Fatigue recovery agent, Anti-fatigue agent, and food / drink for fatigue recovery

Abstract

Provided is a fatigue recovery agent containing, as an active ingredient, a triglyceride represented by formula (I) (In the formula, each of R1, R2, and R3 is a saturated fatty acid residue, and at least one of these is a pentadecanoic acid residue.). This fatigue recovery agent can be safely taken over a long period of time and can be used as food / drink or a medicine for prevention, symptom reduction, and improvement.

Description

Fatigue recovery agents, anti-fatigue agents, and fatigue recovery foods and drinks

[0001] The present invention relates to a fatigue relief agent, an anti-fatigue agent, and a fatigue relief food and drink.

[0002] Exercise usually begins with anaerobic exercise, then transitions to aerobic exercise, which is maintained steadily, but fatigue gradually accumulates and exercise becomes difficult. At this time, phenomena such as a decrease in blood sugar levels, which are an energy source, and the accumulation of lactic acid occur in the body, and it takes a certain amount of time for the body to recover from the fatigued state to its original state.

[0003] In addition to the physical fatigue described above, central fatigue has become a problem in recent years due to the advancement of information technology and increased mental stress. Central fatigue is one of the biological reactions that many people face on a daily basis due to changes in social life and the aging population. It has become clear that the number of people suffering from chronic fatigue is increasing and the nature of fatigue is changing. Central fatigue can lead to autonomic dysfunction, resulting in sleep disorders, impaired thermoregulation, decreased concentration and memory, impaired judgment, decreased motivation, extreme physical weakness, and depression.

[0004] Many factors are thought to be involved in the development of fatigue, but it has become clear that fatigue can also be caused by factors such as viral infections, in addition to the physical and central (mental) stress mentioned above.

[0005] In light of these factors, there is a growing demand for effective means for preventing and recovering from fatigue. In recent years, with the rise in health consciousness, a variety of foods and supplements have been offered as nutritional supplements, but with the rise in preference for natural ingredients, natural materials have come to be preferred over artificial mixtures. As a result, foods and supplements derived from natural ingredients have attracted attention, and several natural products have been proposed as having fatigue recovery or fatigue prevention effects.

[0006] For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe amino acid compositions containing specific amino acids in specific ratios, and Patent Document 3 uses royal jelly with a specific protein content as a blood glucose level maintaining agent that prevents a drop in blood glucose level. Patent Document 4 describes an amino acid composition containing a specific amino acid. Furthermore, Patent Document 5 describes an anti-fatigue agent containing uracil, uridylic acid, or a uridine derivative as an active ingredient, Patent Document 6 describes an anti-fatigue agent containing an extract of a plant belonging to the genus Sambucus or an extract of a plant belonging to the genus Urticaria as an active ingredient, and Patent Document 7 proposes a naturally derived muscle slow-twitch promoter containing, as an active ingredient, a high molecular weight polyphenol extracted from fermented tea such as oolong tea or black tea, which is effective for increasing endurance and recovering from fatigue. Furthermore, Patent Document 8 discloses a yeast extract-containing composition effective in preventing and recovering from fatigue, which comprises (I) a yeast extract containing 0.1 to 12% vitamin B1, (II) a yeast extract containing 40 to 80% peptide, and (III) a yeast extract containing 5 to 50% glutathione, wherein the ratio of components (I):(II):(III) is in the range of 6 to 3:3 to 1:2 to 1. Patent Document 9 discloses a composition having anti-fatigue properties, which contains as an active ingredient a component extracted from Cassia seeds with water, a water-miscible organic solvent, or a mixture of these in any ratio. Patent Document 10 discloses a fatigue recovery agent containing as an active ingredient at least one plant and / or extract thereof selected from the group consisting of plants of the genus Madagascar (Iridaceae), plants of the genus Solanaceae, plants of the genus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), and plants of the genus Tabebuia (Bignoniaceae).

