The effects of water exercise, as a form of daily physical activity (water exercise in a warm water pool), on bone loss in healthy Japanese postmenopausal women have been cross-sectionally and longi tudinally investigated from the viewpoint of preventing osteoporosis. In the cross-sectional study, the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (Z-score (%)) in the Veterans group (N=27), who had been exercising for 35.2 months on average, was significantly higher than that in the Newcomers (N=40), who had only begun to exercise 3 or 4 weeks before, and that in the Non-exercisers (N=30), serving as a control group. The rate of change in the BMD of the lumbar spine was-0.92%! year in the Non-exercisers (N=30), +1.55%/year in the Veterans (N= 20), and +2.16%/year in the Newcomers (N=15) , based on BMD Z-scores. In the Exercisers groups, it was found that the rate of change in the BMD showed a slight increase rather than a decrease irrespective of the duration of menopause. On the other hand, in the Non-exercisers group, the rate of change in the BMD decreased slightly. The results of questionnaires showed that the subjects' general awareness of health and fitness in daily life was enhanced after starting the water exercise pro gram. These results suggest that consistently participating in water exercise is an important factor in preventing bone loss, and moreover , appears not only to indirectly improve awareness of daily physical activity but also to promote health and improve daily life.

ObjectiveEnhanced fatty acid desaturation by stearoyl-CoA desaturase enzyme-1 (SCD1) is associated with obesity. This study determined desaturation in cord plasma of newborns of mothers with and without gestational diabetes (GDM).Study designNewborns of mothers with GDM (n=21) and without (Control, n=22) were recruited. Cord plasma fatty acid desaturation indices (palmitoleic/palmitic, oleic/stearic ratios) were compared, and correlated with anthropometrics and biochemical measures. A subset of VLDL desaturation indices were determined to approximate liver SCD1 activity.ResultsThe total oleic/stearic index was higher in GDM, despite adjustment for cord glucose concentrations. Among GDM and Controls, the oleic/stearic index correlated with cord glucose concentrations (rs=0.36, p=0.02). Both palmitoleic/palmitic and oleic/stearic indices correlated with waist circumference (r=0.47, p=0.001; r=0.37, p=0.01). The VLDL oleic/stearic index was higher in GDM.ConclusionThe elevated total oleic/stearic index suggests increased lipogenesis in GDM newborns. Factors in addition to glucose supply may influence fetal SCD1 activity.

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