JP2016185939A - Oral composition - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide oral compositions containing carotenoid and imidazole dipeptide, in which the thermolysis and aggregation of carotenoid are suppressed, and the unpleasant taste of carotenoid and the unpleasant odor of imidazole dipeptide are improved.SOLUTION: An oral composition contains (A) carotenoid and (B) imidazole dipeptide.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to oral compositions containing carotenoids and imidazole dipeptides. In particular, it relates to an oral composition containing carotenoids and imidazole dipeptides, in which the thermal decomposition and aggregation of carotenoids is suppressed and the unpleasant taste and odor are improved.

  Carotenoids are compounds having a tetraterpene skeleton, and are classified into carotenes made of only carbon and hydrogen and xanthophylls containing other elements. A compound of carotenes is converted into vitamin A when absorbed by an animal, and exhibits an action as vitamin A. Many carotenoids have various actions such as an antioxidant action, an antitumor action, and an immunostimulatory action. According to Patent Document 1, for example, lutein is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body and eyes from damage caused by free radicals, is effective in treating cataracts, and reduces the occurrence of macular degeneration. Zeaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body and eyes from damage by free radicals. Bixin can remove free radicals, can prevent oxidative damage to DNA and fat oxidation both in vitro and in vivo, and has a chemopreventive effect against colorectal cancer. Lycopene is an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals that can damage physical cells, protects against the combination of prostate cancer, breast cancer, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, and reduces LDL oxidation. Reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood and reduce the risk of macular degeneration.

  Lutein, zeaxanthin and mesozeaxanthin are yellow pigments that accumulate in the macula of the retina. The macula is concentrated in light energy, and the cells are dense and easily accumulate oxidative stress associated with its activity, but lutein, the macular pigment, protects the visual function by protecting the light exposure and oxidative stress. Zeaxanthin and mezozeaxanthin (Non-patent Document 1). The administration of lutein suppresses oxidative stress accumulated in retinal neurons and contributes to the survival and visual function of neurons, and excessive activation of cells due to excessive light irradiation and accumulation of oxidative stress in retinal photoreceptors Inhibits cell death due to DNA damage (Non-patent Document 1). Ingestion of lutein reduces the onset risk of age-related macular degeneration by 57% and the onset risk of cataract by about 20% (Non-patent Document 2). Administration of lutein and zeaxanthin improves contrast sensitivity in mesopic vision under high glare environment, and administration of lutein and / or zeaxanthin improves contrast sensitivity in high mesopic vision, under low illumination The visual function is improved (Non-Patent Document 2).

  The imidazole dipeptide represents a dipeptide to which an amino acid containing imidazole is bound, and includes carnosine, anserine, and valenin. Imidazole dipeptide has an antioxidative action, and exhibits an effect of improving fatigue by suppressing active oxygen that is a cause of fatigue (Non-patent Document 3). Carnosine has an effect of preventing or partially recovering lens cataract and protecting the lens from damage induced by oxidative stress (Patent Document 1). Carnosine has antioxidant, buffering, metal ion chelating, immunostimulating, anti-glycation, and brain protein aggregation inhibitory functions, and imidazole dipeptide (carnosine anserine) has a learning function. Improvement, physical fatigue, and eyestrain (Non-Patent Document 4).

Special table 2009-538900

Functional Food, Vol.6, No.1, p.32-35 (2012) Food Style 21, Vol.16, No.4, p.63-65 (2002) Pharmacology and treatment, Vol.37, No.3, p.255-263 (2009) Food and Development, Vol.42, No.9, p.52-53 (2007)

  Carotenoids have a problem that they are easily decomposed by light or heat, causing aggregation. Carotenoids also have an unpleasant taste and imidazole dipeptides have an unpleasant odor. Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an oral composition containing carotenoid and imidazole dipeptide, in which the thermal decomposition and aggregation of carotenoid are suppressed, and the unpleasant taste of carotenoid and the unpleasant odor of imidazole dipeptide are improved. It is to provide.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve this problem, the present inventors have surprisingly found that oral compositions prepared by mixing carotenoids and imidazole dipeptides are surprisingly inhibited from degradation or aggregation of carotenoids by light or heat, and are uncomfortable. Found that taste and odor were improved. The present invention is based on such knowledge. Specifically, the present invention is as follows.

