass or less, etc.

[0057] In this embodiment, details such as the types of materials contained in the composition that increase energy production efficiency and materials that increase oxygen transport capacity, the ratio of the two materials used, other ingredients, the form of the composition, uses (improving endurance, improving sleep quality), and methods of use (amount taken, method of taking, etc.) are as described above.

[0058] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below using examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. [Example]

[0059] <Lactic acid curve test> The lactate curve test measures blood lactate concentrations at various running speeds and evaluates the running speed at which blood lactate concentrations correspond to a 2mmol / L lactate threshold (LT), known as vLT. As exercise intensity increases and the proportion of energy supplied by glycolysis increases, lactate accumulates and blood lactate concentrations rise. LT is the threshold at which blood lactate concentrations begin to rise rapidly with increasing exercise intensity, and is known to be related to the race pace of long-distance runners (Midgley et al., Sports Med. 2007;37(10):857-80).

[0060] The specific measurement method was as follows. After a 5-10 minute warm-up, participants rested for 5 minutes, and blood lactate levels were measured before the test. The test began when blood lactate levels reached 1.9 mmol / L or below. Based on a previous study of track and field athletes (Kawakami et al., Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts Bulletin, 1, 153-165 (1996)), participants ran for 3 minutes on a treadmill with a safe incline, followed by a 1-minute rest period, with running speed increasing by 30 m / min for each of the seven stages. After each rest period, blood lactate levels were measured by fingertip blood sampling. The test ended when blood lactate levels exceeded 6 mmol / L.

[0061] <Sleep quality questionnaire> A questionnaire was conducted via an online diary, in which participants were asked to choose one of the following four options. The average values ​​of the answers given before intake (from the day after the lactate curve test measurement described above before intake to the day before intake began) and after intake (from the day intake began to the day before post-intake measurement) were calculated: 0: I slept very soundly 1: I slept fairly well 2: I didn't sleep very well. 3: I had a very poor sleep.

[0062] <Contents of the test food> Test food: NMN-containing hard capsules (NMN dosage 500 mg / day), and / or soft capsules containing paprika xanthophyll (paprika xanthophyll dosage 9 mg / day) Control food: placebo hard soft capsule (maltodextrin), or placebo soft capsules (safflower oil)

[0063] <Example> Subjects: Healthy male university students aged 18-30 who are members of track and field teams Number of subjects: 139 Study method: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group comparative study Intake period: 4 weeks

[0064] The subjects were randomly assigned to four groups (placebo group, NMN group, PX group, and NMN + PX combination group), with approximately 35 subjects in each group. After a two-week observation period, the subjects consumed a specified amount of the test food or control food daily after breakfast for four weeks. Lactate curve tests were performed before and after intake to evaluate endurance. The results are shown in Table 1 and Figure 1. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed-effects model.

[0065] [Table 1]

[0066] In endurance tests conducted on humans, administration of coenzyme Q10, PQQ, etc. has not demonstrated satisfactory effects (Non-Patent Documents 5, 6). As shown in Figure 1, in this test, no significant differences were observed between the NMN-only administration group and the PX-only administration group compared to the placebo group. In contrast, as shown in Figure 1, the NMN+PX combination group showed a significant improvement in vLT after administration compared to the placebo group (p<0.05). Therefore, this synergistic result can be said to be unexpected.

[0067] Therefore, the food composition of the present invention is thought to contribute to the efficient improvement of endurance by increasing the actual efficiency of energy production.

[0068] Furthermore, the results of the sleep quality questionnaire conducted throughout the study period are shown in Table 2 and Figure 2. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare before and after the study.

[0069] [Table 2]

[0070] As shown in Figure 2, only the NMN+PX combination group showed improved sleep quality after ingestion compared to before ingestion (p<0.05). As with the endurance improvement effect, no significant improvement was observed in the NMN group or the PX group, so this synergistic result was unexpected. Therefore, it is believed that the food composition of the present invention also contributes to improving the quality of sleep by increasing the actual efficiency of energy production.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a material that increases the efficiency of energy production and a material that increases oxygen transport capacity.

2. An agent for use in combination with a material that enhances oxygen transport capacity, including a material that enhances energy production efficiency.

3. An agent for use in combination with materials that enhance the efficiency of energy production, including materials that enhance oxygen transport capacity.

4. 4. The composition according to claim 1 or the agent according to claim 2 or 3 for improving endurance.

5. 10. The composition according to claim 1 or the agent according to claim 2 or 3 for improving sleep quality.

6. The composition according to claim 1 or the agent according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the material that enhances energy production efficiency is at least one selected from the group consisting of NMN, vitamin B3 (niacin, nicotinic acid), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), coenzyme Q10, 5-ALA, and PQQ.

7. The composition or agent according to claim 6, wherein the material that enhances the efficiency of energy production is NMN.

8. The composition of claim 1 or the agent of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a material that increases oxygen transport capacity can be introduced into the red blood cell membrane, which material is at least one selected from the group consisting of xanthophyll, carotene, EPA, and DHA.

9. 4. The composition of claim 1 or the agent of claim 2 or 3, wherein the material that enhances oxygen transport capacity is paprika xanthophyll.

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