[0007] Japan JP-A-4-95026 Japan JP-A-6-327435 Japan JP-A-2001-213793 Japan JP-A-2004-123564 Japan JP-A-2010-248161 Japan JP-A-2009-185068 Japan JP-A-2010-37323 Japan JP-A-2009-107962 International Publication WO2007 / 004570 Japan JP-A-2006-327983

[0008] Among the conventionally known compositions or products effective in recovering from fatigue and the like, there is a demand for even better ones that are more effective, can be taken safely over the long term, and in particular, can be taken daily not only by special people such as athletes but also by ordinary people to maintain stamina in their work and to lead a vibrant life, and can also improve chronic fatigue. The present invention has been made from the above perspective, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a new anti-fatigue agent or physical strength improver that can be used safely over the long term.

[0009] As a result of intensive research to solve the above problems, the present inventors discovered that a triglyceride composed of saturated fatty acids containing primarily pentadecanoic acid (C15) (pentadecanoic acid triglyceride: hereinafter sometimes referred to as "PdATG") improves fatigue recovery and fatigue sensation, leading to the completion of the present invention. Note that the present inventors have previously assumed to some extent that the ingestion of PdATG and PdATG-containing oils would alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress and thereby improve various diseases, but the improvement of fatigue recovery and fatigue sensation was not previously known and has now been newly discovered.

[0010] In a first aspect of the present invention, which solves the above problems, a fatigue recovery agent is a compound represented by the following formula (I):

[0011]

[0012] (In the formula, R １ , R ２ and R ３ are saturated fatty acid residues, at least one of which is a pentadecanoic acid residue.

[0013] In one embodiment of the fatigue relieving agent, the triglyceride of formula (I) is R １ and R ２ or R １ and R ３ is preferably a pentadecanoic acid residue. １ , R ２ and R３ Any one of the residues may be a tridecylic acid (C13), a myristic acid residue (C14), a palmitic acid residue (C16) or a margaric acid residue (C17).

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, R １ , R ２ and R ３ wherein all of R are pentadecanoic acid residues, and １ , R ２ and R ３ and a triglyceride of formula (I) in which any two of the above are pentadecanoic acid residues and the other is a myristic acid or palmitic acid residue.

[0015] In yet another preferred embodiment of the fatigue recovery agent of the present invention, the triglyceride of formula (I) is derived from algae of the genus Aurantiochytrium or Schizochytrium, and in the formula, R １ , R ２ and R ３ and (b) may be triglycerides each containing saturated fatty acid residues, at least one of which is a pentadecanoic acid residue. Furthermore, the mixture may be a mixture containing unsaturated fatty acids derived from algae of the genus Aurantiochytrium or Schizochytrium.

[0016] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-fatigue agent containing the triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) as an active ingredient.

[0017] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food or drink for fatigue relief, which contains the triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) as an active ingredient.

[0018] Ingestion of the triglyceride-containing composition of the present invention can recover from fatigue and improve the feeling of fatigue, and it can provide foods, beverages, and medicines that can be taken over the long term to recover from fatigue, prevent fatigue, and alleviate or improve symptoms of fatigue.

[0019] 1 is a graph showing the changes in various elements of fatigue sensation in subjects before and after taking the drug in an example according to the present invention. 2 is a graph showing the changes in further various elements of fatigue sensation in subjects before and after taking the drug in an example according to the present invention. 3 is a graph showing the contents of a questionnaire used to obtain responses from subjects in an example according to the present invention.

[0020] Next, the present invention will be described in more detail based on the following embodiments. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all of the elements and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0021] (Active ingredient) In this specification, PdATG means at least one ester of pentadecanoic acid and glycerol, and is represented by the following formula (I): １ , R ２ and R ３ At least one, preferably any two, for example, R １ and R ２ or R １ and R ３ More preferably, R １ , R ２ and R ３ The triglycerides include triglycerides in which three of the above residues are pentadecanoic acid residues. The pentadecanoic acid may be bonded to the glyceride at any of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions.

[0022]

[0023] (In the formula, R １ , R ２ and R ３ are each saturated fatty acid residues, at least one of which is a pentadecanoic acid residue.

