DIFFERENTIATION PROMOTER AND/OR PROLIFERATION PROMOTER FOR ERYTHROCYTE STEM CELLS, USE OF METHIONINE FOR PREVENTING OR TREATING SENILE ANEMIA, AND COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING METHIONINE

摘要

It is a first object to develop a remedy efficacious in preventing senile anemia which is frequently observed due to the aging. It is a second object to provide an antiaging drug, which has little side effect and is inexpensive and efficacious, in anticipation of the coming aging society. It is a third object to provide a remedy which is efficacious against anemia caused by myelosuppression, more particularly speaking, anemia occurring as the side effect of the administration of an anticancer agent. It has been clarified for the first time that a drug containing, as the active ingredient, methionine (Met) alone, an amino acid composition containing methionine (Met) together with one or more members selected from among glycine (Gly), serine (Ser) and threonine (Thr) or, furthermore, an amino acid mixture selected from (1) Ile, Trp, Thr, Val, His, Phe,Lys and Leu, (2) Ile, Thr, Val, His, Lys and Leu, (3) Trp, Thr, His, Phe and Lys, and (4) Ile, Trp, Thr, Val, Phe and Leu is capable of ameliorating and healing senile anemia. Thus, preventives for senile anemia, remedies for senile anemia and drugs for preventing cell aging can be provided.