JP2006282576A - Endurance-enhancing composition and food and drink containing the composition - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endurance-enhancing composition having good flavor, easily formulated with various kinds of food and drink, and capable of preventing the reduction of exercise performance and convulsions of muscles caused after carrying out endurance exercise; and to provide a food and drink containing the composition. <P>SOLUTION: The endurance-enhancing composition contains a cacao nib and/or a processed product thereof as an active ingredient. The cacao nib and/or the processed product thereof is preferably at least one kind selected from cacao mass, cocoa powder and a cacao extract, and the cacao extract is preferably a theobromine. The endurance-enhancing composition preferably contains at least one kind selected from an organic acid, a branched amino acid and a saccharide with low response to insulin as the other components. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endurance enhancing composition containing cacao nibs and / or processed products thereof as active ingredients, and a food or drink containing the composition.

  Usually, when endurance exercise is performed, athletic performance gradually decreases due to muscle fatigue or the like, but maintaining and improving athletic performance is an important issue for athletes and the like.

  For example, during exercise, glycogen in muscle is used, and anaerobic glycolysis proceeds to synthesize ATP necessary for muscle contraction. At the same time, lactic acid, a metabolite, accumulates and accumulates in muscle. It is believed that a decrease in pH occurs and the efficiency of muscle contraction decreases, leading to muscle fatigue.

  In addition, muscle fatigue in endurance exercise, which is aerobic exercise, is considered to be caused by the depletion of glycogen in muscles in addition to the accumulation of lactic acid.

  Therefore, the development of compositions and foods and drinks for improving performance of athletes and the like has been conventionally performed. For example, Patent Document 1 below includes (A) proanthocyanidins and (B) lycopene. A food composition for improving endurance is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 listed below discloses an anti-fatigue drink containing protosiadinin.

  Patent Document 3 below discloses a composition for improving endurance, which contains a capsaicinoid-like substance.

  The following Patent Document 4 discloses a food or drink characterized by containing an extract derived from hawthorn. By including the extract derived from hawthorn in the food or drink, the endurance is improved and the muscle tissue is strengthened. In addition, it is described that a food or drink that exhibits an excellent effect of promoting muscle fatigue recovery can be provided simply and at low cost.

  Non-patent document 1 below reports that endurance is improved by ingesting caffeine.

On the other hand, theobromine, a unique cocoa bean ingredient contained in chocolate and cocoa, is much milder in excitability than caffeine, stimulates the cerebral cortex, increases concentration, memory, thinking ability, It is known to have an effect of relaxing by adjusting the autonomic nerve.
JP 2003-334422 A JP-A-11-318402 JP 2002-114676 A JP-A-8-47381 J. Nutr. Sci Vitaminol. 47, 139-146, 2001

  As described above, various products for improving endurance have been proposed, but the effect has not been fully satisfactory. In addition, proanthocyanidins and the like have a problem of taste and flavor, and it was actually difficult to mix a sufficient amount that can be expected of the effect into food and drink. Furthermore, when a large amount of caffeine was ingested, there were concerns about side effects such as increased heart rate / arrhythmia, gastrointestinal disorders, flushing of the face, insomnia, frequent urination.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is an endurance enhancing composition that has a good flavor, can be easily blended into various foods and drinks, and can prevent deterioration in exercise performance and muscle spasm that occur when endurance exercise is performed, And it is providing the food / beverage products containing this composition.

  The inventors of the present invention have unexpectedly found that cocoa has an effect of preventing deterioration of exercise performance that occurs when endurance exercise is performed, and has completed the present invention. .

  That is, one of the present invention provides an endurance enhancing composition characterized by containing cacao nibs and / or processed products thereof as active ingredients.

  In the endurance enhancing composition of the present invention, the cocoa nibs and / or processed products thereof are preferably at least one selected from cocoa mass, cocoa powder, and cocoa extract, and the cocoa extract is theobromine. It is more preferable.

  Moreover, it is preferable to contain 15-100 mass% of said cocoa nibs and / or its processed material in conversion of solid content.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to contain at least one selected from organic acids, branched amino acids, and sugars with low insulin response as other components.

  In this case, it is preferable to contain the said cacao nibs and / or its processed material 15-99 mass% in conversion of a solid substance, and 0.1-20 mass% of said other components.

  Moreover, another one of this invention provides the food / beverage products which include the cacao nibs and / or its processed material, and were attached | subjected with the indication that it was used for endurance enhancement.

  In the food / beverage products of this invention, it is preferable to attach | subject the display to the effect of being used for the endurance enhancement and the prevention of the muscle spasm at the time of exercise.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the endurance enhancement composition which can prevent the fall of the exercise performance and muscle spasm which occur when endurance exercise is performed, and can expect endurance improvement can be provided. Since this endurance enhancing composition has a good flavor, a sufficient amount can be ingested as it is or by blending it into various foods and drinks, so that it is possible to enhance endurance more effectively.