[1] An oral composition containing (A) a carotenoid and (B) an imidazole dipeptide.
[2] (A) The oral composition according to [1], wherein the daily human intake of carotenoid is 0.01 mg to 1000 mg.
[3] (A) The carotenoid is α-carotene, β-carotene, γ-carotene, δ-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, mezozeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, anthaxanthin, capsanthin, myxanthophylls , Neoxanthin, violaxanthin, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, or a mixture thereof, [1] or [2].
[4] (B) As an imidazole dipeptide, containing an animal-derived extract containing an imidazole dipeptide obtained from meat, bone or skin of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds or non-human mammals, [1] to [3] Oral composition in any one of.
[5] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the (B) imidazole dipeptide contains carnosine, anserine, valenin, or a mixture thereof.
[6] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [5], containing (A) carotenoid and (B) imidazole dipeptide at a weight ratio of 0.002 to 1000: 1.
[7] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [6] for improving visual function.

  The oral composition of the present invention suppresses the thermal decomposition and aggregation of carotenoids and improves unpleasant taste and odor. Thereby, an oral composition with high quality and usability can be provided. Moreover, the oral composition for improving visual function can be provided.

1. Oral Composition The oral composition of the present invention is an oral composition containing (A) a carotenoid and (B) an imidazole dipeptide.

(A) Carotenoids As described above, carotenoids are classified into carotenes made only of carbon and hydrogen and xanthophylls containing other elements. Examples of the carotene compounds include α-carotene, β-carotene, γ-carotene, δ-carotene, and lycopene. Examples of the compound of xanthophylls include lutein, zeaxanthin, mezzozeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, anthaxanthin, capsanthin, myxoxanthophyl, neoxanthine, violaxanthin, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and the like. Can be mentioned.
Preferred carotenoids include xanthophylls. More preferably, lutein, zeaxanthin, mezzozeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, anteraxanthin, capsanthin, myxoxanthophyl, neoxanthine, violaxanthin, and the like are more preferable, and lutein, zeaxanthin, mezozeaxanthin, canta Xanthine, fucoxanthin, astaxanthin and the like can be mentioned, and particularly preferable examples include lutein and zeaxanthin.

In the present invention, carotenoids can be used alone or in combination. Moreover, the extract of the plant containing the target carotenoid can also be used as a carotenoid. For example, marigold extract or the like can be used as lutein.
The compounding amount of the carotenoid in the oral composition of the present invention varies depending on the action of the carotenoid to be compounded and the effective amount necessary for the action. For example, the daily intake of humans is 0.01 mg to 1000 mg. Preferably 0.1 mg to 200 mg, more preferably 1 mg to 100 mg, and particularly preferably 2 mg to 50 mg.

(B) Imidazole dipeptide An imidazole dipeptide represents a dipeptide to which an amino acid containing imidazole is bound, and includes carnosine, anserine, and valenin. Preferred imidazole dipeptides include carnosine, anserine and the like, more preferably carnosine and the like. In the present invention, imidazole dipeptides can be used alone or in combination. In addition, imidazole dipeptides are hydrochloric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, propionic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, methanesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, oxalic acid, stearin. It may be a salt with an acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid or the like.
As the imidazole dipeptide, a chemically synthesized product or a commercially available product can be used. Since the imidazole dipeptide is contained in an animal-derived extract obtained from fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or meat, bones or skins of non-human mammals, the animal-derived extract can be used as the imidazole dipeptide. For example, an extract prepared by extracting from chicken breast can be preferably used.

  The compounding amount of imidazole dipeptide in the oral composition of the present invention is such that the weight ratio of carotenoid and imidazole dipeptide is 0.002: 1 to 1000: 1. Preferable weight ratio includes 0.05: 1 to 100: 1, more preferably 0.2: 1 to 50: 1, still more preferably 1: 1 to 20: 1, particularly Preferably 3: 1-15: 1 is mentioned, and 10: 0.15-10: 1.5 is also preferable. Examples of the human daily intake of imidazole dipeptide include 0.01 mg to 500 mg, preferably 0.1 mg to 100 mg, more preferably 0.5 mg to 50 mg, and still more preferably 1 mg to 500 mg. 10 mg is mentioned.

  In general, carotenoids are easily decomposed by light or heat, and aggregate. Carotenoids also taste unpleasant and imidazole dipeptides smell unpleasant. However, in the oral composition of the present invention containing a carotenoid and an imidazole dipeptide, degradation of the carotenoid due to light or heat is suppressed, and the carotenoid has an unpleasant taste and an unpleasant taste of the imidazole dipeptide. Smell is suppressed.

