Abstract: This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40° C.

Abstract: This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40° C.

Abstract: This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40° C.

Abstract: To maintain physical fitness and health of middle-aged and older persons living in the threshold of the aging society, the present invention provides a fatigue reducing agent which is highly effective for preventing and reducing fatigue, wherein the agent is made of a composition of substances that are very safe so that long-term administration is possible. A composition containing reduced coenzyme Q was found to be effective for preventing and reducing fatigue, including muscle fatigue. Since the fatigue reducing effect of the composition of the present invention is seen not only in young rats but also more pronounced in aged rats, the present invention can provide the fatigue reducing agent which is very useful, especially, for middle-aged and older persons as well as for young people.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for dermal application which comprises, as an active ingredient, an oxidized coenzyme Q represented by the formula (1): in which n represents an integer of 1 to 12, and/or a reduced coenzyme Q represented by the formula (2): in which n represents an integer of 1 to 12, the total content of the oxidized coenzyme Q and reduced coenzyme Q being 0.01 to 99% by weight relative to the whole amount of the composition. The present invention also provides a therapeutic composition for skin diseases, a cosmetic composition, a skin health care composition and a bath salt composition, each comprising the above composition for dermal application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the supply of coenzyme Q which is highly useful in maintaining human health, and provides a method and preparations whereby coenzyme Q can be efficiently supplied to patients having difficulties in oral administration, aged having swallowing difficulties and patients with diseases caused by topical disorders. It is found that the coenzyme Q concentration in the blood or topical mucosae can be elevated by using a composition for transmucosal administration containing oxidized coenzyme Q and/or reduced coenzyme Q as the active ingredient, wherein the total content of the oxidized coenzyme Q and the reduced coenzyme Q amounts to 0.0001 to 99% by weight of the whole composition.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a composition maintaining a blood coenzyme Q concentration at a high level in blood for a prolonged period of time, in order to surely attain an effect of coenzyme Q, which can be expected to manifest a superior effect in maintaining health in humans and animals. By using a composition which comprises a coenzyme Q being a mixture of a reduced coenzyme Q and an oxidized coenzyme Q with the proportion of the reduced coenzyme Q to the whole coenzyme Q of more than 95% by weight, the present invention can attain a high maximum blood concentration of a coenzyme Q as well as long maintenance of high concentration of coenzyme Q in blood for a prolonged period of time, and the area under the blood concentration curve (AUC) can be expanded.

Abstract: The present invention aims to activate neural cells in brain, and further provide a useful composition having an action to protect intracerebral neural cells from external and internal stresses. An agent for improving a neural cell function containing reduced coenzyme Q as an active ingredient, more specifically, an agent for activating neural cells and an agent for protecting neural cells, is useful, and can be used for the improvement or prophylaxis of central neurological diseases or neuropathy symptoms derived from or associated with a neurodegenerative disease, promotion of cognitive function or improvement of learning and memory disorders.

Abstract: A method of preventing or treating fatigue in a subject mammal comprises administering an effective amount of a composition comprising (a) reduced coenzyme Q represented by the following formula (1): wherein n is an integer of 1 to 12, and (b) lipoic acid or a derivative thereof, to the mammal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition of a practically usable solution capable of stably maintaining, against oxidation, reduced coenzyme Q, which has not been employed in practice so far because of being liable to undergo oxidation and hydrophobic, a method of preparing the solution and a method of storing the solution. A solution of reduced coenzyme Q which can be stored at a low temperature or room temperature over a long time can be prepared by coating reduced coenzyme Q with liposome made of refined soybean lecithin, etc, and solubilizing, or solubilizing or emulsifying reduced coenzyme Q by using a surfactant at a low temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing the absorbability of oxidized coenzyme Q10 by preparing the oxidized coenzyme Q10 as a composition in the presence of a lysolecithin and an oil and fat. The composition of the present invention comprising oxidized coenzyme Q10, a lysolecithin and an oil and fat, wherein the weight ratio of the lysolecithin to the oxidized coenzyme Q10 is not less than 0.7, shows superior absorption of oxidized coenzyme Q10 and can be utilized for food, food with nutrient function, food for specified health uses, nutritional supplement, nutritional product, animal drug, beverage, feed, pet food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical product, therapeutic drug, preventive drug and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reduced coenzyme Q-containing solution capable of being retained more stably against oxidation, by using a reduced coenzyme Q which is hydrophobic and susceptible to oxidation and thus unstable. The aqueous solution containing a reduced coenzyme Q obtained in the present invention is a solution containing a reduced coenzyme Q and an antioxidant such as vitamin C and/or a chelating agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reduced coenzyme Q10 crystal with excellent stability and a composition containing said reduced coenzyme Q10 crystals. According to the present invention, after dissolving reduced coenzyme Q10 in a fat and oil, it is cooled, making it possible to obtain reduced coenzyme Q10 crystals with excellent stability and which exhibit an x-ray diffraction pattern (using a CuK? emission line) that differs from ordinary reduced coenzyme Q10 crystals. Moreover, said crystals are also excellent in bioabsorbability.

