WO2010116866A1 - Agent for ameliorating or preventing metabolic syndrome - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an agent for ameliorating or preventing metabolic syndrome which comprises, as the active ingredient, a degradation product of β-1,3-1,4-glucan that has a weight-average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da. The aforesaid agent for ameliorating or preventing metabolic syndrome, which has a high biological safety and can be continuously taken everyday, is usable as a component of medical drugs, foods, drinks and so on. Also disclosed are a novel composition which is usable in preparing the aforesaid agent for ameliorating or preventing metabolic syndrome, and a method for producing the same.

Description

Metabolic syndrome improvement or prevention agent

The present invention relates to an agent for improving or preventing metabolic syndrome.

In recent years, metabolic syndrome (a state in which lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes have occurred due to visceral fat accumulation) increases the risk of developing arteriosclerotic diseases (myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, etc.) Widely recognized as a thing.

As an agent for improving or preventing metabolic syndrome, for example, an agent containing a dietary fiber aggregate having a maximum content of water-soluble β-glucan as an active ingredient is known (see Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2007/077929 Pamphlet

By the way, as an agent for improving or preventing metabolic syndrome, it is desirable to have a high safety for a living body and can be taken daily and continuously. However, with respect to such metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agents, there are still no sufficient options for satisfying the diverse demands of consumers.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent that is highly safe for living bodies and can be ingested daily and continuously.

The present inventors have found that, when a β-glucan degradation product obtained by subjecting a barley pulverized product to a certain treatment is administered to a living body, symptoms of metabolic syndrome including visceral fat accumulation are strongly suppressed, The present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention provides an agent for improving or preventing metabolic syndrome, which contains a degradation product of β-1,3-1,4-glucan as an active ingredient, and the degradation product has a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da. . In the present invention, the “degradation product” of β-1,3-1,4-glucan refers to a compound produced by enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis of β-1,3-1,4-glucan. It shall be said.

The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention makes it possible to suppress visceral fat accumulation and suppress fat cell hypertrophy. It also makes it possible to suppress the accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol. And, through such an action, visceral fat type obesity or metabolic syndrome can be improved (treated, reduced) and prevented. Here, “inhibition of accumulation” of visceral fat refers to suppressing increase of visceral fat or reducing visceral fat. In addition, “suppression of accumulation” of triglyceride or cholesterol refers to suppressing or reducing the increase of triglyceride or cholesterol in the body.

Since the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention has a visceral fat accumulation inhibitory action and an adipocyte hypertrophy inhibitory action, it can also be used as a visceral fat accumulation inhibitor or an adipocyte hypertrophy inhibitor. Moreover, since it has a triglyceride accumulation inhibitory action and a cholesterol accumulation inhibitory action, it can also be used as a triglyceride accumulation inhibitor or a cholesterol accumulation inhibitor.

Β-1,3-1,4-glucan is abundantly contained in gramineous plants (especially barley and oats), and safety for living organisms has been established. Therefore, the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention is highly safe to the living body and can be ingested daily and continuously, and as a component of pharmaceuticals, foods and drinks, food and drink additives, feeds, feed additives and the like Suitable for use.

In addition, β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation products having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da are more water-soluble than high molecular weight β-1,3-1,4-glucan, The viscosity is low. Also in this respect, the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention is suitable for use as a component of pharmaceuticals, foods and drinks, food and drink additives, feeds, feed additives and the like.

The present invention also provides a composition containing a degradation product of β-1,3-1,4-glucan, wherein the degradation product has a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da. Such a composition can be used for the preparation of the above-described metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent. The composition may be composed of a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da.

The composition is
an α-amylase treatment step of decomposing the pulverized plant containing β-1,3-1,4-glucan with α-amylase;
a β-glucan degradation step of degrading β-1,3-1,4-glucan in the reaction mixture obtained in the α-amylase treatment step with β-glucanase and / or cellulase;
It can obtain by the manufacturing method containing. Such a manufacturing method is also included in the present invention.

From the viewpoint of obtaining a composition having a high content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product (weight average molecular weight: 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da), the above production method is obtained in the α-amylase treatment step. The fraction acquisition step of obtaining a β-1,3-1,4-glucan-containing fraction from the obtained reaction mixture was performed after the α-amylase treatment step, and the obtained β-1,3-1,4-glucan was obtained. The contained fraction is preferably subjected to a β-glucan decomposition step.

