Controls of inflammation and intestinal environment by intestinal bacterial metabolites for extending healthy life expectancy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02938
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Principal Investigator: Uehara Mariko 東京農業大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (20211071)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 石見 佳子 東京農業大学, その他部局等, 教授 (50154159) ; 高橋 信之 東京農業大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (50370135) ; 井上 博文 東京農業大学, 応用生物科学部, 准教授 (10639305)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ロコモティブシンドローム / メタボリックシンドローム / 植物性機能物質 / 腸内細菌代謝産物 / equol鏡像異性体 / SMP30 / UCP-1 / 水素(H+)

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Simultaneous prevention of locomotive and metabolic syndromes is important for "extending healthy life expectancy". Since chronic inflammatory diseases are a problem in both syndromes, it’s necessary to consider efficient inflammation control. We believe that dietary components with strong anti-inflammatory effects is essential for this, and investigated phytochemicals and the metabolites, as well as food factors that modify the functions and intestinal environment. For locomotive syndrome prevention, we established an evaluation system to verify the anti-inflammatory and osteoclast differentiation inhibitory effects, identified several components, and confirmed an improvement effect of heat production (UCP-1) inhibition, which is expected to prevent metabolic syndrome. Regarding equol (Eq), we clarified the mechanism by which the S-enantiomer is more effective than the R-one, conducted a human intervention study to improve Eq production, and also analyzed the intestinal microbiota.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題において、ロコモティブシンドロームおよびメタボリックシンドロームの効率的な同時予防が期待される抗炎症作用を有する幾つかの食品成分、特に植物性機能物質とその代謝産物に着目し、一部は活性本体を特定し、その作用メカニズムも明らかにし、成分の機能や代謝に関する腸内環境の検討も行ったことの学術的意義は高く、これらの成果が『健康寿命の延伸』に向けた一助となり、社会的意義も高いものと思われる。