Many carotenoids have fat solubility such as lutein. Therefore, from the viewpoint of dispersibility and stability of the fat-soluble carotenoid, it is preferable to add fats and oils such as animal and vegetable oils and synthetic oils to the oral composition of the present invention. Fats and oils included in the oral composition are not particularly limited, but safflower oil (safflower oil), grape seed oil, sunflower oil (sunflower oil), olive oil, corn oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, soybean Vegetable oils such as germ oil, rapeseed oil, oleic rapeseed oil, perilla oil, linseed oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, walnut oil, wheat germ oil, fish oil (EPA / DHA), palm oil, coconut oil, cacao butter In addition to animal fats such as beef tallow, lard, chicken fat, milk fat, algal oil, synthetic oils such as diglycerides and medium chain triglycerides, fractionated oils, transesterified oils, and hydrogenated oils. Preferred oils and fats include vegetable oils, and among them, safflower oil (safflower oil), grape seed oil, sunflower oil (sunflower oil), olive oil, corn oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, perilla oil More preferred are safflower oil (safflower oil), grape seed oil, sunflower oil (sunflower oil), olive oil, and corn oil.
The amount of fats and oils in the oral composition of the present invention includes, for example, 1 mg to 2000 mg, preferably 10 mg to 1000 mg, more preferably 100 mg to 500 mg, in terms of daily human intake. .

It is preferable to add a fat-soluble antioxidant to the oral composition of the present invention from the viewpoint of formulation stability and visual function improvement. The fat-soluble antioxidant is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include fat-soluble vitamins, flavonoids, polyphenols and the like. Specifically, vitamin E such as tocopherol and tocotrienol, vitamin A such as retinol, astaxanthin, ubiquinone (particularly CoQ10), lignan (particularly sesamin, sesamorin etc.), curcumin, capsaicin, gingerol, resveratrol, anthocyanin, cyanidin, Examples include bilberry extract and analogs or derivatives thereof. Preferable fat-soluble antioxidants include, for example, vitamin E, gingerol, resveratrol, anonthocyanin and analogs or derivatives thereof. The fat-soluble antioxidant may be used alone or in combination, and may further be a plant extract containing a substance having a fat-soluble oxidizing action and a plant extract thereof.
The compounding amount of the fat-soluble antioxidant in the oral composition of the present invention is, for example, 0.01 mg to 200 mg, preferably 0.1 mg to 10 mg, expressed in terms of daily human intake. Preferably 0.5 mg-2 mg is mentioned.

  The oral composition of the present invention may contain other components suitable for the intended use of the oral composition of the present invention. Examples of the other components usually include components known for use. Long chain fatty acids can be added to the oral composition of the present invention. Suitable long chain fatty acids include, for example, α-linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA) and the like. Fish oil can also be used as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E, minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, and zinc can be added. Vitamin E is preferable because it is a fat-soluble antioxidant.

  The preparation of the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it contains the components (A) and (B) and can be taken internally. Specifically, powders, powders, fine granules, granules, pills, capsules, tablets [plain tablets, sugar-coated tablets, intraoral quick disintegrating tablets, chewable tablets (chewable tablets), effervescent tablets, lozenges, Including film-coated tablets, etc.], dry syrups, films, solutions (including suspensions, emulsions, syrups, limonades, etc.) and jelly agents, Agents and the like] are also included.

  The above preparation can be prepared by adding an excipient, and if necessary, a binder, a disintegrant, a lubricant, a coloring agent, a corrigent, a flavoring agent and the like to the above composition according to a conventional method. What is necessary is just to use what is generally used in the said field as an additive. Examples of excipients include lactose, sucrose, sodium chloride, glucose, starch, calcium carbonate, kaolin, microcrystalline cellulose, succinic acid and the like. Examples of the binder include water, ethanol, propanol, simple syrup, glucose solution, starch solution, gelatin solution, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl starch, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, calcium phosphate, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like. Examples of the disintegrant include dry starch, sodium alginate, agar powder, sodium hydrogen carbonate, calcium carbonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearic acid monoglyceride, and lactose. Examples of the lubricant include purified talc, stearate, borax, and polyethylene glycol. Examples of the corrigent include sucrose, orange peel, citric acid, tartaric acid and the like. Furthermore, an emulsifier, a thickener, a sweetener, a sour agent, a fragrance | flavor, an amino acid, fruit juice, etc. can be added. Specifically, sugars such as sucrose, isomerized sugar, glucose, fructose, palatinose, trehalose, lactose, xylose, sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, lactitol, palatinit, reduced starch syrup, reduced maltose starch syrup, aspartame , Stevia, acesulfame potassium, sucralose and other high sweetness sweeteners, sucrose fatty acid esters, glycerin fatty acid esters, lecithin and other emulsifiers, carrageenan, xanthan gum, guar gum, pectin, locust bean gum and other thickening agents (stabilizers) Acids such as acid, lactic acid, and malic acid, and fruit juices such as lemon juice, orange juice, and berry juice are listed.

