Oral composition

Abstract

This oral composition is characterized by comprising two or more essential amino acids. The oral composition contains, for example, leucine and tryptophan. The leucine is contained in an amount not less than 9.0 parts by mass with respect to 1 part by mass of the tryptophan.

Description

Oral Composition

[0001] The present invention relates to oral compositions containing essential amino acids.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In recent years, with the background of increasing interest in health, various health foods have been developed, for example, health foods containing amino acids.

[0003] As health foods containing such amino acids, for example, health foods containing amino acids such as alanine, arginine, and leucine that are used to enhance learning and memory abilities have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] JP 2013-184956 A

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an oral composition that contains amino acids and exhibits excellent muscle-building effects.

[0006] As a result of intensive research to solve the above problems, the inventors discovered that an oral composition containing specific amino acids in specific ratios has an excellent muscle-building effect, and thus completed the present invention.

[0007] That is, the present invention provides the following: [1] An oral composition comprising two or more essential amino acids.

[0008] [1-1] An oral composition containing leucine and tryptophan, which satisfies the following condition (A1) (hereinafter referred to as the oral composition of aspect [1]). (A1) The oral composition contains 9.0 parts by mass or more of leucine per part by mass of tryptophan. [1-2] The oral composition according to [1-1] above, further containing one or more essential amino acids selected from valine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine. [1-3] The oral composition according to [1-1] or [1-2] above, wherein the leucine content relative to the total content of essential amino acids is 50.0% by mass or more. [1-4] The oral composition according to any of [1-1] to [1-3] above, which is used for muscle building.

[0009] [2-1] An oral composition containing tryptophan and one or more essential amino acids selected from valine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, which satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A2) to (G2) (hereinafter referred to as the oral composition of aspect [2]).

[0010] (A2) Contains valine, and the mass ratio of valine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.0 parts by mass or more. (B2) Contains isoleucine, and the mass ratio of isoleucine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.0 parts by mass or more. (C2) Contains lysine, and the mass ratio of lysine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 5.0 parts by mass or more. (D2) Contains methionine, and the mass ratio of methionine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 1.5 parts by mass or more. (E2) Contains histidine, and the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 1.1 parts by mass or more. (F2) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.7 parts by mass or more. (G2) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 2.0 parts by mass or more.

[0011] [2-2] The oral composition according to the above [2-1], further comprising leucine. [2-3] The oral composition according to the above [2-1] or [2-2], wherein the leucine content relative to the total content of essential amino acids is 50.0 mass% or more. [2-4] The oral composition according to any of the above [2-1] to [2-3], which is used for muscle building.

[0012] [3-1] An oral composition containing lysine and one or more essential amino acids selected from methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, which satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A3) to (D3) (hereinafter referred to as the oral composition of aspect [3]). (A3) Contains methionine, and the mass ratio of methionine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.3 parts by mass or more. (B3) Contains histidine, and the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.25 parts by mass or more. (C3) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.65 parts by mass or less. (D3) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.4 parts by mass or more.

[0013] [3-2] The oral composition according to the above [3-1], further comprising leucine. [3-3] The oral composition according to the above [3-1] or [3-2], wherein the leucine content relative to the total content of essential amino acids is 50.0 mass% or more. [3-4] The oral composition according to any one of the above [3-1] to [3-3], further comprising tryptophan. [3-5] The oral composition according to any one of the above [3-1] to [3-4], which is used for muscle building.

[0014] [4-1] An oral composition containing methionine and one or more essential amino acids selected from histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, which satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A4) to (C4) (hereinafter referred to as the oral composition of aspect [4]). (A4) Contains histidine, wherein the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 0.75 parts by mass or less. (B4) Contains threonine, wherein the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 2.5 parts by mass or less. (C4) Contains phenylalanine, wherein the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 1.5 parts by mass or more. [4-2] The oral composition according to [4-1] above, further containing leucine. [4-3] The oral composition according to [4-1] or [4-2] above, wherein the content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids is 50.0% by mass or more. [4-4] The oral composition according to any one of [4-1] to [4-3] above, further comprising tryptophan. [4-5] The oral composition according to any one of [4-1] to [4-4] above, which is for muscle building.

[0015] [5-1] An oral composition containing histidine and one or more essential amino acids selected from threonine and phenylalanine, which satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A5) and (B5) (hereinafter referred to as the oral composition of aspect [5]). (A5) The composition contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of histidine is 2.8 parts by mass or less. (B5) The composition contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of histidine is 1.8 parts by mass or more. [5-2] The oral composition according to [5-1] above, further containing leucine. [5-3] The oral composition according to [5-1] or [5-2] above, wherein the content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids is 50.0% by mass or more. [5-4] The oral composition according to any of [5-1] to [5-3] above, further containing tryptophan. [5-5] The oral composition according to any one of [5-1] to [5-4] above, which is for muscle building.

[0016] [6-1] An oral composition containing leucine and threonine, which satisfies the following condition (A6) (hereinafter referred to as the oral composition of aspect [6]). (A6) The molar composition ratio of threonine to leucine is 0.05 or less. [6-2] The oral composition according to [6-1] above, wherein the molar composition ratio of threonine to leucine is 0.02 or more and 0.04 or less. [6-3] The oral composition according to [6-1] or [6-2] above, further containing phenylalanine. [6-4] The oral composition according to [6-3] above, wherein the molar composition ratio of phenylalanine to threonine is 0.5 or more and 2.0 or less.

