JP2014208638A - Composition - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition that is safe and can efficiently increase or maintain muscle mass. The present invention contains lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine, and the content ratio of lactic acid and / or a salt thereof to caffeine is expressed as a weight ratio (however, in terms of the weight of lactate, A value in terms of weight as lactic acid is used), providing a composition that is 0.9: 1 to 1000: 1. [Selection figure] None

Description

  The present invention relates to a composition, and more particularly to a composition comprising lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine.

  It is widely recognized that regular exercise is important for maintaining health. However, the proportion of the sports population who regularly exercise is still low compared to the nationwide population, and in adults who tend to lack exercise, coupled with the effects of aging, There is a marked decrease in quantity. Attenuation of muscle mass not only decreases energy metabolism in daily life and causes lifestyle-related diseases, but can also cause unexpected injury in daily life.

  When long-term rest is required after surgery or medical treatment, rapid muscle atrophy or muscle loss may occur, preventing early return to daily life after healing. In addition, elderly people generally have little muscle mass, and there are cases where suppression of muscle mass decline is desired in order to live safely. In addition, athletes may use effective supplements and supplements to build the necessary muscles.

  It is known that steroids and growth hormones are generally used as muscle potentiators. For example, anabolic steroids (anabolic steroids) such as testosterone cypriate and methyltestosterone are used. However, such a muscle-enhancing agent may act on parts other than muscles, and also has problems of side effects such as an increase in blood pressure / cholesterol level and liver damage. Therefore, many researches and developments have also been conducted on muscle strengthening agents that are particularly focused on safety. For example, the use of proteins and amino acids that can be used as muscle materials and the use of plant extracts have been reported ( Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  On the other hand, lactic acid is a substance synthesized as a result of lactic acid metabolism in order to obtain ATP from glucose transiently in the body when a rapid exercise (anoxic exercise) is performed. The blood concentration of lactic acid at rest is about 0.5 to 2.0 mM, but the blood concentration of lactic acid generated as a result of exercise is about 4 to 5 mM. In addition, it is known that the blood concentration of lactic acid rises to about 20 mM when exercise is performed so as to cause nausea.

  Lactic acid synthesized in the body is transported to the liver by blood circulation, converted into pyruvate by lactate dehydrogenase, and then glucose is regenerated by gluconeogenesis. This series of circuits is called a lactic acid circuit or a coli circuit. There is a limit point where lactic acid accumulation exceeds the metabolic removal of lactic acid during exercise accompanied by insufficient oxygen supply, and the point at which blood lactic acid concentration starts to increase rapidly is called the lactic acid accumulation threshold. In aerobic exercise training, the lactic acid accumulation threshold is sometimes used as an oxygen supply index to be used for setting exercise intensity.

  While lactic acid is synthesized in the body in this way, it is also contained in general foods, and in particular, it is known that it is contained in a large amount in fermented foods. Examples of such fermented foods include yogurt and pickles. Moreover, it is contained in a drink and it is disclosed that it is used as a sourness imparting substance to a drink (patent documents 4-6). However, it is not known that a muscle strengthening effect can be obtained by ingesting lactic acid, and it has not been reported so far that lactic acid is used as a muscle strengthening agent. Rather, lactic acid is synthesized by exercise and accumulated in the body, so it is generally understood that it is a substance that causes fatigue. It is thought that lowering the concentration of lactic acid in the body is effective for fatigue recovery and muscle recovery. Yes.

JP 2004-292325 A JP 2010-235542 A Special table 2010-505784 JP 2011-254731 A Special table 2010-521163 Special table 2011-521167 gazette

  A composition that can increase or maintain muscle mass without the need for continuous exercise, and that can be used for a wide range of subjects, including elderly people and patients undergoing medical treatment, is an extremely valuable invention. It can be said that there is. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a composition that is safe and can efficiently increase or maintain muscle mass.

Means to solve the problem

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have surprisingly found that muscle strengthening action can be obtained when lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine are combined at a predetermined weight ratio. . Based on this finding, the present inventors have completed the present invention through further research.