[0024] In the formula, R １ , R ２ and R ３ Any one of the residues represented by the formula (I) may be a saturated fatty acid residue other than a pentadecanoic acid residue. "Saturated fatty acid" is a general term for fatty acids that do not have a double bond or a triple bond in the molecule, and ｎ H ２ｎ＋１The saturated fatty acids are represented by the chemical formula COOH. These saturated fatty acids are linear or branched, and examples thereof include linear saturated fatty acids such as capric acid (C10), lauric acid (C12), tridecylic acid (C13), myristic acid (C14), pentadecanoic acid (C15), palmitic acid (C16), margaric acid (C17), stearic acid (C18), arachidic acid (C20), behenic acid (C22), lignoceric acid (C24), and cerotic acid (C26), as well as branched saturated fatty acids such as 2-hexyldecanoic acid (C16), 13-methylpentadecanoic acid (C16), and 16-methylheptadecanoic acid (C18).

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, PdATG is R １ , R ２ and R ３ wherein all of R are pentadecanoic acid residues, and １ , R ２ and R ３ The mixture contains both triglycerides in which any two of the above residues are pentadecanoic acid residues and the other is a myristic acid or palmitic acid residue. The content ratio of the two in this mixture is not particularly limited, but a mass ratio of 1:2 to 2:1 is preferred, and a mass ratio of approximately 1:1 is even more preferred. Furthermore, each of these triglycerides is contained in 10 mass% or more, preferably 20 mass% or more, of the total amount of triglycerides. Furthermore, it is more preferred that the mixture of triglycerides containing two or more pentadecanoic acid residues is contained in an amount of 50 mass% or more of the oil or fat.

[0026] In a more preferred embodiment, PdATG is represented by the following formula (II) or (III):

[0027]

[0028] (However, in the above formulas (II) and (III), R is a C14 to C16 saturated fatty acid.) It is more preferable that the mixture of triglycerides containing two or more pentadecanoic acid residues accounts for 50% by mass or more of the oil or fat, but even if the content of triglycerides containing two or more pentadecanoic acid residues is 50% by mass or less, the objective can be achieved by increasing the intake amount. Therefore, the active ingredient of the present invention may be present in the form of a mixture of triglycerides containing two or more pentadecanoic acid residues, and as long as it is contained at a purity of at least 1% by mass, preferably 50% by mass or more, and more preferably 90% by mass or more, relative to the total amount of triglycerides, the mixture itself can exhibit the function of the active ingredient.

[0029] The active ingredient of the present invention may be present in the form of a mixture with a triglyceride other than the compound of formula (I), and the mixture itself can function as an active ingredient as long as it is contained at a purity of at least 1% by mass, preferably 50% by mass or more, and more preferably 90% by mass or more, based on the total amount of triglycerides.

[0030] The active ingredient of the present invention has at least one, and preferably two or more, odd-chain fatty acids, particularly pentadecanoic acid, in its molecule, and is therefore thought to have the effect of relieving or suppressing fatigue and leading to a healthy, normal state when ingested.

[0031] (Method for Producing Triglyceride Mixture) The triglyceride mixture, which is an active ingredient of the present invention, may be chemically synthesized or naturally occurring. If it is natural, its source is not particularly limited. Examples include lipids produced by living organisms, such as livestock or poultry fats, seafood oils and vegetable oils, and lipid-producing microorganisms. From the viewpoint of industrial productivity, microorganisms such as algae, bacteria, fungi (including yeast), and / or protists are preferred. Preferred microorganisms include those selected from the group consisting of golden algae (e.g., microorganisms of the kingdom Stramenopile), green algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, yeast, and fungi of the genera Mucor and Mortierella. Members of the microbial group Stramenopile include microalgae. Microalgae refer to organisms that perform oxygenic photosynthesis, excluding mosses, ferns, and spermatophytes, and have a cell size of 1 μm to 100 μm in diameter. Labyrinthula, a protist closely related to microalgae, is also included. Labyrinthulae are non-photosynthetic, heterotrophic marine eukaryotic microorganisms that are widely distributed, mainly in the subtropics and tropics. In general, Labyrinthulae are broadly divided into the families Labyrinthulidae and Thraustochytriidae, and include the genera Labyrinthula, Aurantiochytrium, Schizochytrium, Thraustochytrium, Aplanochytrium, Oblongichytrium, Botryochytrium, and Japonochytrium.

[0032] As the Labyrinthula to be cultured, the genus Aurantiochytrium, Schizochytrium, or Thraustochytrium is more preferred. These species have a relatively high ability to produce lipids and other substances, and are capable of producing hydrocarbons such as squalene, and are therefore suitable for use as food or as a raw material for biofuels.

