Endurance-improving agent

Abstract

The present invention provides: an endurance-improving composition that contains, as an active ingredient, triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids; and an endurance-improving food composition, food additive, or the like that contains said composition.

Description

Endurance enhancer

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition for improving endurance, a method for improving endurance using the same, and the like.

[0002] Highly unsaturated fatty acids contained in fish oil, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are known to have various physiological effects. For example, EPA is known to have an improving effect on dyslipidemia (hyperlipidemia) such as hypertriglyceridemia. Therefore, these highly unsaturated fatty acids are widely used as pharmaceuticals, health foods, food ingredients, etc. When used as pharmaceuticals, ethyl esters of highly unsaturated fatty acids are used, and when used in health foods, etc., they are often used as triglycerides, such as refined fish oil.

[0003] Since medium-chain fatty acids are easily absorbed, there have been reports of attempts to increase the absorption of polyunsaturated fatty acids by preparing triglycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a composition suitable for parenteral administration that can be used to treat or prevent arteriosclerosis and hyperlipidemia, containing a triglyceride containing, as constituent fatty acids, 1-20% fatty acids having 20-22 carbon atoms, 30-50% fatty acids having 14-18 carbon atoms, and 40-60% fatty acids having 6-12 carbon atoms. Patent Document 2 describes a triglyceride obtained by transesterification of fish oil with a medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride, which is rapidly absorbed and is therefore suitable as a nutritional substitute for patients with reduced resistance to infection. Patent Document 3 describes an oil and fat composition having the function of regulating blood lipids, which is a triglyceride containing 5-55% n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and 2-40% medium-chain fatty acids. Patent Documents 4 to 6 describe that, based on the finding that fatty acids bound to the 1- and 3-positions of triglycerides are resistant to lipase degradation and poorly absorbed, triglycerides in which a highly unsaturated fatty acid is bound to the 2-position and medium-chain fatty acids are bound to the 1- and 3-positions are suitable as infusions or enteral nutrients for patients with reduced absorption. Patent Document 7 describes that when a triglyceride containing EPA-derived fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids (EPA / MCT structure lipid) is ingested, EPA absorption is faster and a high blood EPA concentration can be maintained compared to a mixture of refined fish oil and a triglyceride containing medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids. However, Patent Document 7 only shows that a single intake of EPA / MCT structure lipid transiently increases EPA transfer into the blood, and does not describe what effect would be obtained by continuous administration. Patent Document 8 discloses that oral ingestion of highly unsaturated fatty acids increases lymphatic flow, and that ingestion of triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids in one molecule as constituent fatty acids increases lymphatic flow more significantly.

[0005] Several research results have been reported regarding the effects of taking fish oil or n-3 (or omega-3) long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as EPA and DHA on athletic performance. Some reports have concluded that taking n-3 PUFAs has a beneficial effect on athletic performance, while others have reported that athletic performance did not improve.

[0006] In Non-Patent Document 1, healthy male cyclists were given 3.2 g / day of n-3 PUFA (EPA 0.8 g and DHA 2.4 g) for 8 weeks and then performed at least 60 minutes of exercise on a bicycle ergometer. As a result, heart rate, RPP (Rate Pressure Product), and whole-body O2 decreased. ２ Although consumption decreased, no significant difference was observed in the exercise time to fatigue compared to placebo. Non-Patent Document 2 reports that when male cyclists ingested 6 g / day of fish oil with or without vitamin E for three weeks and then performed approximately one hour of bicycle ergometer exercise, no significant difference was observed in exercise performance compared to placebo. Non-Patent Document 3 reports that in a human study using a bicycle ergometer, 14 days of fish oil (containing 1.1 g / day of EPA and 0.7 g / day of DHA) in healthy, sedentary male subjects did not affect maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) or energy metabolism.

[0007] Non-Patent Document 4 describes how elite cyclists ingested 2.6 g / day of n-3 PUFAs for three weeks and then underwent a bicycle exercise test, resulting in a significant increase in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) compared to placebo. Non-Patent Document 5 describes how overweight women significantly improved their maximal oxygen uptake compared to the control group after eight weeks of n-3 PUFA intake and lifestyle modifications. Non-Patent Document 6 describes how eight weeks of 3.6 g / day of fish oil (29.6% EPA and 12.9% DHA relative to total fatty acids) without strenuous exercise and exercise on a bicycle ergometer resulted in reduced oxygen uptake compared to placebo and a decrease in the Borg scale, an index of perceived exertion. However, Non-Patent Documents 4-6 do not disclose specific results demonstrating improved exercise performance with the intake of fish oil or n-3 PUFAs, nor do they describe any results demonstrating improved endurance, such as an increase in exercise duration.

[0008] Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-154618, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2722229, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-226693, U.S. Patent No. 4607052, WO88 / 09325, WO90 / 04010, WO2015 / 050071, WO2019 / 156210

[0009] Peoples GE, et al., Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 52(6), p. 540-547 (2008)Oostenbrug GS, et al., Journal of Applied Physiology, 83(3), p. 746-752 (1997)Bortolotti M, et al., Clinical Nutrition, 26(2), p. 225-230 (2007)Zebrowska A, et al., European Journal of Sport Science, 15(4), p. 305-314 (2015)Haghravan S, et al., Archives of Iranian Medicine, 19(5), p. 342-347 (2016)Kawabata F, et al., Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 78(12), p. 2081-2088 (2014)

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a means for improving endurance.

