CN111031812A

CN111031812A - Food composition for increasing muscle mass, muscle mass increasing agent, therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, agent for treating sarcopenia, agent for maintaining motor function, agent for inhibiting expression of gene related to muscular atrophy, agent for inhibiting decomposition of muscle protein, agent for preventing muscular atrophy, agent for promoting expression of gene related to muscular synthesis, and agent for promoting muscle synthesis

Info

Publication number: CN111031812A
Application number: CN201880049823.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 中岛绫香; 铃木健吾; 立花宏文
Original assignee: Kyushu University NUC; Euglena Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kyushu University NUC; Euglena Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-08-01
Filing date: 2018-07-31
Publication date: 2020-04-17
Also published as: JP2019024481A; JP6524204B2

Abstract

The present invention provides a food composition for increasing muscle mass, a muscle mass-increasing agent, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, a motor function-maintaining agent, an inhibitor of the expression of a gene related to muscular atrophy, an inhibitor of the decomposition of muscle protein, a prophylactic agent for muscular atrophy, an agent for promoting the expression of a gene related to muscular synthesis, and an agent for promoting muscular synthesis. A food composition for increasing muscle mass, a muscle mass-increasing agent, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, a maintenance agent for motor function, an inhibitor of the expression of a gene related to muscular atrophy, an inhibitor of the decomposition of a muscle protein, a promoter for preventing muscular atrophy, a promoter for the expression of a gene related to muscular synthesis and a promoter for muscular synthesis, characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

Description

Food composition for increasing muscle mass, muscle mass increasing agent, therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, agent for treating sarcopenia, agent for maintaining motor function, agent for inhibiting expression of gene related to muscular atrophy, agent for inhibiting decomposition of muscle protein, agent for preventing muscular atrophy, agent for promoting expression of gene related to muscular synthesis, and agent for promoting muscle synthesis

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a food composition for increasing muscle mass, a muscle mass-increasing agent, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia and a motor function-maintaining agent, an inhibitor of gene expression related to muscular atrophy, an inhibitor of muscle protein degradation, a prophylactic agent for muscular atrophy, an agent for promoting gene expression related to muscular synthesis and an agent for promoting muscular synthesis.

Background

In recent years, "sarcopenia" and "dyskinesia syndrome" have been attracting much attention as symptoms associated with age increase, decrease in muscle strength due to lack of exercise, and decrease in muscle mass.

Sarcopenia is defined according to the European work Group of senile sarcopenia (EWGSOP) as a decrease in muscle mass in addition to a decrease in muscle mass, i.e., a decrease in muscle strength or a decrease in physical function (non-patent document 1).

The dyskinesia syndrome is defined as a state in which any one or more of the moving organs such as bones, joints, cartilage, intervertebral discs, muscles are damaged, and the functions such as "standing" and "walking" are reduced according to the japanese society for orthopedic surgery (non-patent document 2).

Sarcopenia refers to a decrease in muscle strength and a decrease in physical function due to a decrease in muscle mass caused by aging, disease, lack of exercise, malnutrition, etc., and dyskinesia syndrome refers to a state in which damage occurs in a motor organ such as muscle and bone due to aging, lack of exercise, etc., and it is difficult to live daily. In other words, motor impairment syndrome is considered to be a concept including the overall symptoms of the motor apparatus, while sarcopenia is considered to be a symptom in which attention is paid to the muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function, among the motor apparatuses.

Muscle strengthening is one of the methods for preventing and improving dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia. Steroid hormones are known as muscle enhancers for muscle enhancement, but they are reported to cause side effects such as circulatory diseases, and materials derived from natural substances and free from side effects have been searched for. For example, it has been reported that fish meat proteins of fish belonging to the order gadiformes (patent document 1), apple juice press residue and rosemary extract (patent document 2) have an effect of increasing muscle mass.

On the other hand, Euglena (genus: Euglena, Japanese name: ミドリムシ) has attracted attention as a promising biological resource for food, feed, fuel and the like.

Euglena is used as a supplement for balanced intake of various nutrients, has 59 nutrients, which are most essential nutrients required for human survival, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, etc., and is proposed to be used as a food supply source for poor regions where essential nutrients cannot be taken.

Euglena is a primary producer of the food chain, and is difficult to culture on a large scale due to predation by predators, and culture conditions such as light, temperature conditions, and stirring speed higher than those of other microorganisms. In recent years, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies, and have established a technique for large-scale cultivation, and have opened up a way to supply euglena on a large scale and to supply a large amount of a substance derived from euglena such as euglena starch from the euglena.

Gymnocypris is a unique organism having animal characteristics of flagellar movement, and having a chloroplast plant as a plant and performing photosynthesis, and it can be expected that gymnocypris itself and a substance derived from gymnocypris have many functions.

Therefore, it is desired to develop a method for utilizing euglena that can be supplied in large quantities and a substance derived from euglena.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 6109909

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 5884112

Non-patent document

Non-patent document 1: shenkazahenyi, definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia, Japanese medical news, No.4677, pp.22-26(2013)

Non-patent document 2: japanese society of public welfare Japan society of orthopedics, "dyskinesia syndrome", dyskinesia syndrome booklet 2015 annual edition

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a food composition for increasing muscle mass, a muscle mass-increasing agent, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, a maintenance agent for motor function, an inhibitor of gene expression related to muscular atrophy, an inhibitor of muscle protein decomposition, a prophylactic agent for muscular atrophy, an promoter of gene expression related to muscular synthesis, and a promoter of muscular synthesis, which can be ingested daily and continuously, can increase the muscle mass effectively, and can treat, prevent, and improve dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia.

Means for solving the problems

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to solve the above problems, and as a result, have found that gymnema has an action of increasing muscle mass, an action of inhibiting muscular atrophy, an action of inhibiting decomposition of muscle protein, and an action of promoting muscle synthesis, and have completed the present invention.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the above problems are solved by a food composition for increasing muscle mass characterized by containing a material derived from euglena as an active ingredient.

In this case, the Euglena-derived substance may be Euglena.

At this time, it may be a food composition for increasing muscle mass for increasing the amount of quadriceps femoris muscle.