[0033] Labyrinthulea may be cultured by any culture method, such as batch culture, continuous culture, or fed-batch culture. Labyrinthulea can be cultured by any appropriate culture method, such as shaking culture, aeration culture, aeration-agitation culture, airlift culture, or static culture. Among these culture methods, aeration-agitation culture or airlift culture is more preferred. Examples of culture devices that can be used for culturing Labyrinthulea include mechanically agitated reactors, airlift reactors, packed-bed reactors, and fluidized-bed reactors. Various types of containers, such as tanks, jar fermenters, flasks, dishes, culture bags, tubes, and test tubes, can be used as culture vessels depending on the purpose of the culture, the culture volume, and the like. Culture vessels may be made of any appropriate material, such as inorganic materials, such as stainless steel and glass, or organic materials, such as polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate copolymer, and polypropylene.

[0034] Labyrinthulea can be cultured under appropriate temperature, pH, aeration, etc. The culture temperature is preferably 5° C. or higher and 40° C. or lower, more preferably 10° C. or higher and 35° C. or lower, and even more preferably 10° C. or higher and 30° C. or lower. The pH is preferably 2 to 11, more preferably 4 to 9, and even more preferably 6 to 8.

[0035] Labyrinthules can be cultured while being subcultured at appropriate intervals depending on the genus and species of Labyrinthules, medium composition, culture conditions, etc. For example, after the start of culture, Labyrinthules complete their logarithmic growth phase about two days later and enter their death phase about seven days later. Therefore, Labyrinthules are preferably subcultured at intervals of 1 to 10 days, more preferably at intervals of 2 to 7 days, and even more preferably at intervals of 2 to 5 days. Furthermore, Labyrinthules can be cultured for an appropriate period depending on the genus and species of Labyrinthules, medium composition, culture conditions, and the purpose of the culture. In particular, algae of the genus Aurantiochytrium, which are Labyrinthules, are preferred because they are heterotrophic algae that live in brackish waters and are characterized by assimilating nutrients in water to produce lipids that accumulate intracellularly.

[0036] It is preferable to use Aurantiochytrium algae strains that have excellent ability to produce the desired triglycerides. Such algae strains may be naturally collected and isolated, cloned through mutagenesis and screening, or established using genetic engineering. For example, Aurantiochytrium sp. strain SA-96, NIES-3737, Aurantiochytrium strain NB6-3, or Aurantiochytrium mh1959 have the ability to intracellularly accumulate large amounts of triglycerides containing the odd-chain fatty acid pentadecanoic acid (PDA) and triglycerides containing the highly unsaturated fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Therefore, these strains are particularly preferred as microorganisms for use in producing the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride of the present invention.

[0037] The cultivation of the Aurantiochytrium algae is carried out by methods established in the art. That is, normal maintenance cultivation is carried out by seeding the algae in a medium with appropriately prepared ingredients, according to a standard method. The medium for culturing Aurantiochytrium algae essentially contains salts, a carbon source, and a nitrogen source. Generally, a so-called GTY medium (artificial seawater 10-40 g / L, D(+) glucose 20-100 g / L, tryptone 10-60 g / L, yeast extract 5-40 g / L) is used for culturing microalgae.

[0038] Carbon sources include sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc. These carbon sources are added at a concentration of, for example, 20 to 120 g per liter of medium.

[0039] Aurantiochytrium algae are marine algae, and an appropriate amount of artificial seawater is added to the culture medium. Preferably, the artificial seawater is added so that the final salinity of the culture medium is about 10% (v / v) to about 100% (v / v) of seawater (salinity 3.4% (w / v)), for example, about 1.0 to 3.0% (w / v).

[0040] Generally, various nitrogen sources can be added to microalgae culture media, such as organic nitrogen sources (e.g., sodium glutamate, urea, etc.), inorganic nitrogen sources (e.g., ammonium acetate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, etc.), or biological digests (e.g., yeast extract, corn steep liquor, polypeptone, peptone, tryptone, etc.). Cell extracts obtained by extracting liquid components from various animal cells are particularly preferred as nitrogen sources for the culture media used to culture Aurantiochytrium algae. When cells must be mass-cultured on an industrial scale to obtain cultured cell products, the use of cell extracts, which are rich in cell-derived nutrients (e.g., amino acids, nucleic acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.) and available at low cost, is extremely advantageous.

