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Mar. 26, 2008

A new production method of lactobionic acid - a reliever against menopause

Unitika Ltd. and Osaka Municipal Technical Research Institute have established a new mass production method of lactobionic acid (patent pending). Also, we have found the intake of lactobionic acid enhanced plasma equol concentrations in rats. Moreover, we have found the occurrence of lactobionic acid in Caucasian fermented milk products, known in Japan as "Caspian Sea Yogurt."
Lactobionic acid, 4-O-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-D-gluconic acid, is a natural substance found in Caspian Sea yogurt and has both characters of sugar (sweetness) and acid (acidity, salt formation). Its calcium salt, calcium lactobionate, dissolves in water very easily compared with other calcium compounds; shows 40,000 times higher water solubility than calcium carbonate, 10 times higher than calcium lactate. Aqueous solution of calcium lactobionate is transparent and tastes sweet.
We have investigated the oxidization of lactose to lactobionic acid in acetic acid bacteria and have found that Gluconobacter cerinus UTBC-427 shows the strongest activity, yielding 80% calcium lactobionate. We have found that lactobionic acid promotes plasma equol production through laboratory test using rats, which may relief menopause symptoms and is expected as an anti-aging supplement.

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