Blood sugar level suppressant

Abstract

To provide an agent for inhibiting an increase in blood glucose level that can inhibit postprandial hyperglycemia.SOLUTION: An agent for inhibiting an increase in blood glucose level contains, as an active ingredient, powdery brown algae that contains a polyvalent metal of 2 mass% or more and sodium of 1.5 mass% or less.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent for suppressing blood glucose level elevation. [Background technology]

[0002] Even when blood sugar levels rise after eating, insulin prevents excessive increases and keeps them within a certain range. However, when diabetes develops, the secretion and function of insulin are suppressed, making it difficult for blood sugar levels to return to normal, increasing the risk of complications such as arteriosclerosis due to hyperglycemia. It has also been pointed out that even if a person has not been diagnosed with diabetes, if their blood sugar levels rise sharply after meals or remain elevated for a long time, they may develop similar diseases. Such diabetes and hyperglycemia are often caused by poor diet and lack of exercise, and lifestyle changes are expected to prevent and improve these conditions. Recently, with the aim of improving dietary habits, product development has been progressing, focusing on functional ingredients derived from safe and easy-to-consume foods. Various companies are selling functional foods containing ingredients that are particularly involved in suppressing blood sugar levels.

[0003] The technology for suppressing blood glucose level rise using food-derived components is based on rice grains or rice flour with an amylose content of 30% by mass or more, a resistant starch content of 0.4% by mass or more, and a specific gravity of 0.50 g / cm. 3 More than 1.00g / cm 3The following rice snack compositions have been disclosed: a rice snack composition for suppressing an increase in blood insulin concentration, which is further used to suppress an increase in blood glucose level (Patent Document 1), a composition for suppressing an increase in postprandial blood glucose level containing cocoa polyphenols and lipids as active ingredients (Patent Document 2), and a composition for suppressing an increase in postprandial blood glucose level containing tea flower extract, mulberry leaf extract, and chitosan as active ingredients (Patent Document 3). Furthermore, among foods, technologies utilizing components derived from seaweed have been disclosed, such as an agent for suppressing an increase in blood glucose level containing rhamnan sulfate as an active ingredient, extracted from the green algae of the genus Streptomyces of the family Streptomyces (Patent Document 4), and a therapeutic agent for diabetes containing a hydrolysate of polysaccharides derived from Eisenia bicolor having a weight-average molecular weight of 10,000 Da to 460,000 Da (Patent Document 5).

[0004] However, even with these technologies, the effect of suppressing an increase in blood glucose level is not necessarily sufficient, and there is a demand for more practical technologies for suppressing an increase in blood glucose level that are more widely and easily used by the general public. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-165696 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-180399 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-105094 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-184390 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-131486 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for suppressing an increase in blood glucose level that suppresses an increase in blood glucose level after a meal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of extensive research into the above-mentioned problems, the inventors discovered that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by using powdered brown algae, which is a type of seaweed, in which the sodium contained in brown algae is replaced with a polyvalent metal, and the polyvalent metal content and sodium content in the powdered brown algae are set to predetermined amounts. Based on this finding, the present invention was completed.

[0008] That is, the present invention comprises a blood sugar level rise inhibitor characterized by having as an active ingredient powdered brown algae in which the polyvalent metal content is 2% by mass or more and the sodium content is 1.5% by mass or less. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The blood glucose level increase inhibitor of the present invention is superior in the effect of inhibiting postprandial blood glucose level increase compared to ordinary powdered brown algae in which the sodium contained in the brown algae is not substituted with a polyvalent metal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the time (minutes) elapsed after ingestion and the increase in blood glucose level (Δ value) (mg / dl) in blood glucose level in Test 1 for suppressing an increase in blood glucose level. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the time (minutes) elapsed after ingestion and the increase in blood glucose level (Δ value) (mg / dl) in blood glucose level increase suppression test 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The brown algae used as a raw material for the blood glucose level rise inhibitor of the present invention are not particularly limited, but examples thereof include wakame, kelp, mozuku, and akame seaweed, with wakame being preferred. Examples of wakame include wakame, hirome, and aowakame. The parts of brown algae used as a raw material for the blood glucose level rise inhibitor of the present invention are not particularly limited, but for example, in the case of wakame, examples include leaves, stems, and buds, with leaves being preferred. The origin of the brown algae used as a raw material for the blood glucose level rise inhibitor of the present invention is not particularly limited, but examples include products from Japan, Korea, and China.

