Animal food for cat

Abstract

Provided is a novel raw material to be given to cats, who are known to have kidneys, and so forth, having characteristics different from those of other mammals. The raw material takes the form of a animal food such as cat food and is configured to suppress the degradation of kidney function and to improve the coat condition of cats. A small dose of the raw material can suppress a decline in feline kidney function and improve coat condition, the raw material being a poorly soluble soybean protein material having a characteristic amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and NSI is 10-60%. This raw material can also be obtained from an undecomposed residue found in a soybean peptide production process.

Description

Cat food

[0001] The present invention relates to a feed for cats. More specifically, the present invention relates to a material and a method for suppressing renal function decline in cats, which protect, prevent decline in renal function, and improve renal function in cats, as well as a material and a method for improving the coat condition of cats, which improve the coat condition of cats.

[0002] As the lifespans of dogs and cats increase, various age-related diseases are on the rise, just as they are in humans. Renal disease, in particular, is the leading cause of death in cats. Cats, naturally low in water intake, have developed renal tubules to enhance water reabsorption in the kidneys. Meanwhile, a lack of AIM (apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage) in cats has been reported to cause the accumulation of inflammatory macrophages in the renal tubules, leading to progressive renal dysfunction (Non-Patent Document 1). Many commercially available cat foods contain reduced levels of protein, phosphorus, and sodium for preventative purposes, often intended to minimize kidney strain. However, reducing essential nutrients can have adverse effects. Reduced protein intake, in particular, can lead to muscle weakness, poor skin and coat, anemia, and weakened immunity. Patent Document 1, for example, discloses a feline renal function protector that uses omega-3 fatty acids as a renal protectant. Meanwhile, a rat study has shown that phosphatidylinositol and the isoflavone genistein, which are components contained in soy protein ingredients, protect the kidneys by suppressing inflammation in the renal tubules (Non-Patent Document 2).It has also been reported that low-fat soy milk containing soy protein and isoflavones suppresses the onset of diabetic nephropathy in humans (Non-Patent Document 3).

[0003] An oral composition containing Lactobacillus paracasei cells and / or a processed product thereof has also been disclosed that improves the coat texture and shine of dogs and cats (Patent Document 2).Furthermore, an oral composition for animals containing coconut endosperm skin has also been reported to improve coat texture (Patent Document 3).

[0004] Soybean protein is a common food ingredient, and soybean peptides, which are produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean protein with protease, are widely used due to their easy absorption, etc. It is also known that the precipitate fraction produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean protein has a cholesterol-lowering effect (Patent Document 4).

[0005] JP 2022-26979 A JP 2020-202759 A JP 2006-81530 A WO89 / 01495

[0006] Sci.Rep.6,35251,2016(DOI: 10.1038 / srep35251)metabolites 12,330,2022(DOI: 10.3390 / metabo12040330)Japanese Journal of Clinical Nutrition 41(1)24-31,2019

[0007] The combination of soy protein ingredients containing isoflavones and phospholipids is effective in protecting kidney function, but when used in cats, the amount used is large, and if it is made into a regular cat food, it is expected that cats will avoid it. Furthermore, the production of lactic acid bacteria fermentation products involves many steps and is not simple. The object of the present invention is to provide a new material that can be produced in a simple process, while maintaining the form of a feed such as cat food, without compromising the palatability of cats, and can prevent decline in kidney function and improve the coat of cats, which have kidney and other characteristics different from other mammals.

[0008] As a result of extensive research into the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have discovered that the use of a poorly soluble soy protein material having a characteristic amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10-60% can suppress the decline in renal function in cats and improve the condition of their coats with the ingestion of a small amount, and that this material can be obtained from undecomposed residues in the soy peptide production process, thereby completing the present invention.