Further, according to the present invention, the above problems are solved by a muscle mass increasing agent characterized by containing a material derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

In addition, according to the present invention, the above problems are solved by a food composition for preventing sarcopenia, for improving sarcopenia, for preventing dyskinesia syndrome, or for improving dyskinesia syndrome, which contains a material derived from euglena as an active ingredient.

Further, according to the present invention, the above problems are solved by a prophylactic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a prophylactic agent for sarcopenia, a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, a motor function maintaining agent, and a motor function improving agent, each of which is characterized by containing a substance derived from euglena as an active ingredient.

Further, according to the present invention, the above problems are solved by a food composition for inhibiting the expression of a gene related to muscular atrophy, for inhibiting the decomposition of muscle protein, for preventing muscular atrophy, for promoting the expression of a gene related to muscular synthesis, or for promoting muscular synthesis, which contains a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

Further, according to the present invention, the above problems are solved by a muscular atrophy-related gene expression inhibitor, a muscular proteolysis inhibitor, a muscular atrophy preventing agent, a muscular synthesis-related gene expression promoter, and a muscular synthesis promoter, each of which is characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel food composition for increasing muscle mass, a muscle mass-increasing agent, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, a motor function-maintaining agent, an inhibitor of muscle atrophy-related gene expression, an inhibitor of muscle protein degradation, a prophylactic agent for muscle atrophy, an agent for promoting muscle synthesis-related gene expression, and an agent for promoting muscle synthesis.

The food composition for increasing muscle mass, the muscle mass-increasing agent, the therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, the therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, the maintenance agent for motor function, the inhibitor of expression of a gene related to muscular atrophy, the inhibitor of decomposition of muscle protein, the preventive agent for muscular atrophy, the promoter of expression of a gene related to muscular synthesis, and the promoter of muscular synthesis of the present invention have no side effect reports so far, and have a safety at a level according to the food hygiene law as an active ingredient, and therefore can be continuously administered and continuously ingested for a long period of time.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the change in body weight of test meals in test 1 taken for 4 consecutive weeks.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the intake amount of the test meal in test 1.

FIG. 3 shows a graph of liver weight at the end of test 1.

Figure 4 shows a graph of the weight of the quadriceps femoris muscle at the end of test 1 (Tukey test, p < 0.05vs. control).

Fig. 5 shows a graph of body weight and liver weight at the end of test 2 (data mean ± SE, n ═ 6, Tukey test,. sp < 0.01vs. normal feeding group (-)).

Fig. 6 shows a graph of the individual muscle weights after the end of test 2 (data mean ± SE, n ═ 6, Tukey test,. p < 0.01,. p < 0.001vs.

[ FIG. 7 ]]A graph showing the proportion of each muscle weight relative to the normal feeding group (-) at the end of test 2 (data as mean ± SE, n-6, Dunnett's multiple test,

p＜0.05，

p < 0.01vs. tail suspension group (C)).

Fig. 8 shows a graph of the expression level of the muscle atrophy-related gene in each muscle after the end of test 2 (data as mean ± SE, n ═ 6, Tukey test,. p < 0.05,. p < 0.01,. p < 0.001vs. tail suspension group (C)).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a mechanism of decomposition of muscle protein (muscular atrophy).

[ FIG. 10 ]]Graphs showing the expression levels of the genes involved in muscle synthesis in each muscle after completion of test 2 (data are mean ± SE, n is 6, Tukey test, # p < 0.05vs. ts (comparison of 3 groups except C: Dunnett multiplex test,

p＜0.05，

p＜0.01vs.TS))。

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism of muscle protein synthesis (muscle synthesis).

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 11.

The present embodiment relates to a food composition for increasing muscle mass, a muscle mass-increasing agent, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, a motor function-maintaining agent, an agent for inhibiting the expression of a gene related to muscular atrophy, an agent for inhibiting the decomposition of muscle protein, an agent for preventing muscular atrophy, an agent for promoting the expression of a gene related to muscular synthesis, and an agent for promoting muscular synthesis, each containing a substance derived from euglena as an active ingredient.

< syndrome of dyskinesia >

The dyskinesia syndrome (locomative syndrome) is defined by the japan plastic surgery society as a state in which one or more of the moving organs such as bones, joints, cartilage, intervertebral discs, and muscles are damaged, and the functions such as "standing" and "walking" are reduced (non-patent document 2).

Dyskinesia syndrome, also abbreviated as dyskinesia (locoo) or as dyskinesia syndrome, motor organ syndrome, etc.

Hereinafter, the diagnosis criteria of the dyskinesia syndrome will be described (Ji village, "clinical diagnosis value and prevalence of dyskinesia syndrome", journal of Japanese aged medical society, Vol. 52, No.4, 350-353 (2015)).

(measurement of degree of dyskinesia)

The dyskinesia test, which is one of the diagnostic criteria of dyskinesia syndrome, comprises: (1) standing up test, (2)2 steps of test, (3) dyskinesia scale 25.

(1) The standing test was a test for determining the strength of a foot by preparing 4-height tables of 10cm, 20cm, 30cm and 40cm and determining whether the foot can stand with a single foot or both feet.

(2) The 2-step test is to walk 2 steps with as large a stride as possible, measure the step length of the 2-step degree, and calculate the 2-step value by dividing by the height. The walking ability including the lower limb muscle strength, balance ability, flexibility and the like was evaluated from the 2-step values.

(3) The dyskinesia scale 25 was evaluated using a 25-item questionnaire for the presence or absence of physical pain and difficulty in daily life during the past 1 month.

The judgment based on the dyskinesia degree test includes both dyskinesia degree 1 and dyskinesia degree 2.

The clinical value of the dyskinesia level 1 is as follows.

1) Standing up for testing: cannot stand up from the height of 40cm by one single foot

2)2, testing: step 2 value is less than 1.3

3) Dyskinesia scale 25: the result of the dyskinesia scale 25 is more than 7 points

Even if any of the above 1) to 3) is matched, it is determined as "degree of dyskinesia 1", and it is determined that the lowering of the mobility function has started.

The clinical judgment value of the dyskinesia degree 2 is as follows.

1) Standing up for testing: cannot stand up from the height of 20cm by using two feet

2)2, testing: step 2 value is less than 1.1

3) Dyskinesia scale 25: the result of the dyskinesia scale 25 was 16 points or more

A case where any one of the above 1) to 3) matches is determined as "dyskinesia degree 2", and it is determined that the movement function has decreased.