  Particularly preferable preparations in the oral composition of the present invention include capsules, and more preferably soft capsules. Soft capsules can be produced, for example, by the method described on pages 361 to 367 of “Revised Niwa and Gelatin-Industrial History and Chemical Technology”. The soft capsule is completed by being filled with a drug simultaneously with the manufacture of the capsule. There are three types of soft capsule manufacturing methods, a rotary method, a double nozzle method, and a flat plate method, and the rotary method is most used. Specifically, it can be carried out as follows. A gelatin solution containing a plasticizer such as glycerin and an additive such as a pigment is prepared, and the liquid involved in dissolution is removed mainly under reduced pressure. The gelatin solution is spread on a pair of casting drums, cooled to form two gelatin sheets having a constant thickness at the same time, and then sent to a pair of rollers having a soft capsule mold. A chemical solution is injected between two sheets fed between the rollers from a chemical solution supply device at the top of the roller by a pump, and at the same time, a soft capsule is punched and manufactured. Thereafter, in order to remove the adhering lubricating oil, it is washed with an organic solvent as necessary, dried with a drum dryer, and then dried again in a humidity-controlled room.

In the case where the oral composition of the present invention is a solid preparation, for example, a molding method (direct compression method) may be mentioned. Moreover, after granulating (for example, extrusion granulation, fluidized bed granulation, or spray drying granulation) according to a known method, it may be put into a tableting machine and molded. In addition, there is no limitation in particular in the shape and magnitude | size of this solid composition, Coating processes, such as a sugar coating and a film coat, may be performed according to a well-known method.
When the oral composition of this invention is a liquid agent or a jelly agent, it can be filtered and sterilized as needed, and can also be filled with a container. The liquid agent or jelly agent includes a liquid agent filled in a soft capsule. The container for filling may be any material using a material that can be used for a general container in the field, such as a plastic material, a glass material, and a metal material. It can be selected and used.

When the oral composition of this invention is a liquid agent or a jelly agent, 2-8 are preferable, as for the pH (25 degreeC) of an oral composition, 2.5-7 are more preferable, and 3-6 are more preferable.
When the oral composition of the present invention is a liquid or jelly, the viscosity of the oral composition at 25 ° C. is, for example, a rotational viscometer (RE550 viscometer, manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd., rotor: 1 ° 34 ′ × R24). Is preferably 0.1 to 1000 mPa · s, more preferably 0.5 to 100 mPa · s, and still more preferably 1 to 10 mPa · s.
The oral composition of the present invention is, for example, any preparation that can be widely used for pharmaceuticals, quasi drugs, foods, etc., for example, functional indication foods, pharmaceutical preparations, quasi drugs, or specified health use It includes food preparations such as foods, functional nutritional foods, foods for the elderly, special-purpose foods, functional foods, health supplements (supplements), and confectionery tablets.

2. Use of Oral Composition The oral composition of the present invention is used for various uses depending on the action of the carotenoid to be blended. As described above, carotenoids include, for example, antioxidant action, antitumor action, immunostimulatory action, treatment of cataract, reduction of occurrence of macular degeneration, protective action against damage caused by free radicals, treatment of arteriosclerosis, etc. There is an effect. For example, lutein, zeaxanthin and mezzozeaxanthin inhibit oxidative stress accumulated in retinal neurons, contribute to survival and visual function of neurons, abnormally increased cell activity and oxidation of retinal photoreceptors due to excessive light irradiation Suppression of cell death due to stress accumulation and DNA damage, reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, reduced risk of cataract development, improved contrast sensitivity in mesopic vision under high glare environment, visual function under low illumination There is an effect such as improvement. In addition, imidazole dipeptides have, for example, an anti-oxidation effect, fatigue improvement effect, recovery of lens cataract, protection of lens from damage induced by oxidative stress, and improvement of eye fatigue.

