Evaluation device, evaluation system, evaluation program, and evaluation method

Abstract

To provide an evaluation device capable of quantitatively evaluating DNA protective effect by nutritional intake at an arbitrary time point.SOLUTION: An evaluation device evaluates protective effect against DNA damage caused by an intake of a nutritional component. A storage unit 11 stores a prediction model indicating quantitative relevance between an intake of the protective component which is a nutritional component that prevents DNA damage, and a DNA damage index value which is an index value for evaluating protective effect acquired based on DNA damage. An evaluation unit 100 calculates a DNA damage index value of DNA damage from the intake of the protective component in food ingested by a user, using the prediction model stored in the storage unit 11. Based on this, the evaluation unit 100 evaluates the protective effect against the DNA damage of the user based on the DNA damage index value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an evaluation device, an evaluation system, an evaluation program, and an evaluation method for evaluating the protective effect against DNA damage by the intake of nutritional components contained in foods, in particular.

Background Art

[0002] In living cells, DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), a kind of nucleic acid contained in the nucleus and a genetic information transfer substance, is constantly damaged. Although the occurrence of damage is suppressed by the DNA defense function, it is not complete, so DNA damage such as gene and chromosomal mutations continues to increase. The DNA damage thus generated is related to diseases such as cancer and various problems associated with aging, and increases acceleratively with age, so it becomes a major problem in a long-lived society with a long elderly period. Suppressing the occurrence of such DNA damage and maintaining the integrity of DNA is a particularly important health issue in society.

[0003] The DNA defense function is composed of biomolecules including enzymes and coenzymes related to antioxidant function, drug metabolism function, and DNA repair function, and is greatly affected by the nutritional intake status. This is supported by many basic studies on the DNA defense action of micronutrients and various recent survey data on humans. For example, Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 show the reducing effect of dietary micronutrients on abnormalities of cell nuclei and chromosomes caused by DNA damage such as micronucleus (hereinafter referred to as "MN") and chromosomal translocation (hereinafter referred to as "TL"). That is, it has been clarified that DNA damage is reduced by increasing the intake of micronutrients in the diet.

[0004] On the one hand, referring to Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a method for providing assistance to maintain or improve an individual's wellness, the method comprising: measuring the presence and / or concentration of one or more biomarkers in a sample derived from the individual; and predicting the need for wellness to maintain or improve the individual's wellness based on the presence and / or concentration of the measured one or more biomarkers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0006]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document 3

Non-Patent Document 4

[0007] However, the technique of Patent Document 1 was unable to quantitatively evaluate the DNA protection effect by nutritional intake at any point in time.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide an evaluation device for quantitatively evaluating the DNA protection effect by nutritional intake at any point in time. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0009] The evaluation device of the present invention is an evaluation device for evaluating the protective effect on DNA damage caused by the intake of nutritional components, comprising a storage unit that stores a prediction model showing the quantitative relationship between the intake amount of a protective component, which is a nutritional component that prevents the DNA damage, and a DNA damage index value, which is the value of an index for evaluating the protective effect obtained based on the DNA damage, and an evaluation unit that evaluates the protective effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount of the protective component ingested by a user according to the prediction model stored in the storage unit. In the evaluation device of the present invention, the prediction model is created based on a dataset in which the intake amount of the protective component ingested by an individual constituting the human population in the past period from the reference time point of the individual in an arbitrary human population corresponds to the DNA damage index value based on the damage marker value of the individual at the reference time point. In the evaluation device of the present invention, the intake amount of the protective component ingested in the period past the reference time point is the intake amount of the protective component ingested in a period specified as the effective period, or the intake amount of the protective component having a correlation with the average value of the intake amount of the protective component ingested in the effective period of the intake amount of the protective component ingested in a period specified as the effective period. In the evaluation device of the present invention, the effective period is a period set so that the duration of the action of the protective component ingested to protect the DNA damage includes the reference time point. In the evaluation device of the present invention, the evaluation unit inputs the intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user in an arbitrary period past the evaluation time point to the prediction model with the evaluation time point as the reference time point, and calculates the DNA damage index value with the evaluation time point as the reference time point. In the evaluation device of the present invention, the intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user in an arbitrary period past the evaluation time point is the intake amount of the protective component ingested in the effective period past the evaluation time point. The evaluation device of the present invention is characterized in that the DNA damage index value is a value of the acceleration of the increase in the amount of DNA damage, which is obtained based on the damage marker value, or a value of an index showing a correlation with the acceleration of the increase in the amount of DNA damage. The evaluation device of the present invention is characterized in that the protective component contains any one or any combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, folic acid, and niacin. The evaluation device of the present invention is characterized in that the evaluation unit creates evaluation information including either a figure in which the change over time of the DNA damage index value of the user and the change over time of the reference DNA damage index value, which is the DNA damage index value of the reference set as a comparison standard, are displayed in the same graph, or a value obtained by converting the variation of the user's DNA damage index value with respect to the reference DNA damage index value into an age-equivalent value. The evaluation device of the present invention is further characterized by including an output unit that displays or prints the evaluation information as characters or figures. The evaluation device of the present invention is characterized in that the reference DNA damage index value is the user's past DNA damage index value, the DNA damage index value of an average member of the general public of the same sex and the same age as the user, or the DNA damage index value when the maximum protective effect is obtained. The evaluation system of the present invention includes a user's terminal and one or more evaluation servers, and is an evaluation system for evaluating the protective effect on DNA damage by the intake of nutritional components. The evaluation system includes an intake information acquisition unit that acquires intake information of the nutritional components ingested by the user from input data regarding the foods and nutritional components ingested by the user, an intake amount calculation unit that calculates the intake amount of a protective component, which is a nutritional component having an effect of preventing the DNA damage, based on the intake information acquired by the intake information acquisition unit, a storage unit that stores a prediction model showing a quantitative relationship between the intake of the protective component and a DNA damage index value, which is a value of an index for evaluating the protective effect obtained based on the DNA damage, and an evaluation unit that evaluates the protective effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount calculated by the intake amount calculation unit according to the prediction model stored in the storage unit. The evaluation program of the present invention is an evaluation program executed by an evaluation device for evaluating the protective effect against DNA damage caused by the intake of nutritional components, and stores a prediction model showing the quantitative relationship between the intake amount of a protective component, which is a nutritional component that prevents the DNA damage, and the DNA damage index value, which is the value of an index for evaluating the protective effect obtained based on the DNA damage. By calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user using the stored prediction model, the protective effect is evaluated. The evaluation method of the present invention is an evaluation method executed by an evaluation device for evaluating the protective effect against DNA damage caused by the intake of nutritional components, stores a prediction model showing the quantitative relationship between the intake amount of a protective component, which is a nutritional component that prevents the DNA damage, and the DNA damage index value, which is the value of an index for evaluating the protective effect obtained based on the DNA damage, and evaluates the protective effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user using the stored prediction model.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, by using a prediction model showing the relationship between the intake of a protective component, which is a nutritional component that prevents DNA damage, and DNA damage, the DNA damage index value is calculated from the intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user, and based on the DNA damage index value, the protective effect of the user against DNA damage is evaluated, so that an evaluation device capable of quantitatively evaluating the DNA protection effect by nutritional intake at any time point can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] <First Embodiment> 〔Explanation of Terms〕 In the following description, examples will be described where the terms "damage", "damage marker", "defense", and "defense effect" are abbreviations for DNA damage, DNA damage marker, DNA defense, and DNA defense effect, respectively. Also, hereinafter, DNA means DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which is a type of nucleic acid. In the present embodiment, in addition to DNA as a chemical substance, genomic DNA, chromosomes, genes, etc. are also included. This DNA includes nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA, etc. DNA damage according to the present embodiment includes, for example, DNA strand breaks, base damage, and mutations and chromosomal abnormalities that occur as a result thereof. Also, the defense effect is an effect of defending against DNA damage. Also, hereinafter, food means something that orally ingests nutritional components, and includes foods listed in the "Japanese Food Standard Composition Table" announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, dishes that are combinations of foods, meals that are combinations of dishes, health foods, supplements, beverages, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "food etc." or simply "food").

[0013] 〔Control Configuration of Evaluation Device 1〕 Next, with reference to FIG. 1, an example of the control configuration of the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The evaluation device 1 is an information processing device (computer) that evaluates the defense effect by ingesting nutritional components. This evaluation can be performed quantitatively. The defense effect according to the present embodiment is an effect of suppressing DNA damage, that is, suppressing the occurrence of DNA damage.

[0014] In the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment, a configuration for evaluating the defense effect at the evaluation time point is described for data regarding foods and nutritional components (nutritional intake) ingested during a period specified based on an arbitrary time point (hereinafter referred to as the "evaluation time point") to be evaluated. In the present embodiment, the evaluation device 1 is an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer), general-purpose machine, server, smartphone, tablet terminal, game machine, household appliance, or other electronic device.

[0015] The evaluation device 1 includes, as a control configuration, a control unit 10, a storage unit 11 (storage means), an input unit 12 (input means), an output unit 13 (output means), a communication unit 14, etc. Each unit is connected to the control unit 10 and operationally controlled by the control unit 10.

[0016] The control unit 10 is an information processing unit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The control unit 10 reads out the control program 300 stored in the ROM or HDD of the storage unit 11, expands this control program 300 in the main storage unit, and executes it, thereby operating as each part of the functional blocks described later. Also, the control unit 10 controls the entire device according to predetermined instruction information input from an external terminal (not shown) or the input unit 12.

[0017] The storage unit 11 is a non-temporary recording medium including a main storage unit and an auxiliary storage unit. The main storage unit of the storage unit 11 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The auxiliary storage unit is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. This ROM may be a flash memory, etc. The control program 300 according to the present embodiment described later is expanded and stored in the main storage unit of the storage unit 11. Various data and the control program 300 described later are stored in the auxiliary storage unit of the storage unit.

[0018] The communication unit 14 performs communication with the outside and includes a LAN board, a wireless transceiver, etc. for connecting to an external network. The external network in this embodiment is, for example, a LAN, a wireless LAN, a WAN, a mobile phone network, a voice phone network, etc. Alternatively, the communication unit 14 may be directly connected to a terminal such as a user's smartphone or mobile phone by means of near field communication, USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. The communication unit 14 can connect to an external network and acquire data from a server (not shown) as necessary. Alternatively, the communication unit 14 can also transmit the evaluation information 330, the details of which will be described later and which is generated by the control unit 10, to a user's terminal or the like via the external network.

[0019] The input unit 12 is a keyboard, various sensors, a pointing device, etc. for acquiring various instructions by the user. This pointing device includes a mouse, a touch pad, a track point, a track ball, a touch panel, a digitizer, etc. The input unit 12 can allow various instructions to be input by a user, who is an ordinary user or an administrator, etc. through the GUI (Graphical User Interface) on the OS and acquire this. Also, based on the information on the movement of the pointer and the pressing of keys at the input unit 12, the display on the display unit of the output unit 13 is updated. Note that the input unit 12 may be any device capable of inputting the type of food, the intake amount, the type of nutritional component, the intake amount, etc., such as a camera, a microphone, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, or an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) reader.

[0020] The output unit 13 includes a display unit that displays numerical values, graphs, etc. of the evaluation information 330, a printer that prints these, and the like. The display unit of the output unit 13 is, for example, a flat display panel such as an LCD, an organic EL display, a fluorescent display tube, a display such as a projector, an LED for status display, etc. The display unit of the output unit 13 can display various operation screens related to the GUI. The printer of the output unit 13 includes various printers such as a thermal transfer type, an inkjet type, an electrophotographic type, etc., and can be a printer for roll paper or a page printer. Alternatively, as the output unit 13, a web server or the like that transmits an electronic mail, a message, or the evaluation information 330 to the user's terminal may be executed. The output unit 13 displays or prints the evaluation information 330 generated by the control unit 10 as characters or figures. Note that the display of the input unit 12 and the output unit 13 may be integrally formed like a display with a touch panel or a digitizer.

[0021] Note that in the evaluation device 1, the control unit 10 may be integrally formed like a GPU-integrated CPU, a chip-on-module package, a SOC (System On a Chip), etc. Also, the control unit 10 may incorporate a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, etc. The same applies to other control units according to the following embodiments.

[0022] 〔Functional Configuration of Evaluation Device 1〕 Next, the functional configuration according to this embodiment will be described. The control unit 10 of the evaluation device 1 includes an evaluation unit 100, an intake information acquisition unit 110, and an intake amount calculation unit 120. The storage unit 11 stores a control program 300, intake information 310, prediction model data 320, and evaluation information 330.

[0023] The evaluation unit 100 inputs the intake amount of a defensive component, which is a nutritional component having a defensive effect of preventing DNA damage ingested by the user, into the prediction model included in the prediction model data 320 stored in the storage unit 11, and calculates a DNA damage index value. Details of this defensive component will be described later.

[0024] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the evaluation unit 100 inputs the intake amount of the defensive component for a specific period with respect to the reference time point, calculated from the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 110, into the prediction model, and calculates the DNA damage index value at the reference time point. Details of this specific period will be described later. More specifically, the evaluation unit 100 can input the intake amount of the defensive component ingested by the user during an arbitrary period in the past from the evaluation time point into the prediction model with the evaluation time point as the reference time point, and calculate the DNA damage index value with the evaluation time point as the reference time point. The evaluation unit 100 stores this DNA damage index value in the storage unit 11 as the evaluation information 330. Then, based on the DNA damage index value, the evaluation unit 100 evaluates the defensive effect on the user's DNA damage.

[0025] In addition, the evaluation unit 100 can create the prediction model data 320 itself based on a dataset described later.