[0009] That is, the present invention provides: (1) a feed for cats containing a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (2) a feed for cats according to (1), in which the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (3) a feed for cats according to (1) or (2), in which the poorly soluble soy protein material is contained in an amount of 0.3% by mass or more based on the dry matter. (4) a feed for cats according to (1) or (2), which is a wet-type feed having a moisture content of 75% by mass or more and in which the poorly soluble soy protein material is contained in an amount of 4% by mass or more based on the dry matter. (5) a method for producing a poorly soluble soy protein material for cat feed, comprising the steps of enzymatically hydrolyzing a soy protein raw material and recovering the resulting undecomposed residue as the poorly soluble soy protein material. (6) A method for producing a poorly soluble soy protein material for cat feed according to (5), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material has an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (7) A method for producing cat feed, wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material according to (5) or (6) is contained in an amount of 0.3 mass% or more in dry matter. (8) A material for suppressing decline in renal function in cats, comprising, as an active ingredient, a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (9) A material for suppressing decline in renal function in cats according to (8), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (10) A material for suppressing decline in renal function in cats according to (8) or (9), which is for oral administration of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more as a poorly soluble soy protein material. (11) A method for suppressing decline in renal function in cats, which uses a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (12) A method for suppressing decline in renal function in cats according to (11), which involves orally administering 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more as a poorly soluble soy protein material. (13) A method for suppressing decline in renal function in cats according to (11) or (12), in which the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.(14) A pharmaceutical for suppressing renal function decline in cats, comprising as an active ingredient a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (15) A pharmaceutical for suppressing renal function decline in cats, according to (14), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (16) A pharmaceutical for suppressing renal function decline in cats, according to (14) or (15), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is intended for oral administration at a dose of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more. (17) A material for improving cat coat condition, comprising as an active ingredient a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (18) A material for improving cat coat condition according to (17), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (19) A material for improving cat coat condition according to (17) or (18), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is orally administered at a dose of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more. (20) A method for improving cat coat condition, wherein a poorly soluble soy protein material is used, the poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less, and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (21) A method for improving cat coat condition according to (20), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is orally administered at a dose of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more. (22) A method for improving cat coat condition according to (20) or (21), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.

[0010] The present invention also relates to the following: (1) A material for suppressing a decline in renal function in cats, comprising, as an active ingredient, a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (2) A material for suppressing a decline in renal function in cats according to (1), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (3) A material for suppressing a decline in renal function in cats according to (1) or (2), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is intended for oral administration at a dose of 0.2 g / kg / day or more. (4) A method for producing a material for suppressing a decline in renal function in cats, comprising enzymatically hydrolyzing a soy protein raw material and recovering the resulting undecomposed residue as the poorly soluble soy protein material. (5) A method for producing a material for suppressing renal function decline in cats according to (4), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material has an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less, and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (6) A method for producing a material for suppressing renal function decline in cats according to (4) or (5), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is orally administered at a dose of 0.2 g / kg / day or more. (7) A method for suppressing renal function decline in cats, using a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less, and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (8) A method for suppressing renal function decline in cats according to (7), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is orally administered at a dose of 0.2 g / kg / day or more. (9) A method for suppressing decline in renal function in a cat according to (7) or (8), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (10) A cat feed containing a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (11) A cat feed according to (10), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (12) A cat feed according to (10) or (11), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is contained in an amount of 0.3% by mass or more based on the dry matter. (13) A cat feed according to (10) or (11), which is a wet-type feed having a moisture content of 75% by mass or more and wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is contained in an amount of 4% by mass or more based on the dry matter.(14) A pharmaceutical for suppressing renal function decline in cats, comprising as an active ingredient a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%. (15) A pharmaceutical for suppressing renal function decline in cats according to (14), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material. (16) A pharmaceutical for suppressing renal function decline in cats according to (14) or (15), wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material is intended for oral administration at a dose of 0.2 g / kg / day or more.

[0011] According to the present invention, a material that effectively suppresses renal dysfunction in cats and a material that improves the condition of cat fur can be obtained by a simple method. Because the material is effective in small amounts, it can be easily administered in the form of feed such as cat food.

[0012] Figure 1 shows the study design for the cat study in Animal Study 1. Figure 2 shows the study design for the cat study in Animal Study 2. Figure 3 shows the progression of renal markers in cats in Animal Study 2.

[0013] ■ Insoluble Soy Protein Material The insoluble soy protein material of the present invention has an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of Glu to Leu is 2 or less, and has a soluble nitrogen index (NSI) (described below) of 10 to 60%. Typically, in the industrial production of peptides from soy protein, the undigested residue generated during the protease digestion of soy protein raw material is obtained as a precipitate fraction. Because the peptides that are the main product belong to the low molecular weight fraction, this precipitate fraction is sometimes referred to as "HMF" (High Molecular Weight Fraction), which means the high molecular weight fraction. The production method is explained below with reference to an example.