Further, from the viewpoint of obtaining a fraction having a high content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan, it is preferable to obtain a liquid layer by solid-liquid separation of the reaction mixture in the fraction acquisition step. In this case, it is preferable to further precipitate the liquid layer by alcohol precipitation (methanol precipitation, ethanol precipitation, etc.).

In the production method described above, the plant containing β-1,3-1,4-glucan has a high content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan. Barley, oats, rye, wheat, wheat) are preferred. Further, as the plant pulverized product, a plant seed pulverized product is suitable.

According to the present invention, there is provided a novel metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent that is highly safe for living organisms and can be taken daily and continuously. Moreover, the pharmaceutical, food / beverage products, food / beverage product additive, feed, feed additive, etc. containing such a metabolic syndrome improvement or prevention agent are provided. Moreover, the novel composition which can be used for preparation of such a metabolic syndrome improvement or prevention agent, and its manufacturing method are provided.

It is a molecular weight distribution curve of a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product obtained by fluorescence (FL) analysis of degraded β-glucan powder. 3 is a molecular weight distribution curve of a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product obtained by refractive index (RI) analysis of decomposed β-glucan powder. 2 is a graph showing plasma triglyceride values of mice administered with a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product. 2 is a graph showing plasma total cholesterol levels of mice administered with β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation products. 2 is a graph showing fat weight around the epididymis of mice administered with β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product. 2 is a graph showing the weight of fat in the back abdominal wall of mice administered with β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product. 2 is a graph showing the size of mesenteric adipocytes in mice administered with a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product. 2 is a graph showing the total amount of lipids in feces of mice administered with β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product. 3 is a graph showing the total amount of cholesterol in feces of mice administered with β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product. 2 is a graph showing the amount of bile acids in feces of mice administered with β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention contains a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da as an active ingredient.

In the present invention, “metabolic syndrome” refers to a state in which visceral fat is accumulated and any lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes develop. For example, in the case of Japanese, the requirements of “waist circumference: male ≧ 85 cm, female ≧ 90 cm (both male and female are equivalent to visceral fat area ≧ 100 cm ² )” are satisfied, and the following (1) to (3 The metabolic syndrome can be diagnosed if at least two of the above requirements are met (see Journal of the Japan Society for Internal Medicine, 94 (4), 794-809, 2005).
(1) Lipoprotein abnormality: hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride level ≧ 150 mg / dL) and / or low HDL cholesterolemia (HDL cholesterol level <40 mg / dL)
(2) High blood pressure: systolic blood pressure ≧ 130 mmHg and / or diastolic blood pressure ≧ 85 mmHg
(3) Hyperglycemia: Fasting blood glucose ≧ 110 mg / dL

In the present invention, β-1,3-1,4-glucan may be derived from, for example, a plant or a microorganism (bacteria, fungus, etc.). Natural products for obtaining β-1,3-1,4-glucan are, for example, gramineous plants (for example, barley, oats) in terms of a high content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan. Wheat, rye, wheat and wheat) are preferred, and barley and oats are particularly preferred. In addition, for example, when obtained from a grass family plant, seeds are suitable (any of whole grains, endosperm, cocoons, etc.).

The degradation product of β-1,3-1,4-glucan having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da is, for example, a high molecular weight β-1,3-1,4-glucan obtained by treating barley seed ground with α-amylase. It can be obtained by obtaining a fraction containing it and further treating it with β-glucanase and / or cellulase. Here, the α-amylase treatment of the barley seed pulverized product is performed, for example, by mixing a mixture of barley seed pulverized product, α-amylase and water at 40 to 100 ° C. In this case, it can be carried out by stirring at 40 to 80 ° C. for 15 to 90 minutes. After treatment with α-amylase, solid-liquid separation is performed, and alcohol precipitation (methanol precipitation, ethanol precipitation, etc.) is performed on the obtained liquid layer to obtain a fraction containing high molecular weight β-1,3-1,4-glucan. Can be obtained. In the treatment with β-glucanase and / or cellulase, for example, a mixture containing a high molecular weight β-1,3-1,4-glucan, a mixture of β-glucanase and water is stirred at 40 to 70 ° C. for 1 to 30 minutes. (Cellulase may be used with or instead of β-glucanase). If concentrated after the treatment, a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da can be obtained. Note that the treatment with α-amylase and the treatment with β-glucanase and / or cellulase may be performed simultaneously. For example, such simultaneous treatment may be performed by pulverizing barley seeds, α-amylase, β-glucanase, and water. This can be done by stirring the mixture (cellulase may be used with or instead of β-glucanase).

