Prevention of Acute Upper Respiratory Infection by Catechins (Effects of Thrombin-Added Matcha Drink)カテキンによる急性上気道炎の予防（トロミ付け抹茶ドリンクの効果）

https://www.kao.com/content/dam/sites/kao/www-kao-com/jp/ja/healthscience/pdf/report_61c02.pdf

Title: Prevention of Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Green Tea Gargling: Examination of Concentration Dependence through a Randomized Comparative Trial

Authors: Yutaka Ikemine¹, Kenichiro Tominaga¹, Takahiro Nakamura², Hiroshi Furushima¹, Hiroshi Yamada¹

Affiliations: 1 Shizuoka Prefectural University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Drug Information and Analysis, 2 Meiji University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Life Science, Animal Physiology Laboratory

Objective: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the primary catechin found in green tea, has been shown to possess antiviral properties in basic research. However, studies involving humans on the preventive effects of acute upper respiratory tract infections, including influenza, have shown inconsistent results and have paid little attention to differences in catechin concentration. Therefore, this study investigated whether green tea gargling can lead to concentration-dependent differences in the onset of acute upper respiratory tract infections through a non-blinded randomized comparative trial.

Methods: The study included 209 healthy adults (mean age 20.9 years; 63 males and 146 females) enrolled at Shizuoka Prefectural University and Meiji University. After obtaining informed consent through sufficient informed consent, the participants were randomly allocated into three groups: high catechin concentration group (total catechin concentration: approximately 80 mg/dL), low catechin concentration group (total catechin concentration: approximately 40 mg/dL), and a water group. Gargling was performed three times a day for 12 weeks from December 2021 to February 2022, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The occurrence of acute upper respiratory tract infections, as well as daily records of going out, mask-wearing, handwashing, and hand sanitizing, were documented using self-administered questionnaires. The analysis considered Full Analysis Set (FAS) and Per Protocol Set (PPS) populations (with a gargling implementation rate of 80% or more) to compare differences in the onset of acute upper respiratory tract infections.

Results and Discussion: The analysis revealed that the onset rate of acute upper respiratory tract infections after 12 weeks of intervention in 201 participants (161 participants in PPS) was as follows: high catechin concentration group 7.6% (7.3%), low catechin concentration group 10.8% (10.0%), and water group 12.9% (14.3%). No statistically significant differences were observed among the groups (FAS analysis; p=0.593, PPS analysis; p=0.472, log-rank test). There were no reported cases of influenza, and there were only three cases of COVID-19. In all groups, preventive measures were very high (overall mask-wearing rate of 91.0%, handwashing rate of 97.1%, and hand sanitizing rate of 89.1%). Due to the prevalence of COVID-19, there was heightened awareness of preventive measures, which may have contributed to a lower incidence of acute upper respiratory tract infections.

Conclusion: The study did not reach a conclusion regarding the concentration dependence of catechins in green tea gargling for the prevention of acute upper respiratory tract infections. Further studies involving a larger number of participants are needed.

Please note that the "Twelfth-generation Kitajūemon" part is not connected to the text you provided and seems to be unrelated. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please let me know.
緑茶うがいによる急性上気道炎予防：ランダム化比較試験による濃度依存性の検討 〇生川 誉紹1 、富永 健一郎1 、中村 孝博2 、古島 大資1 、山田 浩1
静岡県立大学薬学部医薬品情報解析学分野、2明治大学農学部生命科学科動物生理学研究室

日常にうがい、手洗いで自己防衛

【目的】緑茶に含まれる主要カテキンであるエピガロカテキンガレートは抗ウイルス作用を有することが基礎研究 により示されている。一方、ヒトを対象とした研究では、インフルエンザをはじめとする急性上気道炎予防効果に 関する結果は一貫性がなく、カテキン濃度の相違に着目した研究は少ない。そこで本研究では、緑茶うがいによ り、カテキン濃度依存的に急性上気道炎の発症に違いがみられるかを、非盲検ランダム化比較試験により検討し た。