[0014] ■ Soy Protein Raw Material Soy protein raw materials are products of concentrating protein from soybeans, including concentrated soy protein and isolated soy protein. Soy protein raw materials may be sterilized and dried. Soy protein raw materials preferably contain 80% or more protein by dry weight, with isolated soy protein being preferred. Isolated soy protein is generally prepared by the following method. Specifically, water is added to defatted soybeans, extraction is performed at approximately neutral pH, and soymilk is obtained by separating the okara. The soymilk is then adjusted to approximately pH 4.5, and the isoelectric precipitate is recovered. Water and an alkaline agent are added to the precipitate to obtain an aqueous solution with a solids concentration of 5-15% by weight and a pH of 5.7-8.0, preferably approximately pH 6.8-7.5. The isolated soy protein obtained in this manner may be used directly in the following process, or water may be added to the isolated soy protein powder for use. The isolated soy protein is not limited to the above-mentioned method, and various modifications of this method may also be used. Examples of commercially available soybean proteins include "Fujipro-R" and "Fujipro-SE" (manufactured by Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.).

[0015] The protease used for enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain a soy protein hydrolysate may be appropriately selected from proteases classified into "metalloproteases," "acid proteases," "thiol proteases," and "serine proteases," regardless of whether they are of animal, plant, or microbial origin, and preferably from proteases classified into "metalloproteases," "thiol proteases," and "serine proteases." Furthermore, a method in which two or more types of enzymes belonging to different classes are used in combination, either sequentially or simultaneously, is also efficient and preferred.

[0016] This classification of proteases is based on the type of amino acid at the active center, a method commonly used in the field of enzyme science. Representative examples of each type include "metalloproteases" such as Bacillus-derived neutral protease, Streptomyces-derived neutral protease, Aspergillus-derived neutral protease, and thermoase; "acid proteases" such as pepsin, Aspergillus-derived acid protease, and Smithyme FP; "thiol proteases" such as bromelain and papain; and "serine proteases" such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, Streptomyces-derived alkaline protease, alcalase, and bioprase.

[0017] The reaction pH and reaction temperature of the protease treatment can be set according to the characteristics of the protease used. Typically, the reaction pH is near the optimum pH, and the reaction temperature is near the optimum temperature. The reaction temperature is generally 20 to 80°C, preferably 40 to 60°C. After the reaction, the mixture is heated to a temperature sufficient to inactivate the enzyme (approximately 60 to 170°C) to inactivate any remaining enzyme activity.

[0018] (ii) Hydrolysis Below, we will explain an embodiment of obtaining a hydrolysate and a poorly soluble soy protein material, which is a poorly soluble fraction, from a soy protein raw material by enzymatic hydrolysis. The degree of enzymatic hydrolysis can be appropriately determined for peptides, which are the main products of the hydrolysis process, taking into consideration the properties to be imparted to these peptides. In general, it is appropriate that not all molecules are degraded to free amino acids, and a higher degree of degradation is preferable. For example, a soy protein hydrolyzate is centrifuged, and the supernatant obtained after removing the poorly soluble fraction contains a peptide fraction with a molecular weight of less than 500, preferably 50% by mass or more, more preferably 60% by mass or more, and even more preferably 65% ​​by mass or more, of the total amount of peptides and free amino acids.

[0019] ■ Separation and drying From the reaction solution after protease treatment, the poorly soluble fraction, which is the undecomposed residue produced by hydrolysis, is recovered by centrifugation or filtration to produce a poorly soluble soy protein material. The recovered poorly soluble soy protein material is usually sterilized and then used in the form of a dried powder obtained by spray drying, freeze drying, or the like. Sterilization is preferably performed by heat sterilization, with the heating temperature preferably being 110 to 170°C, and more preferably 130 to 170°C. The heating time is preferably 3 to 20 seconds. The reaction solution may also be adjusted to any pH. A material with a better texture can be produced by performing a micronization process, such as wet grinding, before drying.

