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ABSTRACT: We investigated the effects of a chicken collagen hydrolysate (CCH) on the circulation system in humans. A total of 58 subjects with either mild hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 140-159 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 90-99 mm Hg) or high-normal blood pressure (SBP 130-139 mm Hg or DBP 85-89 mm Hg) were assigned to two groups, one involving a placebo and the other, the test food (including CCH of 2.9 g/d). The parameters related to each subject's circulation system were monitored over the study period of 18 weeks. The Δbrachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an indicator of arterial stiffness and marker of vascular damage, was significantly lower in the test food group than in the placebo group during the treatment period. The blood pressure in the test food group was also significantly lower than that in the placebo group, while the serum nitrogen oxide (NOx) was higher in the test food group after the treatment. These results suggest that CCH exerted modulatory effects on the human circulation system.
Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry 04/2013; · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Several studies have shown a relationship between depression and animal protein intake. To evaluate whether the difference of dietary chicken protein levels induces an antidepressant-like effect and potentiates acute antidepressant effects, three levels of dietary chicken protein were used as the representative animal protein with imipramine used as the antidepressant. In addition, the effects of dietary chicken protein on brain metabolism were evaluated. Open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST) were conducted on the 27th and 28th days, respectively. OFT and FST were not influenced by both imipramine and dietary protein levels. However, characteristic effects of imipramine treatment on brain monoamine metabolism were observed in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus. In addition, dietary protein significantly increased taurine and L-ornithine levels even though these amino acids were not contained in the diets. In conclusion, the metabolism of several amino acids in the plasma and brain were altered by dietary chicken protein.
Animal Science Journal 12/2012; 83(12):777-87. · 0.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Several amino acids have effects on mental function, including sedative, antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects. However, the influence of integrated amino acid nutrition as protein constituents on mental function remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compare the influence of chicken, pork and beef protein extracts on brain monoamine metabolism in mice. Changes in monoamine levels and their turnover rates in the brain were induced by different protein sources. In particular, chicken protein group showed the highest norepinephrine levels in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, and beef protein extract caused an activation of the serotonergic system in the hypothalamus, although there were no significant differences in amino acid compositions of these protein extracts. Therefore, it was revealed that amino acid compositions in dietary protein did not induce alteration in monoamine metabolism. However, there were differences in small molecular peptides, such as creatine, carnosine and anserine levels in animal protein extracts. In conclusion, monoamine metabolism was altered by dietary protein sources. However, it was indicated that the alteration in monoamine metabolism may be independent from amino acid compositions in dietary protein. In addition, alteration in monoamine metabolism depending on the dietary protein sources may be induced by small molecular peptides.
Animal Science Journal 06/2012; 83(6):493-8. · 0.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Carnosine is a dipeptide that improves exercise performance. The carnosine synthesis mechanism through carnosine and ß-alanine ingestion remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the tissue distribution of carnosine synthase, ATP-grasp domain-containing protein-1 (ATPGD1) mRNA, and ATPGD1 and carnosine specific dipeptidase (CN1) gene expression profiles in mice that were given carnosine or ß-alanine orally.
ddY mice (7-week-old) were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 to 8 animals per group) and were orally given 2 g/kg body weight of carnosine, ß-alanine, or water. After 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, or 360 min of treatment, the tissues (brain, blood, liver, kidneys, olfactory bulbs, hindleg muscles) were collected. The obtained tissues measured the expression of ATPGD1 and CN1 genes using quantitative PCR methods.
The ATPGD1 gene was expressed in muscle and to a lesser extent in brain. The expression of ATPGD1 in the vastus lateralis muscle increased significantly at 180 min (P = 0.023) after carnosine ingestion and 60 (P = 0.023) and 180 min (P = 0.025) after ß-alanine ingestion. Moreover, the carnosine group showed a significantly increased renal expression of the CN1 gene 60 min after ingestion (P = 0.0015).
