Abstract:
The present invention provides a postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor comprising potassium alginate as an active ingredient. The postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor of the present invention is useful as a medicine or a food product. The present invention also provides use of potassium alginate for the manufacture of a postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting postprandial GIP secretion, which comprises administering potassium alginate to a subject in need thereof or causing a subject in need thereof to consume potassium alginate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a GIP secretion inhibitor which is useful as a medicine or a food product. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) is a gastrointestinal hormone having gastric acid secretion inhibitory action or gastric motility inhibitory action, and it is known that secretion thereof is enhanced by lipids and the like in the diet during food intake (Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3). Therefore, a substance inhibiting the secretion of GIP is believed to be useful in the facilitation of digestion or in the improvement of a heavy feeling in the stomach. Previous studies have reported that 
     3-bromo-5-methyl-2-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ol (BMPP) inhibited functions of GIP, and that guar gum and the like inhibited postprandial secretion of GIP (Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Documents 4 to 9). 
     However, the former substance BMPP has not been verified to have an inhibitory effect on functions of GIP in vivo, while the latter substances guar gum and the like have a problem that their GIP secretion inhibitory effect during lipid ingestion has not been examined. Further, the effect of the above substances on improving a heavy feeling in the stomach or the like is not necessarily satisfactory. 
     Under such circumstances, the Applicant of the present invention found that when the sodium salt of alginic acid, which is one of the high molecular weight acidic polysaccharides present in brown algae, was fed to a mouse, a postprandial GIP secretion was inhibited, and that the sodium salt of alginic acid can thus serve as a postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor. The Applicant filed a patent application based on the finding (Patent Document 2). 
     On the other hand, potassium alginate is widely used as a thickening agent for food products or as a gelling agent in the preparations for dental impression, and is also reported to have a hypotensive action which is based on the mechanism of sodium excretion in the body (Non-Patent Document 10). 
     However, it has not been known that potassium alginate has a very excellent GIP secretion inhibitory action. 
     [Patent Document 1] WO 01/87341 
     [Patent Document 2] JP2006-342085 
     [Non-Patent Document 1] J. C. Brown, et al., Canadian J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 47: 113-114, 1969 
     [Non-Patent Document 2] J. M. Falko, et al., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 41(2); 260-265, 1975 
     [Non-Patent Document 3] Oda Toshitsugu, et al., Digestive Tract—Functions and Pathological conditions (“Shoukakan Kinou to Byoutai”), 1981, Chugai-Igakusha, p. 205-216 
     [Non-Patent Document4] Gagenby, S J, et al., Diabet. Med., 1996 April; 13(4); 358-64 
     [Non-Patent Document 5] Ellis P R, et al., Br. J. Nutr. 1995 October; 74(4): 539-56 
     [Non-Patent Document 6] Simoes Nunes C, et al., Reprod, Nutr. Dev., 1992; 32(1): 11-20 
     [Non-Patent Document 7] Morgan L M, et al., Br. J. Nutr., 1990 July; 64(1): 103-10 
     [Non-Patent Document 8] Requejo F, et al., Diabet Med., 1990 July; 7(6):515-20 
     [Non-Patent Document 9] Morgan, et al., Br. J. Nutr., 1985 May; 53(3): 467-75 
     [Non-Patent Document 10] Tsuji Keiske, et al., Journal of Home Economics of Japan, Vol. 39, No. 3, Page. 187-195 (1988) 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor, comprising potassium alginate as an active ingredient. 
     The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting postprandial GIP secretion, which comprises administering potassium alginate to a subject in need thereof or causing a subject in need thereof to consume potassium alginate. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In an aspect of the present invention, a GIP secretion inhibitor which is useful as a medicine or a food product is provided. 
     The inventors of the present invention made a detailed study of the GIP secretion inhibitory action of alginic acid or a salt thereof, and found that the potassium salt of alginic acid notably inhibits postprandial GIP secretion and thus is more useful for the facilitation of digestion or the improvement in a heavy feeling in the stomach, as compared with sodium alginate. 
     The GAP secretion inhibitor of the present invention can reduce the postprandial secretion of GIP and facilitate digestion and absorption of food, and thereby improving a heavy feeling in the stomach. 
     Alginic acid is a high molecular weight acidic polysaccharide (molecular weight: several ten thousands to several hundred thousands) containing, as a main constituent sugar, uronic acid (D-mannuronic acid and L-gluronic acid) which is distributed in all of the brown algae as a substance located between cell walls, and has one carboxyl group in one constituent unit. Potassium alginate is a salt formed by binding the carboxyl group of alginic acid and a potassium ion. 
     The potassium alginate that may be used in the present invention is a low molecular weight potassium alginate having a weight average molecular weight measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of 60, 000 or less, preferably 10,000 to 60,000, more preferably 20,000 to 60,000, and even more preferably 20,000 to 50,000. Specifically, in the case where the postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor of the present invention is in the form of an oral liquid preparation, the viscosity of the potassium alginate is preferably low from the viewpoints of producibility, and of the feeling of running down the throat, slipperiness, ease of swallowing or the like at the time of drinking the preparation. In the above embodiment, it is preferable to use a less viscous potassium alginate having a weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to 50,000, it is more preferable to use a potassium alginate having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 40,000, and it is even more preferable to use a potassium alginate having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 30,000. 
     The potassium alginate of the present invention can be produced by any methods such as thermal degradation under pressure (JP6-7093), enzymatic degradation (JP2-303468, JP3-94675, JP4-169189, JP6-245767, and JP6-217774) or the like. That is, the potassium alginate of the present invention can be obtained by, for example, converting a high molecular weight potassium alginate or a high molecular weight alginic acid, which serves as the raw material, to a low molecular weight product having a desired molecular weight by thermal degradation under pressure, thermal degradation under normal pressure, enzymatic degradation or the like, and optionally neutralizing, dehydrating and freeze-drying the resultant. The adjustment of the molecular weight can be carried out, for example, in the case of thermal degradation, by controlling the reaction pH, reaction temperature, reaction time, or the like. 
