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Effects of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides on sleep quality: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study

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Abstract

The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was to examine the effects of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides on improving sleep quality. In total, 30 healthy men and women who were dissatisfied with their sleep consumed the test food sample (onion extract tablets) for 5 days. The delta power during non-rapid eye movement sleep and the delta power per minute in the first sleep cycle increased significantly with the intake of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides compared with the intake of placebo. A significant decline in sleep latency was also observed. Salivary α-amylase level, a stress indicator, decreased significantly with the intake of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides compared with the intake of placebo. These findings indicate that onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides alleviates stress, improves the quality of sleep and promotes smooth transition into sleep.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Yoshida Masaki from SleepWell Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan, and Ando Toshiki from CPCC Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan for their helpful discussions and valuable comments throughout this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Basic Science, Research and Development, Quality Assurance Division, Nisshin Seifun Group Inc., Saitama, 356-8511, Japan

    Yuya Nakayama, Satomi Nozaki & Yosuke Kikuchi

  2. Health Care Research Center, Nisshin Pharma Inc., Saitama, 356-8511, Japan

    Miki Makita

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  1. Yuya Nakayama
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  2. Miki Makita
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  3. Satomi Nozaki
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  4. Yosuke Kikuchi
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Correspondence to Yuya Nakayama.

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Nakayama, Y., Makita, M., Nozaki, S. et al. Effects of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides on sleep quality: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Food Sci Biotechnol 29, 1755–1762 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-020-00829-0

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