JP2001169753A - Composition having inhibitory action on rise of cholesterol and inhibitory action on reduction of hdl- cholesterol - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a composition for lowering cholesterol, capable of reducing a daily dosage, having an inhibitory action on rise of blood cholesterol and inhibitory action on reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and stronger in these effects. SOLUTION: This composition having an inhibitory action on rise of cholesterol and an inhibitory action on reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol comprises (1) at least one kind of a xanthine derivative, (2) at least one kind of dietary fiber, (3) at least one kind of an amino acid having an accelerating action on glucagon secretion and, if necessary, (4) at least one kind of vegetable protein. The composition has a high inhibitory action on rise of plasma cholesterol and is effective for diet, preventing and treating obesity and preventing and treating life habit diseases such as hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis by the inhibitory effect on reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composition capable of suppressing a rise in plasma cholesterol and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol, and to a food, beverage, drug or quasi-drug containing the composition. . In particular, the present invention relates to (1) at least one xanthine derivative, (2)
At least one of dietary fiber and (3) at least one of amino acids having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action, and, if necessary, (4) a cholesterol increase inhibitory action and HDL- containing at least one vegetable protein.
The present invention relates to a composition having a cholesterol lowering suppressing effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the intake of animal fat has increased with the westernization of dietary habits. According to the National Nutrition Survey, the percentage of energy intake from fats is on the rise, averaging over 26%. Such a constant fat intake causes obesity, and obesity increases the incidence of complications (eg, so-called lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and circulatory diseases due to hyperlipidemia). It is a social problem because it is raised. By the way, as one of the risk factors of circulatory disease, an increase in blood cholesterol concentration has been conventionally mentioned. Ingestion of fats and carbohydrates transiently causes postprandial hypercholesterolemia, but excessive intake leads to prolonged hypercholesterolemia, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis. In order to improve such hypercholesterolemia, the intake of animal fat may be suppressed or a pharmaceutical may be administered. Generally, suppression of fat intake includes diet, fat substitutes, appetite suppressants, and the like. However, diets are often overly restricted diets and are very difficult to implement over the long term. In addition, fat substitutes are not always good means in terms of food taste and processability. Furthermore, drugs such as mazindol and fenfluramine are known as appetite suppressants, but they can only be administered under the guidance of a physician, and their side effects have been reported (Hadler.AJ: J. Clin. Pham, 12 , 45
3 (1972), Stunkar.DA et al: Lanset, 1 , 503 (197
3)). On the other hand, in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia,
Drugs that suppress cholesterol biosynthesis are known, but many of these drugs have side effects. Thus, it would be extremely ideal if blood cholesterol levels could be reduced by ingesting functional foods without dietary restrictions and without administering pharmaceuticals. In recent years, vegetable proteins such as soy protein have attracted attention as a food component that lowers blood cholesterol levels. It has been reported that soy protein has a remarkable effect of lowering blood cholesterol concentration as compared with animal proteins such as casein and fish meat protein (Nagata, Br. J. Nutr, 44 , 113 (198
0)). However, the effective amount of soy protein varies from test to test, and for humans, the daily intake is 17 g to 124 g (in the case of a large intake test, the dietary protein was replaced), and the average of these tests was about 47 g per day. It is reported to be intake (Hario Nakamura, Body Science, 196 , 47 (1
997)). It is very difficult to get this amount from your daily diet. On the other hand, a large number of test results in animals and humans have been reported on the lipid absorption inhibitory and cholesterol lowering effects of chitosan, which are known (I. Ikeda: J. Nutr,
119 , 1383 (1989), JP-A-3-290170,
Keisuke Tsuji, Food Industry, 36 , 50, (1993), Osamu Kanai, Chemistry and Biology, 34 , 553 (1996)). However, when a large amount of chitosan is ingested, there is a problem of side effects such as constipation due to strong cohesive force. In many cases, the maximum daily intake of chitosan is set to 2 g or less. In addition, it has been reported that chitosan simultaneously inhibits the absorption of fat in the digestive tract, and at the same time, inhibits the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A and E) (Kinuchi, supra). Vitamin E
It is desirable to have the effect of preventing arteriosclerosis and not to inhibit absorption as much as possible. On the other hand, it has been revealed that a mixture of arginine and caffeine promotes lipolysis and has an effect of improving fat metabolism (JP-A-5-25290).
No. 5). Furthermore, arginine is known to have a particularly strong glucagon secretion effect among various amino acids,
Glucagon suppresses cholesterol synthesis in the liver and suppresses secretion of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) from the liver to exert a cholesterol-lowering effect. However, arginine and caffeine have inherent bitterness and astringency, and it is difficult to use them in large quantities from the viewpoint of processability as food.
As described above, it is known that soy protein and chitosan have an effect of lowering blood cholesterol. However, there have been few reports combining these materials and studies using other materials having a cholesterol-lowering effect.