In the present invention, the β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product may have a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da, and the weight average molecular weight is preferably, for example, 1500 Da or more and 30000 Da or less, and 2000 Da or more. 20000 Da or less is more preferable, 3000 Da or more and 10,000 Da or less is further preferable, and 3000 Da or more and 6000 Da or less is more preferable.

The weight average molecular weight of the β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product can be measured by a known method (for example, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), gel filtration chromatography (GFC)). Moreover, the calibration curve used for determination of a weight average molecular weight can be created, for example using the standard product of a pullulan.

The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention may be in any form of solid (for example, powder), liquid (water-soluble or fat-soluble solution or suspension), paste, etc., and powders, granules, tablets , Capsules, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, ointments, plasters and the like. Further, the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention may comprise a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da.

The above-mentioned various preparations include a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da, and pharmaceutically acceptable additives (excipients, binders, lubricants, disintegrations). Agents, emulsifiers, surfactants, bases, solubilizers, suspending agents, and the like).

For example, examples of the excipient include lactose, sucrose, starch, dextrin and the like. Examples of the binder include polyvinyl alcohol, gum arabic, tragacanth, gelatin, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like. Examples of the lubricant include magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, talc and the like. Examples of the disintegrant include crystalline cellulose, agar, gelatin, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, dextrin and the like. Examples of the emulsifier or surfactant include Tween 60, Tween 80, Span 80, and glyceryl monostearate. Examples of the base include cetostearyl alcohol, lanolin, polyethylene glycol, rice bran oil, fish oil (DHA, EPA, etc.), olive oil and the like. Examples of the solubilizer include polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sodium carbonate, sodium citrate, Tween 80 and the like. Examples of the suspending agent include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and the like in addition to the surfactant described above.

The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention can be used as a component of medicine, food and drink (beverage, food), food and drink additive, feed, feed additive and the like. For example, examples of the beverage include water, soft drinks, fruit juice beverages, milk beverages, alcoholic beverages, sports drinks, and nutritional drinks. Examples of foods include breads, noodles, rice, tofu, dairy products, soy sauce, miso, and confectionery. The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention can also be used as a component for food for specified health use, food for special use, dietary supplement, health food, functional food, food for sick people, and the like.

Beverages, foods, feeds, etc. may further contain additives usually used in the field. Examples of such additives include bitters, flavors, apple fiber, soybean fiber, meat extract, black vinegar extract, gelatin, corn starch, honey, animal and vegetable oils and fats; proteins such as gluten; beans such as soybeans and peas; glucose Monosaccharides such as fructose; disaccharides such as sucrose; polysaccharides such as dextrose and starch; sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol; vitamins such as vitamin C; minerals such as zinc, copper and magnesium Functional materials such as CoQ10, α-lipoic acid, carnitine, capsaicin; These additives can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention may be ingested by humans or non-human mammals. The intake amount and the intake method can be appropriately determined according to the state, age, etc. of the individual. As a suitable intake method, for example, oral intake can be mentioned.

A composition containing a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da can be used for the preparation of the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention. The composition may have any shape such as a solid (for example, a powder), a liquid (a water-soluble or fat-soluble solution or suspension), a paste, or the like. The composition may be composed of a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da.

When the composition is solid, depending on the content of the β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product in the composition, for example, as it is or dissolved in a solvent, It can be used as an agent for improving or preventing metabolic syndrome. In addition, when the composition is in a liquid form, it is metabolically diluted or concentrated as it is or according to the content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product in the composition. It can be used as an agent for improving or preventing syndrome.

The composition includes, for example, an α-amylase treatment step for decomposing a pulverized plant containing β-1,3-1,4-glucan with α-amylase, and a reaction obtained in the α-amylase treatment step. And a β-glucan degradation step of degrading β-1,3-1,4-glucan in the mixture with β-glucanase and / or cellulase.

