著者

Kazuhiro Kubo Mayu Kasumi Takatoshi Yamashita

出版者

Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology

雑誌

Food Science and Technology Research (ISSN:13446606)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.FSTR-D-23-00059, (Released:2023-07-27)

被引用文献数

1

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Hard water is softened because its use in everyday life can cause various problems in the living environment. However, existing water-softening methods have a number of drawbacks. Here we examined a new water-softening method involving atomization. Three concentrations of calcium-based synthetic hard water and a commercial natural hard water were prepared. Each hard water was sprayed into the atmosphere at 1 MPa from an atomization nozzle and then collected. Part of the collected water was recirculated, and the atomization treatment was continued. After the treatment, a white precipitate and fine bubbles were generated, the Ca2+ concentration and electrical conductivity decreased, and the pH increased. Then over time, the white precipitate increased slowly and the Ca2+ concentration decreased until finally it almost fell within the recommended range. This water-softening phenomenon was thought to be due to expansion of the gas-liquid interfacial area and generation of fine bubbles with atomization. This method is extremely simple and expected to show high versatility.

著者

Kazuhiro KUBO Yasuyuki KAWAI

出版者

Center for Academic Publications Japan

雑誌

Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (ISSN:03014800)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.67, no.5, pp.283-291, 2021-10-31 (Released:2021-10-31)

参考文献数

28

被引用文献数

3

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Zeolite, an abundant mineral in the Earth’s crust, is utilized in a wide range of fields because of its well-known adsorption properties. Its application as a functional food ingredient resembling dietary fiber is expected, but it has not yet been investigated in the context of prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the availability and safety of a natural zeolite preparation for this purpose. Acute oral toxicity testing showed that the lowest lethal dose of zeolite was more than 2,000 mg/kg body weight for both male and female mice. In a prolonged feeding test for 18 wk using model mice with high-fat-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, intake of a 10% zeolite-containing diet suppressed body weight gain, as well as liver and visceral fat weights, without any changes in food and energy intake. Moreover, plasma lipid (triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol) levels and fasting blood glucose levels decreased in parallel with zeolite intake. No changes in the glycated hemoglobin level were found. However, in an oral glucose tolerance test at week 12, increased postprandial blood glucose levels were suppressed in accordance with zeolite intake, and then insulin secretion was also decreased. On the other hand, a decrease of plasma amylase activity and increases in total bilirubin and urea nitrogen suggested the need for further investigation of safety.