[0003]

The present invention relates to (1) at least one xanthine derivative, (2) at least one dietary fiber, and (3) at least one amino acid having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action, and if necessary, (4) By combining the vegetable protein, the daily intake of each component can be reduced, the above-mentioned problems can be solved, and the increase in blood cholesterol accompanying the intake of animal fat can be reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide a composition having a preventive and ameliorating effect on lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis by suppressing and further suppressing a decrease in HDL-cholesterol.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have conducted intensive studies on a composition which suppresses a rise in blood cholesterol and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol. (2) at least one of dietary fiber and (3) at least one of amino acids having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action, and if necessary, (4) a composition containing at least one vegetable protein, It has been found that they have an extremely high cholesterol increase inhibitory action and HDL-cholesterol decrease inhibitory action, and as a result of further studies, they have completed the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides (1) a cholesterol-inhibiting effect and HDL-cholesterol comprising at least one xanthine derivative, at least one dietary fiber and at least one amino acid having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action. (2) the composition according to the above (1), which further comprises at least one plant protein; and (3) the xanthine derivative is caffeine, theophylline or theobromine. (4) The composition according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the dietary fiber is pectin, guar gum, konjac mannan, seaweed polysaccharide or chitosan. Amino acids having an effect of enhancing glucagon secretion are arginine,
The above-mentioned (1), which is alanine, leucine or a salt thereof.
(6) The composition according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the vegetable protein is wheat gluten, corn gluten, rice protein, peanut protein, sunflower protein, or soy protein. (7) The composition according to any one of the above (1) to (6), comprising soy protein, chitosan, arginine and caffeine, and (8) the above (1) to (7). And a food or drink, a drug or a quasi-drug comprising the composition having a cholesterol increase inhibitory action and an HDL-cholesterol decrease inhibitory action according to any one of the above.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The composition of the present invention contains (1) at least one xanthine derivative, (2) at least one dietary fiber, and (3) at least one amino acid having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action. As the xanthine derivative, either a naturally occurring xanthine derivative or a synthetic xanthine derivative may be used, but a naturally occurring xanthine derivative is preferably used. Examples of naturally occurring xanthine derivatives include, for example, caffeine, theophylline, theobromine and the like, with caffeine being most preferred. The composition of the present invention comprises one or more of the above-described xanthine derivatives (eg, two or three).
Species). As the dietary fiber, any of naturally occurring dietary fiber or synthetic dietary fiber may be used,
Naturally derived dietary fiber is preferred. Examples of the naturally occurring dietary fiber include pectin, guar gum, konjac mannan, seaweed polysaccharide, chitosan and the like, and among them, chitosan is most preferred. Chitosan is known per se, and is described in detail, for example, in "The Last Biomass Chitin, Chitosan, 1988" edited by Chitin and Chitosan Research Group. In the present invention, too, chitosan can be selected from commercially available ones and used. The composition of the present invention may contain one or more (eg, two or three) of the above-mentioned dietary fibers. Examples of the amino acids having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action include arginine, alanine, leucine and the like, among which arginine is most preferred. These amino acids may be free amino acids or salt forms. Examples of the salt include metal salts such as sodium salt and calcium salt, inorganic acid salts such as hydrochloride, carbonate and sulfate, acetate, and the like.
Organic acid salts such as malate and succinate are exemplified. The composition of the present invention may contain one or more (eg, two or three) amino acids having the above-described glucagon secretion-enhancing action. The composition of the present invention may contain any one of the above-mentioned dietary fiber and amino acids having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action, but preferably contains both. The composition of the present invention may further contain a vegetable protein. Examples of the vegetable protein include wheat gluten, corn gluten, rice protein, peanut protein, sunflower protein, soy protein, and the like, with soy protein being preferred. Examples of the soybean protein include whole fat soymilk, defatted soymilk, concentrated soybean protein, isolated soybean protein, and the like. Among them, processed soybean protein that has been subjected to processing without protein denaturation is most preferable. The composition of the present invention may contain one or more (eg, two or three) of the above-mentioned plant proteins.