[0020] ■ Characteristics of the Insoluble Soy Protein Material The insoluble soy protein material obtained by the process exemplified above has a soluble nitrogen index (NSI) of 10-60%, preferably 20-50%. It has an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of Glu to Leu is 2 or less, preferably 1.7 or less, more preferably 1.4 or less, and most preferably 1.2 or less. Regarding the amount of amino acids in the protein, Glu can be 16% by mass or less, preferably 14-8% by mass. Furthermore, Leu can be 9% by mass or more, preferably 10-18% by mass. The TCA solubility, described below, is preferably 1-50%, more preferably 10-45%. While the mechanism by which the insoluble soy protein material of the present invention inhibits renal dysfunction in cats remains largely unknown, soy protein materials having a composition within the above range have been shown to be effective. In the present invention, glutamine (Gln) is considered to be included in glutamic acid (Glu). Furthermore, the poorly soluble soy protein material of the present invention preferably has a crude protein content of 50% by mass or more, more preferably 60% by mass or more, and most preferably 65% ​​by mass or more, on a dry basis. The crude protein content referred to in the present invention is the crude protein amount obtained by multiplying the nitrogen amount measured by the Kjeldahl method by a nitrogen conversion coefficient of 6.25.

[0021] ■Method for Measuring Soluble Nitrogen Index The soluble nitrogen index (NSI) is measured as follows: 60 ml of water is added to 3 g of protein material sample, and the mixture is stirred with a propeller at 37°C for 1 hour. After that, the mixture is centrifuged at 1,400 x g for 10 minutes, and the supernatant (I) is collected. Next, 100 ml of water is added to the remaining precipitate, and the mixture is stirred with a propeller at 37°C for another hour. After that, the mixture is centrifuged and the supernatant (II) is collected. Solutions (I) and (II) are combined, and water is added to the mixture to make 250 ml. This is filtered through filter paper (No. 5), and the nitrogen content of the filtrate is measured using the Kjeldahl method. The amount of nitrogen in the sample is also measured using the Kjeldahl method, and the NSI is calculated by the ratio of the amount of nitrogen recovered in the filtrate (soluble nitrogen) to the total nitrogen in the sample, expressed as a mass %. Essentially, the value is calculated by rounding to two decimal places.

[0022] ■TCA solubility: Add an equal amount of 0.44M trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to a 2% by mass aqueous solution of protein material to make a 0.22M TCA solution, and measure the percentage of soluble nitrogen using the Kjeldahl method. This value is generally calculated by rounding off the number to two decimal places.

[0023] ■Method for measuring amino acid composition Calculations can be made in accordance with general amino acid composition analysis methods. Specifically, protein hydrolysates are measured using an automatic amino acid analyzer. 1 ml of 6N hydrochloric acid is added to 2 mg of sample, and hydrolysis is carried out at 110°C for 24 hours, after which the hydrochloric acid is removed under reduced pressure. The sample is dissolved in 10 ml of 0.02N hydrochloric acid and filtered through a 0.45 μm filter. The resulting sample is then analyzed using an amino acid analysis system (LA8080 high-speed amino acid analyzer, Hitachi High-Tech Corporation). Glutamine (Gln) is measured as glutamic acid (Glu).

[0024] ■ Material for Preventing Renal Decline The material for preventing renal decline of the present invention protects the kidneys and prevents the decline of renal function in cats by primarily suppressing inflammation in the renal tubules. The amount used is orally administered at 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more of the poorly soluble soy protein material. It is preferably 0.2 g / kg body weight / day or more, more preferably 0.25 g / kg body weight / day or more, even more preferably 0.3 g / kg body weight / day or more. A dose of 0.45 g / kg body weight / day or more exhibits particularly favorable effects. Although a larger amount does not affect the effect, it becomes more difficult to ingest. Therefore, an upper limit of 1 g / kg body weight / day or less is an example of a convenient intake amount. More preferably, it is 0.8 g / kg body weight / day or less, and even more preferably, it is 0.6 g / kg body weight / day or less. Renal decline includes various kidney-related diseases. Examples include chronic nephritis, glomerulopathies, diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, obesity-related glomerulopathy, polycystic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, and nephrolithiasis. Specific examples of suppressing renal function decline include increasing the frequency of urination to normal, lowering the urinary pH from a weakly alkaline range to a normal weakly acidic range, eliminating struvite crystals, and reducing urinary protein to a normal level. Maintaining normal levels of SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine), BUN (urea nitrogen), and creatinine also contribute to the suppression of renal function decline.

