Agent and composition for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and older persons

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel agent and composition for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and older persons.　The present invention provides an agent for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and older persons, the active ingredient of the agent being a medium-chain fatty acid.

Description

Agent and composition for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent and composition for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0002] While modern society has seen improvements in convenience, it is known that the number of people experiencing fatigue and other symptoms is increasing.

[0003] Fatigue can be broadly divided into mental fatigue and physical fatigue, and although it can be alleviated by improving lifestyle habits such as sleep and diet, it is not necessarily easy to put this into practice every day.

[0004] On the other hand, various compositions and the like that have a recovery effect on "fatigue" have been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0005] JP 2021-20881 A JP 2018-2621 A

[0006] Here, "fatigue" refers to a subjective sensation of fatigue, and is distinct from "fatigue" which refers to an objective decline in activity. The present inventors have noticed that middle-aged and elderly people in particular tend to experience "fatigue" in their daily lives. Therefore, they aimed to develop an agent that can be easily taken continuously by middle-aged and elderly people, has no side effects, and has a fatigue-reducing effect.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a novel agent and composition for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0008] The present inventors have discovered the novel fact that medium-chain fatty acids can alleviate fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people, and have completed the present invention. More specifically, the present invention provides the following.

[0009] (1) An agent for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people, wherein the active ingredient of the agent is a medium-chain fatty acid.

[0010] (2) The agent according to (1), wherein the fatigue is mental fatigue and / or physical fatigue.

[0011] (3) The agent according to (1), wherein the agent contains a triglyceride, and the medium-chain fatty acid is in the form of a constituent fatty acid of the triglyceride.

[0012] (4) The agent according to (3), wherein the triglyceride is a medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride.

[0013] (5) The agent according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the medium-chain fatty acid includes octanoic acid and / or decanoic acid.

[0014] (6) A composition for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people, wherein the active ingredient of the composition contains at least a medium-chain fatty acid.

[0015] (7) The composition according to (6), wherein the fatigue is mental fatigue and / or physical fatigue.

[0016] (8) The composition according to (6), wherein the composition contains a triglyceride, and the medium-chain fatty acid is in the form of a constituent fatty acid of the triglyceride.

[0017] (9) The composition according to (8), wherein the triglyceride is a medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride.

[0018] (10) The composition according to (6), wherein the medium-chain fatty acid includes octanoic acid and / or decanoic acid.

[0019] (11) The composition according to any one of (6) to (10), wherein the composition is in the form of a drug, a quasi-drug, or a food or drink.

[0020] (12) The composition according to (11), wherein the composition is administered so that 1 g or more of the medium-chain fatty acids is ingested per day.

[0021] (13) The composition according to (11), wherein the composition is administered so that 1 g or more of the medium-chain fatty acid is administered per day and the intake of octanoic acid is greater than the intake of decanoic acid.

[0022] According to the present invention, a novel agent and composition for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people are provided.

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0024] <Definitions> Unless otherwise specified, the terms used herein have the following meanings.

[0025] (1) Middle-aged and Elderly People In the present invention, the term "middle-aged and elderly people" includes those living at an age that is at least halfway through their average lifespan.

[0026] In the present invention, the term "living organism" is not particularly limited, but includes humans and non-human mammals (pets, livestock, etc.).

[0027] In the case of humans, "middle-aged and elderly people" preferably include those aged 40 or older, more preferably 50 or older, and even more preferably 60 or older. Furthermore, in the case of humans, those aged 65 or older may also be referred to as "elderly people."

[0028] In the present invention, middle-aged and elderly people are preferably people aged 60 or older, more preferably people aged 65 or older, and even more preferably healthy elderly people. In the present invention, "healthy" includes a state in which there is no physical or mental disease and a state in which there is no obstacle in daily life.

[0029] The agent and composition of the present invention can reduce fatigue and other symptoms associated with daily life, and therefore is preferably applied to healthy elderly people among middle-aged and elderly people.

[0030] The agent and composition of the present invention may be more effective for middle-aged and elderly people who exercise less in their daily lives and for middle-aged and elderly people who are physically weak and subject to a high level of oxidative stress. On the other hand, the desired effect may be less likely to be achieved for athletes who are subject to a high level of oxidative stress due to regular exercise, or for frail people whose health has declined and whose bodies are chronically accumulating oxidative stress. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the middle-aged and elderly people of the present invention do not include athletes or people with frailty.