[0012] The brown algae used as a raw material for the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention include raw brown algae (raw algae), boiled raw brown algae, and processed products such as refrigeration, freezing, salting, drying, and cutting. Of these, raw algae and cut products are preferred. Examples of processed products include salted wakame, boiled salted wakame, dried wakame, and cut wakame.

[0013] Boiled wakame can be obtained, for example, by boiling raw seaweed in heated seawater or the like, and boiled salted wakame can be obtained by adding salt to the raw seaweed and dehydrating it. Dried wakame can be obtained, for example, by washing boiled salted wakame with water, subjecting it to a desalting treatment, and then subjecting it to a drying treatment known per se.

[0014] The size of the brown algae used as a raw material for the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of increasing the contact area with the polyvalent metal ions described below, it is preferably 50 mm or less in both length and width, and more preferably 20 mm or less in both length and width. The shape of the brown algae used as a raw material for the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be polygonal, irregular, powdery, etc. In the present invention, only one type of brown algae can be used, or any combination of two or more types can be used.

[0015] The powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention, contains a polyvalent metal in an amount of 2% by mass or more, preferably 4% by mass or more, more preferably 5% by mass or more, and even more preferably 6% by mass or more. Examples of polyvalent metals include metals that generate divalent to trivalent metal ions, specifically metals of Group 2 elements such as calcium and magnesium, with calcium being preferred.

[0016] The powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood sugar level rise inhibitor of the present invention, contains sodium in an amount of 1.5% by mass or less, preferably 1% by mass or less, more preferably 0.5% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.3% by mass or less.

[0017] The mass ratio of polyvalent metal to sodium (polyvalent metal / sodium) contained in the powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention, is preferably 7 or more, more preferably 12 or more, and even more preferably 25 or more. The mass ratio of calcium to sodium (calcium / sodium) contained in the powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention, is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 or more, and even more preferably 20 or more.

[0018] The polyvalent metal content and sodium content contained in powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention, can be measured, for example, by adding nitric acid to the powdered brown algae, wet-decomposing the algae using a microwave sample pretreatment device (model: ETHOS TC; manufactured by Milestone General), and then using an ICP optical emission analyzer (model: VISTA-MPX; manufactured by VARIAN). When measuring these contents in powdered brown algae, if other ingredients such as food materials are separately mixed with or attached to the powdered brown algae, these ingredients can be removed by washing or the like before measurement.

[0019] The moisture content of the powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10% by mass or less, more preferably 5% by mass or less. The moisture content can be measured, for example, by a normal pressure heat drying method (drying at 105°C for 3 to 5 hours).

[0020] The powdered brown algae, which is the active ingredient of the blood glucose level rise inhibitor of the present invention, is not particularly limited in particle size as long as it is in powder form, but for example, a size that can pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.5 mm is preferred, a size that can pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.3 mm is more preferred, and a size that can pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.2 mm is even more preferred.

[0021] Powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood sugar level rise inhibitor of the present invention, can be produced by at least the steps of contacting brown algae with polyvalent metal ions, washing the brown algae that have been contacted with the polyvalent metal ions, and drying the washed brown algae.

[0022] Examples of polyvalent metal ions used in the step of contacting brown algae with polyvalent metal ions include divalent to trivalent metal ions, with ions of Group 2 elements being preferred, calcium ions and magnesium ions being more preferred, and calcium ions being even more preferred. The polyvalent metal ion source that generates the polyvalent metal ions is not particularly limited as long as it can be used in foods from a safety and hygiene perspective and is soluble in a solvent such as water, and examples include polyvalent metal salts such as calcium salts and magnesium salts. Examples of calcium salts include calcium acetate, calcium lactate, calcium nitrate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium gluconate, calcium chloride, and hydrates thereof. Examples of magnesium salts include magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, and hydrates thereof. Among these polyvalent metal ion sources, calcium chloride, calcium chloride hydrate, calcium acetate, calcium acetate hydrate, magnesium chloride, and magnesium chloride hydrate are preferred, with calcium chloride, calcium chloride hydrate, calcium acetate, and calcium acetate hydrate being more preferred. In the present invention, the polyvalent metal ions and polyvalent metal ion sources may be used alone or in any combination of two or more.

