Nutritive substances including amino acids, vitamins, xylitol and food additives are gaining the spotlight as ingredients in clothing…Major sporting goods maker Mizuno Corp. and Ajinomoto Co. jointly developed the clothing material “Amino Veil” last year by combing an amino acid into fabric. They put tennis and golf clothes as well as T-shirts made with the fabric on sale in earnest in March. They used mainly arginine, made from about 20 kinds of amino acids, because it is said to help regenerate skin. “It dissolves when someone perspires and enhances the material’s ability to absorb moisture and helped keep the skin’s pH level balanced,” said a Mizuno public relations department official. He said Mizuno plans to post 3 billion yen in sales of goods related to Amino Veil five years from now, or about six times the amount projected for the current fiscal year, adding that “sales are going almost according to our plans.” Jeans maker Teijin Wow Co. of Osaka is selling “Wow Amino Jean” for women. The jeans incorporate amino acid in the material.

—Newsalert.com, 9/5/03