In the α-amylase treatment step, the polysaccharides (such as starch) in the pulverized plant are cleaved irregularly, whereby the polysaccharides are decomposed. The α-amylase treatment can be performed, for example, by adding a plant pulverized product together with α-amylase to an aqueous solvent (for example, water is preferable) and stirring it. The temperature of the α-amylase treatment is preferably 70 to 100 ° C., more preferably 80 to 95 ° C., and still more preferably 85 to 95 ° C. in the case of thermostable amylase. In the case of a non-thermostable amylase, it is preferably 40 to 80 ° C, more preferably 50 to 70 ° C, still more preferably 55 to 65 ° C. The α-amylase treatment time is, for example, preferably 15 to 90 minutes, more preferably 20 to 60 minutes, and further preferably 30 to 40 minutes. The reaction mixture obtained in the α-amylase treatment step may be further decomposed with, for example, another amylolytic enzyme (for example, amyloglucosidase).

From the viewpoint of obtaining a composition having a high content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product (weight average molecular weight: 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da), the above production method is obtained in the α-amylase treatment step. The fraction acquisition step of obtaining a β-1,3-1,4-glucan-containing fraction from the obtained reaction mixture is preferably performed after the α-amylase treatment step. In this case, in the β-glucan decomposition step, the fraction is subjected to a decomposition treatment with β-glucanase and / or cellulase.

From the viewpoint of obtaining a fraction having a high content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan, it is preferable to obtain a liquid layer by solid-liquid separation of the reaction mixture in the fraction acquisition step. Solid-liquid separation can be performed by a known method (for example, centrifugation, filtration), and for example, centrifugation is suitable.

When solid-liquid separation is performed, it is preferable to obtain a precipitate by, for example, alcohol precipitation of the liquid layer. As alcohol used for alcohol precipitation, methanol and ethanol are suitable, for example. The obtained precipitate may be further subjected to a treatment such as drying (for example, freeze-drying) and pulverization. When alcohol precipitation is not performed, the liquid layer is preferably concentrated or dried by a known method (for example, concentration under reduced pressure, freeze drying) (in this case, treatment such as pulverization may be further performed). .

In the β-glucan decomposition step, β-1,3-1,4-glucan in the reaction mixture obtained in the α-amylase treatment step is decomposed with β-glucanase and / or cellulase. For the decomposition of β-1,3-1,4-glucan, for example, a β-1,3-1,4-glucan-containing fraction is combined with β-glucanase and / or cellulase and an aqueous solvent (for example, water is suitable). ) And stirring it. The temperature for the decomposition treatment is, for example, preferably 40 to 70 ° C., more preferably 45 to 65 ° C., and further preferably 50 to 60 ° C. The decomposition treatment time is, for example, preferably 1 to 30 minutes, more preferably 3 to 20 minutes, and further preferably 5 to 10 minutes. In the present invention, lichenase is included in “β-glucanase”.

After the β-glucan decomposition step, the obtained decomposition product may be further subjected to processing such as concentration, drying, and pulverization. In this case, as a method of concentration or drying, a known method (for example, concentration under reduced pressure, freeze drying) can be used, and for example, freeze drying is preferable.

In the above production method, the α-amylase treatment step and the β-glucan decomposition step may be performed simultaneously. Both steps can be carried out simultaneously, for example, by adding the plant pulverized product together with α-amylase and β-glucanase to an aqueous solvent (eg water is preferred) and stirring it (with β-glucanase). Or, alternatively, cellulase may be used).

In the production method described above, the plant containing β-1,3-1,4-glucan has a high content of β-1,3-1,4-glucan. Barley, oats, rye, wheat, wheat) are preferred, and barley and oats are particularly preferred. Moreover, as the plant pulverized product, for example, a plant seed pulverized product is suitable (for example, when using a gramineous plant, any of whole grain, endosperm, silkworm, etc. may be used).

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically based on examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[Preparation and analysis of high molecular weight β-glucan powder]
2 kg of barley (CDC Fibar) seed pulverized product and 100 g of thermostable α-amylase (Chrystase YC15, Yamato Kasei) were put into about 18 L of hot water (about 50 ° C.) on a stainless steel plant micro extractor (20 L). Stir at 80 ° C. for 70 minutes. Next, the reaction solution was cooled to 60 ° C., 8 mL of amyloglucosidase (Wako Pure Chemical Industries) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 60 minutes.

