Euglena gracilis EOD-1, a kind of microalgae, is known to contain a high proportion of
paramylon, a type of β-1,3-glucan.
Paramylon derived from E. gracilis EOD-1 is presumed to suppress cellular oxidative injury and expected to reduce
fatigue and
fatigue sensation. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether food containing
paramylon derived from E. gracilis EOD-1 (EOD-1PM) ingestion reduced
fatigue and
fatigue sensation in healthy adults. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparison study in 66 healthy men and women who ingested a placebo or EOD-1PM daily for 4 weeks (daily life
fatigue). Furthermore, at the examination days of 0 and 4 weeks, tolerance to
fatigue load was evaluated using mental tasks (task-induced
fatigue). We evaluated
fatigue sensation using the Visual Analogue Scale, the work efficiency of the advanced trail making test and measured serum
antioxidant markers. The EOD-1PM group showed significantly lower levels of physical and
mental fatigue sensations and higher levels of work efficiency as well as serum
biological antioxidant potential levels than the placebo group. These results indicate that EOD-1PM ingestion reduced
fatigue and
fatigue sensation, which may be due to an increase in
antioxidant potential and maintenance of selective attention during work.