[0026] The intake information acquisition unit 110 acquires the intake information 310 of the user's nutritional components. Specifically, the intake information acquisition unit 110 acquires the intake information 310 from the input data input by the input unit 12. This input data is data related to the foods and nutritional components (nutritional intake amounts) ingested by the user. Specifically, the input data according to the present embodiment may be, for example, text or numerical data of a form, image data, voice data, various binary data, etc. Among these, the image data includes one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode data. The binary data includes data received by RFID. In this embodiment, the intake information acquisition unit 110 analyzes input data input in various formats, calculates the type of food, the intake amount, the type of nutritional component, the intake amount, etc., and acquires the intake information 310 of the user's nutritional components.

[0027] The intake amount calculation unit 120 calculates the intake amount of the defensive components ingested by the user during a specific period from the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 110. In this embodiment, the intake amount of this defensive component can be calculated for vc, ve, bc, xn, fol, ncn, etc., which are the defensive components described later.

[0028] The control program 300 is a program such as firmware, an OS (Operating System), middleware, a service (daemon), and application software (Application Software, hereinafter referred to as "app") for controlling the operation of the evaluation device 1. The app according to this embodiment includes an app of an evaluation program for evaluating the defensive effect on DNA damage by the intake of nutritional components. This app may be downloaded and installed from an external network, or may be read and installed from an external medium such as a flash memory or an optical recording medium.

[0029] The intake information 310 includes each data of the food and nutritional components ingested by the user. Specifically, in this embodiment, the intake information 310 includes data such as the type and intake amount of the food ingested by the user, the type and intake amount of the nutritional components, etc. Information such as the date and time or period of ingestion may be set in this type and intake amount data.

[0030] The prediction model data 320 is data including a prediction model showing the quantitative correspondence between the intake of the defensive components according to this embodiment and the DNA damage index value. In this embodiment, a prediction model is created by modeling the correspondence between the average intake amount of the defensive components during the measurement period of the damage marker and the DNA damage index value from the measurement data, and this is stored in the prediction model data 320. In the present embodiment, the prediction model data 320 may be, for example, data of various machine learning models, data of parameter groups of statistical regression equations, functions, or table data. Specifically, in the case of a learned machine learning model, the prediction model data 320 can be stored as data such as a program or a list of weighted values. In the case of functions such as statistical regression equations or approximation functions, the prediction model data 320 can also be described by including it in the control program 300. Alternatively, the prediction model data 320 may be a file of various databases including SQL or the like. Details such as the creation of the prediction model according to the present embodiment will be described later.

[0031] The evaluation information 330 is information indicating an evaluation result regarding the defensive effect on the user's DNA damage based on the DNA damage index value output from the prediction model. In the present embodiment, the evaluation information 330 includes numerical data of the amount of defensive effect calculated by the evaluation unit 100. This amount of defensive effect is, for example, an evaluation value of the defensive effect calculated based on the DNA damage index value. Specifically, this amount of defensive effect may be, for example, the DNA damage index value itself in absolute or relative quantity. Further details of the evaluation information 330, details of the DNA damage index value, etc. will be described later.

[0032] In addition to this, the storage unit 11 can also store data regarding the DNA damage index value described later. Also, the storage unit 11 may store the user's account settings. Further, the storage unit 11 may include a storage area for each user's folder.

[0033] Here, the control unit 10 of the evaluation device 1 functions as the evaluation unit 100, the intake information acquisition unit 110, and the intake amount calculation unit 120 by executing the control program 300 stored in the storage unit 11. Also, each part of the above-described evaluation device 1 is a hardware resource for executing the evaluation method of the present invention. Note that part or any combination of the above-described functional configurations may be configured in a hardware or circuit manner using an IC, programmable logic, FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or the like. The same applies to other embodiments below.

[0034] In addition, each of the above data may be stored in an external recording medium, a server, etc. connected to the communication unit 14. Also, in the storage unit 11, each of the above data can be stored as a file or a database. In addition to this, each data can be stored in any storage method. For example, in the present embodiment, the prediction model may be stored as information other than the prediction model data 320 according to the format of the prediction model.

[0035] [Overview and Details of Prediction Model] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an example of the overview and detailed configuration of the prediction model according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0036] (Overview of Prediction Model) First, as an overview of the prediction model according to the present embodiment, it will be described how it is possible to quantitatively evaluate the protective effect by nutritional components contained in food using the prediction model according to the present embodiment. It is possible to model the correspondence between the intake amount of nutritional components obtained from measurement data and the measured value of the damage marker, and evaluate the protective effect of the user as a biological response according to the average general population. In this case, it is possible to evaluate the effect reflecting the average daily intake amount of the user. Furthermore, for a more practical evaluation that reflects the daily fluctuating intake amount, it is necessary to know the effect on the intake for a clear period in the shortest possible time. As an embodiment of the present invention, by using the prediction model as the minimum unit of the quantitative relationship between intake and effect, these become possible.

[0037] In human body tissues, although DNA damage occurs due to attacks by various mutagens and mutagenic actions, there is a DNA defense function to protect against them. This DNA defense function includes various types such as antioxidant defense, drug metabolism defense, and DNA repair defense. However, since these defenses are not perfect, the amount of damage always continues to increase. On the other hand, if the ability (efficiency) of the DNA defense function changes, the occurrence situation of DNA damage changes, and the increasing pace of the damage amount changes. That is, the "damage amount increase rate", which is the increasing pace of the damage amount, becomes a biological indicator reflecting the ability of the DNA defense function.

[0038] Here, it has been clarified that the intake of a defense component, which is a specific nutrient component, has an effect of changing the ability of the DNA defense function. That is, the intake of the defense component is reflected in the damage amount increase rate. Therefore, if the timing and amount relationship of the intake of the defense component and its action can be clarified, the damage amount increase rate at the evaluation time point can be obtained from the intake information of the defense component, and it becomes possible to quantitatively evaluate the defense effect at the evaluation time point. The relevance between the intake amount of the defense component and its action is described below.

[0039] According to Fig. 2(a), the ingested defense component does not act immediately. After a delay time (hereinafter referred to as the "lag time") until it is absorbed and incorporated into the tissue and exerts its action as various biomolecules involved in the DNA defense function, it exerts its action during a period of different lengths of action duration (hereinafter referred to as the "action duration") for each component. The reference time point is the end point of the action of the defense component at the intake time point 1 and the start point of the action of the defense component at the intake time point 5. That is, at the reference time point, the action of the defense component ingested during the period between the intake time point 1 and the intake time point 5 is exerted. This period between the intake time point 1 and the intake time point 5 is a period "set so that the action duration for protecting DNA damage of the ingested defense component includes the reference time point", and hereinafter is referred to as the "effective period".

[0040] That is, as shown in Fig. 2(b), the component taken during the effective period acts at the reference time point. Therefore, the amount of the defensive component taken during the effective period, precisely the total amount, is associated with the acceleration rate of the damage amount increase at the reference time point. The intake amount during the effective period acts in various amounts before and after the reference time point, but the amount acting at each time point is unknown. However, only at the reference time point, it becomes possible to associate a clear numerical value, that is, the total amount of the defensive component taken during the effective period, with the response. What is important is this clear amount relationship, and by utilizing this, it becomes possible to quantitatively determine the relationship between the intake amount and the acceleration rate of the damage amount increase.

[0041] Hereinafter, the combination of the intake amount and the speed including this time element is called a "response unit". This response unit is the minimum unit showing the quantitative relationship between intake and response. In the living body, a response unit for each defensive component occurs at all time points, and the intake amount of the defensive component during the effective period is associated with the acceleration rate of the damage amount increase at the reference time point. That is, the intake amount of the measurement data and the measured value of the damage marker are, whatever they may be, the accumulation of this response unit. Therefore, if this response unit can be extracted from the actual measurement data and generalized, it is considered possible to estimate the acceleration rate of the damage amount increase at an arbitrary reference time point from the intake amount during the "effective period immediately before the said time point". However, since the effective period constituting the response unit is a biological phenomenon, it is difficult to clearly define it, and it is difficult to measure the acceleration rate of the damage amount increase. That is, it is difficult to directly obtain these from the actual measurement data. Therefore, hereinafter, a method for estimating the response unit based on the measurement data will be shown.

[0042] The method for estimating this response unit will be described with reference to Fig. 2(c). Here, an example is shown in which measurement data of an individual in whom the intake amount of the nutritional component and the measured value of the damage marker during the measurement period are recorded is used. The measured value of the damage marker is the total value accumulated by the damage that occurred during the damage-specific accumulation period (hereinafter referred to as the "measurement period"). Therefore, the measured value of the damage marker represents the result of defense during the measurement period. This defense during the measurement period more precisely represents the result of defense by the defense component during the "intake period acting during the measurement period" (measurement period + effective period) shown in Fig. 2(c). That is, the intake amount during (measurement period + effective period) can be associated with the measured value.

[0043] Here, depending on the length of the measurement period specific to each damage, there are mainly two types of damage types as described below for the damage marker. In this embodiment, these are referred to as "damage type 1" and "damage type 2". Damage type 1 includes TL, MN, DC, COMET, etc. which will be described later, and damage type 2 includes γ-H2AX, 8-OHdG, etc.

[0044] For these damage type 1 and damage type 2, the intake amount and the measured value can be approximately associated as follows. Damage type 1 is a damage type where the measurement period >> effective period. In the case of this damage type 1, (measurement period + effective period), which is the period to which the measured value is associated, may be regarded as the measurement period. That is, the measured value is associated with the intake amount during the measurement period and cannot be associated with the effective period. Therefore, for damage type 1, the correspondence with the effective period is obtained by the method described later. Damage type 2 is a damage type where the measurement period << effective period. In the case of this damage type 2, (measurement period + effective period) may be regarded as the effective period. Therefore, for damage type 2, it is possible to directly associate the intake amount during the effective period immediately before the measurement time with the measured value.

[0045] The extraction of the response unit by this damage type 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2(c). In a living body, response units occur at all times during the measurement period. In each response unit, the rate of increase in the amount of damage corresponding to the intake amount with a varying effective period is determined, and the corresponding amount of damage occurs and accumulates each time. The result of this accumulation becomes the measured value of the damage marker at the measurement time. In Fig. 2(c), only three locations are shown as representatives of the response units. Here, when a constant intake amount is ingested instead of the varying intake amount, it can be predicted that a constant rate of increase in the amount of damage will be maintained throughout the period. If the average intake amount during the period, for example, the intake amount per day, etc., is used as the constant intake amount, the constant rate of increase in the amount of damage can be represented by the average rate of increase in the amount of damage during the period. And this constant intake amount and the constant rate of increase in the amount of damage also become the constant intake amount and the constant rate of increase in the amount of damage in all response units. That is, the correspondence between the average intake amount and the average rate of increase in the amount of damage in the response unit can be represented by the correspondence between the average intake amount and the average rate of increase in the amount of damage during the measurement period. Here, the average rate of increase in the amount of damage is "measured value / measurement period".

[0046] Thereby, in the case of damage type 1, by converting the individual's measurement data into the correspondence between the average intake amount during the measurement period and "measured value / measurement period", it becomes possible to extract the average intake amount during the effective period and the response unit of the rate of increase in the amount of damage.

[0047] On the other hand, in the case of damage type 2, it is possible to directly extract the response unit from the correspondence between the intake amount during the effective period immediately before the measurement time of the measurement data and "measured value / measurement period".

[0048] From the above, by converting the measurement data of one individual as described above, a quantitative correspondence in the response unit can be obtained as one example. In this embodiment, by accumulating a large number of such examples and creating a prediction model, it is possible to generalize the biological response. The above is the method of extracting and generalizing the response unit from the measurement data. This prediction model serves as a model of the biological response of the intake amount of a defense component during the effective period immediately before the reference time point and the rate of increase in the amount of damage at the reference time point, which occur in the body of an average human being.

[0049] Furthermore, if the temporal correspondence between the reference time point and the intake amount during the effective period for it is maintained, the prediction model of the response unit thus created can be used with the evaluation time point as the reference time point. That is, by inputting the intake amount of the defense component during the effective period for the evaluation time point, it becomes possible to predict and estimate the rate of increase in the amount of damage at the evaluation time point. Thereby, it becomes possible to evaluate the defensive effect based on the rate of increase in the amount of damage of the user obtained as conforming to the biological response of the general average. Therefore, by using this, it becomes possible to estimate the defensive effect of the user's diet without measurement.

[0050] Here, an outline of creating the prediction model will be described. Regarding the measurement data corresponding to the intake amount of an individual and the measured value of a damage marker used for creating the prediction model, there are various possibilities as to whether it can be regarded as having a strong relevance or the relevance of an average ordinary person. However, any measurement data is the accumulation and quantification of the biological relevance between the underlying response unit, that is, the intake amount during the effective period and the rate of increase in the amount of damage as the biological response. The prediction model according to this embodiment is a model for calculating this quantitative correspondence of the relevance. Therefore, prediction models created from the intake amount of general survey data and the measured values of damage markers, and the following prediction models in which the quantitative relevance is maintained based on those data, are modified examples of the prediction model of the response unit which is the minimum unit of relevance, and any configuration is possible.

