Possible Gender Difference in Anti-stress Effect of β-Cryptoxanthin.
Beta-cryptoxanthin [β-CRX, (3R)-β, β-caroten-3-ol] is a provitamin A and a potent antioxidant that is abundant in Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshiu MARC.), which is the most popular fruit in Japan. The anti-stress effect of β-CRX on humans was evaluated in fifth-year university students during both routine daily life at the university and at pharmacy practice. The study design was a double-blind group comparison and participants (n=20; female 12, male 8) were randomly assigned to β-CRX-rich orange juice or placebo (β-CRX was removed from orange juice) groups. β-CRX or placebo juice (125 mL, once a day, after breakfast) were consumed from 10 d prior to the pharmacy practice and continued for 10 d into the practice period. To assess participants' anxiety, the state-trait anxiety inventory test was carried out before the pharmacy practice. Salivary α-amylase activity (sAA) was measured as a marker of sympathetic nervous system activity. In the placebo-group, sAA in the evening (post-practice sAA) tended to be higher than sAA in the morning (pre-practice sAA) during both routine daily life at the university and during pharmacy practice. In the β-CRX-group, the increase of post-practice sAA was suppressed in females. These results suggested that β-CRX has an anti-stress effect, at least, in females.
Department of Neurophysiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka.
Keiko
K
Unno
Shigenori
S
Noda
Yohei
Y
Kawasaki
Kazuaki
K
Iguchi
Hiroshi
H
Yamada
D000975:Antioxidants; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000072743:Beta-Cryptoxanthin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D002957:Citrus; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D000072743:Beta-Cryptoxanthin; D015415:Biomarkers; D000516:alpha-Amylases