Agent and method for increasing muscle mass percentage, and agent and method for decreasing body fat percentage

Abstract

To find out a new physiological effect for 1-kestose to provide a novel use for 1-kestose.SOLUTION: An agent for increasing a muscle mass ratio comprises 1-kestose as an active ingredient. According to the present invention, the skeletal muscle can be increased without requiring exercise that puts a load on the muscle (resistance exercise). Therefore, even frail people and elderly people who have difficulty in resistance exercise can improve or maintain their physical abilities. In particular, according to the present invention, it is possible to contribute to the prevention or improvement of sarcopenia (a state in which muscle strength and physical function are reduced as a result of reduced muscle mass).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent for increasing muscle mass percentage, increasing body water percentage and decreasing body fat percentage, which contains 1-kestose as an active ingredient. [Background technology]

[0002] 1-kestose is a trisaccharide oligosaccharide consisting of one glucose molecule and two fructose molecules. 1-kestose is also contained in vegetables and grains such as onions, garlic, barley, and rye, and has been consumed since ancient times. It has also been found to be highly safe since no toxicity has been found in mutagenicity tests, acute toxicity tests, subchronic toxicity tests, or chronic toxicity tests (Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, 1-kestose has high solubility and heat resistance equivalent to those of sucrose, and its sweetness is about one-third that of sucrose, giving it a good sweetness similar to that of sucrose. Furthermore, it has been reported that it has various useful physiological effects, such as suppressing allergies (Patent Document 1) and suppressing the bacterial counts of Fusobacterium and Staphylococcus bacteria, which are suggested to be causative microorganisms of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea in dogs (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4162147 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2019 / 054396 [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Food and Development, Vol. 49, No. 12, p. 9, 2014 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, 1-kestose is a substance that is extremely safe, easy to handle, and has excellent physical properties, but its physiological actions have not been fully elucidated. The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and has an object to find a new physiological action of 1-kestose and, thereby, to provide a new use of 1-kestose. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of intensive research, the present inventors have found that a novel physiological effect of 1-kestose is that 1-kestose increases muscle mass. They have also found that 1-kestose increases the amount of water in the body. They have also found that 1-kestose reduces the body fat percentage. Based on these findings, the present inventors have completed the following inventions.

[0008] (1) The agent for increasing muscle mass percentage according to the present invention contains 1-kestose as an active ingredient.

[0009] (2) The agent for increasing muscle mass percentage according to the present invention can be used to prevent or improve sarcopenia.

[0010] (3) The agent for increasing muscle mass percentage according to the present invention can also be used to decrease body fat percentage.

[0011] (4) The agent for increasing body water content according to the present invention contains 1-kestose as an active ingredient.

[0012] (5) The agent for increasing body water content according to the present invention can be used to prevent or improve dehydration.

[0013] (6) The agent for reducing body fat according to the present invention contains 1-kestose as an active ingredient. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, novel uses of 1-kestose are provided, including "increasing muscle mass percentage," "prevention or amelioration of sarcopenia," "increasing muscle mass percentage and decreasing body fat percentage," "increasing body water percentage," "prevention or amelioration of dehydration," and "decreasing body fat percentage."

[0015] As described above, 1-kestose is highly water-soluble and has good sweetness quality, and therefore can be easily ingested daily either as it is or as a seasoning such as a sweetener, and can also be easily incorporated into various foods, medicines, feed, etc. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an agent for increasing muscle mass percentage, an agent for preventing or improving sarcopenia, an agent for increasing muscle mass and reducing body fat percentage, an agent for increasing body water percentage, an agent for preventing or improving dehydration, and an agent for reducing body fat percentage, which are highly safe and can be easily ingested daily either as it is or by being easily incorporated into various foods, medicines, feed, etc.

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the muscle mass ratio in the body of a human or an animal. As shown in the examples described later, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase skeletal muscle without the need for exercise (resistance exercise) that places a load on the muscles. Therefore, even frail people and elderly people who have difficulty in resistance exercise can improve or maintain their physical abilities. In particular, according to the present invention, it is possible to contribute to the prevention or improvement of sarcopenia (a state in which muscle mass is reduced and muscle strength and physical function are reduced). Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase muscle mass and reduce the body fat ratio. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the prevention or improvement of sarcopenic obesity (a state in which sarcopenia and obesity are combined).

