Composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria and method for producing the same

Abstract

To provide a novel composition for improving the intestinal environment. [Solution] A composition for improving the intestinal environment that contains regenerated cellulose as an active ingredient and promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes an increase in fatty acid amide-producing bacteria and a method for producing the same.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, it has been found that dietary fiber exhibits various physiological effects, including improving the intestinal environment, through the intestinal flora (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present inventors have found that among dietary fibers, particularly regenerated cellulose contributes to an increase in fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora. The present invention is based on this new finding and aims to provide a novel composition for improving the intestinal environment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above object, the composition for improving the intestinal environment of the present invention is a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes an increase in fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora, containing regenerated cellulose as an active ingredient. This composition can be used in foods and beverages, ingredients for foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals, ingredients for pharmaceuticals, animal feeds, and ingredients for animal feeds.

[0006] In this case, it can contain glucomannan.

[0007] Furthermore, the intestinal environment improvement composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria can be in solid form (for example, noodle-like, granular, and film-like).

[0008] Furthermore, this composition for improving the intestinal environment, which promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, can be in the form of a paste.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing an intestinal environment improving agent, which is a method for producing an intestinal environment improving composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, and is characterized by comprising the steps of: dissolving a cellulose raw material in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to prepare an alkaline cellulose dope; adding water to glucomannan to swell it, then adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and stirring to prepare an alkaline glucomannan dope; mixing and stirring the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope prepared in the above two steps to prepare a mixed dope; and extruding the mixed dope prepared in the said step into a sulfuric acid solution using an extruder, solidifying and neutralizing it, and then washing it with water to obtain a solid structure (for example, noodle-like, granular, and film-like).

[0010] Furthermore, the process may include crushing the solid structure into a paste.

[0011] Furthermore, the glucomannan may consist of refined glucomannan and / or konjac powder and low-viscosity glucomannan in a weight ratio of 1:9 to 9:1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The present invention provides a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, and a method for producing the same. This composition contributes to the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora and can be used as a main ingredient in foods and beverages, food additives, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical additives, animal feed, animal feed additives, etc.

[0013] Furthermore, by ensuring that the glucomannan consists of refined glucomannan and / or konjac powder and low-viscosity glucomannan in a weight ratio of 1:9 to 9:1, the texture can be easily adjusted by changing the ratio of refined glucomannan and / or konjac powder to low-viscosity glucomannan. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This graph shows the relationship between feed and the number of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria (between the resting group and the exercise group). [Figure 2] (a) is a graph showing the relationship between feed and maximum running time (running time (minutes) and the percentage of mice running (%)), (b) is a graph showing the relationship between feed and maximum running distance (running distance (m) and the percentage of mice (%)), and (c) is a graph showing the relationship between feed and spontaneous running amount (running distance (m)). [Figure 3] This graph shows the relationship between feed and maximum running time. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for producing a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart illustrating the method for producing the intestinal environment improvement composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria according to the present invention, and a method for producing the same, will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] The present invention provides a composition for improving the intestinal environment that contains regenerated cellulose as an active ingredient and promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in the intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, in addition to regenerated cellulose, it may also contain glucomannan. This composition can be used in food and beverages, food and beverage additives, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical additives, animal feed, and animal feed additives.

[0017] Hereinafter, the composition for improving intestinal environment of the present invention will be described based on the experiments conducted on the composition for improving intestinal environment.

[0018] [Experimental method] Five-week-old C57BL6 mice were fed a diet containing 5% dietary fiber (cellulose, regenerated cellulose, glucomannan, regenerated cellulose + glucomannan) in the standard purified diet AIN-76 (high-carbohydrate standard diet (P:F:C = 21:12:67)) shown in Table 1 under exercise load conditions (a running wheel was installed in the cage) for 7 weeks for free intake. After conducting a limit running test and measuring the spontaneous running amount, feces were collected and then used for dissection. The limit running time, limit running distance, and spontaneous running amount were measured, and the intestinal flora was analyzed from the feces.

