Reiko Takezoe

Tocopherol and fluorescence levels in deep-frying oil and their measurement for oil assessment

This study examined how tocopherol retention is affected by the presence or absence of food coatings, and also tested the measurement of fluorescent substance levels in cooking oil to evaluate oil deterioration. Potato slices were tempura-fried (with a coating) or french-fried (without a coating). The three tocopherol isomers decreased with heating time, and better retention was found in the tempura process. The decomposition rates of tocopherol were in the order γ> δ ≥α for the three isomers for both processes over repeated fryings. The fluorescence of frying oil increased 15-and 17-fold after tempura-and french-frying, respectively, for 32 consecutive times. Changes in the amounts of tocopherol and the fluorescence correlated well with the changes found by the chemiluminescent intensity and five conventional methods of oil quality measurement. These results indicated that tocopherol retention is affected by the food coating, and that measurements of vitamin E loss and fluorescence increase in oil should be useful for assessing the progressive deterioration of frying oil with its repeated usage.

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis of Element Distribution in Amaranth Seed

Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis in combination with scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the distribition of mineral nutrients in amaranth seed. It was found that P, K, and Mg were exclusively localized in embryonic tissue (cotyledons and radicles), but not in procambium. Since phytin globoids occur in cotyledons and radicles in the seed, it is conceived that these elements are associated with phytate. Sulfur was evenly distributed in the embryonic tissue including procambium, which might be derived from sulfur-containing proteins. Calcium was mostly present in seed coats and the boundary between the perisperm and embryo, suggesting that Ca is associated with pectins that constitute the network structure of cell wall.

Increases in serum levels of calcium and ratio of calcium to magnesium due to dietary cholesterol and their relationship to tocopherol in rats

The effects of dietary cholesterol on the levels of serum calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and the ratio of Ca/Mg in female rats were determined and compared with the serum levels of cholesterol (Chol) and tocopherol (Toc). Dietary Chol (0–1%) had a significant effect on serum Ca and Ca/Mg ratio (r=0.64, p<0.01 and r=0.54, p<0.05, respectively), but not on the level of serum Mg. Serum Chol was significantly and positively related to the levels of serum Ca (r=0.66, p<0.01) and Ca/Mg ratio (r=0.59, p<0.01). An increase in serum Ca levels correlated positively with the ratio of serum Ca/Mg and Toc (r=0.83, p<0.001 and r=0.64, p<0.01, respectively) and negatively with Ca/Chol (r=−0.61, p<0.01). The relative nutritional status of Toc to Chol, Toc/Chol, showed an inverse relation to Ca and the Ca/Mg ratio in serum (r=−0.64 and r=−0.60, p<0.01, respectively), but a direct relationship to the Ca/Chol ratio (r=0.91, p<0.001). These results indicate that when Chol levels were high in the diet and in serum, the levels of Ca and the ratio of Ca/Mg in serum were also high. A high Toc/Chol ratio would decrease the levels of Ca and the Ca/Mg ratio. Our findings suggest that the ratios of Ca/Mg and Ca/Chol in serum would be useful as indicators of the risk of coronary heart disease.

A Survey on the Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in Senior High School Students

Senior high school students (177 boys, 284 girls) were asked to answer a questionnaireon the prevalence of allergic diseases. Of the students, 54.7% lived in the city, 19.7% insuburban areas and 25.6% in the countryside.1) The percent of students with an allergic disease since birth were 49.2% of the boysand 46.5% of the girls. Within one-year, the percent of students with an allergic diseasewas 67.6% of the boys and 67.4% of the girls. The development of an allergic diseasewas “irregular” in 49.1% of the boys and 46.3% of the girls, “seasonal” for 32.1% ofthe boys and 25.3% of the girls and “perennial” in 9.9% of the boys and 15.1% of thegirls.2) Within one-year, the percentage of allergic rhinifis in the boys was the highest, 38.4%, followed by 16.5% with atopic dermatitis, and 13.5% with conjunctivitis andpollen allergy.For the girls, the percentage of allergic rhinifis was also the highest, 30.3%, followed by atopic dermatitis (18.6%), urticaria (17.1%) and pollen allergy (11.7%).3) When asked about the cause of their allergic disease, 53.4% answered house dustand ticks, 49.8% pollen, 21.5% food ingredients, 14.6% pets and 11.4% stress. Withrespect to therapy within one-year, 66.7% responded “no treatment”, 37.9% “visit-ed a doctor”, and 24.7% “used medicine” .4) Of those with allergic diseases since birth, a higher intake of sweets and snacks wasreported by the boys and of eggs and meat by the girls when compared with thosewithout allergies.5) Of the boys with allergic diseases since birth, defecation was reported at less thanthree times per week (8.1%) and was irregular (15.1%), which tended to be higher thanthose of the non-allergic boys (1.1% and 6.8%, respectively). Boys (67.9%) with aller-gic diseases since birth answered that they thought constipation could affect their healthwith less frequency than the non-allergic boys (85.4%).

Health Consideration and Food Intake Frequency of Adult Aged 25-54

成人男女の健康と食行動に対する認識や排便習慣の実態を検討するために, 25歳から54歳の2, 416名 (男性1, 316名, 女性1, 100名) を対象に質問紙調査を行った.1)「健康と便秘に関連性がある」と答えた割合は, 男性87%で女性の方が93%と多かった (p<0.001).2) 排便が週に3回以下の「便秘傾向」の割合は男性13%に対して女性17%と多く, 毎日排便のある割合は男性71%に対して女性44%と少なかった (p<0.001).3)「健康に適した食生活」を「している」と「大体している」とを合わせた回答数は男性66%で女性の方が83%と多かった (p<0.001).4) 男性の方が女性よりも肉類と魚介類の「多量摂取」が多く, その他の食品群では「少量摂取」が多い傾向がみられ, 摂取頻度に性差がみられた (p<0.01以下).5)「健康に適した食生活に対する意識」と「摂取量」との関連性が総ての食品群で認められた (男女各々p<0.05以下)