[0041] However, as described above, when a culture medium prepared based on a cell extract is used, the proportion of odd-numbered fatty acids in the triglycerides produced by the cultured algae is significantly reduced, making it impossible to use the cell extract as a nitrogen source for the culture medium when efficiently producing the target product of the present invention. Therefore, the present inventors have cultured Aurantiochytrium algae in an algal culture medium prepared by adding a cell extract treated with a strong acid, and have found that the amount of odd-numbered fatty acids produced is dramatically increased compared to when a cell extract not treated with the strong acid is added. Based on this finding, they have already reported a method for producing triglycerides containing odd-numbered fatty acids as the main component (JP 2017-063633 A).

[0042] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a basal medium for culturing Aurantiochytrium algae is prepared by adding 10-50 mM valine and 10-50 mM sodium propionate to a medium containing 2% or more glucose, 0.5-4% sodium glutamate, 0.1-2% yeast extract, 1-3.3% sea salt, and 2-20% whey (animal or vegetable). The animal or vegetable whey is preferably tofu whey (soybean whey). To this basal medium, 2% or more of an Aurantiochytrium culture solution pre-cultured at 20-30°C for 72 hours is added. Air is bubbled through the Aurantiochytrium-added culture solution and the mixture is gently stirred. The culture is carried out for 48 to 200 hours at 20 to 30°C and a pH maintained at 5.0 to 8.5 (pH is adjusted using 1.0 M NaOH solution). After the culture, Aurantiochytrium cells that produce pentadecanoic acid triglyceride can be collected by centrifugation (see WO2020 / 054804).

[0043] The pellet recovered from the culture solution obtained by the above-mentioned method by centrifugation, filtration, or the like is dried by freeze-drying, heating, or the like. Alternatively, the culture medium in which the cultured algal cells are suspended may be used directly in the triglyceride extraction step. Extraction may be performed multiple times using different organic solvents. As the organic solvent, a mixture of a polar solvent and a weakly polar solvent, such as an n-hexane / ethanol mixed solvent, a chloroform / methanol mixed solvent, or an ethanol / diethyl ether mixed solvent, may be used. The obtained extract is purified by a method known to those skilled in the art.

[0044] The triglyceride separation method employs a fractionation method known to those skilled in the art. Separation and purification may be carried out by utilizing various physicochemical properties of the triglyceride molecules to be fractionated, such as polarity, solubility in a solvent, melting point, specific gravity, and molecular weight, and preferably employs column chromatography. The conditions for the triglyceride separation method can be determined by those skilled in the art through routine condition studies, depending on the composition of the triglyceride mixture and the type of triglyceride to be fractionated.

[0045] The algae of the genus Schizochytrium and Aurantiochytrium can synthesize and accumulate both odd-chain fatty acid triglycerides and highly unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides within their cells. Therefore, ethanol, hexane, or ethyl acetate is added to the obtained algal cells to extract lipids, and the solvent is then distilled off to obtain algal lipids. Pentadecanoic acid triglyceride can be precipitated by leaving this lipid at 5°C. The composition of the purified pentadecanoic acid triglyceride "PdATG" can be analyzed by HPLC-MS, HPLC, gas chromatography, or the like.

[0046] Aurantiochytrium algae can synthesize and accumulate both odd-chain fatty acid triglycerides and highly unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides intracellularly. Therefore, hexane or ethyl acetate is added to the resulting Aurantiochytrium cells to extract lipids, and then the unsaturated fatty acids are oxidized and decomposed by adding hydrogen peroxide or bubbling ozone into the lipid solution. After the reaction is complete, the oxidized products are removed using sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate or an ion exchange resin to obtain pentadecanoic acid triglyceride "PdATG." The composition of the purified pentadecanoic acid triglyceride "PdATG" can be analyzed by HPLC-MS, HPLC, gas chromatography, or other methods.

[0047] (Fatigue recovery agent)

[0048] The fatigue recovery agent according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized by containing pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) as an active ingredient.

[0049] It is sufficient that the active ingredient contains at least the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I), and the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride may be used not only in the form of a purified product but also in the form of, for example, an oil extracted from the cultured algae as described above, that is, in the form in which the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) is present in a mixture with a triglyceride other than the compound of formula (I).