[0023] The step of contacting brown algae with polyvalent metal ions, which is one of the steps in the method for producing powdered brown algae that is an active ingredient in the blood glucose level rise suppressant of the present invention, is not particularly limited as long as it is a method that can replace sodium in the brown algae with calcium, but examples include a method in which brown algae are placed in a solution in which a polyvalent metal ion source is dissolved in a solvent such as water and then immersed, a method in which a polyvalent metal ion source is added to a mixture of brown algae and a solvent such as water and then immersed, a method in which a solution in which a polyvalent metal ion source is dissolved in a solvent such as water is passed through a container filled with brown algae and then immersed, and a method in which a polyvalent metal ion source is directly added to brown algae with a high water content, such as raw algae. When performing the above-mentioned methods, operations such as shaking, stirring, and mixing may be performed. In the present invention, it is preferable to contact the brown algae with polyvalent metal ions multiple times by contacting the brown algae with polyvalent metal ions, removing the solution containing the polyvalent metal ions by filtration, dehydration, etc., and then contacting the brown algae with polyvalent metal ions again.

[0024] When polyvalent metal ions are contacted with brown algae via a solvent such as water, the polyvalent metal ion concentration in the solution of the polyvalent metal ion source and water or other solvent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.05% by mass or more, more preferably 0.1% by mass or more, and even more preferably 0.3% by mass or more. The mass ratio of polyvalent metal ions to brown algae (polyvalent metal ions / brown algae) when contacting brown algae with polyvalent metal ions is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.005 or more, more preferably 0.01 or more, and even more preferably 0.05 or more. The polyvalent metal ion concentration in the solution of the polyvalent metal ion source and water or other solvent can be calculated using the following formula, where A is the mass of the solvent, B is the mass of the polyvalent metal ion source, M is the mass per mole of the polyvalent metal ion source, and m is the mass of the polyvalent metal in 1 mole of the polyvalent metal ion source.

[0025] Polyvalent metal ion concentration (mass%) = B × (m / M) × 100 / (A + B)

[0026] The time for contacting brown algae with polyvalent metal ions is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 minutes or more, more preferably 30 minutes or more, and even more preferably 60 minutes or more. The temperature for contacting brown algae with polyvalent metal ions is not particularly limited, but is preferably room temperature (25±5°C) or higher, more preferably 50°C or higher, and even more preferably 70°C or higher.

[0027] The process for washing brown algae that have been contact-treated with polyvalent metal ions, which is one of the steps in the method for producing powdered brown algae that is an active ingredient in the blood glucose level rise inhibitor of the present invention, is not particularly limited as long as the washing solution can thoroughly wash away excess polyvalent metal ions and salt adhering to the brown algae (hereinafter also referred to as "treated brown algae"), which have been removed by filtration, dehydration, or the like from the polyvalent metal ion-containing solution used in the process of contacting the brown algae with the polyvalent metal ions, as well as sodium salts generated in the process of contacting the brown algae with the polyvalent metal ions. Examples of such methods include placing the treated brown algae in a washing solution and immersing them, or passing the washing solution through a container filled with the treated brown algae and immersing them. During immersion, operations such as shaking, stirring, and mixing may be performed. In the present invention, after washing the treated brown algae, the washing solution is removed by filtration, dehydration, or the like, and then a further washing step is performed, thereby washing the treated brown algae multiple times. As a measure of sufficient washing, the sodium concentration in the final washing liquid removed by filtration, dehydration, etc. may be measured. In this case, the sodium concentration is preferably less than 0.005% by mass. The washing liquid is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include water and alcohols such as ethanol, with water being preferred.

[0028] The mass ratio of the washing solution to the treated brown algae (washing solution / treated brown algae) when washing the brown algae that have been contact-treated with polyvalent metal ions is not particularly limited, but is preferably 4 or more, and more preferably 10 or more. The time for washing the brown algae that have been contact-treated with polyvalent metal ions is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 minute or more, more preferably 5 minutes or more, and even more preferably 10 minutes or more.

[0029] The step of drying washed brown algae, which is one of the steps in the method for producing powdered brown algae that is an active ingredient in the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention, is not particularly limited as long as it can dry the treated brown algae that have been subjected to the washing step, but examples include air drying, hot air drying, freeze drying, and vacuum drying, and these methods may be used alone or in combination of any two or more. The conditions for the drying step are, for example, preferably 80 to 100°C for 1 to 5 hours for hot air drying, and 60 to 80°C for 3 to 20 hours for vacuum drying.

