JP2019017287A - Preventive/ameliorating agent for muscular fatigue or the like, containing hydrogen, and food and drink composition - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a novel preventive/ameliorating agent or the like for muscular fatigue.SOLUTION: There is provided a preventive/ameliorating agent or the like for muscular fatigue, containing hydrogen as an active ingredient.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a preventive / improving agent for muscle fatigue and the like, containing hydrogen as an active ingredient, and a food / beverage composition, particularly a beverage.

  As a means for relieving muscle fatigue that occurs after exercise or the like, it is common to wait for natural recovery. When the symptom is severe, treatments such as applying a commercially available anti-inflammatory agent or analgesic agent to the affected area, or orally taking an anti-inflammatory drug for recovery of muscle fatigue are performed. However, most of those taken orally contain only ingredients that are widely effective in recovering from general fatigue, such as vitamins and minerals, and did not contain ingredients specialized for muscle fatigue. .

  The market for supplements and health foods is still expanding due to the growing health consciousness, but the anti-fatigue market is one that is expected to continue to grow. Accordingly, it is desired to search for an effective ingredient that can easily and easily recover fatigue, particularly muscle fatigue.

  As a beverage that has become popular in recent years, there is “hydrogen water” in which hydrogen is dissolved in water at a high concentration. Hydrogen is a gas that is tasteless, odorless, colorless and harmless to the body, and various health promoting actions such as an antioxidant action are known. From the viewpoint of imparting functionality, a hydrogen-containing beverage in which a functional raw material is further blended with hydrogen water (Patent Document 1), and a milk-containing beverage to which hydrogen has been added (Patent Document 2) from the viewpoint of improving flavor. Although known, the knowledge that hydrogen itself directly acts on specific fatigue has not been known so far.

JP 2013-169153 A JP 2006-123358 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a novel preventive / ameliorating agent such as muscle fatigue and a food or beverage composition.

  The present inventors have surprisingly found that hydrogen has an effect of restoring muscle fatigue and stiff shoulders, and completed the present invention.

That is, this application includes the following inventions.
[1] A preventive / ameliorating agent for muscle fatigue containing hydrogen as an active ingredient.
[2] The preventive / improving agent for muscle fatigue according to [1], wherein the hydrogen content is 0.06 mg to 1.60 mg.
[3] The muscle fatigue prevention / amelioration agent according to [1] or [2], wherein the hydrogen concentration is 0.3 to 1.6 ppm.
[4] The preventive / ameliorating agent for muscle fatigue according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the degree of fatigue is determined by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) test.
[5] The muscular fatigue prevention / amelioration agent according to any one of [1] to [4], which is administered to a subject once or more times a day for one week or more.
[6] A food and drink composition for preventing and improving muscle fatigue, comprising the agent for preventing and improving muscle fatigue according to any one of [1] to [5].
[7] The composition according to [6], which is in the form of a beverage.
[8] A stiff shoulder prevention / amelioration agent comprising hydrogen as an active ingredient.
[9] The stiff shoulder prevention / improving agent according to [8], wherein the hydrogen content is 0.06 mg to 1.60 mg.
[10] The stiff shoulder prevention / improving agent according to [8] or [9], wherein the hydrogen concentration is 0.3 to 1.6 ppm.
[11] The stiff shoulder prevention / improving agent according to any one of [8] to [10], wherein the degree of shoulder stiffness is determined by a VAS test.
[12] The stiff shoulder prevention / amelioration agent according to any one of [8] to [11], which is administered to a subject once or more times a day for one week or more.
[13] A food and beverage composition for preventing and improving shoulder stiffness, comprising the shoulder stiffness preventing and improving agent according to any one of [8] to [12].
[14] The composition according to [13], which is in the form of a beverage.

  By using hydrogen, which is a tasteless, odorless, colorless and harmless gas as an active ingredient, even consumers who have been resistant to taking anti-inflammatory agents can easily prevent and recover muscle pain and stiff shoulders. It becomes possible.