[0017] [6-5] The oral composition according to [6-4] above, wherein the molar composition ratio of phenylalanine to threonine is 0.7 or more and 1.8 or less. [6-6] The oral composition according to any one of [6-1] to [6-5] above, wherein the molar composition ratio of the leucine content to the total content of essential amino acids is 0.7 or more. [6-7] The oral composition according to any one of [6-1] to [6-6] above, further comprising lysine, valine, and isoleucine. [6-8] The oral composition according to any one of [6-1] to [6-7] above, further comprising methionine, histidine, and tryptophan. [6-9] The oral composition according to any one of [6-1] to [6-8] above, which is for muscle building.

[0018] The oral composition of the present invention exhibits excellent muscle-building effects.

[0019] The oral composition of the present invention is characterized by containing two or more essential amino acids. As the oral composition of the present invention, the oral compositions of the above aspects [1] to [6] are particularly preferred.

[0020] The oral composition of the present invention promotes protein production in the body and exhibits excellent muscle-building effects. The oral composition of the present invention can be used for muscle building in athletes and healthy individuals, muscle recovery after illness, muscle maintenance in the elderly, etc. Furthermore, the oral composition of the present invention has an improved flavor compared to compositions containing leucine alone, making it easier to ingest.

[0021] Each aspect will be described in detail below. <Aspect [1]> The oral composition of aspect [1] of the present invention is an oral composition containing leucine and tryptophan, and satisfies the following condition (A1): (A1) The oral composition contains 9.0 parts by mass or more of leucine per 1 part by mass of tryptophan.

[0022] The content ratio of leucine and tryptophan in the oral composition of aspect [1] is, as described above, 9.0 parts by mass or more of leucine per part by mass of tryptophan, but from the viewpoint of better enjoying the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 10.0 parts by mass or more, more preferably 50.0 parts by mass or more, and even more preferably 75.0 parts by mass or more. There is no particular upper limit, but it is, for example, 500.0 parts by mass or less, preferably 100.0 parts by mass or less.

[0023] The oral composition of aspect [1] preferably contains essential amino acids other than leucine and tryptophan. This allows for a balanced intake of essential amino acids, enabling more effective muscle building. Specific examples of other essential amino acids include valine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine.

[0024] The content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [1] (the content of leucine when the total content of essential amino acids is taken as 100%) is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of further enjoying the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 50.0% by mass or more, more preferably 60.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 70.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of taste, it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0025] In the oral composition of aspect [1], one or more of the other essential amino acids may be used. To obtain the effects of the present invention more effectively, it is preferable to simultaneously satisfy one or more of the conditions set forth in aspects [2] to [6]. That is, it is preferable to simultaneously satisfy one or more of the conditions selected from (A2) to (G2), (A3) to (D3), (A4) to (C4), (A5) to (B5), and (A6).

[0026] <Aspect [2]> The oral composition according to aspect [2] of the present invention is an oral composition containing tryptophan and one or more essential amino acids selected from valine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A2) to (G2):

[0027] (A2) Contains valine, and the mass ratio of valine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.0 parts by mass or more. (B2) Contains isoleucine, and the mass ratio of isoleucine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.0 parts by mass or more. (C2) Contains lysine, and the mass ratio of lysine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 5.0 parts by mass or more. (D2) Contains methionine, and the mass ratio of methionine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 1.5 parts by mass or more. (E2) Contains histidine, and the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 1.1 parts by mass or more. (F2) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.7 parts by mass or more. (G2) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 2.0 parts by mass or more.

[0028] The valine content is 3.0 parts by mass or more per 1 part by mass of tryptophan, preferably in the range of 3.0 to 50.0 parts by mass, as described above. The isoleucine content is 3.0 parts by mass or more per 1 part by mass of tryptophan, preferably in the range of 3.0 to 50.0 parts by mass, as described above. The lysine content is 5.0 parts by mass or more per 1 part by mass of tryptophan, preferably in the range of 5.0 to 50.0 parts by mass, as described above. The methionine content is 1.5 parts by mass or more per 1 part by mass of tryptophan, preferably in the range of 1.5 to 30.0 parts by mass, as described above. The histidine content is 1.1 parts by mass or more per 1 part by mass of tryptophan, preferably in the range of 1.1 to 20.0 parts by mass, as described above. The threonine content is 3.7 parts by mass or more per 1 part by mass of tryptophan, preferably in the range of 3.7 to 50.0 parts by mass, as described above. The content of phenylalanine is 2.0 parts by mass or more, preferably in the range of 2.0 to 50.0 parts by mass, per part by mass of tryptophan, as described above.

[0029] In the oral composition of the present invention, two or more essential amino acids may be used together with tryptophan, thereby enabling a balanced intake of essential amino acids and more effective muscle building.

[0030] The content of tryptophan relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [2] (the content of tryptophan when the total content of essential amino acids is taken as 100%) is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 3.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 5.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0031] Furthermore, the oral composition of aspect [2] preferably contains leucine. This allows for a more excellent muscle-building effect. Furthermore, even when the oral composition of aspect [2] contains leucine, the flavor is improved compared to when leucine is contained alone, making it easier to ingest.

[0032] The content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [2] is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of further enjoying the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 50.0% by mass or more, more preferably 60.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 70.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of taste, it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0033] Furthermore, the content of leucine relative to tryptophan is preferably 9.0 parts by mass or more, more preferably 10.0 parts by mass or more, even more preferably 50.0 parts by mass or more, and particularly preferably 75.0 parts by mass or more per part by mass of tryptophan, from the viewpoint of further enjoying the effects of the present invention. There is no particular upper limit, but it is, for example, 500.0 parts by mass or less, preferably 100.0 parts by mass or less.

