Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a novel therapeutic agent that can reduce visceral fat accumulation to prevent or treat metabolic syndrome. In order to achieve this object, the invention provides a therapeutic agent for metabolic syndrome that comprises, as an active ingredient, dietary fiber aggregation in which water-soluble ?-glucan has the highest content. Particularly effective as the water-soluble ?-glucan is water-soluble ?-glucan having a ?-1,3 glycoside bond and ?-1,4 glycoside bond in the same molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ameliorative or preventive agent for metabolic syndrome comprising a barley bran or an ?-amylase-treated product thereof as an active ingredient. The present invention also provides an ameliorative or preventive agent for metabolic syndrome comprising a water-insoluble component of an ?-amylase-treated product of a barley bran as an active ingredient. These are naturally derived ameliorative or preventive agents for metabolic syndrome which can inhibit the accumulation of visceral fat to ameliorate or prevent metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: The method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention is characterized in that in the production of the malt alcohol beverage an adsorbent is used to remove through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage. Such method of producing a malt alcohol beverage enables to provide a method of producing a malt alcohol beverage such that the aging of flavor after production can be suppressed and the flavor immediately after production can be maintained over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: In the method of producing a malt alcohol beverage, an adsorbent is used to remove through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage. As a result, the aging of flavor after production can be suppressed and the flavor immediately after production can be maintained over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: The method of producing a malt alcohol beverage according to this invention is characterized in that in the production of the malt alcohol beverage an adsorbent is used to remove through adsorption at least a part of rough flavor components from malt, a malt alcohol beverage intermediate product, or the malt alcohol beverage.

Abstract: Production of a benzothiazole compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a halogen atom, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl, an alkoxy or an alkyl mercapto and R.sup.5 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.The compound of the formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of the present invention have an aldose reductase inhibitory activity in mammals inclusive of human and have superior safety. Accordingly, they are useful as pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of the complications of diabetes, such as faulty union of corneal injury, cataract, neurosis, retinopathy and nephropathy, particularly cataract and neurosis.