[0011] While developing new uses for triglycerides (structured lipids) containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids in one molecule, the inventors unexpectedly found that ingestion of structured lipids significantly extended the exercise duration until fatigue during maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) measurements compared to before ingestion. Furthermore, the change in exercise duration before and after ingestion of the test substance was found to be significantly greater in the group ingesting structured lipids than in the group ingesting a mixture of triglycerides with similar fatty acid composition that did not contain highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids in one molecule (physical oil mixture). Furthermore, the anaerobic threshold (AT), the transition point from aerobic to anaerobic exercise, was also found to be significantly higher with ingestion of structured lipids compared to before ingestion or after ingestion of physical oil mixtures. Furthermore, in the group ingesting structured lipids, subjects with low seafood intake tended to have a greater change in exercise duration before and after ingestion of the test substance compared to subjects with high seafood intake. Based on this finding, the present inventors have conducted further research and have completed the present invention.

[0012] That is, the present invention is as follows. [1] A composition for improving endurance, comprising as an active ingredient a triglyceride containing, as constituent fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids. [2] The composition according to [1], wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acids account for 10 to 70 wt % and the medium-chain fatty acids account for 20 to 70 wt % of the fatty acid composition of the composition. [3] The composition according to [1] or [2], characterized in that the composition is administered to a subject to ingest 19 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 30 mg / kg body weight / day or less of polyunsaturated fatty acids for 8 weeks or more. [4] The composition according to any of [1] to [3], characterized in that the composition is administered to a subject whose seafood intake is 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day or less. [5] The composition according to any of [1] to [4], characterized in that the composition is administered to a subject whose maximum oxygen intake is 60 mL / kg / min or less. [6] The composition according to any of [1] to [5], wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids having 20 or more carbon atoms. [7] The composition according to [6], wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid. [8] The composition according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the medium-chain fatty acid is a fatty acid having 8 to 12 carbon atoms. [9] The composition according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the endurance improvement is at least one selected from the group consisting of extension of exercise duration, extension of exercise duration during high-intensity exercise, extension of exercise duration during aerobic exercise, extension of exercise duration during progressive load exercise, promotion of lipid burning during exercise, promotion of lipid burning during high-intensity exercise, promotion of lipid burning during aerobic exercise, promotion of lipid burning during progressive load exercise, improvement of anaerobic threshold, reduction of fatigue during exercise, and improvement of muscle endurance.

[10] A food composition or food additive for improving endurance, comprising the composition according to any one of [1] to [9].

[11] A method for producing a food composition or a food additive for use in improving endurance, the method comprising blending the composition according to any one of [1] to [9] into the food composition or the food additive to impart an endurance-enhancing function.

[0013]

[12] A method for improving endurance, comprising having a subject ingest an effective amount of a composition containing, as an active ingredient, a triglyceride containing, as constituent fatty acids, highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids.

[13] The method according to

[12] , wherein the fatty acid composition of the composition contains 10 to 70 wt% highly unsaturated fatty acids and 20 to 70 wt% medium-chain fatty acids.

[14] The method according to

[12] or

[13] , comprising having a subject ingest 19 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 30 mg / kg body weight / day or less highly unsaturated fatty acids for 8 weeks or more.

[15] The method according to any of

[12] to

[14] , wherein the subject's seafood intake is 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day or less.

[16] The method according to any of

[12] to

[15] , wherein the subject's maximum oxygen uptake is 60 mL / kg / min or less.

[17] The method according to any of

[12] to

[16] , wherein the highly unsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids having 20 or more carbon atoms.

[18] The method of

[17] , wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid.

[19] The method of any of

[12] to

[18] , wherein the medium-chain fatty acid is a fatty acid having 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

[20] The method of any of

[12] to

[19] , wherein the endurance improvement is at least one selected from the group consisting of extension of exercise duration, extension of exercise duration during high-intensity exercise, extension of exercise duration during aerobic exercise, extension of exercise duration during progressive load exercise, promotion of lipid burning during exercise, promotion of lipid burning during high-intensity exercise, promotion of lipid burning during aerobic exercise, promotion of lipid burning during progressive load exercise, improvement of anaerobic threshold, reduction of fatigue during exercise, and improvement of muscle endurance.

[21] The method of any of

[12] to

[20] , wherein the composition is in the form of a food composition or a food additive.

[0014]

[22] A composition for use in improving endurance, comprising as an active ingredient a triglyceride containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids.

[23] The composition according to

[22] , wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acids account for 10 to 70 wt % and the medium-chain fatty acids account for 20 to 70 wt % of the fatty acid composition of the composition.

[24] The composition according to

[22] or

[23] , characterized in that the composition is administered to a subject for 8 weeks or more, ingesting 19 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 30 mg / kg body weight / day or less of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

[25] The composition according to any of

[22] to

[24] , characterized in that the composition is administered to a subject whose seafood intake is 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day or less.

[26] The composition according to any of

[22] to

[25] , characterized in that the composition is administered to a subject whose maximum oxygen intake is 60 mL / kg / min or less.

[27] The composition according to any of

[22] to

[26] , wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids having 20 or more carbon atoms.

[28] The composition according to

[27] , wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid.

[29] The composition according to any one of

[22] to

[28] , wherein the medium-chain fatty acid is a fatty acid having 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

[30] The composition according to any one of

[22] to

[29] , wherein the endurance improvement is at least one selected from the group consisting of extension of exercise duration, extension of exercise duration during high-intensity exercise, extension of exercise duration during aerobic exercise, extension of exercise duration during progressive load exercise, promotion of lipid burning during exercise, promotion of lipid burning during high-intensity exercise, promotion of lipid burning during aerobic exercise, promotion of lipid burning during progressive load exercise, improvement of anaerobic threshold, reduction of fatigue during exercise, and improvement of muscle endurance.

[31] The composition according to any one of

[22] to

[30] , which is in the form of a food composition or a food additive.

[0015]

[32] Use of a composition containing, as an active ingredient, a triglyceride containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids for the manufacture of a composition for improving endurance.

[33] The use according to

[32] , wherein the fatty acid composition of the composition contains 10 to 70 wt % polyunsaturated fatty acids and 20 to 70 wt % medium-chain fatty acids.