[0034] Furthermore, in order to obtain the effects of the present invention more effectively, the oral composition of aspect [2] preferably simultaneously satisfies one or more of the conditions shown in aspect [1] and aspects [3] to [6]. That is, it is preferable to simultaneously satisfy one or more of the conditions selected from (A1), (A3) to (D3), (A4) to (C4), (A5) to (B5), and (A6).

[0035] <Aspect [3]> The oral composition of aspect [3] of the present invention is an oral composition containing lysine and one or more essential amino acids selected from methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A3) to (D3): (A3) Contains methionine, and the mass ratio of methionine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.3 parts by mass or more. (B3) Contains histidine, and the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.25 parts by mass or more. (C3) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.65 parts by mass or less. (D3) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.4 parts by mass or more.

[0036] As described above, the methionine content is 0.3 parts by mass or more, preferably in the range of 0.3 to 10 parts by mass, per part by mass of lysine. As described above, the histidine content is 0.25 parts by mass or more, preferably 0.3 parts by mass or more, more preferably in the range of 0.25 to 10 parts by mass, per part by mass of lysine. As described above, the threonine content is 0.65 parts by mass or less, preferably in the range of 0.01 to 0.65 parts by mass, per part by mass of lysine. As described above, the phenylalanine content is 0.4 parts by mass or more, preferably in the range of 0.4 to 4.0 parts by mass, per part by mass of lysine.

[0037] In the oral composition of aspect [3], two or more kinds of other essential amino acids may be used together with lysine, thereby enabling a balanced intake of essential amino acids and more effective muscle building.

[0038] The lysine content relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [3] (the lysine content when the total content of essential amino acids is taken as 100%) is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 5.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 10.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0039] The oral composition of aspect [3] preferably contains leucine. This allows for a more effective muscle-building effect. Furthermore, even when the oral composition of aspect [3] contains leucine, the flavor is improved compared to when leucine is contained alone, making it easier to ingest.

[0040] The content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [3] is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of further enjoying the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 50.0% by mass or more, more preferably 60.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 70.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of taste, it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0041] The oral composition of embodiment [3] preferably contains tryptophan.

[0042] The content of tryptophan relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [3] is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 3.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 5.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0043] Furthermore, in order to obtain the effects of the present invention more effectively, the oral composition of aspect [3] preferably satisfies one or more of the conditions shown in aspects [1] to [2] and aspects [4] to [6] simultaneously. That is, it is preferable that the oral composition of aspect [3] simultaneously satisfies one or more of the conditions selected from (A1), (A2) to (G2), (A4) to (C4), (A5) to (B5), and (A6).

[0044] <Aspect [4]> The oral composition of aspect [4] of the present invention is an oral composition containing methionine and one or more essential amino acids selected from histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A4) to (C4): (A4) Contains histidine, and the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 0.75 parts by mass or less. (B4) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 2.5 parts by mass or less. (C4) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 1.5 parts by mass or more.

[0045] The histidine content is 0.75 parts by mass or less, preferably in the range of 0.01 to 0.75 parts by mass, per part by mass of methionine, as described above. The threonine content is 2.5 parts by mass or less, preferably in the range of 0.01 to 2.5 parts by mass, per part by mass of methionine, as described above. The phenylalanine content is 1.5 parts by mass or more, preferably in the range of 1.5 to 15 parts by mass, per part by mass of methionine.

[0046] In the oral composition of embodiment [4], two or more essential amino acids may be used together with methionine, thereby enabling a balanced intake of essential amino acids and more effective muscle building.

[0047] The content of methionine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [4] (the content of methionine when the total content of essential amino acids is taken as 100%) is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 5.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 10.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0048] The oral composition of aspect [4] preferably contains leucine. This allows for a more effective muscle-building effect. Furthermore, even when the oral composition of aspect [4] contains leucine, the flavor is improved compared to when leucine is contained alone, making it easier to ingest.

[0049] The content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [4] is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of further enjoying the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 50.0% by mass or more, more preferably 60.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 70.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of taste, it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0050] The oral composition of embodiment [4] preferably contains tryptophan.

[0051] The content of tryptophan relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [4] is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 3.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 5.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0052] Furthermore, in order to obtain the effects of the present invention more effectively, the oral composition of aspect [4] preferably simultaneously satisfies one or more of the conditions shown in aspects [1] to [3] and aspects [5] to [6]. That is, it is preferable to simultaneously satisfy one or more of the conditions selected from (A1), (A2) to (G2), (A3) to (D3), (A5) to (B5), and (A6).

[0053] <Aspect [5]> The oral composition of aspect [5] of the present invention is an oral composition containing histidine and one or more essential amino acids selected from threonine and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more conditions selected from the following (A5) and (B5): (A5) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of histidine is 2.8 parts by mass or less. (B5) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of histidine is 1.8 parts by mass or more.

[0054] The threonine content is 2.8 parts by mass or less, preferably in the range of 0.01 to 2.8 parts by mass, relative to 1 part by mass of histidine, as described above, and the phenylalanine content is 1.8 parts by mass or more, preferably in the range of 1.8 to 20.0 parts by mass, relative to 1 part by mass of histidine, as described above.

[0055] In the oral composition of aspect [5], two or more kinds of other essential amino acids may be used together with histidine, thereby enabling a balanced intake of essential amino acids and more effective muscle building.

