Abstract: Screening for a glucokinase-activating substance among rare sugars and providing a composition for treating disordered conditions in association with glucokinase activity, the composition containing the glucokinase-activating substance as the active ingredient. A promoting agent of glucokinase transfer from nucleus to cytoplasm, the promoting agent containing D-psicose and/or D-tagatose as the active ingredient, or a composition for preventing the onset of disordered conditions in association with glucokinase activity or for therapeutically treating the disordered conditions, which is in a form selected from a group consisting of food additives, food materials, drinks and foods, health drinks and foods, pharmaceutical product and feeds in blend with D-psicose and/or D-tagatose as the active ingredient for use in preventing the onset of disordered conditions in association with glucokinase activity or for therapeutically treating the disordered conditions.

Abstract: Providing 1- or 6-deoxy products corresponding to all of aldohexoses, ketohexoses and sugar alcohols, as based on Deoxy-Izumoring, as well as a method for systematically producing those products. A method for producing deoxyketohexose and a derivative thereof using a deoxyketohexose isomerase derived from Pseudomonas cichorii ST-24 (FERM BP-2736), comprising epimerizing 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose at position 3 to produce the individually corresponding 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose as an intended product.

Abstract: Object: To provide a thermostable L-ribose isomerase. Means for Resolution: The thermostable L-ribose isomerase with MW. 32,000 (by SDS-PAGE), optimal temperature of 45° C., optimal pH of pH 9.0 (glycine-NaOH buffer), and stable physicochemical properties such as temperature stability up to 45° C. during thermal treatment at pH 9.0 for 10 minutes, and with an action to isomerize L-ribose to generate L-ribulose or of inversely to isomerize L-ribulose to generate L-ribose.

Abstract: Providing a D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, comprising D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for purifying cellobiose which comprises the steps of (A) preparing a cellobiose-containing sugar solution; (B) increasing the rate of cellobiose present in the sugar solution relative to the total saccharides present therein up to at least 50% by mass; and (C) crystallizing cellobiose; and a method for preparing cellobiose having a high content of the ?-anomer thereof which comprises the step of drying a cellobiose-containing sugar solution having a rate of cellobiose of at least 90% by mass relative to the total saccharides present therein while maintaining the sugar solution at a temperature ranging from 80 to 95° C. These methods of the present invention permit the economical preparation of cellobiose having considerably improved purity and recovery rate, without using any complicated process. Moreover, the present invention also permits the preparation of cellobiose highly soluble in water.