That is, the present invention relates to the following.
[1] It contains lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine, and the content ratio of lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine is expressed as a weight ratio (however, in the weight of lactate, the weight as lactic acid is A converted value is used), 0.9: 1 to 1000: 1.

  According to the present invention, a composition capable of efficiently increasing or maintaining muscle mass can be provided. In addition, lactic acid and / or a salt thereof used in the present invention is not only a substance synthesized in the body but also designated as a food additive in Japan, and used as an acidulant and pH adjuster for foods and drinks. Since caffeine can be used in food and drink as well, it can be said that the composition of the present invention has sufficient safety for animals such as humans.

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the muscle enhancement effect in the anterior tibial muscle. The vertical axis of the graph represents the ratio (%) when the muscle mass measured in the exercise group is 100%. The horizontal axis shows other groups (Lac + Caf: exercise + LC group, Lac: exercise + L group, Caf: exercise + C group). FIG. 2 is a graph showing the muscle strengthening effect in the long ankle extensor muscle (long finger flexor muscle). The vertical axis of the graph represents the ratio (%) when the muscle mass measured in the exercise group is 100%. The horizontal axis shows other groups (Lac + Caf: exercise + LC group, Lac: exercise + L group, Caf: exercise + C group). FIG. 3 is a graph showing the muscle enhancement effect in the soleus muscle. The vertical axis of the graph represents the ratio (%) when the muscle mass measured in the exercise group is 100%. The horizontal axis shows other groups (Lac + Caf: exercise + LC group, Lac: exercise + L group, Caf: exercise + C group). FIG. 4 is a graph showing the muscle enhancement effect in the gastrocnemius muscle. The vertical axis of the graph represents the ratio (%) when the muscle mass measured in the exercise group is 100%. The horizontal axis shows other groups (Lac + Caf: exercise + LC group, Lac: exercise + L group, Caf: exercise + C group). FIG. 5 is a graph showing a muscle enhancement effect in plantar flexor muscles. The vertical axis of the graph represents the ratio (%) when the muscle mass measured in the exercise group is 100%. The horizontal axis shows other groups (Lac + Caf: exercise + LC group, Lac: exercise + L group, Caf: exercise + C group). FIG. 6 is a graph showing the results of a dose setting test. The vertical axis of the graph indicates the ratio of muscle weight to rat body weight. The horizontal axis shows the group of rats tested. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the results of Mixing Ratio Study 1. The vertical axis of the graph indicates the ratio of muscle weight to rat body weight. The horizontal axis shows the group of rats tested. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the results of Mixing Ratio Study 2. The vertical axis of the graph indicates the ratio of muscle weight to rat body weight. The horizontal axis shows the group of rats tested. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the effect of lactic acid and caffeine on disuse muscle atrophy. The vertical axis of the graph represents the ratio (%) of the fixed muscle weight to the non-fixed muscle weight. The horizontal axis shows the type of each muscle tested.

  In the process of studying the physiological function of lactic acid, the present inventor has surprisingly found that lactic acid has an action of strengthening animal muscles when administered to a model animal. The inventor conducted further research and tested caffeine in combination with lactic acid, which exhibits physiological functions such as arousal and excitability in vivo. It has been found that it is significantly improved. That is, based on this knowledge, the present invention provides, as one embodiment, a composition containing lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine (hereinafter referred to as “the composition of the present invention”). .

Lactic acid used in the present invention is a compound represented by the chemical formula CH ₃ —CH (OH) —COOH. As lactic acid, any of D-form (D-lactic acid), L-form (L-lactic acid) and DL-form (DL-lactic acid) can be used. In the present invention, L-form and DL-form are preferred, and more preferred L-form is used. The CAS registration number for D-form is 79-33-4, the CAS registration number for L-form is 10326-41-7, and the CAS registration number for DL-form is 598-82-3 or 50-21-5. It is.

  Moreover, the salt of lactic acid is not particularly limited. For example, alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium (specifically, sodium lactate and potassium lactate), alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium (specifically Examples thereof include calcium lactate and magnesium lactate), aluminum lactate, zinc lactate, manganese lactate and iron lactate. The salt of lactic acid in the present invention is preferably sodium lactate or calcium lactate. In the present invention, the lactic acid salt may be a hydrate.