[0031] In the present invention, the term "athlete" includes a person who exercises or plays sports regularly. Athletes include, for example, a person who exercises or plays any of the following intensities of exercise or sports, preferably continuously (for example, for one month or more). Note that "METs" (metabolic equivalents) is an index that indicates the intensity of exercise or sports, and expresses the intensity of various exercises or sports when the calories burned by a person at rest are defined as "1 MET."・Do yoga and stretching (2.5 METs) at least once a week for about an hour ・Golf driving range and bowling (3.0 METs) at least once a week for about an hour ・Do flexibility exercises at home (3.5 METs) at least once a week for about an hour ・Walking in water (4.0 METs) at least once a week for about an hour ・Light jogging (6.0 METs) at least once a week for about 30 minutes ・Swimming (8.0 METs) at least once a week for about 30 minutes

[0032] (2) Fatigue In the present invention, "fatigue" refers to the awareness of fatigue in either the mind or the body, or both. "Fatigue" includes chronic fatigue and transient fatigue.

[0033] "Fatigue" is a subjective sensation of fatigue. Therefore, "fatigue" is distinguished from "fatigue" (defined by the Japan Society for Fatigue Studies as "a state of reduced physical activity accompanied by specific discomfort and a desire for rest resulting from excessive physical and mental activity or illness"), which indicates an objective decline in activity. "Fatigue" is also distinguished from "frailty" (defined by the Japan Geriatrics Society as "a state intermediate between a healthy state and a state requiring nursing care (a state requiring support in daily life)"), which indicates an objective decline in health status. Furthermore, "fatigue" is also distinguished from "frailty," which is diagnosed according to the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) criteria (Fried LP, et al: Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2001; 56(3)). For example, there are conditions in which "fatigue" or "frailty" is not objectively present, but subjective "fatigue" occurs. The present invention contributes to the alleviation of such "fatigue."

[0034] "Fatigue" in the present invention can be broadly divided into "mental fatigue" and "physical fatigue." "Mental fatigue" includes fatigue that occurs in the mind and spirit. "Physical fatigue" includes fatigue that occurs in the body.

[0035] The presence or absence and degree of fatigue in the present invention can be determined by various conventionally known evaluation methods.

[0036] One method for assessing fatigue is to use the "SF-36 (trademark) v2" (MOS Short-Form 36-Item Health. Survey ver. 2), a self-report health status questionnaire. "SF-36 (trademark) v2" is a scale for assessing quality of life (QOL) using multiple health concepts that are common to all people (health concepts). The following health concepts can be used to assess fatigue. For each index, the higher the value, the higher the QOL (i.e., the less fatigue felt). - Index of physical fatigue: "Vitality (VT)", etc. - Index of mental fatigue: "Mental Health (MH)", "Mental component summary (MCS)", etc.

[0037] In the present invention, "reducing fatigue" includes suppressing the onset of fatigue, mitigating the degree of fatigue, recovering from fatigue, etc. When the fatigue is mental fatigue, examples of reducing fatigue include becoming less depressed, feeling more upbeat, becoming less irritable, becoming calmer, improving limited or reduced activity due to psychological reasons, and increasing social interactions. When the fatigue is physical fatigue, examples of reducing fatigue include increasing vitality and feeling full of energy, etc.

[0038] (3) Active Ingredient In the present invention, the term "active ingredient" refers to a physiologically active substance having a desired effect (such as the effect of reducing fatigue).

[0039] <Agent for Reducing Fatigue in Middle-Aged and Elderly People> The agent for reduc- ing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people according to the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "the agent of the present invention") contains a medium-chain fatty acid as an active ingredient.

[0040] Middle-aged and elderly people are prone to aging-related disorders and tend to feel fatigued on a daily basis, even if they are not suffering from any disease. Therefore, there is a high demand for a method to reduce fatigue that can be easily incorporated into daily life. On the other hand, there has been insufficient knowledge about ingredients that can reduce fatigue, can be easily taken continuously by middle-aged and elderly people, and have no concerns about side effects.

[0041] In light of these circumstances, the present inventors conducted extensive research and discovered a novel finding that the intake of medium-chain fatty acids can reduce fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. Medium-chain fatty acids are components that can be incorporated into foods and beverages, can be taken continuously on a daily basis, and are free from concerns about side effects. Furthermore, the effect of reducing fatigue was significantly greater than that of long-chain fatty acids. Therefore, it is expected that middle-aged and elderly people can easily reduce fatigue and improve their daily quality of life (QOL) by taking the agent of the present invention.