[0050] The fatigue recovery agent of the present invention can be administered to and is effective not only for humans but also for mammals including livestock such as cows, horses, pigs and goats, as well as pets such as dogs and cats.

[0051] The fatigue recovery agent of the present invention may contain only the compound of formula (I) as the active ingredient, or may contain other ingredients as long as they do not inhibit the fatigue recovery or anti-fatigue effect. The other ingredients may be, for example, ingredients that have been used conventionally and are thought to have a fatigue recovery effect, such as various amino acids.

[0052] The fatigue recovery agent of the present invention can be administered orally and can be prepared in dosage forms suitable for oral administration, such as granules, powders, tablets (including sugar-coated tablets), pills, capsules, syrups, emulsions, and suspensions. These preparations can be formulated using pharmaceutically acceptable carriers by methods commonly used in the art. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include excipients, binders, diluents, additives, flavorings, buffers, thickeners, colorants, stabilizers, emulsifiers, dispersants, suspending agents, and preservatives.

[0053] More specifically, for example, when a pharmaceutical product is produced by blending pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I), any auxiliary agent can be added, for example, sugars such as dextrin and starch; proteins such as gelatin, soybean protein and corn protein; amino acids such as alanine, glutamine and isoleucine; polysaccharides such as cellulose and gum arabic; fats and oils such as soybean oil and medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride, and the like, to formulate the product into any dosage form.

[0054] The amount of pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) blended in the fatigue recovery agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to adjust it so that the effective concentration of pentadecanoic acid triglyceride intake per day for an adult is about 1 to 1000 mg, for example, about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 150, 200, 300, 500, 800, or 1000 mg.

[0055] Furthermore, the fatigue recovery agent according to the present invention is not limited to oral administration but can also be administered parenterally, for example, in the form of an injection, infusion, etc. In this case, too, it can be formulated using pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliaries, carriers, etc., by methods commonly used in the art.

[0056] (Anti-fatigue agent)

[0057] The anti-fatigue agent according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized by containing pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) as an active ingredient. Essentially, the content is the same as that of the fatigue recovery agent according to the first aspect. However, from the viewpoint of taking the agent to prevent fatigue, it is possible to adopt a lower concentration of the active ingredient, although this is not particularly limited, in order to increase the flexibility of the timing and frequency of ingestion. For example, the daily intake of pentadecanoic acid triglyceride for an adult can be 1 mg or less, for example, within a range from a low value such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 mg to approximately 100 mg. Other details will be omitted to avoid duplication with the explanation of the fatigue recovery agent according to the first aspect.

[0058] (Food and Drink) The food and drink according to the third aspect of the present invention contains pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) as an active ingredient. It can be taken over a long period of time as a preventive food and drink before fatigue is felt, in order to recover from fatigue and to exert an anti-fatigue effect before fatigue is felt, and is therefore useful as a health food. Pentadecanoic acid, which constitutes PdATG, has been reported to be contained in small amounts in edible parts of meat such as beef, pork, chicken, and lamb, fish living in rivers and seas, and mushrooms, and PdATG is also contained in extremely small amounts, and its safety is inferred from long-term dietary experience.

[0059] Therefore, the food and drink of this embodiment is useful as a health food to be taken for health promotion. Here, "health food" means food and drink intended to be used for recovering from fatigue such as physical and / or central fatigue, or for preventing or slowing the progression of fatigue, or in addition, for preventing and / or treating various diseases associated with fatigue, and refers to "health food" in a broad sense, including functional food, nutrient functional food, or food for specified health use, etc., under the "Food with Health Claims System" that meets national standards for safety and efficacy.

[0060] When producing a food or drink by blending the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I), any auxiliary agent can be added, for example, sugars such as dextrin, starch, etc.; proteins such as gelatin, soybean protein, corn protein, etc.; amino acids such as alanine, glutamine, isoleucine, etc.; polysaccharides such as cellulose, gum arabic, etc.; oils and fats such as soybean oil, medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides, etc., and the food or drink can be formulated into any dosage form.