After stirring, the reaction solution was centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 20 minutes at 20 ° C., and about 14 L of the obtained translucent, high-viscosity supernatant was put into a drum can lift (250 L). Then, about 55 L of methanol was added, and after sufficient stirring, the mixture was allowed to stand for 1 hour.

After standing, the reaction solution was poured onto a stainless steel sieve (φ400) to separate solids. After washing with 20 L of methanol and removing the methanol with an explosion-proof evaporator, the solid was freeze-dried on a stainless steel pad. The freeze-dried solid was intermittently pulverized with a lab miller (IFM-150, Iwatani Corporation) for 2 minutes to obtain a high molecular weight β-glucan powder.

The viscosity of a 0.2% aqueous solution of high molecular weight β-glucan powder was 1.97 mPa · s. In addition, the weight average molecular weight of β-1,3-1,4-glucan in the high molecular weight β-glucan powder was about 500,000 Da (measurement of the weight average molecular weight was in the case of decomposed β-glucan powder (described later)). The same was done).

The component composition of the high molecular weight β-glucan powder was as shown in Table 1. In the table, the unit of each component amount is mass%. The amount of β-1,3-1,4-glucan was measured by fluorescence (FL) analysis using calcoflow.

[Preparation and analysis of degraded β-glucan powder]
200 g of high molecular weight β-glucan powder was placed in a stainless steel container together with 7 L of water, and sufficiently stirred on a 70 ° C. hot water bath. After cooling to 62 ° C., 1 g of β-glucanase (Shin Nippon Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added and stirred for 1 hour, and further 1 g of β-glucanase (Shin Nippon Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added and stirred in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes. . Thereafter, the reaction solution was freeze-dried on a stainless steel pad, and the obtained solid was pulverized with a force mill to obtain a decomposed β-glucan powder.

The viscosity of a 0.2% aqueous solution of decomposed β-glucan powder was 1.02 mPa · s.

The molecular weight distribution of the β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product in the decomposed β-glucan powder was as shown in FIGS. The weight average molecular weight of the β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product in the decomposed β-glucan powder was about 4500 Da. FIG. 1 is a molecular weight distribution curve of a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product obtained by fluorescence (FL) analysis of degraded β-glucan powder. FIG. 2 is a molecular weight distribution curve of a β-1,3-1,4-glucan degradation product obtained by refractive index (RI) analysis of decomposed β-glucan powder.

The molecular weight distribution and the weight average molecular weight were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The GPC conditions are as follows. Two pumps (pumps A and B) were used, and eluents A and B were allowed to flow through pumps A and B, respectively. As a sample for analysis, a filtrate obtained by filtering a solution of 10 mg of decomposed β-glucan powder in 10 mL of water through a 0.45 μm filter was used. The molecular weight distribution and the weight average molecular weight were determined based on a calibration curve prepared using a pullulan standard (Shodex).

GPC conditions:
・ Oven temperature: 40 ℃
Column: Shodex OHPak SB-805HQ (excluding molecular weight 4 million) + Shodex OHPak SB-804HQ (excluding molecular weight 1 million) + Shodex OHPak SB-803HQ (excluding molecular weight 100,000)
・ Mixing coil: Stainless steel tube with an inner diameter of 0.5 mm and empty volume of 0.5 mL ・ Eluent A: Ultrapure water Flow rate: 1 mL / min ・ Eluent B: Calcoflow solution Flow rate: 1 mL / min ・ HPLC apparatus: Shimadzu Corporation LC-10 Series
System controller: SCL-10Avp
Pump: LC-10ATvp
Oven: CTO-10ACvp
Autosampler: SIL-10ADvp
Detector: RID-10A, RF-10AxL
Analysis software: GPC analysis software for Class-VP and Class-VP Detector: Fluorescence (FL) detector (excitation wavelength: 360 nm; fluorescence wavelength: 420 nm); differential refractive index (RI) detector (temperature: 40 ° C. )
・ Injection volume: 100 μL
・ Analysis time: 40 minutes

[Test example]
(Mouse grouping)
20 mice (4 weeks old, male, C57BL / 6J mice, Japanese Charles River) in good general condition, and 2 groups (control) with 10 mice in each group so that the initial body weight (average) does not vary between groups Group and decomposed β-glucan group).

(Preparation of test feed)
The test feed to be administered to each group of mice was prepared based on the powdered feed AIN93G so as to obtain the composition shown in Table 2. In the table, the unit of each component amount is g / kg feed.

