Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Cyclopentanohydrophenanthrene ring system doai
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2002-12-17
Criares, Theodore J. (Department: 1617)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Cyclopentanohydrophenanthrene ring system doai
C514S560000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06495536
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fat or oil composition capable of reducing arteriosclerotic factors in blood when taken, similarly to a usual fat or oil, in the daily life.
2. Description of the Related Art
Arteriosclerosis is a risk factor of various circulatory diseases such as hypertension and thrombosis. Arteriosclerosis is caused by hypercholesterolemia, formation of thrombus or the like. The state of a high total cholesterol level is generally called hypercholesterolemia. The cholesterol in blood is classified into HDL, LDL, VLDL and the like by specific gravity. Among them, LDL is a principal risk factor of arteriosclerosis, while HDL is said to be useful for the prevention of arteriosclerosis. It is therefore important to increase the HDL cholesterol level in blood for the prevention of arteriosclerosis.
On the other hand, local formation of thrombi in blood is also considered as one of the factors of arteriosclerosis. When the activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) which serves to control the production of plasmin, that is, fibrinolysin in blood is exasperated, the production of plasmin is suppressed and formation of thrombi tends to occur. It is therefore essential to lower the activity of PAI-1 for the prevention of arteriosclerosis.
With regards to arteriosclerosis, prevention by the daily dietary control is more important than treatment. There is accordingly a demand for a substance which can be taken easily in the daily life and at the same time, can reduce the above-described arteriosclerotic factor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Paying attention to a diacylglycerol which is known to suppress a postprandial increase in the blood level of a neutral fat, the present inventors have investigated constituent fatty acids of the diacylglycerol and their influence on the HDL cholesterol level and PAI-1 activity. As a result, it has been found that a fat or oil composition has excellent HDL cholesterol elevating action and PAI-1 lowering action and is useful as an edible oil when there is a specific relationship among the kinds and amounts of the stereoisomers of the unsaturated fatty acid and the amount of the saturated fatty acid contained in the composition.
There is thus provided a fat or oil composition which comprises at least 35 wt. % of a diacylglycerol, the constituent fatty acids of said diacylglycerol satisfying the following equation: (an amount of a cis-form unsaturated fatty acid)/(an amount of a saturated fatty acid+an amount of a trans-form unsaturated fatty acid)≧6.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a fat or oil processed food comprising the above-described fat or oil composition.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there are also provided an HDL-cholesterol-level elevating agent and PAI-1-activity lowering agent, each comprising the above-described fat or oil composition.
In a still further aspect of the present invention, there are also provided a method for elevating the HDL cholesterol level in blood and a method for lowering the activity of PAI-1, each of which comprises administering the above-described fat or oil composition.
Intake of the fat or oil composition of the present invention usually as an edible oil makes it possible to reduce the blood level of an arteriosclerotic factor, leading to the prevention of arteriosclerosis and furthermore, various geriatric diseases.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The fat or oil composition according to the present invention contains at least 35 wt. % (which will hereinafter be indicated simply as “%”) of a diacylglycerol. From the viewpoints of effects for suppressing an increase in the blood level of a neutral fat, HDL cholesterol elevating action and PAI-1 lowering action, the diacylglycerol content is preferably at least 50%, with at least 60% being more preferred and with at least 80% being particularly preferred.
The constituent fatty acids of the diacylglycerol contained in the fat or oil composition of the present invention satisfy the following equation: (an amount of a cis-form unsaturated fatty acid)/(an amount of a saturated fatty acid+an amount of a trans-form unsaturated fatty acid)≧6. When this weight ratio of [(cis)/(trans+saturated)] is less than 6, the HDL cholesterol elevating effects and PAI-1 lowering effects both lower. The weight ratio of [(cis)/(trans+saturated)] is preferably at least 8 and more preferably at least 9. The amount of the trans-form unsaturated fatty acid not greater than 5% is particularly preferred and also the amount of the saturated fatty acid not greater than 5% is particularly preferred, each based on the amount of the constituent fatty acids of the diacylglycerol. Examples of the cis-form unsaturated fatty acid include oleic acid, &agr;-linoleic acid, &agr;-linolenic acid, cis-dihomo-&ggr;-linolenic acid, cis-arachidonic acid, cis-eicosapentaenoic acid and cis-docosahexanoic acid. The term “trans-form unsaturated fatty acid” as used herein means an unsaturated fatty acid having, in the molecule thereof, at least one trans-form double bond. Examples of the saturated fatty acids include palmitic acid, stearic acid and arachic acid. Fatty acids having 8 to 24 carbon atoms are preferred, with those having 16 to 22 carbon atoms being particularly preferred. As the diacylglycerol, either one of 1,2-diacylglycerol or 1,3-diacylglycerol can be employed, with the 1,3-diacylglycerol being particularly preferred.
A phytosterol is a component having effects for lowering the cholesterol level and is contained in the conventional plant oil in an amount of about 0.05 to 1.2%. With a view to obtaining the cholesterol lowering effects equivalent to those of such a plant oil, the content of phytosterol is preferably at least 0.05%, with at least 0.3% being particularly preferred. The phytosterol content in the fat or oil composition containing a diacylglycerol differs depending on the preparation process of the composition. When a commercially available fatty acid obtained by distillation is used as a raw material, the phytosterol content in the composition inevitably lowers. In such a case, it is preferred to add a phytosterol to give an amount of 0.05% or greater. No particular limitation is imposed on the upper limit of the phytosterol content. For the purpose of attaining cholesterol reduction equal to that brought by the use of the conventional plant oil, the phytosterol content falling within a range of 0.05 to 1.2% is sufficient. When the more cholesterol level reduction is intended, at least 1.2% of phytosterol can be added. Examples of the phytosterol include phytosterols in the free form such as &agr;-sitosterol, &bgr;-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, &agr;-sitostanol, &bgr;-sitostanol, stigmastanol, campestanol and cycloartenol and esters thereof such as fatty acid esters, ferulic acid esters, and cinnamic acid esters.
The other components contained in the fat or oil composition of the present invention are a triacyl glycerol and a monoacyl glycerol. The monoacyl glycerol content not greater than 2%, particularly not greater than 1.5% is preferred. Most of the remaining part is composed of a triacyl glycerol.
The fat or oil composition according to the present invention can be prepared, for example, by subjecting fat or oil containing desired constituent fatty acids and glycerin to transesterification; or by acting lipase on a mixture of desired constituent fatty acids or ester thereof with glycerin, thereby carrying out esterification. The esterification using lipase is preferred for preventing isomerization during the reaction. Even in the esterification by using lipase, with a view to preventing isomerization upon purification after completion of the reaction, it is preferred to carry the purification under conditions mild enough not to cause isomerization of the fatty acids.
It is possible to incorporate, in the fat or oil composition of the present invention, a component contained
Katsuragi Yoshihisa
Masui Kenji
Toi Tomoko
Yasukawa Takuji
Criares Theodore J.
Kao Corporation
Kim Jennifer
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
LandOfFree
Fat or oil composition does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fat or oil composition, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fat or oil composition will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2968538