J. Biol. Macromol., 19 (1), 3-4 (2019)

Letter to Editor
Retrospective user survey of JUNSAIKOMACHI for improving human health and skin conditions
Akiko Takashima1,2, Munetaka Sano2, Masahiro Sasaki3, Yui Umekawa1, Akira Sasaki1, Keishi Hata1, *1

Akita Research Institute of Food & Brewing, 4-26 Sanuki, Araya-machi, Akita 010-1623, Japan, 2SanoInc., 3-4-2 Oroshi-machi, Akita, 010-0061, Japan, 3Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels-Akita,
6-10 Sensyukubota-cho, Akita 010-0874, Japan
Received March 12, 2019; Accepted March 28, 2019

Dear editor,
We previously reported the improved effects ofJUNSAIKOMACHI, a stick jelly-type dietary
supplement with water shield extract and driedsake cake on bowel movement and skin conditionsof healthy adult females using placebo-controlled
double-blind and open-label trials 1-3).
Clarification
ofwhyusers
purchase
JUNSAIKOMACHI and whether they have felt
the beneficial effects demonstrated in our previousstudies is important and useful for productpromotion. In this study, we distributed aquestionnaire to JUNSAIKOMACHI subscribers
regarding their subjective evaluation of health andskin conditions.
The consumer survey of effects on health andskin conditions was approved by the ethics
committee of Akita Research Institute of Food andBrewing (Approval No. H30-01). The
questionnaires on 29 symptoms of health and skinconditions were distributed to users ofJUNSAIKOMACHI who have subscribed to thedietary supplement for over 4 months via online
shopping sites or at physical stores. The users’
subjective reports of JUNSAIKOMACHI wereassessed by visual analogue scores (VAS), as inour previous open-label study 3), and the VAS
sheets were mailed back anonymously. The
statistical analysis of VAS for each sympto m*Corresponding author
hata@arif.pref.akita.jp

before/after administration was performed using
the Wilcoxon signed rank test (GraphPad Prizm5,GraphPad Software Inc.). A value of p<0.05 wasconsidered significant
Ten females in their 30s (1 user), 40s (6 users),50s (2 users) and 60s (1 user), and one male in his
30s replied to this survey, and the results aresummarized in Table 1. The continuous intake ofJUNSAIKOMACHI markedly improved “bowelmovement”, but it did not affect other healthconditions. The four skin conditions “dry skin”,“skin texture”, “elasticity and/or gloss of skin”
and “noticeable pores” markedly improved
between before/after administration, andsubscribers felt positive effects in “dull skin”(p=0.063) and “makeup application” (p=0.058).
In the retrospective user survey, improved
effects of JUNSAIKOMACH on health/skinconditions, such as “bowel movement”, “dry skin”
and “noticeable pores”, were consistent with theresults of our previous double-blind and openlabel trials 2,3). Furthermore, users may subscribe
to JUNSAIKOMACHI to care for their skinconditions rather than health conditions.
Acknowledgement
We appreciate to Sano Pharmacy Inc. for theircooperation with the survey.

4User survey of JUNSAIKOMACHI on health conditions

Table 1 Effects of JUNSAIKOMACHI on Health and Skin Conditions
VAS (mm)

Beforesubscription

Currentstatusp-value33.5±7.2
38.2±4.747.9±4.764.2±7.853.1±6.4
39.5±5.4
33.5±7.249.2±7.652.3±7.447.1±7.4
57.0±5.558.0±5.1
39.7±6.7
39.5±3.633.5±7.2
38.3±4.752.9±5.0
66.9±6.2
55.5±6.2
45.9±6.933.5±7.2
77.9±5.2
55.6±7.351.2±7.2
58.3±5.2
58.7±4.840.2±6.5
42.0±3.9

ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
0.002
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns

41.2±2.733.2±5.0
40.3±3.440.6±2.7
39.0±4.947.0±6.852.5±5.2
54.5±4.245.8±6.7
32.3±6.0
45.1±3.842.7±4.042.5±5.1
44.5±3.050.7±4.1

51.1±5.849.3±5.649.2±6.0
50.8±5.6
50.7±5.555.6±6.4
54.4±5.2
55.5±6.2
48.7±7.2
47.0±6.5
54.5±3.643.5±4.143.9±5.847.0±2.453.4±4.4

ns0.023
0.032
0.036
nsnsnsns
ns
0.008
nsnsnsnsns

Health condition
Stiff neck
Tired eyes
Appetite
Falling asleep
Malaise
Waist circumference
Foot swelling
Bowel movement
Dry eyeSensitivity to cold
Up/down a staircase
ThirstBlurred vision
Flabby upper arm
Skin condition
Dull skin
Dry skin
Skin texture
Elasticity and/or gloss of skin
Rough skin
Desiccated and gritty skin
Oily face
Frequent pimples
Spots and freckles
Noticeable pores
Makeup application
Corners of mouth sagging
Fine lines around eyes
Cheeks sagging
Make-up runs easily

The data represents means ± SEM (n=11). Ns, not significant vs before subscription.

References
1.

2.

Takashima A., Sano K., Murakami M.,
Uehara K., Sasaki A., Hiwatashi K., Kumagai
M., Hata K., Shouyakugakuzassi, 71, 94-99(2017)
Takashima A., Sano K., Murakami M., Hata
K., Food processing and ingredients, 52, 7274 (2017)3.

Takashima A., Sano K., Murakami M.,
Matsui F., Sasaki A., Takahashi S., Kumagai
M., Hata K., J.Biol. Macromol., 18, 59-61(2018)

Communicated by Kiyoshi Yasukawa