The ATPGD1 gene showed high expression levels in brain and muscle. The ß-alanine or carnosine administration significantly increased ATPGD1 and CN1 expression in mice.
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 04/2012; 9(1):15. · 1.64 Impact Factor
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01/2012; , ISBN: 978-953-307-992-9
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ABSTRACT: Gly-Ala-Hyp-Gly-Leu-Hyp-Gly-Pro (GAXGLXGP, X: Hyp), an octapeptide contained in chicken collagen hydrolysate, inhibits angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity in vitro. Intestinal Caco-2 and bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were used to investigate whether the transported GAXGLXGP improves vascular function. When GAXGLXGP was added to the apical side of Caco-2 monolayers, the intact form of GAXGLXGP was released to the basolateral side without incorporation into the cells. This transport was energy-independent but was associated with tight junction permeability. GAXGLXGP was then added to BAECs, and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) activation was examined. GAXGLXGP at a concentration of 10 microM stimulated production of NO during a 1 h incubation. This event involved phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser(1179) without a change in the total eNOS protein level. These findings indicate that GAXGLXGP absorbed intact through the intestinal epithelium has direct effects on eNOS activity in vascular endothelial cells, leading to NO synthesis, thereby suggesting the potential for improvement in vascular function.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 06/2010; 58(11):6960-5. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We previously reported that chicken collagen hydrolysate (CCH) has strong angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and antihypertensive effects on spontaneously hypertensive rats. Here, we investigated the chronic therapy effects of CCH on blood pressure and vascular relaxation in a cardiovascular damage model of Wistar-Kyoto rats induced by N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Following co-treatment with CCH for 4 weeks, the increment of systolic blood pressure was suppressed significantly. At 8 weeks, the vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta increased significantly, and cardiovascular damage was ameliorated. The concentration of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in blood was reduced significantly by long-term administration of CCH, whereas the nitric oxide concentration was increased significantly at 1 hour post-treatment. The results suggest that beneficial effects of CCH result from antihypertensive function, but also from inhibition of cardiovascular damage to the endothelial cells via its ACE inhibitory activity and regulation of nitric oxide and ICAM-1, which suggests that CCH may be useful as a medicinal food for patients with cardiovascular disease.
Journal of medicinal food 02/2010; 13(2):399-405. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Effects of chicken collagen hydrolysate (CCH) on atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient C57BL/6.KOR-ApoE(shl) mice were investigated in this paper. The mice were fed on either a normal CE-2 diet (control group) or a diet containing 10% CCH (CCH group) for 12 wk. Compared with that of the control, the amount of total plasma cholesterol, total hepatic cholesterol and hepatic triglycerides in the CCH group was reduced by 14.4, 24.7 and 42.8%, respectively. Histological analysis results showed that the abundance of diffuse hepatic lipid droplets and fat vacuoles was decreased in the CCH group. Meanwhile, the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in the CCH group plasma, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), was downregulated by 43.4, 17.9 and 24.1%, respectively. The present results suggested that CCH treatment might help prevent atherosclerosis through not only its lipid-lowering effects but also inhibiting expression of inflammatory cytokines.
Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 01/2010; 56(3):208-10. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Intestinal permeability to size-classified fish collagen peptides (FCPs) was examined using Caco-2 monolayers. Minimum-sized FCPs were most efficiently transported across the Caco-2 monolayers. Permeability depended on peptide size. It was independent of the H(+)-coupled peptide transport system but was associated with tight junction permeability, suggesting that the paracellular pathway is responsible for transepithelial transport of collagen peptides.
Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry 01/2010; 74(5):1123-5. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Chicken collagen hydrolysate was given to 15 mildly hypertensive subjects for 4 weeks. Blood pressure was significantly decreased by 11.8 mmHg (P<0.01). A reduction in plasma renin activity was observed in blood test after intake. A colony assay of endothelial progenitor cells in blood samples from non-smokers revealed an approximately 30% increase in the number of colonies.
Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry 02/2009; 73(2):422-4. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Elastic fibers in the dermis play an important role in skin elasticity. The desmosine crosslinking structure constructed of lysyl oxidase (LOX) in elastic fibers contributes to elasticity, while elastic fibers are primarily degraded by one of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-12. We investigated the gender differences and diurnal variation of these enzymes. Gender-based differences in LOX mRNA expression were detected, and were significantly lower in females. In contrast, higher MMP-12 mRNA expression was observed in the light period, suggesting that elastic fibers might be degraded in the light rather than the dark period.
Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry 12/2008; 72(11):3067-70. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this study, collagen extracted from chicken legs (which are the yellow keratin parts containing a nail) was hydrolyzed with various enzymes, and the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity of each hydrolysate was determined. The hydrolysate by treatment with an Aspergillus species-derived enzyme had the highest activity (IC 50 = 260 microg/mL). The fraction of this hydrolysate obtained by ultrafiltration with a molecular-weight cutoff of 3000 Da (low fraction) had a stronger activity (IC 50 = 130 microg/mL) than the fractionated one. This fraction was further fractionated by HPLC, and the peptides in the fraction with high ACE-inhibitory activity were identified. The amino acid sequences of the four peptides were identified using a protein sequencer. These peptides were synthesized to confirm their ACE-inhibitory activities; this showed that peptides with a Gly-Ala-Hyp-Gly-Leu-Hyp-Gly-Pro sequence had the highest activity (IC 50 = 29 microM). When the low fraction was administered to spontaneous hypertensive rats, a decrease in their blood pressure was observed after 2 h of administration, and a significant decrease in blood pressure (-50 mmHg) was observed after 6 h. Moreover, long-term administration studies indicated that the low fraction showed a significant suppression of increased blood pressure.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 10/2008; 56(20):9586-91. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Recently, some strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been reported to prevent the development of atopic dermatitis and to improve allergic symptoms, especially in young children. However, the mechanisms involved in these effects are not fully understood. Intestinal microbiota play critical roles in the development of host immune development and are recognized and regulated by the host through intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). We thus hypothesized that LAB influence the host immune system through the activation of IECs. To begin testing this hypothesis, chemokine expression in IECs exposed to intestinal bacteria was investigated.
Caco-2 cell monolayers were stimulated with different concentrations of various live or heat-killed intestinal bacteria or bacterial components for up to 3 h. Changes in the gene expressions of various chemokines were measured using quantitative real-time PCR.
The expressions of CCL20, CXCL8, CXCL10 and CX3CL1 were strongly induced by nonpathogenic Escherichia coli in a dose-dependent manner and were partially induced by some commensal LAB. In contrast, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Lactobacillus casei did not induce these chemokine expressions. In addition, LGG significantly suppressed the expressions of CCL20 and CXCL10 induced by E. coli, peptidoglycan or flagellin when cultured simultaneously.
LGG and L. casei markedly suppressed E. coli-induced chemokine expression, presumably through the suppression of the Toll-like receptor-mediated signal transduction pathway, at least in part. The clinical importance of this suppressive effect and the mechanisms involved require further investigation; however, such effects can be used as a marker to identify clinically useful LAB.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 09/2008; 148(1):45-58. · 2.40 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to determine whether dietary chicken-breast extract (CBEX), a rich source of histidine-containing dipeptides, could modify exercise-induced changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function. After 5 weeks of dietary CBEX, SR Ca2+-handling ability was examined in the vastus lateralis muscles of rats subjected to high-intensity running for 2.5 min. Dietary CBEX caused an approximately 15% and 45% increase (p<.01) in muscle carnosine and anserine concentrations, respectively. In resting muscles, depressions in SR Ca2+-ATPase activity were evoked by dietary CBEX without concomitant changes in SR Ca2+ uptake and release rates. The data confirm that high-intensity exercise depresses SR Ca2+ handling. In spite of the same run time, SR Ca2+ handling was reduced to a lesser degree in muscles of CBEX-containing-chow-fed rats than in standard-chow-fed rats (p<.05). These results suggest that dietary CBEX might attenuate deteriorations in SR Ca2+-handling ability that occur with high-intensity exercise.
