Cognitive function upward composition

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide new uses for carbon dioxide dissolved in water. [Solution] The cognitive function-enhancing composition of the present invention contains carbon dioxide dissolved in water as an active ingredient for improving cognitive function.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition for improving cognitive function.

Background Art

[0002] Carbonated water in which carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in water is widely consumed in restaurants and households, and many studies have been conducted on its physiological effects. For example, it is known that drinking carbonated water before meals can cause a feeling of fullness, drinking carbonated water can activate the stomach and cause changes in heart rate, drinking carbonated water can cause a decrease in foot temperature and changes in heart rate due to stimulation in the oral cavity, and there is a possibility that drinking carbonated water can improve work efficiency in tasks accompanied by mental fatigue (Non-Patent Documents 1 to 4).

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document 3

[0004] On the other hand, many aspects of the physiological effects of carbon dioxide dissolved in water remain unclear, and in particular, the physiological effects of long-term ingestion have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, the present invention aims to investigate the physiological effects of carbon dioxide dissolved in water in more detail and to provide new applications for it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The inventors of this invention, after diligently studying to solve the above problems, discovered that carbon dioxide dissolved in water has a cognitive function-enhancing effect, and thus completed the present invention. That is, the present invention provides the following cognitive function-enhancing composition. [1] A composition for improving cognitive function, comprising dissolved carbon dioxide in water as an active ingredient for improving cognitive function. [2] The composition according to [1], wherein the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide is 3.5 gas volume (GV) or more. [3] The composition described in [1] or [2] above, in the form of a beverage. [4] The composition according to any one of the above items [1] to [3], in the form of carbonated water. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, cognitive function can be improved by ingesting carbonated water containing dissolved carbon dioxide. Since carbonated water is known to be a safe beverage, its continuous consumption can be expected to prevent or improve cognitive impairment, promote health, maintain or improve functions such as attention, information processing, and working memory, and improve the efficiency of work or learning. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The present invention will be described in more detail below. The cognitive function-enhancing composition of the present invention contains dissolved carbon dioxide (also known as CO2) in water as an active ingredient for improving cognitive function. The water in which the carbon dioxide is dissolved can be any water commonly used in the art, as long as it is suitable for oral ingestion. For example, the water may be pure water, deionized water, filtered water, well water, natural water, mineral water, tap water, or a mixture thereof.

[0008] The method for dissolving carbon dioxide in water is not particularly limited. For example, the carbon dioxide may be dissolved by pressurizing the water (so-called carbonation), or it may be dissolved by natural forces (i.e., natural water containing carbon dioxide may be used). The carbon dioxide dissolved in water in this way can be used as an effective ingredient for improving cognitive function. The amount of dissolved carbon dioxide is not particularly limited as long as it is an amount effective for improving cognitive function, but for example, it may be about 1.0 gas volume (GV) or more, preferably about 1.5 GV or more, and more preferably about 3.5 GV or more. When the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide is within this range, the cognitive function improving effect is more effectively exhibited. The amount of dissolved carbon dioxide can also be about 6.0 GV or less.

[0009] Here, gas volume [GV] refers to the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide dissolved in the cognitive function-enhancing composition to the volume of the cognitive function-enhancing composition at 1 atmosphere and 20°C. Gas volume can be measured using, for example, a commercially available measuring instrument (Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd. gas volume measuring device GVA-500A). More specifically, after setting the sample to 20°C, a gas pressure gauge is attached, a stopcock is opened once to release the gas (snift), the stopcock is immediately closed, and the sample is shaken vigorously. The gas volume of the sample can be calculated from the value when the pressure becomes constant.

[0010] In some embodiments, the cognitive function-enhancing composition of the present invention may be an oral composition taken orally. The specific form of the cognitive function-enhancing composition is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a pharmaceutical composition, a quasi-drug, a food or beverage, or animal feed. The food or beverage may be, for example, a general food, a health functional food (such as a food for specified health uses, a nutrient function food, or a food with functional claims), or a food for special dietary uses (such as a food for the sick, a food for infants, or a food for pregnant or lactating women). More specifically, the cognitive function-enhancing composition may be in the form of a liquid, an elixir, or a limonase, or it may be in the form of a beverage such as carbonated water (also called sparkling water), a fruit juice carbonated beverage, or a carbonated alcoholic beverage, but carbonated water is preferred.