[0025] ■ Coat Improvement Material In this invention, coat improvement refers to the natural condition, evenness, and glossiness of a cat's coat. In addition to improving the coat condition described above, "coat improvement" in this invention also includes inhibiting or restoring coat deterioration. In other words, "coat improvement" is used to mean "inhibiting and restoring coat deterioration," and the coat improvement material of this invention has this effect. The amount used is an oral administration of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more of the poorly soluble soy protein material. Preferably, it is 0.2 g / kg body weight / day or more, more preferably 0.25 g / kg body weight / day or more, even more preferably 0.3 g / kg body weight / day or more. Furthermore, particularly good effects are achieved at 0.45 g / kg body weight / day or more. Although a larger amount does not affect the effect, it becomes more difficult to ingest, so an upper limit of 1 g / kg body weight / day or less is exemplified as a convenient intake amount. A more preferred dose is 0.8 g / kg body weight / day or less, and even more preferred is 0.6 g / kg body weight / day or less. The effect of improving coat condition is easily observed when the material is ingested for a long period of time. Long-term ingestion means, for example, 15 days or more, preferably 30 days or more, and even more preferably 60 days or more. When the material is ingested for a long period of time, the effect may be observed during ingestion, immediately after the end of ingestion, or within 1 to 2 months after the end of ingestion. The effect is easily confirmed when the hair is replaced. If the period during which this effect is observed is the shedding period, an even more significant effect can be obtained.

[0026] The insoluble soy protein material of the present invention can be used in cat feed. The content of the insoluble soy protein material in the feed is preferably 0.3% by mass or more, more preferably 0.4% by mass or more, 0.5% by mass or more, 0.6% by mass or more, or 1% by mass or more, and most preferably 1.5% by mass or more, based on the dry matter content of the feed. When the insoluble soy protein material is added to a dry cat food with a moisture content of less than 25% by mass used as a staple food (i.e., a complete nutritional food), the upper limit is preferably 15% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or less, and most preferably 5% by mass or less. Furthermore, to ensure that the target cat ingests the material and to allow for fine adjustments based on the cat's weight and food intake, it is preferable to incorporate the material at a high concentration in a highly palatable form of feed, such as cat food used as a side dish. In this case, the content of the feed dry matter is preferably 4% by mass or more, more preferably 8% by mass or more, 10% by mass or more, and most preferably 15% by mass or more, 20% by mass or more. The upper limit is an amount that cats do not actively avoid, and examples include 50% by mass or less, 40% by mass or less, and 30% by mass or less. This high-concentration feed is preferably in the form of a feed that is more palatable to cats, such as a semi-moist type with a moisture content of about 25 to 40% by mass, a soft dry type with a moisture content of about 40 to 75% by mass, or a wet type with a moisture content of 75% or more. A wet type with a moisture content of 75% or more, which is highly preferred by cats, is most preferred. A wet type with a moisture content of 80% by mass or more, or 85% by mass or more, is particularly preferred. Furthermore, the moisture content is preferably 90% by mass or less.

[0027] These feeds containing insoluble soy protein ingredients are expected to suppress kidney function decline and improve coat condition in cats. Wet feeds, in particular, provide moisture to cats that are reluctant to drink water voluntarily, further enhancing the effects of protecting kidney function and improving coat condition. Specific examples of feed include cat foods, diets, or supplements. Their form is not particularly limited, but they can be in pellet, flake, paste, gel, solid, or liquid form, and distribution formats include dry feed, refrigerated feed, frozen feed, canned, bottled, aseptically filled, and retort pouches. In addition to dry feed, soft dry, semi-moist, and wet forms can also be prepared, with canned or retort pouches being particularly preferred. Potential labeling of feeds includes ingredients for suppressing kidney function decline, maintaining kidney health, supporting kidney health, maintaining lower urinary tract health, caring for kidney health, reducing kidney burden, supporting kidney function, protecting kidneys, treating kidney problems, preventing kidney disease, being kidney-friendly, and reducing kidney burden. In addition, materials for improving coat condition can be used to improve and enhance coat condition, improve and enhance coat luster, maintain healthy coat condition, maintain healthy coat condition, maintain shiny coat condition, contribute to beautiful coat condition, and provide shiny, smooth, and soft coat.