Abstract: A method for controlling intestinal function, blood sugar level, body fat or serum lipid, or maintaining and improving glucose tolerance. The method comprises giving to human body or animal foods and drinks, having health benefits, or enriched with health benefits, wherein the foods and drinks comprise as an active ingredient a hydrogenated, indigestible dextrin that is obtained by digesting pyrodextrin with an enzyme to obtain an indigestible dextrin, and then hydrogenating the indigestible dextrin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mineral-absorption promoter comprising hardly digestible dextrin or a derivative thereof, as well as food and feed containing the same. The mineral-absorption promoter of the invention can easily be applied to food, has resistance to digestive enzymes secreted by mammals and a function of promoting the absorption of minerals through intestinal or digestive tracts.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a coated product with increased stiffness to reduce the chipping after manufacturing and several days of storage, and before wrapping. A coated product such as confectioneries such as chewing gum, medicines and medicinal tablets wherein the product is coated with a coating composition comprising hydrogenated indigestible starch syrup as a binding agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a sparkling alcoholic beverage produced using, as a part of ingredients thereof, at least one selected from the group consisting of etherified starch, etherified cross-linked starch and enzymatic hydrolysates thereof; and a method for producing the sparkling alcoholic beverage, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of etherified starch, etherified cross-linked starch and enzymatic hydrolysates thereof is added in any step of the production process. The sparkling alcoholic beverage of the invention has good body and prolonged froth duration and contains water-soluble dietary fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides a water-soluble dietary fiber enriching agent comprising a modified starch which contains dietary fibers in an amount not more than 5% by mass measured by Prosky's method and a low-molecular weight water-soluble dietary fiber in an amount not less than 25% by mass. The water-soluble dietary fiber enriching agent contains a low-molecular weight water-soluble dietary fiber, and does not deteriorate the mouthfeel of the food obtained using the same.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a coated product with increased stiffness to reduce the chipping after manufacturing and several days of storage, and before wrapping. A coated product such as confectioneries such as chewing gum, medicines and medicinal tablets wherein the product is coated with a coating composition comprising hydrogenated indigestible starch syrup as a binding agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose. Also disclosed is a process for producing the sugar. A complex crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose. The compositional ratio between D-psicose and D-allose in the sugar is about 1:1 to 1:4. A process for producing a complex crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose, the process comprising producing a complex crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose from a sugar solution containing D-psicose and p-allose and collecting the complex crystalline sugar. The solvent of the sugar solution used in the production of the complex crystalline sugar is water or a mixture of water and ethanol. The sugar solution containing D-psicose and D-allose is produced by a process comprising reacting D-psicose with L-rhamnose isomerase to convert D-psicose into D-allose. The L-rhamnose isomerase is derived from a strain (IPOD FERM BP-08593) belonging to Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Abstract: This invention provides a preparation of a powdered plant sterol ester which comprises a plant sterol ester, an octenyl succinate-modified starch and an indigestible dextrin. The preparation can be prepared by a method comprising the steps of emulsifying a plant sterol ester in an aqueous solution containing an octenyl succinate-modified starch and an indigestible dextrin to form an emulsion and then powdering the resulting emulsion. The invention permits the application of plant sterol esters to wide variety of foods and drinks. In addition, the invention permits the effective control of an increase of the serum-cholesterol content accompanied by the intake of meals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wheat flour substitute for bakery foods comprising swelling-controlled starch and swelling-control free starch and a bakery food produced using cereal flour comprising raw wheat flour, 10 to 100% of which is replaced with a wheat flour substitute for bakery foods comprising swelling-controlled starch and swelling-control free starch. The wheat flour substitute for bakery foods permits the improvement of the bread-making ability of dough, and the palatability, and the taste and texture of the resulting bakery foods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost method for production of isoglucose comprising indigestible dextrin with a high value of use in foods and beverages. This method comprises the following step (A) and at least one of the subsequent steps (B) and (C). (A) steps of acting glucoamylase on pyrodextrin comprising digestion-resistant components and hydrolyzing the digestible components in glucose, (B) step of adding fructose, (C) step of converting a portion of the glucose produced into fructose by means of glucose isomerase.

Abstract: The present invention herein provides an agent or a food for inhibiting a postprandial increase in blood neutral fat level. The agent or food comprises, as an effective component, a water-soluble and hardly digestible starch decomposed product having a content of hardly digestible components of at least 35% by mass. The water-soluble and hardly digestible starch decomposed product can be ingested separately or simultaneous with a high fat-content meal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an edible film comprising (A) a modified starch mixture of (a) at least one modified starch selected from the group consisting of etherified high amylose starches and esterified high amylose starches, and (b) at least one modified starch selected from the group consisting of etherified starch oxidation products, etherified starch acid decomposition products, etherified starch enzymatic decomposition products, and maltodextrins; (B) at least one gelling agent; and (C) at least one plasticizer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a coated product with increased stiffness to reduce the chipping after manufacturing and several days of storage, and before wrapping. A coated product such as chewing gum, medicines and medicinal tablets, wherein the product is coated with a coating composition comprising hydrogenated indigestible starch syrup as a binding agent.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a glucose polymer having an ion-exchanging ability comprises the steps of drying a mixed aqueous solution containing a raw glucose polymer and a polyvalent carboxylic acid to thus form a uniform powdery mixture and then subjecting the powdery mixture to a heat treatment. The method of the present invention can ensure the achievement of a high reaction efficiency, is economically advantageous since it never requires the use of any expensive catalyst and does not require the use of any complicated step for the removal of impurities. The glucose polymer prepared by the method of the present invention is biodegradable and can be used in, for instance, various foods and/or builders.

Abstract: A doughnut like a dumpling covered with sesame seeds is prepared using a powdery raw material, which comprises 50 to 80 parts by weight of ungelatinized starch, 6 to 25 parts by weight of pregelatinized starch, 7 to 30 parts by weight of wheat flour and 7 to 25 parts by weight of a saccharide. Dough used for the preparation of a doughnut like a dumpling covered with sesame seeds is obtained by adding water and, if needed, a seasoning component to the foregoing powdery raw material to thus form dough, dividing the resulting dough into small pieces and forming each small piece into a desired shape and, if needed, stuffing the shaped dough with fillings. The foregoing doughnut can be prepared by frying the foregoing dough. The doughnut like a dumpling covered with sesame seeds is excellent in the storage stability and has excellent sticky and resilient feeling upon eating like a rice cake.