[0019] [Table 1]

[0020] Each feed was produced into an edible form by the following method. · Cellulose-containing feed (CEL) An acid-hydrolyzed product of existing purified natural cellulose (powdered cellulose "KC Flock" (registered trademark) manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.) was dispersed in water and mixed into the standard purified diet AIN-76. · Regenerated cellulose-containing feed (RC) Cellulose raw material was dissolved in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to prepare an alkaline cellulose dope. This cellulose dope was extruded into a sulfuric acid bath, coagulated, neutralized, and then washed with water to obtain a coagulum of regenerated cellulose. After that, this coagulum of regenerated cellulose was ground with a mixer and excess water was removed with a centrifuge to obtain a regenerated cellulose edible paste. This was mixed into the standard purified diet AIN-76. Regenerated cellulose is an insoluble dietary fiber obtained by dissolving and coagulating cellulose through chemical treatment, and has a different structure from natural cellulose. Incidentally, the crystalline structure of natural cellulose is cellulose type I, and its degree of crystallinity is 50% or more, while the crystalline structure of regenerated cellulose is cellulose type II, and its degree of crystallinity is about 20-40%. In natural cellulose, the hydrophobic crystal planes, which are the binding domains of cellulase, are hardly exposed, but in regenerated cellulose, hydrophilic and hydrophobic crystal planes are exposed on the surface of the microfibrils, which are aggregates of cellulose molecular chains. The degradation rate of regenerated cellulose in mice was about the same as that of natural cellulose under short-term in vivo conditions, with the degradation rate of regenerated cellulose being 18.1% (w / w) and natural cellulose being 15.4% (w / w). • Glucomannan-containing feed (GLM) Glucomannan powder derived from konjac root was dispersed in water and mixed with standard purified feed AIN-76. • Feed containing regenerated cellulose + glucomannan (RC+GLM) A regenerated cellulose edible paste and glucomannan powder dispersed in water were mixed with standard purified feed AIN-76. More specifically, the process involved: dissolving cellulose raw material in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to prepare an alkaline cellulose dope; adding water to glucomannan to swell it, then adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and stirring to prepare an alkaline glucomannan dope; mixing and stirring the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope prepared in these two steps to prepare a mixed dope; extruding the mixed dope prepared in this step into a sulfuric acid solution using an extruder, allowing it to coagulate and neutralize, then washing it with water to obtain a coagulated product of regenerated cellulose + glucomannan; grinding this coagulated product of regenerated cellulose + glucomannan in a mixer, removing excess water with a centrifuge to obtain an edible paste of regenerated cellulose + glucomannan, and mixing this with standard purified feed AIN-76.

[0021] [Experimental Results] Figure 1 shows the results of the gut microbiota analysis (relationship between feed and the number of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria (resting group and The graph shows the exercise group. Figures 2 and 3 show the measurement results for maximum running time, maximum running distance, and spontaneous running volume. As shown in Figure 1, an increase in fatty acid amide-producing bacteria (Coprococcus) was observed in the group that consumed regenerated cellulose (RC). Incidentally, the fatty acid amides produced by fatty acid amide-producing bacteria stimulate receptors called CB endocannabinoid receptors on sensory nerves in the intestinal wall. These nerves are connected to the brain via the spinal cord, and stimulating nerves in the brain that possess CB1 receptors increases the concentration of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a brain region called the ventral striatum during exercise. Recent studies have revealed that this increase in dopamine in this region during exercise strengthens the desire to exercise and improves performance. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the results of this experiment also revealed that in mice that ingested regenerated cellulose (RC) with proliferated fatty acid amide-producing bacteria and mice that ingested regenerated cellulose + glucomannan (RC+GLM), spontaneous running volume increased compared to other groups, and the maximum running time and maximum running distance were significantly extended in the limit running test. Therefore, it was revealed that endurance exercise capacity improved in the groups that ingested regenerated cellulose (RC) and mice that ingested regenerated cellulose + glucomannan (RC+GLM).

[0022] Next, Figures 4 and 5 show an example of a method for producing a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, which is suitable for commercial production. The method for producing this intestinal environment improvement composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria uses powdered cellulose, which is obtained by hydrolyzing pulp, drying, and grinding, as specified in the Food Additives Standards (issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). Alternatively, microfibrous cellulose or microcrystalline cellulose, also specified in the Food Additives Standards (issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), can be used as raw materials. The process comprises the steps of: dissolving the cellulose raw material in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to prepare an alkaline cellulose dope; adding water to glucomannan and / or konjac powder to swell it, then adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and stirring to prepare an alkaline glucomannan dope; mixing and stirring the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope prepared in the previous two steps to prepare a mixed dope; and extruding the mixed dope prepared in the previous step into a sulfuric acid solution using an extruder, coagulating and neutralizing it (regeneration treatment), then washing it with water to obtain a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, consisting of noodle-like, granular, or film-like structures. Here, the steps for preparing the cellulose dope and the steps for preparing the glucomannan dope can be carried out simultaneously.

