Simultaneous intake of Euglena powder and vegetable powder decreases visceral fat weight and inflammatory cytokine levels.
~ The research results were published in an online science journal "Nutrients" ~

Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company Limited (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Mari Nogami; hereinafter "Takeda ") and euglena Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Mitsuru Izumo; hereinafter "EUGLENA") announce that research findings suggesting the suppression of visceral fat accumulation and anti-inflammatory effects^*1 were confirmed with simultaneous ingestion of microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi) powder (hereinafter "Euglena powder") and vegetable powder through regulation of intestinal microflora^*2 in a collaborative research with associate professor Tsuyoshi Tsuduki, Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University.
Takeda and EUGLENA have concluded a comprehensive alliance agreement to jointly investigate the possibility of developing new products containing Euglena.

■　Background and purpose
Euglena is a type of microalgae containing insoluble dietary fiber paramylon (beta-glucan having a characteristic structure) and various nutrients which is attracting attention as a new health food. Various research results have been reported so far, such as alleviating obesity and symptoms of diabetes in basic research. In this research, mice were given paramylon powder, Euglena powder, or a mixture of Euglena powder and powder of vegetables rich in water soluble dietary fiber (barley young leaves, Angelica keiskei, and kale) to evaluate the effect on the health conditions of the mice.

■　Research content and results
Mice were divided into 4 groups orally being fed (1) normal diet, (2) paramylon powder, (3) Euglena powder, or (4) a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder for 2 months.
As a result, it was confirmed that ingestion of Euglena powder or a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder significantly decreases the weight of visceral fat; i.e., perinephric and epididymal adipose tissues (Figure 1 and Table 1). In addition, a significant reduction in the area of epididymal adipose tissue was confirmed in mice which ingested a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder (Figure 2).

Also, IL-6 and IL-1 beta^*3, major inflammatory cytokines, were measured since it is reported that inflammation markers are maintained at a low level in healthy long-lived people. The result showed a significant reduction of IL-6 in mice which ingested a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder and a significant reduction of IL-1 beta in mice which ingested Euglena powder or a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder (Figure 3).

Furthermore, we confirmed an increase of bacteria beneficial to the host, such as the Lactobacillus genus, in intestinal microflora of mice which ingested a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder and a decrease of the Clostridiaceae family, harmful bacteria related to inflammation, in intestinal microflora of mice which ingested Euglena powder or a mixture of Euglena powder and vegetable powder.

These results suggest that compositional changes in intestinal microflora caused by simultaneous ingestion of Euglena powder and vegetable powder contributed to the reduction of visceral fat and serum inflammatory cytokines. The results of this research were published in an online scientific journal "Nutrients" on October 3 (https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/10/1417).

Takeda and EUGLENA will continue the research on the functionality of Euglena powder and a combination of Euglena powder and vegetables with the aim of continuously contributing to the maintenance and improvement of health.

^*1Anti-inflammatory effect: An action to suppress inflammation.
^*2Intestinal microflora: A group of a wide variety of intestinal bacteria coexisting in the intestines of humans and animals, maintaining a steady balance.
^*3Serum inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1 beta: Cytokines that cause various inflammatory symptoms within an organism. Cytokines are proteins that play roles in the transmission of immunity within an organism.

＜Microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi)＞
Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi) is the same kind of algae as brown seaweed, kelp, and chlorella with characteristics of both animals and plants. It contains 59 kinds of nutrients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, etc.) in a well-balanced manner. Paramylon, which is a specific component (a type of beta-glucan) of Euglena, has recently been studied for its functionality and is expected to be used in the healthcare field, such as for foods and cosmetics.
■　Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company Limited
Our company began operations on April 1, 2017 as a business company responsible for consumer healthcare business in the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Group. We will further contribute to better health of people in order to fulfill their desire to extend “healthy life-span” through our brand products including Alinamin, Benza, and Takeda herbal laxatives, in the fields of “self-care” and “self-medication”.
■　euglena Co., Ltd.
In 2005, the company succeeded in establishing edible outdoor mass culture technology of microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi) in Ishigaki island, Okinawa Prefecture for the first time in the world. The company develops and sells functional foods and cosmetics utilizing microalgae (Euglena, chlorella, etc.) produced in Ishigaki island and are also conducting researches to produce biofuels. Listed on TSE Mothers in December 2012. Changed listing to the first section of TSE in December 2014. The management philosophy is "to make people and the earth healthy."