Miki Sagara

Effects of dietary intake of soy protein and isoflavones on cardiovascular disease risk factors in high risk, middle-aged men in Scotland.

Objective: To investigate the effects of soy protein and isoflavones on blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol levels among high risk middle-aged Scottish men. Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group dietary intervention study Setting: Inhabitants on Isles of Lewis and Harris in Scotland Subjects: Sixty-one men with relatively higher BP and/or total cholesterol (TC) levels aged 45 to 59 went through the dietary intervention. Intervention: Diets containing at least 20 g of soy protein and 80 mg of isoflavones were compared to the placebo diets. Intervention period was 5 weeks duration. Results: Significant difference was found in 24-hour urinary isoflavone excretion between the two groups after intervention. Significant reductions from the baselines were observed in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), TC and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in the soy-containing diet group, but not in the olive oil containing active placebo group. Significant increases in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were observed in both groups. Conclusion: Dietary intakes of soy protein (at least 20 g) and isoflavones (at least 80 mg) for 5 weeks would be effective in reducing CHD risk among high-risk, middle-aged men.

Taurine as the nutritional factor for the longevity of the Japanese revealed by a world-wide epidemiological survey.

The initial observation that taurine (T) prevented stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) led us to study the effects of T on cardiovascular diseases (CVD), as well as the epidemiological association of T and mortality rates, by using the data from WHO-coordinated Cardiovascular Disease and Alimentary Comparison Study, which covered 61 populations in 25 countries. In this study, 24 hour urine (24-U) samples were examined along with biomarkers of CVD risk. The mortality rate from ischemic heart disease (IHD), which was lowest among the Japanese compared to the populations of other developed countries, was positively related to total serum cholesterol (TC) and inversely related to 24-U taurine excretion (24-UT), as well as the n-3 fatty acid to total phospholipids ratio of the plasma membrane, both biomarkers of seafood intake. Analysis of 5 diet-related factors revealed that TC and BMI were positively associated with IHD mortality in both genders while Mg and T were negatively associated with IHD mortality. TC and sodium (Na) were negatively and positively associated with stroke mortality, respectively. 24-UT was negatively associated with stroke mortality. These five diet-related factors explained 61 and 49% of IHD and stroke variances in male, 63 and 36% of IHD and stroke variances in female, respectively.

INCREASED OXIDATIVE DNA DAMAGE IN STROKE-PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. The amount of urinary 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG), a biomarker of the total systemic oxidative stress in vivo, in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) was not different from that in control normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rats at 6 weeks of age, but became higher than control values after the development of severe hypertension at 14–17 weeks of age.

Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Serum Lipids in Scottish Men with Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia

To investigate the effects of daily supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on coronary heart disease risks in 38 middle-aged men with hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia in Scotland, a five-week double-blind placebo-controlled dietary supplementation with either 2 g of DHA or active placebo (1 g of olive oil) was conducted. Percent composition of DHA in plasma phospholipids increased significantly in DHA group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in DHA group, but not in placebo group. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly, and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C and non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios decreased significantly in both groups. There was no change in TC and non-HDL-C. We conclude that 2 g/day of DHA supplementation reduced coronary heart disease risk factor level improving blood pressure, heart rate, and lipid profiles in hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic Scottish men who do not eat fish on a regular basis.

Taurine in 24-h Urine Samples Is Inversely Related to Cardiovascular Risks of Middle Aged Subjects in 50 Populations of the World

We previously showed that 24-h urinary taurine (Tau) excretion was inversely associated with mortality due to coronary heart diseases (CHD) and stroke. The aim of this study was to examine the association between 24-h urinary Tau/creatinine (Cre) ratio and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), serum total cholesterol (TC) and prevalence of obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

SOY ISOFLAVONES IMPROVE BONE METABOLISM IN POSTMENOPAUSAL JAPANESE WOMEN

1. This study examines whether the supplementation of isoflavones (ISO) exerts beneficial effects on serum and urinary biomarkers of bone metabolism.

