Abstract: A composition for improving biometabolism parameters is provided. The composition contains D-psicose as an active ingredient, and is continuously ingested in a dose of 5 g or more per intake in terms of D-psicose to lower biometabolism parameters represented by a uric acid level and/or a liver function indicator component level. ?-GTP showed a significant decrease after 4 weeks from 15-g ingestion. ?-GTP and ALP showed a significant decrease after 4 weeks and 2 weeks, respectively, from the ingestion of D-psicose continuously administered three times each day in a dose of 5 g or more per intake.

Abstract: A novel polyol oxidase is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Penicillium and is specified by the properties (a) to (e): (a) it has a stable pH of 6.0 or higher and an optimum reaction pH of from 7.0 to 9.0; (b) it has an operating temperature of 50° C. or lower and an optimum reaction temperature of 40° C.; (c) it has a molecular weight of about 113 kDa; (d) it specifically recognizes the structure of a polyol in which the OH groups at positions 2 and 3 are in the L-erythro configuration and reacts with the polyol, but cannot recognize the structure of a polyol in which the OH group at position 4 is in the L-ribo configuration and does not react with the polyol; and (e) it has substrate specificity for D-arabitol, erythritol, D-mannitol, and D-sorbitol, which are listed in descending order of specificity.

Abstract: A bone filling material comprising sintered titanium dioxide and dextrin and a method for reconstructing bone defects which comprises filling the bone defects in an animal with the bone filling material. The bone filling material of the invention has excellent cell compatibility, biocompatibility and shape-imparting property.

Abstract: Task: There are provided a highly safe epimerase usable in food industry, and a method for producing a ketose. Resolution: The epimerase is a ketose 3-epimerase obtainable from a microorganism of the genus Arthrobacter, and having (1) substrate specificity whereby a D- or L-ketose is epimerized at position 3 to produce a corresponding D- or L-ketose, and (2) the highest substrate specificity for D-fructose and D-psicose among D- and L-ketoses.

Abstract: A complex crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose and a method for producing the same are disclosed. 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: 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: To provide a composition for preventing periodontal diseases (prophylactic agent of periodontal diseases), the composition having an excellent cariostatic property, being safe and stable for prolonged use and having less effects on flavor. A non-cariogenic material prepared by blending a rare sugar in the D form as selected from the group consisting of D-psicose, D-sorbose and D-tagatose, a rare sugar in the L form as selected from L-fructose, L-psicose and L-tagatose, or allitol as a rare sugar derivative, singly or in combination. A cariostatic agent comprising D-psicose, D-sorbose, D-tagatose, L-fructose, L-psicose and/or L-tagatose. A cariostatic agent in combination with catechins.

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: Problem: To provide a microorganism with an ability to produce deoxy polyol dehydrogenase. Means for Resolution: A microorganism belonging to genus Enterobacter with an ability to produce a dehydrogenase for deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol. The bacterial cell IK7 of the genus Enterobacter (accession No. NITE P-271). A method for producing deoxy ketose comprising allowing a culture containing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase obtained by the culturing of the microorganism of the invention or allowing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase to react with a solution containing deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol to oxidize deoxy polyol to produce the corresponding deoxy ketose and then collecting the deoxy ketose. The deoxy polyol is 1-deoxy-D-allitol, while the corresponding deoxy ketose is 1-deoxy-L-psicose.

Abstract: To provide an IgA production promoter capable of being easily ingested safely and continually, for example orally and capable of preventing infection by inhibiting the binding of pathogenic microorganisms to alimentary canal mucosa and preventing an allergic reaction by blocking the passage of allergen materials such as pollen and house dust through the wall of the alimentary tract. The present invention consists of an IgA production promoter comprising hydroxypropyl starch as an effective ingredient. The IgA production promoter of the present invention can be safely and continually ingested because the effective ingredient thereof is hydroxypropyl starch used in food and the like, and can prevent infection by inhibiting the binding of pathogenic microorganisms to alimentary canal mucosa and prevent an allergic reaction by blocking the passage of allergen materials such as pollen and house dust through the wall of the alimentary tract.