FIG. 1 is a graph in which the muscle pain alleviation effect of water (beverage 2) containing about 1.32 ppm of hydrogen in ion-exchanged water is evaluated by a VAS test. Myalgia was evaluated as 0.0 (no) before exercise, immediately after exercise and after break. The result is the average of 10 subjects. In addition, ion-exchange water was used as a control (beverage 1). FIG. 2 is a graph in which shoulder stiffness mitigating effect of water (beverage 2) containing about 1.35 ppm of hydrogen in ion-exchanged water is evaluated by VAS inspection. The evaluation of stiff shoulders was evaluated at the time of getting up and before going to bed, assuming that there was no stiff shoulder at all (0.0). The result is the average of 10 subjects. In addition, ion-exchange water was used as a control (beverage 1).

(Prevention / improvement agent)
The preventive / ameliorating agent according to the present invention contains hydrogen as an active ingredient. As used herein, “fatigue” refers to a condition of diminished physical function accompanied by unique discomfort and a desire for rest, mainly caused by physical activity, such as muscle fatigue or damage, particularly muscle pain. Say. Preferably, muscle fatigue is not due to a feeling of fatigue immediately after exercise. “Stiff shoulder” means a feeling of discomfort perceived from the neck line or base of the neck to the shoulder or back, for example, tension, stiffness, pain, etc., and may be accompanied by a headache or nausea.

  In addition, as used herein, “prevention / improvement” refers to preventing fatigue and stiff shoulders, such as muscle fatigue or damage, or restoring those symptoms to a state prior to feeling discomfort such as fatigue. In particular, in the case of amelioration of muscle pain, it means that the pain is alleviated and the performance is substantially restored to the pre-fatigue state. Although fatigue and pain, or prevention and improvement from them are subjective sensations, it is preferable to evaluate them as objectively as possible. For example, according to a method for quantifying and evaluating a subjective feeling such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) method, it is possible to evaluate symptoms such as fatigue and the degree of recovery thereof as parameters. More specifically, when assessing muscle fatigue based on VAS, muscle pain before exercise (ie, no pain) on a 0-100 mm scale (usually on a 100 mm long line) ) Is “0” mm, the strongest pain experienced in the past is “100” mm, and the pain felt by the subject himself at a specific time point (before exercise, immediately after exercise, after break) is 0 (no) to 100 (pain) Scored within the range of The improvement of pain can also be evaluated by the VAS method. For example, when the value of pain felt after exercise is significantly reduced, it may be evaluated that muscle pain or shoulder stiffness has improved.

  When the present invention is evaluated by comparison with a control, it can be evaluated by calculating a significance probability (p) as to whether or not the difference in the score (usually the average value) is a significant difference. The significance probability p may be calculated by a statistically known method, for example, a t-test using SPSS 14.0. Generally, the significant difference is assumed to be p <0.05 (5%), but evaluation can be performed on the basis of p ≦ 0.1 as a numerical value suggesting the significant difference.

  The method for containing hydrogen in the preventive / improving agent is not particularly limited. For example, a method in which hydrogen gas having a standard atmospheric pressure or higher or a gas containing hydrogen gas is blown into a solvent in a state of fine bubbles (so-called bubbling), or Examples thereof include a method of injecting hydrogen into a liquid solvent through a gas permeable membrane. Even if it is a method other than these, as long as it is a method which can be made to contain hydrogen more than predetermined concentration, the dissolution method will not ask | require.

  The solvent containing hydrogen is preferably water, but is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention is achieved and it is suitable for beverages. As long as water is suitable for drinking, the kind of hard water and soft water and other properties are not limited.

  It is preferable that hydrogen is present in a dissolved state in the preventive / improving agent as the final product from when it is contained in the solvent until the preventive / improving agent as the final product is used. The concentration of hydrogen in the preventive / ameliorating agent is preferably 0.3 ppm or more. Although the intake amount of hydrogen per day may vary depending on the symptoms, for example, it is preferable to take 200 ml of hydrogen water having a concentration of 0.3 ppm at least once a day (that is, 0.06 mg or more). The upper limit of intake is assumed to be, for example, about 1.60 mg (1.6 ppm (saturated concentration) × 1000 ml). The intake amount of hydrogen per day is preferably 0.16 to 1.20 mg, more preferably 0.24 to 1.20 mg.