[0056] The content of histidine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [5] (the content of histidine when the total content of essential amino acids is taken as 100%) is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 3.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 10.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0057] The oral composition of aspect [5] preferably contains leucine. This allows for a more effective muscle-building effect. Furthermore, even when the oral composition of aspect [5] contains leucine, the flavor is improved compared to when leucine is contained alone, making it easier to ingest.

[0058] The content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [5] is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of further enjoying the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 50.0% by mass or more, more preferably 60.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 70.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of taste, it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0059] The oral composition of embodiment [5] preferably contains tryptophan.

[0060] The content of tryptophan relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [5] is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 1.0% by mass or more, more preferably 3.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 5.0% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but it is preferably 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 80.0% by mass or less.

[0061] Furthermore, in order to obtain the effects of the present invention more effectively, the oral composition of aspect [5] preferably satisfies one or more of the conditions set forth in aspects [1] to [4] and aspect [6] simultaneously. That is, it is preferable that the oral composition simultaneously satisfies one or more of the conditions selected from (A1), (A2) to (G2), (A3) to (D3), (A4) to (C4), and (A6).

[0062] <Aspect [6]> The oral composition of aspect [6] of the present invention is an oral composition containing leucine and threonine, and satisfies the following condition (A6): (A6) The molar composition ratio of threonine to leucine is 0.05 or less.

[0063] The blending ratio (molar composition ratio) of leucine and threonine in the oral composition of aspect [6] is, as described above, 0.05 or less in terms of the molar composition ratio of threonine to leucine, but from the viewpoint of better enjoying the effects of the present invention, it is preferably 0.005 or more and 0.05 or less (leucine:threonine=1:0.005 to 0.05), more preferably 0.01 or more and 0.045 or less, even more preferably 0.02 or more and 0.04 or less, and particularly preferably 0.025 or more and 0.04 or less.

[0064] The oral composition of aspect [6] preferably further contains essential amino acids other than leucine and threonine, thereby enabling a balanced intake of essential amino acids and more effective muscle building.

[0065] The content of leucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids in the oral composition of aspect [6] (the molar composition ratio of leucine content when the total content of essential amino acids is taken as 1) is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of more significantly exhibiting the effects of the present invention and providing an oral composition with excellent taste, it is preferably 0.7 or more, more preferably 0.7 to 0.99 (essential amino acids:leucine=1:0.7 to 0.99), even more preferably 0.72 to 0.9, and particularly preferably 0.75 to 0.85. In the oral composition of aspect [6], the effects of the present invention are more effectively exhibited when the proportion of leucine is high, but from the viewpoint of taste, it is better not to have too high a proportion of leucine, and therefore the above ranges are preferred.

[0066] Suitable examples of essential amino acids used together with leucine and threonine in the oral composition of embodiment [6] include phenylalanine alone, a combination of lysine, valine, and isoleucine, and a combination of methionine, histidine, and tryptophan, and it is more preferred to use these in combination.Moreover, it is most preferred to include all essential amino acids.

[0067] When the oral composition of aspect [6] contains phenylalanine, the blending ratio (molar composition ratio) of phenylalanine to threonine is preferably 0.5 or more and 2.0 or less, more preferably 0.7 or more and 1.8 or less, and even more preferably 0.8 or more and 1.5 or less, in terms of the molar composition ratio of phenylalanine to threonine, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0068] When the oral composition of aspect [6] contains lysine, the molar composition ratio of the content of lysine to the total content of essential amino acids is preferably 0.02 or more, more preferably 0.02 or more and 0.08 or less, and even more preferably 0.03 or more and 0.08 or less, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0069] When the oral composition of aspect [6] contains valine, the molar composition ratio of the content of valine to the total content of essential amino acids is preferably 0.02 or more, more preferably 0.02 or more and 0.08 or less, and even more preferably 0.03 or more and 0.08 or less, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0070] When the oral composition of aspect [6] contains isoleucine, the content of isoleucine relative to the total content of essential amino acids is preferably 0.02 or more, more preferably 0.02 or more and 0.06 or less, and even more preferably 0.03 or more and 0.06 or less, in terms of being able to enjoy the effects of the present invention more effectively.

[0071] Furthermore, when the oral composition of aspect [6] contains lysine, valine, and isoleucine, the molar composition ratio of the total content of lysine, valine, and isoleucine to the total content of essential amino acids is preferably 0.08 or more, more preferably 0.08 or more and 0.22 or less, and even more preferably 0.11 or more and 0.22 or less, in terms of being able to enjoy the effects of the present invention more effectively.

[0072] When the oral composition of aspect [6] contains methionine, the molar composition ratio of the content of methionine to the total content of essential amino acids is preferably 0.01 or more, more preferably 0.01 or more and 0.04 or less, and even more preferably 0.015 or more and 0.04 or less, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0073] When the oral composition of aspect [6] contains histidine, the molar composition ratio of the histidine content to the total content of essential amino acids is preferably 0.008 or more, more preferably 0.008 or more and 0.03 or less, and even more preferably 0.01 or more and 0.03 or less, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0074] When the oral composition of aspect [6] contains tryptophan, the molar composition ratio of the content of tryptophan to the total content of essential amino acids is preferably 0.002 or more, more preferably 0.002 or more and 0.02 or less, and even more preferably 0.003 or more and 0.02 or less, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0075] Furthermore, in order to obtain the effects of the present invention more effectively, the oral composition of aspect [6] preferably satisfies one or more of the conditions set forth in aspects [1] to [5] simultaneously, i.e., one or more of the conditions selected from (A1), (A2) to (G2), (A3) to (D3), (A4) to (C4), and (A5) to (B5) simultaneously.