[0051] The evaluation according to this embodiment is a relative evaluation by comparing the user with a reference, except for a few cases where it is evaluated based on the acceleration rate of the absolute amount of damage. In that case, it is possible to use it for the evaluation according to this embodiment by maintaining a quantitative relationship equivalent to the combination of the intake amount during the effective period, which is the response unit, and the acceleration rate of the damage amount, and calculating equivalent results. Here, the intake amount during the effective period that generates the relevance is the total amount ingested during the effective period, and since it is specified by two elements, time and amount, this is expressed as the average intake amount. Therefore, in terms of maintaining the relevance, not only the combination of the intake amount during the effective period and the acceleration rate of the damage amount, but also the "intake amount of the defense component that has a correlation with the average intake amount of the defense component during the effective period" and the "index value that has a correlation with the acceleration rate of the damage amount" (hereinafter referred to as the "DNA damage index value". Details will be described later.) The combination can evaluate the defensive effect against the intake amount in order to maintain the relative relevance and can be used in the prediction model. Specific details of the intake amount and the DNA damage index value that can be used in the prediction model will be described later.

[0052] Next, an overview of the evaluation using the prediction model created as described above will be described. The prediction model calculates the quantitative relationship of the biological response to the input intake amount. Therefore, time elements such as the period during which the input intake amount is obtained (hereinafter referred to as the "acquisition period") and the period during which the effect is exerted are not included in the prediction model. Regardless of the input intake amount, the prediction model calculates an index value of the amount of damage corresponding to that intake amount. However, since the correspondence between the effective period and the reference time point is modeled, particularly when the input intake amount is the intake amount during the effective period, it can be interpreted that the calculated value is the index value at the reference time point. That is, the prediction model can be used in two ways. One is for calculating the quantitative correspondence of the index value to the intake amount. The other is for calculating the quantitative correspondence of the index value at a specific time point to the intake amount during the effective period. Therefore, the user's intake amount may be the "intake amount of the defensive component ingested during any period in the past from the evaluation time point", and it is possible to evaluate the defensive effect corresponding to the content of that period. In daily nutritional management, when the intake amount of the user during the expiration period is input, it is possible to evaluate the defensive effect at the evaluation time point that reflects the effect of the intake amount during the expiration period of about 1 day to several days in the past. On the other hand, when the intake amount of the user during a specific period in the past is input, it is possible to evaluate the defensive effect that reflects the effect of the intake amount during that period. In this way, it is possible to evaluate the intake for any period, but the expiration period has a special meaning. That is, by inputting the intake amount during the expiration period, it is possible to calculate the acceleration rate of the increase in the damage amount at the reference time point, which is the shortest corresponding time that can biologically specify the amount. As a result, it becomes possible to determine the acceleration rate of the increase in the damage amount at any evaluation time point. Therefore, for example, it is possible to specify the expiration period for each arbitrary input time point and evaluate the defensive effect at the input time point with the intake amount during the expiration period each time. That is, it is possible to track in detail the defensive effect of the changing diet at arbitrary intervals.

[0053] Here, the details of the expiration period and the lag time according to this embodiment will be described. The expiration period is the period between the past time point A traced back by the lag time from the measurement time point and the time point B traced back further by a period corresponding to the duration of the action from the time point A. In this embodiment, the duration of the action and the lag time are estimated in consideration of the in-vivo dynamics and biological half-life of the defensive component, etc. Specifically, the duration of the action is estimated to be, for example, a period of 1 to 2 days for vc, 1 to 5 days for ve, 1 to 5 days for bc, 1 to 5 days for xn, 1 to 3 days for fol, 1 to 3 days for ncn, etc. respectively. The lag time is estimated to be, for example, a period of 0 to 1 day for vc, 0.5 to 2 days for ve, 0.5 to 2 days for bc, 0.5 to 2 days for xn, 0.5 to 1 day for fol, 0.5 to 1 day for ncn, etc. respectively. However, it does not have to be limited to these periods. Since the length of a biological phenomenon cannot be precisely determined, it is preferable to set the "presumed duration of action and lag time" from the estimated range of each period and determine the "presumed effective period" based thereon.

[0054] Next, the details of the measurement period according to this embodiment will be described. The measurement period described here is the measurement period of a damage marker and is the accumulation period specific to the damage marker. As specific lengths, for example, the following values can be used. Since TL continuously increases and accumulates throughout life due to stable mutations occurring in hematopoietic stem cells without a lifespan, any investigation period can be the measurement period. Other than TL, the measurement period is the duration of DNA damage as follows. In the case of MN, although the lifespan of peripheral blood lymphocytes (half a year to 1 year) is a constraint, since lymphocytes are constantly produced, the average value of the survival period is 1 / 2 of the lifespan of the collected lymphocytes, for example, about 4 to 6 months. Also, when using oral mucosal cells, the survival period is 9 to 12 days of the cell lifespan. In the case of DC, the survival period is about 2 months, which is the lifespan of lymphocytes having this DNA damage. In the case of COMET, the survival period is about 2 weeks, which is the period until the DNA damage is repaired. In the case of γ-H2AX, the survival period is about several hours until the DNA damage is repaired. Since 8-OHdG is constantly excreted in urine, the survival period is the urine collection period of several hours. Therefore, in the case of TL, if the investigation period is clear, the measurement period is clear. However, when the start point is unknown and the investigation period cannot be specified, for example, in the case of past dietary surveys, etc., the period after the diet has stabilized, such as after marriage or starting work, may be set as the "presumed measurement period". Other than TL, since the length of a biological phenomenon such as the above-described measurement period cannot be precisely determined, it is preferable to set and use the "presumed measurement period" from the above range.

[0055] (Configuration example of prediction model) A more specific configuration example of the prediction model according to this embodiment will be described. The prediction model according to this embodiment models the correspondence between the intake amount of a defensive component during the effective period and the acceleration rate of the damage amount. However, as described above, it may also be a model in which the correspondence between the intake amount of a defensive component during the effective period and the intake amount having a correlation with the average value during the effective period of the intake amount and the DNA damage index value is modeled, including alternative examples. The method for creating the prediction model according to this embodiment is based on a dataset obtained in an arbitrary human population in which the correspondence between the intake amount and the damage marker measurement value is recorded, and includes the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during a period in the past from the reference time point of an individual constituting the human population, and the DNA damage index value based on the damage marker value of the individual at the reference time point. This "intake amount of the defensive component ingested during a period in the past from the reference time point" may be the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during a period specified as the effective period, or the intake amount of the defensive component having a correlation with the average value during the effective period of the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during a period specified as the effective period. That is, this dataset is a set of data in which the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during a period specified as the effective period in the past from the reference time point of an individual constituting the human population, obtained in an arbitrary human population, or the intake amount of the defensive component having a correlation with the average value during the effective period of the intake amount of the defensive component corresponds to the DNA damage index value of the individual at the reference time point. For the specific method of creating the prediction model, it is possible to use various methods that can model the biological response of the general human population from this dataset and predict or estimate the DNA damage index value for the input of the intake amount. More specifically, the prediction model according to this embodiment may use, for example, a machine learning model such as an artificial neural network, a statistical formula such as a statistical regression formula, a function, an approximation function, a table, etc. In addition, in addition to the machine learning model or the regression formula model, when there are two or fewer components, a function, a two-dimensional table, etc. can also be used.

[0056] Here, the details of the above-mentioned measurement data according to this embodiment will be described. The measurement data may be data in which the correspondence between the intake amount of nutritional components and the measured values of damage markers of individuals constituting an arbitrary human population is recorded, obtained from an arbitrary human population. Specifically, for example, measurement data in which the average value of the intake amounts of about 30 nutritional components in the past from the measurement time point and the measured value of the damage marker TL correspond in a group of adults in a certain region, etc. In this embodiment, an "arbitrary human population" is preferably a group of generally average people with little statistical bias. However, in the evaluation of the relative amount of the user with respect to the criteria described later, since the prediction model does not directly affect, data of an arbitrary human population may be used as the measurement data.

[0057] Here, the damage marker according to this embodiment will be described. The damage marker according to this embodiment is a measurable mark or index related to DNA damage or DNA defense, and a correlation has been confirmed or can be inferred between the nutritional intake amount and its measured value. More specifically, the damage markers include the following, and in the following embodiments, examples of using these damage markers will be described. Chromosomal reciprocal translocation (TL) has been shown to have a correlation with the intake amount of nutritional components in Non-Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 3. Although these literature reports are pilot investigations, the suppression by the defense component far exceeds the increase in TL due to exposure to high-altitude operations (equivalent to 21% of the daily increase), and is up to 72% of the daily increase, indicating that the defense component greatly suppresses the daily increase. There are a very large number of reports on micronuclei (MN), including Non-Patent Document 1. In the case of dicentric chromosomes (hereinafter referred to as "DC"), there is no report on the relationship with nutritional intake, but since the generation mechanism is common to TL, the effect of the defense component is the same as in the case of TL. The index of the comet assay (hereinafter referred to as "COMET") has been shown to be reduced by the administration of VE and VC in Non-Patent Document 4 and the like. Phosphorylated histone (hereinafter referred to as "γ-H2AX") is considered to be able to expect the effect of nutritional intake because it has been shown in in vitro experiments using human lymphocytes in Non-Patent Document 5 that the administration of vc, ve, and bc reduces the increase in γ-H2AX. The DNA oxidative modification product (hereinafter referred to as "8-OHdG") has been shown in Non-Patent Document 6 to decrease with an increase in the intake of vegetables and fruits and the amount of VC in the blood. Among these damage markers, TL is for chromosomal mutations due to DNA double-strand breaks, MN is for abnormalities in nuclear formation due to DNA double-strand breaks, COMET is for the occurrence of DNA breaks, DC is for chromosomal abnormalities due to DNA double-strand breaks, γ-H2AX is for the occurrence of DNA double-strand breaks, and 8-OHdG is suitable for the evaluation of the defensive effect against the occurrence of oxidative DNA damage of DNA, respectively. Furthermore, the damage markers include various markers related to the DNA defense function. An example is the measured value of antioxidant capacity described later.

[0058] Here, the defense components according to this embodiment will be described. The defense components according to this embodiment are nutritional components that prevent DNA damage, that is, nutritional components having a defensive effect. The above-described damage markers have had their relevance to specific defense components clarified based on measurement data, and it can be said that it is appropriate to combine the defense components confirmed by the measurement data with the damage markers. That is, as described above, since the DNA damage detected by the damage markers has its own meaning and mechanism of occurrence, it is preferable to select defense components whose defensive effects have been confirmed by damage markers representing DNA damage according to the evaluation purpose. As the defense components according to this embodiment, it is preferable to use any one or an arbitrary combination of vitamin C (vitamin C), vitamin E (vitamin E), beta-carotene (beta-carotene), beta-cryptoxanthin (beta-cryptoxanthin), folic acid (folate), and niacin (niacin). Hereinafter, these defense components will be abbreviated as vc, ve, bc, xn, fol, and ncn, respectively.

[0059] Next, the details of the intake amount of the prediction model according to this embodiment will be described. The intake amount of the prediction model is the intake amount of one or more set defense components. The intake amount of the prediction model includes the "intake amount during the effective period" and the "intake amount having a correlation with the average intake amount during the effective period". For the "intake amount during the effective period", it is preferable to use the average intake amount during the measurement period. Further, as described above, it is possible to use the estimated average intake amount during the measurement period or the estimated intake amount during the effective period as the intake amount during the effective period. The expression of the intake amount during the effective period may be any expression that can specify the elements of the period and the amount, and includes the average value, total value, and time series value of the effective period. The intake amount during the effective period is obtained from the average intake amount during the measurement period, and this can be the average intake amount of an individual. Therefore, the "intake amount having a correlation with the intake amount during the effective period" includes the intake amount that can be the average intake amount of an individual. Specifically, it includes the intake amount during a period that can be judged to reflect the average intake amount of an individual. In this case, it is preferable that the average value of the said period does not have a statistically significant difference from the average value of the total intake amount during the measurement period or the survey period. Although a significance level of 1 to 5% is preferable, it can be set arbitrarily. Also, the average value of the total intake amount during the survey period can also be the average intake amount of an individual. Furthermore, like a dietary survey, the past intake amount of an individual obtained by a questionnaire or the like without specifying the survey period can also be the average intake amount of the said individual. In addition, the "intake amount having a correlation with the average intake amount during the effective period" includes the average value, total value, and time series value obtained by expressing the above intake amount in a period that is an arbitrary intake unit (such as "one day" per day. Hereinafter, referred to as "intake unit period"). For example, when the average intake amount during the effective period is 5 mg / day, when expressed as the average value over an intake unit period of 3 days, it is possible to create a prediction model using 15 mg as the intake amount having a correlation with the average intake amount during the effective period. Similarly, it is also possible to use the total value of 25 mg when the intake unit period is expressed as 5 days, for example. Also, as long as a prediction model can be created, it is possible to use the time-series values obtained by expressing the total value of 25 mg when the intake unit period is expressed as 5 days, for example, as time-series values. After specifying the intake unit period, the intake amount as described above is included in the intake amounts that can be used as data for creating the prediction model according to this embodiment.