  The preventive / improving agent may be hydrogen water containing hydrogen at a high concentration, that is, high-concentration hydrogen water itself. High-concentration hydrogen water refers to water that is contained in the state of fine bubbles in such a degree that hydrogen cannot be dissolved or visually recognized at a high concentration compared to the saturated dissolution amount of hydrogen such as 1 to several ppm in water as a solvent.

  In the present invention, hydrogen water refers to a solution in which hydrogen molecules are dissolved or dispersed. A trace amount of hydrogen exists even in the atmosphere, and the trace amount of hydrogen is soluble in water even under atmospheric pressure. However, in the present application, ion-exchanged water, distilled water, etc., to which hydrogen is not separately added, are in the hydrogen water. Not included. As a method for containing hydrogen, for example, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5746411 may be adopted, but other known methods may be selected. In addition, the hydrogen concentration of the hydrogen water sold by the applicant is maintained at 0.3 ppm or more when unopened from the time of shipment from the factory to the expiration date.

  The frequency or frequency of administration of the preventive / ameliorating agent is appropriately determined according to the symptoms of fatigue. For example, when the target heart rate is set so that the exercise intensity is about 60% based on the calculation formula of the carbonnen method and exercised for about 50 minutes, the subject is exercised once or more after exercise, preferably 3 times or more, It is envisaged to administer for a week or more. The timing of administration may be not only after or during the activity that causes physical fatigue, but also before the activity from the viewpoint of preventing symptoms such as fatigue. For example, the subject can take a muscle fatigue preventive / ameliorating agent in advance before exercise that may cause muscle fatigue.

  The form of the preventive / ameliorating agent is not particularly limited as long as it can contain hydrogen, but is preferably a liquid form from the viewpoint of retaining hydrogen. In addition to hydrogen, the preventive / ameliorating agent can contain, as an active ingredient, a component known to exert a preventive / ameliorating effect on symptoms such as muscle fatigue. In addition to the active ingredients, food compositions such as health foods and health supplements or beverage compositions, and any ingredients contained in medicines may also be included.

(Food and beverage composition)
The food / beverage product composition for preventing / improving muscle fatigue and stiff shoulders according to the present invention contains a top preventive / improving agent as an active ingredient. Hydrogen in the composition is not particularly limited as long as it has a preventive / ameliorating effect, but its effective amount is substantially the same as the preventive / ameliorating agent.

  As used herein, “composition” means a mixture and its form is assumed to be predominantly liquid. Although it does not exclude being present as a solid, in view of the physical properties of hydrogen, the composition according to the present invention is preferably a liquid rather than a solid.

  From the viewpoint of use, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition; a quasi-drug composition; a so-called health food, health supplement, nutritional functional food, food for specified health use, functional food, etc. having a pharmacological effect. Composition: Composition for blending to be added to beverages and foods (food additive); Beverage composition and the like which are prepared by adding the composition for blending can be classified.

  When the composition of the present invention is used for a pharmaceutical use for preventing or treating a disease or disorder associated with fatigue, the pharmaceutical composition of various dosage forms together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier according to a conventional method. It can be.

  When the composition is a liquid preparation, an oral solution, syrup, elixir or the like can be produced by a conventional method by adding a flavoring agent, buffer, stabilizer, flavoring agent, etc. to the composition of the present invention. it can. In this case, the flavoring agents may be those listed above, examples of the buffer include sodium citrate, and examples of the stabilizer include tragacanth, gum arabic, and gelatin.

  The composition of the present invention can also be used as a food composition such as health foods and health supplements, or a beverage composition. Examples of preferred food compositions and beverage compositions here include nutritional drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, vegetable drinks, carbonated drinks, tea drinks, coffee drinks, soup drinks, and various physiological effects. It is preferable to use a sports drink or an energy drink as a beverage that has health and contributes to health because it has a good taste and an anti-fatigue effect.

  When the embodiment of the present invention is a beverage (liquid) such as a sports drink or an energy drink, it is once in a 500 mL or 500 g container, preferably a 350 mL or 350 g container, more preferably a 200 mL container or a 200 g container. When the per capita intake is added, efficient intake is possible in a short time.