[0030] The method for producing powdered brown algae, which is an active ingredient of the blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention, may also include a pulverization step. The pulverization step is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include pin mill pulverization, airflow pulverization, shear friction pulverization, impact pulverization, roll pulverization, freeze pulverization, ultrasonic pulverization, and ultracentrifugal pulverization, and any one of these may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0031] The blood glucose level elevation suppressant of the present invention may be prepared by using only the powdered brown algae as the active ingredient, or may be prepared as a formulation by mixing other optional ingredients in addition to the powdered brown algae as the active ingredient, as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. When prepared as a formulation, there are no particular restrictions on the content of the powdered brown algae as the active ingredient in the formulation, but it is preferably 1% by mass or more, more preferably 10% by mass or more.

[0032] Examples of the other optional components include dextrins such as branched dextrin, cyclic dextrin, and indigestible dextrin; stabilizers such as agar, gelatin, pectin, carrageenan, mannan, soybean polysaccharides, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, and gum arabic; sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, maltitol, erythritol, and xylitol; sweeteners such as aspartame and acesulfame potassium; emulsifiers such as glycerin fatty acid esters and sucrose fatty acid esters; and excipients such as sodium caseinate, phosphates, and cellulose.

[0033] The method of use of the blood glucose level increase inhibitor of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be orally ingested by humans, and the blood glucose level increase inhibitor of the present invention can be ingested directly or by adding it to food and beverages. The blood glucose level increase inhibitor of the present invention is preferably ingested up to 60 minutes before a meal, more preferably up to 30 minutes before a meal, and even more preferably at the same time as a meal. The amount of the blood glucose level increase inhibitor of the present invention to be used is preferably 0.1 g or more, more preferably 0.5 g or more, and even more preferably 1 g or more of powdered brown algae as the active ingredient per meal. There is no particular upper limit on the intake amount, but it is preferable to ingest 10 g or less of powdered brown algae as the active ingredient per meal.

[0034] There are no particular restrictions on the amount of the blood sugar level increase inhibitor of the present invention added to food and drink, but the powdered brown algae is preferably contained in the food and drink in an amount of 0.1 to 100 mass %, more preferably 1 to 100 mass %.

[0035] The foods and beverages to which the blood glucose level elevation inhibitor of the present invention can be added are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include general foods such as bread, confectionery, noodles, cooked rice, tofu, fish paste products, beverages, dairy products, soups, seasonings, premixes, and nursing care foods, as well as health foods. Examples of bread include white bread, sweet rolls, Danish pastries, pastries, croissants, brioches, and French bread. Examples of sweets include gum, candy, gummies, chocolate, cookies, biscuits, cakes, pancakes, castella cakes, Baumkuchen, donuts, stick bars, snacks, rice crackers, frozen desserts, and ice cream. Examples of noodles include Chinese noodles, udon, soba, somen, pasta, and gyoza wrappers, including fresh noodles as well as cooked noodles such as boiled noodles, steamed noodles, instant noodles, refrigerated noodles, and frozen noodles. Examples of cooked rice include seasoned rice, pilaf, dry curry, and risotto. Examples of fish paste products include kamaboko, chikuwa, hanpen, tsumire, satsumaage, etc. Examples of beverages include tea, coffee, instant coffee, fruit juice drinks, vegetable drinks, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, powdered sports drinks, milk drinks, lactic acid bacteria drinks, nutritional drinks, green juice, powdered green juice, etc., and they may be in any form such as solid, powder, paste, liquid, etc.

[0036] Examples of dairy products include yogurt, cream, cheese, butter, powdered milk, and condensed milk. Examples of soups include corn soup, consommé soup, Chinese soup, ramen soup, onion soup, minestrone, clam chowder, potage, seaweed soup, and miso soup, and may be in any form, such as solid, powder, paste, jelly, gelee, or liquid. Examples of seasonings include soy sauce, miso, sauce, dipping sauce, fish sauce, extract, dressing, and seasoning, and may be in any form, such as solid, powder, paste, jelly, gelee, or liquid. A premix refers to a food product in which some of the ingredients are premixed, and examples thereof include a bread premix, a cake premix, a pancake premix, an ice cream premix, and a noodle premix. Examples of health foods include nutritionally functional foods, nutritional supplements, health supplements, functional foods, functional food claims, foods for specified health uses, supplements, and liquid foods, and may be in any form such as tablets, capsules, solids, powders, pastes, jellies, gelees, liquids, etc.