< sarcopenia >

Sarcopenia (sarcopenia) is a syndrome characterized by skeletal muscle atrophy with increasing age, as well as by a decrease in skeletal muscle mass and strength or a decrease in physical function.

While various diagnostic criteria have been proposed for sarcopenia depending on countries, regions, and the like, it is known that sarcopenia is diagnosed as sarcopenia when the decrease in muscle mass is a necessary item and the decrease in muscle strength or physical ability is satisfied (gegu jang, "diagnosis of sarcopenia, morbid state, treatment" japan aged medical society, journal 52, No.4, page 343, 349 (2015)).

The criteria for diagnosis of sarcopenia are described below (public welfare agency, people's life sciences prosperity, health longevity network, diagnosis of sarcopenia, URL: https:// www.tyojyu.or.jp/net/byauki/sarcopenia/shindan.

(diagnostic basis based on EWGSOP)

According to EWGSOP, a case where there is a decrease in body function (walking speed) or a decrease in muscle strength (grip strength) in addition to a decrease in skeletal muscle mass of four limbs is diagnosed as sarcopenia.

Specifically, the following conditions were diagnosed as sarcopenia: the value (kg/m) of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was determined by dividing the muscle mass of the limb (ALM) by the muscle mass of the limb (m) by the square of the height (m)²) In males, 7.23kg/m²The amount of the additive is 5.67kg/m in females²The following conditions are necessary, and when the walking speed of 10m is less than 0.8 m/sec, or the grip strength is less than 30kg in men and less than 20kg in womenThe situation is.

The procedure of diagnosis was to measure walking speed, to measure the muscle mass of the bones of the limbs at 0.8 m/sec or less, and to determine 7.23kg/m of the body mass of the male as a diagnosis standard²Below, 5.67kg/m in women²The following cases were diagnosed as sarcopenia, and at higher values, it was diagnosed as not sarcopenia.

The grip strength is measured when the walking speed is faster than 0.8 m/sec, and it is diagnosed that sarcopenia is not when the walking speed is higher than 30kg in men and higher than 20kg in women, and the skeletal muscle mass of the limbs is measured when the walking speed is high, and it is diagnosed that sarcopenia is not lower than the diagnostic reference value and it is diagnosed that sarcopenia is not higher than the diagnostic reference value.

(Asian diagnostic criteria)

The diagnostic standard of EWGSOP is a standard set by working groups in europe, and since european people and asians have differences in physical constitutions and physical functions, a diagnostic standard FOR asians is set by working groups FOR asian SARCOPENIA, asian SARCOPENIA working groups (AWGS). The diagnostic criteria based on AWGS are different from the diagnostic criteria based on EWGSOP in the criteria of grip strength and muscle mass.

The grip strength for sarcopenia was rated as below 26kg for men, below 18kg for women, and the muscle mass was rated as 7kg/m for men²The following (DXA value, BIA value) was 5.4kg/m in women²Below (DXA value), 5.7kg/m²The following (BIA value).

(diagnostic criteria of Japanese)

The diagnosis standard of EWGSOP is based on the elderly of the european and american population, and since japanese and european population have differences in physique and living habits even among the elderly, a simple standard plan suitable for sarcopenia of the elderly of japanese is made by long-term vertical epidemiological studies (NILS-LSA) related to aging in the national center for long-term life medical research.

In the NILS-LSA based diagnostic baseline, the following cases were diagnosed as sarcopenia: and a case where the walking speed of an elderly person aged 65 or older is less than 1 m/sec, or the grip strength is less than 25kg in men and less than 20kg in women, and the BMI value (body mass index, index representing physical constitution in terms of the ratio of body weight to the square of body height) is less than 18.5 or the calf circumference is less than 30 cm.

The walking speed and the grip strength are normal when the walking speed and the grip strength are above the reference values. If the walking speed and grip strength are equal to or less than the reference values but the BMI and the calf circumference are equal to or more than the reference values, the elderly with frail disease is diagnosed but sarcopenia is not.

< Euglena >

In the present embodiment, "Euglena" includes all of microorganisms classified in Euglena (Euglena) in the zoological and phytological classifications, variants thereof, and variants thereof.

Herein, the microorganism belonging to the genus Euglena (Euglena) refers to a microorganism belonging to the order Euglenoidina (Euglenoid) of the order Euglenida (Euglenophorea) of the class Phakellia (Mastigophorea) and the class Phytobastigothorea (Phytobastigothorea) of the phylum Protozoa (Protozoa) in zoology. On the other hand, microorganisms of the genus Euglena belong to the Euglena (Euglenales) of Euglenophyceae (Euglenophyceae) of Euglenophyta (Euglenophyta) in botany.

Specific examples of microorganisms of the genus euglena include: euglena acus, Euglena anabaena, Euglena caudata (Euglena caudata), Euglena chadefaudi, Euglena des, Euglena graminis, Euglena granola, Euglena grandiflora, Euglena internmedia (Euglena internmedia), Euglena mutubis, Euglena angustifolia (Euglena oxyuris), Euglena proxyma, Euglena spirogyra, Euglena viridis, Euglena avermiformis, Euglena intermedia (Euglena internmedia), Euglena piride, and the like.

As the Euglena cells, e.gracilis, particularly e.gracilis Z strain, e.g., e.gracilis NIES-49 strain, etc. can be used, but in addition to these, β -1, 3-glucanase of a gene variant such as a variant of e.gracilis Z strain (chloroplast deficient strain), a variant of var. baciliaris, a variant of chloroplast derived from these species, Euglena intermedia, Euglena piride, and other naked algae, such as Astaia longa, can be used.

Euglena is widely distributed in fresh water such as ponds and marshes, and can be used by being separated from the fresh water, and any euglena that has been separated can be used.

The genus Euglena includes all variants thereof. In addition, these variants also include those obtained by genetic methods such as: those resulting from recombination, transduction, transformation, etc.