  The composition for enhancing endurance of the present invention contains cacao nibs and / or a processed product thereof as an active ingredient, so that, as shown in the examples described later, the performance of the endurance is reduced and the muscles are reduced. Can prevent convulsions and increase endurance.

  In addition, although the direct causative substance which brings about the said effect | action by the endurance enhancement composition of this invention is not yet elucidated in detail, it is thought that theobromine contained in cacao is one active ingredient. In addition, theobromine is less likely to cause side effects when taken in large amounts than caffeine, and seems to be safer.

  The cocoa nibs used in the present invention can be obtained, for example, as follows. That is, cocoa beans are taken out from cocoa fruits, and are usually fermented at about 30 ° C. for 4 to 7 days, and then dried. After the dried cocoa beans are selected with a cleaner to remove foreign substances such as metals and stones, the cocoa nibs can be obtained by crushing with a separator to remove the skin and germs.

  The obtained cocoa nibs can be added with an alkaline agent such as potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide, sodium hydroxide, or the like, if necessary. The substrate may be immersed in a solution containing 5% by mass, preferably 2 to 4% by mass, and subjected to alkali treatment at 50 to 100 ° C. for 0 to 150 minutes, preferably 80 to 100 ° C. for 60 to 120 minutes. By this alkali treatment, the bitterness and astringency of cocoa beans can be removed.

  Moreover, as processed products of cacao nibs, cacao mass, cocoa powder, and cacao extract that are generally used in chocolate and cocoa beverages can be used. For example, they can be obtained as follows.

  That is, the cacao nibs obtained as described above can be roasted at 100 to 150 ° C. for 20 to 120 minutes and ground with a grinder to obtain cacao mass.

  Furthermore, cocoa powder (usually about 15-25% cocoa butter content) can be obtained by extracting the cocoa mass with a cocoa press to separate the cocoa butter and crushing it with a cocoa mill into a fine powder. . In the present invention, not only the cocoa powder (cocoa butter content 8% or more) specified in the “Fair Competition Rules for the Display of Chocolates”, but also the defatted cocoa (cocoa butter content 8) that cannot be said to be cocoa powder according to the above rules. %)) Can also be used.

  Moreover, a cacao extract can be obtained by extracting cacao nibs, cacao mass, cocoa powder, and the like with hot water, alcohol, or the like. Further, from this cacao extract, one having an increased theobromine concentration can be prepared, and further, theobromine itself can be separated and purified. Theobromine can be separated and purified by the method described in “The Merck Index 9TH”, MERCK & CO., INC. 1976, P.1195, for example.

  The endurance enhancing composition of the present invention contains cacao nibs, cacao mass, cocoa powder, cacao extract and the like as active ingredients as described above, but from the results of Examples described later, when endurance exercise was performed Theobromine contained in cacao can be considered as one of the causative substances that have effects such as prevention of deterioration of exercise performance and prevention of muscle spasm. For example, cacao nibs contain 700-3000 mg / 100 g theobromine, cacao mass contains 700-3000 mg / 100 g theobromine, and cocoa powder contains 1000-6000 mg / 100 g theobromine. . Moreover, 700 to 6000 mg / 100 g of theobromine is contained in the cocoa extract (unpurified) obtained by extraction with hot water or alcohol.

  In the present invention, the cacao nibs and / or processed products thereof are preferably contained in an amount of 15% by mass or more, more preferably 20% by mass or more in terms of solid content. Moreover, you may contain 100 mass% of the said cacao nibs and / or its processed material.

  The endurance enhancing composition of the present invention preferably further contains at least one selected from organic acids, branched amino acids, and sugars with low insulin response as other components. By using these components in combination, a further enhancement effect of endurance can be expected.

  For example, examples of the organic acid include citric acid, malic acid, and acetic acid. These organic acids can affect the citric acid cycle and improve energy metabolism.

  Examples of the branched amino acid include leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Since these branched amino acids do not produce lactic acid, a substance that causes muscle fatigue, when they are metabolized in the muscle, enhancement of endurance can be expected.

  Examples of the sugar with low insulin response include cluster dextrin and fructose. Glucose and sugar, which are low molecular weight carbohydrates, are ingested in large quantities immediately before or after exercise, and are absorbed quickly and rapidly in the intestine, causing excessive secretion of insulin, thereby preventing fat breakdown. Although problems such as decreased endurance arise, these sugars are used as an energy source without decreasing endurance because insulin is not involved in metabolism.

  In this invention, when it contains the said other component, it is preferable to contain the said cacao nib and / or its processed material 15-99 mass% in conversion of solid, and 0.1-20 mass% of the said other component. More preferably, the cacao nibs and / or processed products thereof contain 20 to 70% by mass in terms of solid matter and 0.1 to 10% by mass of the other components.

  Furthermore, in addition to the above components, sugars, vitamins, minerals, dairy products, fragrances and the like can be included.

  The form of the endurance enhancing composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include tablets, powders, granules, capsules, and drinks.