  The manufacturing method of these food-drinks compositions should just follow a conventional method, and should just prepare it by making hydrogen contain at an appropriate timing. In the production of the food / beverage product composition, other food materials, that is, various sugars, emulsifiers, thickeners, sweeteners, acidulants, fragrances, amino acids, fruit juices and the like can be appropriately 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, High-intensity sweeteners such as stevia, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, emulsifiers such as sucrose fatty acid ester, glycerin fatty acid ester, lecithin, thickening (stabilizing) agents such as carrageenan, xanthan gum, guar gum, pectin, locust bean gum, citric acid, Examples include acidulants such as lactic acid and malic acid, and fruit juices such as lemon juice, orange juice, and berry juice. In addition, vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E, and minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, and zinc can be added.

(container)
The preventive / ameliorating agent and food / beverage product composition according to the present invention are provided by being filled in a container. Examples of such containers include cans (aluminum, steel), retort pouches, bottles (glass), PET bottles, paper containers, and the like. Here, since hydrogen water as a beverage is required to have a hydrogen barrier property, it is preferable to use a metal can, a so-called pouch-shaped container using a metal laminated film, or a glass bottle.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to specific examples. In addition, this invention is not limited by this.

(Example 1: Effect of reducing muscle fatigue after exercise by a hydrogen-containing beverage)
We investigated the effect of reducing muscle fatigue by ingesting a hydrogen-containing beverage. An ergometer (Aerobike ai, Combi Co., Ltd.) was used for the fatigue load, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which is a self-assessment scale, was used for evaluating the effect of reducing muscle fatigue.

(subject)
Five healthy adult males (36.2 ± 7.6 years old) and 5 adult females (33.2 ± 14 years old), who were selected at random, were the subjects, and all of them were drink 1 (placebo drink: ion exchange) A total of two tests were conducted (a crossover test): a test for ingesting water) and a test for drinking 2 (water in which hydrogen gas was supplied to ion-exchanged water to contain hydrogen (hydrogen water)). The dissolved hydrogen concentration in hydrogen water (one 300 ml) was about 1.32 ppm (0.396 mg / dose), and the subject took 300 ml of beverage 2 three times a day at any time (hydrogen intake: 1 .188 mg / day). The hydrogen concentration in the beverage 2 was adjusted by blowing hydrogen into deaerated water using a hollow fiber module according to the method described in Japanese Patent No. 5746411. Dissolved hydrogen concentration was measured using a Unisense dissolved hydrogen meter (detection limit: 0.005 ppm). All beverages were hermetically sealed in an aluminum pouch with a drinking mouth, opened at the time of drinking, and taken directly from the drinking mouth. did.

  The exercise intensity of the exercise bike was set at 60%. This condition assumes exercise in the vicinity of AT (Anaerobic Threshold), which is the boundary between aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Therefore, not only mild exercise but also daily life effort is a condition for evaluation. The test was carried out under the constant heart rate condition by setting the target heart rate so that the exercise intensity was 60% by the carbonnen method. More specifically, target heart rate = {(220−age) −resting heart rate} × exercise intensity (0.6) + target heart rate at which the exercise intensity is 60% in the calculation formula of resting heart rate. Set.

The confirmation test of the fatigue reduction action was carried out according to the following schedule.
(1) Exercise load test before ingestion (1-1) Investigation of muscle fatigue before exercise (VAS)
(1-2) Exercise with 60% intensity for 50 minutes (1-3) Muscle fatigue survey immediately after exercise (VAS)
(1-4) 30 minutes break after ingesting 300 ml of test beverage (1-5) Muscle fatigue survey after break (VAS)
(2) Ingestion of test beverage (placebo or hydrogen water) for one week (300 ml / time, test beverage was freely ingested three times a day. The timing of each ingestion was arbitrary between subjects from waking up to bedtime. .) Half of the subjects took placebo and the other half took hydrogen water, and the same test as in (1) to (3) was performed by replacing placebo and hydrogen water in the step (4).
(3) Exercise load test after intake period (3-1) Investigation of muscle fatigue before exercise (VAS)
(3-2) Exercise with 60% strength for 50 minutes (3-3) Investigation of muscle fatigue immediately after exercise (VAS)
(3-4) 30 minutes break after ingesting 300 ml of test beverage (3-5) Muscle fatigue survey after break (VAS)
(4) The placebo and hydrogen water intake subjects were exchanged, and the tests (1) to (3) were conducted (crossover test). In addition, when changing a test subject, the interval period (1 week) was provided, and verification before the intake period of (1) was implemented after that.