Abstract: Object: To provide a composition for preventing periodontal diseases (prophylactic agent of periodontal diseases), the composition having an excellent cariostatic property, being safe and stable for prolonged use and having less effects on flavor. Means for Resolution: A non-cariogenic material prepared by blending a rare sugar in the D form as selected from the group consisting of D-psicose, D-sorbose and D-tagatose, a rare sugar in the L form as selected from L-fructose, L-psicose and L-tagatose, or allitol as a rare sugar derivative, singly or in combination. A cariostatic agent comprising D-psicose, D-sorbose, D-tagatose, L-fructose, L-psicose and/or L-tagatose. A cariostatic agent in combination with catechins.

Abstract: It is to provide a method for producing cooked rice with improved loosening properties, anti-aging property, and/or water retentivity, comprising adding and mixing a quality improving agent which is a degradation product of substituted modified starch with a viscosity of 15 mPa·s or higher at 30% by mass in an aqueous solution and 3000 mPa·s or lower at 10% by mass in an aqueous solution, wherein the degradation product of substituted modified starch is obtained by using, as a base material, one or more substituted modified starches selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl starch, hydroxypropylated distarch phosphate, and starch sodium octenylsuccinate, and is prepared by subjecting substituted modified starch to hydrolysis treatment with an enzyme in the process of rice cooking for preparing cooked rice.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for suppressing elevation of blood alcohol concentration and a method for suppressing elevation of blood alcohol concentration, the agent and the method enabling prevention of an intoxication state upon drinking and further prevention of hepatic dysfunctions due to drinking such as fatty liver. Provided are an agent for suppressing elevation of blood alcohol concentration, comprising a dextrin as an active ingredient, and a method for suppressing elevation of blood alcohol concentration, comprising, when alcohol is ingested, ingesting 0.5 parts by mass or more of a digestible dextrin and/or an indigestible dextrin relative to 1 part by mass of the ingested alcohol.

Abstract: The object is to provide a novel application of D-allose (e.g., use for prevention of hypertension or hypercardia). Thus, disclosed is a composition for preventing the increase in blood pressure which comprises D-allose as an active ingredient; or a composition containing D-allose and/or a derivative thereof, preferably in an amount of 0.1 to 50% by weight. Preferably, the composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of a food additive, a food material, a beverage/food, a health beverage/food, a pharmaceutical and a feeding stuff which can be used for the prevention and treatment of a cardiovascular system disorder (e.g., hypertension, hypercardia). The increase in blood pressure may be caused by salt-sensitive hypertension. Also disclosed is use of D-allose for preventing the increase in blood pressure (excluding medical practices).

Abstract: Novel findings have been made that a carbohydrate composition in which a highly branched dextrin and isomaltulose are mixed at a specific ratio, wherein the highly branched dextrin has a structure in which glucose or isomaltooligosaccharide is bound to a non-reducing terminus of a dextrin via an ?-1,6 glycosidic bond, and has a DE value of 10 to 52, enhances an suppressing effect on digestion of the highly branched dextrin by isomaltulose, that is, synergistically suppresses the digestion, thereby leading to the completion of the present invention.

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: 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: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a low-fat cake having improved quality, wherein the flavor, full-bodied taste (richness), softness, swellability, and baked color which are derived from of fats and oils are not at all impaired even if the amount of the fats and oils is reduced, and a method of making the same. The above-described problem is solved by the method of making a cake using wheat flour and fats and oils as raw materials, characterized by using 15 to 90 parts by mass of the fats and oils based on 100 parts by mass of the wheat flour and adding 40 to 10 parts by mass of water-soluble dietary fiber such that the total amount of said fats and oils and the water-soluble dietary fiber is not less than 37 parts by mass and not more than 100 parts by mass.

Abstract: A composition for inhibiting the onset of arteriosclerosis is characterized by comprising D-psicose as an active ingredient for an antiatherogenic action. The antiatherogenic action as described above includes an action of inhibiting or reducing the expression of a chemokine or a cytokine related to arteriosclerosis in vivo and an action of promoting the expression of a receptor involved in the improvement of arteriosclerosis without affecting the expression of an arteriosclerosis inducer. This composition is used in the form of a product selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, seasonings, food additives, food materials, foods and drinks, health foods and drinks, drugs, quasi drugs and feeds blended with D-psicose and/or its derivative and/or a mixture thereof as the active ingredient. The method of inhibiting the onset of arteriosclerosis is a method of using the above composition.

Abstract: A lifespan extending agent that is safe for animals, and can easily be ingested in a form that resembles foods. A lifespan extending method is also disclosed. In the lifespan extending agent, a rare sugar usable as a sweetener is contained as an active ingredient.