[0028] The feline pharmaceutical of the present invention contains the poorly soluble soy protein material that has the effect of inhibiting the decline in feline renal function described above. There are no particular limitations on the form of the feline pharmaceutical, but examples include tablets, powders (powdered medicines), granules, and liquids. All of these are administered orally.

[0029] The present invention will be explained below by describing examples. In the following, "%" and "parts" mean "% by mass" and "parts by mass", respectively. Furthermore, the dose per body weight, g / kg body weight, means g / kg body weight / day.

[0030] Preparation of Insoluble Protein Material: 0.2% by mass of protease (Protin SD-AY10, Amano Enzyme Inc.) was added to a 10% by mass aqueous solution of isolated soy protein (Fujipro-R, Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.), and the mixture was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis at 50°C for 5 hours. After the reaction, the mixture was heated at 100°C for 5 minutes to inactivate the enzyme, and then cooled to room temperature. The precipitate was collected by centrifugation at 8,000 G for 10 minutes, yielding the insoluble fraction (HMF), a digestible and soluble soy protein material. The resulting HMF was lyophilized and used in subsequent steps. The analytical values ​​of HMF are shown in Table 1. The amino acid composition of HMF was 11.5% by mass of Glu and 11.0% by mass of Leu, with a Glu / Leu ratio of 1.05. The NSI was 48.9%, the TCA solubilization rate was 32.5%, the genistein aglycone was 131.4 mg / 100 g, and the phosphatidylinositol was 2.11 mg / 100 g. The crude protein content of the dry matter was 70.8 mass%. The values ​​for "Fujipro-R" soy protein isolate (SPI) were used for comparison.

[0031] Table 1: Material analysis values

[0032] Animal Study 1 / Kidney Function Ten healthy cats (labeled No. 1–10 in the table) with an average weight of 3.01 kg were fed 35 g of wet food ("Mitsuboshi Gourmet Pouch Domestic Tuna," manufactured by Unicharm Corporation) (85% moisture) and 60 g of regular food A (dry food) ("CS-A," manufactured by Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.) for 10 days. Then, they were fed 35 g of wet food mixed with the aforementioned HMF (1 g powder) and 60 g of regular food for 10 days. Water intake and urination frequency were measured for three days, from the 7th to the 10th day of each feeding period. Urine was collected once during each of the three days and examined for the presence of struvite crystals and calcium oxalate crystals. Blood samples were also collected on the final day of each feeding period for general biochemistry testing. (Figure 1) Measurements of glucose (Glu), urinary protein (Pro), bilirubin (Bil), urobilinogen (Uro), occult blood (Bld), and ketone bodies (Ket) were performed using test strips and expressed as negative (-), borderline (±), or positive (1+ to 4+). Bilirubin and urobilinogen were measured as markers of liver function. Test strips used were "AUTION Sticks 7EA" (manufactured by Arkray, Inc.).

[0033] ■ Animal Study 1 Results / Kidney Function The test results showed normalization of urinary frequency and urinary pH, dissolution of struvite crystals, and improvement of urinary protein, confirming the kidney-protective effect of HMF in cats. Details are shown in Table 2 below. All animals were confirmed to have consumed the full amount of food, and general observation revealed no health problems. The following 28 blood test items were tested: total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, AST (GOT), ALT (GPT), LDH, ALP, amylase, lipase, urea nitrogen, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, blood glucose, total bile acids, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and platelets. No items significantly deviated from the normal range in any animal, and no abnormalities were observed. Urination frequency is the average (times / day) over three days. Although no significant difference in water intake was observed with HMF ingestion, the average number of urinations was 1-2 times per day after the first cycle, but increased to 2-3 times after the second cycle. Given that 2-3 times per day is normal for cats, HMF ingestion is believed to have normalized the urinary pathway, including the kidneys. Three cats were found to have struvite crystals at 100 crystals / mL during the first cycle, but all of these crystals disappeared after the second cycle of HMF ingestion. While the normal urinary pH range for cats is 6.0-6.5, six cats were found to have a urinary pH of 7 or higher during the first cycle. All of these cats had a pH of 6 by the second cycle. Struvite crystals are the substance that causes urinary stones, which occur when the urinary pH becomes alkaline. Considering the cats with struvite crystals observed during the first cycle, the pH was 8 during the first cycle and decreased to 6 during the second cycle, suggesting that the crystals dissolved as the urinary pH normalized with HMF ingestion.