[0023] In the process of preparing cellulose dope, the sodium hydroxide aqueous solution can be added in two steps.

[0024] In the process of preparing glucomannan dope, the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution must be done after adding water to the glucomannan and / or konjac powder and allowing it to swell.

[0025] Furthermore, glucomannan includes refined glucomannan (high-molecular-weight glucomannan from which impurities such as trimethylamine derived from konjac root have been removed, and which has high viscosity (for example, 10 5 ~10 6 mPa·s (3% aqueous solution, 25°C × 2hrs.))) and low-viscosity glucomannan (low viscosity glucomannan obtained by decomposing high-molecular-weight glucomannan (purified glucomannan) into low molecular weight (for example, 100 mPa·s or less (3% aqueous solution, 25°C × 2hrs.))) can be used individually, but it is preferable to use both in combination, in which case the weight ratio of purified glucomannan to low-viscosity glucomannan should be 1:9 to 9:1, preferably 1:3 to 3:1, and more preferably 1:2 to 2:1. It is preferable to make it consist of things. Here, refined glucomannan (and / or konjac powder) can impart firmness (chewiness) to the texture, while low-viscosity glucomannan can impart smoothness to the texture. This makes it easy to adjust the texture of the intestinal environment improvement composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria by changing the ratio of purified glucomannan (and / or konjac powder) to low-viscosity glucomannan.

[0026] In the process of preparing the mixed dope, when mixing the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope prepared in the two steps described above, it is preferable to make the pH values ​​of the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope approximately the same (by setting the concentration of sodium hydroxide in the aqueous solution to about 7.5-8.5%). This allows for smooth mixing of cellulose dope and glucomannan dope.

[0027] The mixing ratio of cellulose and glucomannan components in the mixed dope can be, for example, 1:9 to 9:1 by weight, preferably 1:3 to 3:1, and more preferably 1:2 to 2:1. Here, the cellulose component can impart a crisp texture, while the glucomannan component can impart a sticky texture.

[0028] In the process of obtaining a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, in order to obtain a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria consisting of noodle-like, granular, or film-like structures, when extruding a mixed dope into a sulfuric acid solution using an extruder, a nozzle with many small holes is used to extrude it into a noodle-like shape, and further, by cutting it at equal intervals with a cutter, it can be made into granules, and by using a slit-shaped nozzle, it can be made into a film.

[0029] The intestinal environment improving composition produced in this manner, which promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, is neutral, white, and tasteless as is, but can be colored or flavored with seasonings or sweeteners as needed, and can also be combined with various additives (nutrients). [Examples]

[0030] The following describes a more specific example of a method for producing the intestinal environment improvement composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria according to the present invention. Furthermore, it is preferable to carry out each of the above steps at a low temperature, specifically at a temperature of 10°C or lower (water temperature).

[0031] [Process for preparing cellulose dope] As the cellulose raw material, powdered cellulose ("KC Floc" (registered trademark) manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.), which is obtained by acid hydrolyzing refined pulp, drying it, and grinding it, is used. This powdered cellulose is added to an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH concentration: 4%), uniformly dispersed, and swollen (cellulose concentration: 7.5%). Next, a cellulose dope (cellulose concentration: 4.8%, NaOH concentration: 8%) is prepared by adding another sodium hydroxide aqueous solution (NaOH concentration: 16%) to the sodium hydroxide aqueous solution containing the swollen cellulose and stirring.

[0032] [Steps for preparing glucomannan dope] For glucomannan, refined glucomannan (and / or konjac powder) and low-viscosity glucomannan are used in combination. Purified glucomannan: Leox RS (trade name) (manufactured by Shimizu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and / or konjac powder: Timac Mannan (trade name) (manufactured by Orihiro Co., Ltd.) Low-viscosity glucomannan: Rheox LM (product name) (manufactured by Shimizu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.25 g of refined glucomannan (and / or konjac powder) and 2.25 g of low-viscosity glucomannan are mixed with 125.5 g of water and stirred to uniformly disperse and swell the mixture. Next, to the dispersion containing swollen purified glucomannan (and / or konjac powder) and low-viscosity glucomannan, 25 g of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH concentration: 48%) is added and stirred to prepare a glucomannan-doped solution (glucomannan concentration: 2.9%, NaOH concentration: 7.8%).