[34] The use according to

[32] or

[33] , wherein the composition for improving endurance is administered to a subject so that the polyunsaturated fatty acids are ingested in an amount of 19 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 30 mg / kg body weight / day or less for 8 weeks or more.

[35] The use according to any of

[32] to

[34] , wherein the composition for improving endurance is administered to a subject whose seafood intake is 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day or less.

[36] The use according to any of

[32] to

[35] , wherein the composition for improving endurance is administered to a subject whose maximum oxygen uptake is 60 mL / kg / min or less.

[37] The use according to any one of

[32] to

[36] , wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acid is a fatty acid having 20 or more carbon atoms.

[38] The use according to

[37] , wherein the polyunsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid.

[39] The use according to any one of

[32] to

[38] , wherein the medium-chain fatty acid is a fatty acid having 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

[40] The use according to any one of

[32] to

[39] , wherein the endurance improvement is at least one selected from the group consisting of extension of exercise duration, extension of exercise duration during high-intensity exercise, extension of exercise duration during aerobic exercise, extension of exercise duration during progressive load exercise, promotion of lipid burning during exercise, promotion of lipid burning during high-intensity exercise, promotion of lipid burning during aerobic exercise, promotion of lipid burning during progressive load exercise, improvement of anaerobic threshold, reduction of fatigue during exercise, and improvement of muscle endurance.

[41] The use according to any one of

[32] to

[40] , wherein the endurance-improving composition is in the form of a food composition or a food additive.

[0016] Oral ingestion of the composition of the present invention can improve endurance.

[0017] The figures show the exercise duration at the time of maximum oxygen uptake measurement before and after intake for a group that consumed a triglyceride (STG) composed of EPA-containing fish oil-derived fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids (constituent fatty acids) and a group that consumed a mixed oil (PM) consisting of a 50:50 weight ratio of refined fish oil and MCT (PM group). *: p<0.05 for the difference between pre- and post-intake values ​​in the STG group. The figures show the change in exercise duration at the time of maximum oxygen uptake measurement before and after intake for the STG and PM groups. *: p<0.05 for the difference between the change in the STG group and the change in the PM group. The figures show the anaerobic threshold (%VO2peak) before and after intake for the STG and PM groups. **: p<0.01 for the difference between pre- and post-intake values ​​in the STG group. †: p<0.05 for the difference between post-intake values ​​in the STG group and the PM group. The figures show the change in anaerobic threshold (%VO2peak) before and after intake in the STG and PM groups. *: p<0.05 for the difference between the change in the STG group and the change in the PM group.

[0018] The present invention will be described in more detail below. In the present specification, the following abbreviations may be used: EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA: docosahexaenoic acid; MCFA: medium-chain fatty acid; MCT: triglyceride composed solely of medium-chain fatty acids; STG: structured triglyceride, structured triacylglycerol, or structured lipid (in the examples, a structured lipid having a specific fatty acid composition is referred to as STG); PM: physical mixture or physically mixed oil (in the examples, a physically mixed oil having a specific fatty acid composition is referred to as PM); AT: anaerobic threshold (also referred to as anaerobic metabolic threshold).

[0019] The present invention provides a composition for improving endurance (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the composition of the present invention) which contains, as an active ingredient, a triglyceride containing, as constituent fatty acids, a highly unsaturated fatty acid and a medium-chain fatty acid.

[0020] In the present invention, "endurance" refers to the ability to continuously perform a specific physical activity such as exercise (e.g., walking, running, swimming, cycling, etc.). "Improved endurance" refers to extending the duration of the physical activity or improving the body's energy metabolism so that the duration of the physical activity can be extended.

[0021] In the present invention, endurance improvement can be assessed using the multi-stage load-increasing method (Whipp BJ et al., J. Apple. Physiol.: Respirat. Environ. Exercise Physiol. 50(1): 217-221, 1981). For example, when using a bicycle ergometer, the pedaling speed during exercise is set to 60 rpm. After a 3-minute rest, a 3-minute warm-up exercise is performed at a 20-watt load. After this, the exercise begins at a 60-watt load, and the load is increased by 30 watts every 2 minutes until exhaustion. The final exercise load is reached when the subject's pedaling speed falls below 50 rpm three times. The exercise and measurement are terminated when oxygen uptake at that load is measured. If the group that took the test substance showed a significant increase in the duration of exercise compared to before taking the test substance or compared to a group that did not take the test substance, the test substance was evaluated as having an endurance-enhancing effect.

[0022] Furthermore, if the anaerobic threshold (AT; also referred to as the anaerobic threshold) is significantly higher in a group that has taken the test substance compared to before taking the test substance or compared to a group that has not taken the test substance, the test substance is also evaluated as having an endurance-enhancing effect. Herein, AT refers to the exercise intensity at which aerobic exercise transitions to anaerobic exercise in the above-described multi-stage incremental load test, and is determined by measuring carbon dioxide output. Therefore, herein, AT can also be referred to as the ventilatory threshold (VT). Herein, AT is expressed as a percentage (%VO2peak) representing the ratio of oxygen intake to maximum oxygen intake at the exercise intensity at which aerobic exercise switches to anaerobic exercise. %VO2peak can be calculated by measuring oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output in the above-described multi-stage incremental load test to determine the AT. Herein, the value of %VO2peak, which represents the anaerobic threshold, is sometimes referred to as the "AT value."