For example, a culture solution containing nutrient salts such as nitrogen source, phosphorus source, and minerals, such as a modified Cramer-Myers medium ((NH) can be used as a culture solution for culturing Euglena cells₄)₂HPO₄1.0g/L，KH₂PO₄1.0g/L，MgSO₄·7H₂O 0.2g/l，CaCl₂·2H₂O 0.02g/l，Fe₂(SO₂)₃·7H₂O 3mg/l，MnCl₂·4H₂O 1.8mg/l，CoSO₄·7H₂O 1.5mg/l， ZnSO₄·7H₂O 0.4mg/l，Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O 0.2mg/l，CuSO₄·5H₂O0.02g/l, thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1)0.1mg/l, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), (pH 3.5)). In addition, (NH)₄)₂HPO₄May be replaced by (NH)₄)₂SO₄、NH₃aq. In addition, a known Hutner medium or Koren-Hutner medium prepared based on the description of euglena physiology and biochemistry (written by kyokang institute of society, published by japan) may be used.

The pH of the culture solution is preferably 2 or more, and the upper limit thereof is preferably 6 or less, more preferably 4.5 or less. By setting the pH to be acidic, the photosynthetic microorganism can grow more dominantly than other microorganisms, so that contamination can be suppressed.

The culture of the euglena cells can be carried out in an open pond mode directly utilizing sunlight; the light collection system may be used, in which sunlight collected by the light collection device is transmitted through an optical fiber or the like and irradiated to the culture tank to perform photosynthesis.

The culture of the euglena cells may be performed, for example, by a fed-batch method, but may be performed by any liquid culture method such as a flask culture or a culture in a fermenter, a batch culture method, a semibatch culture method (fed-batch culture method), a continuous culture method (perfusion culture method), or the like.

The separation of the Euglena cells is performed by, for example, centrifugation, filtration or simple sedimentation of the culture solution.

(Euglena algal body)

In the present embodiment, live cells of euglena separated by centrifugation, filtration, sedimentation, or the like can be used as euglena. The live Euglena cells may be used as they are after being harvested from the culture tank, but are preferably washed with water or physiological saline. The euglena can also be used in the form of a dispersion liquid in which the euglena is dispersed in a liquid such as water. In the present embodiment, it is preferable to use, as the euglena algal body, a dried algal body of euglena obtained by freeze-drying or spray-drying live euglena cells.

Further, a mechanically processed product of algal cells obtained by subjecting live euglena cells to mechanical treatment such as ultrasonic irradiation treatment or homogenization may be used as the euglena algal cells. Further, a dried mechanically treated product obtained by drying a mechanically treated product may be used as the euglena.

< aqueous solvent extract of Euglena >

In the present embodiment, the "aqueous solvent extract of euglena" refers to an extract extracted from euglena using an aqueous solvent, and is preferably a water extract or a hot water extract of euglena obtained by extracting for several seconds to several tens of hours at 5 to 600 ℃ using water as an aqueous solvent.

The water used for extraction is not necessarily distilled water, pure water or ultrapure water, and may be, for example, tap water or water containing impurities, but preferably does not contain a component that inhibits extraction of the active ingredient.

In the present embodiment, the "water extract" refers to an extract obtained by using water at 0 to 50 ℃ (excluding 0 ℃).

Here, "water" means water of 0 to 50 ℃ excluding 0 ℃.

The temperature of water is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect the active ingredient and can sufficiently extract the active ingredient, but is preferably 1 to 40 ℃, more preferably 5 to 35 ℃, and particularly preferably 10 to 30 ℃.

In the present embodiment, the "hot water extract" refers to an extract obtained by using water having a water temperature of more than 50 ℃, and may be referred to as a "hot water extract".

Here, "hot water" means water having a temperature higher than 50 ℃, and is a concept including "boiled water", including water in a boiling state. Further, it is not limited to the liquid state of hot water, but includes hot water in a gaseous state and a supercritical state.

The temperature of the hot water is not particularly limited as long as the active ingredient is not affected and the active ingredient can be sufficiently extracted, but is preferably higher than 50 ℃ and 120 ℃ or lower, more preferably higher than 50 ℃ and 100 ℃ or lower.

The pH of the water used for extraction is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect the active ingredient and can sufficiently extract the active ingredient, but is preferably 4 to 10, more preferably 5 to 9, and particularly preferably 6 to 8.

In the present embodiment, water is used alone as the aqueous solvent, but one or more solvents that can be generally used for extraction may be selected and used in the case of a solvent that does not affect the active ingredient and can sufficiently extract the active ingredient. For example, there may be mentioned: water, alcohol, glycol, and the like, but is not limited thereto. Examples of alcohols include: ethanol, methanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol, and the like. The diols include: butylene glycol, propylene glycol, and the like. Examples of the other aqueous solvent include acetone. These solvents may be used alone or as an aqueous solution, and any two or more or three or more kinds of mixed solvents may be used.

The temperature of the aqueous solvent used for extraction is, for example, 0 ℃ or higher, as long as it does not affect the active ingredient, and is not particularly limited. An aqueous solvent in a boiling state or a supercritical state may be used, but an aqueous solvent of 5 to 600 ℃ is preferably used, and an aqueous solvent of 10 to 200 ℃ is more preferably used.

Thus, the aqueous solvent used for extraction is meant to include aqueous solvents in boiling or supercritical states. The amount of the aqueous solvent used for extraction is preferably an amount that can sufficiently dissolve the water-soluble active ingredient contained in the Euglena.

The extraction method is not particularly limited, and for example, extraction can be performed by the following method, but is not limited thereto, and a commonly used extraction method can be freely selected and used. For example, a dry powder of algal bodies of euglena is immersed in an aqueous solvent for a prescribed time, and then centrifuged or filtered; or a method in which a dry powder of euglena fronds is added to an aqueous solvent, shaken and uniformly dispersed, and then centrifuged or filtered.

In addition, the aqueous solvent to which euglena has been added may be heated to facilitate extraction.

The water extraction of Euglena can be performed by a general method as shown below, but is not limited thereto. For example, the extract obtained by placing the Euglena tissue and water in a container and leaving them for a prescribed period of time while appropriately stirring or shaking can be used as the aqueous extract as it is. Further, for example, by centrifuging the extract liquid as described above, the obtained supernatant can be used as the water extract. Further, the extract or supernatant as described above may be concentrated and dried to remove water for use as an aqueous extract. In order to improve the extraction efficiency and shorten the extraction time, the water extraction may be performed by adding a small amount of, for example, 10 mass% or less of alcohol, preferably ethanol, to water.

The extraction time in the case of performing the water extraction is not particularly limited as long as it is a time for extracting the active ingredient, and may be appropriately set in a range of several seconds to several tens of hours depending on the extraction temperature.