[0017] Water is the main component of the human body, and typically accounts for approximately 60% of body weight in adult men, 55% in adult women, 70-75% in newborns and infants, and 50% in the elderly. Water ingested through drinking water or food is absorbed by the intestines and becomes "body fluids" such as blood, and plays the following important roles in maintaining life: (A) to (C); (a) Transportation: Carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and expels waste products from the body. (a) Thermoregulation: Increases blood circulation to the skin and releases heat through sweating to maintain a constant body temperature. (c) Environmental maintenance: Maintaining constant properties of body fluids to ensure smooth metabolism.

[0018] On the other hand, dehydration refers to a state in which the body is lacking in water (body fluids). Symptoms include feeling thirsty and a decline in athletic ability when 2% of body fluids (percentage of initial body weight taken as 100%) is lost from normal. When 3% is lost, extreme thirst, drowsiness, and loss of appetite occur, and when it reaches 4-5%, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, etc. And when it reaches 10% or more, it can even lead to death.

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the proportion of water content in the body of a human or animal, which can contribute to the prevention of dehydration, the improvement of hidden dehydration that is hardly noticeable, or the maintenance of the function of bodily fluids, thereby contributing to health.

[0020] As one of the components of the body, fat plays an essential role in vital activities, such as storing energy and protecting internal organs. However, if the body fat is more than the appropriate amount, it becomes obese and is a factor in causing many diseases. Conventionally, the general method for reducing body fat has been to continuously improve dietary habits to suppress energy intake and exercise habits to increase energy consumption.

[0021] According to the present invention, the body fat percentage of humans and animals can be reduced. As shown in the examples described below, according to the present invention, the body fat percentage can be reduced without the need for any particular dietary or exercise habit improvement. Therefore, even in a situation where dietary or exercise habit improvement is difficult, it is possible to easily reduce the body fat percentage or prevent or improve obesity and various diseases associated therewith. Alternatively, in combination with dietary or exercise habit improvement, it is possible to more effectively reduce the body fat percentage or prevent or improve obesity and various diseases associated therewith. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] This is a line graph showing the changes over time in muscle mass (kg), skeletal muscle mass (kg), skeletal muscle index (kg / m2), total body water (L), body weight (kg), body fat mass (kg), and body fat percentage (%) in subjects who ingested 1-kestose. On the horizontal axis, 0W indicates before 1-kestose intake (week 0), 12W indicates the end of the 1-kestose intake period (week 12), and 52W indicates 40 weeks after the end of intake (week 52). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The agent for increasing muscle mass percentage, the agent for preventing or improving sarcopenia, the agent for increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat percentage, the agent for increasing body water percentage, the agent for preventing or improving dehydration, and the agent for decreasing body fat percentage according to the present invention (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as "the agent of the present invention" or referring to any one or more of these) will be described in detail below.

[0024] "Muscle" refers to one or more of skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. "Muscle mass percentage" refers to the percentage of muscle weight in body weight. In other words, "increased muscle mass percentage" means that the percentage of muscle in the body has increased.

[0025] "Body water percentage" refers to the percentage of body weight that is made up of water (body water). In other words, "an increase in the body water percentage" means that the percentage of water in the body has increased.

[0026] "Body fat percentage" refers to the percentage of body fat weight in body weight. In other words, "reduction in body fat percentage" means that the percentage of fat in the body has decreased.

[0027] Body weight can be easily measured using commercially available scales such as a spring balance, muscle mass can be measured using commercially available measuring devices based on computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and body water and fat mass can also be measured using commercially available measuring devices based on the BIA method.

[0028] Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by a progressive and generalized decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength. In addition to aging, causes of sarcopenia include those due to low activity such as being bedridden or inactive, those due to diseases such as severe organ failure and endocrine disorders, and those due to insufficient energy and protein intake due to malabsorption. Sarcopenia leads to motor disorders, increased risk of falls and fractures, decreased ability to perform daily activities, loss of independence, and increased risk of death, so it is necessary to prevent or improve it.