[0042] The agent of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0043] (1) Medium-chain fatty acids Medium-chain fatty acids (also referred to as MCFA) are a general term for straight-chain saturated fatty acids having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and are fat and oil components contained in ordinary foods (e.g., edible oils and fats, dairy products, etc.). Therefore, the agent of the present invention is highly safe and can be taken on a daily basis.

[0044] As described above, "medium-chain fatty acid" is a general term for linear saturated fatty acids having a specific number of carbon atoms, but in the present invention, the medium-chain fatty acids are treated as a whole as one component. However, the medium-chain fatty acid in the present invention may consist of only one type of linear saturated fatty acid, or may contain multiple types of linear saturated fatty acids.

[0045] The agent of the present invention contains at least a medium-chain fatty acid as an active ingredient. The medium-chain fatty acid in the present invention is an active ingredient having a fatigue-reducing effect. It is not excluded that the agent of the present invention may contain an active ingredient having a fatigue-reducing effect or other effects in addition to the medium-chain fatty acid, as long as the effect of the present invention is not impaired. However, preferred embodiments of the present invention include embodiments in which the active ingredient is only a medium-chain fatty acid.

[0046] (1-1) Types of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids The medium-chain fatty acids in the present invention have 6 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably 8 and / or 10 carbon atoms.

[0047] In the present invention, the medium-chain fatty acid may be caproic acid (hexanoic acid), caprylic acid (octanoic acid), capric acid (decanoic acid), or lauric acid. Of these, caprylic acid (octanoic acid) and / or capric acid (decanoic acid) are preferred.

[0048] The medium-chain fatty acids may be those obtained by hydrolyzing palm kernel oil or coconut oil and then purifying the hydrolyzed oil. Alternatively, commercially available products or reagents may be used as the medium-chain fatty acids.

[0049] (1-2) Form of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids The form of medium-chain fatty acids is not particularly limited, and may be medium-chain fatty acids themselves (free fatty acids, free forms), fatty acid precursors that are converted into medium-chain fatty acids in vivo (e.g., salts, esters (such as glycerides described below)), or mixtures thereof.

[0050] The medium-chain fatty acid is preferably in the form of a glyceride, as this is closer to the form found in ordinary foods.

[0051] Glycerides have a structure in which fatty acids and glycerin are ester-bonded, and exist in one of three forms (monoglyceride, diglyceride, and triglyceride) depending on the number of fatty acids bonded to glycerin. The glyceride in the present invention may be in any of the three forms, but at least one of the constituent fatty acids must be a medium-chain fatty acid. Note that a triglyceride in which all of the constituent fatty acids are medium-chain fatty acids is also called a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT).

[0052] The fatty acids constituting the diglyceride and triglyceride may be the same or different. In the case of a glyceride composed of different types of fatty acids, the bonding position of each fatty acid to glycerin is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the constituent fatty acids of the glyceride may or may not contain fatty acids other than medium-chain fatty acids (e.g., long-chain fatty acids having 14 to 22 carbon atoms, etc.).

[0053] In the present invention, the lower limit of the proportion of medium-chain fatty acids in the total constituent fatty acids of the glyceride is preferably 10% by mass or more, more preferably 50% by mass or more, and even more preferably 70% by mass or more. The upper limit is preferably 100% by mass or less. When the proportion of medium-chain fatty acids is within the above range, the effect of reducing fatigue is more easily achieved.

[0054] In the present invention, the medium-chain fatty acids are preferably in the form of constituent fatty acids of triglycerides, more preferably in the form of constituent fatty acids of medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides. In other words, the agent of the present invention preferably contains a triglyceride containing medium-chain fatty acids (a triglyceride in which one or more constituent fatty acids are medium-chain fatty acids), more preferably a medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride (a triglyceride in which all constituent fatty acids are medium-chain fatty acids).

[0055] When the medium-chain fatty acids are in the form of constituent fatty acids of a triglyceride, the triglyceride is preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of triglycerides containing only C8 or C10 medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids, and triglycerides containing C8 medium-chain fatty acids and C10 medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids.

[0056] When the medium-chain fatty acids are in the form of constituent fatty acids of a triglyceride, the triglyceride is a triglyceride having constituent fatty acids of 8 carbon atoms and 10 carbon atoms, and the mass ratio of the 8 carbon atoms and the 10 carbon atoms medium-chain fatty acids (8 carbon atoms medium-chain fatty acids:10 carbon atoms medium-chain fatty acids) is preferably 20:80 to 90:10, more preferably 30:70 to 85:15, and even more preferably 60:40 to 80:20.