[0060] Next, the details of the DNA damage index value of the prediction model according to this embodiment will be described. The DNA damage index value of the prediction model according to this embodiment is, for example, "the acceleration rate of damage amount increase" and "the value of an index having a correlation with the acceleration rate of damage amount increase". The "acceleration rate of damage amount increase" according to this embodiment is a value obtained by dividing the increase amount of the measurement period (increase amount of damage amount) obtained from various damage marker measurement values (damage amount) by the measurement period. The acceleration rate of damage amount increase is represented by the increase amount of damage amount per unit time. The unit time may be arbitrarily set, such as 1 day or 1 hour. The "value of an index having a correlation with the acceleration rate of damage amount increase" according to this embodiment includes the above-described increase amount of damage amount. In the case of cumulative damage markers such as TL, since the measurement value includes the damage amount at the start of measurement, this is subtracted to obtain the increase amount of damage amount during the measurement period. In the case of other damage markers, since the measurement value is nothing but the accumulated amount of DNA damage during the measurement period, the measurement value is the increase amount of damage amount. The "value of an index having a correlation with the acceleration rate of damage amount increase" according to this embodiment may include a value obtained by dividing the increase amount of damage amount by an arbitrarily long period. Such a value can be used, for example, when determining the acceleration rate of damage amount increase by setting the estimated measurement period. The "value of an index having a correlation with the rate of increase in damage amount" according to this embodiment may include a value obtained by multiplying or dividing the rate of increase in damage amount by an arbitrary value. The rate of increase in damage amount obtained by arbitrarily setting the above-mentioned unit time corresponds to this. Alternatively, the increase amount of damage amount during the period obtained by multiplying the rate of increase in damage amount by an arbitrary period (time) corresponds to this. As an example, such a value can be used when obtaining the radiation dose described later, etc. The "value of an index having a correlation with the rate of increase in damage amount" according to this embodiment may include the value of an index of DNA defense function whose correlation with the rate of increase in damage amount has been confirmed. As will be exemplified later, such a value can be used when converting the measured value of the antioxidant function marker into the rate of increase in damage amount and using it. Furthermore, although the above-mentioned DNA damage index value is an absolute amount of DNA damage index value, a relative amount of DNA damage index value can also be used. Specifically, a relative amount of DNA damage index value obtained as a ratio or difference with respect to the reference DNA damage index value of the above-mentioned absolute amount of DNA damage index value can also be used as the "value of an index having a correlation with the rate of increase in damage amount". In one example, it is a ratio or difference or percentage of the difference with respect to the reference rate of increase in damage amount of the rate of increase in damage amount, and this is shown as the reduction rate described later.

[0061] Note that since there are often no normal ranges, reference values, etc. for DNA damage index values, it is practical and preferable to evaluate in terms of the relative amount with respect to a reference because it becomes easier to grasp the defense effect. Furthermore, when performing an evaluation of the relative amount limited to a specific reference for the relative amount of DNA damage index value, it is suitable because the relative amount is directly calculated for the input. On the other hand, the absolute amount of DNA damage index value has the advantage that it can be evaluated with a plurality of references simultaneously for one input value. By properly using these, it becomes possible to configure a more practical evaluation device. In the following embodiments, a prediction model that outputs the above-mentioned absolute amount of DNA damage index value is called an "absolute amount model", and a prediction model that outputs a relative amount of DNA damage index value is called a "relative amount model".

[0062] Next, the details of the reference DNA damage index value according to this embodiment will be described. The reference DNA damage index value of the absolute amount according to this embodiment is the reference DNA damage index value when obtaining the relative amount of the DNA damage index value. This reference can be arbitrarily set for a specific population, individual, food, intake amount, etc. The "past DNA damage index value of the user" according to this embodiment can be calculated, for example, by inputting the average intake amount of the defensive component calculated from the record of the user's diet for about several weeks to several months, or the intake amount obtained by the survey method using a questionnaire into the absolute amount model. The "DNA damage index value of the average general person of the same sex and age as the user" according to this embodiment can be calculated, for example, by inputting the intake amount of the defensive component obtained from the intake data of nutrients, etc. published in the "National Health and Nutrition Survey Report" of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare into the absolute amount model. The "DNA damage index value when the maximum defensive effect is obtained" according to this embodiment is the absolute amount of the DNA damage index value when the maximum effective intake amount of the defensive component, that is, the intake amount at which the defensive effect levels off when more is taken, is ingested. This can be calculated by inputting the maximum effective intake amount of each defensive component estimated from the measurement data into the absolute amount model.

[0063] 〔Processing by Evaluation Device 1〕 Next, each process executed by the evaluation device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, first, a prediction model is created by the prediction model creation process, and evaluation is performed in the evaluation process using the created prediction model. This prediction model creation process and evaluation process may be executed independently, or only evaluation using the prediction model created in the prediction model creation process may be performed.

[0064] 〔Prediction Model Creation Process by Evaluation Device 1〕 First, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an example of the prediction model creation process by the evaluation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail step by step. In the prediction model creation process according to this embodiment, first, appropriate measurement data is prepared. Then, this measurement data is converted into creation data necessary for creating the prediction model. Next, the prediction model is created by training using this creation data. In the prediction model creation process according to this embodiment, mainly, the control unit 10 executes the control program 300 stored in the storage unit 11 in cooperation with each unit and using hardware resources.

[0065] Hereinafter, based on the flowchart of FIG. 3, the details of the prediction model creation process according to this embodiment will be described step by step. Here, FIG. 4 showing an example of overall prediction model creation is frequently referred to. FIG. 4 is an example for explanation, and using the dietary survey data recording the average daily intake and the measured value of TL which is a damage marker over a 15-year investigation period, a machine learning model is created with the defensive components being vc, ve, bc, xn, fol, ncn and the reference being the user himself / herself, and evaluation is performed. In this example, the DNA damage index value uses the damage amount increase rate, which is taken as the TL increase rate.

[0066] (Step S101) First, the evaluation unit 100 performs measurement data preparation processing. The measurement data according to this embodiment is, for example, dietary survey data in which the intake of nutritional components in daily diet and the measured value of the damage marker are recorded. As will be described later, the damage amount is obtained from this measured value of the damage marker. The evaluation unit 100 can obtain these measurement data from, for example, an external web server, a database, etc. Hereinafter, an example in which the measured value of the damage marker included in the measurement data is the measured value of TL will be described.

[0067] (Step S102) Next, the evaluation unit 100 performs creation data conversion processing. The evaluation unit 100 performs a process of converting the measurement data into creation data for creating the prediction model. Hereinafter, an example of this conversion process will be described. First, the evaluation unit 100 acquires intake data from the intake data included in the measurement data. At this time, the evaluation unit 100 acquires or converts the intake amount according to the application, including alternative examples as described in the details of the intake amount of the above prediction model, and uses it as the intake data.

[0068] According to FIG. 4, in this example, since the measurement period of TL is clear, the intake amount during the effective period obtained as the average intake amount during the measurement period can be acquired as the intake data. An example of the intake data converted into the intake amount during the effective period is shown in column C1 of FIG. 4.

[0069] Next, the evaluation unit 100 acquires the amount of damage from the damage marker measurement values included in the measurement data, and for example, performs the following three-stage conversion process to create DNA damage index value data.

[0070] The first conversion is the conversion to the increase amount of damage. Since the evaluation unit 100 knows that TL is cumulative DNA damage, it subtracts the value at the start of measurement from the measured value and converts it to the net increase amount of damage during the measurement period. On the other hand, in the case other than TL, this conversion is not necessary, and the measured value is used as the increase amount of damage. Here, when the value at the start of measurement of TL is not recorded, the evaluation unit 100 can calculate the TL value at the starting age using the data of the TL value corresponding to the age of the average general population reported in the literature. Alternatively, the evaluation unit 100 may create an approximation function for calculation. As this first conversion, in the example of FIG. 4, an example is shown in which the TL increase amount in column C4 is obtained by subtracting the TL starting value in column C3 from the TL measured value in column C2.

[0071] The second conversion is the conversion of the increase amount of damage to the damage acceleration. The evaluation unit 100 divides the increase amount of damage by the measurement period or the estimated length to calculate the absolute damage acceleration. Alternatively, the evaluation unit 100 may be limited to relative amount evaluation and divide the increase amount of damage by an arbitrarily long period to obtain damage acceleration data. This is because the relative amount is the same value regardless of the length of the arbitrarily long period. As this second conversion, in the example of FIG. 4, an example is shown in which the amount of increase in TL in column C4 is divided by the number of days in the investigation period to convert it into the TL increase acceleration per day in column C5. This TL increase acceleration becomes the increase acceleration of the damage amount in absolute quantity.

[0072] The third conversion is the conversion to relative quantity. The evaluation unit 100 compares the damage amount increase acceleration data in absolute quantity obtained by the second conversion with the reference damage amount increase acceleration and makes it a relative quantity. This relative quantity can be defined and used as any type of relative quantity. Here, the reference damage amount increase acceleration is calculated by inputting the reference defense component intake amount into the absolute quantity model. As this third conversion, in the example of FIG. 4, the reference defense component intake amount shown in the reference row of column C1 is input into the absolute quantity model, and the reference TL increase acceleration shown in the reference row of column C5 is calculated. Then, the TL increase accelerations of individual IDs 1 to 3 in column C5 are converted into relative quantities with respect to the reference TL increase accelerations shown in columns C6, C7, and C8. These relative quantities are an example.

[0073] Note that the evaluation unit 100 may generate creation data that does not perform a part of the conversion process according to the DNA damage index value used in the prediction model. That is, when the evaluation unit 100 uses the increase amount of damage amount in absolute quantity as the DNA damage index value, only the first conversion is performed. When the evaluation unit 100 uses the increase amount of damage amount in relative quantity, the first and third conversions are performed. When the evaluation unit 100 uses the increase acceleration of damage amount in absolute quantity, the first and second conversions are performed. When the evaluation unit 100 uses the increase acceleration of damage amount in relative quantity, the first, second, and third conversions are performed. The evaluation unit 100 can create necessary creation data by these conversions.

[0074] In addition, the evaluation unit 100 can perform further conversion processing on the damage amount increase amount and damage amount increase acceleration obtained in this way as necessary, and obtain a DNA damage index value that can be used as an alternative to the damage amount increase acceleration as described in the "Details of the DNA Damage Index Value of the Prediction Model" above.

[0075] (Step S103) Next, the evaluation unit 100 performs prediction model creation processing. The evaluation unit 100 creates prediction model data 320 using the creation data generated as described above. For example, in the case of a supervised machine learning model, the evaluation unit 100 trains with the intake amount of the defensive component as a feature quantity and the DNA damage index value as a predicted value to generate a neural network model. That is, a trained neural network model is created. Alternatively, in the case of a statistical regression equation model, the evaluation unit 100 performs regression analysis with the intake amount of the defensive component as an explanatory variable and the DNA damage index value as an objective variable, and creates a regression equation with the obtained regression coefficient or partial regression coefficient set as the prediction model data 320.

[0076] In the example of FIG. 4, in the case of the absolute amount model, the evaluation unit 100 trains using the creation data in which the intake amount of the defensive component in column C1 corresponds to the TL increase rate of the absolute amount in column C5 by various learning methods to create a neural network model. That is, a trained neural network model is created. On the other hand, in the case of the relative amount model, the evaluation unit 100 trains using the creation data in which the intake amount of the defensive component in column C1 corresponds to the TL increase rates of the relative amounts in columns C6, C7, and C8 to create a trained neural network model. The evaluation unit 100 stores the created trained neural network model in the prediction model data 320.

[0077] In this embodiment, a trained machine learning model is used as the prediction model, but learning may be performed each time an evaluation is made. Also, in this embodiment, the creation of a machine learning model is shown as a specific example, but it is also possible to create a multiple regression equation model by a conventional method using the creation data. Also, when using other components, regardless of the number of components, the evaluation unit 100 can create a model in the same manner as the above-described processing. In particular, in the case of one component, it is also possible to use a simple regression equation. An example of creating a prediction model for one component and applying it to a plurality of components will be described later. In the above-described process, although TL has been described as an example, the same can be created for other damage markers as well. Thus, the prediction model creation process according to the present embodiment is completed.

[0078] 〔Evaluation Process by Evaluation Device 1〕 Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the evaluation process by the evaluation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the evaluation process of the present embodiment, the intake amount of the defensive component ingested by the user is input to the prediction model created in the above-described prediction model creation process and stored in the storage unit 11, and a DNA damage index value is calculated. Then, based on the DNA damage index value, the defensive effect on the user's DNA damage is evaluated. In the present embodiment, an example in which the DNA damage index value is the rate of increase in the amount of damage will be described. The evaluation process according to the present embodiment is mainly executed by the control unit 10 in cooperation with each unit using the hardware resources by executing the program stored in the storage unit 11. Hereinafter, based on the flowchart of FIG. 5, the details of the prediction model creation process according to the present embodiment will be described step by step.

[0079] (Step S110) First, the intake information acquisition unit 110 and the input unit 12 perform input data input processing. The intake information acquisition unit 110, for example, GUI-displays an input screen on the display unit of the output unit 13 to prompt the user to input input data. Thereby, the user inputs input data by the input unit 12. At this time, the user can input input data by character input from a keyboard, touch panel, etc., input by selection from a selection list displayed on the input screen, input by an image of the photographed food, voice input, etc. Further, when the input data is described by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode or the like or is described by characters including handwriting, it may be converted into character data by a corresponding reader or optical character recognition and used as input data. Also, it is possible to input input data with any device other than the above. The input data input at the input unit 12 is stored in the storage unit 11.

[0080] Here, the input value to the prediction model according to this embodiment, and the details of the input intake amount included in the user's input data will be described. The user's input intake amount to the prediction model according to this embodiment is the user's intake amount of the defense component adjusted to the specified intake unit period, in the form of the average value, total value, time series value, etc. of the intake amount of the prediction model to be used. This user's input intake amount may be "the intake amount of the defense component during an arbitrary period in the past from the evaluation time point". At this time, when the intake amount during the effective period is used as the input intake amount with the current time point as the evaluation time point, it is possible to evaluate the effect of intake from 1 day to several days ago from the current time point. When the intake amount during a period other than the effective period is used as the input intake amount, it is possible to evaluate the quantitative correspondence between the intake amount during that period and its effect. For example, when evaluating the intake amount for the past month, the average value of the user and the reference for that period (for example, the intake unit period is 1 day) may be input into the prediction model created with the intake unit period of 1 day and evaluated. Also, as described in other embodiments to be described later, by inputting the content of the defense component of the food as the intake amount into the prediction model, it can be used for evaluating the DNA defense function of the food.