[0029] Sarcopenia is diagnosed when the following conditions are met: (i) low muscle mass, (ii) low muscle strength, or (iii) low physical function (diagnostic criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP)). In other words, if muscle mass or skeletal muscle mass can be increased, it is believed that this can contribute to the prevention or amelioration of sarcopenia. Therefore, the agent of the present invention can be used for preventing or ameliorating sarcopenia.

[0030] As mentioned above, muscle mass can be evaluated by CT scan, MRI, DXA, or BIA. Muscle strength can be easily evaluated by measuring grip strength using a grip strength meter. Physical function can be evaluated by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) or normal walking speed (Sarcopenia: Supervised translation and Q&A of the consensus of European related academic societies on definition and diagnosis, Comprehensive research on the establishment of preventive measures for age-related muscle weakening (sarcopenia) in the elderly, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Science Research Grant (General Research Project on Longevity Science) Research Group).

[0031] The agent of the present invention contains 1-kestose as an active ingredient. 1-kestose can be produced by performing an enzymatic reaction using sucrose as a substrate and an enzyme as disclosed in JP-A-201980-1983. Specifically, β-fructofuranosidase is first added to a sucrose solution, and the solution is allowed to stand at 37°C to 50°C for about 20 hours to perform an enzymatic reaction to produce 1-kestose. The enzyme reaction solution containing the produced 1-kestose is subjected to a chromatographic separation method as disclosed in JP-A-2000-232878, whereby 1-kestose is separated and purified from other sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and oligosaccharides of 4 or more sugars). The resulting solution containing 1-kestose at high purity can be concentrated and then crystallized using a crystallization method such as that disclosed in JP-B-6-70075 to obtain 1-kestose crystals or a composition containing 1-kestose with a purity of 98% by mass or more.

[0032] In addition, since 1-kestose is contained in commercially available fructooligosaccharides, it may be used as it is, or 1-kestose may be separated and purified from fructooligosaccharides by the above-mentioned method. That is, as the 1-kestose of the present invention, a 1-kestose-containing composition such as an oligosaccharide containing 1-kestose may be used. When a 1-kestose-containing composition is used, the purity of 1-kestose is preferably 80% or more, more preferably 85% or more, and even more preferably 90% or more. In the present invention, the "purity" of 1-kestose refers to the mass % of 1-kestose when the total mass of sugars is taken as 100.

[0033] The agent of the present invention can be used by oral ingestion by humans or animals, or it may be used by adding the active ingredient to an enteral nutritional agent and administering this by enteral nutrition via a tube inserted into the digestive tract, such as the stomach or small intestine.

[0034] The agent of the present invention can be used in the form of medicines, food additives, supplements, food compositions (beverages, seasonings, bread, confectionery, prepared foods, health foods, baby foods, and other processed foods), feed, etc., in addition to those consisting only of the active ingredient 1-kestose.

[0035] When the agent of the present invention is in the form of a medicine, food additive, or supplement, the dosage form may be, for example, a solid or liquid dosage form such as a powder, tablet, sugar-coated agent, capsule, granule, dry syrup, liquid, syrup, drop, or drink. Each dosage form can be produced by a method known to those skilled in the art. For example, in the case of a powder, 800 g of 1-kestose and 200 g of lactose are thoroughly mixed, and then 300 mL of 90% ethanol is added to moisten the mixture. The moist powder is then granulated, and then air-dried at 60° C. for 16 hours, and then granulated to obtain 1000 g of powder with an appropriate fineness (1-kestose content 800 mg / 1 g). In addition, in the case of a tablet, 300 g of 1-kestose, 380 g of powdered reduced starch syrup, 180 g of rice starch, and 100 g of dextrin are thoroughly mixed, and then 300 mL of 90 (v / v)% ethanol is added to moisten the mixture to obtain a moist powder. The wet powder is extruded and granulated, then air-dried at 60°C for 16 hours to obtain granules. The granules are sized using an 850μm sieve, and 50g of sucrose fatty acid ester is added to 470g of the granules and mixed. The mixture is compressed using a rotary tablet press (6B-2, Kikusui Seisakusho) to obtain 5000 tablets with a diameter of 8mm and a weight of 200mg (1-kestose content 60mg / tablet).