[0011] Here, "carbonated water" refers to a sugar-free carbonated beverage that contains virtually no sugars. Under the nutritional labeling standards of the Health Promotion Act, a beverage can be labeled as sugar-free if it contains less than 0.5g of sugars per 100mL. Similarly, in this specification, a sugar-free carbonated beverage is defined as one containing less than 0.5g of sugars per 100mL. A preferred sugar-free carbonated beverage has a sugar content of 0.0g per 100mL.

[0012] The amount of the cognitive function-enhancing composition of the present invention to be ingested is not particularly limited, but for example, when administering the liquid oral composition to an adult, it may be administered in amounts of about 100 to about 500 mL, preferably about 300 to about 500 mL, about 1 to about 3 times a day, preferably about 2 to about 3 times a day. Furthermore, the cognitive function-enhancing composition of the present invention may be used in a single dose, but for a more efficient cognitive function-enhancing effect, it is preferable to use it in continuous doses for 2 days or more, and particularly preferable to use it in continuous doses for about 28 days or more.

[0013] The cognitive function-enhancing composition of the present invention can be used to improve the cognitive function of a subject or to suppress the decline of cognitive function in a subject. As used herein, "cognitive function" refers to higher brain functions, including understanding, judgment, memory, attention, calculation, thinking, learning, and language. Cognitive function can be appropriately measured by commonly used testing methods in the art, such as the Advanced Trail Making Test (ATMT) (see Mizuno K and Watanabe Y (2008), Fatigue Science for Human Health, pp. 47-54, if necessary).

[0014] Ingestion of the cognitive function-enhancing composition of the present invention is expected to prevent or improve cognitive decline associated with aging, fatigue, and stress. Furthermore, it may be useful in preventing or improving cognitive impairment in various dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, mental illnesses such as depression, or hypothyroidism. In addition, it is expected to improve the efficiency of work or learning by maintaining or improving functions such as attention, information processing, and working memory. For this reason, the cognitive function-enhancing composition may be marked with, for example, the following. • For those concerned about cognitive decline • For those who want to maintain cognitive function • For a working mind • Supports concentration • Supports learning

[0015] The composition for improving cognitive function of the present invention may further contain any inert components commonly used in the art, such as additives like pharmaceutically or food-acceptable solvents, buffers, sweeteners, acidulants, flavors, antifoaming agents, and antioxidants, as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. Further, the composition for improving cognitive function of the present invention may further contain additional active ingredients commonly used in the art, as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired, and the additional active ingredients may be components having an action of improving cognitive function or components having other actions.

[0016] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described by way of examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Examples

[0017] 〔Test Example〕 Carbonation was carried out on water by a conventional method to prepare 4.5 GV of carbonated water. No other active ingredients or inert ingredients were added to this carbonated water. The effect of each carbonated water on cognitive function was examined by a double-blind method. Specifically, after a period of 3 weeks during which the subjects did not ingest carbonated water, the subjects were made to ingest 4.5 GV of carbonated water twice a day (in the morning and in the afternoon), 300 mL each time, for 4 weeks. The composition of the subjects was a total of 44 people, 25 women and 19 men, and the average age was 38.6 ± 6.9 years.

[0018] One day before and one day after the ingestion period, the attention switching ability as a cognitive function was measured by ATMT. On the day of the ATMT implementation, the subjects did not ingest carbonated water. Table 1 shows the average values of the correct number of tasks and the variation in reaction time and the test results. In the test, two-way analysis of variance and multiple comparison by the Shaffer method were performed.

Table 1

[0019] Ingesting carbonated water significantly improved the number of correct answers on the task and reduced the variability of reaction times (i.e., maintaining a consistent reaction time without delay for each trial). Furthermore, when subjects ingested carbonated water with different gas volumes, those who ingested higher gas volumes showed higher correct answers and lower reaction time variability. Since subjects did not ingest carbonated water on the ATMT days, the effects of this study demonstrate the physiological effects of long-term carbonated water intake.

[0020] From the above, it has been found that consuming carbonated water containing dissolved carbon dioxide can improve cognitive function. Therefore, it can be expected that continuous consumption of carbonated water can prevent or improve cognitive impairments and other diseases, promote health, maintain or improve functions such as attention, information processing, and working memory, and improve the efficiency of work or learning.

Claims

1. A composition for improving cognitive function, containing dissolved carbon dioxide in water as an active ingredient for improving cognitive function.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide is 3.5 gas volumes (GV) or more.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, in the form of a beverage.

4. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in the form of carbonated water.

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