[0033] Here, the process of preparing the cellulose dope and the process of preparing the glucomannan dope are carried out simultaneously.

[0034] [Process for preparing the mixed dope] When mixing the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope prepared in the two steps described above, the pH values ​​of the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope should be made to be approximately the same. The mixing ratio of cellulose and glucomannan components in the mixed dope should be 2:3.

[0035] [Steps to obtain a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria] After the prepared mixed dope is filtered and defoamed as needed, it is extruded into sulfuric acid solution using an extruder, coagulated, neutralized (regenerated), and then washed with water to obtain a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, consisting of noodle-like, granular, or film-like structures.

[0036] Table 2 shows the nutritional analysis values ​​of the intestinal environment improving composition that promotes the increase of manufactured fatty acid amide-producing bacteria.

[0037] [Table 2]

[0038] A composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria produced in this manner, namely, a molded body in the form of noodles, granules or films containing cellulose regenerated from an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in which cellulose raw material is dissolved, and glucomannan, which promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, is thus produced, and is a fatty acid amide-producing composition in the form of noodles, granules or films. A composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of amide-producing bacteria is a noodle-like, granular, or film-like composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria. This composition is filled into transport and sales containers together with water (neutral water) with an edible pH of 6.0 to 8.0, preferably 6.5 to 7.5, and then shipped and sold after undergoing known sterilization treatments such as heat sterilization or retort (pressure heating) sterilization. Here, for transport and sales containers, conventional containers used for transporting and selling food, such as bags or cups made of synthetic resin (including those using aluminum vapor-deposited film), paper, or metal, can be used.

[0039] This intestinal environment-improving composition, which promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, can be consumed directly after opening the transport and sales container and draining the contents.

[0040] Incidentally, the water that is filled (sealed) in the container for transport and sale along with the intestinal environment improving composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in noodle-like, granular, or film-like form does not denature during the shelf life, and can therefore be consumed together with the intestinal environment improving composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria as needed.

[0041] This intestinal environment improvement composition, which promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, overcomes the poor texture of cellulose, allowing cellulose to be used as the main ingredient in food materials. Furthermore, as an intestinal environment improvement composition that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in noodle-like, granular, or film-like form, it can be consumed in a variety of ways.

[0042] Furthermore, this intestinal environment improving composition, which promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, can be made into a paste by crushing the solid structure. Specifically, noodle-like or granular solid structures can be crushed into a paste using a high-pressure homogenizer, in-line mixer, homomixer, blender, millstone grinder, etc. In particular, the millstone grinder method allows the solid structure to be fed directly into the millstone grinder, where it enters the space between the upper and lower grinders. The resulting crushing stresses such as compression, shearing, rolling, and friction then grind the material into a paste.

[0043] The above describes the composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria and the method for producing the same, based on examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above examples, and its configuration can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0044] The present invention provides a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria and a method for producing the same, thereby contributing to the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in the intestinal microbiota. Therefore, it can be used as a main ingredient in foods and beverages, food additives, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical additives, animal feed, animal feed additives, etc.

Claims

1. A composition for improving the intestinal environment that contains regenerated cellulose as an active ingredient and promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria in the intestinal microbiota.

2. A composition for improving the intestinal environment that contains glucomannan and promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria according to claim 1.

3. A composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria according to claim 1 or 2, and which is in a solid form.

4. A composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria according to claim 1 or 2, which is in the form of a paste.

5. A method for producing a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria as described in claim 2, comprising the steps of: dissolving a cellulose raw material in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to prepare an alkaline cellulose dope; adding water to glucomannan to swell it, then adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and stirring to prepare an alkaline glucomannan dope; mixing and stirring the cellulose dope and glucomannan dope prepared in the two steps to prepare a mixed dope; and extruding the mixed dope prepared in the step into a sulfuric acid solution using an extruder, coagulating and neutralizing it, and then washing it with water to obtain a solid structure.

6. A method for producing a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, as described in claim 5, comprising the step of crushing the solid structure into a paste.

7. A method for producing a composition for improving the intestinal environment that promotes the increase of fatty acid amide-producing bacteria, according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the glucomannan comprises purified glucomannan and / or konjac powder and low-viscosity glucomannan in a weight ratio of 1:9 to 9:1.

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