The compounding amount of the xanthine derivative in the composition of the present invention is usually about 0.01 to 4 with respect to the whole composition.
0% by weight, preferably about 0.05-20% by weight, more preferably about 0.1-10% by weight. The amount of dietary fiber is usually about 1 to 99% by weight based on the whole composition,
Preferably about 5 to 95% by weight, more preferably about 10
~ 90% by weight. The amount of the amino acid having a glucagon secretion enhancing action is usually about 1 to the whole composition.
% To 99% by weight, preferably about 5 to 95% by weight, more preferably about 10 to 90% by weight. The amount of the vegetable protein is usually about 50 to 90% by weight, preferably about 60 to 95% by weight, and more preferably about 70 to 90% by weight, based on the whole composition. When the composition of the present invention contains a vegetable protein, the mixing ratio (weight ratio) of dietary fiber to the vegetable protein, amino acids having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action, and a xanthine derivative is usually 1: about 0.1. 01-0.5: about 0.001-0.
3: about 0.00001 to 0.06, preferably 1: about 0.02 to 0.3: about 0.005 to 0.2: about 0.00
005-0.04, most preferably 1: about 0.05-
0.2: about 0.01 to 0.1: about 0.0001 to 0.0
2.

[0008] The composition of the present invention has a cholesterol increase inhibitory action and an HDL-cholesterol decrease inhibitory action. The cholesterol increase inhibitory action means either an action of suppressing an increase in the total cholesterol level in plasma or an action of lowering the total cholesterol level. The total cholesterol concentration indicates the sum of the HDL-cholesterol concentration and the non-HDL-cholesterol concentration, and the non-HDL-cholesterol includes very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-cholesterol), intermediate density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-cholesterol). ), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol). The compositions according to the invention are especially suitable for non-H
Suppresses increase in DL-cholesterol concentration. HDL-
The cholesterol lowering inhibitory action refers to the effect of HD on plasma.
Action to suppress reduction in L-cholesterol concentration or H
It refers to any action of increasing DL-cholesterol levels. HDL-cholesterol is generally known as good cholesterol, and works as an anti-atherosclerotic factor by returning blood cholesterol to the liver. That is, it is considered that suppression of reduction or promotion of increase in HDL-cholesterol is useful for prevention and improvement of arteriosclerosis. Therefore, the composition of the present invention has a HDL-cholesterol lowering inhibitory effect and can control an increase in total cholesterol by controlling various cholesterol concentrations.

