Press ReleasesNippon Paper Industries Publishes Results of Researches on Sun Cellobio®-K Oligosaccharide (Cellobiose)The effect in an animal model of osteoporosis

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

As a comprehensive biomass company, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (President: Yoshio Haga) supplies a broad array of products in the biochemical area to facilitate comprehensive utilization of wood, a recyclable resource. These products include Sun Cellobio®-K oligosaccharide (Cellobiose), which has been found to enhance the effect of isoflavone (strengthening of thighbone) in an osteoporosis animal model through a collaboration with the Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture (Professor: Mariko Uehara).

Daizein, one type of soy isoflavone, is converted to equol by the action of enterobacteria. Equol has the highest bioactivity among isoflavones. It is known to exhibit a female hormone (estrogen)-like action and is said to be highly effective in the improvement of skin wrinkles and in the alleviation of osteoporosis or climacteric disorder that develops in post-menopausal women. In in-vitro studies so far, our Sun Cellobio®-K has been found to have the potential to promote the conversion from daizein to equol by activating enterobacteria. As a result of this collaboration, in an animal model of osteoporosis, it was shown that Sun Cellobio®-K can increase the amount of absorption of equol and enhance the strength of thighbone.

Sun Cellobio®-K mainly comprises cellobiose, a carbohydrate made from wood cellulose that undergoes degradation by enzyme and crystallization using the company's proprietary technology. Cellobiose is characterized by its very low hygroscopicity. The oligosaccharide is resistant to digestion in the human body, and is used extensively as a raw material in many different foods, primarily health foods. To date, collaborative researches with various institutions provided valid data on the effect of the product on the followings:

  • Regulation of intestinal function
  • Activation of enterobacteria
  • Improvement of lipid metabolism
  • Suppression of contact allergy

For details of the result of the research, visit our website.

http://www.npchem.co.jp/product/cellooligo/pdf/cello-biose_005.pdf

Nippon Paper Industries will continue its research on the functions of Sun Cellobio®-K oligosaccharide (Cellobiose), which is reliably ingested by intestinal bacteria and contributes to helping people maintain their health.

The results of research were presented at the Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Nutrition and Food Science (at Rakuno Gakuen University, May 30 to June 1, 2014). Also, a related presentation was given at the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry (at Meiji University, in March 2014).

Attached Document:Summary of this research.pdf