In the present study we conducted a questionnaire survey to examine the relationship between dietary habits and menstrual disorders in young women. Subjects were recruited from 315 college students and were classified as: Group I, eating breakfast; Group II, skipping breakfast; Group III, not eating fast foods; Group IV, eating fast foods; Group V, not eating processed foods; and Group VI, eating processed foods. The intensity of dysmenorrhea was scored using three grades. All participants were further divided into groups based on having regular or irregular menstruation, having premenstrual symptoms or not, and self-perception of good or poor general health. General health was poor in Groups II and VI, and dysmenorrhea scores were high in Groups II, IV and VI. The incidence of irregular menses was also high in Group II. However, there was no apparent relation between premenstrual symptoms and dietary habits. These findings suggest that skipping breakfast adversely affects menstrual disorders in young college students.

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in red wine and various plants, has been reported to up-regulate the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). However, this effect was neither long term in nature nor physiologically relevant at the concentration of resveratrol studied. In the present study, we investigated the effects of repeated treatments with a lower concentration of resveratrol on the expression of genes in HUVEC. The expression levels of eNOS and silent mating type information regulation 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1) were up-regulated in HUVEC by repeated treatments with 1 mM-resveratrol for 6 d, but not with fenofibrate. Moreover, resveratrol treatment increased the expression of autophagy-regulated genes such as g-aminobutyric acid A receptor-associated protein (GABARAP), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) and autophagy-related protein 3 (ATG3), the radical scavenger activity-related metallothionein-1X (MT1X) gene and the anti-inflammatory activity-related annexin A2 (ANXA) gene. In addition, resveratrol treatment down-regulated the expression of the cell-cycle checkpoint control RAD9 homologue B (RAD9B) gene. These results indicate the beneficial effects of resveratrol on the cardiovascular system. Key words: Resveratrol: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase: Silent mating type information regulation 2 homologue 1: AutophagyThe prevention of lifestyle-related diseases such as CVD, diabetes and stroke has attracted worldwide interest. Current treatment regimens for lifestyle-related diseases have shifted their focus onto the functionality of natural chemicals present in foods and drinks. One example is the association between the long-term consumption of red wine and reduced risk for CVD. In this context, resveratrol, a phytoalexin and antioxidant polyphenol present in red wine and various plants, has emerged as one of the most attractive and extensively studied compounds (1,2) .We have previously demonstrated that resveratrol suppresses the expression of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, the rate-limiting enzyme in PG biosynthesis (3) , particularly in 184B5/ HER(184B5/human EGFR-related-2)-transformed mammary epithelial cells (4) . Additionally, we have shown that resveratrol activates PPARa, PPARbd and PPARg (5,6) , which are members of the nuclear receptor family of ligand-dependent transcription factors (7,8) ; that it protects the brain against ischaemic stroke in mice through a PPARa-dependent mechanism demonstrated in cell-based reporter assays (5) and that it acts via a negative feedback loop mediated through PPARg to inhibit the expression of COX-2, particularly in macrophages (9) . Based on these data, we have focused our attention on PPAR as potential molecular targets of resveratrol in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, the molecular mechanisms of which remain to be determined.Previous studies have investigated the effects of resveratrol on the activation of silent mating type information regulation 2 homol...

We investigated the effects of folate-enriched egg yolk powder on folate and homocysteine levels in plasma and liver of rats fed the folate- and choline-deficient diet to determine bioavailability in vivo. Three-wk-old Wistar rats were fed (1) the pteroylglutamate (PteGlu), (2) the choline, (3) the PteGlu and choline, (4) the folate-enriched egg yolk powder diet for 4 wk after having been fed the folate- and choline-deficient diet. The hepatic folate level in the folate-enriched egg yolk powder group was significantly higher than that in the folate- and choline-deficient or the control groups. The homocysteine concentration in plasma and liver of the folate-enriched egg yolk powder group was significantly lower than that of the folate- and choline-deficient or the PteGlu groups. The S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM)/S-adenosyl-homocysteine (SAH) ratio in the folate-enriched egg yolk powder group was significantly higher than that in the folate- and choline-deficient group. These effects were similar in the PteGlu and choline, but not the PteGlu or the choline groups. These data suggest that the intake of folate-enriched eggs, as well as of both folate and choline, induced the beneficial effects on folate and homocysteine metabolism. Thus, folate-enriched eggs could be used as beneficial source of folate with a high bioavailability.

It has been accepted that food customs are closely associated with quality of life in women of the reproductive age. Food customs are speculated to not only influence the present life style but also to induce gynecological disorders such as dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation. Although there is no constant definition of regular or normal menstruation, epidemiologic evaluation of menstrual cycle has been becoming an important issue. In addition, latent development of organic diseases such as endometriosis, which are accompanied by dysmenorrhea, is a concern under the current nutritional environment in young women. Thus, it is an important issue to evaluate the present situation of eating habits in young women and estimate the influence of these habits on the quality of reproductive functions. Therefore, in this review, recent articles that are concerned with these issues have been reevaluated.

-This study aimed to clarify the influence of dietar y habits and the daily intake of fermented milk product containing Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult, 1 0 × 1010 cfu/100 mL/day on bowel habits in healthy young Japanese women. To clarify the interaction of a fermented milk product containing Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult, 1 0 × 1010 cfu/100 mL/day, and food intake on bowel habits in healthy young Japanese women. A total of 150 female university students participated in this study.They recorded the amount of food intake using a food-frequency questionnaire FFQ during the pre-experiment period and bowel habits in a diary during the study. After the exclusion of 30 subjects who defecated ever y day, 120 subjects were randomly divided two groups.Pre experiment they recorded the amount of food intake using food-frequency questionnaire FFQ and bowel habits. After excluded 30 subjects who defecated every day, we divided two groups. We conducted an open cross-over