Abstract: Fatigue is significantly involved in the lifestyle of people today. Although many anti-fatigue products are on market, those with definite and reliable effects are still few. Under such circumstances, the inventors of the present invention have conducted studies aiming at providing a composition which exhibits a distinctive anti-fatigue effect, and consequently accomplished the present invention. The present invention provides an anti-fatigue composition containing reduced coenzyme Q and a carnitine derivative. By administering the anti-fatigue composition of the present invention to a mammal, anti-fatigue effects can be synergistically seen even at doses which are not effective when the components are individually used. According to the present invention, an anti-fatigue composition having a reliable effect can be provided.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a reduced coenzyme Q, as a composition capable of being stably stored and, at the same time, soluble in water, which has not been used for industrial application because of its auto oxidation and lipophilic property. A reduced coenzyme Q-containing composition capable of being stored in a refrigerator or at room temperature for a prolonged period of time and of being soluble in water can be prepared by contacting or mixing the reduced coenzyme Q and a cyclodextrin to obtain a clathrated compound or by mixing an antioxidant, the reduced coenzyme Q and the cyclodextrin under an appropriate condition.

Abstract: To maintain physical fitness and health of middle-aged and older persons living in the threshold of the aging society, the present invention provides a fatigue reducing agent which is highly effective for preventing and reducing fatigue, wherein the agent is made of a composition of substances that are very safe so that long-term administration is possible. A composition containing reduced coenzyme Q was found to be effective for preventing and reducing fatigue, including muscle fatigue. Since the fatigue reducing effect of the composition of the present invention is seen not only in young rats but also more pronounced in aged rats, the present invention can provide the fatigue reducing agent which is very useful, especially, for middle-aged and older persons as well as for young people.

Abstract: A method for lessening oxidative stress in vivo in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a composition containing a reduced coenzyme Q and an oxidized coenzyme of Q.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a composition maintaining a blood coenzyme Q concentration at a high level in blood for a prolonged period of time, in order to surely attain an effect of coenzyme Q, which can be expected to manifest a superior effect in maintaining health in humans and animals. By using a composition which comprises a coenzyme Q being a mixture of a reduced coenzyme Q and an oxidized coenzyme Q with the proportion of the reduced coenzyme Q to the whole coenzyme Q of more than 95% by weight, the present invention can attain a high maximum blood concentration of a coenzyme Q as well as long maintenance of high concentration of coenzyme Q in blood for a prolonged period of time, and the area under the blood concentration curve (AUC) can be expanded.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antioxidative composition with high safety, which is capable of lessening oxidative stress due to active oxygen species, free radicals, or the like in vivo, thereby preventing the occurrence or worsening of a disease. It was confirmed that by using a composition containing oxidized coenzyme Q and/or reduced coenzyme Q, the amount of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyquanosine can be decreased in normal or diabetic animals. Also, in histopathological research of the spleens of diabetic rats, it was confirmed that spleen tissue denaturation caused by oxidative stress can be prevented. It was thus found that oxidative stress in vivo can be lessened. According to the present invention, oxidative stress in vivo can be lessened by using a composition containing coenzyme Q as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides to intractable skin diseases such as athlete's foot a substance which has a percutaneous absorption promoting effect capable of enhancing the effectiveness of an antifungal agent, etc., and is high in safety to skin which becomes sensitive to irritation because of the diseases. Coenzyme Q, which is known to be highly safe in oral administration, was found to have high safety to skin and a percutaneous absorption promoting effect to an antifungal agent. From this, a useful composition composed of coenzyme Q and an antifungal agent can be provided to athlete's foot which is difficult to be completely cured.