What We Do

-We conduct food clinical trials!

 The principal investigator of the “Division of Clinical Research for Food” started food clinical studies in 2007. Since then, many clinical trials have been completed, much evidence of food function and safety has been obtained, and some have successfully become “Food with Functional Claims*.”

-We collaborate with companies, researchers in other Universities, etc.!

 International collaboration is highly welcome! Please feel free to contact us.

-We aim to realize “a healthy and long-lived society”!

 Japanese average length of life is 84.3 years and the first grade of the country ranking list in 2023 according to WHO. However, it assumed Japan’s average bedridden period is over ten years. Food is quite essential to maintain our health. We believe that using functional food to prevent disease during the stage of presymptomatic disease must be helpful to reduce the bedridden period. Through these clinical studies, we desire to contribute to realizing a healthy and long-lived society.


*Food with Functional Claims
 The new system with function claims has been launched in 2015 in Japan. “Foods with Function Claims” are allowed to label the function of food, which is that the specified health effects can be achieved (i.e., helpful for maintaining and promoting health) such as “Helps maintain good GI condition” or “ Slows fat absorption.” Under the condition that the safety of the food product is ensured, the food product is labeled with a function claim, which is based on scientific evidence and also under the food business operator’s own responsibility. Prior to market entry, food business operators are required to submit information, such as on food safety and effectiveness and the system in place to collect information on adverse health effects, to the Secretary-General of Consumer Affairs Agency. The submitted information is disclosed on the website of the Consumer Affairs Agency.
***This information is from the brochure created by the Consumer Affairs Agency.

Food Clinical Trial Achievements

 Completed 41 trials(Apr 2017 - Jan 2024)

* The outcomes that have been assessed in clinical trials so far:
 BMI, Abdominal fat, Blood pressure, Serum lipids, Liver function, Fasting blood glucose, Post-prandial blood glucose,
 Gastrointestinal function, Gut microbiome, Platelet aggregation, Vascular endothelial function, Basal body temperature,
 Hemoglobin (Iron deficient anemia), Uric acid, Sensitivity to cold, Fatigue, Oxidative stress, Allergy, Retinal blood flow,
 Peripheral blood flow, Shoulder stiffness, Sleep quality, Safety, Evaluation of medical device, Gene expression levels,
 Single nucleotide polymorphism, etc

Selected Publications

  Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 29;10(1):16004. 
  Pharmacometrics. 2020;98(3/4):35-41. 
  Med Biol Eng Comput. 2016 Jun;54(6):953-65.
  Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016 May;70(5):582-7.
  Nutrition. 2013 Jul-Aug;29(7-8):1030-6.
  Clin Nutr. 2012; 31: 261-6.
  Nutrition. 2010, Apr;26(4):367-74.

Currently Ongoing Clinical Trials


  • - Evaluation of the effect of kefir on sleep quality and gut microbiome in healthy subjects:
     A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study

  • - Comparison of the intestinal absorbance of three different types of hydrolyzed collagens:
     A randomized, double-blind, crossover study

Study Participants


    We are routinely conducting food clinical studies. To quickly recruit the eligible subjects for each clinical trial, we collect the registered volunteers who will participate in future clinical studies. When the new clinical trial is launched, we recruit the participants from both the volunteer list and the public.

Contact Information

Contact name Fumiko Higashikawa, Ph.D.
Phone number 082-257-1909
E-mail address healthy-life@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Mailing address Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JAPAN


Copyright(c) Division of Clinical Research for Food, Medical Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Hiroshima University Hospital