[0076] The essential amino acids contained in the oral composition of the present invention are described below. [Leucine] Leucine is a type of amino acid, a branched-chain amino acid that is one of the essential amino acids for humans, and is abbreviated as Leu or L. Leucine exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0077] [Tryptophan] Tryptophan is a type of amino acid, an aromatic amino acid with an indole ring in the side chain. It is one of the essential amino acids in humans, and its systematic name is 2-amino-3-(indolyl)propionic acid, and it is abbreviated as Trp or W. Tryptophan exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0078] [Valine] Valine is a type of amino acid and a branched-chain amino acid. It is one of the essential amino acids for humans and is also known as 2-aminoisovaleric acid, abbreviated as Val or V. Valine exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0079] [Isoleucine] Isoleucine is a type of amino acid and a branched-chain amino acid. It is one of the essential amino acids for humans and is also known as 2-amino-3-methylpentanoic acid (2-amino-3-methylvaleric acid), and is abbreviated as Ile or I. Isoleucine exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0080] [Lysine] Lysine is a basic amino acid. It is one of the essential amino acids for humans and is also called lysine, abbreviated as Lys or K. Lysine exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0081] [Methionine] Methionine is a hydrophobic amino acid containing sulfur in the side chain. It is one of the essential amino acids for humans and is abbreviated as Met or M. Methionine exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0082] [Histidine] Histidine is a type of amino acid, an aromatic amino acid having a heteroaromatic ring in the side chain. It is one of the essential amino acids in humans and is abbreviated as His or H. Histidine exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0083] [Threonine] Threonine is a type of amino acid that has a hydroxyethyl group in its side chain and is also called threonine. It is one of the essential amino acids in humans and is abbreviated as Thr or T. Threonine has two optically active centers, and therefore exists as four isomers: L-threonine, D-threonine, L-allothreonine, and D-allothreonine. Any of these isomers can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0084] [Phenylalanine] Phenylalanine is an aromatic amino acid having a benzyl group in the side chain. It is one of the essential amino acids for humans and is abbreviated as Phe or F. Phenylalanine exists in the form of isomers, such as L-, D-, and DL-isomers, and any of these can be used in the oral composition of the present invention.

[0085] In the present invention, essential amino acids refer to amino acids that exist as free amino acids, and do not include amino acids that exist as components of proteins. Free amino acids (amino acids that exist independently from proteins) have different chemical properties from amino acids that exist as components of proteins, and the two are clearly distinguished.

[0086] Furthermore, the essential amino acids of the present invention can be used not only in the free form but also in the form of a salt. Examples of salts include acid addition salts and salts with bases, and it is preferable to select a pharmacologically acceptable salt. Specific examples of salts include salts with inorganic bases, organic bases, inorganic acids, and organic acids. In the present invention, in order to better enjoy the effects of the present invention, the free form or inorganic acid salts are preferred, the free form or hydrochloride salts are more preferred, and the free form is particularly preferred. The amino acids used in the present invention can be commercially available products that are usually available as food ingredients.

[0087] In addition to essential amino acids, the oral composition of the present invention may contain other commonly used substances, such as various excipients, binders, glossing agents, lubricants, stabilizers, diluents, bulking agents, thickeners, emulsifiers, antioxidants, pH adjusters, colorants, flavors, and additives.

[0088] The intake amount of the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but when the oral composition of the present invention contains leucine, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, the daily intake of leucine may be 200 mg / day or more, preferably 1000 mg / day or more, and more preferably 1500 mg / day or more. The upper limit of the intake amount is not particularly limited, but in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, the daily intake of leucine may be 15000 mg / day or less, preferably 5000 mg / day or less, and more preferably 2500 mg / day or less.

[0089] The intake amount of the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but when the oral composition of the present invention contains tryptophan, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, the intake amount of tryptophan per day may be 1 mg / day or more, preferably 3 mg / day or more, and more preferably 5 mg / day or more. The upper limit of the intake amount is not particularly limited, but the intake amount of tryptophan per day may be 300 mg / day or less, preferably 250 mg / day or less, and more preferably 220 mg / day or less.

[0090] The intake amount of the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but when the oral composition of the present invention contains lysine, in order to enjoy the effects of the present invention more effectively, the daily intake of lysine may be 1 mg / day or more, preferably 10 mg / day or more, and more preferably 50 mg / day or more. The upper limit of the intake amount is not particularly limited, but the daily intake of lysine may be 500 mg / day or less, preferably 400 mg / day or less, and more preferably 300 mg / day or less.

[0091] The intake amount of the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but when the oral composition of the present invention contains methionine, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, the daily intake of methionine may be 1 mg / day or more, preferably 10 mg / day or more, and more preferably 30 mg / day or more. The upper limit of the intake amount is not particularly limited, but the daily intake of methionine may be 300 mg / day or less, preferably 200 mg / day or less, and more preferably 100 mg / day or less.

[0092] The intake amount of the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but when the oral composition of the present invention contains histidine, in order to further enjoy the effects of the present invention, the daily intake of histidine may be 1 mg / day or more, preferably 10 mg / day or more, and more preferably 20 mg / day or more. The upper limit of the intake amount is not particularly limited, but the daily intake of histidine may be 300 mg / day or less, preferably 200 mg / day or less, and more preferably 100 mg / day or less.