  The lactic acid and salts thereof used in the present invention are not particularly limited as to how to obtain them, and may be any of those derived from animals or plants, or those obtained by chemical synthesis or fermentation. . Based on the purity and production cost of the obtained lactic acid and its salt, a suitable method for producing lactic acid and its salt can be appropriately selected. In the present invention, commercially available lactic acid and salts thereof can be used. Examples of such commercially available products include products manufactured or sold by Musashino Chemical Laboratory, Inc., Fuso Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Naito Shoten Co., Ltd., Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., and the like. In the present invention, lactic acid or a composition containing lactic acid (such as a food or drink) obtained while culturing bacteria (lactic acid bacteria or the like) using a fermentation method can be used as it is or after being processed.

  Caffeine is a kind of purine alkaloid having a purine ring, and is a component contained in coffee beans, green tea, black tea, and the like. The IUPAC name for caffeine is 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, and its CAS registry number is 58-08-2.

  Caffeine in the present invention includes both anhydrous (also referred to as “anhydrous caffeine”) and hydrate (eg, monohydrate) embodiments. Any embodiment can be used in the present invention, but preferably an anhydride is used.

  The caffeine used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a crystal obtained by chemical synthesis or the like, or a plant extract containing caffeine as it is or after being concentrated or purified (ie, In addition, a component other than caffeine may be selectively removed from a plant extract containing caffeine to increase the content of caffeine). A suitable method for producing caffeine can be appropriately selected based on the purity and production cost of the obtained caffeine. The plant extract containing caffeine is not particularly limited. For example, it is known per se in solvents such as coffee beans, cola fruits, tea leaves, cacao, etc., water (or hot water), methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate and the like. It is manufactured by extracting using a method.

  In the present invention, commercially available caffeine can be used. As such a commercial item, the goods manufactured or sold by Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., etc. are mentioned, for example.

  The content ratio of lactic acid and / or salt thereof to caffeine (lactic acid and / or salt thereof: caffeine) in the composition of the present invention is usually 0.9: 1 to 1000: 1 as a weight ratio. The content ratio is preferably 2: 1 to 500: 1, more preferably 4: 1 to 140: 1, and further preferably 4: 1 to 56: 1. When the ratio between the two is within the above range, it is possible to efficiently exert a muscle strengthening action. In addition, when using the salt of lactic acid, the said weight ratio shall be calculated after converting into the free body (free body) of lactic acid. In the present invention, the weight converted in this way is handled as “a value converted into the weight as lactic acid”. Moreover, when each active ingredient forms the hydrate, the said weight ratio shall be calculated after converting into the free body (anhydride) except the water molecule.

  The muscle strengthening in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the resulting muscle is strengthened, but it means that the muscle is strengthened mainly based on the increase in muscle mass. Therefore, the muscle enhancing action in the present invention can also be referred to as a muscle increasing action. The composition of the present invention is used to strengthen muscles or increase muscle mass, but not only for the purpose but also to suppress muscle attenuation from the viewpoint of maintaining muscle mass ( It can also be used to prevent (or prevent) or to reduce (prevent) muscle mass loss. The composition of the present invention can also be used to recover muscles (muscle mass, strength, etc.) that have been reduced or attenuated due to muscle atrophy (eg, disuse muscle atrophy).

  The muscle targeted in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is mainly skeletal muscle (voluntary muscle). The muscle in the present invention can cover the whole body from the head to the lower limbs (specifically, the head, neck, chest, abdomen, back, upper limb, lower limb). Among the muscles in each part, examples of the muscle in the present invention include anti-gravity muscles (vertical column standing muscle, rectus abdominis muscle, greater gluteal muscle, quadriceps muscle, etc.). In the present invention, the muscles of the lower limbs are preferred, although not particularly limited. Examples of lower limb muscles include lower limb girdle muscles, thigh muscles, crus muscles, and leg muscles. Among these, crus muscles are preferable. Examples of the lower leg muscles include the muscles of the lower extensor muscle group, the peroneus muscles, the muscles of the lower leg flexor muscle group, etc. Among these, the muscles of the lower leg extensor group and the muscles of the lower leg flexor muscle group are preferable. Examples of muscles of the lower extensor muscle group include the anterior tibial muscle, the long ankle extensor (long finger extensor), the third peroneal muscle, and the long mother extensor muscle. Examples of muscles of the lower leg flexors include plantar muscles (plantar flexors), popliteal muscles, triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus, etc.), long flexors, posterior neck flexors, long mother flexors.