[0037] The present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. [Example]

[0038] [Production of blood glucose level inhibitor] (1) Method for producing an agent for suppressing blood glucose level elevation 1) Example 1 A 2-liter stainless steel beaker was charged with 900 g of water and 14.4 g of calcium acetate monohydrate (trade name: Calcfresh; manufactured by Daito Chemical Co., Ltd.), and the mixture was stirred at 65°C for 3 minutes to obtain a polyvalent metal ion solution (calcium ion concentration: 0.35% by mass). 60 g of dried Korean wakame seaweed was added to this solution, which was then stirred at 65-70°C for 20 minutes. The solution was then filtered to remove the solution, yielding 216 g of primary-treated brown algae. Next, the entire amount of primary-treated brown algae was added to a polyvalent metal ion solution (calcium ion concentration: 0.09% by mass) prepared by dissolving 3.6 g of calcium acetate monohydrate (trade name: Calcfresh; manufactured by Daito Chemical Co., Ltd.) in 900 g of water in a 2-liter stainless steel beaker. The solution was stirred at 65-70°C for 20 minutes, and the solution was then filtered to obtain 189 g of secondary-treated brown algae. Next, the entire amount of the secondary-treated brown algae and 900 g of water as a washing solution were placed in a 2-L stainless steel beaker, washed by stirring at room temperature for 3 minutes, and then filtered to remove the washing solution. The same washing procedure was repeated once. The sodium concentration in the removed washing solution was measured and found to be less than 0.005% by mass, confirming that the algae had been sufficiently washed. The treated brown algae from which the washing solution had been removed were dried at 90°C for 2 hours in a hot air dryer (test drying oven; manufactured by Hosoyama Netsuki Co., Ltd.) and then crushed in an ultracentrifugal crusher (model: ZM200; manufactured by Retsch) at 14,000 rpm with a screen opening of 0.2 mm to obtain 44.6 g of powdered brown algae A. The moisture content of powdered brown algae A was 4.2% by mass. Powdered brown algae A was used as blood glucose level elevation suppressant A as is.

[0039] 2) Comparative Example 1 20 g of dried wakame seaweed from Korea was pulverized in an ultracentrifugal pulverizer (model: ZM200; manufactured by RETSCH) at 14,000 rpm with a screen opening of 0.2 mm to obtain 19.4 g of powdered brown algae B. The water content of the powdered brown algae B was 4.8% by mass. The powdered brown algae B was used as blood glucose level elevation suppressant B as it was.

[0040] [Measurement of polyvalent metals and sodium in powdered brown algae] (1) Measurement of polyvalent metal content and sodium content Nitric acid was added to each of the powdered brown algae A and B, and the samples were wet-digested using a microwave sample pretreatment device (model: ETHOS TC; manufactured by Milestone General Co., Ltd.). The polyvalent metal content (calcium content, magnesium content) and sodium content were then measured using an ICP optical emission spectrometer (model: VISTA-MPX; manufactured by VARIAN Co., Ltd.). The results are shown in Table 1.

[0041] [Table 1]

[0042] [Blood glucose rise suppression test 1] (1) Test method 1) Test 1 (glucose-lowering agent A intake group) After fasting for 12 hours, subjects ingested 40 ml of water, then ingested one packet of instant miso soup (product name: Itsumo no Omiso Soup Akadashi with Mitsuba; manufactured by Amano Foods) mixed with 160 ml of hot water and 2 g of blood glucose suppressant A, and 65 g of white rice (product name: Sato no Gohan Domestic Koshihikari 200 g; manufactured by Sato Foods) over a period of approximately 7 minutes, chewing approximately 40 times. Blood was drawn immediately after ingestion (0 minutes), and 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes later, and blood glucose levels were measured.

[0043] 2) Test 2 (glucose-lowering agent B intake group) Blood glucose levels were measured in the same manner as in Test 1, except that blood glucose level increase inhibitor A was changed to blood glucose level increase inhibitor B.

[0044] 3) Test 3 (control group) Blood glucose levels were measured in the same manner as in Test 1, except that 2 g of the blood glucose level increase inhibitor A was not taken.

[0045] 4) Test 4 (reference example) Blood glucose levels were measured in the same manner as in Test 1, except that blood glucose level rise inhibitor A was changed to domestically produced dried wakame seaweed.

[0046] For Tests 1 to 4, the blood glucose increase (Δ value) (mg / dL) was calculated, which is the difference between the blood glucose levels 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, and 75 minutes after ingestion and the blood glucose level immediately after ingestion (0 minutes after ingestion). The results are shown in Table 2. The results are also graphed and shown in Figure 1.