[0093] The oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is in a form that can be taken orally, and may be any of pharmaceuticals (including quasi-drugs), so-called health foods, foods for specified health uses, and foods with functional claims.

[0094] Examples of the form of the oral composition of the present invention include tablets, capsules, powders, granules, liquids, rods, plates, blocks, solids, rounds, pastes, creams, caplets, gels, chewable tablets, and sticks, with tablets, capsules, powders, granules, and liquids being preferred.

[0095] The oral composition of the present invention can be used as an oral composition for muscle building. Such an oral composition for muscle building is not particularly limited as long as it contains specific amino acids in specific ratios and can be distinguished from other products in terms of its use for muscle building. For example, the scope of the present invention includes products that display the muscle building function on the product itself, packaging, instructions, or promotional materials. Functional food claims also include those that claim muscle building as a scientific basis for their functionality.

[0096] Specifically, examples include products that display the functions of inhibiting, maintaining, or increasing muscle mass (muscle weight, muscle cross-sectional area, muscle density), inhibiting, maintaining, or improving muscle quality, inhibiting, maintaining, or increasing muscle strength, etc. More specifically, examples include products that display the following: "increases muscle strength," "supports muscle-building ability," "suppresses muscle breakdown," "supports muscle training," "supports body building," "macho," "slim-macho," "maintains muscle mass and strength," etc.

[0097] The oral composition for muscle building of the present invention is not limited to those in which the specific amino acid of the present invention is labeled as the active ingredient for muscle building on the product packaging, etc. For example, it may be a composition in which the active ingredient is not specified. Furthermore, even general foods that are manufactured and sold with suggested functions and uses are included in the scope of the oral composition for muscle building of the present invention. For example, there are products sold with personal testimonials from people who have taken the product, mentioning its functions and uses, posted on their websites, etc.

[0098] The subjects who can take the oral composition of the present invention are not particularly limited as long as they are people who need to strengthen their muscles, but preferred examples include people who want to get in shape, athletes, and elderly people with weak legs and hips.

[0099] The present invention will be described in more detail below based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0100] <Test 1: Evaluation of cell-activating activity> The oral composition of the present invention was used to confirm the cell-activating activity of a mouse myoblast cell line (C2C12). C2C12 is widely used as a model for evaluating the effects of increasing muscle mass, and by confirming its cell-activating activity, the muscle-building effect can be confirmed.

[0101] [Test substance] The following were used as test substances: Leucine: L-leucine reagent Lysine: L-lysine monohydrochloride reagent Valine: L-valine reagent Isoleucine: L-isoleucine reagent Tryptophan: L-tryptophan reagent Phenylalanine: L-phenylalanine reagent Methionine: L-methionine reagent Histidine: L-histidine reagent Tryptophan: L-tryptophan reagent

[0102] (Preparation of Test Substances) Each test substance was suspended in 10% FBS-amino acid-free DMEM medium to a concentration of 20 mM. The suspension was sterilized through a 0.2 μm filter and diluted with the same medium to a concentration of 10 μM to obtain a test substance preparation solution. Test substance-containing media were prepared by mixing each test substance preparation solution to achieve the composition ratios shown in Tables 1 to 12 (Tables 1 to 9 show mass composition ratios, and Tables 10 to 12 show molar composition ratios). Note that the "other essential amino acids" in Table 12 were a mixture of lysine, valine, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, and tryptophan.

[0103] Tables 2 and 3 correspond to the oral composition of embodiment [1], Tables 4 and 5 correspond to the oral composition of embodiment [2], Tables 6 and 7 correspond to the oral composition of embodiment [3], Table 8 corresponds to the oral composition of embodiment [4], Table 9 corresponds to the oral composition of embodiment [5], and Tables 10 to 12 correspond to the oral composition of embodiment [6].

[0104] The specific experimental procedures were as follows: 37°C, 5% by volume CO ２ In the incubator, 75 cm ２ C2C12 cells were cultured in 10% FBS-DMEM using a flask. Then, the cells were suspended by trypsinization and placed in each well of a collagen-coated 96-well plate at 8 × 10 ３ The cells were seeded at a cell density of 1000 cells / well and incubated at 37°C in 5% CO ２ The cells were pre-cultured in an incubator for 24 hours.

[0105] After removing the medium from each well, the wells were washed once with PBS, and 100 μL / well of medium containing a test substance was added. The wells were then incubated at 37°C, 5% CO２ The cells were cultured in an incubator for 3 hours. 10% FBS-amino acid-free DMEM was used as the medium, and the total molar concentration of the test substance in the medium was 10 μM. As a control, 10% FBS-amino acid-free DMEM medium containing no test substance was added. This was designated Comparative Example 1.

[0106] After 3 hours of incubation, the medium was removed, and 150 μL of Cell Counting Kit-8 (Dojindo Laboratories) diluted 20-fold with amino acid-free DMEM was added to each well. ２ After allowing the plate to stand in an incubator to allow color to develop appropriately, the absorbance at 450 nm of the formazan product, which is proportional to the number of living cells in each well, was measured.

[0107] The coloring reagent WST-8 in Cell Counting Kit-8 is reduced to formazan by the action of dehydrogenase via an electron mediator; the more viable cells there are, the higher the dehydrogenase activity and the greater the amount of formazan produced. Since formazan has a maximum absorption around 450 nm, its production was measured based on this absorbance to confirm the proliferation of C2C12. Higher absorbance based on formazan indicates greater proliferation of C2C12, and thus this absorbance serves as an indicator of myoblast-activating activity. Additionally, as a blank, the absorbance of Cell Counting Kit-8 alone, diluted 20-fold with amino acid-free DMEM, was measured.