     The potassium alginate of the present invention thus obtainable has a GIP secretion inhibitory effect. As will be described in the Examples below, the blood GIP level in mice fed with the potassium alginate of the invention was low even after simultaneous consumption of sugars, lipids and proteins. The effect of the potassium alginate of the invention was much more excellent compared to that of sodium alginate. The amount of GIP secretion in mice consumed the potassium alginate of the invention was about a half compared to mice consumed the sodium alginate. 
     Therefore, the potassium alginate of the present invention can exert effects of reducing the postprandial GIP level, facilitating digestion and absorption, and the like, and is capable of serving as a more useful postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor. The potassium alginate of the present invention can also be used for the manufacture of a postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor. 
     In regard to the postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor of the present invention, potassium alginate alone can be administered to human or animals in a form of a food product, a medicine or the like. Potassium alginate can also be blended into various food products, medicines, pet feedstuffs and the like and be consumed by human or animals. In the case of using the postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor as a food product, the food product includes foods labeled to inform that they are used for inhibition of gastric acid secretion, facilitation of digestion, improvement in a heavy feeling in the stomach and the like, such as food for cosmetic purpose, food for sick people, and food for specific health maintenance purpose, when used as a medicine, the postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor of the invention may be provided in a form of oral solid preparations such as tablets and granules, or oral liquid preparations such as solutions for internal use and syrups. 
     Furthermore, in the case of preparing an oral solid preparation, an excipient, and if necessary, a binding agent, a disintegrant, a lubricant, a colorant, a savoring agent, a flavoring agent, and the like may be combined with the potassium alginate of the present invention, and then tables, coated tablets, granules, powders, capsules and the like can be produced by commonly used methods. In the case of preparing an oral liquid preparation, a savoring agent, a buffering agent, a stabilizing agent, a flavoring agent and the like may be combined with the potassium alginate of the present invention, and then solutions for internal use, syrups, elixirs and the like can be produced by commonly used methods. 
     The amount of the potassium alginate to be incorporated into the various preparations may be usually 0.01 to 100% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 80% by weight, and more preferably, 1 to 50% by weight in the case of preparing a solid preparation, and 0.1 to 20% by weight in the case of preparing a liquid preparation. 
     The dosage amount (effective amount of consumption) of the postprandial GIP secretion inhibitor or the food product of the present invention (as the amount of potassium alginate) is preferably 0.001 g/kg of body weight or more per day, preferably 0.01 to 1.0 g/kg of body weight per day. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Production Example 1 
     Preparation of Potassium Alginate Having Weight Average Molecular Weight of About 18,000 
     Potassium alginate (KIMICA ALGIN K-ULV Lot. 6K17001: Kimica Corp.) was prepared into a 2% solution, and the solution was adjusted to pH 4 by adding hydrochloric acid, and thermally degraded under pressure at 120° C. for 25 minutes, Subsequently, potassium hydroxide was added thereto to neutralize the solution to pH 7. Then, ethanol was added to the solution to obtain an 80% ethanol solution, and thus potassium alginate was precipitated. Subsequently, the precipitate was collected by centrifugation (3000 rpm, 10 min), and then dried to obtain the final product. The weight average molecular weight of the final product was measured by the method described hereinbelow, which was 17,951. 
     Production Example 2 
     Preparation of Potassium Alginate Having Weight Average Molecular Weight of About 50,000 
     Alginic acid (DUCKACID A Lot. X-2702: Kibun Food Chemifa Co., Ltd.) was prepared into a 5% solution, and the solution was thermally degraded at 100° C. for 45 minutes. Subsequently, potassium hydroxide was added thereto to neutralize the solution to pH 7. Then, ethanol was added to the solution to obtain an 80% ethanol solution, and thus potassium alginate was precipitated. Subsequently, the precipitate was collected by centrifugation (3000 rpm, 10 min), and then dried to obtain the final product. The weight average molecular weight of the final product was measured by the method described hereinbelow, which was 52,163. 
     Production Example 3 
     Preparation of Potassium Alginate Having Weight Average Molecular Weight of About 25,000 
     Alginic acid (DUCKACID A Lot. X-2702; Kibun Food Chemifa Co., Ltd.) was prepared into a 5% solution, and the solution was thermally degraded at 100° C. for 120 minutes. Subsequently, potassium hydroxide was added thereto to neutralize the solution to pH 7. Then, ethanol was added to the solution to obtain an 80% ethanol solution, and thus potassium alginate was precipitated. Subsequently, the precipitate was collected by centrifugation (3000 rpm, 10 min.), and then dried to obtain the final product. The weight average molecular weight of the final product was measured by the method that will be described later, which was 25,801. 
     Production Example 4 
     Preparation of Potassium Alginate Having Weight Average Molecular Weight of About 12,000 
     Alginic acid (DUCKACID A Lot. X-2702; Kibun Food Chemifa Co., Ltd.) was prepared into a 5% solution, and the solution was thermally degraded at 100° C. for 120 minutes. Subsequently, potassium hydroxide was added thereto to adjust the solution to pH 4, and the resultant was thermally degraded at 100° C. for 540 minutes. Subsequently, potassium hydroxide was added thereto to neutralize the solution to pH 7. Then, ethanol was added to the solution to obtain an 80% ethanol solution, and thus potassium alginate was precipitated. Subsequently, the precipitate was collected by centrifugation (3000 rpm, 10 min), and then dried to obtain the final product. The weight average molecular weight of the final product was measured by the method described hereinbelow, which was 12,471. 
     Measurement of average molecular weight of alginic acid salt (Method for measuring weight average molecular weight) 
     The weight average molecular weight of alginic acid salt is measured with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A sample for HPLC analysis is prepared by dissolving 0.1 g alginic acid salt in distilled water to obtain 0.1% solution of constant volume. 
     The HPLC operation conditions are as follows. To obtain a calibration curve for the calculation of molecular weight, standard pullulan (SHODEX STANDARD P-82 manufactured by Showa Denko Co., Ltd.) is used. A 100 μL analyte for HPLC is injected into the HPLC column, and the weight average molecular weight of alginic acid salt in the sample is calculated from the obtained chromatogram chart. 
     &lt;Conditions for HPLC operation&gt; 
     Column: (1) Super AW-L (guide column): manufactured by Tosoh Corp.
         (2) TSK-GEL Super AW4000 (GPC column): exclusion limit molecular weight 4×10 5  PEO/DMF, length 15 cm, internal diameter 6 mm, manufactured by Tosoh Corp.   (3) TSK-GEL Super AW2500 (GPC column): exclusion limit molecular weight 2×10 3  PEO/DMF, length 15 cm, internal diameter 6 mm, manufactured by Tosoh Corp.
 
