Confirmed reduction of visceral fat weight and inflammatory cytokine level by simultaneous intake of Euglena
-Research results have been published in the online scientific journal "Nutrients"-

Takeda Consumer Healthcare Co., Ltd.
Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Takeda Consumer Healthcare Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Mari Nogami, hereinafter "Takeda Consumer Healthcare") and Euglena (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) , President: Mitsuru Izumo, hereinafter "Euglena"), is pleased to announce that Takeda Tsuzuki, Department of Food Functional Health Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tohoku University In joint research with the professor, by simultaneous ingestion of microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi) powder (hereinafter Euglena powder) and vegetable powder We are pleased to inform you that we have confirmed the research results suggesting the inhibitory effect on visceral fat accumulation and the anti-inflammatory effect ^{* 2} through the regulation of the intestinal flora ^{* 1.}​
Takeda Consumer Healthcare and Euglena are a comprehensive alliance to jointly consider the possibility of developing new products containing Euglena. We have a contract.

■ Background and purpose
Euglena is a kind of microalgae containing insoluble dietary fiber paramylon, which is a β-glucan with a characteristic structure, and various nutrients, and is attracting attention as a new health food. Various research results have been reported, such as alleviating the symptoms of. In this study, mice were given paramylon powder, Euglena powder, and Euglena powder and powdered vegetables (young barley leaves, tomorrow's leaves, kale) rich in water-soluble dietary fiber, and their effects on the health of the mice. I evaluated it.

■ Research content and results
Mice, groups of mice were given ① normal diet, ② paramylon powder gave mice, ③ Euglena powder gave mice, ④ Euglena divided into four mixture gave mice of powder and vegetable powder, 2 It was orally ingested for months.
As a result, Euglena powder and Euglena by ingestion of the mixture of powder and vegetable powder and confirmed that significantly reduces the perirenal adipose tissue weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight is visceral fat (Figure 1 and Table 1). In addition, a significant reduction in peritesticular fat area was observed in mice fed a mixture of Euglena

In addition, since it has been reported that inflammatory indicators are maintained at low levels in healthy long-lived individuals, the major inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1b ^{* 3} were measured. As a result, Euglena in mice ingesting a mixture of powder and vegetable powder significant decrease of IL-6, and Euglena powder and Euglena in mice ingesting a mixture of powder and vegetable powder was a significant decrease in IL-1b was confirmed (Fig. 3).

In addition, in the intestinal flora of mice ingested a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder, an increase in bacteria beneficial to hosts such as Lactobacillus Euglena powder and Euglena powder and vegetable powder. In the bacterial flora, we confirmed a decrease in the Clostridiaceae family of harmful bacteria related to inflammation.​

From these results, it is considered that the change in the composition of the intestinal flora due to the simultaneous ingestion of Euglena The results of this research were published in the online scientific journal "Nutrients" on October 3rd.​

Also Takeda Consumer Healthcare and future Euglena, Inc., continues to aim to contribute to the maintenance and promotion of good health, Euglena powder and Euglena We will continue the functionality of the study by the combination of powder and vegetables.

* 1 Gut flora: A collection of a wide variety of gut flora that coexist in the intestines of humans and animals while maintaining a certain balance.
* 2 Anti-inflammatory effect: Anti-inflammatory effect
* 3 Serum inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1b: Cytokines that cause various inflammatory symptoms in the body. Cytokines are proteins that are responsible for the transmission of immunity in the body.

<About microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena)>
Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi) is a type of algae similar to wakame seaweed, kelp, and chlorella. It has the characteristics of both animals and plants, and has 59 types of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, etc. Contains well-balanced nutrients. Paramylon, which is a component unique to Euglena and is a type of β-glucan, has been studied for its functionality in recent years and is expected to be used in the healthcare field such as foods and cosmetics.

■ About Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company
The Company started operations on April 1, 2017 as a business company responsible for the consumer healthcare business of the Takeda Pharmaceutical Group. In order to fulfill people's desire to extend "healthy life expectancy", in the areas of "self-care" and "self-medication", we will further contribute to people's healthier lives through brands such as Arinamin, Benza, and Takeda Chinese laxatives. I will continue.

■ About Euglena Co., Ltd.
In 2005, we succeeded in establishing the world's first edible outdoor mass culture technology for the Euglena In addition to developing and selling functional foods and cosmetics that utilize the Euglena and Chlorella produced on Ishigaki Island, we are also conducting research toward the production of biofuels. Listed on TSE Mothers in December 2012. TSE First Section market change in December 2014. The management philosophy is "to make people and the earth healthy".

【原論文情報】
Simultaneous intake of Euglena gracilis and vegetables synergistically exerts an anti-inflammatory effect and attenuates visceral fat accumulation by affecting gut microbiota in mice
Yuto Sakanoi¹, Shuang E¹, Kazushi Yamamoto¹, Toshikuni Ota², Kentarou Seki², Mayumi Imai², Ryuki Ota², Yuta Asayama³, Ayaka Nakashima³, Kengo Suzuki³, Tsuyoshi Tsuduki^1
1Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agriculture,Tohoku University
²Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company Limited
³euglena Co., Ltd

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-Contact for inquiries from the press-
Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division