[0034] Table 2: Urine data at the end of the first and second courses

[0035] Urinary protein is an important indicator of renal function, and the results are shown in Table 3. Eight cats had urinary protein levels of +2 or higher during the first course of treatment, and HMF intake reduced these levels by 1-2 points in all cases. Based on these findings, we concluded that HMF has the functions of normalizing urination frequency, normalizing pH, dissolving struvite crystals, and improving urinary protein, thereby protecting the cat's kidneys. When determining the intake level required for effectiveness based on the degree of improvement in urinary protein, a 2-point reduction was observed at the highest HMF intake per body weight of 0.47 g / kg, and a 1-point reduction was observed at the lowest intake of 0.27 g / kg. Based on this, we believe that an HMF intake of approximately 0.45 g / kg body weight / day or higher is particularly effective.

[0036] Table 3: Comparison of improvement in urinary protein and HMF intake

[0037] Non-Patent Document 2 reports the effects of genistein and phosphatidylinositol in suppressing renal function decline in rats. The required amounts for suppressing nephropathy decline were calculated to be 16 mg / kg body weight / day of genistein and 55 mg / kg body weight / day of phosphatidylinositol. Based on the 131.4 mg / 100 g of genistein and 2.11 g / 100 g of phosphatidylinositol in the insoluble soy protein material of the present invention, genistein is rate-limiting, and the required amount of HMF is 12.2 g / kg body weight / day. In this study, the effect was observed at approximately 0.2 g / kg body weight / day, two orders of magnitude lower, which cannot be explained by the above two components alone. It is speculated that the insoluble soy protein material contains other factors that enhance this effect, and that this effect is particularly effective in cats, which may be due to a combination of factors.

[0038] ■ Animal test 2 / Renal function & coat Ten healthy cats weighing an average of 2.69 kg were fed 10 g of wet food (product name "Three Star Gourmet Pouch Domestic Tuna", Unicharm Corporation) (85% moisture) mixed with the aforementioned HMF (0.2 g HMF powder / kg body weight) for each cat for 30 days. The amount of regular food (dry food) given was 50-60 g per cat per day. The type of regular food varied for each cat, and the following products were fed as shown in Table 4.・Regular food B ("Medifas Chicken Flavor for ages 1 and up", Petline Co., Ltd.) ・Regular food C ("Medifas Advanced Grain-Free Chicken & Fish Flavor for ages 1 and up", Petline Co., Ltd.) ・Regular food D ("Hill's Prescription Diet Intestinal Biome", Hills Colgate Japan Co., Ltd.) ・Regular food E ("Silver Spoon Three-Star Gourmet Fish Flavor Cream", Unicharm Co., Ltd.) ・Regular food F ("Silver Spoon Three-Star Gourmet Delicious Fish Flavor", Unicharm Co., Ltd.)

[0039] Blood samples were taken before feeding and on days 15 and 30 after the start of feeding, and kidney markers (SDMA, creatinine, BUN) were examined by blood tests. Urine samples were taken at the same times, and urinary protein was measured using test strips. Urinary protein (Pro) measurements were converted into numerical values, with negative (-), borderline (±), and positive (1+ to 4+), and displayed on a graph. That is, (-) was converted to 1, (±) to 2, and (1+ to 4+) to 3 to 6. AUTION Sticks 7EA (manufactured by Arkray, Inc.) test strips were used. Furthermore, the condition of the fur was checked two months after the end of feeding.