These columns are connected in the order of AW-L, AW4000 and AW2500.
       

     Column temperature: 40° C. 
     Detector: differential refractometer 
     Mobile phase: 0.2 mol/L of aqueous solution of sodium nitrate 
     Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min 
     Amount of injection: 100 μL 
     Test Example 1 
     GIP Increase Inhibitory Effect of Potassium Alginate (1) 
     1-1. Test Sample 
     As for potassium alginate (K alginate), a sample having a weight average molecular weight of 59,474 (Lot. 6K17001, purchased from Kimica Corporation) and a sample having an average molecular weight of 17,951 were used. As a control for comparison, a sample of sodium alginate (Na alginate) having an average molecular weight of 58,000 (Lot. 5N162, purchased from Kimica Corporation) was used. 
     1-2. Test Animal 
     10-week old male mice, C57BL/6J Jcl (Japan Crea Co., Ltd.), were used. The number of mice in each group was N=4. 
     1-3. Preparation and Dosage Amount of Sample Compositions for Oral Administration 
     Glucose (manufactured by Kanto Chemical Co., Inc.) and triolein (glyceryl trioleate: manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich Company) were emulsified using egg lecithin (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and bovine serum albumin (Sigma-Aldrich Company) to prepare an emulsion. The above-described test samples were added to the emulsion to prepare test sample compositions. The final concentrations of each component in the test sample compositions were; 5 (w/w) % of the test sample; 5 (w/w) % of glucose; 5 (w/w) % of triolein; and emulsifiers (0.2 (w/w) % of lecithin and 1.0 (w/w) % of albumin). Control sample composition was prepared in the same manner as tor the test sample compositions, expect that no test sample was added thereto. The amounts of each component administered to the animals were as indicated in the table below. 
                                       TABLE 1                   Amounts of oral administration to mice                Glucose   Triolein   Test sample           (mg/g of body   (mg/g of body   (mg/g of body           weight)   weight)   weight)               Control sample   2   2   —       administered group                   Test sample   2   2   2       administered group                    
1-4. Test on Oral Administration
 