  The composition of the present invention is also useful for the following uses through the muscle strengthening action: for rehabilitation at the time of injury such as fracture joint injury, fleshy, sprain, etc .; For improving muscle loss due to age (for elderly people); for improving bedridden conditions; for muscle strengthening for athletes. The composition of the present invention can also be used for ameliorating diseases associated with muscle weakness or muscle mass loss (for example, muscle loss). In the present invention, “improvement” means including both concepts of making the current state a better state and preventing the state from being worse than the current state. Or “prevention”.

  The composition of the present invention is useful as a food or the like, and its application target can be a mammal. Examples of such mammals include primates (eg, humans, monkeys, chimpanzees), rodents (eg, mice, rats, guinea pigs), pets (eg, dogs, cats, rabbits), working animals or livestock. (For example, cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats) can be mentioned, but humans are preferred in the present invention. When applied to mammals other than humans, the intake of the composition of the present invention may be appropriately adjusted according to the weight or size of the animal.

  The composition of the present invention may contain a carrier. As the carrier, for example, a carrier acceptable for food and drink (a carrier that is usually used in the field of food and drink) and the like are used. The carrier contained in the composition of the present invention can be appropriately selected depending on the form of the composition, and is not particularly limited. Examples thereof include excipients, binders, lubricants, disintegrants, solvents, stabilizers, Examples include solubilizers, antioxidants, colorants, flavoring agents, and sweeteners.

  Excipients include sugars (sucrose, lactose, glucose, mannitol, etc.), starches (corn starch, etc.), crystalline cellulose, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, etc., and binders include pregelatinized starch, gelatin, tragacanth gum, Gum arabic, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, crystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, etc., lubricants include magnesium stearate, talc, polyethylene glycol, silica, hydrogenated vegetable oil As disintegrants, starch, crystalline cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, agar, calcium citrate, calcium carbonate, charcoal Sodium hydrogen, dextrin, etc., the solvent is water, ethanol, glycerol, physiological saline, soybean oil, etc., and the stabilizer is benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, ethyl paraoxybenzoate, propylene glycol, etc. Examples of solubilizers include fumaric acid, succinic acid, and malic acid, and examples of antioxidants include ascorbic acid, tocopherol, sodium bisulfite, sodium thiosulfate, sodium pyrosulfite, and citric acid. Examples of the agent and sweetener include those that are normally allowed to be added in the food field.

  The lactic acid, lactic acid salt and caffeine described above may be prepared in a single composition at the same time, or may be prepared in separate compositions. When it is set as a separate composition, it uses in the aspect which uses each composition together. In the present invention, lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine are preferably prepared and used in a single composition because of ease of administration or ingestion.

  The content of lactic acid and / or a salt thereof in the composition of the present invention is usually 0.10 to 99.99% by weight, preferably 0.60 to 99.90, based on the total weight of the composition of the present invention. % By weight, more preferably 1.00 to 99.90% by weight. In addition, the content of caffeine in the composition of the present invention is usually 0.01 to 33.33% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 33.30% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition of the present invention. More preferably, it is 0.04 to 33.30% by weight. As with the above weight ratio, when using a salt of lactic acid, the content is calculated after conversion to a free form of lactic acid, and when each active ingredient forms a hydrate, The content is calculated after conversion to a free form (anhydride) excluding water molecules. The above content range can also be adopted when lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine are prepared in separate compositions.

  The composition of this invention can be used as food / beverage products (namely, food / beverage product composition). In this case, the food / beverage composition of this invention can be prepared by a conventional method using the carrier | carrier etc. which were mentioned above.