The extraction with hot water may be performed by a general method as shown below, but is not limited thereto. The extraction is carried out by introducing euglena into a common extractor together with water and then heating. In the case of extraction using boiling water or water in a supercritical state, it is necessary to use an extractor capable of withstanding the pressure of water vapor. The pressure during extraction may be set to 1 to 5000 atmospheres, preferably 60 to 400 atmospheres.

In the case of extraction at high temperature and high pressure, if the extraction time is excessively long, the active ingredient may be decomposed or a chemical reaction may occur. Therefore, when the extraction is performed at a high temperature and a high pressure, the extraction time is preferably short, for example, 3 minutes or less, more preferably 1 minute or less, and particularly preferably 30 seconds or less.

The extracted euglena extract can be used as it is as an active ingredient of the muscle mass-increasing agent of the present embodiment, but the extract can be further fractionated from a fraction having a higher activity by an appropriate separation method (for example, partition extraction, gel filtration, silica gel chromatography, reverse-phase or normal-phase high performance liquid chromatography, or the like) and used.

In addition, the Euglena extract or a fraction thereof may be concentrated, dried to remove an aqueous solvent, which may be used as an aqueous solvent extract.

< agent for increasing muscle Mass >

The muscle mass increasing agent according to the present embodiment is a muscle mass increasing agent (muscle mass increasing agent) containing a gymnema algae-derived substance as an active ingredient.

Among the "substances derived from Euglena" are included: examples of the "euglena" include live euglena cells, dry euglena, and other euglena, as well as aqueous solvent extracts of euglena, processed products of euglena, and the like.

The "muscle mass-increasing agent" is an agent that increases the muscle mass (muscle mass), and is synonymous with the "muscle mass-increasing agent". The increase in muscle mass can be evaluated by measuring the muscle mass, for example, using a muscle meter or the like.

The muscle to be increased in muscle mass is not particularly limited, and is preferably skeletal muscle. Examples of the skeletal muscle include: sternocleidomastoid muscle, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, subclavian, rectus abdominis, oblique abdominis, transverse abdominis, quadratus lumbalis, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, erector spinalis, levator scapulae, rhomboid muscle, deltoid muscle, teres minor, supraspinalis, infrascapula, teres major, brachialis, biceps brachii, upper arm, brachioradialis, triceps brachii, ancyle, teres pronus, teres supinator, flexor ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, flexor palmaris acupunctatus, superficial flexor digitorum, flexor digitorum profundus, flexor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum brachiatus, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis, extensor polliciss thumb, extensor longus, extensor digitorum longus, extensor longus, extensor digitorum longus, extensor longus long, The palmaris brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, palmaris hallucis, abductor hallucis brevis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, ilium, vastus lateralis, psoasus, sartorius, pubis, tensor fasciae latus, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, quadriceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, gracilis, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus profundus, vastus lateralis (piriformis, adductor obtusis, vastus quadratus, supernumerator superior zibetulinus, vastus zibetula), gastrocnemius, soleus, fossa glena, tibialis, flexor hallucis longus, plantaris, tibialis anterior, longus, fibulare brevis, gastrocnemius, extensor longus, extensor.

The quadriceps femoris participates in extension of the knee joint and flexion of the femoral joint, specifically, an action of standing up by extending the knee, a walking action, and a running action. Therefore, if the muscle mass of the quadriceps femoris muscle is increased, the actions such as rising, walking, running and the like are improved, and the dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia can be prevented and improved.

The material derived from Euglena can be used as a muscle enhancer because it has the effect of increasing muscle mass. "muscle-building agent" refers to an agent that builds muscle, which can be built up, for example, by: muscle mass and muscle strength were evaluated.

"muscle strength" means increased muscle mass and increased muscle strength. The increase in muscle mass is determined, for example, from measurement of muscle mass, and the increase in muscle strength is determined, for example, from measurement of muscle strength by a muscle strength meter or the like.

< preventive agent for dyskinesia syndrome, therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, preventive agent for sarcopenia, therapeutic agent for sarcopenia >

The muscle mass increasing agent according to the present embodiment contains a substance derived from euglena as an active ingredient, and is also useful as a prophylactic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, a prophylactic agent for sarcopenia, or a therapeutic agent for sarcopenia.

The terms "treatment of dyskinesia syndrome" and "treatment of sarcopenia" mean that the symptoms of dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia are reduced compared to the state before the intake of a gymnocydia-derived substance as an active ingredient of the muscle mass increasing agent of the present embodiment.

< agent for maintaining exercise function and agent for improving exercise function >

The muscle mass increasing agent according to the present embodiment contains a substance derived from euglena as an active ingredient, and is also useful as a motor function maintaining agent for maintaining a motor function and a motor function improving agent for improving a motor function.

The "maintenance of the exercise function" means that the exercise functions such as "standing" and "walking" are maintained as compared with a state in which the comparison is made, for example, a state before the ingestion of a gymnocydia-derived substance as an active ingredient of the muscle mass increasing agent of the present embodiment.

The "improvement of the exercise function" means that the exercise functions such as "standing" and "walking" are improved as compared with a state before a comparative state, for example, a state before a gymnodin-derived substance as an active ingredient of the muscle mass increasing agent of the present embodiment is ingested.

< agent for suppressing expression of gene related to muscular atrophy, agent for preventing muscular atrophy, and agent for suppressing decomposition of muscle protein >

The Euglena-derived substance has an effect of inhibiting the expression of a gene related to muscular atrophy, and therefore is useful as a muscular atrophy-related gene expression inhibitor, a muscular atrophy-preventing agent, or a muscle protein degradation inhibitor.

Examples of the muscular atrophy-related gene whose expression is suppressed by a substance derived from Euglena include, for example: genes for ubiquitin ligase (Cbl-b (SEQ ID NO: 1), Atrogin-1(SEQ ID NO: 2), MuRF1(SEQ ID NO: 3)).

< promoter for expression of Gene involved in muscle Synthesis and promoter for muscle Synthesis >

The material derived from Euglena has an effect of promoting the expression of a gene involved in muscle synthesis, and therefore, is useful as a promoter of expression of a gene involved in muscle synthesis and a promoter of muscle synthesis.

