Publication Details
Publication: Nihon Ryutsu Sangyo Shimbun (日本流通産業新聞)
Publication Date: August 6, 2026
Original Language: Japanese
English Translation of the Published Article
The following English text is a faithful translation of the information presented in the original Japanese media article. Statements concerning study outcomes, functions, or market response are presented as reported by the publication and should be read in that context.
Patent Obtained in the Men’s Health Field
Toei Shinyaku, a manufacturer and distributor of supplements, presented the results of a human clinical study involving Brazilian outdoor-cultivated Agaricus KA21 at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine. The article reports that Agaricus KA21 has also been covered by a patent in the men’s health field and that demand in this area has been increasing, including adoption by a comprehensive men’s clinic.
Outdoor-Cultivated Agaricus from Brazil
Agaricus KA21 is cultivated outdoors in Brazil under natural sunlight. The article contrasts this method with conventional indoor or greenhouse cultivation and notes the large size of the outdoor-grown mushrooms. It also highlights components such as β-glucan and vitamin D. The article states that research comparing cultivation methods found higher antioxidant activity in outdoor-cultivated KA21 than in domestically greenhouse-cultivated Agaricus. It further notes that 34 international scientific papers relating to KA21 have been published across a broad range of research fields.
Study on Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Older Men
At the 26th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine, Toei Shinyaku reported a randomized, double-blind, crossover study involving 15 men aged 40 years and older. Participants consumed either Agaricus KA21 at 800 mg per day or placebo for eight weeks. The article reports that the researchers concluded the findings suggested a possible contribution to maintaining quality of life in middle-aged and older men.
Six Patents Obtained
The article also covers Toei Shinyaku’s intellectual-property activities. On February 12, 2026, the company obtained a new patent in the men’s health field, bringing the number of patents described in the article to six. The underlying application data included results from collaborative human clinical research with the Faculty of Health Science at Shigakkan University.
Product and Market Development
In May 2026, Toei Shinyaku launched NKUP For Men, a medical-institution-exclusive supplement containing Brazilian outdoor-cultivated Agaricus KA21. The product was developed in response to requests from physicians working in men’s health clinics. The article reports adoption by D Clinic Tokyo and commercial interest from Korea, and also notes growing interest in Agaricus KA21 from beauty and esthetic businesses, including its use in OEM supplement development.
日本語記事概要 / Japanese Summary
日本流通産業新聞2026年8月6日号で、ブラジル産露地栽培アガリクスKA21の研究、メンズヘルス領域の特許、医療機関専用商品などが紹介されました。第26回日本抗加齢医学会総会で発表した40歳以上の男性15名を対象とする無作為化二重盲検クロスオーバー試験や、至学館大学との共同研究を基に取得した特許について掲載されています。また、医療機関専用商品「NKUP For Men」や国内外での展開についても紹介されています。
Original Japanese Article (PDF)
The original Japanese article is available in PDF format. Please refer to the original publication for the source article.