  The food and drink in the present invention means all food and drink, but in addition to general foods including so-called health foods, special-purpose foods specified by the Consumer Affairs Agency (specific health foods, sick foods, difficult to swallow) Foods for consumers, etc.) and functional foods, and supplements, feeds and the like are also included in the food and drink of the present invention.

  The form of the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited. Fine granules, granules, pills, tablets (including coated tablets and dragees), capsules (including hard capsules, soft capsules, and microcapsules) , Beverages, drinks, liquids (including syrups, emulsions, suspensions), powdered foods, jellies, strawberries and the like.

  The amount of intake of the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is within the range of an effective amount that can exert a muscle strengthening action in the body, and is appropriately determined according to individual differences, symptoms, administration methods, etc. of the subject. Can be set. For example, the intake is 40 to 10,000 mg, preferably 100 to 5,000 mg, more preferably 500 to 3,500 mg per day for an adult with a body weight of 60 kg as the weight of lactic acid. Moreover, the said intake is 10-1000 mg per day as an adult with a body weight of 60 kg, for example, Preferably it is 10-500 mg as a caffeine weight, More preferably, it is 15-200 mg. The daily intake can be taken at one time or divided into several times (for example, two or three times). The intake of the composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention is exhibited, regardless of whether it is before, after, or between meals.

  As mentioned above, lactic acid and / or its salt and caffeine can be prepared in separate compositions, in which case both compositions can be used together in the present invention. Lactic acid and / or its salt and caffeine may be administered simultaneously or may be administered sequentially in any order.

  When using the composition of this invention, it is also possible to use together with the existing component which has a muscle reinforcement | strengthening effect, or to make the said composition contain the said component. In such a case, the order of ingesting the composition of the present invention and the existing component may be simultaneous or separate. When separate, the intake of the composition of the present invention may be either before or after the existing ingredients.

  Examples of the existing components include amino acids such as valine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, and glutamic acid, peptides, growth hormones, Kampo medicines such as Kamijoto, plants such as Salacia, or extracts thereof, or combinations thereof. However, it is not particularly limited to these.

  The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples. However, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

Example 1. Effects of lactic acid and caffeine in animal studies Test materials and methods 1.1. Test substance and medium 1.1.1. Test substances Sodium lactate (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and caffeine (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) were used. After acquisition, all were stored in the storage of the test substance storage room of the test facility at room temperature (set temperature: 23 ° C., allowable range: 18.0 to 28.0 ° C.).

1.1.2. Medium Water for injection (manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory) was used. After acquisition, it was stored in the test substance storage room of the test facility under conditions of room temperature (set temperature: 23 ° C., actual measurement: 18.0 to 28.0 ° C.).

1.2. Samples to be administered Weighed the required amounts of sodium lactate and caffeine, and then mixed and dissolved with water for injection so that the final concentrations were 200 mg / mL and 7.2 mg / mL, respectively (the mixture was the test substance LC )

1.3. Test system 1.3.1. Test animals and rearing conditions In the test, male F344 rats (SPF, Japan SLC Co., Ltd.), which is an animal species generally used in pharmacological pharmacological tests and whose lineage is clearly maintained, were used.
The animals were bred in an animal breeding facility set at a preset temperature: 23 ° C. and light and dark for 12 hours each (lighting: 8 am to 8 pm). Cages and feeders were changed at least once a week.
For the feed, a solid high-fat feed (HFD-60, Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.) within 5 months after production was placed in a feeder and allowed to feed freely.

1.3.2. Grouping High-fat diet HFD-60 was ad libitum for 6 weeks to 5-week-old rats. At the age of 11 weeks, the rats were randomly classified into exercise group (n = 9), exercise + L group (n = 9), exercise + C group (n = 9), exercise + LC group (n = 9).

1.3.3. Individual Identification Method and Cage Label Animals were identified on the date of acquisition by combining the method of filling the tail with oil-based ink and the method of applying dye to the limbs using oil-based ink. After grouping, it was identified by entering the animal number (last 3 digits) on the tail using oil-based ink. Each cage is labeled with the test number, date of acquisition, and the number of the pre-reserved animal during the pre-breeding period. After the grouping, the test number, group name, and animal number are entered, and each group is color-coded. A label was attached.