An inverse association between magnesium in 24-h urine and cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged subjects in 50 CARDIAC Study populations

Serum, plasma and dietary magnesium (Mg) have been reported to be inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. We examined the associations between the 24-h urinary Mg/creatinine (Cre) ratio and cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), serum total cholesterol (TC) and prevalence of obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 4211 participants (49.7% women) aged 48–56 years in 50 population samples from 22 countries in the World Health Organization-coordinated Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study (1985–1994). In linear regression analyses, Mg/Cre ratio was inversely associated with BMI, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and TC (P for linear trend <0.001 for each). These associations were not markedly altered by adjustment for traditional risk factors, urinary markers or cohort effects. Multivariate-adjusted mean values for the subjects in the highest Mg/Cre ratio quintile were 6.3, 3.4, 5.3 and 4.6% lower than those for the subjects in the lowest quintile for BMI, SBP, DBP and TC (P<0.001, respectively). The prevalence of obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia was 2.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.50, 2.95), 1.55 (1.25, 1.92) and 2.06 (1.63, 2.62) times higher (P<0.001, respectively) among the subjects in the lowest Mg/Cre ratio quintile than in the subjects in the highest quintile. These associations were not appreciably altered by adjustment for potential confounding variables. In conclusion, higher 24-h urinary Mg/Cre ratio was associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk factors, including BMI, BP, TC, obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

Soy and fish as features of the Japanese diet and cardiovascular disease risks

In the World Health Organization (WHO)-coordinated Cardiovascular Disease and Alimentary Comparison Study, isoflavones (I; biomarker for dietary soy) and taurine (T; biomarker for dietary fish) in 24-hour—urine (24U) were inversely related to coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality. High levels of these biomarkers are found in Japanese people, whose CHD mortality is lowest among developed countries. We analyzed the association of these biomarkers with cardiovascular disease risk in the Japanese to know their health effects within one ethnic population. First, to compare the Japanese intake of I and T with international intakes, the ratios of 24UI and 24UT to creatinine from the WHO Study were divided into quintiles for analysis. The ratio for the Japanese was the highest in the highest quintiles for both I and T, reaching 88.1%, far higher than the average ratio for the Japanese (26.3%) in the total study population. Second, 553 inhabitants of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, aged 30 to 79 years underwent 24-U collection and blood analyses. The 24UT and 24UI were divided into tertiles and adjusted for age and sex. The highest T tertile, compared with the lowest tertile, showed significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol, 24U sodium (Na) and potassium (K). The highest I tertile showed significantly higher folate, 24UNa and 24UK compared with the lowest tertile. The highest tertile of both T and I showed significantly higher HDL-C, folate, and 24UNa and 24UK compared with the lowest tertile. Thus, greater consumption of fish and soy were significantly associated with higher HDL-C and folate levels, possibly a contributor to Japan having the lowest CHD mortality and longest life expectancy among developed countries. As these intakes were also associated with a high intake of salt, a low-salt intake of fish and soy should be recommended for healthy life expectancy.

New Beverage for Cardiovascular Health, Proposal Based on Oriental and Occidental Food Culture from a World-Wide Epidemiological Study

Objectives:  To investigate whether combined isoflavones and antioxidants in oriental and occidental drinks reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in high‐risk Japanese immigrants living in Brazil.

EFFECT OF DIETARY WHEAT ALEURONE ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND BLOOD GLUCOSE AND ITS MECHANISMS IN OBESE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS: PRELIMINARY REPORT ON COMPARISON WITH A SOY DIET

1 There are less epidemiological surveys or intervention studies on whole grains compared with those on soybeans, both of which contain phytoestrogens, lignans and isoflavones. Soybeans have so far been proven to exhibit profound effects on cardiovascular disease risk reduction in animal models and humans. 2 The effect of a dietary intake of wheat aleurone on the risks of metabolic syndrome was compared to that of a soy diet in obese spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHR/NDmcr‐cp (cp/cp). 3 Protein and fat intakes were significantly lower and fibre intake was significantly higher in the aleurone diet group (ALR) than in the soy diet group (SOY). Wheat aleurone maintained blood pressure, 24‐hour urinary sodium (Na), potassium (K) excretion and the Na/K ratio lower than soy. Blood glucose and HOMA‐R were significantly lower in ALR than in SOY at 20 weeks of age. 4 Wheat aleurone, rich in dietary fibre and lignans, is more effective for reducing the risks of hypertension and hyperglycemia than soy.