International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism 08/2008; 18(4):399-411. · 2.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Depression is a pathological state of mood and is considered as one of the major causes of disabilities. Thus, the prevention of depression and care for individuals with depression is important. In the present study, we examined whether a single oral dose of CBEX (chicken breast extract), or carnosine (one of the major components of CBEX) affects immobility time, an index of depressive-like behavior, in the forced swimming test in male Wistar rats. CBEX tended to (P=0.09) and carnosine significantly (P<0.05) decreased immobility time in the forced swimming test. In the hippocampus, both CBEX and carnosine significantly decreased 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, a major metabolite of norepinephrine, indicating that CBEX and carnosine could reduce NE activity in the hippocampus in the forced swimming test. CBEX and carnosine did not affect total locomotive distance or rearing in the open field test, suggesting that the reductions of immobility time by both treatments in the forced swimming test were not merely due to the stimulation of general motor activity. Taken together, these results suggest that CBEX has an antidepressant-like effect, which may be due, in part, to the effect of carnosine.
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 07/2008; 89(4):627-32. · 2.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Royal jelly peptides (RJPx) isolated from hydrolysates of water-soluble royal jelly proteins prepared with protease P exhibited significantly stronger hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity (p<0.001), and antioxidant activity against lipid peroxidation (LPO, p<0.001), than did water-soluble royal jelly protein (WSRJP) in vitro. We also investigated the in vivo antioxidant activity of RJPx against ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced LPO. Male Wistar rats were divided into a control group (Group C), an Fe-NTA group (Group Fe), and an Fe-NTA with RJPx group (Group Fe+R). Rats in Group Fe+R were fed RJPx (2 g/kg body weight) daily for 5 wk. Fe-NTA (8 mg Fe/kg body weight) was then intraperitoneally injected, and serum lipid levels were examined 2 h later. Serum total cholesterol (TC) levels were lower (p<0.05) while low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and LPO were significantly higher (p<0.01) in Group Fe than in Group C. TC (p<0.05) and LPO levels (p<0.01) were lower in Group Fe+R than in Group Fe. Our data suggest that RJPx may inhibit LPO both in vitro and in vivo.
Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 06/2008; 54(3):191-5. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Royal jelly (RJ) has several physiological effects and is widely used in commercial medical products and health foods. We examined the effects of RJ supplementation on serum lipoprotein metabolism in humans. Fifteen volunteers were divided into an RJ intake group (n=7) and a control group (n=8). The RJ group took 6 g per day for 4 wk. Their serum total cholesterol (TC) and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) decreased significantly compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or triglyceride concentrations. Moreover, the relationship between the serum cholesterol and lipoprotein levels was investigated. Among the lipoprotein fractions, small very-low-density lipoprotein was decreased (p<0.05) after RJ intake. Our results suggest that dietary RJ decreases TC and LDL by lowering small VLDL levels.
Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 08/2007; 53(4):345-8. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) and its derivative anserine (beta-alanyl-1-methyl-L-histidine) are antioxidants and putative neurotransmitters in the brain. These dipeptides are rich in the commercially available supplement chicken breast extract (CBEX). To clarify the effects of CBEX on the brain, we examined whether single oral administration of CBEX (20 ml/kg) affects brain dipeptide and free amino acid concentrations in male Wistar rats. CBEX significantly and time-dependently increased carnosine and anserine levels in the plasma (at 120 min after injection, increase rates were 2976 and 4142%, respectively), hippocampus (64 and 78%), and hypothalamus (188 and 120%), but not in cerebral cortex. Significant and time-dependent increases in citrulline in the hippocampus (49%) and hypothalamus (41%) demonstrated generation of nitric oxide due to the increased carnosine and/or anserine levels in these brain regions. These findings suggest that CBEX modifies brain functions by increasing levels of these dipeptides.