1.3.4. Exercise load The exercise load was a voluntary running exercise with a frequency of three times a week and once every two days. For the spontaneous running exercise, a rotary exercise machine (Lafayette Instrument, model No. 80859) was used.

1.3.5. Administration Administration was forcibly orally administered using a disposable syringe (made by Terumo Corporation) made of polypropylene with a metal gastric sonde for rats attached in accordance with the usual method used in the test facility. During the administration operation, the required amount was aspirated into the syringe while stirring the administration specimen by inversion mixing.
Within 30 minutes after the end of spontaneous running (from 10:00 am), the liquid volume was calculated at 5 mL / kg from the body weight value on the measurement day closest to the administration day, and administered once a day for 5 weeks.

1.3.6. Group composition

1.4. Test method 1.4.1. General condition The general condition and the presence or absence of death were observed once a day in the dark period (the day of administration before administration).

1.4.2. Body weight measurement It was measured once a week before administration and on the day of necropsy.

1.4.3. Measurement of food intake It was measured once a week before administration.

1.4.4. Necropsy On day 35 after administration, blood was collected from the abdominal aorta using a winged intravenous needle under anesthesia with 4% sodium pentobarbital. Under anesthesia, skeletal muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, anterior tibia, longus extensor, plantar flexor) were removed. The animals were euthanized by pentobarbital sodium overdose, and fat (peri-testicular fat and subcutaneous fat) and the heart, liver, adrenal gland, and brain were removed. Adrenal glands, fats and muscles were weighed.
The collected blood was centrifuged (set temperature: 4 ° C., 3000 rpm (2150 × g), 15 minutes) using a centrifuge. The obtained serum was collected into a tube for sending to a consignor and stored frozen in an ultra-low temperature freezer.
The muscles were weighed separately on the left and right, and the right muscles were stored frozen (−80 ° C.) using isopentane cooled with liquid nitrogen. Organs other than the extracted right muscle (including the left muscle) were snap frozen through liquid nitrogen and then stored frozen (−80 ° C.).

2. Results For the gastrocnemius, soleus, anterior tibialis, longus extensor (long finger flexor) and plantar flexor that weighed 100% of each muscle in the exercise group, exercise + L group, exercise + C group And the ratio of each muscle mass in the exercise + LC group was determined. The measured muscle weight (mg) was divided by the body weight (g) of the rats to eliminate the influence of the body weight difference between the individuals.
As a result, in the exercise + L group, a muscle strengthening effect was observed in the anterior tibial muscle, the longus extensor muscle and the soleus muscle. On the other hand, in the exercise + C group, no muscle strengthening effect was observed in any muscle. In contrast to these results, in the exercise + LC group, significant muscle strengthening effect was observed in all muscles, and the effect was even higher than the result obtained in the exercise + L group.

Example 2 Examination of lactic acid and caffeine dose and combination ratio (1) Dose setting test [subject animal]
Five week old Slc: SD rats (SPF) were used.
[Test sample]
The following samples were prepared using water (Group A is water only). In the table, “L: C” indicates the ratio of lactic acid to caffeine (the same applies to L: C described below).

[Method]
Rats were acclimated with diet CE-2 for 7 days and then grouped based on the weight of the rats (each group: n = 6). Each rat was orally administered (gavage oral administration: 0.01 mL / g / day) for 2 days, and an autopsy was performed the next day. The autopsy was performed by removing blood from the abdominal aorta under anesthesia and then removing the muscles of the lower limbs. The target muscle was the soleus muscle, and the weight of the soleus muscle was measured to determine the ratio in the rat body weight.

[result]
As shown in FIG. 6, a tendency of increasing muscle mass (muscle strengthening) in Group B was confirmed. In the B2 group, the muscle mass was increased more than in the A group (control).
From the above results, it was suggested that Na lactate and caffeine strengthen muscle at concentrations of Na lactate: 35.14 mg / ml or higher and caffeine: 1.152 mg / ml or higher.

