未熟ウンシュウミカン果実含有食品の通年性鼻過敏症に対する症状緩和効果

Improving effects of the food containing dried powder of unripe Citrus unshiu fruits on nasal symptoms in the subjects with perennial nasal hypersensitivity

　未熟ウンシュウミカン果実粉末（CUP）含有食品の通年性鼻過敏症者に対する有効性を評価する目的で，アレルギー性鼻炎と確定診断されない有症者39名を対象にプラセボ対照二重盲検比較試験を行った。被験者を無作為に２群に割り付け，CUP含有食品またはプラセボを８週間服用させ，鼻の自覚症状，血液および鼻汁検査値の推移を評価した。その結果，CUP含有食品投与群（CUP群）では摂取開始前と比較してくしゃみ回数，鼻かみ回数，鼻のかゆみ，鼻づまりおよび涙目の程度が軽減された。一方プラセボ群にそれらの作用はみられなかった。また，両群ともに血液および鼻汁好酸球値に変動はなかった。以上よりCUP含有食品は鼻過敏症者の自覚症状を緩和することが明らかになった。

　The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the food containing dried powder of unripe Citrus unshiu fruits（CUP）on nasal symptoms scores, blood test, and nasal mucosa test in subjects with perennial nasal hypersensitivity. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out. Thirty-nine subjects who had not been diagnosed as allergic rhinitis were randomized to CUP and placebo groups. Oral administration of tablets containing CUP for 8 weeks significantly improved nasal symptoms scores such as sneezing, nasal discharge, swelling and congestion and also improved eye watering score. On the other hand, placebo group showed no such improvements. In addition, there were no significant differences in blood test and nasal mucosa acidophilic leucocyte test between CUP and placebo groups. These results suggested that oral administration of the food containing CUP can alleviate the symptom of subjects with perennial nasal hypersensitivity.