[0081] (Step S111) Next, the intake information acquisition unit 110 performs an intake information acquisition process. The intake information acquisition unit 110 analyzes the input data input from the input unit 12, acquires the intake information 310 such as the food and nutritional components input by the user, and stores it in the storage unit 11. At this time, the intake information acquisition unit 110 may further read these input data as necessary. The intake information acquisition unit 110 performs, for example, URL decoding or the like when the input data is text or numerical data in a form. When the input data is image data, the intake information acquisition unit 110 performs processes such as image recognition by AI or the like, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing, and conversion of barcode information into character information. When the input data is audio data, the intake information acquisition unit 110 performs audio analysis processing. When the input data is binary data, the intake information acquisition unit 110 converts it into data necessary as intake information 310.

[0082] (Step S112) Next, the intake amount calculation unit 120 performs an intake amount calculation process. The intake amount calculation unit 120 specifies the intake amount of the defense component from the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 110, and among them, specifies the intake amount of the defense component ingested during the estimated effective period of the user (hereinafter referred to as the "effective defense component intake amount"). Alternatively, when the intake information 310 includes food information, the intake amount calculation unit 120 may use, for example, the Japanese Standard Food Composition Table or the like to calculate the content of the defense component of this food, and specify the intake amount during the estimated effective period as the effective defense component intake amount. More specifically, this intake amount may be, for example, the intake amounts of each defense component such as vc, ve, bc, xn, fol, and ncn from foods or the like.

[0083] (Step S113) Next, the evaluation unit 100 performs an evaluation execution process. The evaluation unit 100 acquires a prediction model of an absolute amount or a relative amount according to the evaluation purpose from the prediction model data 320 in the storage unit 11, inputs the effective defense component intake amount, and calculates a DNA damage index value. On this basis, the evaluation unit 100 calculates an evaluation value of the defense effect on the user's DNA damage as a defense effect amount based on the DNA damage index value. In the present embodiment, the evaluation unit 100 includes this defense effect amount in the evaluation information 330 and stores it in the storage unit 11.

[0084] An example of this evaluation execution process will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In the example of FIG. 6, the duration of the estimated effect is set with vc being 1 day, ve being 5 days, bc being 3 days, xn being 3 days, fol being 2 days, and ncn being 2 days, and the lag time is set with vc being 0.5 day, ve being 2 days, bc being 2 days, xn being 2 days, fol being 1 day, and ncn being 1 day, and the estimated effective period is used. Also, the rows of "Input 1" and "Input 2" in column C31 of FIG. 6 are the user's daily intake of the effective defense component.

[0085] In the case of the relative amount model, the evaluation unit 100 uses the TL increase rate of the output relative amount as the evaluation value of the relative amount. This evaluation value of the relative amount is shown in columns C33, C34, and C35. On the other hand, in the case of the absolute amount model, after the evaluation unit 100 outputs the TL increase rate of the absolute amount shown in column C32, it converts it into a relative amount with respect to the reference TL increase rate to obtain the evaluation value of the relative amount. Also, since the TL increase rate of the absolute amount reflects the defense at that time, this may be used as the evaluation value of the absolute amount. Furthermore, an evaluation value based on these evaluation values may be obtained. Here, the evaluation unit 100 may calculate the reference TL increase rate each time by inputting the reference intake amount of the defense component into the absolute amount model. Or, the evaluation unit 100 may calculate the reference TL increase rate in advance, include it in the prediction model data 320, and store it in the storage unit 11, and obtain it during evaluation.

[0086] The evaluation unit 100 specifies the above-mentioned evaluation value as the defense effect amount at the evaluation time. The defense effect amount obtained in this way is an evaluation that reflects the diet during the most recent estimated effective period. For example, in the example of the diet content of "Input 1", it can be seen that the TL increase rate is reduced by 27.2% compared to the user's previous diet content.

[0087] Or, the evaluation unit 100 may regard the TL increase rate as the average speed during the evaluation period including the evaluation time point, and specify this as the defense effect amount during the evaluation period. This evaluation period may be, for example, from 1 day to several years. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 100 may calculate a specific amount of TL increase during the evaluation period by multiplying this average speed by the time of the evaluation period, and specify this as the amount of defense effect.

[0088] Also, instead of the TL increase rate, it is possible to perform an evaluation of the relative amount by the same process using the amount of TL increase as the DNA damage index value. The same process can also be performed in the case of damage markers other than TL.

[0089] (Step S114) Next, the evaluation unit 100 performs evaluation output processing. The evaluation unit 100 refers to the evaluation information 330 and outputs the calculated amount of defense effect from the output unit 13. Alternatively, the evaluation unit 100 may transmit the evaluation information 330 to a server on an external network, a user's terminal, etc. via the communication unit 14, or store it in the storage unit 11 or a database.

[0090] Specifically, the evaluation unit 100 may generate, as the evaluation information 330, display data in which the change over time in the amount of increase in the user's DNA damage index value and the change over time in the amount of increase in the reference DNA damage index value, which is the reference DNA damage index value set as the comparison criterion, are displayed in the same graph for result display. In addition, the evaluation unit 100 may generate the value obtained by converting the defense effect into an age-equivalent value and include it in the display data. More specifically, for example, the evaluation unit 100 can generate it as a value obtained by converting the variation in the user's DNA damage index value with respect to the reference DNA damage index value into an age-equivalent value. The evaluation unit 100 may display this generated display data on the display unit of the output unit 13 or output it with a printer or the like.

[0091] Figs. 7 and 8 show an example of the display data generated as this evaluation information 330. In this example, the amount of increase in damage (TL increase amount) is used as the DNA damage index value. Figure 7(a) is an example in which the profile of the increase amount of TL (change in value over time) included in the display data is plotted. The horizontal axis represents time. The vertical axis represents the increase amount of TL. As an arbitrary evaluation period, in this example, the increase amount of TL for one day was calculated. L301 in the figure indicates the starting point of the plot. L302 indicates the increase amount of TL of the user for one day. On the other hand, L303 indicates the increase amount of TL of the reference for one day. The difference between these, that is, in this example, the decrease rate of the calculated TL increase acceleration -27.2% is the defensive effect of the relative amount.

[0092] Figure 7(b) is an example in which the same plot was continued for 5 days. Similar to Figure 7(a), the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the increase amount of TL. When the plot is continued in this way, the increase amount of TL of the user shown by L305 and the reference increase amount of TL shown by L306 are plotted.

[0093] Figure 7(c) is an example in which the plot was continued for an even longer period. In this plot, the horizontal axis represents the age (years) of the user as time, and the vertical axis represents the TL value (TL accumulation value). That is, when the plot is continued, a long-term profile of the actual TL value can be obtained. L305 in Figure 7(c) is a plot of the TL value up to the current age of the user. On the other hand, L306 is a plot of the reference TL value. This plot of the reference TL value may be a plot of the general average or the estimated value of the user himself / herself when no nutritional management is performed. These, Figure 7(b) is an example of a short-term, and Figure 7(c) is an example of a long-term "figure in which the change over time of the user's DNA damage index value and the change over time of the reference DNA damage index value are displayed in the same graph".

[0094] FIG. 8(a) shows an example of calculating how many years in terms of age the reduction of the user's DNA damage relative to the reference corresponds to from the plot of FIG. 7(c). Here, in L323, the reference TL value at the current age of the user is shown. In contrast, in L324, the TL value of the user at present is shown. That is, as a result of nutritional management, the TL value of the user at present has decreased. Here, as shown in L326, the TL value of the user at present corresponds to 49 years old, and the evaluation unit 100 can calculate such a value as the "DNA age". That is, in the example of FIG. 8(a), it can be said that the DNA age of the user is 6 years younger than the current age of 55 years old, or the DNA damage for 6 years has been suppressed. Such a value is an example of "the value obtained by converting the variation of the DNA damage index value relative to the reference DNA damage index value into an age-equivalent value". Note that in this example, TL is used as the damage marker, but the same expression is possible for other damage markers. Alternatively, using the correlation with TL, the defense effect can also be expressed on the TL profile in the same way.

[0095] FIG. 8(b) shows an example of outputting as a table format as the evaluation information 330. In this example, the average defense effect amount of FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) described above, the current age of the user, the DNA age shown in column R327, and the DNA defense age shown in column R328 are shown. Thus, the evaluation process according to the embodiment of the present invention is completed.

[0096] 〔Main effects of this embodiment〕 By configuring as described above, the following effects can be obtained. Although it has been found that DNA defense is possible by obtaining defense components in a normal diet, there has been no practical technology that can quantitatively evaluate the defense effect by nutritional intake at any point in time.

[0097] In contrast, the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment is an evaluation device that evaluates the protective effect against DNA damage caused by the intake of nutrient components, and includes an intake amount of a protective component that is a nutrient component that prevents DNA damage, and a DNA damage index value that is a value of an index for evaluating the protective effect obtained based on DNA damage. It is characterized by comprising a storage unit 11 that stores a prediction model showing a quantitative relationship therebetween, and an evaluation unit 100 that calculates a DNA damage index value from the intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user according to the prediction model stored in the storage unit 11, and evaluates the protective effect of the user against DNA damage based on the DNA damage index value.

[0098] By configuring in this way and evaluating the protective effect of the user against DNA damage, it is possible to provide an evaluation device 1 that can quantitatively evaluate the protective effect by nutrient intake at an arbitrary time point. That is, it is possible to evaluate the protective effect of the intake amount for an arbitrary period at an arbitrary time point without measurement, simply by the user inputting foods such as meals and intake amounts. In particular, when inputting the intake amount during the expiration period, it is possible to obtain an evaluation that quantitatively and biologically reflects the protective effect of the past diet content in minimum units of about several days. As a result, it becomes possible to reflect the results in the user's diet, and a practical evaluation device 1 useful for maintaining the integrity of DNA can be provided. In addition, DNA damage is the result of the overall action of various defense functions from mutagen capture to DNA repair. Therefore, the DNA damage index value is suitable as an index for comprehensively evaluating the DNA protective effect by nutrient intake. Furthermore, since the DNA damage index value is associated with mutations and the like that are closely related to cancer and aging and are of high interest, it is easy for the user to feel the results.

[0099] In the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the prediction model is created based on a dataset in which, in an arbitrary human population, the intake amount of the protective component ingested during a period past the reference time point of an individual constituting the human population, and the DNA damage index value based on the damage marker value of the individual at the reference time point correspond to each other. By configuring in this way, a practical prediction model can be created with an appropriate dataset. As a result, an accurate evaluation can be performed.

[0100] In the evaluation device 1 according to this embodiment, the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during the period past the reference time point is the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during the period specified as the effective period, or the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during the effective period of the average value of the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during the period specified as the effective period, and is characterized in that it has a correlation. By configuring in this way, a prediction model based on a more accurately estimated intake amount can be created.

[0101] In the evaluation device 1 according to this embodiment, the effective period is a period set so that the duration of the action of defending against DNA damage of the ingested defensive component includes the reference time point, and is characterized in that. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to calculate a DNA damage index value in a more accurate period.

[0102] In the evaluation device 1 according to this embodiment, the evaluation unit 100 uses the prediction model with the evaluation time point as the reference time point, inputs the intake amount of the defensive component ingested by the user during an arbitrary period past the evaluation time point, and calculates the DNA damage index value when the evaluation time point is the reference time point, and is characterized in that. By configuring in this way, a more practical DNA damage index value can be calculated.

[0103] In the evaluation device 1 according to this embodiment, the DNA damage index value is the acceleration of the increase in the amount of DNA damage obtained based on the damage marker value, or the value of an index showing a correlation with the acceleration of the increase in the amount of DNA damage, and is characterized in that. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to evaluate an appropriate DNA damage index value according to the model, the defensive component, and the measured value.

[0104] In the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the defensive component is characterized by including any one or any combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, folic acid, and niacin. By configuring in this way, it is possible to evaluate the effect of nutrient intake that has a particularly high defensive effect against mutations among DNA damages. Specifically, it is considered that the actions of these six defensive components have been confirmed in many damage markers and they can exert a defensive effect against a wide range of types of DNA damage. In addition, these nutrient components have been confirmed to have a defensive effect in epidemiological investigations and basic research using TL, which is DNA damage formed based on mutations, as a damage marker. Therefore, the reliability of the effect against the occurrence of mutations is high. Furthermore, since content data in daily foods is available, input data for evaluation can be easily obtained. Thus, it is suitable for evaluating the defensive effect against the accumulation of mutations, which particularly increases with aging, among DNA damages.

[0105] In the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the evaluation unit 100 is characterized by creating evaluation information 330 including at least one of a figure in which the change over time of the DNA damage index value of the user and the change over time of the reference DNA damage index value, which is the reference DNA damage index value set as a comparison reference, are displayed in the same graph, and a value obtained by converting the defensive effect into an age-equivalent value. By configuring in this way, the amount of defensive effect, which tends to be abstract when expressed only numerically, can be visually shown. In addition, by visually showing the daily effect, short-term effect, and long-term effect in order with respect to the reference, and further converting into an age-equivalent value, a practical expression that can be specifically felt can be shown to the user.

[0106] The evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment is further characterized by including an output unit 13 that displays or prints the evaluation information 330 as characters or figures. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to visually display the evaluation information 330 including changes over time and graphs, or print and distribute them to users. Therefore, the convenience of the users can be improved.

[0107] In the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the reference DNA damage index value is characterized in that it is the user's past damage index value, the DNA damage index value of an average ordinary person of the same sex and the same age as the user, or the DNA damage index value when the maximum defensive effect is obtained. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to clarify the effect of efforts from a comparison with the user's own past diet, the positioning of the user's diet from a comparison with the general average, and the goal of efforts from a comparison with the maximum effect, respectively.