  For example, the oral composition of the present invention containing lutein and imidazole dipeptide is used for applications such as improvement of visual function. Improvement of visual function includes improvement of eyestrain, improvement of visual acuity, suppression of oxidative stress accumulated in retinal neurons, contribution to survival and visual function of neurons, abnormal cell activity due to excessive light irradiation Increased accumulation of oxidative stress in retinal photoreceptors and suppression of cell death due to DNA damage, reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, reduced risk of cataracts, improved contrast sensitivity in mesopic vision under high glare environment, low Applications include improvement of visual function under illumination.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example, a comparative example, and a test example demonstrate this invention further in detail, this invention is not limited to these at all.

<Samples used in Examples and Comparative Examples>
Lutein: Flora GLO Lutein 20% suspension (DSM)
Imidazole dipeptide: Chicken extract powder Imida 15 (containing 15% imidazole dipeptide: manufactured by Nippon Ham)
Safflower oil: Safflower salad oil (Summit Essential Oil Co., Ltd.)
For lutein and imidazole dipeptide, the respective contents contained in the used samples are shown in the table below.

Examples 1-5, Comparative Examples 1-3
Preparation of Oral Composition According to the formulation of Table 1, the oral compositions of Example 1, Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were prepared.

Moreover, according to the prescription of Table 2 and Table 3, the oral composition of Examples 2-5 and the comparative example 3 was prepared.

Test example 1
Aggregation inhibitory effect of lutein [Test method]
10 mg of each of the oral compositions of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example 1 were collected and then filled into a 30 mL glass bottle (screw cap), and 10 mL of safflower oil was added and dispersed. Centrifugation (3100 rpm; 10 minutes) was performed using a cooling centrifuge (EX-126: manufactured by Tommy Seiko Co., Ltd.), and 1 mL of the supernatant was collected. Further, each sample was diluted so as to be in a measurable absorbance range, and the absorbance at 350 to 550 nm of each sample was measured using a microplate reader (UV-2600: manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). Since lutein has an absorption wavelength at 350 to 550 nm, the area under the absorbance curve (AUC) was calculated and used as the amount of lutein. Using the following formula 1, the aggregation inhibition rate (%) of each sample was calculated.
<Formula 1>
Lutein aggregation inhibition rate = (AUC after centrifugation) / (AUC before centrifugation) × 100

[Test results]
The test results are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
When the oral composition of Comparative Example 1 was centrifuged, the lutein aggregated and settled, and was not uniformly dispersed. Therefore, the lutein aggregation inhibition rate became a low numerical value. In the oral compositions of Examples 1 to 4, the lutein was not aggregated after centrifugation, maintained good dispersibility, and showed a high value for inhibiting lutein aggregation.
From this test result, it was confirmed that imidazole dipeptide has an action of suppressing aggregation of lutein.

Test example 2
Effect of lutein on improving thermal stability [test method]
The effect of lutein on heat was evaluated. Each 1 g of the oral composition of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 was filled into a 30 mL glass bottle (screw cap) and stored in a thermostatic layer heated to 50 ° C. for 10 days. Thereafter, AUC was measured in the same manner as in Test Example 1, and the thermal stability (%) of lutein was calculated using the following formula 2.
<Formula 2>
Lutein thermal stability factor = (AUC after heat load) / (AUC of supernatant before heat load) × 100
[Test results]
The test results are shown in Table 6.
When a heat load was applied to the oral composition of Comparative Example 1, lutein aggregated and showed a low value for lutein thermal stability. In the oral composition of Example 1, lutein did not aggregate and precipitate even after heat load, and showed a numerical value with high lutein thermal stability. Note that the oral composition of Example 1 at the start and the oral composition of Example 1 after 10 days at 50 ° C. showed good dispersibility and had a deep yellow-orange color, but after 10 days at 50 ° C. In the oral composition of Comparative Example 1, it was visually confirmed that lutein was aggregated and settled, and was not uniformly dispersed.
From this test result, it was confirmed that imidazole dipeptide has an effect of improving the thermal stability of lutein.