【方法】
静岡県立大学および明治大学に在学中の健康成人209名(平均20.9歳、男63名/女146名)を対象とし、十分な インフォームドコンセントによる文書同意を得た後、カテキン高濃度群（総カテキン濃度：約80mg/dL）、カテキ ン低濃度群（総カテキン濃度：約40mg/dL）、水群の3群にランダムに割り付け、新型コロナウイルス感染症 （COVID-19）流行期の2021年12月～2022年2月にかけて、1日3回、12週間うがいを実施した。急性上気道炎の発 症状況と併せ、外出・マスク着用・手洗い・手指消毒の実施の有無を毎日、自記式調査票により記録した。解析対 象集団としてはFull Analysis Set (FAS)解析およびPer Protocol Set (PPS)解析（うがい実施率80％以上）を設定し、 急性上気道炎発症の群間差を比較した。
【結果・考察】
12週間の介入による急性上気道炎の発症率はFAS (PPS)解析対象者201名（161名）において、カテ キン高濃度群7.6(7.3)％、カテキン低濃度群10.8(10.0)％、水群12.9(14.3)％であり、群間の統計学的有意差は見ら れなかった(FAS解析；p＝0.593、PPS解析； p＝0.472、ログランク検定)。インフルエンザの発症はなく、COVID -19の発症は全体で3名だった。いずれの群においても、予防対策実施率が非常に高く（全体でマスク着用率 91.0％、手洗い率97.1％、手指消毒率89.1％）、COVID-19流行中であったため予防対策への意識が高く、急性上気 道炎を発症しにくかった状況が考えられた。
【結論】
急性上気道炎予防における緑茶うがいのカテキン濃度依存性に関して結論を得るには至らなかった。今後 は、より大規模な人数での検討が必要である。

From practical experience, the 12th-generation Kitajūemon
consumes matcha paste developed by OMGT® in larger quantities. Thanks to this, they haven't contracted influenza or received the COVID-19 vaccine. Whenever they suspect a cold, they gargle with a matcha drink. They also consume more matcha drinks than usual. As this is a personal experience, there's uncertainty. They share research papers with everyone. The power of Japanese green tea, a remedy for over a thousand years, has been passed down through generations. From further research and experiments, the potential of Japanese green tea, especially matcha, with minimal side effects, is likely to reveal new health benefits. Above all, as it's not medication, it's essential for it to be easily incorporated into daily life. How about trying matcha paste, an evolution from matcha fine powder? It's confirmed that catechins fuse with viruses for an extended period, and catechins bind to virus spikes. Based on this principle, there's a research paper suggesting that when you drink tea, rolling it in your mouth for ten seconds moistens the oral cavity, leading to the elimination of bacteria. Thorough gargling should also be effective, and matcha catechin contains twice the amount found in regular green tea extraction. The difference in concentration is also a crucial factor.

Please note that the text provided contains some unconventional claims and statements that may not be scientifically supported. If you have any further requests or need more information, feel free to ask.

12代喜多重左衛門は、実体験から、OMGT®が開発した抹茶ペーストを人一倍飲んでいます。そのおかげかインフルエンザ、コロナワクチンは接収していません。風邪かなあと思った時には、抹茶ドリンクでうがいをします。また、普段よりも多く抹茶ドリンクを飲んで対処しています。わたしだけの体験では不確かなので、研究者の論文を皆様にお知らせをしています。1000年にも及ぶ、良薬の力（日本緑茶）は世代世代に受け継がれてきています。さらなる研究者の研究実験から、副作用の少ない日本緑茶特に抹茶の力は今後も新しい効能機能が見出されていくでしょう。何より薬ではありませんから、
【日常茶飯事】に使いやすいことが大切だと思います。抹茶微粉末より進化した抹茶ペーストはいかがでしょうか。
カテキンがウイルスと長く融合するとウイルススパイクにカテキンが結合することが確認されています。その原理から、お茶を飲むときに、10秒間お茶を口の中で転がして、口腔内を潤わせ葉、菌は消滅するという論文もあります。うがいもしっかりとすればよいでしょうし、一般の煎茶抽出液よりも、抹茶カテキンの量は2倍多く含んでいます。濃度の違いも大切な要素です。