     Mice were tasted overnight and were anesthetized with diethyl ether, and initial blood collection was carried out from the orbital vein using a heparinized hematocrit capillary tube (manufactured by vitrex Medical AS). Subsequently, the control or test sample composition was orally administered through a gastric feeding tube, and after 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours, blood was collected from the orbital vein under diethyl ether anesthesia. 
     The blood collected with a heparinized hematocrit capillary tube was stored under ice until plasma separation, and centrifuged at 11000 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain blood plasma. From the obtained blood plasma, the GIP concentration in the blood was measured using a Rat/Mouse GIP (Total) ELISA kit (manufactured by Linco Research/Millipore Corp., ELISA method). 
     1-5. Results 
     In regard to the blood GIP levels up to 2 hours after the oral administration of the sample composition, the difference between the maximum value (10 minutes) and the initial value (Δ value) was calculated. The data are shown in Table 2. 
     As for the statistical significant differences between groups, if significance (P &lt;0.05) was recognized from an analysis of variance, the multiple comparison test (Bonferroni/Dunn method) was performed between the group administered with K alginate (average molecular weight; 59,474) or the group administered with K alginate (average molecular weight: 17,951) and the group administered with Na alginate (average molecular weight: 58,000). The case where the significance level was less than 5% was indicated with the P value, while the case where the significance level was 5% or higher was indicated as N.S. (Non-Significant). 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Postprandial maximum GIP secretion in mice 
               