As described above, since the composition of the present invention has a cholesterol increase inhibitory action and an HDL-cholesterol decrease inhibitory action, for example, diet, prevention and improvement of obesity, hyperlipidemia (hypercholesterolemia), It is useful as a food and drink, drug, quasi-drug, etc. for the purpose of prevention / treatment of lifestyle-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction. As foods and drinks, for example, instant noodles, cup noodles, retort / cooked food, canned cans, microwave food, instant soup / stew, instant miso soup / suckle, canned soups, instant foods such as freeze-dried foods, e.g., carbonated Beverages, natural juices, fruit drinks, soft drinks containing fruit juice, fruit drinks, fruit drinks containing grains, vegetable drinks, soy milk / soy milk drinks, coffee drinks, tea drinks, powdered drinks, concentrated drinks, sports drinks, nutritional drinks, alcohol Preferred beverages such as beverages, for example, bread, macaroni spaghetti, noodles, cake mix, fried flour / bread crumbs, flour products such as gyoza rind, such as caramel candy, chewing gum, chocolate, cookies, biscuits, cake pies, Snacks, crackers, Japanese confectionery, rice confectionery, bean confectionery, dessert confectionery, etc. , For example soy sauce, miso,
Complex seasonings such as sauces, processed tomato seasonings, mirins, vinegars, sweeteners, etc., basic seasonings, flavor seasonings, cooking mixes, curry ingredients, sauces, tressings, mentsuyus, spices, etc. Ingredients and foods, for example, milk and processed milk, milk drinks, yogurt, lactic acid beverages, cheese, ice cream, prepared milk powder, cream and other milk and dairy products, for example, raw frozen food, semi-cooked frozen food, cooking Frozen foods such as pre-cooked frozen foods, such as canned seafood, pastes, fish ham,
Sausages, fishery products, fishery delicacies, fishery dry matter,
Processed fishery products such as boiled tsukudani, for example, canned livestock and pastes, livestock ham and sausage, livestock processed products such as delicacy of livestock, such as canned agricultural products, canned fruit, jams and marmalades, pickles and boiled beans, dried agricultural products, Agricultural products such as cereals (processed cereals), baby foods, and other commercial foods such as sprinkles and ochazuke pastes, and the like, preferably beverages such as juices, milk drinks, syrups, powdered drinks, and confectionery (Eg, cookie, candy, candy, drop, chocolate, biscuit, etc.), jelly (eg, konjac jelly, etc.), non-beverage foods such as pudding, yogurt, bread, gum, canned food, and the like. Examples of pharmaceuticals or quasi-drugs include liquids for internal use, tablets, dragees, sublingual tablets, granules, capsules (hard capsules, soft capsules, microcapsules), liquids, emulsions, suspensions, powders, and the like. No.

[0010] The composition of the present invention used as a food or drink, a pharmaceutical or a quasi-drug contains the above-mentioned xanthine derivative, dietary fiber, amino acids having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action, and / or cholesterol other than vegetable protein. Elevation inhibitory action or (and) HDL
-A component having a cholesterol lowering inhibitory action, a component enhancing the action, a component having a body fat reducing action, a component having a lipid metabolism improving action, and the like may be contained.