[0023] In one embodiment, the improvement in endurance in the present invention can be an extension of exercise duration. Exercise duration refers to the time from the start of a specific physical activity until exhaustion occurs and it becomes difficult to continue. An extension of exercise duration can be, for example, an extension of exercise duration during high-intensity exercise, an extension of exercise duration during aerobic exercise, or an extension of exercise duration during progressively increasing load exercise. High-intensity exercise refers to exercise at an intensity that results in 70% VO2max or greater, for example, 75% VO2max or greater, 80% VO2max or greater, 85% VO2max or greater, 90% VO2max or greater, 95% VO2max or greater, or 100% VO2max. VO2max is the maximum oxygen uptake, or the maximum amount of oxygen that can be ingested per minute (mL / kg / min or L / min). %VO2max is the ratio of a subject's oxygen uptake during exercise to VO2max, expressed as a percentage. Aerobic exercise is exercise performed through aerobic metabolism using carbohydrates and lipids as energy sources. Progressive load exercise refers to exercise performed under conditions in which the exercise load is increased by a certain amount at regular intervals. Note that the extension of exercise duration can be influenced by various factors such as heart rate during exercise and improvement of muscle damage and fatigue, so results such as an increase in maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) do not actually indicate that exercise duration will be extended.

[0024] In one embodiment, the improvement in endurance in the present invention can be an improvement in the body's energy metabolism so that the duration of exercise can be extended. Such an improvement in the body's energy metabolism can be the promotion of lipid burning during exercise. "Lipid burning" refers to the use of lipids as an energy source. The promotion of lipid burning during exercise can be, for example, the promotion of lipid burning during high-intensity exercise, the promotion of lipid burning during aerobic exercise, or the promotion of lipid burning during progressively increasing load exercise. The effect of the composition of the present invention in improving AT means that lipid burning during exercise is promoted. It has been known that medium-chain fatty acids are used more efficiently as an energy source during exercise than long-chain fatty acids such as EPA (Am J Clin Nutr. 36(5), 950-62. (1982)). On the other hand, it is not known that simply ingesting long-chain fatty acids that are not in the form of structured lipids can promote lipid burning during exercise. In fact, as shown in the examples below, a physically mixed oil containing triglycerides containing EPA as a constituent fatty acid did not improve AT. It is believed that ingestion of triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids improves energy metabolism in the body and promotes lipid burning during exercise, a fact that has not been known in the art.

[0025] In one embodiment, the improvement in endurance in the present invention can be an improvement in AT. The improvement in AT can be, for example, an improvement in AT during high-intensity exercise, an improvement in AT during aerobic exercise, or an improvement in AT during progressively increasing load exercise.

[0026] In one embodiment, the improvement in endurance in the present invention can be a reduction in fatigue during exercise. In this specification, fatigue refers to physical fatigue caused by exercise. The extension of exercise duration by ingestion of the composition of the present invention can be attributed to the reduction in fatigue. The reduction in fatigue during exercise can be, for example, a reduction in fatigue during high-intensity exercise, a reduction in fatigue during aerobic exercise, or a reduction in fatigue during incremental load exercise.

[0027] In one embodiment, the improvement in endurance in the present invention can be an improvement in muscular endurance. Muscular endurance is the ability of a specific muscle to continue repeated contractions or the ability to continue exercise using a muscle of a part of the body for a long period of time. Exercise using a bicycle ergometer, which is used in the examples, is known as training that aims to improve muscular endurance. The improvement in muscular endurance can be, for example, an improvement in muscular endurance during high-intensity exercise, an improvement in muscular endurance during aerobic exercise, or an improvement in muscular endurance during progressively increasing load exercise.

[0028] In the present invention, the highly unsaturated fatty acid refers to a fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 3 or more double bonds, for example, a fatty acid having 20 or more carbon atoms and 3 or more double bonds, a fatty acid having 20 or more carbon atoms and 4 or more double bonds, or a fatty acid having 20 or more carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds. Specific examples include α-linolenic acid (18:3,n-3), γ-linolenic acid (18:3,n-6), octadecatetraenoic acid (18:4,n-3), icosatetraenoic acid (20:4,n-3), arachidonic acid (20:4,n-6), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3,n-6), icosapentaenoic acid (20:5,n-3), henicosapentaenoic acid (21:5,n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5,n-6), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6,n-3). In a preferred embodiment, the polyunsaturated fatty acid is an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, more preferably eicosapentaenoic acid and / or docosahexaenoic acid. Glycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids are known to be abundant in certain microbial oils, vegetable oils, and marine animal oils. Specific examples include fish oils such as sardine oil, tuna oil, bonito oil, menhaden oil, cod liver oil, herring oil, capelin oil, and salmon oil, marine animal oils such as krill, vegetable oils such as perilla, flax, soybean, and rapeseed, and oils produced by microorganisms belonging to the genera Mortierella, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhodotorula, and Fusarium. In one embodiment, the highly unsaturated fatty acids that are constituent fatty acids of the triglycerides of the present invention may be derived from these fats and oils.

[0029] In the present invention, medium-chain fatty acids refer to fatty acids having 8 to 12 carbon atoms and may be either saturated or unsaturated. Specific examples include caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, and lauric acid. The medium-chain fatty acids may be one type or a combination of two or more types. In a preferred embodiment, the medium-chain fatty acids are caprylic acid and / or capric acid. Glycerides containing medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids are known to be abundant in coconut oil, palm oil, and the like. In one embodiment, the medium-chain fatty acids that are constituent fatty acids of the triglycerides of the present invention are derived from these oils and fats.

[0030] The active ingredient in the composition of the present invention is a triglyceride containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids. As shown in the examples below, triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids in one molecule have a higher endurance-enhancing effect than mixed oils with equivalent fatty acid compositions. Such triglycerides can be prepared, for example, by subjecting a triglyceride containing highly unsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids and a triglyceride containing medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids to a transesterification reaction, as described above. The catalyst used for transesterification may be a chemical catalyst or an enzyme (lipase). In transesterification using a chemical catalyst, the binding positions of the constituent fatty acids are random. Note that triglycerides prepared by changing the binding positions and fatty acid composition of fatty acids in naturally occurring triglycerides are sometimes referred to as structured lipids. When using a chemical catalyst, for example, approximately 0.1 to 2 wt. % of the catalyst is added to a mixed oil of triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids and triglycerides containing medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids, and the mixture is stirred at 50 to 270°C for 3 to 120 minutes under atmospheric or reduced pressure to carry out the reaction. The target product can be obtained by conventional purification procedures such as washing with water, drying, bleaching, and deodorization. The mixing ratio of the triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids to the triglycerides containing medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids can be appropriately determined to achieve the endurance-enhancing effect. For example, the ratio of highly unsaturated fatty acids to medium-chain fatty acids in the fatty acid composition of the composition of the present invention can be adjusted to the ratio disclosed herein. Examples of chemical catalysts include alkali metal hydroxides such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide, and alkali metal alkoxides such as lithium methoxide and sodium methoxide.

