Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Develops Nutritional Profiling System to Evaluate a Full Day's Diet

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (President and CEO: Shigeo Nakamura; Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) has advanced its proprietary nutritional profiling system, "ANPS (The Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System)," which scientifically evaluates nutritional value, through joint research with the University of Tokyo's Department of Nutritional Epidemiology and Behavioral Nutrition, in which the company invests. The company has newly developed "ANPS-Day," a novel method for evaluating the nutritional quality of an entire day's diet, and verified its validity using biomarkers from consumers. The results revealed an association between the ANPS-Day score and the urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na/K ratio), a biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk. These research findings have been published in the international academic journal "Nutrients."

In recent years, as interest grows in government and corporate initiatives for nutritional improvement worldwide, the development and implementation of Nutrient Profiling Systems (NPS) are progressing. These systems scientifically evaluate the nutritional components in foods based on scientific evidence and express the nutritional quality of those foods in an easily understandable manner. The Ajinomoto Group has developed its own NPS, ANPS, and has progressively expanded its scope of application to products (ANPS-Product), individual dishes (ANPS-Dish), and single meals (ANPS-Meal). While various studies have been conducted on the scientific validity of these evaluation methods, they have primarily focused on analyses using existing recipe information and have not yet involved verification using actual consumer biomarkers.

Through joint research with the University of Tokyo, Ajinomoto has further advanced ANPS and newly developed "ANPS-Day" to evaluate the nutritional quality of an entire day's diet. The score used in this method (hereinafter referred to as the ANPS-Day score) leverages insights from ANPS-Dish and ANPS-Meal developed previously and is designed with consideration for Japanese dietary culture and nutritional challenges. Specifically, it evaluates four items: protein, vegetable intake, saturated fatty acids, and sodium. To verify the validity of this scoring method, data from participants (324 healthy Japanese adults) in a survey conducted in 20 regions across Japan were used to analyze the association between their 4-day dietary records and biomarkers (excretion amounts of sodium, potassium, and urea nitrogen) obtained from urine collected over two 24-hour periods.

The results confirmed that the ANPS-Day score can reflect the nutritional quality of an entire day's diet to a certain extent, and that the group with higher ANPS-Day scores had a lower urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na/K ratio), which has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk. This is one of the few cases both domestically and internationally where a nutritional profiling system for dishes and meals has been extended to evaluate an entire day's diet and verified using actual consumer biomarkers. Furthermore, demonstrating an association with 24-hour urine data is a first for Japan.

This research has been published in "Nutrients," an internationally peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition. The evaluation of the nutritional assessment method for the entire diet using actual consumer data and biomarkers was highly regarded. With these achievements, ANPS-Day has been shown to be a nutritional evaluation technology that correlates with urinary biomarkers.

Moving forward, Ajinomoto will utilize the evidence obtained from this research to further promote the "Uncompromising Nutrition" initiatives advocated by the Ajinomoto Group. The company will disseminate ANPS, a nutritional evaluation technology originating in Japan, both domestically and internationally, and contribute to creating an environment where consumers can engage in scientifically-backed dietary improvements through the visualization of nutritional balance and its application to meal suggestions.

Under its purpose, "Contributing to the well-being of people, society, and the planet with AminoScience®," Ajinomoto aims to extend the healthy life expectancy of 1 billion people by 2030. Through its "Uncompromising Nutrition" approach, the company will continue to promote scientifically-backed nutritional improvement initiatives and contribute to the realization of healthy and comfortable lives for people.

Reference

Regarding the paper published in the international academic journal "Nutrients"

Title: Validity of the Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System Against Two 24 h Urinary Excretions of Sodium, Potassium and Protein in Japanese Adults

Authors: Hiroko Jinzu, Sachi Nii, Keishiro Arima, Yuki Nakayama, Chie Furuta, Naoki Hayashi, Ryoko Tajima, Keiko Asakura, Shizuko Masayasu, Satoshi Sasaki, Kentaro Murakami, and Hitomi Okubo

DOI: 10.3390/nu18101623

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/10/1623

Press Release May 14, 2020

Ajinomoto Group Introduces Nutrient Profiling System

https://news.ajinomoto.co.jp/2020/05/20200514.html

Press Release December 24, 2021

Ajinomoto Group Develops Menu-Based Nutrient Profiling System

https://news.ajinomoto.co.jp/2021/12/20211224-01.html

Press Release May 27, 2025

Ajinomoto Group Develops Japan's First Meal-Based Nutrient Profiling System

https://news.ajinomoto.co.jp/2025/05/20250527.html

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