The composition of the present invention may contain, in addition to the components of the present invention, various carriers and additives generally used for foods and drinks, pharmaceuticals or quasi-drugs. When the composition of the present invention is used as a food or drink, the carrier includes various carrier carriers, extenders, diluents (eg, water, milk, etc.), extenders, dispersants, excipients, binder solvents ( For example, water, ethanol, vegetable oil, etc., dissolution aids, buffers, dissolution promoters, gelling agents (eg, CMC-N
a, HPMC, etc.), suspending agents (eg, CMC-Na, sodium alginate, etc.), flour, rice flour, starch,
Corn starch, presaccharide, milk protein, collagen, rice oil, lecithin and the like. As additives, for example, vitamins (eg, vitamin A,
Vitamin B2, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, etc.), sweetener, organic acid (eg, citric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, etc.), coloring Agents, flavors (eg, vanillin, linalool, natural flavors, etc.), anti-wetting agents, fibers, electrolytes, minerals, nutrients, antioxidants, preservatives,
Air freshener, humectant, natural plant extract (eg, tea extract (eg, green tea, barley, barley, brown rice, oolong tea, dokudami, Tochu tea), coffee extract, cocoa extract, fruit extract (eg , Orange, grape, apple, peach, pineapple, pear, plum, cherry, papaya, tomato, melon, strawberry, raspberry), vegetable extract (eg, carrot, pepper, parsley, spinach)) and the like. The food or drink of the present invention is preferably substantially free of caloric sweeteners such as sucrose, fructose and glucose. More preferably, the food or beverage of the present invention is preferably sweetened with a non-sugar sweetener. As such a non-sugar sweetener,
Aspartame, stevia, saccharin and the like are used. The beverage can be prepared by dissolving a predetermined amount of the components of the formulation of the present invention and, if necessary, a carrier or (and) an additive in an appropriate diluent. The non-beverage food is an essential ingredient of the present invention and optionally a carrier or (and)
It can be prepared by appropriately mixing predetermined amounts of additives and shaping. When the composition of the present invention is used as a beverage, the total amount of the essential components in the composition is not particularly limited, but is about 0.1 to 50 per 100 g of the total composition.
g, preferably about 0.5-30 g, most preferably about 1-30 g.
〜１０10 g. The amount of the components other than the components (1) to (4) in the composition of the present invention, various carriers or (and) additives is not particularly limited, but is about 0.1 to 10 g, preferably about 0.2, per 100 g of the total composition. ５5 g, most preferably about 0.3-3 g. When the composition of the present invention is used as a food or drink, the daily intake of components (sum of the above components) from an adult (for example, assuming a body weight of 60 kg) is usually about 0.5 g to 150 g, preferably about 1 g to 1 g.
100 g, most preferably about 2 to 50 g. The number of times of ingestion of the essential component per day is not particularly limited, but it is usually preferable to ingest about 1 to 3 times.

When the composition of the present invention is used as a pharmaceutical, it can be produced by a method commonly used in the technical field of pharmaceuticals, for example, a method described in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia or a method analogous thereto.

When the composition of the present invention is used as a pharmaceutical, the amount of the essential component in the composition is not particularly limited as long as the object of the present invention is achieved, and the composition can be used at an appropriate mixing ratio. is there. For example, the amount of the essential component in the composition of the present invention varies depending on the form of the preparation and the like.
Usually, about 0.1 to about 100% by weight, preferably about 1 to about 50% by weight, more preferably about 5 to 5% by weight of the whole preparation.
It is about 20% by weight. In addition, the above-mentioned carrier or (and) additive is appropriately blended in an appropriate ratio,
Usually, about 10 to about 99.9% by weight of the total composition;
Preferably, it is about 10 to about 80% by weight. When the composition of the present invention is used as a medicament, it is desirable to administer the composition in a dosage unit form, and particularly preferable is oral administration. The dose of the composition of the present invention varies depending on age, body weight, symptoms, the number of administrations and the like. For example, when used as a therapeutic agent for arteriosclerosis, an essential component of the present invention per adult (about 60 kg) per day is used. Is usually about 0.1 to 5 g, preferably about 0.1 g.
It is preferable to administer 5 to 2 g by dividing into 1 to 3 times a day.

[0014]

The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples and test examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 Cookies Soy protein 22.5 g Chitosan 2.5 g Arginine 1.35 g Caffeine 0.0563 g Flour 85.0 g Shortening 50.0 g Granulated sugar 55.0 g Baking powder 1.5 g Water 20.0 g Raw materials were blended with the above composition to prepare dough, molded, and then placed in an oven and baked at 180 ° C. for 13 minutes to produce a cookie.

[0015]

Example 2 Powdered beverage Soy protein 4.5 g Chitosan 0.5 g Arginine 0.27 g Caffeine 0.0113 g Granulated sugar 7.0 g Vanilla flavor 0.2 g Powdered ingredients are uniformly mixed After adding 150 ml of milk, the mixture was stirred well to produce a powdered beverage.

[0016]

Example 3 Powder Powder Soy Protein 4.5 g Chitosan 0.5 g Arginine 0.27 g Caffeine 0.0113 g Vitamin C 0.0187 g Synthetic aluminum silicate 10.0 g Potassium hydrogen phosphate 5.0 g Lactose 79.7 g The above-mentioned ingredients in powder form are uniformly mixed to give a powder.