Nutritional Neuroscience 05/2007; 10(3-4):181-6. · 1.56 Impact Factor
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Naoki Morishita,
Eri Akiyama,
Natsumi Arikawa,
Tomomi Iida,
Kanako Tase,
Mai Hamaji,
Satomi Hiraoka,
Rieko Shiroyanagi,
Shigenori Kamijou,
Takashi Matsumoto, Yoshihisa Takahata,
Fumiki Morimatsu,
Masatake Toyoda
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ABSTRACT: It has been mandatory to label five allergenic substances (AS; egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat and peanut) in all processed foods, since April 2002 in Japan. Two kinds of ELISA kits have been provided as screening test kits for the Japanese official method. The kits have many advantages but some disadvantages, i.e., the kits are not necessarily suitable for daily monitoring in food manufacturing plants, because they require various analytical equipments and the use of complicated procedures. To overcome these drawbacks, we have developed other diagnostic kits based on immunochromatography that should enable more rapid and simple screening for food allergens. Then we examined the performance of these immunochromatographic test kits (IC kits) in terms of sensitivity, repeatability and cross-reactivity to AS proteins in 11 kinds of food models with various heating conditions and physical properties. We also examined processed food models including AS protein of constant concentration, using the IC kits and ELISA kits, and compared the results. The IC kits detected AS proteins at 5 microg/g in the extracts from processed food models, and provided highly reproducible results. Cross-reactivity among the AS proteins was not observed. The results obtained using the IC kits showed performance equivalent to that of the ELISA kits we examined in unheating processed food models including AS proteins of constant concentration. The IC kits should be more suitable for daily monitoring in food manufacturing plants.
Journal of the Food Hygienic Society of Japan (Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi) 05/2006; 47(2):66-75. · 0.43 Impact Factor
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Hiroshi Akiyama,
Kenjin Nakamura,
Naoki Harikai,
Hiroko Watanabe,
Ken Iijima,
Hirohito Yamakawa,
Yamato Mizuguchi,
Reiji Yoshikawa,
Miho Yamamoto,
Hidetaka Sato, [......],
Fumiki Morimatsu,
Shinichi Mamegoshi,
Shiroo Muraoka,
Tsutomu Honjoh,
Takahiro Watanabe,
Kozue Sakata,
Tomoaki Imamura,
Masatake Toyoda,
Rieko Matsuda,
Tamio Maitani
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ABSTRACT: Inter-laboratory evaluation studies were conducted for the ELISA methods for allergic substances (buckwheat). Extracts of snack, bun and udon spiked with buckwheat standard protein at a level of 5-20 ng/mL as sample solutions were analyzed in replicate at 10 laboratories. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of the ELISA methods using a Buckwheat Protein ELISA Kit (Buckwheat kit) and a FASTKIT Buckwheat ELISA kit (Buckwheat ELISA kit) were mostly below 10%. Mean recoveries of the buckwheat standard protein from the food extracts were over 40% in the two ELISA methods. Repeatability relative standard deviations of buckwheat standard protein in three food extracts were in the ranges of 6.8-78.5% and 5.0-33.9% for the Buckwheat kit and the Buckwheat ELISA kit, respectively. Reproducibility relative standard deviations of buckwheat standard protein in three food extracts were 11.9-69.5% and 16.5-34.1% for the Buckwheat kit and the Buckwheat ELISA kit, respectively. The detection limits of both ELISA methods were 1 ng/mL in sample solutions. These results suggest that the notified ELISA methods are reliable and reproducible for the inspection of buckwheat protein levels in extracts of snack, bun and udon.
Journal of the Food Hygienic Society of Japan (Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi) 01/2005; 45(6):313-8. · 0.43 Impact Factor