[0061] Furthermore, the amount of pentadecanoic acid triglyceride represented by the above formula (I) blended in the food or beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably adjusted so that the daily intake of pentadecanoic acid triglyceride per adult is about 1 to 100 mg, for example, about 5 to 50 mg, taking into consideration the general intake of the food to which it is added.

[0062] Specific examples of the above foods include beverages such as soft drinks, carbonated drinks, nutritional drinks, fruit drinks, and lactic acid drinks (including concentrates and powders for adjusting these beverages); frozen desserts such as ice cream, ice sorbet, and shaved ice; noodles such as soba, udon, vermicelli, gyoza wrappers, shumai wrappers, Chinese noodles, and instant noodles; sweets such as candy, candy, gum, chocolate, snacks, biscuits, jelly, jam, cream, and baked goods; processed seafood and livestock foods such as kamaboko, ham, and sausage; dairy products such as processed milk and fermented milk; oils and fats and oil-based foods such as salad oil, tempura oil, margarine, mayonnaise, shortening, whipped cream, and dressings; condiments such as sauces and dressings; health and nutritional supplements in various forms such as tablets and granules; and other foods such as soups, stews, salads, side dishes, and pickles.

[0063] The food product of the present invention may contain various food additives, such as antioxidants, flavorings, various esters, organic acids, organic acid salts, inorganic acids, inorganic acid salts, inorganic salts, pigments, emulsifiers, preservatives, seasonings, sweeteners, acidulants, fruit juice extracts, vegetable extracts, nectar extracts, pH adjusters, and quality stabilizers, either alone or in combination.

[0064] The concentration of pentadecanoic acid triglyceride contained in the food product according to the present invention is about 0.00001 to 100% by mass (hereinafter expressed in %), preferably about 0.0005 to 50%, as solid content, to ensure ease of use and good effects.

[0065] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the following examples, the unit % used to indicate the amount of each component added means % by mass.

[0066] (Production Example 1) Production of Pentadecanoic Acid Triglyceride Using Aurantichytrium Aurantichytrium mh1959 strain (purchased from Professor Masahiro Hayashi, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, National University Corporation) was pre-cultured at 25°C for 72 hours using a medium containing 3.6% glucose, 0.5% sodium glutamate, 0.2% yeast extract, 1% sea salt, and 10% whey. This was added to the following basal medium to a concentration of 2%, and the mixture was aerated and gently stirred. 1 kg of basal medium was prepared by adding 50 mM valine and 25 mM sodium propionate to a medium containing 3.6% glucose, 0.5% sodium glutamate, 0.2% yeast extract, 1% sea salt, and 10% whey. The culture was carried out at 25° C., with the pH maintained at 7.40 to 7.75 (pH was adjusted using 1.0 M NaOH solution) for 72 to 96 hours.

[0067] After cultivation, approximately 20 g of algal cells were collected by centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 15 minutes. Hexane or ethyl acetate was added to 20 g of the resulting Aurantichytrium algal cells to extract lipids. Hydrogen peroxide was added to the extracted lipid solution (water was added as needed), and ozone was aerated at room temperature. After the reaction was completed, oxides were removed using sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate or ion exchange resin, yielding 2 g of a pentadecanoic acid triglyceride mixture that precipitated as the temperature decreased.

[0068] (Composition Analysis of Pentadecanoic Acid Triglyceride) The lipid containing pentadecanoic acid triglyceride obtained in Production Example 1 was added with 14% BF ３ 0.50 mL of methanol and 0.25 mL of methyl acetate were added and heated at 70°C for 30 minutes to obtain fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Exactly 1.0 mL of n-hexane and 5 mL of physiological saline were added to the reaction solution and mixed vigorously. The mixture was centrifuged at 2800 rpm for 10 minutes, and the n-hexane layer was used as a sample for gas chromatography.

[0069] The above samples were analyzed using a Shimadzu GC-2025 gas chromatograph. The analytical conditions were as follows: an Agilent J&W GC column DB-23 (30 m x 0.25 mm) was used; 1 μL of sample was injected; and detection was performed with a flame ionization detector (FID) using a carrier gas (He, 14 psi). The molecular species of FAME were identified based on the retention time of a fatty acid methyl ester standard (GL Sciences). The fatty acid composition was determined from the area ratio. The calculated composition is a mass ratio. The proportion of odd-chain fatty acids was calculated by multiplying the total amount of fatty acids by the proportion (%) of odd-chain fatty acids (C13, C15, C17). The results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0070]

[0071] From the results shown in Table 1, the content of odd-numbered chain fatty acids in the triglyceride obtained in Production Example 1 was 68.3% by mass. In addition, it was found that the triglyceride was mainly composed of pentadecanoic acid residues (C15) and palmitic acid residues (C16).