[0108] The difference between the absorbance of each test substance well and the absorbance of the blank was calculated as the cell-stimulating activity of each test substance well, and the cell-stimulating activity was evaluated relative to the cell-stimulating activity of the control well of Comparative Example 1, as shown in the formula below. Specifically, the cell-stimulating activity (%) of each test substance well, calculated using the formula below, minus 100 (the cell-stimulating activity (%) of the control well of Comparative Example 1), was subtracted to obtain the percentage change (%). The results are shown in Tables 1 to 12.

[0109] Cell stimulating activity (%) = (absorbance of each test substance well - absorbance of blank) x 100 / (absorbance of control well - absorbance of blank)

[0110]

[0111]

[0112]

[0113]

[0114]

[0115]

[0116]

[0117]

[0118]

[0119]

[0120]

[0121]

[0122] As shown in Tables 1 to 12, the compositions of Examples 1 to 95 of the present invention, which contain specific amino acids in specific ratios, exhibited cell-activating activity, as evidenced by comparison with a control (Comparative Example 1) containing no essential amino acids. Higher cell-activating activity was observed by including 50.0% by mass or more of leucine or incorporating other essential amino acids in desired ratios. Furthermore, the compositions of Examples 1 to 95 of the present invention exhibited significantly improved cell-activating activity compared to compositions containing only essential amino acids (Comparative Examples 2 to 10) and compositions not containing specific amino acids in specific ratios (Comparative Examples 11 to 33).

[0123] As described above, the composition of the present invention contains specific amino acids in specific ratios, allowing for a balanced administration of essential amino acids effective for protein synthesis in the body, thereby improving the cell-activating activity of C2C12. Therefore, the oral composition of the present invention can promote muscle building.

[0124] Furthermore, by combining various conditions (conditions (A1), (A2) to (G2), (A3) to (D3), (A4) to (C4), (A5) to (B5), and (A6)), it is expected that the cell activating activity can be further improved.

[0125] <Test 2: Sensory Test> Among essential amino acids, leucine is known to have a bitter taste. Whether the oral composition of the present invention has the effect of alleviating the bitter taste of leucine was evaluated by the following method.

[0126] Evaluation 1 Preparation of Test Substances (Drinks) Each essential amino acid was mixed with water to obtain the blending ratios shown in Tables 13 to 17, and drinks containing 1% by mass of leucine were prepared in the Examples and Comparative Examples.

[0127] [Evaluation Method] Six subjects with knowledge of sensory testing were asked to consume the prepared beverages, and the bitterness and sweetness of the beverages were evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria.

[0128] <Criteria for sensory evaluation> Bitterness 2: The bitterness is weaker than the comparative example. 1: The bitterness is slightly weaker than the comparative example. 0: The bitterness is unchanged compared to the comparative example. -1: The bitterness is slightly stronger than the comparative example. -2: The bitterness is stronger than the comparative example.

[0129] Sweetness 2: The sweetness is stronger than that of the comparative example. 1: The sweetness is slightly stronger than that of the comparative example. 0: The sweetness is unchanged compared to the comparative example. -1: The sweetness is slightly weaker than that of the comparative example. -2: The sweetness is weaker than that of the comparative example.

[0130] [Test Results] The average scores for each item are shown in Tables 13 to 17.

[0131]

[0132]

[0133]

[0134]

[0135]

[0136] The results in Tables 13 to 17 demonstrate that the oral composition of the present invention has the effect of mitigating the bitterness of leucine and making it easier to ingest a leucine-containing composition.

[0137] Evaluation 2 Preparation of Test Substances (Drinks) The test substances shown in Table 18 were dissolved in pure water to a concentration of 7.5 mg / mL to obtain the liquid beverages of Comparative Example 35 and Example 119. As the "other essential amino acids," a mixture of lysine, valine, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, and tryptophan was used.

[0138] [Evaluation method] A sensory evaluation test was conducted by having five subjects with knowledge and experience in sensory testing ingest the liquid beverage. The evaluation items were "bitterness specific to leucine," "ease of drinking," and "aftertaste." Each item in the sensory evaluation was scored as follows: Bitterness specific to leucine: Strong bitterness 1 ← 3 → 5 Weak bitterness Ease of drinking: Difficult to drink 1 ← 3 → 5 Easy to drink Aftertaste: Bad aftertaste 1 ← 3 → 5 Good aftertaste

[0139] [Test Results] Table 18 shows the average scores for each item.

[0140]

[0141] As shown in Table 18, the oral composition of the present invention was improved in all respects, including the bitterness specific to leucine, ease of drinking, and aftertaste, compared to the reference beverage containing leucine alone (Comparative Example). Mixing leucine and threonine improved the flavor, resulting in an oral composition that was easier to ingest.

[0142] <Test 3: Animal Test> Animal experiments were conducted in which the oral composition of the present invention was administered to mice, and the amount of puromycin-binding protein was evaluated (SunSET method). Puromycin is incorporated into newly synthesized peptide chains, so an increase in the amount of puromycin incorporated into muscle protein over a certain period of time is an indicator of the muscle-building effect.