[0057] The method for producing glycerides is not particularly limited, but for example, glycerides can be obtained by esterifying medium-chain fatty acids derived from palm kernel oil or coconut oil with glycerin. Examples of esterification reactions include a method in which the reaction is carried out under pressure without a catalyst or solvent, a method in which the reaction is carried out using a synthetic catalyst such as sodium methoxide, and a method in which the reaction is carried out using lipase as a catalyst.

[0058] (1-3) Amount of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids The amount of medium-chain fatty acids in the agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, as long as it contains medium-chain fatty acids. For example, the amount of medium-chain fatty acids in the agent of the present invention may be 30% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less. However, from the viewpoint of easily achieving the effects of the present invention, it is preferable to adjust the amount of medium-chain fatty acids by adjusting the daily intake amount as described below.

[0059] The content of medium-chain fatty acids contained in the agent of the present invention can be determined by gas chromatography.

[0060] (2) Other Components The agent of the present invention may consist solely of medium-chain fatty acids (medium-chain fatty acids themselves or fatty acid precursors (particularly glycerides) that are converted into medium-chain fatty acids in vivo), or may contain other components in addition to medium-chain fatty acids. The other components are not particularly limited as long as they do not inhibit the effects of the present invention, and examples thereof include active ingredients other than medium-chain fatty acids, emulsifiers, antioxidants, long-chain fatty acid triglycerides, solvents, etc.

[0061] However, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes those in which the agent of the present invention consists solely of medium-chain fatty acids (medium-chain fatty acids themselves or fatty acid precursors (particularly glycerides) that are converted into medium-chain fatty acids in vivo).

[0062] (3) Form of the Agent of the Present Invention The agent of the present invention may be in any form.

[0063] The agent of the present invention is preferably in the form of an oral agent since it is suitable for daily intake. (4) Manufacturing Method of the Agent of the Present Invention The manufacturing method of the agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, and a manufacturing method depending on the form of the agent, etc. can be appropriately adopted.

[0064] (5) Use of the Agent of the Present Invention The agent of the present invention is used to reduce fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. Therefore, the target subjects of administration of the agent of the present invention are middle-aged and elderly people.

[0065] The fatigue that can be alleviated by the agent of the present invention includes mental fatigue and / or physical fatigue. In particular, the fact that the effect of medium-chain fatty acids on mental fatigue is an alleviating effect could not be predicted from conventional knowledge, and such an effect of alleviating mental fatigue is extremely unexpected.

[0066] The agent of the present invention can be taken at any time in daily life, such as before or after meals, upon waking up, or before sleep.

[0067] The amount and frequency of administration of the agent of the present invention are not particularly limited and can be appropriately determined depending on the condition of the subject.

[0068] From the viewpoint of easily achieving the effects of the present invention, the agent of the present invention is administered so that medium-chain fatty acids are ingested in an amount of preferably 1 g or more, more preferably 1 g or more and 10 g or less, even more preferably 1 g or more and 5 g or less, and even more preferably 1 g or more and 2.5 g or less per day.

[0069] From the viewpoint of particularly easily achieving the effects of the present invention, the agent of the present invention is preferably administered so that 1 g to 5 g of medium-chain fatty acids are ingested per day and the amount of octanoic acid is greater than the amount of decanoic acid. In such an embodiment, it is more preferable that the ingested medium-chain fatty acids are only octanoic acid and decanoic acid.

[0070] <Composition for Reducing Fatigue in Middle-Aged and Elderly People> The composition for relieving fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people according to the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "the composition of the present invention") contains a medium-chain fatty acid as an active ingredient.

[0071] The composition of the present invention is a mixture containing medium-chain fatty acids (including the type and form of medium-chain fatty acids) and components other than medium-chain fatty acids, and is similar in composition and use to the agent of the present invention. However, while the composition of the present invention contains medium-chain fatty acids and other components (i.e., contains two or more components), the agent of the present invention includes both an embodiment consisting only of medium-chain fatty acids and an embodiment containing medium-chain fatty acids and other components. Thus, the composition of the present invention and the agent of the present invention may overlap in composition.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the medium-chain fatty acid may be the only active ingredient in the composition of the present invention. In such an embodiment, the components contained in the composition of the present invention other than the medium-chain fatty acid may be one or more inactive ingredients. In this embodiment, the "inactive ingredient" includes, for example, a substance that is harmless to the living body but does not have a fatigue-reducing effect.