[0108] In the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the intake amount of the defensive component ingested by the user during an arbitrary period in the past from the evaluation time point is characterized in that it is the intake amount of the defensive component ingested during the effective period in the past from the evaluation time point. By configuring in this way and using the intake amount of the defensive component during the effective period as the input value of the prediction model, it becomes possible to obtain the acceleration rate of the increase in the damage amount at the evaluation time point as a biologically reasonable response result, and to evaluate the defensive effect at the evaluation time point.

[0109] Note that the evaluation device 1 according to the present embodiment may be configured by a single information processing device or a plurality of information processing devices. In particular, a configuration example of the evaluation system via a network will be described in detail in the following Second Embodiment to Fourth Embodiment.

[0110] <Second Embodiment> Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, an evaluation system Y according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to FIG. 9, the evaluation system Y according to the present embodiment is a system for evaluating the defensive effect on DNA damage by the intake of nutritional components. The evaluation system Y according to this embodiment is composed of a plurality of information processing devices instead of the evaluation device 1 composed of a single information processing device according to the first embodiment. Specifically, the evaluation system Y according to this embodiment includes a user terminal 2 and an evaluation server 1b connected to the network 3. Since the creation of the prediction model and the evaluation of the defense effect according to this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the system configuration and the processing in each device will be mainly described.

[0111] The evaluation server 1b is an information processing device having a function of inputting and outputting data to and from the terminal 2 in addition to the same functions as the evaluation device 1 according to the first embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, although the evaluation server 1b may not include the input unit 12 and the output unit 13, it is configured as a server form of the evaluation device 1 that performs evaluation. The evaluation server 1b may be configured by a single PC server as shown in FIG. 9, or may be configured by a general-purpose machine, a virtual server, a configuration in which distributed processing is performed by a plurality of servers, etc. Also, the number of evaluation servers 1b may be scaled up or down according to the number of users using the evaluation system Y, etc.

[0112] The terminal 2 is a smartphone, a PC, a tablet terminal, a game machine, a home appliance product, or other electronic devices having an information processing function. One or more terminals 2 may be provided. The terminal 2 may have a dedicated app installed for accessing the evaluation server 1b, or may simply execute a general web browser to access the evaluation server 1b.

[0113] The network 3 is the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, a dedicated line, a mobile network, or other IP (Internet Protocol) networks, etc. The network 3 may be configured by wire or wirelessly.

[0114] Next, with reference to FIG. 10, the functional configuration of the evaluation system Y according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same configurations, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the control unit 20 of the terminal 2, the storage unit 21, the communication unit 24, the input unit 22, and the output unit 23 have the same configurations as the control unit 10, the storage unit 11, the communication unit 14, the input unit 12, and the output unit 13 in FIG. 1, respectively. Here, in the present embodiment, since there are features in the function sharing between the terminal 2 and the evaluation server 1b, the functions of the system will be mainly described.

[0115] The control unit 10 of the evaluation server 1b includes an evaluation unit 100, an intake information acquisition unit 110, an intake amount calculation unit 120, an evaluation transmission unit 130, and a server reception unit 140. The storage unit 11 of the evaluation server 1b stores a control program 300b, intake information 310, prediction model data 320, evaluation information 330, and input data 340. The control unit 20 of the terminal 2 includes a terminal transmission unit 200 and a terminal reception unit 210. The storage unit 21 of the terminal 2 stores evaluation information 330 and input data 340.

[0116] The intake information acquisition unit 110 receives from the terminal 2 and acquires intake information 310 from the input data 340 stored in the storage unit 11. In the present embodiment, the intake information acquisition unit 110 acquires intake information 310 from the input data 340 input by the input unit 22 of the terminal 2.

[0117] In the present embodiment, the intake amount calculation unit 120 calculates the intake amount of a defense component, which is a nutrient component having an effect of preventing DNA damage, based on the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 110.

[0118] The evaluation transmission unit 130 transmits the evaluation information 330 regarding the defense effect calculated by the evaluation unit 100 to the terminal 2. The evaluation transmission unit 130 transmits the evaluation information 330 to the terminal 2 via the communication unit 14 through the network 3.

[0119] The server receiving unit 140 receives input data 340 from the terminal 2. The server receiving unit 140 may execute services such as a WWW (World Wide Web) server, ASP, CGI (Common Gateway Interface), daemons, middleware, etc. By doing so, the server receiving unit 140 can provide the terminal 2 with HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), XML, image data, etc. of a website, user authentication, and information for various GUIs. In the present embodiment, the server receiving unit 140 acquires the input data 340 input at the terminal 2 via the network 3 through the communication unit 14 and stores it in the storage unit 11.

[0120] The control program 300b includes an application of an evaluation program for the evaluation server 1b. In addition, the control program 300b also includes programs and data for causing the evaluation server 1b to function as a server, such as an OS (Operating System), firmware, etc.

[0121] The input data 340 is input data regarding foods and nutritional components ingested by the user, input by the user. Specifically, the input data 340 according to the present embodiment is data similar to the input data of the above-described first embodiment, temporarily stored in the storage unit 21 so as to be transmissible by the terminal transmission unit 200.

[0122] In the present embodiment, the input unit 22 acquires the input data 340 input by the user and stores it in the storage unit 21.

[0123] The terminal transmission unit 200 transmits the input data 340 to the evaluation server 1b. In the present embodiment, the terminal transmission unit 200 transmits the input input data 340 to the evaluation server 1b via the network 3 through the communication unit 24.

[0124] The terminal receiving unit 210 receives evaluation information 330 regarding the defensive effect against DNA damage from the evaluation server 1b. In the present embodiment, the terminal receiving unit 210 acquires the evaluation information 330 via the communication unit 24 through the network 3 and stores it in the storage unit 21.

[0125] In the present embodiment, the output unit 23 outputs the evaluation information 330 received by the terminal receiving unit 210.

[0126] Here, the control unit 10 of the evaluation server 1b functions as an evaluation unit 100, an intake information acquisition unit 110, an intake amount calculation unit 120, an evaluation transmission unit 130, and a server receiving unit 140 by executing a control program 300b stored in the storage unit 11. The control unit 20 of the terminal 2 functions as a terminal transmission unit 200 and a terminal receiving unit 210 by executing a control program (not shown) stored in the storage unit 21. Also, each part of the above-described evaluation device 1 becomes a hardware resource for executing the evaluation method of the present invention.

[0127] 〔Evaluation process by evaluation system Y〕 Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the evaluation process by the evaluation system Y according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the evaluation process according to the present embodiment, the terminal 2 inputs input data 340 and outputs evaluation information 330, and the evaluation server 1b performs other processes. Specifically, the input data 340 input by the user at the terminal 2 is transmitted from the communication unit 24 to the evaluation server 1b via the network 3. In the evaluation server 1b, for the input data 340 received by the communication unit 14, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the intake information 310 is acquired, the intake amount is calculated, the evaluation process is performed, and the defensive effect amount is obtained. The evaluation transmission unit 130 transmits this as the evaluation information 330 to the terminal 2 via the network 3 through the communication unit 14. The received terminal receiving unit 210 outputs the evaluation information 330. Hereinafter, based on the flowchart of FIG. 11, the details of the prediction model creation process according to the present embodiment will be described step by step.

[0128] (Step S220) The input unit 22 of the terminal 2 performs input data input processing. In the present embodiment, the input unit 22 acquires the input data 340 of the user. Here, for example, the user accesses the website of the evaluation server 1b through the web browser or dedicated application of the terminal 2. At this time, authentication processing may be performed with the evaluation server 1b for login or the like. Then, the user inputs the ingested nutritional components, meal menu, etc. to the GUI such as the form displayed on the display unit of the terminal 2. Alternatively, the user may input an image or voice using the camera or the like of the terminal 2. The input unit 22 acquires these input information as input data 340 similar to step S110 in FIG. 5. Furthermore, the input unit 22 may also acquire information such as options regarding the display method of the evaluation information 330, such as whether to display in the evaluation period, graph, or table as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0129] (Step S221) Next, the terminal transmission unit 200 of the terminal 2 performs input data transmission processing. The terminal transmission unit 200 transmits the input data 340 input by the input unit 22 to the evaluation server 1b. At this time, the terminal transmission unit 200 may perform URL encoding, encryption, etc. to transmit the ingestion information 310.

[0130] (Step S121) Here, the server reception unit 140 of the evaluation server 1b performs input data reception processing. The server reception unit 140 receives the input data 340 from the terminal 2 via the network 3 and stores it in the storage unit 11. At this time, the ingestion information acquisition unit 110 may perform URL decoding, decryption, etc. of the input data 340.

[0131] (Step S122) Next, the ingestion information acquisition unit 110 performs ingestion information acquisition processing. The intake information acquisition unit 110 analyzes the received input data 340 and acquires the intake information 310. At this time, the intake information acquisition unit 110 performs the same processing as the intake information acquisition unit 110 of the evaluation device 1 in the first embodiment to acquire the intake information 310 and stores it in the storage unit 11.

[0132] (Step S123) Next, the intake amount calculation unit 120 performs an intake amount calculation process. The intake amount calculation unit 120 calculates the intake amount of the defensive component. The intake amount calculation unit 120 performs this process in the same manner as step S112 in FIG. 5.

[0133] (Step S124) Next, the evaluation unit 100 performs an evaluation execution process. The evaluation unit 100 also performs this process in the same manner as the intake amount calculation process in step S113 of FIG. 5. Here, for example, the evaluation unit 100 generates evaluation information 330 that can be displayed on the web browser or dedicated application of the terminal 2 and stores it in the storage unit 11. The evaluation unit 100 generates evaluation information 330 including display data such as HTML of a table, XML, and image data of a graph. This display data may be generated according to the options regarding the above-described display method.

[0134] (Step S125) Next, the evaluation transmission unit 130 performs an evaluation transmission process. The evaluation transmission unit 130 transmits the generated evaluation information 330 to the terminal 2.

[0135] (Step S222) Here, the terminal reception unit 210 of the terminal 2 performs an evaluation reception process. The terminal reception unit 210 receives the evaluation information 330 from the evaluation server 1b and stores it in the storage unit 21.

[0136] (Step S223) Next, the output unit 23 performs an evaluation output process. Here, the output unit 23 may refer to the evaluation information 330 and output the defensive effect amount from the output unit 23 in the same manner as step S114 in FIG. 5. Thus, the evaluation process according to this embodiment ends.

[0137] By configuring as described above, the following effects can be obtained. The evaluation system Y according to this embodiment includes a user's terminal 2 and one or more evaluation servers 1b, and is an evaluation system for evaluating the protective effect against DNA damage caused by the intake of nutritional components. The evaluation system includes an intake information acquisition unit 110 that acquires intake information 310 of the nutritional components ingested by the user from input data 340 regarding the foods and nutritional components ingested by the user, an intake amount calculation unit 120 that calculates the intake amount of a protective component, which is a nutritional component having an effect of preventing DNA damage, based on the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 110, a storage unit 11 that stores a prediction model indicating the quantitative relationship between the intake of the protective component and the DNA damage index value, which is a value of an index for evaluating the protective effect obtained based on the DNA damage, and an evaluation unit 100 that evaluates the protective effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount calculated by the intake amount calculation unit using the prediction model stored in the storage unit 11.

[0138] More specifically, the evaluation system Y according to the present embodiment includes a user terminal 2 connected to a network 3 and an evaluation server 1b, and is an evaluation system for evaluating the protective effect against DNA damage by the intake of nutrient components. The terminal 2 includes an input unit 22 for inputting input data 340 of the user's nutrient components, a terminal transmission unit 200 for transmitting the input data 340 to the evaluation server 1b, a terminal reception unit 210 for receiving evaluation information 330 regarding the protective effect against DNA damage from the evaluation server 1b, and an output unit 23 for outputting the evaluation information 330 received by the terminal reception unit 210. The evaluation server 1b includes a server reception unit 140 for receiving the input data 340, an intake information acquisition unit 110 for acquiring intake information 310 of the nutrient components ingested by the user from the input data 340 received by the server reception unit 140, an intake amount calculation unit 120 for calculating the intake amount of a protective component, which is a nutrient component having an effect of preventing DNA damage, based on the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 110, a storage unit 11 for storing a prediction model indicating the relationship between the intake of the protective component and the DNA damage index value, an evaluation unit 100 for calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount calculated by the intake amount calculation unit 120 according to the prediction model stored in the storage unit 11, and evaluating the protective effect of the user against DNA damage based on the DNA damage index value, and an evaluation transmission unit 130 for transmitting the evaluation information 330 regarding the protective effect calculated by the evaluation unit 100 to the terminal 2.

[0139] By configuring in this way, multiple information processing devices share each function and can perform the evaluation as a whole. As a result, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above, it is possible to access the evaluation server 1b from the user's terminal 2 via the network 3 and quantitatively evaluate the protective effect by nutrient intake at any time. Thus, the functions provided in the single evaluation device 1 in the first embodiment can be executed by the evaluation system Y including the terminal 2 and the evaluation server 1b connected by the network 3. As a result, the load related to the evaluation of the user's terminal 2 can be reduced. In addition, when the prediction model is updated or the like in the evaluation server 1b, it can be immediately applied among multiple users.