(Test feed administration)
After one week of acclimatization, each group of mice was allowed to freely ingest a predetermined test feed and tap water for 8 weeks. Throughout the acclimatization period and subsequent test feed administration period, the mice were kept at a temperature of 22 ± 3 ° C., a relative humidity of 55 ± 20%, a ventilation rate of 12 times / hour, and a light / dark time of 12 hours (light period: 8 to 20 hours). Individually reared under conditions. During the acclimation breeding period, AIN93G was used as it was as feed.

(Measurement of plasma lipid content, fat weight, fat cell size, fecal lipid content)
Two weeks after the start of administration of the test feed, heart blood was collected from each group of mice, and plasma triglyceride levels and plasma total cholesterol levels were measured.

In addition, 8 weeks after the start of test feed administration, the mice of each group were subjected to cardiac blood sampling and dissection under ether anesthesia, fat weight around the epididymis, retroabdominal wall fat weight, mesenteric fat cell size, fecal total lipid. The amount, total cholesterol in feces, and bile acids in feces were measured.

(result)
The results (mean ± standard deviation) are shown in Tables 3 to 10 and FIGS. FIG. 3 is a graph showing plasma triglyceride values of mice in each group. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the plasma total cholesterol level of each group of mice. FIGS. 5 and 6 are graphs showing the weight of fat around the epididymis and the weight of the abdominal wall of each group of mice, respectively. 5 and 6, the graph of (a) shows the fat weight per individual, and the graph of (b) shows the fat weight per 100 g body weight. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the mesenteric adipocyte size of each group of mice. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the amount of total lipid in feces of each group of mice. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the total amount of cholesterol in feces of each group of mice. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the amount of bile acids in the feces of each group of mice.

As is apparent from Tables 3 to 7 and FIGS. 3 to 7, the plasma triglyceride value, the plasma total cholesterol value, the fat weight around the epididymis, the retroabdominal wall fat weight, and the mesenteric fat cell size are all in the degraded β-glucan group The value was lower than that of the control group. Further, as is clear from Tables 8 to 10 and FIGS. 8 to 10, all of the fecal total lipid amount, the fecal total cholesterol amount, and the fecal bile acid amount are all in the degraded β-glucan group as compared with the control group. Remarkably high values were shown.

By the above examples, the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent of the present invention suppresses visceral fat accumulation, adipocyte hypertrophy, triglyceride accumulation and cholesterol accumulation, through which visceral fat type obesity or metabolic syndrome is improved or prevented. It was confirmed that it was possible to do.

Claims (15)

1. An agent for improving or preventing metabolic syndrome, comprising a degradation product of β-1,3-1,4-glucan as an active ingredient, and the degradation product having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da.
2. The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent according to claim 1, which is used as a visceral fat accumulation inhibitor.
3. The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent according to claim 1 or 2, which is used as an adipocyte hypertrophy inhibitor.
4. The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is used as a triglyceride accumulation inhibitor.
5. The metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is used as a cholesterol accumulation inhibitor.
6. A food or drink containing the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
7. A food and beverage additive containing the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
8. A feed containing the metabolic syndrome improving or preventing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
9. A composition containing a degradation product of β-1,3-1,4-glucan and having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Da or more and less than 50000 Da.
10. A method for producing the composition of claim 9, comprising:
    an α-amylase treatment step of decomposing the pulverized plant containing β-1,3-1,4-glucan with α-amylase;
    a β-glucan degradation step of degrading β-1,3-1,4-glucan in the reaction mixture obtained in the α-amylase treatment step with β-glucanase and / or cellulase;
    Including methods.
11. A fraction acquisition step for obtaining a β-1,3-1,4-glucan-containing fraction from the reaction mixture obtained in the α-amylase treatment step was performed after the α-amylase treatment step, and the obtained β-1 The method according to claim 10, wherein the fraction containing -1,3-1,4-glucan is subjected to a β-glucan degradation step.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein in the fraction acquisition step, the reaction mixture is subjected to solid-liquid separation to obtain a liquid layer.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein in the fraction acquisition step, the liquid layer is further subjected to alcohol precipitation to obtain a precipitate.
14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the plant is a gramineous plant.
15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the pulverized product is a pulverized product of plant seeds.

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