Examples of the muscle synthesis-related gene whose expression is promoted by a substance derived from Euglena include, for example: the gene of S6K (SEQ ID NO: 5) that promotes muscle protein synthesis.

< use >

The muscle mass-increasing agent according to the embodiment, which contains a gymnocyclorus-derived substance as an active ingredient, is administered to a patient with decreased muscle mass or decreased muscle strength, or a patient who is diagnosed with dyskinesia syndrome or sarcopenia.

The muscle mass-increasing agent containing a gymnocyclorus-derived substance as an active ingredient according to the present embodiment is formulated as a pharmaceutical composition, a food composition such as a health food, and the like, and is administered prophylactically to a person who is a preliminary group of people suffering from dyskinesia syndrome or sarcopenia, such as a person who feels a decrease in muscle mass or a decrease in muscle strength, a person suffering from dyskinesia syndrome, or a person with a high possibility of sarcopenia.

Since a substance derived from Euglena such as Euglena can be taken as a food without side effects, it can be administered even before the diagnosis of dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia is confirmed.

It is known that decrease in muscle mass, decrease in muscle strength, dyskinesia syndrome, and sarcopenia are generally caused by various causes such as lifestyle habits, age increase, eating habits, and lack of exercise.

Therefore, the food composition and the muscle mass-increasing agent for increasing the muscle mass, which contain the gymnema-derived substance according to the present embodiment as an active ingredient, can be applied to a person who is likely to have a decreased muscle mass or a decreased muscle strength due to living habits, an increased age, dietary habits, or insufficient exercise, or a person who is in an environment where there is a high possibility of suffering from dyskinesia syndrome or sarcopenia, for example: people in families with disorder of living habits and eating habits continue to take the medicine for a long time.

The food composition for increasing muscle mass and the object to be administered with the muscle mass-increasing agent containing the gymnema algae-derived substance according to the present embodiment as an active ingredient are not limited to humans and animals other than humans having the above symptoms or states.

In addition, a food composition for increasing muscle mass and a muscle mass-increasing agent containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient can be administered to a person of age after age 40, particularly an elderly person of 60 or 65 years or older.

Persons aged 40 years or older, particularly elderly persons aged 60 years or 65 years or older, tend to decrease in muscle mass and decrease in muscle strength with increasing age, but the decrease in muscle mass and decrease in muscle strength can be suppressed by the action of the increase in muscle mass of the euglena-derived substance.

The food composition and the muscle mass-increasing agent for increasing muscle mass according to the present embodiment can increase muscle mass, and therefore, applications for preventing and treating diseases associated with decrease in muscle mass and decrease in muscle strength, preventing a bedridden state, and preventing injuries caused by falls are expected.

The muscle mass-increasing agent containing a gymnocynia-derived substance as an active ingredient according to the present embodiment may be used in the form of a composition such as a food composition, a pharmaceutical composition, or the like, with the addition of a pharmacologically acceptable additive.

(food composition)

The gymnocynia-derived material of the present embodiment can be used in food.

The food composition for increasing muscle mass, the food composition for preventing sarcopenia, the food composition for improving sarcopenia, the food composition for preventing dyskinesia syndrome, or the food composition for improving dyskinesia syndrome of the present embodiment, the food composition for inhibiting the expression of a gene related to muscular atrophy, inhibiting the decomposition of muscle protein, the food composition for preventing muscular atrophy, promoting the expression of a gene related to muscular synthesis, or promoting muscular synthesis of the present embodiment can provide a food composition having a desired effect by incorporating a gymnocys nuda-derived material in an amount effective for the effect as a food raw material in various foods in the field of foods.

That is, the present invention can provide a food composition which is indicated as a food for increasing muscle mass in the field of foods. The food composition includes, in addition to general foods: specific health food, nutritional functional food, functional marker food, food for hospital patients, supplement, etc. In addition, it can also be used as food additive.

Examples of the food composition include: flavoring, processed livestock meat, processed agricultural product, beverage (cold beverage, alcoholic beverage, carbonated beverage, milk beverage, fruit juice beverage, tea, coffee, nutritional beverage, etc.), powdered beverage (fruit juice powder, soup powder, etc.), concentrated beverage, snack (candy), cookie, biscuit, chewing gum, soft candy, chocolate, etc.), bread, oatmeal, etc. In the case of a specific health food, a nutritional functional food, a functional food, or the like, the food may be in the form of capsules, tablets, syrups, granules, powders, or the like.

Here, the specific health food is a food containing a health functional component that affects physiological functions and the like, and is a food that is permitted by the japanese consumer hall and can be identified as being suitable for a specific purpose of health care. In the present invention, foods sold for specific health-care purposes such as "useful for suppressing a decrease in muscle mass and muscle strength necessary for supporting self-care daily life", "useful for improving walking ability", "useful for maintaining muscle mass and muscle strength", "useful for supporting muscle mass and muscle strength", "useful for maintaining walking ability deteriorated with age in middle-aged and high-aged people", "useful for supporting muscle building ability with deteriorated muscle with age" and the like are shown.

The nutritional functional food is a food for supplementing nutritional components (vitamins and minerals), and is a food for identifying the functions of nutritional components. In order to sell it as a nutritional functional food, the amount of the nutritional ingredient contained in the standard daily intake amount must be within the defined upper and lower limits, and not only the nutritional function but also a notice and the like should be noted.

In addition, the function-labeled food is a food in which a functionality based on scientific grounds is labeled under the responsibility of an operator. The function identification food has transmitted relevant safety, functionality, etc. to japanese consumer halls before sale based on information.

In the food composition according to the present embodiment, one or two or more components that can be generally used in food compositions may be optionally blended in addition to the material derived from euglena. For example, various additives that can be generally used in the food field, such as various seasonings, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, flavors, colorants, preservatives, and pH adjusters, may be contained.

In the food composition according to the present embodiment, in addition to the material derived from euglena, one or more of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate (HMB) known to have an effect of increasing muscle mass, 5, 7-dimethoxyflavone derived from black ginger (black ginger), and essential amino acids, imidazole peptide, CoQ10, and the like may be blended in a leucine ratio of 40%.