[0073] (1) Constitution of the composition of the present invention The composition of the present invention may contain medium-chain fatty acids and other ingredients, as explained above in the section <Agent for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people>.

[0074] The amount of medium-chain fatty acids contained in the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited. The lower limit of the amount of medium-chain fatty acids is preferably 0.5% by mass or more, more preferably 5.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 10.0% by mass or more, based on the composition of the present invention. The upper limit of the amount of medium-chain fatty acids is preferably 95.0% by mass or less, more preferably 70.0% by mass or less, and even more preferably 50.0% by mass or less, based on the composition of the present invention. However, from the viewpoint of easily achieving the effects of the present invention, it is preferable to adjust the amount of medium-chain fatty acids by adjusting the daily intake amount as described below.

[0075] (2) Form of the Composition of the Present Invention The composition of the present invention may be in the form of a drug, a quasi-drug, or a food or drink.

[0076] (2-1) Pharmaceuticals and Quasi-drugs Pharmaceuticals include both oral and parenteral pharmaceutical compositions, and oral pharmaceutical compositions are preferred from the viewpoint of ease of continuous intake.

[0077] Examples of the form of the pharmaceutical composition for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders, fine granules, granules, liquids, syrups and the like.

[0078] Examples of the form of the pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration include preparations such as injections and infusions.

[0079] The pharmaceutical of the present invention may contain pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable additives together with the medium-chain fatty acids. As the "pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable additives," substances that are commonly used as excipients in the pharmaceutical field and do not react with the medium-chain fatty acids can be used.

[0080] The quasi-drugs of the present invention are similar to the pharmaceuticals described above.

[0081] (2-2) Food and Drinks Beverages include soft drinks, soups, etc.

[0082] The form of the soft drink is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include carbonated drinks (carbonated water, cider, ginger ale, etc.), fruit drinks (orange juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice, etc.), coffee drinks (black coffee, cafe au lait, espresso, etc.), tea drinks (green tea, barley tea, black tea, etc.), dairy drinks (lactic acid bacteria drinks, etc.), mineral waters, etc.

[0083] The form of the soup is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include Japanese-style soups (miso soup, pork soup, etc.), Western-style soups (potage soup, minestrone, chowder, etc.), Chinese-style soups (chicken stock, etc.), and ethnic-style soups (tom yum goong, tom kha gai, etc.).

[0084] (2-3) Foods Examples of foods include supplements, general foods, animal foods, and animal feeds. The foods and drinks of the present invention also include so-called health foods, such as functional foods whose efficacy has been approved by a designated organization (foods for specified health uses, foods with nutrient functions, foods with functional claims, etc.).

[0085] The form of the supplement is not particularly limited and may be either a solid preparation or a liquid preparation, such as tablets, coated tablets, capsules, granules, powders, powders, sustained-release preparations, suspensions, emulsions, oral solutions, sugar-coated tablets, pills, fine granules, syrups, and elixirs.

[0086] The form of the general food is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include bakery products and confectioneries (bread, cakes, cookies, biscuits, donuts, muffins, scones, chocolate, snacks, whipped cream, ice cream, ice cream mix, confectionery bars, chocolate bars, high-fat bars, UHT desserts, pasteurized desserts, etc.), beverages (fruit juice drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, etc.), seasonings and processed foods (dressings, sauces, mayonnaise, butter, margarine, modified margarine, fat spreads, shortening, bakery mixes, etc.), dairy products (cheese spreads, processed cheese, dairy desserts, flavored milk, fermented dairy products, cheese, butter, condensed milk products, yogurt, cream, etc.), soups, frying oil, frying oil, fried foods, processed meat products, frozen foods, fried foods, noodles, retort foods, liquid foods, foods for swallowing, soy products, pasteurized liquid eggs, gels, jellies, fillings (fat-based or water-containing fillings), and the like.

[0087] When the composition of the present invention is used for the production of general foods, the medium-chain fatty acids are preferably in the form of medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides. In such cases, it is preferable to add medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides to the raw materials or to use the medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides in place of the oils and fats in the raw materials.

[0088] (3) Method for Producing the Composition of the Present Invention The method for producing the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, and any suitable method can be adopted depending on the form of the composition.