[0072] (Mass spectrometry of pentadecanoic acid triglyceride) The lipid containing pentadecanoic acid triglyceride obtained in Production Example 1 was analyzed by mass spectrometry using Thermo Fischer Orbitrap mass spectrometer Exactive Plus (AMR DART ion source). As a result, from the fragment composition of the main mass spectrum peak, it was found that the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride obtained in Production Example 1 is a triglyceride mixture mainly containing triglyceride formed only by pentadecanoic acid residue (C15) and triglyceride containing 2 units of pentadecanoic acid residue (C15) and 1 unit of palmitic acid residue (C16).

[0073] Example 1: Effect of PdATG on fatigue recovery To examine the effect of PdATG, the following experiment was carried out.

[0074] Test Method: Aurantiochytrium algae were cultured in the same manner as in Production Example 1, and hexane was added to Aurantiochytrium cells to extract lipids. The resulting oil was then filled into soft capsules for easy administration. Each capsule contained 30 ml of Aurantiochytrium-derived oil, and each capsule contained 6 mg of PdATG. The soft capsule shell consisted of gelatin, glycerin, and glycerin fatty acid esters.

[0075] The subjects were 20 men and women aged 41 to 58 (average age 49) who reported feeling fatigued daily according to their own self-reporting. Participation in the study was based on the participants' own free will and was completely voluntary. Participants were free to withdraw from the study even just before the study or during the monitoring test, and there was no disadvantage to refusing. The exclusion criteria for subjects were: - Those who may have allergic symptoms to food, edible oils and fats, fish oil, etc. - Those who may have allergic symptoms to the ingredients of the test product.

[0076] The subjects took one tablet of the test food per day for 30 days. The evaluation was carried out by collecting the results of a questionnaire (Fig. 3) filled out by the patients immediately before the test (day 0), one week after the start of the test (1W), and at the end of the test (day 30) using the following points, and observing the changes from day 0 to 1W and 30 days.

[0077] Points 5 "I feel it a lot" 4 "I feel it a little" 3 "I feel it sometimes" 2 "I don't feel it much" 1 "I don't feel it at all"

[0078] The results are shown in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, improvement was observed in all items as a result of administration, and significant differences were observed in many items, so it was determined that administration brought about fatigue recovery or anti-fatigue effects. Regarding statistical analysis, all experimental results were expressed as mean ± standard error. Statistical analysis was performed using Tukey's test or Dunnett's test.

Claims

1. A compound represented by the following formula (I): (In the formula, R １ , R ２ and R ３ are saturated fatty acid residues, at least one of which is a pentadecanoic acid residue.

2. R in formula (1) １ and R ２ Or R １ and R ３ 2. The fatigue recovery agent according to claim 1, comprising as an active ingredient a triglyceride in which the residue is pentadecanoic acid.

3. R ​​in formula (1) １ , R ２ and R ３ 3. The fatigue recovery agent according to claim 1 or 2, comprising as an active ingredient a triglyceride in which any one of the above residues is a tridecylic acid residue (C13), a myristic acid residue (C14), a palmitic acid residue (C16) or a margaric acid residue (C17).

4. R in formula (1) １ , R ２ and R ３ in which all of R in formula (1) are pentadecanoic acid residues, １ , R ２ and R ３ 3. The fatigue recovery agent according to claim 1, further comprising a triglyceride in which any two of the above are pentadecanoic acid residues and the remaining one is a myristic acid residue or a palmitic acid residue.

5. A fatigue recovery agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the triglyceride of formula (I) is derived from algae of the genus Aurantiochytrium or Schizochytrium.

6. An anti-fatigue agent comprising the triglyceride according to claim 1 as an active ingredient.

7. A food or drink for recovering from fatigue, comprising the triglyceride according to claim 1 as an active ingredient.

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