[0017]

Example 4 Granules Soy protein 4.5 g Chitosan 0.5 g Arginine 0.27 g Caffeine 0.0113 g Vitamin C 0.0187 g Crystalline cellulose 40.0 g Lactose 35.0 g Starch 19.5 g Polyvinyl alcohol 5.0 g Water 30.0 g The above-mentioned powdery components are uniformly kneaded, crushed and granulated, and then dried to obtain granules.

[0018]

Example 5 Tablets 1 g of calcium stearate was mixed with 99 g of the granules obtained in Example 4, and the mixture was compression-molded with a tableting machine to have a diameter of 6.0 m.
m tablets.

[0019]

Test Example 1 Using a cholesterol-lowering food composition, an experiment was conducted on the effect of suppressing the increase in plasma total cholesterol (TC) when mice were fed a cholesterol-added feed. Seven-week-old female BALB / c mice were treated with water and a feed for breeding (CE-2, trade name, manufactured by CLEA Japan, Inc.) for 8 days.
After pre-breeding and acclimatizing for 3 days, 3 groups (control group, arginine / caffeine mixture administration group and soybean protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine composition administration group, 1 group: 6
Per animal). The control group was bred for 4 weeks on a feed obtained by adding 0.5% of cholesterol to the feeding powder feed CE-2.
The feed for each test group is as follows. Control group: Diet supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol Arginine / caffeine mixture administration group: Diet supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol + (mixture of 0.36% by weight of arginine + 0.015% by weight of caffeine) Soy protein / chitosan -Arginine-caffeine composition administration group: the cholesterol 0.5% added feed +
(7% by weight of a mixture of 6% by weight of soy protein + 0.67% by weight of chitosan + 0.36% by weight of arginine + 0.015% by weight of caffeine) 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks after ingestion of experimental food Blood is collected in the eyes, and plasma TC and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-Cho
l) The concentration was measured by the enzymatic method. The measurement was performed using “L-type Wako cholesterol” and “HDL-cholesterol precipitation reagent set” manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical. Plasma T
Table 1 shows the measurement results of C, and Table 2 shows the measurement results of HDL-cholesterol.

[0020]

[Table 1] Note) Each value is shown as the average value ± standard deviation of 6 cases. **: There is a significant difference from the control group at a risk rate of 1% or less. : There is a significant difference from the control group at a risk rate of 5% or less. As shown in Table 1, the group administered with the arginine / caffeine mixture and the group administered with the soybean protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine composition significantly increased the plasma TC value as compared to the control group from the first week after ingestion of the experimental diet. Suppressed. As a result, it was revealed that the arginine / caffeine mixture and the composition of soybean protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine significantly suppressed the increase in plasma TC value.

[0021]

[Table 2] Note) Each value is shown as the average value ± standard deviation of 6 cases. **: There is a significant difference from the control group at a risk rate of 1% or less. As shown in Table 2, the plasma HDL-Chol value was significantly higher in the group administered with the composition of soybean protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine at 4 weeks after ingestion of the experimental diet than in the control group. As a result, it became clear that the composition of soybean protein, chitosan, arginine, and caffeine suppressed a decrease in plasma HDL-Chol value. Furthermore, from the results of Tables 1 and 2, it was revealed that the composition of soybean protein, chitosan, arginine, and caffeine had an inhibitory effect on plasma cholesterol other than HDL-Chol.

[0022]

[Test Example 2] C57 prone to atherosclerosis
When cholesterol diet is given to BL / 6 mice, HDL-C
It is known that hol is significantly reduced. An experiment was conducted on the anti-atherosclerotic effect of the cholesterol-lowering food composition under such conditions. That is, a 19-week-old C57
BL / 6 mice were preliminarily bred with water and a feed for breeding (CE-2) for 3 days to be acclimated, and then were divided into two groups (1 group: a control group and a group to which a soy protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine composition was administered). (Group of 6 animals). The control group and the group to which the composition of soybean protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine was administered were fed the feed described in Test Example 1 and bred for 4 weeks. After ingesting the experimental diet,
Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks, and plasma TC, HD
L-Chol and non-HDL-Chol concentrations were determined. non HDL-C
The hol concentration was determined from a calculation formula [Equation 1]. Table 3 shows the results.