               
                 (value at 10 minutes minus initial value) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Analysis of variance (P &lt; 0.0001) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Comparison between 
               
               
                   
                 ΔGIP value 
                 group administered 
               
               
                   
                 (value at 10 min) 
                 with Na alginate and 
               
               
                   
                 Average ± S.E. 
                 group administered 
               
               
                   
                 (pg/ml) 
                 with K alginate 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Control group 
                 749 ± 62 
                 — 
               
               
                 Group administered 
                 582 ± 11 
                 — 
               
               
                 with Na alginate 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (average molecular 
                   
                   
               
               
                 weight: 58,000) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Group administered 
                 293 ± 29 
                 P &lt; 0.001 
               
               
                 with K alginate 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (average molecular 
                   
                   
               
               
                 weight: 59,474) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Group administered 
                 340 ± 48 
                 P &lt; 0.01  
               
               
                 with K alginate 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (average molecular 
                   
                   
               
               
                 weight: 17,951) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The maximum GIP values in group administered with K alginate having average molecular weight of 59,474 and in group administered with K alginate having average molecular weight of 17,951 were lower than that in group administered with Na alginate (average molecular weight: 58,000). The result indicates that K alginate has a far more excellent postprandial GIP secretion inhibitory effect than Na alginate. 
     Test Example 2 
     GIP Increase Inhibitory Effect of Potassium Alginate (2) 
     2-1. Test Sample 
     Potassium alginates (K alginate each having average molecular weights of 12,471, 25,801 and52,163 were used as test samples. 
     2-2. Test Animal 
     10- to 11-week old male mice, C57BL/6J Jcl (Japan Crea Co., Ltd.), were used. The number of mice in each group was N=6. 
     2-3. Preparation of and Dosage Amount of Sample Compositions for Oral Administration 
     Triolein (glyceryl trioleate: manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich Company) was emulsified using egg lecithin (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and bovine serum albumin (Sigma-Aldrich Company) to prepare an emulsion. The above-described test samples were added to the emulsion to prepare test sample compositions. The final concentrations of each component in the test sample compositions were; 5 (w/w) % of the test sample; 5 (w/w) % of triolein; and emulsifiers (0.2 (w/w) % of lecithin and 1.0 (w/w) % of albumin). Control sample composition was prepared in the same manner as for the test sample compositions, expect that no test sample was added thereto. The amounts of each component administered to the animals were as indicated in Table 3. 
                                   TABLE 3                   Amounts of oral administration to mice                Triolein (mg/g   Test sample           of body weight)   (mg/g of body weight)               Control sample   2   —       administered group               Test sample   2   2       administered group                    
2-4. Test on Oral Administration
 
     Mice were fasted overnight and were anesthetized with diethyl ether, and initial blood collection was carried out from the orbital vein using a heparinized hematocrit capillary tube (manufactured by Vitrex Medical AS). Subsequently, the control or test sample composition was orally administered through a gastric feeding tube, and after 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours, blood was collected from the orbital vein under diethyl ether anesthesia. 
     The blood collected with a heparinized hematocrit capillary tube was stored under ice until plasma separation, and centrifuged at 11000 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain blood plasma. From the obtained blood plasma, the GIP concentration in the blood was measured using a Rat/Mouse GIP (Total) ELISA kit (manufactured by Linco Research/Millipore Corp., ELISA method). 
     2-5. Results 
     In regard to the blood GIP levels up to 2 hours after the oral administration of the sample composition, the difference between the maximum value (10 minutes) and the initial value (Δ value) was calculated. The data are shown in Table 4. 
     As for the statistical significant differences between groups, if significance (P &lt;0.05) was recognized from an analysis of variance, the multiple comparison test (Bonferroni/Dunn method) was performed between the respective groups. The case where the significance level was less than 5% was indicated with the P value, while the case where the significance level was 5% or higher was indicated as N.S. (Non-Significant). 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Postprandial maximum GIP secretion in mice 
               