[0031] In one embodiment, the fatty acid composition of the composition of the present invention may contain 10 to 70% by weight of polyunsaturated fatty acids, e.g., 15 to 50% by weight, or 20 to 40% by weight, and 20 to 70% by weight of medium-chain fatty acids, e.g., 30 to 60% by weight, or 40 to 55% by weight. In a preferred embodiment, the fatty acid composition of the composition of the present invention may contain 10 to 70% by weight of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and 20 to 70% by weight of medium-chain fatty acids. In another embodiment, when the polyunsaturated fatty acids are EPA and DHA and the medium-chain fatty acids are caprylic acid and capric acid, the fatty acid composition of the composition of the present invention may contain 5 to 65% by weight of polyunsaturated fatty acids, e.g., 10 to 45% by weight, or 15 to 35% by weight, and 20 to 70% by weight of medium-chain fatty acids, e.g., 30 to 60% by weight, or 40 to 55% by weight. In a preferred embodiment, the polyunsaturated fatty acids are EPA and DHA, and the medium-chain fatty acids are caprylic acid and capric acid, and the polyunsaturated fatty acids may account for 5 to 65% by weight and the medium-chain fatty acids may account for 20 to 70% by weight in the fatty acid composition of the composition of the present invention.

[0032] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the ratio (wt%) of fatty acids to the total fatty acids in a composition is calculated based on the value measured by gas chromatography after esterification of the components in the composition according to the "AOCS official method Ce1b-89." The fatty acid content also refers to the ratio (wt%) of the fatty acid to the total fatty acids. The analytical conditions for gas chromatography are as follows: Apparatus: Agilent 6890N GC system (Agilent Corporation); Column: DB-WAX (Agilent Technologies, 30 m x 0.25 mm ID, 0.25 μm film thickness); Carrier gas: Helium (1.0 mL / min, constant flow); Injection port temperature: 250 °C; Injection volume: 1 μL; Injection method: Split; Split ratio: 20:1; Column oven: 180 °C - 3 °C / min - 230 °C; Detector: FID; Detector temperature: 250 °C.

[0033] The subject to which the composition of the present invention is administered is a mammal, preferably a human. In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention can be administered to a subject who needs to improve endurance, particularly to a subject who needs to extend the duration of exercise. When the composition of the present invention is used for non-therapeutic purposes, the subject to which the composition is administered is a healthy individual, including professional athletes or athletes who train daily, healthy individuals or casual athletes who actively exercise or play sports, and healthy individuals who do not regularly engage in high-intensity exercise.

[0034] In one embodiment, the subject may be a person for whom the question item "Number of days per week engaged in vigorous-intensity physical activity at work" in the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ; Bull FC et al. Global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ): nine country reliability and validity study. J Phys Act Health. 2009 Nov;6(6):790-804) is 0 to 7 days, preferably 0 to 2 days, for example, 0, 1, or 2 days. In one embodiment, the subject may be a person for whom the question item "Number of days per week engaged in moderate-intensity physical activity at work" in the GPAQ is 0 to 7 days, preferably 0 to 3 days, for example, 0, 1, 2, or 3 days. Here, "work" also includes academic work and part-time jobs. Furthermore, "vigorous-intensity physical activity" and "moderate-intensity physical activity" refer to physical activity of 8 METs and 4 METs, respectively (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) Analysis Guide, Surveillance and Population-Based Prevention, Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases Department, World Health Organization).

[0035] In one embodiment, the subject of administration may be a person for whom the question item on the GPAQ, "Number of days in a week involving travel of 10 minutes or more" is 0 to 7 days, preferably 4 to 7 days, for example, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days.

[0036] In one embodiment, the subject of administration may be a person whose maximum oxygen intake is 60 mL / kg / min or less, for example, 40 to 60 mL / kg / min, 40 to 50 mL / kg / min, or 50 to 60 mL / kg / min.

[0037] As shown in the examples below, the composition of the present invention has a significant endurance-enhancing effect on subjects with low seafood intake. In the present invention, seafood refers to fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, but does not include small fish. Seafood may be in any form, such as raw (e.g., sashimi), fillets, surimi (e.g., chikuwa, kamaboko), frozen, dried (e.g., dried fish), or freeze-dried. The seafood intake of a subject is the average value for one week prior to the start of ingestion of the composition of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the seafood intake of a subject can be determined by a survey using a food frequency questionnaire (Takahashi et al., Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 221-232 (2001)). The questionnaire contains questions equivalent to the following: "What kind of seafood and seafood products do you eat, how much, and how many times a week? Please enter small fish in a separate section. The usual amount is 80g. 80g is one fillet, one medium-sized fish, five slices of sashimi, one piece of dried fish, one medium-sized piece of chikuwa or kamaboko, 15 clams with shells, three to four medium-sized shrimp, or half a cup of squid." In the answer section, participants are asked to choose from none, a little (half the usual amount), a normal amount, or a lot (1.5 times the normal amount) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and to enter the number of times they eat each of these for the week.