[0143] (Preparation of Dosage Solution) The test substance shown in Table 19 was suspended in pure water to a concentration of 40 mg / mL to prepare the administration solution of Example 120. In Comparative Example 36, pure water alone containing no test substance was used as the administration solution, and in Comparative Example 37, WPC80 (whey protein content: 75% by mass or more) was used as the test substance to prepare an administration solution with a concentration of 354.7 mg / mL so that the dosage of leucine (amount of leucine constituting the protein) was the same as that of Example 120. Note that a mixture of lysine, valine, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, and tryptophan was used as the "other essential amino acids."

[0144]

[0145] The specific evaluation method is as follows. Seven-week-old male C57BL / 6J mice were acclimated for one week and then fasted overnight. The prepared test substance solution was orally administered at a dose of 10 mL / kg. Fifteen minutes later, puromycin (0.04 mmol / kg) was administered intraperitoneally. After a further 30 minutes (45 minutes after administration of the test substance), hind leg muscles (gastrocnemius muscles) were harvested, and the puromycin-labeled peptide was analyzed by Western blotting as described below.

[0146] Western Blotting: The hindlimb muscles obtained above were freeze-pulverized and further pulverized in RIPA buffer (Thermo) supplemented with protease inhibitors and phosphatase inhibitors to obtain protein extracts. The protein extracts were centrifuged at 10,000 × g for 10 minutes, and the supernatants were collected. Protein concentrations were measured using a BCA protein assay kit (Thermo). The protein extracts, RIPA buffer, and 4x Laemmli Sample Buffer were mixed and heated at 95°C for 5 minutes to prepare electrophoresis samples at 10 μg / well.

[0147] Electrophoresis was performed at 100 V using a 10% precast polyacrylamide gel (Bio-Rad). Proteins were transferred from the electrophoretic gel to a PVDF membrane. Blocking was performed using Block Ace (KAC) by shaking at room temperature for 1 hour. The membrane was immersed in TBST buffer containing a primary antibody (anti-puromycin antibody, Merck) and shaken at room temperature for 1 hour, then washed three times with TBST for 5 minutes. Subsequently, the membrane was incubated with a secondary antibody (anti-mouse IgG, HRP-linked antibody; Cell Signaling Technology) and shaken at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing three times with TBST for 5 minutes, chemiluminescence measurements were performed to analyze the amount of puromycin-labeled protein in the protein extract using a Chemi Doc XRS+ system (Bio-Rad). Furthermore, CBB staining was performed, the amount of puromycin-labeled peptide was corrected, and the results of evaluation were shown in Table 20, with the amount of puromycin-containing protein in Comparative Example 36 set at 1.

[0148]

[0149] As shown in Table 20, the composition of Example 120 of the present invention had an increased relative amount of puromycin-containing protein compared to pure water (Comparative Example 36), confirming an improvement in the muscle protein synthesis rate. Furthermore, compared to the whey protein of Comparative Example 37, the administration amount was smaller, and the leucine administration amount was the same (however, Example 120 differs in that leucine is a free amino acid, while Comparative Example 37 uses leucine as a protein-constituting amino acid), but an improvement in the muscle protein synthesis rate was confirmed in Example 120. Therefore, animal tests also confirmed that the oral composition of the present invention exhibits excellent muscle-building effects.

[0150] The oral composition of the present invention can be used as a health food or the like and is therefore industrially useful.

Claims

1. An oral composition characterized by containing two or more essential amino acids.

2. The oral composition according to claim 1, which contains leucine and tryptophan and satisfies the following condition (A1): (A1) The oral composition contains 9.0 parts by mass or more of leucine per 1 part by mass of tryptophan.

3. The oral composition according to claim 1, which contains tryptophan and one or more essential amino acids selected from valine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more of the following conditions (A2) to (G2): (A2) Contains valine, wherein the mass ratio of valine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.0 parts by mass or more; (B2) Contains isoleucine, wherein the mass ratio of isoleucine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.0 parts by mass or more; (C2) Contains lysine, wherein the mass ratio of lysine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 5.0 parts by mass or more; (D2) Contains methionine, wherein the mass ratio of methionine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 1.5 parts by mass or more; or (E2) Contains histidine, wherein the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 1.1 parts by mass or more. (F2) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 3.7 parts by mass or more. (G2) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of tryptophan is 2.0 parts by mass or more.

4. The oral composition according to claim 1, which contains lysine and one or more essential amino acids selected from methionine, histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more of the following conditions (A3) to (D3): (A3) Contains methionine, and the mass ratio of methionine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.3 parts by mass or more. (B3) Contains histidine, and the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.25 parts by mass or more. (C3) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.65 parts by mass or less. (D3) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of lysine is 0.4 parts by mass or more.

5. The oral composition according to claim 1, which contains methionine and one or more essential amino acids selected from histidine, threonine, and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more of the following conditions (A4) to (C4): (A4) Contains histidine, and the mass ratio of histidine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 0.75 parts by mass or less. (B4) Contains threonine, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 2.5 parts by mass or less. (C4) Contains phenylalanine, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of methionine is 1.5 parts by mass or more.

6. The oral composition according to claim 1, which contains histidine and one or more essential amino acids selected from threonine and phenylalanine, and satisfies one or more of the following conditions (A5) and (B5): (A5) threonine is contained, and the mass ratio of threonine to 1 part by mass of histidine is 2.8 parts by mass or less. (B5) phenylalanine is contained, and the mass ratio of phenylalanine to 1 part by mass of histidine is 1.8 parts by mass or more.

7. The oral composition according to claim 1, which contains leucine and threonine and satisfies the following condition (A6): (A6) The molar composition ratio of threonine to leucine is 0.05 or less.

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