(3) Mixing ratio study 1
[Test animal]
Five week old Slc: SD rats (SPF) were used.
[Test sample]
The following samples were prepared using water (Group A is water only).

[Method]
Rats were acclimated with diet CE-2 for 7 days and then grouped based on the weight of the rats (each group: n = 6). Each rat was orally administered (gavage oral administration: 0.01 mL / g / day) for 2 days, and an autopsy was performed the next day. The autopsy was performed by removing blood from the abdominal aorta under anesthesia and then removing the muscles of the lower limbs. The target muscle was the soleus muscle, and the weight of the soleus muscle was measured to determine the ratio in the rat body weight.

[result]
As shown in FIG. 7, a significant increase in muscle mass (muscle enhancement) was confirmed in the B group, the E2 group, and the F2 group. In the B2 group, the muscle mass was increased as compared with the A group (control). From the above results, it was suggested that administration of lactate Na: 35.14 mg / ml or more strengthens the muscles, and the effect is enhanced by increasing the amount of caffeine.

(4) Mixing ratio study 2
Except that the following test sample was used, a mixing ratio study 2 was performed with the same contents as the above-described mixing ratio study 1.
[Test sample]
The following samples were prepared using water (Group A is water only).

[result]
As shown in FIG. 8, a significant increase in muscle mass (muscle enhancement) was confirmed in group B. Moreover, also in the C group and the D group, the muscle mass was increased as compared with the A group (control).

Example 3 Examination of the usefulness of lactic acid and caffeine for disuse muscle atrophy In order to examine whether lactic acid and caffeine are effective in recovering from the loss of muscle mass by Gibbs fixation, the following test was performed.

[Test animal]
Ten week old SD rats were used (n = 6).
[Test sample]
The following samples were prepared using water (control group was water only).

[Method]
The left paw of the rat was fixed with a cast and the cast was released after 10 days. Oral administration (forced oral administration: 0.01 mL / g / day) was performed on rats for 7 days from day 11 to day 17, and autopsy (collection of muscle and blood) was performed on the next day (day 18). It was. The collected muscles were frozen using isopentane after weight measurement, and the blood was stored in the form of serum.
The weight of the collected muscle was measured, and the ratio of the fixed muscle (left leg muscle) weight to the non-fixed muscle (right leg muscle) weight was determined. The target muscles were gastrocnemius, soleus, plantar muscle, long finger extensor and anterior tibial muscle.

[result]
As shown in FIG. 9, in any muscle, the proportion of muscles recovered (fixed / non-fixed) was increased by administration of lactic acid and caffeine. From these results, it was suggested that the administration of lactic acid and caffeine has an effect of promoting muscle recovery (particularly, recovery of atrophied muscle).

Formulation example:
Based on the results of Examples 1 to 3, the following prescription examples are presented.

Formulation Example 1
Beverages were produced with the compositions shown in Table 6.

Formulation example 2
Beverages were produced with the compositions shown in Table 7.

Formulation Example 3
Beverages were produced with the compositions shown in Table 8.

Formulation Example 4
Beverages were produced with the compositions shown in Table 9.

Formulation Example 5
Beverages were produced with the compositions shown in Table 10.

Formulation Example 6
Hard capsules were produced with the compositions shown in Table 11.

Formulation Example 7
Hard capsules were produced with the compositions shown in Table 12.

Formulation Example 8
Hard capsules were produced with the compositions shown in Table 13.

Formulation Example 9
Beverages were produced with the compositions shown in Table 14.

Formulation Example 10
Beverages were produced with the compositions shown in Table 15.

Formulation Example 11
Tablets (tablets) were produced with the compositions shown in Table 16.

  The composition of the present invention is useful in the food field from the viewpoint of having muscle strengthening action and the viewpoint of extremely high safety of its active ingredients.

Claims (1)

  It contains lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine, and the content ratio of lactic acid and / or a salt thereof and caffeine is converted into a weight ratio (however, in the weight of lactate, it is converted to a weight as lactic acid. Value is used), 0.9: 1 to 1000: 1.