[0038] In one embodiment, the subject to which the composition of the present invention is administered may be one whose seafood intake is 0 kcal / day or more and 71 kcal / day or less, for example, 60 kcal / day or less, 50 kcal / day or less, 40 kcal / day or less, 30 kcal / day or less, 20 kcal / day or less, or 10 kcal / day or less. Alternatively, the subject to which the composition of the present invention is administered may be one whose seafood intake is 0 kcal / kg body weight / day or more and 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day or less, for example, 0.89 kcal / kg body weight / day or less, 0.75 kcal / kg body weight / day or less, 0.60 kcal / kg body weight / day or less, 0.45 kcal / kg body weight / day or less, 0.30 kcal / kg body weight / day or less, or 0.15 kcal / kg body weight / day or less.

[0039] The composition of the present invention may be prepared in a form suitable for use as a pharmaceutical composition, food composition (e.g., functional food, health food, supplement, etc.), food additive, etc., such as various solid preparations such as granules (including dry syrup), capsules (soft capsules, hard capsules), tablets (including chewable tablets, etc.), powders (powdered medicines), pills, etc., or liquid preparations such as oral liquid preparations (including liquids, suspensions, syrups, etc.). For example, the composition of the present invention can be formulated as a soft capsule in which the active ingredient is filled in a gelatin shell.

[0040] Examples of additives used in formulations include excipients, lubricants, binders, disintegrants, fluidizers, dispersants, wetting agents, preservatives, thickeners, pH adjusters, colorants, flavorings, surfactants, and solubilizers. When preparing a liquid formulation, thickeners such as pectin, xanthan gum, and guar gum can be added. Furthermore, a coating agent can be used to form coated tablets or paste-like glues. Furthermore, when preparing other forms, conventional methods can be used.

[0041] The composition of the present invention can take the form of a food composition or a food additive. In the present invention, the term "food composition" refers to all foods, including beverages, and includes general foods, including health foods such as supplements, as well as foods for specified health uses and foods with nutrient functions as defined by the Consumer Affairs Agency's Health Function Food System. For example, functional foods labeled as having endurance-enhancing effects are provided. For example, foods containing fish oil can be provided as is. The food composition or food additive of the present invention also includes food ingredients that can be added to, mixed with, or applied to other foods to impart endurance-enhancing effects. In addition to foods, the food composition can also be provided as animal feed, etc.

[0042] The food composition or food additive of the present invention can be prepared by blending the composition of the present invention into a food composition or food additive, thereby imparting an endurance-enhancing function.

[0043] The food compositions of the present invention may be beverages, confectioneries, breads, soups, etc., including, for example, common retort foods, frozen foods, instant foods (such as noodles), canned foods, sausages, cookies, biscuits, cereal bars, crackers, snacks (such as potato chips), pastries, cakes, pies, candy, chewing gum (including pellets and sticks), jelly, soup, ice cream, dressing, yogurt, etc., supplements in the form of tablets, capsules, emulsions, etc., soft drinks, etc. The method for producing these foods is not particularly limited as long as it does not impair the effects of the present invention, and may follow a method used by those skilled in the art for each food.

[0044] It is within the scope of the present invention to sell a product according to the present invention by displaying the effects of the composition of the present invention on packaging containers, product instructions, and pamphlets. It is also within the scope of the present invention to advertise and sell a product according to the present invention by displaying the effects of the present invention on television, internet websites, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines, etc. When the composition of the present invention is used as a pharmaceutical or quasi-drug, the efficacy and effect of improving endurance may be displayed on the packaging container, etc.

[0045] In the present invention, the amount of active ingredient ingested by a subject is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, an amount equal to or greater than the effective amount required to achieve the desired effect. Here, the effective amount required to achieve the desired effect refers to the amount required to improve endurance. For example, in the case of an adult, the active ingredient may be ingested at 10 mg / kg body weight / day or more, e.g., 50 mg / kg body weight / day or more, or 100 mg / kg body weight / day or more, depending on the subject's age, weight, health condition, and other factors. Furthermore, since the active ingredient of the composition of the present invention does not have any significant side effects, there is no limit to the daily intake amount, but it may be, for example, 500 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 400 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 200 mg / kg body weight / day or less, or 150 mg / kg body weight / day or less. Similarly, there is no limit to the duration of ingestion of the composition of the present invention, and it may be, for example, 4 weeks or more, 5 weeks or more, 6 weeks or more, 7 weeks or more, or 8 weeks or more, and ingestion may be continued at least until an improvement in endurance is confirmed.

[0046] In one embodiment, the compositions of the present invention can be used to provide a subject with 2.0 g / day or less, e.g., 1.9 g / day or less, 1.8 g / day or less, 1.7 g / day or less, 1.6 g / day or less, 1.5 g / day or less, 1.4 g / day or less, or 1.3 g / day or less of polyunsaturated fatty acids for 8 weeks or more. Alternatively, the compositions of the present invention can be used to provide a subject with 30 mg / kg body weight / day or less, e.g., 28 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 27 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 26 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 25 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 24 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 23 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 22 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 21 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 20 mg / kg body weight / day or less, or 19 mg / kg body weight / day or less of polyunsaturated fatty acids for 8 weeks or more. Alternatively, the compositions of the present invention may be used so that a subject receives 19 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 30 mg / kg body weight / day or less, for example, 28 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 27 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 26 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 25 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 24 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 23 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 22 mg / kg body weight / day or less, 21 mg / kg body weight / day or less, or 20 mg / kg body weight / day or less of highly unsaturated fatty acids for 8 weeks or more.