  The effective administration (intake) amount of the composition for enhancing endurance of the present invention is 0.5 to 20 mg / kg, preferably 1 to 10 mg / kg per adult day in terms of theobromine.

  Further, the endurance enhancing composition of the present invention is blended in various foods and beverages manufactured from cocoa mass, cocoa powder, etc., such as cocoa drink, adjusted cocoa, chocolate, powdered beverage, jelly beverage, tablet confectionery, etc. You can also. In that case, it is preferable that 15-99 mass% of cacao mass or cocoa powder is contained in the said food-drinks in conversion of solid content, and it is more preferable that 20-70 mass% is contained.

  In addition, in the present invention, “with a label” means not only a product directly displayed on a packaging material such as a product container, bag or box, but also a printed matter or product enclosed in a product bag or box. This means that it includes information displayed on pamphlets, sales promotion materials for agents, etc., as well as product information described on Internet homepages.

  The following were prepared and used as test substances.

Blank: 400ml water
Comparative example: 400 ml of coffee adjusted to have a caffeine content of 5 mg per kg of the subject's body weight (coffee: trade name “Nescafe Gold Blend”, manufactured by Nestlé Japan Ltd.)

  Example 1: 400 ml of cocoa adjusted to have a theobromine content of 5 mg / kg of the subject's body weight (cocoa: trade name “pure cocoa”, manufactured by Morinaga Seika Co., Ltd.)

  Example 2: 400 ml of theobromine water adjusted so that the theobromine amount is 5 mg per kg body weight of the subject (theobromine: trade name "special grade theobromine", manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.)

The subjects were healthy adult men who were not trained. Prior to endurance measurement, subjects were subjected to incremental exercise testing. Instruct the subject to run the ergometer (Combi Wellness Combi Aero Bike EZ101) 60 times a minute, increase the load of the ergometer by 1 W every 3 minutes, and take the maximum oxygen intake from the heart rate and oxygen consumption during exercise The amount (VO ₂ max) was determined.

  The endurance measurement test using each test substance was performed according to the time schedule shown in FIG. 1 with an interval of one week. In addition, the test was performed again by administering water (blank) in the final week, and it was confirmed that no training effect due to the test occurred.

Specifically, the test substance is administered to the subject one hour before the start of the test, the ergometer is set so that the exercise intensity is 65% VO ₂ max, and then the subject is padded with the ergometer 60 times per minute. The exercise was terminated when the rotation speed of the ergometer decreased to 50 or less per minute due to a decrease in performance due to fatigue. Then, the time from the start to the end of exercise (exercise possible time), oxygen consumption, and the number of times that the leg muscles convulsed during the exercise possible time were measured. In addition, the result was expressed as a median value of five measured values. The results are shown in Table 1 and FIG.

  From Table 1, about the exercise possible time, by giving cocoa and theobromine, the result equal to or more than the case of giving coffee (caffeine), which has been known to improve endurance, has been obtained. I understand that. It can be seen that, especially when cocoa is administered, the exercise time is significantly increased. It can also be seen that no convulsions of the leg muscles occurred during the exercise period by administering cocoa or theobromine.

  In addition, it can be seen from FIG. 2 that by administering cocoa or theobromine, the relative exercise intensity (% VO2max) is equal to or higher than that obtained when coffee (caffeine) is administered.

  From the above results, it was suggested that administration of cocoa can prevent a decrease in exercise performance and muscle spasm that occur during endurance exercise, and can enhance endurance. It was also suggested that theobromine contained in cocoa has an effect of enhancing endurance and preventing muscle spasm.

  The endurance enhancing composition of the present invention can be suitably used as a health food for people who perform excessive exercise such as sports, exercise, and physical labor.

It is a figure which shows the time schedule of an endurance measurement test. It is a diagram showing a measurement result of the relative motion intensity relative exercise intensity (% VO ₂ max).

Claims (9)

  A composition for enhancing endurance, comprising cacao nibs and / or a processed product thereof as an active ingredient.   The endurance enhancing composition according to claim 1, wherein the processed product of cacao nibs is at least one selected from cacao mass, cocoa powder, and cacao extract.   The endurance enhancing composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cocoa extract is theobromine.   The endurance enhancing composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cacao nibs and / or a processed product thereof are contained in an amount of 15 to 100% by mass in terms of solid content.   The endurance enhancing composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one selected from organic acids, branched amino acids, and sugars with low insulin response as other components.   The endurance enhancing composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising 15 to 99% by mass of the cacao nibs and / or processed product thereof in terms of solids and 0.1 to 20% by mass of the other components. object.   The composition for enhancing endurance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which has an effect of preventing muscle spasm during exercise.   Food / beverage products containing cocoa nibs and / or processed products and labeled to indicate that they are used to increase endurance.   The food or drink according to claim 8, which is labeled for use in order to increase endurance and prevent muscle spasm during exercise.