  In addition, the interval period of one week before taking placebo or hydrogen water for the first time and one week at the time of replacement | exchange of a drink for ingestion corresponds to the exercise test period before ingestion shown below, respectively.

  In the VAS test in this example, the subject was given a pre-exercise state of 0.0 (no) in response to the question “Is there muscle pain?” At a specific time point (before exercise, immediately after exercise, after break). It was performed by writing its own state on a line segment of 0.0 cm (not) to 10.0 cm (pain). 10.0 indicates the maximum pain that the subject himself has felt in the past, including pain other than muscle pain. In addition, the position on the line segment entered by the subject was measured with a ruler, and a numerical value measured to the first decimal point was adopted.

(Evaluation method)
For each of the placebo intake and hydrogen water intake, sum the numerical values of the VAS method evaluation results after 30 minutes after exercise (after a break) for all subjects and divide the total value by the number of subjects. The average value was calculated by It was evaluated by calculating the significance probability (p) whether the difference of the said average value in a placebo and hydrogen water is a significant difference. The significance probability p was calculated by performing t-test using SPSS 14.0. In this example, evaluation was performed based on p ≦ 0.1 as a numerical value indicating a significant difference.

(Results and discussion)
VAS evaluation before exercise was set to 0.0, exercise was performed under the above conditions, and after resting for 30 minutes, VAS evaluation was performed again with both placebo and hydrogen water. As a result of measuring how the fatigue before exercise and after break changed between placebo and hydrogen water, the average of the differences among 10 subjects was 1.0 (placebo was 0.8, hydrogen water was −0) .2). Taking into account data such as the standard deviation of the measured values and calculating the significance probability, it was P = 0.10, and it was judged that a result suggesting a significant difference was obtained.

  Although detailed factors are not clear, it was suggested that hydrogen water has a function to assist recovery of muscle fatigue in the recovery process of accumulated fatigue.

(Example 2: Relieving effect of stiff shoulders by a hydrogen-containing beverage)
We investigated the effect of reducing stiff shoulders that occur during daily life. The evaluation site was the shoulder, and the fatigue of the shoulder muscle, that is, the stiff shoulder, was evaluated by the VAS test in the same manner as in Example 1.

(subject)
15 healthy day shift males (36.1 ± 7.3 years old) and 12 females (38.3 ± 7.2 years old) randomly selected regardless of their stiff shoulders A crossover test was performed using the same placebo (ion exchange water) and hydrogen water as in 1. In the same manner as in Example 1, the evaluation difference between placebo and hydrogen water was calculated for each subject, and the significance probability p was calculated. In Example 2, the intake period was 2 weeks, and the intake amount of the test beverage was 200 ml once a day. The dissolved hydrogen concentration in hydrogen water (200 ml per bottle) was about 1.35 ppm (0.270 mg / dose), and the subject took 200 ml of beverage 2 once a day (hydrogen intake: 0.270 mg / day). . The dissolved hydrogen concentration was measured using a Unisense dissolved hydrogen meter (detection limit: 0.005 ppm). The ingestion timing was arbitrarily determined by the subject between wake-up and bedtime in the same manner as in Example 1. All beverages were hermetically sealed in an aluminum pouch with a drinking mouth, opened at the time of drinking, and taken directly from the drinking mouth.

  In the VAS test, as in Example 1, when the subject has a stiff shoulder at the specific time (when waking up and before going to bed), the state where there is no stiff shoulder is 0.0 (not), It was performed by entering its own state on a line segment of 0.0 (not) to 10.0 (scratching). 10.0 indicates the worst state of stiff shoulder that the subject himself has felt in the past. In addition, the position on the line segment entered by the subject was measured with a ruler, and a numerical value measured to the first decimal point was adopted.

