Abstract: [Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel technique associated with anti-obesity improvement. [Solution] The present invention relates to an anti-obesity agent comprising lactononadecapeptide (LNDP, Asn-Ile-Pro-Pro-Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu-Gln-Pro-Glu) or a salt thereof. The present invention also relates to a pollakiuria improving agent and an autonomic nerve activity regulator each comprising LNDP.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising orally administering a composition before and/or during exercise. The composition contains a casein hydrolysate containing a free amino acid and a peptide, or a mixture of the free amino acid and the peptide. The casein hydrolysate is produced by hydrolyzing an animal milk casein, and has an average chain length of 2.1 or less in terms of the number of amino acid residues. There is further provided an oral composition for use in the method. The oral composition contains, as an active ingredient, a casein hydrolysate containing a free amino acid and a peptide, or a mixture of the free amino acid and the peptide. The casein hydrolysate is produced by hydrolyzing an animal milk casein, and has an average chain length of 2.1 or less in terms of the number of amino acid residues. There is still further provided the use of the oral composition for inhibiting increase in heart rate during exercise.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising orally administering a composition before and/or during exercise. The composition contains a casein hydrolysate containing a free amino acid and a peptide, or a mixture of the free amino acid and the peptide. The casein hydrolysate is produced by hydrolyzing an animal milk casein, and has an average chain length of 2.1 or less in terms of the number of amino acid residues. There is further provided an oral composition for use in the method. The oral composition contains, as an active ingredient, a casein hydrolysate containing a free amino acid and a peptide, or a mixture of the free amino acid and the peptide. The casein hydrolysate is produced by hydrolyzing an animal milk casein, and has an average chain length of 2.1 or less in terms of the number of amino acid residues. There is still further provided the use of the oral composition for inhibiting increase in heart rate during exercise.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a peptide for improving brain function, comprising hydrolyzing milk casein with an enzymatic catalyst comprising a protease to produce a hydrolysate comprising: (i) a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant thereof; (ii) a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof; or (iii) a mixture of the peptides of (i) and (ii), wherein the production yield of each of the peptides is 2% or more, or the total production yield of the mixture is 10% or more. The invention also provides a food or drink or a pharmaceutical composition containing the hydrolysate.

Abstract: Provided is an agent having at least one of an improving effect on vascular endothelial functions and an inhibitory effect on vascular intimal thickening, as well as a prophylactic of arteriosclerosis, which have excellent safety, improve functions associated with the vascular endothelium, have effects of preventing various diseases associated with vascular endothelial functions and of inhibiting vascular intimal thickening, and may be expected to provide prophylactic effect on arteriosclerosis. The agents of the present invention contain, as an active component: (a) Xaa-Pro-Pro, (b) a hydrolysate of animal milk casein containing Xaa-Pro-Pro, or a concentrate thereof, or (c) a fermentation product containing Ile-Pro-Pro and/or Val-Pro-Pro obtained by fermenting a starting material containing milk protein with a bacterial strain of the species Lactobacillus helveticus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peptide and a composition which are suitable for oral ingestion, and which have a skin aging-inhibiting activity, a collagen-production promoting activity, an epidermal turnover promoting activity, and a cutaneous cell-proliferating effect. The present invention also provides a medicament and a functional food which have a skin aging-inhibiting activity, a collagen-production promoting activity, and a cutaneous cell-proliferation promoting activity. The present invention provides a composition including at least one peptide of Asn-lle-Pro-Pro-Leu, lle-Pro-Pro-Leu, lle-Pro-Pro, Pro-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro, Val-Pro-Pro-Phe, Val-Pro-Pro, Phe-Pro-Pro-Gln, and Leu-Pro-Pro-Thr.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, comprising, as an active ingredient, X-Pro-Pro-Y or a salt thereof, wherein X represent Val, Ile or Asn-Ile and Y represent Phe or Leu.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, comprising, as an active ingredient, Phe-Pro.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, comprising, as an active ingredient, X-Pro-Pro-Y or a salt thereof, wherein X represent Val, Ile or Asn-Ile and Y represent Phe or Leu.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent having a suppressive action against the thickening of the heart wall, a prophylactic agent for heart failure containing the above described agent, and functional foods expected to have a prophylactic effect for heart failure. The agent for suppressing heart wall thickening comprises Xaa Pro Pro as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided are a composition for improving the brain function, which can be orally taken at a low dose, and a method therefor. The composition for improving the brain function contains, as the active ingredient, X-Pro-Pro-Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu-Gln-Pro-Glu-Y (wherein X is nil or represents Ile or Asn-Ile; and Y is nil or represents Val-Met), X-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu-Gln-Pro-Glu-Y (wherein X is abscent or represents Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro, Pro-Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro, Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro or Pro; and Y is abscent or represents Val-Met), or a salt of the same. The method for improving the brain function comprises administering said peptide or a salt of the same.

Abstract: There is provided a rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake that has an inhibitory effect on rheumatoid arthritis and is excellent in safety. The rheumatoid arthritis inhibitor for oral intake of the present invention contains, as an active component, a casein hydrolysate containing free amino acids and peptides obtained by hydrolyzing animal milk casein to have an average chain length of not longer than 2.1 in terms of the number of amino acid residues, or a mixture of free amino acids and peptides contained in the hydrolysate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, Xaa-Pro-Pro (wherein Xaa represents Ile, Leu or Ser).

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, comprising, as an active ingredient, X-Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Phe-Pro-Ile-Ile-Val (SEQ ID NO: 5), wherein X is absent or represents Pro.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, X-Met-His-Gln-Pro-His-Gln-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro-Thr-Val-Met-Phe-Pro-Pro-Gln-Ser-Val-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 6) or a salt thereof, wherein X is absent or represents Ser-Trp or Leu-Gln-Ser-Trp (SEQ ID NO: 7).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a casein-derived peptide by fermentation of a lactic acid bacterium. The present invention also relates to a composition containing the peptide, and a method for preparing a functional food.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a peptide for improving brain function, comprising hydrolyzing milk casein with an enzymatic catalyst comprising a protease to produce a hydrolysate comprising: (i) a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant thereof; (ii) a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof; or (iii) a mixture of the peptides of (i) and (ii), wherein the production yield of each of the peptides is 2% or more, or the total production yield of the mixture is 10% or more. The invention also provides a food or drink or a pharmaceutical composition containing the hydrolysate.

Abstract: Provided are a composition for improving the brain function, which can be orally taken at a low dose, and a method therefor. The composition for improving the brain function contains, as the active ingredient, X-Pro-Pro-Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu-Gln-Pro-Glu-Y (wherein X is nil or represents Ile or Asn-Ile; and Y is nil or represents Val-Met), X-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu-Gln-Pro-Glu-Y (wherein X is abscent or represents Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro, Pro-Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro, Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro or Pro; and Y is abscent or represents Val-Met), or a salt of the same. The method for improving the brain function comprises administering said peptide or a salt of the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition which may be ingested orally in a small dose for the purpose of improving brain function, and a method for improving brain function. The present invention is a composition for improving brain function, comprising, as an active ingredient, X-Pro-Pro-Y or a salt thereof, wherein X represent Val, Ile or Asn-Ile and Y represent Phe or Leu.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent having a suppressive action against kidney glomerular disease and renal arteriosclerosis, a prophylactic agent for renal failure containing the above described agent, and functional foods expected to have a prophylactic effect for renal failure. The agent for preventing kidney glomerular disease and renal arteriosclerosis comprises Xaa Pro Pro as an active ingredient.