[0047] [Table 2]

[0048] As shown in Table 2 and Figure 1, it was found that 30 minutes after ingestion, when the blood glucose level increase inhibitor A of the example was ingested, the rise in blood glucose level was more significantly suppressed than when the control group and the comparative example blood glucose level increase inhibitor B were ingested. It was also found that the peak rise in blood glucose level when blood glucose level increase inhibitor A was ingested was lower than the peak rise in blood glucose level when the control group and blood glucose level increase inhibitor B were ingested.

[0049] [Blood glucose rise suppression test 2] (1) Test method 1) Test 1 (glucose-lowering agent A intake group) After fasting for 12 hours, subjects ingested 40 ml of water, then ingested 116 g of white rice (product name: Sato's Rice, Domestic Koshihikari 200 g; Sato Foods Co., Ltd.) mixed with one packet of curry (product name: Small Curry, Mild Domestic Apple and Vegetable Curry; Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.) and 1.5 g of blood glucose level rise inhibitor A over a period of approximately 10 minutes while drinking 100 ml of water and chewing approximately 40 times. Blood samples were taken immediately after ingestion (0 minutes), 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes after ingestion, and blood glucose levels were measured.

[0050] 2) Test 2 (glucose-lowering agent B intake group) Blood glucose levels were measured in the same manner as in Test 1, except that blood glucose level increase inhibitor A was changed to blood glucose level increase inhibitor B.

[0051] 3) Test 3 (control group) Blood glucose levels were measured in the same manner as in Test 1, except that 1.5 g of blood glucose level increase inhibitor A was not taken.

[0052] For Tests 1 to 3, the blood glucose increase (Δ value) (mg / dL) was calculated, which is the difference between the blood glucose levels 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes after ingestion and the blood glucose level immediately after ingestion (0 minutes). The results are shown in Table 3. The results are also graphed in Figure 2.

[0053] [Table 3]

[0054] As shown in Table 3 and Figure 2, when the blood glucose level increase inhibitor A of the example was taken, the rise in blood glucose level was more significantly suppressed between 30 minutes and 90 minutes after ingestion than when the control group and the comparative example blood glucose level increase inhibitor B were taken. Furthermore, it was found that the peak rise in blood glucose level when blood glucose level increase inhibitor A was taken was lower than the peak rise in blood glucose level when the control group and blood glucose level increase inhibitor B were taken.

[0055] [Blood glucose rise suppression test 3] (1) Test method 1) Test 1 (glucose-lowering agent A intake group) After fasting for 12 hours, subjects ingested 40 ml of water, and then immediately before a meal, they ingested 100 ml of water mixed with 1 g of blood glucose suppressant A. Next, they ingested 65 g of white rice (product name: Sato no Gohan Domestic Koshihikari 200 g; Sato Foods Co., Ltd.) over a period of about 5 minutes, chewing about 40 times. Blood was drawn immediately after ingestion (0 minutes) and 30 minutes after ingestion, and blood glucose levels were measured.

[0056] 2) Test 2 (glucose-lowering agent A intake group) Blood glucose levels were measured in the same manner as in Test 1, except that blood glucose level increase inhibitor A1g was changed to blood glucose level increase inhibitor A2g.

[0057] 3) Test 3 (control group) Blood glucose levels were measured in the same manner as in Test 1, except that 1 g of the blood glucose level increase inhibitor A was not taken.

[0058] For each of Tests 1 to 3, the blood glucose increase (Δ value) (mg / dl) was calculated, which is the difference between the blood glucose level 30 minutes after ingestion and the blood glucose level immediately after ingestion (0 minutes after ingestion). The results are shown in Table 4.

[0059] [Table 4]

[0060] As shown in Table 4, it was found that the more the blood glucose level increase inhibitor A of the example was taken, the greater the effect of inhibiting an increase in blood glucose level.

Claims

1. A blood sugar level rise inhibitor characterized by having as its active ingredient powdered brown algae in which the sodium in the brown algae has been replaced with calcium, and in which the calcium content is 2% by mass or more and the sodium content is 1.5% by mass or less.

2. A method for producing an agent for suppressing blood sugar level elevation, characterized in that the active ingredient is powdered brown algae obtained by carrying out the steps of contacting brown algae with calcium ions, washing the brown algae that have been contacted with calcium ions, and drying the washed brown algae, wherein the powdered brown algae contains 2% by mass or more of calcium and 1.5% by mass or less of sodium.

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