(pharmaceutical composition)

The muscle mass increasing agent, the dyskinesia syndrome preventing agent, the dyskinesia syndrome treating agent, the sarcopenia preventing agent, the sarcopenia treating agent, the motor function maintaining agent, the motor function improving agent, the muscular atrophy-related gene expression inhibitor and the muscle protein degradation inhibitor containing a gymnema algae-derived substance as an active ingredient according to the present embodiment can be used as a pharmaceutical composition.

The muscle mass increasing agent, the dyskinesia syndrome preventing agent, the dyskinesia syndrome treating agent, the sarcopenia preventing agent, the sarcopenia treating agent, the motor function maintaining agent, the motor function improving agent, the muscle atrophy-related gene expression inhibitor, the muscle protein degradation inhibitor, the muscle atrophy preventing agent, the muscle synthesis-related gene expression promoter, and the muscle synthesis promoter according to the present embodiment provide a pharmaceutical composition having a desired effect in the field of medicines by blending a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or additive with a gymnema algae-derived substance in an amount effective to exert the effect. The pharmaceutical composition can be a medicine or a quasi-medicine.

The pharmaceutical composition can be used for internal or external application. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition can be used in the form of preparations such as injections for oral administration, intravenous injection, subcutaneous injection, intradermal injection, intramuscular injection and/or intraperitoneal injection, transmucosal preparations, transdermal preparations, etc.

The dosage form of the pharmaceutical composition may be appropriately set according to the form to be applied, and examples thereof include: solid preparations such as tablet, granule, capsule, powder, etc., liquid preparations such as liquid, suspension, etc., and semisolid preparations such as ointment or gel.

The pharmaceutical composition according to the present embodiment may optionally contain one or two or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives.

For example, when the pharmaceutical composition according to the present embodiment is applied to an oral preparation, the pharmaceutical composition may contain, for example: excipients, binders, disintegrants, surfactants, preservatives, colorants, flavors, fragrances, stabilizers, preservatives, antioxidants, and the like, all of which are generally used in the field of pharmaceutical preparations. In addition, sustained release preparations and the like can also be prepared using a Drug Delivery System (DDS).

In the pharmaceutical composition according to the present embodiment, in addition to the euglena-derived substance, one or more substances known to have the effect of increasing muscle mass, such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate (HMB), zingiber officinale-derived 5, 7-dimethoxyflavone, and leucine, may be added in an amount of 40% to include essential amino acids, imidazole peptides, and CoQ 10.

< usage and dose >

The use of the muscle mass-increasing agent of the present embodiment may be, for example: powder, capsule, tablet, granule, liquid or syrup, etc. can be administered orally.

The amount and form of administration of the muscle mass-increasing agent of the present embodiment can be appropriately selected depending on the subject, the disease state and its progress, and other conditions. For example, when gymnema is selected as a material derived from gymnema and orally administered for the purpose of obtaining a muscle mass-increasing effect in humans (adults), gymnema can be continuously administered at a rate of 1 to 2 times per day (early and late) and 5 times per week or more, generally in a range of 1 to 5000mg, preferably 100 to 3000mg, and more preferably about 500 to 2000mg per day in terms of dry weight.

Examples

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In the following examples, the effect of the continuous intake of euglena powder on the muscle mass and muscle-related genes was examined by using euglena powder as a material derived from euglena.

< example 1>

Euglena gracilis powder (Euglena, manufactured by Euglena, Inc.) as a material derived from Euglena was used as a muscle mass-increasing agent.

< test 1 study on the Effect of continuous intake of Euglena powder on muscle Mass >

In experiment 1, the purpose was to elucidate the effect of euglena uptake on muscle mass in mice that are not disease models. Quadriceps femoris and liver after 4 weeks of ingestion were used as samples.

(test method)

■ preparation of feed

Nude algae grains were prepared by mixing CE-2 grains (purchased from CLEA, japan) in such a manner that the nude algae powder was contained at 2%. The nutritional ingredients of the CE-2 grain are shown in tables 1 to 3.

[ Table 1]

[ Table 2]

[ Table 3]

■ ingestion test

C57BL/6J male mice, which were 12 weeks old, were divided into 3 groups so that the average body weights were equal, and the groups were used as a control group and a gymnocyanine group, respectively (n-6). CE-2 (normal diet) was ingested for the control group, and CE-2 (euglena diet) containing 2% of euglena for the euglena group (Table 4). After the 4-week period of ingestion, quadriceps femoris and liver were collected from the mice, and the organ weights were measured.

[ Table 4]

(results of test 1)

The results are shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. No significant difference was observed in the body weight change (fig. 1) and the intake amount (fig. 2) at the time of test ingestion. In addition, although no significant difference was observed among the groups in liver weight (fig. 3), in quadriceps femoris muscle weight, muscle weight of gymnema group was significantly shown to be a higher value relative to the control group (fig. 4).

Therefore, it is found that euglena, which is a substance derived from euglena, has an effect of increasing muscle mass, and can be used as a muscle mass-increasing agent or a food composition for increasing muscle mass.

The quadriceps femoris participates in extension of the knee joint and flexion of the femoral joint, specifically, an action of standing up with the knee extended, a walking action, and a running action.

It is known that euglena, which is a substance derived from euglena, has an effect of increasing the muscle mass of the quadriceps femoris and can improve the actions such as rising, walking, running, and the like, and therefore can be used for preventing and/or improving dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia.

< test 2 study on muscular atrophy inhibition by Euglena uptake >

In experiment 2, the aim was to elucidate the effect on muscle atrophy caused by the ingestion of Euglena.

(test method)

C57BL/6 mice (male, 12-week-old, 32) were grouped so that the average body weight was equal, and they were designated as a normal rearing group (-), a caucasian group (C), a caucasian + euglena low concentration group (EL), and a caucasian + euglena high concentration group (EH), respectively.

The administration was performed orally 1 time a day by using a gavage needle, water was applied to the general rearing group and the caudal suspension group, and euglena was administered to the caudal suspension + euglena low concentration group (EL) and the caudal suspension + euglena high concentration group (EH) at 40 mg/mouse or 80 mg/mouse, respectively.

