Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an accelerator for mineral absorption and a composition containing the accelerator. The object is solved by providing an accelerator for mineral absorption comprising cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof and a composition containing the accelerator.

Abstract: High quality trehalose derivatives are readily prepared in a considerably high yield by reacting anhydrous trehalose with reactive reagents under anhydrous conditions. The trehalose derivatives can be used in a variety of fields in the production, the chemical synthesis, and the enzymatic synthesis of foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, detergents and chemicals as surfactants, humectants, skin-beautifying agents, antitumor agents, and intermediates for chemical and enzymatic syntheses.

Abstract: Microorganisms which are able to produce maltose/trehalose conversion enzyme, a novel enzyme, are cultivated in nutrient culture media with malose. During the cultivation, the microorganisms readily convert maltose into trehalose to accumulate trehalose in the cultures which yield saccharide mixtures with high trehalose contents when separated from insoluble substances. Removal of contaminant saccharides and subsequent crystallization readily yield trehalose in crystal-line trehalose hydrate or anhydrous crystalline form. The trehalose and saccharide mixture containing the same commonly bear desirable properties including mild sweetness and superior stability which render them very useful in a variety of compositions including food products, cosmetics and medicines.