[0089] (4) Uses of the Composition of the Present Invention The composition of the present invention can be used in the same applications as those explained above in the section <Agent for Relieving Fatigue in Middle-aged and Elderly People>.

[0090] The amount and frequency of ingestion of the composition of the present invention are not particularly limited and can be appropriately determined depending on the condition of the subject.

[0091] From the viewpoint of easily achieving the effects of the present invention, the composition of the present invention is administered so that medium-chain fatty acids are ingested preferably at least 1 g, more preferably at least 1 g but not more than 10 g, even more preferably at least 1 g but not more than 5 g, and even more preferably at least 1 g but not more than 2.5 g per day.

[0092] From the viewpoint of particularly easily achieving the effects of the present invention, the composition of the present invention is preferably administered so that 1 g to 5 g of medium-chain fatty acids are ingested per day and the amount of octanoic acid is greater than the amount of decanoic acid. In such an embodiment, it is more preferable that the ingested medium-chain fatty acids are only octanoic acid and decanoic acid.

[0093] <Other aspects of the present invention> The present invention also encompasses, for example, the following aspects. - A method for reducing fatigue, comprising the step of administering a medium-chain fatty acid or a composition to a middle-aged or elderly person who is feeling fatigued. - Medium-chain fatty acid or composition for use in reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. - Application of medium-chain fatty acid or composition in the production of a medicine, quasi-drug, or food or beverage for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. - Use of medium-chain fatty acid or composition in the production of a medicine, quasi-drug, or food or beverage for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. - Method for producing a medicine, quasi-drug, or food or beverage using medium-chain fatty acid or composition for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0094] (1) Method for Reducing Fatigue The method for reducing fatigue according to the present invention comprises administering a medium-chain fatty acid, which is an active ingredient of the agent of the present invention, or a composition containing the medium-chain fatty acid to a middle-aged or elderly person experiencing fatigue. In other words, the medium-chain fatty acid or a composition containing the medium-chain fatty acid can be suitably administered to a middle-aged or elderly person who needs to reduce fatigue.

[0095] Details of the medium-chain fatty acids or the composition containing the medium-chain fatty acids to be administered are as described above.

[0096] The method of administration of the medium-chain fatty acids or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids can be appropriately selected depending on the form, etc., and includes oral administration and parenteral administration (injection, drip infusion, etc.).

[0097] The dosage and frequency of administration of the medium-chain fatty acids or the composition containing the medium-chain fatty acids can be appropriately determined depending on the condition (fatigue level, age, body weight, etc.) of the middle-aged or elderly person to be administered.

[0098] (2) Medium-chain fatty acids or compositions for use in reducing fatigue The medium-chain fatty acids that are the active ingredients of the agent of the present invention, or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids, can be used to reduce fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0099] Details of the medium-chain fatty acids used or the composition containing the medium-chain fatty acids are as described above.

[0100] The method of use of the medium-chain fatty acids or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids can be appropriately selected depending on the form, etc., and examples include oral administration and parenteral administration (injection, drip infusion, etc.).

[0101] The dosage and frequency of administration of the medium-chain fatty acids or the composition containing the medium-chain fatty acids can be appropriately determined depending on the condition (fatigue level, age, body weight, etc.) of the middle-aged or elderly person to be administered.

[0102] (3) Application of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids or Compositions in the Production of Pharmaceuticals, Quasi-Drugs, or Foods and Beverages for Reducing Fatigue The medium-chain fatty acids, which are the active ingredients of the agent of the present invention, or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids, can be used to produce pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. In other words, the medium-chain fatty acids or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids can be used as ingredients (active ingredients) for pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0103] Details of the medium-chain fatty acids used or the composition containing the medium-chain fatty acids are as described above.

[0104] (4) Use of medium-chain fatty acids or compositions in the production of pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people The medium-chain fatty acids, which are the active ingredients of the agent of the present invention, or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids, can be used to produce pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. In other words, the medium-chain fatty acids or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids can be used as materials (active ingredients) for pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0105] Details of the medium-chain fatty acids used or the composition containing the medium-chain fatty acids are as described above.

[0106] The phrase "use of medium-chain fatty acids in the production of pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or food and beverage products for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people" is used interchangeably with other expressions such as "use of medium-chain fatty acids or compositions in the production of pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or food and beverage products for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people."

