Human clinical trials confirmed findings showing that Kalahari squid intake promotes blood flow

Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo) has collaborated with Professor Motoyuki Iemitsu of Ritsumeikan University to show that a single intake of Kalaharis squid juice promotes blood flow. Confirmed by clinical trials.
　The results of this research were announced at the "74th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science" * 1.​
　* 1 The 74th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science was canceled due to the effects of the new coronavirus infection, but the announcement was made by posting the abstracts of the conference lectures on the conference website. https://square.umin.ac.jp/jsnfs74/colona2.html

■ Purpose of research
　Sensitivity is a condition in which you feel cold somewhere in your body, such as your hands, feet, or abdomen, causing discomfort or distress. Physical activity is reduced due to lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, dietary habits, and lifestyle disorders, One of the causes is poor circulation of peripheral blood vessels due to disturbance of autonomic nerves. Since Kalahari watermelon contains abundant components such as citrulline and arginine, which are involved in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which is a vasodilator, it is possible to increase the amount of NO production, which may increase blood flow. It has been predicted to have a promoting effect. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of Kalahari watermelon juice intake on humans on arterial blood flow.

■ Implementation method and results
　For 12 healthy young women, 3 of Kala Harris Squid Beverage (90 mL Kala Harris Squid Juice), Citrulin Beverage (0 mL of Fruit Juice, 162 mg of Citrulline, the same amount as that of Kala Harris Squid Beverage), and Placebo Beverage (0 mL of Fruit Juice) Beverages under two conditions were given as a single dose in a double-blind, randomized comparative study * 2. As a result, the rate of change in posterior tibial artery * 3 blood flow tends to increase with Kalaharis squid beverages compared to placebo beverages 30 minutes after ingestion, and AUC (area under the curve) * 4 of posterior tibial artery blood flow is placebo. Compared to beverages and citrulin beverages, Kala Harris squid beverages showed significantly higher values (Fig. 1). In addition, the blood NOx concentration * 5 of the Kalaharis squid beverage intake group was significantly higher than that of placebo beverage and citrulline beverage from 30 minutes to 90 minutes after ingestion (Fig. 2).
　From the above results, it was shown that a single intake of Kalahari watermelon juice promotes NO production in the body and increases arterial blood flow in the lower limbs. In addition, it was shown that the effect may be largely related to components other than citrulline contained in Kalahari watermelon. From these results, it is expected that the intake of Kalahari watermelon juice may be effective in improving poor circulation of peripheral blood vessels such as poor circulation.
　* 2 A test conducted by both the evaluator (doctor / staff) and the subject who conduct the test without knowing which test meal each group is eating. It is said that more reliable results can be obtained.
　* 3 The calf of the foot-the posterior side of the ankle-the artery that passes through the sole of the foot.
　* 4 Area Under the blood concentration-time Curve This is the area value under the blood concentration time, and is the total blood flow during the target time.
　* 5 Since NO in blood is not stable and is metabolized immediately, the concentrations of stable metabolites NO2- and NO3- (= NOx) are used as indicators of NO production.

　In the future, we will continue to elucidate the mechanism and effectiveness of promoting blood flow and NO production in the body by ingesting Kalahari watermelon juice.

<About Kalahari Watermelon>
　Kalahari squid is a wild watermelon that grows naturally in the Kalahari Desert in Africa. In addition to the original characteristics of watermelon, it has excellent ability to protect its cells from severe desert environmental stress and to retain water. Therefore, it stores anti-stress components such as citrulline, which is a type of amino acid, and components related to water retention. Euglena Co., Ltd. made the Plant High-Tech Research Institute a wholly owned subsidiary in November 2013, taking over the research of Kalahari watermelon, and is working to elucidate its functionality with the aim of contributing to the promotion of people's health.

<About Euglena Co., Ltd.>
　Euglena 's edible outdoor mass culture technology on Ishigaki Island for the first time in the world. In addition to developing and selling functional foods and cosmetics that utilize Euglena and chlorella produced on Ishigaki Island, we are also conducting research toward the production of biofuels. Listed on TSE Mothers in December 2012. The market was changed to the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2014. The management philosophy is "to make people and the earth healthy". https://euglena.jp

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