[0036] When the agent of the present invention is in the form of a food composition, it can be produced by adding 1-kestose during the normal production process of food and beverages. Since 1-kestose has a sweetness index of 30 and its taste, physical properties, and processability are similar to those of sucrose, various foods and beverages can be produced in the same manner as sugar by, for example, replacing part or all of sugar with 1-kestose during the production process of various foods and beverages.

[0037] When the agent of the present invention is used for humans or animals, the amount of the active ingredient to be ingested (administered) can be, for example, 0.04 g / kg body weight or more per day. The amount to be ingested is not limited to once a day, and may be divided into several doses.

[0038] The present invention will be described below based on each example. Note that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the characteristics shown in these examples. In addition, in these examples, a composition containing 1-kestose with a purity of 98% by mass or more (Butsusan Food Science Co., Ltd.) was used as "1-kestose". EXAMPLES

[0039] The subjects (referred to as subjects 1 to 6) were six elderly men and women. The attributes of subjects 1 to 6 are shown in Table 1. All subjects were diagnosed with sarcopenia based on the European Working Group criteria (Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, et al. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010; 39(4): 412-23. doi: 10.1093 / ageing / afq034. Epub 2010 Apr 13.), had an ECOG performance status of 3 (only able to do limited self-care activities. Spend more than 50% of the day in bed or chair.; ​​Common Toxicity Criteria, Version2.0 Publish Date April 30, 1999), had been hospitalized for a long time, and had very low activity levels. [Table 1]

[0040] Subjects 1 to 6 were orally administered 10 grams of 1-kestose per day, twice a day, for 12 weeks. Before (week 0), after (week 12), and 40 weeks after the end of 1-kestose intake (week 52), muscle mass (kg), skeletal muscle mass (kg), and skeletal muscle index (kg / m2) were measured by the BIA method using a body composition analyzer, InBody S10 (InBody Japan). 2), body fat mass (kg), body fat percentage (%), intracellular water (L), extracellular water (L), total body water (L) and extracellular water / total body water (ECW / TBW) ratio were measured. Body weight (kg) was also measured at the same time. The results are shown in Figure 1. Two subjects died between 12 and 52 weeks, so measurements at the 52 week were performed on four subjects.

[0041] The average and standard deviation of the measurement results at 0 and 12 weeks were calculated for all subjects, and a statistical significance test was performed to calculate the P value. The P value is shown in Figure 1, and the average and standard deviation are shown in Table 2. During the test period, no antibiotics or probiotics were taken. Furthermore, during the test period, relatively high-intensity exercise that would be expected to increase muscle mass or reduce body fat mass was not performed. [Table 2]

[0042] As shown in Table 2 and Figure 1, there was no significant difference in body weight between weeks 0 and 12. Nevertheless, intracellular water (L), extracellular water (L) and total body water were greater at week 12 than at week 0. On the other hand, there was almost no change in the extracellular water ratio between weeks 0 and 12. From these findings, it was considered that both intracellular water and extracellular water had increased to the same extent. These results demonstrated that 1-kestose increases the total body water percentage.

[0043] In addition, although there was no significant difference in body weight, muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle index were significantly greater at 12 weeks than at 0 weeks. These results demonstrated that 1-kestose increases the muscle mass rate.

[0044] In addition, although there was no significant difference in body weight, the body fat percentage was significantly lower at 12 weeks than at week 0, and the body fat mass also tended to be smaller. These results demonstrated that 1-kestose reduces the body fat percentage.

Claims

1. An agent for increasing muscle mass rate, consisting of 1-kestose.

2. The agent according to claim 1, which is used for preventing or improving sarcopenia.

3. The agent according to claim 1 or 2, which is further used for reducing body fat rate.

4. The agent according to claim 1, which is further used for increasing the body water content rate.

5. An agent for reducing body fat rate, with 1-kestose as the active ingredient.

6. A method (excluding medical acts) for increasing muscle mass rate by orally administering 1-kestose to a human or an animal.

7. A method (excluding medical acts) for reducing body fat rate by orally administering 1-kestose to a human or an animal.

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