[0140] <Third Embodiment> In the above-described second embodiment, an example was described in which the input and output of the input data 340 are mainly performed by the terminal 2, and other processes are executed by the evaluation server 1b. However, a configuration in which other functional blocks are shared between the evaluation server and the terminal 2 is also possible. FIG. 12 shows a configuration example of such an evaluation system Z. In FIG. 12, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 10 denote the same configurations, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, the terminal 2c includes an intake information acquisition unit 220 in addition to the input unit 22. In this embodiment, the intake information acquisition unit 220 may have the same configuration as the intake information acquisition unit 110 according to the first and second embodiments. In this case, the intake information acquisition unit 220 of the terminal 2c acquires intake information 310 of the nutritional components ingested by the user from the input data input by the input unit 12 in this embodiment. This input data and the intake information 310 are the same as those in the above-described first and second embodiments.

[0142] In this embodiment, the terminal transmission unit 200 transmits the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 220 to the evaluation server 1c via the network 3 through the communication unit 24.

[0143] That is, in this embodiment, the terminal 2c performs the acquisition of the intake information 310 from the input data and transmits it to the evaluation server 1c.

[0144] In this embodiment, the evaluation server 1c does not include the intake information acquisition unit 110 of the evaluation server 1b according to the second embodiment. The server reception unit 140 of the evaluation server 1c receives the intake information 310 transmitted from the terminal 2c via the network 3 through the communication unit 14 and stores it in the storage unit 11. The intake amount calculation unit 120 can execute subsequent processing in the same manner as in the second embodiment using the intake information 310 received by the server reception unit 140. That is, the intake amount calculation unit 120 executes processing such as calculating the intake amount of the defense component based on the received intake information 310. Each of the above processes is performed by the control unit 10 executing a control program 300c capable of handling a database stored in the storage unit 11.

[0145] By configuring as described above, the following effects can be obtained. The evaluation system Z according to the present embodiment includes a user's terminal 2c and an evaluation server 1c, and is an evaluation system for evaluating the defensive effect on DNA damage caused by the intake of nutritional components. The terminal 2c includes an input unit 22 for inputting input data related to the user's food and nutritional components, an intake information acquisition unit 220 for acquiring intake information 310 of the nutritional components ingested by the user from the input data input by the input unit 12, a terminal transmission unit 200 for transmitting the intake information 310 acquired by the intake information acquisition unit 220 to the evaluation server 1c, a terminal reception unit 210 for receiving evaluation information 330 related to the defensive effect on DNA damage from the evaluation server 1c, and an output unit 23 for outputting the evaluation information 330 received by the terminal reception unit 210. The evaluation server 1c includes a server reception unit 140 for receiving the intake information 310, an intake amount calculation unit 120 for calculating the intake amount of a defense component, which is a nutritional component having an effect of preventing DNA damage, based on the received intake information 310, a storage unit 11 for storing a prediction model showing the relationship between the intake of the defense component and the DNA damage index value, an evaluation unit 100 for calculating a DNA damage index value from the intake amount calculated by the intake amount calculation unit 120 using the prediction model stored in the storage unit 11 and evaluating the user's defensive effect on DNA damage based on the DNA damage index value, and an evaluation transmission unit 130 for transmitting evaluation information 330 related to the defensive effect calculated by the evaluation unit 100 to the terminal 2c.

[0146] By configuring in this way, in addition to achieving the effects of the above-described first and second embodiments, by sharing the functions between the user's terminal 1c and the evaluation server 1c, an effect can also be obtained in that the load of acquiring the intake information 310 at the evaluation server 1c can be reduced. That is, by having the terminal 2c perform the processing until the intake information 310 is calculated from the input data, the evaluation server 1c only needs to acquire and process only the intake information 310 converted into food names, quantities, etc. instead of the various forms of input data that are input. As a result, the communication load and the processing load of the evaluation server 1c can be significantly reduced. That is, when inputting by means of a photo or voice of a meal at the terminal 2c, instead of directly transmitting the input data to the evaluation server 1c, by transmitting the processed data, the load on the evaluation server can be further reduced.

[0147] 〔Other configurations of the terminal and the evaluation server〕 Note that in the above-described third embodiment, it was described that the terminal 2 includes an intake information acquisition unit 220 and acquires intake information. However, as an evaluation system including the user's terminal 2 and one or more evaluation servers, the acquisition of intake information from the user's input data, the calculation of the intake amount during the expiration period, the calculation and evaluation of the DNA damage index value by the prediction model, and the control of creating the evaluation information of the defense effect may each be executed by any one of the terminal 2 and one or more evaluation servers.

[0148] Specifically, in addition to the intake information acquisition unit, if the terminal 2 is also provided with an intake amount calculation unit and is configured to transmit the intake amount to the evaluation server, this is also similarly possible. In this case, only the intake amount of the defense component needs to be transmitted from the terminal 2. In this case, instead of a large number of food names and amounts for each meal, only several intake amounts, etc. may be acquired and processed. By configuring in this way, it is possible to reduce the computational load of the evaluation server and also significantly reduce the communication load.

[0149] In addition to this, a system configuration in which the evaluation server is provided with an intake amount calculation unit and the terminal is provided with an evaluation unit is also possible. In this way, various combinations of configurations are possible in which the functions of the evaluation device 1 of the first embodiment are shared between the evaluation server and the terminal. Therefore, the prediction model data 320 may be provided in either the storage unit of the terminal or the storage unit of the evaluation server in these configurations.

[0150] Also, as a functional configuration of the terminal, when a dedicated application is executed on the terminal, evaluation may be possible as in the evaluation device 1 of the first embodiment described above. Even in this case, in the terminal, a specific function may be configured such that it cannot be used unless it is in a state of accessing the evaluation server (online). Alternatively, even for the dedicated application of the terminal, a configuration may be adopted in which a so-called Web application and a "native" application are used in combination, or either one is used as appropriate.

[0151] Furthermore, the evaluation server may share the above functions among a plurality of servers. Also, when sharing, a dedicated server specialized in functions may be used. As an example, when a dedicated server specialized in evaluation is provided, this dedicated server may be provided with the evaluation unit 100 according to the first to third embodiments described above. In addition, a configuration is also possible in which a dedicated server equipped with, for example, an FPGA or an AI accelerator, which is specialized in prediction processing by a prediction model, is used. In these cases, the terminal 2 or the evaluation server transmits information on the intake amount of the effective defense component to the dedicated server, and the evaluation unit 100 of the dedicated server inputs the intake amount information into the prediction model and transmits the output DNA damage index value to the evaluation server. Thereafter, the evaluation server transmits the evaluation information 330 to the terminal 2. With such a configuration and by sharing server functions, a large number of accesses can be processed efficiently.

[0152] It should be noted that it is also possible to configure the evaluation server 1b of the second embodiment and the evaluation server 1c of the third embodiment described above with a plurality of servers and share the processing. These configurations are examples, and the sharing of functions may be performed arbitrarily or may be changed according to the number of users or excessive processing. Furthermore, it may include a server having a database as shown in the following fourth embodiment, and the server having this database may be provided with a function as an evaluation server.

[0153] <Fourth Embodiment> 〔Input and Recording〕 In the above-described first to third embodiments, it has been described that the daily intake amount of the user's defense components is input and evaluated each time. However, by recording the intake information and evaluation results for each input, it is also possible to configure to perform an evaluation at any time in daily life and display the results. FIG. 13 shows an example of the evaluation system W configured in this way. The evaluation system W of this embodiment is an evaluation system according to the evaluation system Y of the second embodiment. The intake amount calculation unit 120 calculates the input daily intake amount and records it in the database. In FIG. 13, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1, 10, and 12 denote the same configurations, and thus the description thereof is omitted. This evaluation system W includes an intake information DB410, a food component DB420, and an evaluation information DB430 in the storage unit 11. The control program 300d is the control program of the same evaluation server 1d as in the second embodiment described above. Other configurations are the same as those of the evaluation system Y of the second embodiment.

[0154] The intake information DB410 is a database that records the daily or per-input intake information 310 and the calculated intake amount of the defense component. In addition, the intake information DB410 may record data for each user. The food component DB420 is a database in which the content of nutritional components in foods and the like is recorded. The food component DB420 may include values such as the content and recommended amount of the defense component for each food, for example. The evaluation information DB430 is a database that stores the evaluation information 330 calculated daily or per input. This evaluation information DB430 may also record data for each user.

[0155] Here, in the evaluation system W according to the present embodiment, the intake information acquisition unit 110 acquires the intake information 310 from the input data 340 of the user received by the server reception unit 140 in the same manner as in the above-described second embodiment. Here, in the present embodiment, the intake information acquisition unit 110 records the daily intake information 310 of the user in the intake information DB 410. In addition, the intake amount calculation unit 120 also records the intake amount calculated from the intake information 310 in the intake information DB 410. Then, at an arbitrary evaluation time point, the evaluation unit 100 acquires the intake amount during the effective period from the past intake amount data, inputs it into the prediction model, and records the obtained defense effect amount as the evaluation information 330 in the evaluation information DB 430. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 100 can also create display data in various formats as described in the first embodiment from the evaluation information 330 recorded in the evaluation information DB 430.

[0156] In this way, by storing the daily intake amount, it becomes possible to evaluate the defense effect at any time in daily life. That is, by referring to the evaluation information DB 430, it is possible to obtain the information at the required period and time point without the evaluation unit 100 generating the evaluation information 330 one by one. As a result, a more practical system can be provided. Since the daily variation of the effect can be grasped, the result can be reflected in the diet content. Therefore, the DNA defense of the user can be promoted. Also, a graph or the like can be easily created from the recorded past defense effect amounts.

[0157] Note that the configuration of this evaluation system W is an example, and it can be realized by either a single information processing device or a system using a plurality of information processing devices. For example, it may have the above-described respective databases in the same configuration as the evaluation system Z of the third embodiment. Or, it may be configured to use a plurality of servers, include a server dedicated to the database, or include a database in the terminal 2. Also, the intake information DB 410, the food ingredient DB 420, and the evaluation information DB 430 may be configured to be provided either singly or in any combination.

[0158] <Fifth Embodiment> 〔Application to Food Function Evaluation〕 In the evaluation unit 100 in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, based on the amount of effective defense components ingested by the user in the past, the DNA damage index value at the evaluation time point is calculated to evaluate the defense effect. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the evaluation unit 100 regards the amount of defense components contained in the food as the amount of effective defense components ingested, and predicts the DNA damage index value at the future evaluation time point when this is ingested, thereby evaluating the defense effect as a function of the food. Hereinafter, such food function evaluation processing will be described.

[0159] An example of food function evaluation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14. In this example, based on the recommended amount, TL is evaluated as the DNA damage to be defended. First, the intake calculation unit 120 reads out the nutrient content data of the food ingredient DB 420, calculates the content of the defense components for each of the input foods as shown in "Example 1" to "Example 3" in FIG. 14, and calculates the content as the intake of the defense components. Then, as shown in column C401, the evaluation unit 100 inputs each intake amount as the amount of effective defense components ingested into the prediction model including a virtually set zero reference in which the intake amount of all defense components is zero, and calculates the acceleration rate of increase in the absolute amount of TL. Thereby, it becomes possible to evaluate the effect of the content of the defense components of the food with respect to the effect of zero content.

[0160] Next, as shown in column C402 and column C403, the acceleration rates of increase in TL of the food and the reference (recommended amount) are converted into relative amounts with respect to the zero reference. Thereby, the defense effects of the defense components contained in each are calculated with respect to a common reference (zero reference). The difference in the acceleration rate of increase in TL from the zero reference of zero nutrient components in this relative amount can be regarded as the defense effect by the respective reference and the nutrient components of the food.

[0161] Next, as shown in column C404, the evaluation unit 100 further performs a relative quantity evaluation between each defense effect and the reference food. Thereby, the evaluation with a common zero reference is converted into an evaluation between the reference food and the input food. Subsequently, an effect score is calculated as the defense effect amount. The effect score is an evaluation value of the defense effect of the input food relative to the reference. Here, it is shown in percentage notation based on the reference. For example, the fried vegetable set meal of "Example 1" in FIG. 14 and the intake amount today have defense effects of 59% and 95% respectively compared to the recommended daily intake amount. Also, in "Example 3", it can be seen that the intake amount today has a defense effect of 108% compared to the user's past intake amount.

[0162] By configuring in this way, in daily diet, it becomes possible to select foods considering not only the content of nutritional components of conventional foods but also the defense effect. Also, in restaurants and the like, functional information of the provided dishes can be provided. Thereby, a commercial appeal effect can be expected. Furthermore, customers can select appropriate dishes for themselves based on the information. In addition, in this embodiment, an example where TL is used as the DNA damage to be defended is shown, but it is possible to arbitrarily select a prediction model suitable for the evaluation purpose. Also, the above method is an example, and it is also possible to evaluate the defense effect against the set reference using other methods.

[0163] <Other Embodiments> [Modification Example Using a One-Component Prediction Model] Situations such as when measurement data of multiple components cannot be obtained are also assumed. In such a case, it is possible to create a single regression equation or a one-component prediction model of an (approximate) function, and based on the DNA damage index values of each calculated defense component, perform an evaluation equivalent to the defense effect by a plurality of defense components. At this time, for example, as the creation data used for creating the prediction model, it is possible to use data in which the correspondence between the intake amount of one type of defense component and the DNA damage index value is recorded. This is, for example, statistical analysis data for each defense component of dietary survey data, or administration experiment data of a single defense component, etc.

[0164] An example of creating a one-component prediction model using analysis data will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15(a) is an example of creating creation data based on the analysis data of vitamin C. In this example of the analysis data, according to column C251, based on the original measurement data, the intake amounts of intake amount groups classified into high intake amount, medium intake amount, low intake amount, etc. of vitamin C correspond to the DNA damage index value amounts. Further, in this example, as shown in column C252, the TL increase amount value is shown as the DNA damage index value. In creating the prediction model, the evaluation unit 100 performs the conversion process of the TL value in the same manner as in the first to fourth embodiments described above, and creates creation data in which the intake amount of the intake amount group shown in column C251 corresponds to the TL increase acceleration shown in column C253. Further, in this example, as shown in column C254, the evaluation unit 100 calculates, as the relative amount evaluation, the TL increase acceleration of the relative amount with respect to the set reference, that is, the "reduction rate" in this example.