After 7 days from the start of administration, the tail suspension test was started, and after 10 days from the start of the tail suspension test, the test was sacrificed under isoflurane anesthesia. Blood was collected from the abdominal aorta, and the liver, soleus muscle, plantar muscle, gastrocnemius muscle, and quadriceps femoris muscle were removed to measure the weight.

cDNA was synthesized by extracting RNA from the metatarsus and quadriceps using Tri reagent, and the expression level of each gene (Cbl-b (SEQ ID NO: 1), Atrogin-1(SEQ ID NO: 2), MuRF1(SEQ ID NO: 3), 4E-BP1(SEQ ID NO: 4), RPS6KB1(SEQ ID NO: 5)) was determined by real-time PCR, and β -actin was used as an internal reference.

(grouping)

The grouping is as follows (each group n is 8).

■ general feeding group (-): No Tail hanging, dH administration₂O

■ Tail hanging group (C) having tail hanging and applying dH₂O

■ Tail hanging + Euglena Low concentration group (EL) with tail hanging, Euglena 40 mg/mouse/day (equivalent to 1% of intake)

■ Tail hanging + Euglena high concentration group (EH) with tail hanging, Euglena 80 mg/mouse/day (equivalent to 2% of intake)

(results of experiment 2)

(A. measurement of body weight and liver weight)

The results of the body weight and liver weight measurements are shown in fig. 5.

When the body weight at the end of the test was compared with the usual feeding group (-), a significant decrease was observed in the caudate group (C) and the caudate + euglena low concentration group (EL). In addition, the same behavior as body weight was also shown in the liver weight.

(B. measurement of muscle weight)

The results of the muscle weight measurement are shown in fig. 6 and 7.

As shown in fig. 6, it was confirmed that disuse muscle atrophy due to the tail suspension was induced, based on the decrease in muscle weight observed in the tail suspension compared to the normal feeding group.

As shown in fig. 7, in the plantaris muscle and the quadriceps femoris muscle, the decrease in muscle weight was suppressed by the intake of euglena. It is considered that gymnocyans contains many components, and has a possibility of contributing to inhibition of decomposition of muscle protein or promotion of synthesis.

From the results of the muscle weight measurement, it was found that gymnema can be used for suppressing the decrease in the muscle weight of the metatarsal muscle and the quadriceps femoris. Since the decrease in muscle mass of the metatarsal muscle and the quadriceps femoris is associated with the onset of dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia, euglena can be used as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for dyskinesia syndrome and sarcopenia.

Since the metatarsus and quadriceps femoris are muscles closely related to motor functions, euglena can be used as a motor function maintaining agent or a motor function improving agent.

(C. measurement of expression level of muscular dystrophy-associated Gene)

The results of measuring the amount of expression of the muscle atrophy-related gene are shown in fig. 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, a tendency was observed in the plantaris muscle to inhibit the expression of the genes of ubiquitin ligase involved in the decomposition of muscle protein (Cbl-b (SEQ ID NO: 1), Atrogin-1(SEQ ID NO: 2), MuRF1(SEQ ID NO: 3), FIG. 9) by the uptake of Euglena.

On the other hand, NO tendency was observed in quadriceps femoris to inhibit the gene expression of Cbl-b (SEQ ID NO: 1) and Atrogin-1(SEQ ID NO: 2) by uptake of Euglena. From the above results, it was shown that the potential for the difference in the potency of euglena was different depending on the muscle site.

As is clear from the results of measurement of the amount of expression of the muscle atrophy-related gene, Euglena can be used as a muscle atrophy-related gene expression inhibitor for inhibiting the expression of genes of ubiquitin ligase involved in the degradation of muscle protein (Cbl-b (SEQ ID NO: 1), Atrogin-1(SEQ ID NO: 2), MuRF1(SEQ ID NO: 3)).

Further, it is known that euglena can be used as a muscle protein degradation inhibitor for inhibiting degradation of muscle protein and a muscle atrophy preventing agent for preventing muscle atrophy.

(D. measurement of expression level of Gene involved in muscle Synthesis)

The results of measuring the expression level of the gene involved in muscle synthesis are shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, a tendency was observed in the plantaris muscle and the quadriceps femoris muscle to inhibit the expression of 4E-BP1(SEQ ID NO: 4) (FIG. 11), which is a synthesis inhibitor of muscle protein, and to promote the expression of the gene of S6K (RPS6KB1, SEQ ID NO: 5) (FIG. 11), which promotes the synthesis of muscle protein, through the uptake of Euglena. It is suggested that Euglena inhibits the decomposition of muscle protein and promotes muscle synthesis, thereby exerting a muscular atrophy-improving effect. Further, since euglena contains a large number of components, there are many points of action, and there is a possibility that the combination may exert an effect.

From the results of measurement of the expression level of the gene involved in muscle synthesis, it was found that Euglena can be used as a promoter for promoting the expression of the gene involved in muscle synthesis.

Further, it is known that euglena can be used as a muscle synthesis promoter for promoting muscle synthesis.

Claims

1. A food composition for increasing muscle mass, characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

2. The food composition for increasing muscle mass according to claim 1, wherein the material derived from Euglena is Euglena.

3. Food composition for increasing muscle mass according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is used for increasing the amount of quadriceps femoris.

4. A muscle mass-increasing agent characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

5. A food composition for preventing sarcopenia, for improving sarcopenia, for preventing dyskinesia syndrome, or for improving dyskinesia syndrome, which contains a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

6. A preventive agent for dyskinesia syndrome, characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

7. A therapeutic agent for dyskinesia syndrome, characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

8. A preventive agent for sarcopenia, characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

9. A therapeutic agent for sarcopenia, characterized by comprising a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

10. A motor function maintaining agent characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

11. An agent for improving exercise function, characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

12. A food composition for inhibiting the expression of a gene involved in muscular atrophy, for inhibiting the decomposition of a muscle protein, for preventing muscular atrophy, for promoting the expression of a gene involved in muscle synthesis, or for promoting muscle synthesis, which contains a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient.

13. A muscular atrophy-related gene expression inhibitor which is characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient and is used for inhibiting the expression of a muscular atrophy-related gene.

14. A muscle protein degradation inhibitor, characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient, for inhibiting the degradation of muscle protein.

15. A muscle atrophy preventing agent which is characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient and is used for preventing muscle atrophy.

16. A gene expression promoter for muscle synthesis, which comprises a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient and is used for promoting the expression of a gene for muscle synthesis.

17. A muscle synthesis promoter characterized by containing a substance derived from Euglena as an active ingredient for promoting muscle synthesis.