Anti-Fatigue Action of Peptides and Amino Acids Derived from Oyster on Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a supplement containing peptides and amino acids derived from oyster meat on fatigue of healthy individuals.Methods: To a supplement-intake group, 201 subjects (average age, 35.3years old) were assigned, and they were orally administered the supplement containing peptides and free amino acids derived from oyster extract powder prepared by hydrolysis of oyster proteins for 4weeks. Fifty (50) subjects (average age, 34.9years old) were assigned to a control group which did not take the supplement. Fatigue feelings of the participants were examined by a questionnaire for fatigue feelings before and after the treatment. The intake period of 17 subjects in the supplement-intake group was extended by 12weeks after obtaining their consent, followed by assessing the subjective fatigue feelings by the questionnaire and the objective fatigue levels by mechanical measurements. Results:The fatigue feelings in the supplement-intake group evaluated by the questionnaire for work-related fatigue, were improved significantly after the treatment with the significant improvement of five factors of the fatigue feelings (P<0.01), while not in the control group. The fatigue feelings of the 17 subjects taking the supplement for 12weeks evaluated by a visual analogue scale of fatigue level were improved significantly (P<0.05) and one of the indicator (saliva human herpes virus 6 [HHV-6]) of fatigue levels decreased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion:The oyster extract powder may improve fatigue to result in desired quality of life of healthy individuals.