Eri Imai

Animal Protein Intake Is Associated with Higher‐Level Functional Capacity in Elderly Adults: The Ohasama Study

To determine the association between protein intake and risk of higher‐level functional decline in older community‐dwelling adults.

Relationship of homocysteine and homocysteine-related vitamins to bone mineral density in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims/Introduction:  To estimate nutritional risk factors for osteoporosis in patients with type 2 diabetes, bone mineral density, homocysteine level, and intakes and levels of Hcy‐related vitamins including folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 were analyzed in a cross‐sectional study.

The urinary excretory ratio of nicotinamide catabolites was associated with the conversion ratio of tryptophan to nicotinamide in growing rats fed a niacin-free 20% casein diet.

Weaning rats were fed a niacin-free 20% casein diet. Twenty-four-h-urine samples were collected, and nicotinamide and its catabolites were measured. A correlation was found between the urinary excretory ratio of nicotinamide catabolites (N 1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide + N 1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide)/N 1-methylnicotinamide and the tryptophan-nicotinamide conversion ratio during growing period of the rats. This indicates the possibility that the conversion ratio can be deduced from the excretory ratio.

The physical examination content of the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey: temporal changes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Survey items of the Japan National Nutrition Survey (J-NNS) have changed over time. Several papers on dietary surveys have been published; however, to date, there are no in-depth papers regarding physical examinations. Therefore, we investigated changes in the survey items in the physical examinations performed in the J-NNS and the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS), with the aim of incorporating useful data for future policy decisions. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN We summarized the description of physical examinations and marshalled the changes of survey items from the J-NNS and NHNS from 1946 to 2012. The physical examination is roughly classified into the following six components: some are relevant to anthropometric measurements, clinical measurements, physical symptoms, blood tests, lifestyle and medication by interview, and others. RESULTS Items related to nutritional deficiency, such as anaemia and tendon reflex disappearance, and body weight measurements were collected during the early period, according to the instructions of the General Headquarters. From 1989, blood tests and measurement of physical activity were added, and serum total protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, blood glucose, red blood corpuscles and haemoglobin measurements have been performed continuously for more than 20 years. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report on the items of physical examination in the J-NNS and NHNS. Our research results provide basic information for the utilization of the J-NNS and NHNS, to researchers, clinicians or policy makers. Monitoring the current state correctly is essential for national health promotion, and also for improvement of the investigation methods to apply country-by-country comparisons.

Systematic classification of evidence for dietary reference intakes for Japanese 2010 (DRIs-J 2010) in adults and future prospects of DRIs in Asian countries

In Asia, the concept of dietary reference values is shifting from recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) to dietary reference intakes (DRIs). To assist Asian countries that are planning to develop or revise their own DRIs, this study summarizes the scientific literature used in the development of the latest DRIs for the Japanese (DRIs-J 2010): it aims to clarify critical issues on- and discuss future prospects for DRIs in Asia. The criteria and studies used to determine reference values in DRIs-J 2010 in adults were extracted from the DRIs-J 2010 report, systematically classified, and summarized for each nutrient in tables according to the type of DRIs. The classification categories were as follows: criteria, subject ethnicity, year of publication, type of study and study design, number of subjects, and study content. In all, 184 studies were extracted and some issues in DRIs-J 2010 were clarified: 1) some nutrients were lacking in studies based on native populations; 2) only a few and relatively old studies determined tolerable upper intake levels for some nutrients; 3) with the same DRIs, there were inconsistencies among the nutrients in the study criteria. These were considered common issues when determining DRIs in other Asian countries. When establishing DRIs, these issues should be considered, in addition to population health status and country-specific needs.

Oral Glucose Tolerance and Tryptophan Metabolism in Non-Obese and Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Goto–Kakizaki Rats Fed High-Tryptophan Diets

We investigated oral glucose tolerance and tryptophan (Trp) metabolism in non-obese and non-insulin-dependent diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats fed high-Trp diets. Five-week-old male Wistar and GK rats were fed a 20% casein diet (control diet) or the same diet supplemented with 1%, 2%, 3%, or 5% Trp for 58 d. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on Days 14 and 28 of the experimental period. Urine as well as livers and blood were collected on the last day of the experiment. The glucose concentration and the amount of Trp metabolites were measured. On Day 14 of the experiment, the incremental blood glucose concentrations integrated over a period of 2 h (ΔAUC0-2h) of blood glucose in rats fed the 3% and 5% Trp diets had decreased by 13% and 18%, respectively, compared with that of the control-GK rats. However, no significant differences were found in the rats fed +1% or +2% Trp diets compared with control-GK rats. On Day 28, there were no significant differences found in the ΔAUC0-2h of blood glucose levels in any group including the control-GK group. On the last day, the concentrations of plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride did not show differences in any group. There were no specific phenomena observed in the metabolism of Trp in GK rats even when fed an excess of Trp, compared with that of Wistar rats. Oral Trp administration and its continuous use may not improve blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic rats.

Different Psychosocial Factors Are Associated With Different Intention and Self-Efficacy Toward Eating Breakfast Among Japanese Breakfast Skippers

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 7593 adults to clarify lifestyle and psychosocial characteristics of breakfast skippers with different intention and self-efficacy toward eating breakfast. Data were obtained from Japan’s national survey in 2009. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the characteristics of each breakfast skipper (having intention and self-efficacy toward eating breakfast [IS], having intention but not self-efficacy [INS], and not having intention to eat breakfast [NI]) compared with breakfast eaters. IS men were less likely to demonstrate understanding of healthy eating. INS and NI men were more likely to eat alone. INS and NI women were less likely to demonstrate understanding of healthy eating. NI men and women were less likely to report weight management behavior. Current smoking and being sleep-deprived were commonly associated with breakfast skipping in both sexes. Our results suggested the need for approaches considering type of breakfast skippers (eg, different intention and self-efficacy).

Changes in B-group vitamin status in adenine-induced chronic renal failure rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic renal failure (CRF) on B-group vitamin status using model rats in which adenine-induced CRF. We measured B-groups vitamins in the urine, blood, liver, and kidney. These results showed that renal failure affected the distribution, metabolism, and renal clearance of water-soluble vitamins, and that the effects were different with each vitamin.