[0165] Here, when the effects of the individually analyzed defense components are overlapped and overestimated, the evaluation unit 100 corrects them. This correction can be performed by any method. For example, a method of calculating a duplicate correction coefficient as shown in column C255, reducing and correcting the defense effect in column C254, and calculating a correction reduction rate may be used. That is, as this reduction correction, the evaluation unit 100 corrects so that the sum of the maximum values of the reduction effects (reduction rates) by the individual components matches the maximum value of the reduction rate for the entire plurality of components. When the reduction rate for the entire plurality of components is unknown, for example, it can be set to about 7 to 12% per component. Column C256 shows the correction reduction rate corrected in this way. Note that the reduction rate may be weighted for each defense component. Since this correction reduction rate or reduction rate corresponds to the defense contribution ratio of each component, these are used as a prediction model with the DNA damage index value. Thereby, it becomes possible to comprehensively evaluate the effects of a plurality of components using the correction reduction rate or reduction rate output by the prediction model for each component.

[0166] That is, the evaluation unit 100 creates a corrected one-component prediction model that outputs a correction reduction rate in response to an input of an intake amount, using the correspondence between the intake amount in column C251 and the correction reduction rate in column C256 as data for creation. In this example, the prediction model is represented by the following approximate function: Reduction rate (%) = 0.0007x 2 - 0.2961x + 21.382 …… Equation (1) Here, x is the intake amount of vitamin C (mg / day).

[0167] Note that the evaluation unit 100 can create the prediction model in a table format. For example, a table that associates the vitamin C intake amount at intervals of, for example, 1 mg with the reduction rate. The evaluation unit 100 performs the same process for defense components other than vc and creates a prediction model. Alternatively, the evaluation unit 100 may create an uncorrected one-component prediction model using the correspondence between the intake amount in column C251 and the reduction rate in column C254 as data for creation. Also in this case, it is possible to create an uncorrected model for components other than vc as well.

[0168] Figure 15(b) is an example in which evaluation is performed for each component using the created prediction model. When the evaluation unit 100 uses the corrected one-component prediction model, the intake amount of the effective defense components ingested by the user shown in column C261 is input into the prediction model for each defense component. As a result, the evaluation unit 100 outputs the corrected reduction rate for each defense component shown in column C263. Then, as shown in column C264, the evaluation unit 100 calculates the corrected total reduction rate, which is the overall defense effect relative to the reference, by summing these corrected reduction rates. Note that when using the uncorrected one-component prediction model, after summing the uncorrected reduction rates shown in column C262, the total reduction rate, which is the overall defense effect shown in column C264, may be calculated by multiplying by the duplicate correction coefficient. In either case, the same result is obtained. Note that the method for creating and evaluating the one-component prediction model shown here is an example, and it is possible to perform it by other appropriate methods.

[0169] 〔Modification example of evaluation purpose〕 Next, as a modification example of the prediction model creation of the present embodiment, an example of the case of evaluating the defense effect against DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species among DNA damages is shown. In this case, among the six types of defense components used in each of the above-described embodiments, evaluation is performed using the defense components vc, ve, bc, and xn that are mainly involved in antioxidant defense. Specifically, all processes can be performed in the same manner as in the first to fifth embodiments except for using these four components as defense components. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to show the defense effect against DNA damage caused by oxidative stress, which is generally of high interest, and to enhance the motivation of the user.

[0170] 〔Modification example of prediction model creation〕 Next, as a modification of the prediction model creation of the present embodiment, an example of creating a prediction model using other indicator quantities that can be correlated with DNA damage instead of the DNA damage indicator value directly indicating "DNA damage" will be described. Even with such other indicator quantities, it is possible to create a prediction model in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. Here, as an example of creating a prediction model that converts the value of H-TAC as an indicator of DNA defense function into a DNA damage indicator value and outputs it, H-TAC is an indicator of antioxidant defense system represented by the Trolox equivalent value of hydrophilic antioxidant power.

[0171] Figure 16(a) is an example of measurement data of the intake amount of effective defense components and H-TAC. Column C751 shows the value (H-TAC value) of this measurement data of H-TAC. Figure 16(b) is an example of the value of column C752 being the H-TAC value and column C753 being the value of the measurement data of the corresponding TL acceleration rate. The evaluation unit 100 performs a correlation analysis of the correspondence of these values in Figure 16(b). For example, if the correlation coefficient r < -0.7 and the significance level P < 0.05, it is determined that the correlation can be used for conversion, and the regression equation between H-TAC and the TL acceleration rate can be calculated. Figure 16(c) is an example of generating data for creation using the calculated regression equation. The evaluation unit 100 uses this regression equation to convert the H-TAC value in Figure 16(a) into data of the estimated value of the TL acceleration rate, and generates corresponding data for creation of the intake amount of effective defense components and the TL acceleration rate. The evaluation unit 100 creates a prediction model using this data for creation and stores it in the prediction model data 320 of the storage unit 11.

[0172] In the evaluation using such a prediction model, the evaluation unit 100 can input the intake amounts of effective defense components of the user and the reference into the prediction model, and evaluate the relative amount of DNA defense function from the output (estimated) TL acceleration rate. Note that, similarly, when using other DNA defense function indicators of the antioxidant system, drug metabolism system, and DNA repair system, it is possible to confirm the correlation with the DNA damage indicator value and evaluate the estimated defense effect against DNA damage.

[0173] [Application to Radiation Exposure] Next, an example of displaying the reduction effect of the radiation exposure dose when displaying the protection result will be described with reference to FIG. 17. TL is used by those skilled in the art as an index for quantifying the radiation exposure dose. Therefore, when TL is used as a damage marker, since the TL value can be converted into the exposure dose, the reduction in the TL value can be converted into the dose and regarded as the reduction in the exposure dose. In FIG. 17(a), for example, when exposed to 10 mSv, the profile increases by a TL value corresponding to 10 mSv. L341 in FIG. 17(a) indicates a plot depicting the profile shifted upward due to this exposure. This corresponds to the plot of L306 in FIG. 7(c) being shifted upward by the exposure dose. The subsequent course is the same as that in FIG. 7(c).

[0174] Here, when nutritional management is started, the daily pace of TL increase decreases. This means that the increase due to past exposure is reduced day by day. Taking the case without nutritional management as shown by L341 as the user's own standard, a difference from the standard occurs. The TL value at time a is L343 for the plot of the standard without nutritional management and L344 for the plot reduced by nutritional management. This difference is the reduction in the TL value (DNA damage amount) due to nutritional management. By converting this reduction in the TL value into the exposure dose, the reduction in the exposure dose can be calculated. The evaluation unit 100 obtains such a difference in the TL value from the past protection effect amount acquired from the storage unit 11 and converts the measurement result into the dose using the following conversion formula (2): y = 2.4×10 -3 ×x …… Formula (2) Here, y represents the TL value (number / 100CE), and x represents the effective dose (mSv). The measurement of TL is performed by condensing chromosomes, treating the cells, and then counting the number of TLs within them. Therefore, since it is not actually counting the cells, it is expressed as CE (Cell Equivalent) corresponding to the number of cells. 100CE indicates the number of TLs per 100 cells.

[0175] Figure 17(b) is an example of outputting and displaying the reduction amount of the exposure dose calculated by Equation (2) in tabular form. In the example of Figure 17(b), the display data includes numerical values including the reduction amount today shown in R347 and the total reduction amount so far shown in R348. Note that it is also possible to perform a graph display as in Figure 17(a). By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to evaluate the reduction of DNA damage increased by exposure, and an evaluation system useful for reducing exposure risk can be provided.

[0176] In addition, the reduction effect on exposure to mutagens that increase other DNA damage index values can also be evaluated and displayed in the same manner. Regarding DNA damage index values other than TL, when a significant correlation can be confirmed between the index value and the TL value, an approximate outcome profile can also be created using the amount of protective effect obtained from those indices, similar to the above-described one-component prediction model. For example, plots and profiles can be created in a similar manner using MN, DC, COMET, etc.

[0177] 〔Other protective components〕 In each of the above-described embodiments, an example of using vc, ve, bc, xn, fol, and ncn as protective components has been described. In addition to this, as protective components, retinol, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, etc. may be included. Furthermore, it is possible to use other nutritional components that can be protective components.

[0178] Needless to say, the configurations and operations of the above embodiments are examples, and can be appropriately changed and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0179] 1 Evaluation device 1b, 1c, 1d Evaluation servers 2, 2c, 2d Terminals 3 Network 10, 20 Control units 11, 21 Memory units 12, 22 Input units 13, 23 Output units 14, 24 Communication units 100 Evaluation unit 110, 220 Intake information acquisition units 120 Intake amount calculation unit 130 Evaluation transmission unit 140 Server reception unit 200 Terminal transmission unit 210 Terminal reception unit 300, 300b, 300c, 300d Control programs 310 Intake information 320 Prediction model data 330 Evaluation information 340 Input data 410 Intake information DB 420 Food ingredient DB 430 Evaluation information DB Y, Z, W Evaluation system

Claims

1. An evaluation device for evaluating the protective effect against DNA damage by the intake of nutritional components, comprising: a storage unit that stores a prediction model showing a quantitative relationship between the intake amount of a protective component, which is a nutritional component that prevents the DNA damage, and a DNA damage index value, which is a value of an index for evaluating the protective effect obtained based on the DNA damage; an evaluation unit that evaluates the protective effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount of the protective component ingested by a user according to the prediction model stored in the storage unit. The evaluation device is characterized by the above.

2. The prediction model is created based on a dataset in which, in any human population, the intake amount of the protective component ingested during a period prior to a reference time point of an individual constituting the human population corresponds to the DNA damage index value based on the damage marker value of the individual at the reference time point. The evaluation device according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The intake amount of the protective component ingested during the period prior to the reference time point is the intake amount of the protective component ingested during a period specified as the effective period, or the intake amount of the protective component having a correlation with the average value of the intake amount of the protective component ingested during the effective period of the intake amount of the protective component ingested during the period specified as the effective period. The evaluation device according to Claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The effective period is a period set such that the duration of the action of the protective component ingested to protect against the DNA damage includes the reference time point. The evaluation device according to Claim 3, characterized by the above.

5. The evaluation unit inputs the intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user during an arbitrary period prior to the evaluation time point into the prediction model with the evaluation time point as the reference time point, and calculates the DNA damage index value when the evaluation time point is the reference time point. The evaluation device according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized by the above.

6. The intake amount of the protective component ingested by the user during an arbitrary period prior to the evaluation time point is the intake amount of the protective component ingested during the effective period prior to the evaluation time point. The evaluation device according to Claim 5, characterized by the above.

7. The DNA damage index value is a value of an index that is obtained based on the damage marker value and represents the acceleration rate of increase in the amount of DNA damage or has a correlation with the acceleration rate of increase in the amount of DNA damage. The evaluation device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized by the above.

8. The defensive component includes any one or any combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, folic acid, and niacin. The evaluation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that.

9. The evaluation unit is A figure in which the change over time of the DNA damage index value of the user and the change over time of the reference DNA damage index value, which is the DNA damage index value of the reference set as a comparison criterion, are displayed in the same graph, and the fluctuation of the user's DNA damage index value with respect to the reference DNA damage index value is converted into an age-equivalent value. It creates evaluation information including any of the above values. The evaluation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that.

10. It further includes an output unit that displays or prints the evaluation information as characters or a figure. The evaluation device according to claim 9, characterized in that.

11. The reference DNA damage index value is the user's past DNA damage index value, the DNA damage index value of an average general person of the same sex and age as the user, or the DNA damage index value when the maximum defensive effect is obtained. The evaluation device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that.

12. An evaluation system including a user's terminal and one or more evaluation servers, which evaluates the defensive effect on DNA damage by ingesting nutritional components. An intake information acquisition unit that acquires intake information of the nutritional components ingested by the user from input data regarding the foods and nutritional components ingested by the user. An intake amount calculation unit that calculates the intake amount of a defensive component, which is a nutritional component having an effect of preventing the DNA damage, based on the intake information acquired by the intake information acquisition unit. A storage unit that stores a prediction model showing a quantitative relationship between the intake of the defensive component and the value of a DNA damage index, which is an index value for evaluating the defensive effect obtained based on DNA damage. An evaluation unit that evaluates the defensive effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount calculated by the intake amount calculation unit using the prediction model stored in the storage unit. An evaluation system characterized by that.

13. An evaluation program executed by an evaluation device that evaluates the defensive effect on DNA damage by ingesting nutritional components. Store a prediction model showing the quantitative relationship between the intake amount of a defensive component, which is a nutrient component that prevents the DNA damage, and the DNA damage index value, which is the value of an index for evaluating the defensive effect obtained based on the DNA damage. Evaluate the defensive effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount of the defensive component ingested by the user according to the stored prediction model. An evaluation program characterized by the above.

14. An evaluation method executed by an evaluation device for evaluating the defensive effect on DNA damage by the intake of nutrient components, comprising: Store a prediction model showing the quantitative relationship between the intake amount of a defensive component, which is a nutrient component that prevents the DNA damage, and the DNA damage index value, which is the value of an index for evaluating the defensive effect obtained based on the DNA damage. Evaluate the defensive effect by calculating the DNA damage index value from the intake amount of the defensive component ingested by the user according to the stored prediction model. An evaluation method characterized by the above.

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