The present invention relates to compositions comprising a water soluble tomato extract (WSTE) which may be used in maintaining cardiovascular health, lessening the risk of developing cardiovascular health problems, or reducing the likelihood of worsening an existing cardiovascular health problem in a subject exposed, or is at risk of exposure, to particulate air pollution.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chondrogenesis promoter that is safe and exhibits a chondrogenesis-promoting effect by daily ingestion. It is also an object of the invention to provide a proteoglycan synthesis promoter that exhibits a proteoglycan synthesis-promoting effect by ingestion. Provided are a chondrogenesis promoter and a proteoglycan synthesis promoter each containing a milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient. Synthesis of proteoglycan and formation of a cartilage can be promoted by oral ingestion of the milk-derived basic protein fraction. A hydrolysate of the milk-derived basic protein fraction also has a similar chondrogenesis-promoting effect.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chondrogenesis promoter that is safe and exhibits a chondrogenesis-promoting effect by daily ingestion. It is also an object of the invention to provide a proteoglycan synthesis promoter that exhibits a proteoglycan synthesis-promoting effect by ingestion. Provided are a chondrogenesis promoter and a proteoglycan synthesis promoter each containing a milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient. Synthesis of proteoglycan and formation of a cartilage can be promoted by oral ingestion of the milk-derived basic protein fraction. A hydrolysate of the milk-derived basic protein fraction also has a similar chondrogenesis-promoting effect.

The present invention addresses the problem of solving problems of the conventional techniques and producing, by an economically advantageous means, fermented milk having hardness to such an extent that the texture of the fermented milk can be kept during distribution. The present invention relates to a method for producing fermented milk, comprising homogenizing a raw material mix under a high pressure to reduce the average particle diameter of a fat and then fermenting the homogenized product. More specifically, the present invention relates to: a method for producing fermented milk using a material that is sterilized at an ultra-high temperature, said method comprising homogenizing a fat in a raw material mix, which contains a material sterilized at an ultra-high temperature, under a high pressure and then fermenting the resultant product; and fermented milk produced by the method.

The present invention addresses the problem of solving problems of the conventional techniques and producing, by an economically advantageous means, fermented milk having hardness to such an extent that the texture of the fermented milk can be kept during distribution. The present invention relates to a method for producing fermented milk, comprising homogenizing a raw material mix under a high pressure to reduce the average particle diameter of a fat and then fermenting the homogenized product. More specifically, the present invention relates to: a method for producing fermented milk using a material that is sterilized at an ultra-high temperature, said method comprising homogenizing a fat in a raw material mix, which contains a material sterilized at an ultra-high temperature, under a high pressure and then fermenting the resultant product; and fermented milk produced by the method.

A method for rapidly improving cardiovascular function, reducing arterial stiffness and reversing calcification of a blood vessel in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of vitamin K for a period of less than 6 months. Also a method for increasing endothelial nitric oxide production in mammals comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of vitamin K for a period of less than 6 months. The vitamin K can be administered together with additional substances such as vitamin D.

A method for rapidly improving cardiovascular function, reducing arterial stiffness and reversing calcification of a blood vessel in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of vitamin K for a period of less than 6 months. Also a method for increasing endothelial nitric oxide production in mammals comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of vitamin K for a period of less than 6 months. The vitamin K can be administered together with additional substances such as vitamin D.

Provided are a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating metabolic diseases and a health food for alleviating metabolic diseases, each of which the pharmaceutical composition and the health food includes, a stereoisomer of isonitramine or a derivative thereof, or a racemic mixture of the stereoisomers, wherein such a compound exhibits effects of inhibiting fat content or differentiation of an adipocyte, inhibiting activity of a carbohydrate metabolism enzyme, protecting pancreas, inhibiting blood sugar, and promoting insulin secretion, and thus can be favorably utilized in the treatment of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

Provided are a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating metabolic diseases and a health food for alleviating metabolic diseases, each of which the pharmaceutical composition and the health food includes, a stereoisomer of isonitramine or a derivative thereof, or a racemic mixture of the stereoisomers, wherein such a compound exhibits effects of inhibiting fat content or differentiation of an adipocyte, inhibiting activity of a carbohydrate metabolism enzyme, protecting pancreas, inhibiting blood sugar, and promoting insulin secretion, and thus can be favorably utilized in the treatment of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

Present invention discloses a Lactobacillus composition comprising Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 which is a strain of heat-killed dead bacteria and has the effect of lowering blood pressure by inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 and enhancement the growth of Bifidobacterium, and said Lactobacillus composition is a pharmaceutical composition, nutritional supplement, health food or a combination thereof.