[0107] (5) Method for producing pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people using medium-chain fatty acids or compositions The medium-chain fatty acids, which are the active ingredients of the agent of the present invention, or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids, can be used to produce pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. In other words, the medium-chain fatty acids or compositions containing the medium-chain fatty acids can be used as materials (active ingredients) for pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or foods and beverages for alleviating fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0108] Details of the medium-chain fatty acids used or the composition containing the medium-chain fatty acids are as described above.

[0109] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0110] Using the following method, middle-aged and elderly people were given medium-chain fatty acids orally, and the effects on fatigue were examined.

[0111] (1) Subjects: 120 subjects who met all of the following requirements were selected as subjects. All of these subjects were middle-aged or elderly (including healthy elderly people). Japanese men and women aged 60 to 75 years. Body mass index (BMI) of 19 kg / m ２ More than 24kg / m ２ - Those who exercise or walk less than once a week for less than 30 minutes each time. - Those who do not regularly (four hours or more per week) take care of children or elderly relatives. - Those who do not meet the exclusion criteria related to health or lifestyle (daily intake of medium-chain fatty acids, those suffering from serious illnesses, those undergoing dietary therapy or exercise therapy under the supervision of a doctor, etc.).

[0112] (2) Test Foods Four types of test foods were prepared using various fatty acids.

[0113] (2-1) Preparation of fatty acid samples The following fatty acid samples were used. Oils and fats containing long-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids (LCT): carbon number = 16 to 24, product name "Nissin Canola Oil" (manufactured by The Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd.) Oils and fats containing medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids-1 (MCT1): medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride (triacylglycerol) whose constituent fatty acids are only octanoic acid (carbon number = 8) and decanoic acid (carbon number = 10) and whose mass ratio of octanoic acid to decanoic acid is 3:7, product name "Nissin MCT-C10R" (manufactured by The Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd.) Oils and fats containing medium-chain fatty acids as constituent fatty acids-2 (MCT2): medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride (triacylglycerol) whose constituent fatty acids are only octanoic acid and decanoic acid and whose mass ratio of octanoic acid to decanoic acid is 75:25, product name "Nissin MCT Oil" (manufactured by The Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd.)

[0114] (2-2) Preparation of Test Foods Four types of test foods were prepared by blending the ingredients in the proportions shown in Table 1 using the following method. First, the emulsifier and gelling agent were mixed and stirred into hot water to dissolve uniformly. Next, the flavoring and fatty acid sample (LCT and / or MCT) were added and pre-emulsified using a homomixer, and then homogenized using a homogenizer. 15 g of the resulting emulsion was filled and sealed into a stick-shaped plastic film, sterilized by heating, and gelled to obtain the test foods.

[0115]

[0116] (3) Administration test of test food to subjects A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group comparative study was conducted using the following method, with the "control food" set as a placebo.

[0117] The subjects were randomly assigned to four test food intake groups (30 subjects per group). The test period was set to 12 weeks. During the test period, subjects orally ingested one packet of the test food after two of the three meals per day (i.e., two packets per day). The test food contained 3 g of oils and fats (fatty acid sample) per packet. Therefore, the subjects ingested 6 g of oils and fats (fatty acid sample) per day. Details of the daily intake of oils and fats (fatty acid sample) and medium-chain fatty acids ingested by the subjects are shown in Table 2. The equivalent amount of medium-chain fatty acids in each food (equivalent amount of octanoic acid, equivalent amount of decanoic acid, and total amount of medium-chain fatty acids) was determined by gas chromatography.

[0118]

[0119] During the study period, the subjects were instructed to continue their normal lifestyles while refraining from excessive exercise.

[0120] (4) Evaluation and Results of Fatigue A health-related quality of life (HOL) survey was conducted on the subjects before the start of the study and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the start of the study. The survey used the "SF-36™ v2" (MOS Short-Form 36-Item Health. Survey ver. 2), a self-reported health status questionnaire. Based on the "SF-36™ v2," raw scores were calculated from the answers obtained for each health concept and converted into a score (summary score) ranging from 0 to 100 points. A higher summary score indicates a higher QOL (quality of life) (i.e., less fatigue).

[0121] In this study, the following summary scores were used: Physical fatigue index: Summary score of "Vitality (VT)" among health concepts Mental fatigue index: Summary scores of "Mental Health (MH)" and "Mental component summary (MCS)" among health concepts

[0122] The summary scores obtained for each test food intake group are shown in Tables 3 and 4. In Tables 3 and 4, "actual value" refers to the summary score obtained from the results of "SF-36™ v2." "Change value" refers to the fluctuation of the "actual value" from measurement week 0.