[0040] Table 4: Regular food used by the test group and effect on coat condition

[0041] ■ Animal Study 2: Test Results / Kidney Function The test results showed that renal markers remained within normal ranges and urinary protein levels improved, confirming the kidney-protective effect of HMF in cats even at a dose of 0.2g / kg body weight / day. Details are shown in Figure 3. All animals were confirmed to have fully consumed the test diet, and general observations revealed no health problems. The following 29 blood test items were tested: total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, AST (GOT), ALT (GPT), LDH, ALP, amylase, lipase, SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine), BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, blood glucose, total bile acids, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and platelets. No items significantly outside the normal range were found in any of the animals, and no abnormalities were observed. Furthermore, the urine pH of all animals used in this experiment was pH 6, and no struvite crystals were observed. Urinary protein significantly decreased after 15 days of ingestion and remained low until 30 days later. Renal markers SDMA, BUN, and creatinine all remained within normal ranges, suggesting that HMF ingestion suppressed protein leakage from urine without placing a burden on the kidneys.

[0042] ■ Animal Test 2 - Test Results / Improved Coat Condition As shown in Table 4, an improvement in coat condition was observed two months after the end of intake. Cats are said to shed their fur in spring and autumn. During the shedding season in September, two months after the end of this test, a clear improvement was observed in the shed fur. It is possible that the intake of HMF affected the formation of new hair follicles and hair growth.

[0043] This invention will enable the widespread use of cat food and other feed that suppresses kidney function decline and improves the condition of cats' coats. Furthermore, this material is a common by-product of the industrial production of soybean peptides, leading to the effective use of this by-product.

Claims

1. Cat food containing insoluble soy protein material with an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10-60%.

2. The cat food according to claim 1, wherein the hardly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.

3. A cat feed according to claim 1 or claim 2, containing 0.3% by mass or more of the insoluble soy protein material in dry matter.

4. A cat feed according to claim 1 or 2, which is a wet type feed having a moisture content of 75% by mass or more and contains 4% by mass or more of a hardly soluble soy protein material in dry matter.

5. A method for producing a hardly soluble soy protein material for cat feed, comprising the steps of enzymatically hydrolyzing a soy protein raw material and recovering the resulting unhydrolyzed residue as a hardly soluble soy protein material.

6. A method for producing a poorly soluble soy protein material for cat feed according to claim 5, wherein the poorly soluble soy protein material has an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less, and an NSI of 10 to 60%.

7. A method for producing cat feed, comprising containing the poorly soluble soy protein material according to claim 5 or 6 in an amount of 0.3 mass% or more in dry matter.

8. A material for inhibiting decline in renal function in cats, the active ingredient of which is a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%.

9. A material for suppressing decline in renal function in cats according to claim 8, wherein the hardly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.

10. A material for suppressing decline in renal function in cats according to claim 8 or 9, which is intended for oral administration of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more of the poorly soluble soy protein material.

11. A method for suppressing decline in renal function in cats using a sparingly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%.

12. A method for suppressing decline in renal function in cats as described in claim 11, in which the poorly soluble soy protein material is orally administered at a dose of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more.

13. A method for suppressing decline in renal function in cats as described in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the insoluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.

14. A pharmaceutical for inhibiting decline in renal function in cats, the active ingredient of which is a poorly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%.

15. A pharmaceutical for suppressing decline in renal function in cats as described in claim 14, wherein the hardly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.

16. A pharmaceutical for suppressing decline in renal function in cats as described in claim 14 or 15, which is intended for oral administration of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more of the poorly soluble soy protein material.

17. A material for improving the condition of cat fur, the active ingredient of which is a sparingly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%.

18. A material for improving cat coat condition according to claim 17, wherein the hardly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.

19. A material for improving cat coat condition according to claim 17 or 18, which is intended for oral administration of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more of the poorly soluble soy protein material.

20. A method for improving the condition of cat fur using a sparingly soluble soy protein material having an amino acid composition in which the mass ratio of glutamic acid (Glu) to leucine (Leu) is 2 or less and an NSI of 10 to 60%.

21. A method for improving the condition of a cat's coat as described in claim 20, in which the poorly soluble soy protein material is orally administered at a dose of 0.15 g / kg body weight / day or more.

22. A method for improving the condition of cat fur as described in claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the hardly soluble soy protein material is an undecomposed residue produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soy protein raw material.

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