## EQU00001 ## Plasma non-HDL-Chol value = [TC value]-[HDL-Chol value] In addition, the atherosclerotic index was calculated from the formula [Expression 2]. It is considered that the smaller the value of the atherosclerosis index, the more the lipid metabolism is improved and the less the arteriosclerosis is. Table 4 shows the results.

[Equation 2] Atherogenic index = [non
HDL-Chol value] / [HDL-Chol value]

[0023]

[Table 3] Note) Each value is shown as the average value ± standard deviation of 6 cases. *: There is a significant difference from the control group at a risk rate of 5% or less. As is clear from Table 3, the plasma HDL-Chol value decreased with time in the control group, whereas the decrease was suppressed in the group administered with the soybean protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine composition. In addition, the plasma non-HDL-Chol value was measured by soy protein /
The group administered with the chitosan-arginine-caffeine composition was significantly lower at 2 weeks after ingestion of the experimental diet than the control group.

[0024]

[Table 4] Note) Each value is shown as the average value ± standard deviation of 6 cases. **: There is a significant difference from the control group at a risk rate of 1% or less. *: There is a significant difference from the control group at a risk rate of 5% or less. As is evident from Table 4, the atherosclerosis index value was significantly lower in the group administered with the composition of soybean protein / chitosan / arginine / caffeine than in the control group from the third week onward after ingestion of the experimental diet. From the results in Tables 3 and 4, soy protein /
The composition of chitosan-arginine-caffeine has a plasma HD
It has been clarified that it suppresses the decrease in L-Chol and exhibits an anti-atherosclerotic effect.

[0025]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION The composition of the present invention has a cholesterol increase inhibitory effect and an HDL-cholesterol decrease inhibitory effect, and prevents or improves diet, obesity, lifestyle diseases such as hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis. It is useful as a food / drink, pharmaceutical, quasi-drug, etc. for the purpose of prevention / treatment of

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) A61P 3/06 A61P 3/06 (72) Inventor Tadao Sekiguchi 7-142 Morimoto, Itami-shi, Hyogo (72) Invention Person Kayoko Shima 1-1 Azumi-Yamakawa-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Pref. A202 A72 (72) Inventor Hiroaki Kusaka 3-3-1202 Asakura, Takarazuka-shi, Hyogo F-term (reference) 4B018 LB01 LB08 LE01 LE02 LE03 MD08 MD19 MD20 MD41 MD47 ME04 4C086 AA01 AA02 CB07 MA03 MA05 MA52 NA05 NA06 ZA45 ZC33 ZC75 4C206 AA01 AA02 FA53 MA03 MA05 MA28 MA72 NA05 NA06 ZA45 ZC33 ZC75

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A cholesterol elevation inhibitory action comprising (1) at least one xanthine derivative, (2) at least one dietary fiber, and (3) at least one amino acid having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action. A composition having an HDL-cholesterol lowering inhibitory action. 2. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vegetable protein. 3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the xanthine derivative is caffeine, theophylline or theobromine. 4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the dietary fiber is pectin, guar gum, konjac mannan, seaweed polysaccharide or chitosan. 5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the amino acids having a glucagon secretion-enhancing action are arginine, alanine, leucine or salts thereof. 6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the vegetable protein is wheat gluten, corn gluten, rice protein, peanut protein, sunflower protein or soy protein. 7. The composition according to claim 1, comprising soy protein, chitosan, arginine and caffeine. 8. A food or drink, a pharmaceutical or a quasi-drug comprising the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which has a cholesterol increase inhibitory action and an HDL-cholesterol decrease inhibitory action.