[0047] In one embodiment, when the polyunsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid and / or docosahexaenoic acid, the composition of the present invention can be used to allow a subject to ingest 1.0 g / day or less, for example, 0.95 g / day or less, 0.90 g / day or less, or 0.86 g / day or less of polyunsaturated fatty acid for 8 weeks or more. Alternatively, when the polyunsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid and / or docosahexaenoic acid, the composition of the present invention can be used to allow a subject to ingest 15 mg / kg body weight / day or less, for example, 14 mg / kg body weight / day or less, or 13 mg / kg body weight / day or less of polyunsaturated fatty acid for 8 weeks or more. Alternatively, when the polyunsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid and / or docosahexaenoic acid, the composition of the present invention can be used to allow a subject to ingest 13 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 15 mg / kg body weight / day or less, for example, 14 mg / kg body weight / day or less of polyunsaturated fatty acid for 8 weeks or more. Here, the intake amount of highly unsaturated fatty acids is the value obtained by converting the constituent fatty acids in the triglyceride, which is the active ingredient of the composition of the present invention, into free fatty acids. As shown in Patent Document 7, it has been known that a single intake of EPA / MCT structured lipids transiently increases the transfer of EPA into the blood. However, it is not known whether there is a relationship between blood EPA concentration and improved endurance.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention is a composition for improving endurance, containing as an active ingredient a triglyceride containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids, wherein the fatty acid composition of the composition contains 10 to 70% by weight of polyunsaturated fatty acids and 20 to 70% by weight of medium-chain fatty acids, the polyunsaturated fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, and the medium-chain fatty acids are caprylic acid and capric acid, the polyunsaturated fatty acids are used so that the subject ingests 13 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 15 mg / kg body weight / day or less for 8 weeks or more, the subject is a person who, according to the GPAQ questions, "Number of days per week engaged in vigorous-intensity physical activity at work" is 0 to 2 days, "Number of days per week engaged in moderate-intensity physical activity at work" is 0 to 3 days, and "Number of days per week involving travel of 10 minutes or more" is 4 to 7 days, and The composition provides at least one improvement in endurance selected from the group consisting of extension of exercise duration, extension of exercise duration during high-intensity exercise, extension of exercise duration during aerobic exercise, extension of exercise duration during progressive load exercise, promotion of lipid burning during exercise, promotion of lipid burning during high-intensity exercise, promotion of lipid burning during aerobic exercise, promotion of lipid burning during progressive load exercise, improvement of anaerobic threshold, reduction of fatigue during exercise, and improvement of muscle endurance.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention is a composition for extending exercise duration, containing as an active ingredient a triglyceride containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids, wherein the fatty acid composition of the composition contains 10 to 70% by weight of polyunsaturated fatty acids and 20 to 70% by weight of medium-chain fatty acids, the polyunsaturated fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, and the medium-chain fatty acids are caprylic acid and capric acid, the polyunsaturated fatty acids are used so that the subject ingests 13 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 15 mg / kg body weight / day or less for 8 weeks or more, the subject is a person who, according to the GPAQ questions, "Number of days per week in which vigorous-intensity physical activity is performed at work" is 0 to 2 days, "Number of days per week in which moderate-intensity physical activity is performed at work" is 0 to 3 days, and "Number of days per week in which travel of 10 minutes or more is performed" is 4 to 7 days, and Compositions are provided in which the subject's seafood intake is equal to or greater than 0 kcal / kg body weight / day and equal to or less than 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day, 0.89 kcal / kg body weight / day, 0.75 kcal / kg body weight / day, 0.60 kcal / kg body weight / day, 0.45 kcal / kg body weight / day, 0.30 kcal / kg body weight / day, or 0.15 kcal / kg body weight / day.

[0050] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for improving endurance, the method comprising ingesting an effective amount of a composition of the present invention to a subject, and the method can be carried out in accordance with the description herein of ingesting or administering a composition of the present invention.

[0051] The present invention will now be further described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0052] Example 1 1. Materials and Methods (1) Preparation of Test Substances Purified fish oil (manufactured by Nippon Suisan Co., Ltd., specified values: EPA 28% by weight, DHA 12% by weight) and triglyceride (MCT; caprylic acid approximately 60% by weight, capric acid approximately 40% by weight) composed solely of medium-chain fatty acids were used. Purified fish oil and MCT were mixed at a weight ratio of 55:45, 0.2% by weight of sodium methoxide was added, and the mixture was stirred at 60-80°C for 60 minutes to perform interesterification. The product was washed with water, dried, bleached, and deodorized to prepare a triglyceride composed of EPA-containing fish oil-derived fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids (hereinafter referred to as STG in the Examples). A mixed oil (hereinafter referred to as PM in the Examples) composed of purified fish oil and MCT at a weight ratio of 50:50 was prepared as a control sample. The fatty acid compositions of purified fish oil, MCT, STG, and PM are shown in Table 1.

[0053]

[0054] (2) Study Participants: Nineteen healthy young men with no regular training habits participated in this study. The subject data (mean ± SD) are shown below. Age, weight, mean BMI, and VO2peak (peak oxygen uptake) were data at the start of the study. The number of days of physical activity was the average value for the week prior to the start of the study and was based on responses to the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ; Bull FC et al. Global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ): nine country reliability and validity study. J Phys Act Health. 2009 Nov;6(6):790-804). Here, "work" includes school work and part-time work. Furthermore, "vigorous physical activity" and "moderate-intensity physical activity" refer to 8 METs and 4 METs, respectively (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) Analysis Guide, Surveillance and Population-Based Prevention, Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases Department, World Health Organization). Seafood intake was the average intake for the week prior to the study start and was determined using a food frequency questionnaire (Takahashi et al., Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 221-232 (2001)). The questionnaire included the following question: "What kind of seafood or seafood products do you eat, how much, and how many times per week? Please enter small fish in a separate section. The usual amount is 80g. 80g is one fillet, one medium-sized fish, five slices of sashimi, one piece of dried fish, one medium-sized fish cake or kamaboko, 15 clams with shells, three to four medium-sized shrimp, or half a squid." In the response section, participants were asked to select none, a little (half the usual amount), a normal amount, or a lot (1.5 times the normal amount) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and to indicate the number of times each week they ate each.Age: 20±2 years, Weight: 67.1±8.9 kg, Mean BMI: 22.8±3.1 kg / m . 2 VO2peak (peak oxygen uptake) ＊ : 43.4±6.1 mL / kg / min "Number of days per week with vigorous physical activity at work": 0.4±0.9 days "Number of days per week with moderate-intensity physical activity at work": 1.1±1.7 days "Number of days per week with travel of 10 minutes or more": 5.3±1.0 days *: The VO2peak measured in this example can be treated as approximately the same value as VO2max (maximum oxygen uptake).