[0123] Table 5 shows some of the results of the muscle strength tests conducted on each subject. The "actual value of right knee extension muscle strength" in Table 5 refers to the average value of right knee extension muscle strength. Table 5 also shows the results before the start of the test on the subjects. In the muscle strength tests, knee extension muscle strength of both the left and right legs was measured using a lower limb muscle strength measuring device (Locomo Scan-II, manufactured by Alcare Co., Ltd.).

[0124] In each table, each value is shown as "mean value ± standard error." An asterisk (*) indicates a significant difference compared to the control food intake group (p<0.05, Dunnett's test).

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[0126]

[0127]

[0128] The group taking "Test Food A" showed a significant increase in the change score for "Mental QOL" 8 weeks after the start of the study compared to the group taking "Control Food." Furthermore, the group taking "Test Food A" showed a significant increase in the actual value and change score for "Vitality," the actual value score for "Mental Health," and the actual value and change score for "Mental QOL" 12 weeks after the start of the study compared to the group taking "Control Food."

[0129] The group taking "Test Food B" showed a significant increase in the change score for "vitality" 8 weeks after the start of the study compared to the group taking "Control Food." Furthermore, the group taking "Test Food B" showed a significant increase in the change scores for "vitality" and "mental QOL" 12 weeks after the start of the study compared to the group taking "Control Food."

[0130] The group taking "Test Food C" showed significant increases in the actual numerical scores for "vitality," "mental health," and "mental QOL" after 8 weeks from the start of the study, as well as in the change scores for "vitality" and "mental QOL," compared to the group taking "Control Food." Furthermore, the group taking "Test Food C" showed significant increases in the actual numerical scores for "vitality," "mental health," and "mental QOL" after 12 weeks from the start of the study, as well as in the change scores for "vitality" and "mental QOL," compared to the group taking "Control Food."

[0131] The above results demonstrate that continuous intake of medium-chain fatty acids (especially preferably octanoic acid and decanoic acid) can reduce fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people. Furthermore, continuous intake of medium-chain fatty acids (especially preferably octanoic acid and decanoic acid) can be expected to have effects such as enhancing vitality, recovering from fatigue, and suppressing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people.

[0132] Although the effects of both octanoic acid and decanoic acid were confirmed as medium-chain fatty acids, the test foods containing octanoic acid tended to be particularly effective in achieving the effects of the present invention. In this study, the muscle strength of subjects in the "Test Food Group B" was higher than that of the other groups (Table 5). This is thought to be due to the fact that the fatigue improvement effect of the "Test Food Group B," which had the highest intake of octanoic acid, was somewhat lower than that of the other groups. However, when comparing subjects with roughly the same muscle strength, the higher the intake of octanoic acid, the more likely the fatigue improvement effect was to be observed.

[0133] In this study, the total intake of medium-chain fatty acids was set at a maximum of 5.4 g per day, but it is believed that a daily intake of 1 g or more would be sufficient to produce a sufficient effect. In particular, it was estimated that the effects of the present invention are more likely to be obtained when the total daily intake of medium-chain fatty acids is 1 g or more and 5 g or less, and the intake of octanoic acid is greater than the intake of decanoic acid.

Claims

1. An agent for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people, the active ingredient of which is a medium-chain fatty acid.

2. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the fatigue is mental fatigue and / or physical fatigue.

3. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent comprises a triglyceride, and the medium-chain fatty acid is in the form of a constituent fatty acid of the triglyceride.

4. The agent according to claim 3, wherein the triglyceride is a medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride.

5. The agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the medium chain fatty acid comprises octanoic acid and / or decanoic acid.

6. A composition for reducing fatigue in middle-aged and elderly people, the active ingredient of the composition comprising at least a medium-chain fatty acid.

7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the feeling of fatigue is a feeling of mental fatigue and / or a feeling of physical fatigue.

8. The composition of claim 6, wherein the composition comprises a triglyceride and the medium chain fatty acid is in the form of a constituent fatty acid of the triglyceride.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the triglyceride is a medium chain triglyceride.

10. The composition of claim 6, wherein the medium chain fatty acids include octanoic acid and / or decanoic acid.

11. The composition according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the composition is in the form of a medicine, a quasi-drug, or a food or beverage.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition is administered to provide an intake of 1 g or more of the medium chain fatty acids per day.

13. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition is administered such that 1 g or more of the medium chain fatty acid is administered per day and the intake of octanoic acid is greater than the intake of decanoic acid.

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