BackgroundWe reported that the compositions of arachidonic acid (ARA) in erythrocytes and plasma phospholipids (PL) in the elderly were lower than those in the young, though the ARA intake was nearly identical.ObjectiveWe further analyzed data in four study groups with different ages and sexes, and determined that the blood ARA levels were affected by the kinds of dietary fatty acids ingested.MethodsOne hundred and four healthy young and elderly volunteers were recruited. Dietary records together with photographic records from 28 consecutive days were reviewed and the fatty acid composition in plasma lipid fractions and erythrocyte PL was analyzed.ResultsNo correlations for ARA between dietary fatty acids and blood lipid fractions were observed. A significant negative correlation between eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake and ARA composition in erythrocyte PL was observed. ARA composition in erythrocyte PL was significantly lower in elderly subjects than in young subjects, because EPA and DHA intake in elderly subjects was higher than in young subjects. However, after removing the effect of dietary EPA+DHA intake, the ARA composition in erythrocyte PL in elderly subjects was significantly lower than that in young subjects.ConclusionsChanges in physical conditions with aging influenced the low ARA composition of erythrocyte in elderly subjects in addition to the effects of dietary EPA and DHA.
This study aimed to investigate the bioavailability of serum isoflavones after the intake of soymilk
fermented by Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota containing 32.5% isoflavone aglycones (FSM)
or placebo soymilk containing no isoflavone aglycones (SM). In a double-blind, placebo-controlled,
single-dose, crossover trial, 7 healthy premenopausal Japanese women (mean age: 35.3 ± 11.0) consumed FSM or
SM on day 1 and crossed over to the other soymilk after a 6-day washout period. Serum isoflavones in blood
samples collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hr after intake were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with
tandem mass spectrometry. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the serum concentrations of genistein and
total isoflavones were significantly higher, by about 1.4-fold, up to 5 hr after FSM intake compared with SM
intake (each p<0.05), and that of daidzein tended to be higher after FSM intake. In addition, AUC analysis
of total isoflavones for individual subjects revealed that 5 out of 7 subjects had higher AUC values after FSM
intake compared with SM intake and that the 2 remaining subjects had similar AUC values. These 2 subjects had
higher AUC values after SM intake (mean, 2,502 ± 348) than those of the other subjects (mean, 1,158 ± 269).
These results indicate that the bioavailability of isoflavones, especially genistein, is enhanced after the
intake of FSM containing 32.5% isoflavone aglycones compared with intake of SM containing no isoflavone
aglycones and that the enhancement is observed in healthy premenopausal Japanese women whose isoflavone
absorption capacity is low after SM intake.
An easily understandable index that measures the quality of carbohydrate may aid people in adopting dietary habits that improve their glucose tolerance. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between a ratio of dietary fibre to carbohydrate intakes (fibre:carbohydrate ratio (F:C-R)) and glucose tolerance cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Subjects were 190 Japanese men and women without type 2 diabetes (mean age 55·4 years) who participated in a 5-month diet and exercise programme. We compared baseline anthropometric, dietary and metabolic profiles between those with higher F:C-R and those with lower ratios. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between the F:C-R and homoeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and HbA1c at baseline and between changes in the F:C-R and changes in HOMA-IR and HbA1c over the 5-month period. At baseline, the higher F:C-R group had significantly lower body weight, lean body mass, fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR as compared with the lower F:C-R group. The two groups had similar intakes of carbohydrate and fat, whereas protein intake was greater in the high F:C-R group. Baseline F:C-R was not significantly associated with HOMA-IR or HbA1c at the beginning of the study in multivariable models. Increases in the ratio during the 5-month programme was associated with reductions in HbA1c (P<0·001). These findings highlight the potential utility of the F:C-R in strategies aimed at type 2 diabetes prevention.
This study aimed to examine whether daily intake of citrus juice containing heat-killed Lactobacillus
plantarum YIT 0132 (LP0132-fermented juice) alleviates symptoms of atopic dermatitis. This was a
natural extension of our previous study in which LP0132 was shown to enhance IL-10 production in
vitro and LP0132-fermented juice was found to alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life (QOL)
in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis. In two open trials, Trial 1 and Trial 2, 32 and 18 adult patients
with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis consumed LP0132-fermented juice for 8 weeks. Skin conditions and QOL
were subjectively evaluated using Skindex-16 before intake of the juice (Pre-treatment), 8 weeks after
starting intake (Treatment) and 8 weeks after termination of intake (Post-treatment). Blood parameters were
also analyzed. Comparison of the Treatment and Post-treatment time points with the Pre-treatment time point
revealed significant reductions in the Skindex-16 overall score and the 3 domain subscores (symptoms,
emotions, and functioning domains) in both trials. Moreover, blood levels of eosinophil cationic protein
(ECP), total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgEs for Japanese cedar and cypress pollen were significantly
attenuated in Trial 2. The findings suggest that daily intake of citrus fermented juice containing heat-killed
LP0132 has beneficial effects on symptoms and QOL in patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis due to
an immunomodulatory effect via attenuation of IgE and ECP.
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