A new dietary preventive strategy targeting regulation of gastrointestinal bile acid metabolism for fatty liver disease

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11811
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Fisheries Research and Education Agency
• Principal Investigator: Miyata Masaaki 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, 水産大学校, 教授 (90239418)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: タウリン / セレノネイン / コレステロール / 脂肪性肝疾患 / FXR / 胆汁酸 / セレン / 水産食品

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We proposed a novel mechanism that the cholesterol-lowering effect of taurine, a component derived from marine products, is due to the attenuation of the nuclear receptor FXR signaling in the gastrointestinal tract mediated by changes in the bile acid composition of the gastrointestinal tract. It was clarified that taurine acts not only by a direct mechanism in the liver but also by a mechanism through the gastrointestinal tract. It was also shown that selenoneine, a selenium compound abundantly contained in tuna, alleviates liver damage and fatty liver in fatty liver disease model mice. Furthermore, it was suggested that selenoneine accumulates in the liver of mice fed a selenoneine-supplemented diet, resulting in these effects.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

タウリンのコレステロール低下作用の新規機序を解明したということにとどまらず、この作用機序は他の食事成分にも当てはまる可能性があり、これらの作用を持つ食事成分の探索や開発のための手段を提供することができた。セレノネインはマグロ等に大量に含まれ、これらの魚をふんだんに摂取することにより脂肪性肝疾患の改善や予防ができる可能性を示した。さらに本試験結果はセレノネインの機能性食品への応用が有効であることを示した。