               
                 (value at 10 minutes minus initial value) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Analysis of variance (P &lt; 0.01) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Comparison 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 between group 
               
               
                   
                 ΔGIP value 
                   
                 administered with  
               
               
                   
                 (value at 10 min) 
                   
                 K alginate having 
               
               
                   
                 Average ± S.E. 
                 Comparison to 
                 average molecular 
               
               
                   
                 (pg/ml) 
                 control group 
                 weight of 52,163) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Group 
                 204 ± 40  
                 — 
                 P &lt; 0.001 
               
               
                 administered 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 with control 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Group 
                 79 ± 18 
                 P &lt; 0.01 
                 N.S. 
               
               
                 administered 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 with K alginate 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 (average 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 molecular 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 weight: 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 12,471) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Group 
                 86 ± 21 
                 P &lt; 0.01 
                 N.S. 
               
               
                 administered 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 with K alginate 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 (average 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 molecular 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 weight: 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 25,801) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Group 
                 43 ± 17 
                  P &lt; 0.001 
                 — 
               
               
                 administered 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 with K alginate 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 (average 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 molecular 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 weight: 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 52,163) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The maximum GIP values in group administered with K alginate (averagemolecularweight: 12,471), Kalginate (average molecular weight: 25,801) or K alginate (average molecular weight: 52,163) were lower than that Ln the group administered with control sample. Furthermore, there was no difference between the maximum GIP values between the K alginate having average molecular weight of 52,163), K alginate having average molecular weight of 25,801) and K alginate having average molecular weight of 12,471), which indicates that all of them have an excellent postprandial GIP secretion inhibitory effect. 
     Test Example 3 
     Viscosity of Potassium Alginate (Molecular Weight about 12,000 to 60,000) 
     3-1. Test Sample 
     Potassium alginates (K alginate) each having average molecular weights of 12,471, 25,801 and 59,474 were used as test samples. These K alginates were the same test samples as those used in Test Example 1 and 2. 
     3-2. Method for Measuring Viscosity 
     A 20 (w/w) % aqueous solution of each of the test samples was prepared, 70 g of the aqueous solution was placed in a 100-ml beaker, and the viscosity of the solution was measured at a liquid temperature of 25±1° C. A hand-held viscometer, PM-2B (manufactured by Malcom Co., Ltd., range of measurement 0.2 to 19.99 Pa·S) was used. 
     3-3. Results 
     The results are shown in Table 5. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Test sample 
                 Average 
                   
               
               
                   
                 (20 (w/w) % aqueous 
                 molecular 
                 Viscosity 
               
               
                   
                 solution) 
                 weight 
                 (Pa · S) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Na alginate 
                 58,000 
                 0.41 
               
               
                   
                 K alginate 
                 59,474 
                 0.41 
               
               
                   
                 K alginate 
                 25,801 
                 0.2 or less 
               
               
                   
                 K alginate 
                 12,471 
                 0.2 or less 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The K alginate (average molecular weight: 59,474) exhibited the same degree of viscousness as that of the Na alginate (average molecular weight: 58,000). The viscosities of the K alginates each having average molecular weights of 25,801 and 12,471 were lower than that of the K alginate having average molecular weight of 59,474). 
     In the case of producing a preparation in the form of an oral liquid preparation using a water-soluble edible fiber having certain viscousness, such as K alginate, it is more favorable to prepare a preparation having lower viscosity, from the viewpoint of producibility. Furthermore, even upon drinking the preparation, a preparation having lower viscosity is preferred also from the viewpoints of the feeling of running down the throat, slipperiness, ease of swallowing, and the like. The K alginates (average molecular weights: 25,801 and 12,471) are of low viscosity, and also have good postprandial GIP secretion reducing action. Thus, these K alginates are adequate for using in liquid preparations.