The confirmation test for stiff shoulder reduction was carried out according to the following schedule.
(1) Verification before intake period (1 week)
Before waking up on the day before the start of intake and before going to bed, the subjects were checked for stiff shoulders and scored according to the VAS method.
(2) Intake of test beverage and verification during ingestion of test beverage After the verification in (1), ingestion of the test beverage was started. The intake period was 2 weeks. At the time of waking up on the 7th and 14th days and before going to bed, as in (1), the state of stiff shoulders was confirmed with the subject and scored according to the VAS method.
(3) Crossover test after completion of (1) to (2) The beverages were replaced and the cycle from (1) to (4) was performed again (crossover test). In addition, when replacing | exchanging a test drink, the interval period (1 week) was provided and the verification before the intake period of said (1) was implemented in the said interval period.

(Evaluation method)
(I) Calculation of difference between VAS method evaluation results at the time of getting up and before going to bed The difference was calculated by comparing the VAS evaluation results of the stiff shoulder state at the time of getting up and before going to bed before and after ingestion.
(Ii) Calculation of average value After totaling the results of (i) on the same day for all subjects, the average value of the difference in VAS evaluation results on that day was obtained by dividing by the number of subjects.
(Iii) Judgment of significant difference For each of the placebo and hydrogen water, compare the result of (ii) before and after ingestion and calculate the significance probability (p) as to whether or not the difference is significant. It was evaluated by.
Similar to Example 1, the significance probability p was calculated by performing a t-test using SPSS 14.0. In this example, evaluation was performed based on p ≦ 0.1 as a numerical value indicating a significant difference.

(Results and discussion)
FIG. 2 is a bar graph comparing the data of placebo and hydrogen water intake, which are the same number of elapsed days from the start of intake, with respect to the average value of evaluation values by the VAS method of all subjects. In the test beverage intake period, there is no significant difference from the start of intake to the 7th day (p = 0.14), but a significant difference is confirmed on the 14th day (p = 0.02). It was done. From this, it was suggested that when the hydrogen water was continuously ingested so that the molecular hydrogen intake per day was 0.27 mg, the shoulder stiffness in daily life was reduced. Since stiff shoulders are thought to be due to circulatory disturbance due to muscle fatigue, as in Example 1, muscle fatigue is reduced at bedtime and daily interval time, etc., leading to reduction in stiff shoulders it is conceivable that.

  According to the present invention, even consumers who are resistant to treatment of muscle pain and stiff shoulders with conventional anti-inflammatory agents can easily prevent and ameliorate these symptoms.

Claims (14)

  An agent for preventing and improving muscle fatigue, containing hydrogen as an active ingredient.   The preventive / improving agent for muscle fatigue according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen content is 0.06 mg to 1.60 mg.   The agent for preventing or improving muscle fatigue according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen concentration is 0.3 to 1.6 ppm.   The preventive / improving agent for muscle fatigue according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the degree of fatigue is determined by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) test.   The agent for preventing / ameliorating muscle fatigue according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is administered to a subject once or more times a day for one week or more.   A food and beverage composition for preventing and improving muscle fatigue, comprising the agent for preventing and improving muscle fatigue according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The composition of claim 6 in the form of a beverage.   A stiff shoulder prevention / improving agent containing hydrogen as an active ingredient.   The prophylactic / improving agent for stiff shoulders according to claim 8, wherein the content of hydrogen is 0.06 mg to 1.60 mg.   The stiff shoulder prevention / improving agent according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the hydrogen concentration is 0.3 to 1.6 ppm.   The prophylactic / ameliorating agent for stiff shoulders according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the degree of stiff shoulders is determined by a VAS test.   The prophylactic / ameliorating agent for stiff shoulders according to any one of claims 8 to 11, which is administered to a subject once or more times a day for one week or more.   A food / beverage product composition for prevention / improvement of stiff shoulders, comprising the preventive / improving agent for stiff shoulders according to claim 8.   14. A composition according to claim 13 in the form of a beverage.