Test example 3
Lutein taste improvement effect [test method]
The taste-improving effect of lutein was evaluated. About the oral composition of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 prepared in Test Example 1, the taste felt immediately after taking about 50 mg of each oral composition with a spatula was evaluated by five taste judges. The taste score was evaluated as 0 to 15 with “I can not take the dose” as 15 and “Can be taken” as 0, and the average of the numerical values of 5 people was taken.
[Test results]
The test results are shown in Table 7.
In the oral composition of Comparative Example 1, it was confirmed that the compliance for taking was very poor due to the very unpleasant taste caused by lutein. In the oral composition of Example 1, it was confirmed that the taste score was improved, and as a result, the feeling of use was improved.

Moreover, the oral composition of Example 5 and Comparative Example 3 was evaluated for the lutein taste improving effect in the same manner as in the above test method. The results are shown in Table 8.
In the oral composition of Comparative Example 3, the compliance with respect to taking was very poor, but in the oral composition of Example 5, it was confirmed that the taste score was improved, and as a result, the feeling of use was improved.
From the above test results, it was confirmed that imidazole dipeptide has an action of improving the unpleasant taste of lutein.

Test example 4
Odor improvement effect of imidazole dipeptide [test method]
Imidazole dipeptide has a chicken odor. The effect of lutein on the odor was evaluated. The oral compositions of Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 were each filled with 1 g each into a 10 mL glass bottle (screw cap) and stored in a constant temperature layer at 70 ° C. for 24 hours. Thereafter, the oral composition was taken out on a spatula, and odor improvement was evaluated by five odor judges. The odor score was evaluated on a scale of 0 to 15 with “live smell” being 15 and “not live smell” being 0, and the average of the numerical values of 5 people was taken.
[Test results]
The test results are shown in Table 9.
In the oral composition of Comparative Example 2, it was confirmed that imidazole dipeptide generates an unpleasant odor due to heat. The oral composition of Example 1 was confirmed to improve the odor score.
From this test result, it was confirmed that lutein has the effect | action which improves the unpleasant smell of imidazole dipeptide.

Test Example 5
Lutein odor improvement effect Lutein has an odor similar to paint odor. The improvement effect of the odor by the imidazole peptide was evaluated using the oral compositions of Example 5 and Comparative Example 3. The prepared oral composition was taken out on a spatula and evaluated for odor improvement by five odor judges. The odor score was evaluated on a scale of 0 to 15 with “paint odor” being 15 and “no paint odor” being 0, and the average of the numerical values of 5 persons was taken.
The test results are shown in Table 10.
In the oral composition of Comparative Example 3, the odor score of lutein was 15, but in the oral composition of Example 5, it was confirmed that the odor score was improved.
From this test result, it was confirmed that imidazole dipeptide has the action of improving the unpleasant odor of lutein.

Formulation Examples 1-15
Soft capsule A soft capsule is produced by mixing the components listed in the table below.

Formulation Examples 16-18
Tablets are produced by mixing the ingredients listed in the table below.

Formulation Examples 19-21
The drink is prepared by mixing the ingredients listed in the table below.

Formulation Examples 22-24
Jelly agent The components described in the table below are mixed to produce a jelly agent.

Formulation Examples 25-27
Gummy agent The ingredients listed in the table below are mixed to produce a gummy agent.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention provides an oral composition containing carotenoids and imidazole dipeptides with reduced carotenoid thermal degradation and aggregation and improved unpleasant taste and odor.

Claims (7)

  An oral composition containing (A) a carotenoid and (B) an imidazole dipeptide.   (A) The oral composition of Claim 1 whose daily human intake of carotenoid is 0.01 mg-1000 mg.   (A) The carotenoid is α-carotene, β-carotene, γ-carotene, δ-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, mezozeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, anthaxanthin, capsanthin, myxanthophylls, neoxanthine The oral composition according to claim 1 or 2, which is violaxanthin, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin or a mixture thereof.   (B) As an imidazole dipeptide, the animal-derived extract containing the imidazole dipeptide obtained from the meat, bone, or skin of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or non-human mammals is contained. Oral composition as described in.   (B) The oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the imidazole dipeptide contains carnosine, anserine, valenin, or a mixture thereof.   The oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising (A) carotenoid and (B) imidazole dipeptide in a weight ratio of 0.002: 1 to 1000: 1.   The oral composition as described in any one of Claims 1-6 for improving visual function.