[0055] (3) Study Overview: Study participants were randomly assigned to either an STG group (STG group; n = 9) or a PM group (PM group; n = 10). The STG and PM groups received 4.38 g / day of STG and PM, respectively, for 8 weeks. Both groups received 600 mg / day of EPA and 260 mg / day of DHA, calculated as free fatty acids. Study participants underwent maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) tests before and after 8 weeks of study administration. Study participants were instructed to maintain their dietary habits throughout the study. Their average calorie intake during the study period was 2235 kcal / day, with an average water intake of 1085 g / day, an average protein intake of 90 g / day, an average fat intake of 74 g / day, and an average carbohydrate intake of 289 g / day.

[0056] (4) Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) measurement was performed using a bicycle ergometer with a multi-stage load gradient method (pedaling speed was 60 rpm). After a 3-minute rest, participants performed a 3-minute warm-up exercise at a 20-watt load. After the warm-up, participants began exercise at a 60-watt load, increasing the load by 30 watts every 2 minutes until exhaustion. The final exercise load was determined when the participant's pedaling speed fell below 50 rpm three times. The exercise and measurement were terminated upon completion of oxygen uptake measurements at that load. The duration of exercise was recorded at the end of the exercise. Carbon dioxide output was also measured during this study. While oxygen uptake increases proportionally to exercise load, carbon dioxide output is known to increase rapidly at a certain exercise load. The point at which carbon dioxide output rapidly increases was determined as the anaerobic threshold (ventilatory threshold). The change in anaerobic threshold was evaluated by calculating (oxygen intake at anaerobic threshold / maximum oxygen intake) x 100 (%VO2peak; AT value).

[0057] (5) Statistical analysis: Analysis of exercise duration and AT values ​​was performed using two-way analysis of variance. Analysis of changes in exercise duration, AT values, and VO2peak was performed using paired t-test.

[0058] [Results] Figure 1 shows the exercise duration measured at peak oxygen uptake before and after ingestion for each group. In the STG group, exercise duration after STG ingestion was significantly longer than before STG ingestion (two-way analysis of variance, p<0.05). On the other hand, in the PM group, no significant change in exercise duration was observed between before and after PM ingestion. Furthermore, a t-test was performed to compare the change in exercise duration between before and after ingestion in the STG group (53±53 seconds) and the PM group (-10±63 seconds), revealing a significant difference (p<0.05) (Figure 2). These results suggest that triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids have the ability to improve endurance, particularly by extending exercise duration.

[0059] Figure 3 shows the anaerobic threshold (%VO2peak) values ​​for each group before and after ingestion. In the STG group, AT values ​​after STG ingestion were significantly higher than those before STG ingestion and after PM ingestion (two-way ANOVA, p<0.05). In contrast, no significant change in AT values ​​was observed in the PM group. Furthermore, a t-test revealed a significant difference (p<0.05) between the change in AT values ​​before and after ingestion in the STG group (6±5) and the change in AT values ​​before and after ingestion in the PM group (0±6) (Figure 4). Higher AT values ​​indicate an extension of the time available for aerobic exercise. The primary energy sources during aerobic exercise are carbohydrates and lipids, while the primary energy source during anaerobic exercise is carbohydrates. It is thought that increased lipid utilization during exercise increases AT values. Therefore, the results of this example suggest that ingestion of triglycerides containing highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids promotes the utilization of lipids as an energy source during exercise more than ingestion of physically mixed oils with similar fatty acid composition.

[0060] Furthermore, a stratified analysis of exercise duration in the STG group was conducted by dividing the participants into those with a seafood intake lower than the mean value of the STG group participants (71 kcal / day or 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day) (n=5) and those with a higher intake (n=3) (Table 2).The results showed that the group with a lower seafood intake tended to have a greater change in exercise duration before and after STG ingestion than the group with a higher seafood intake.

[0061] Therefore, it was shown that triglycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids exhibit a particularly high endurance-improving function in subjects with a relatively low intake of seafood.

[0062] The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions, food compositions, food additives, etc. that improve endurance.

Claims

1. A composition for improving endurance, containing triglycerides as active ingredients, which include highly unsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid composition of the composition contains 10 to 70% by weight of highly unsaturated fatty acids and 20 to 70% by weight of medium-chain fatty acids.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a highly unsaturated fatty acid of 19 mg / kg body weight / day or more and 30 mg / kg body weight / day or less is used so that it is ingested by the subject for 8 weeks or more.

4. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is used to be ingested by a subject whose seafood intake is 1.1 kcal / kg body weight / day or less.

5. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is used to be ingested by a subject whose maximum oxygen uptake is 60 mL / kg / min or less.

6. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the highly unsaturated fatty acid is a fatty acid having 20 or more carbon atoms.

7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the highly unsaturated fatty acid is eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid.

8. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the medium-chain fatty acid is a fatty acid having 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

9. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the improvement in endurance is at least one selected from the group consisting of extending the duration of exercise, extending the duration of exercise during high-intensity exercise, extending the duration of exercise during aerobic exercise, extending the duration of exercise during progressively increasing load exercise, promoting lipid burning during exercise, promoting lipid burning during high-intensity exercise, promoting lipid burning during aerobic exercise, promoting lipid burning during progressively increasing load exercise, improving the anaerobic threshold, reducing fatigue during exercise, and improving muscular endurance.

10. A food composition or food additive for improving endurance, comprising the composition described in claim 1 or 2.

11. A method for producing a food composition or food additive for use in improving endurance, comprising imparting an endurance-improving function to the food composition or food additive by incorporating the composition described in claim 1 or 2.