The objective of the present study was to determine the maximum dose of resistant maltodextrin (Fibersol)-2, a non-viscous water-soluble dietary fiber), that does not induce transitory diarrhea. Ten healthy adult subjects (5 men and 5 women) ingested Fibersol-2 at increasing dose levels of 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1 g/kg body weight (bw). Each administration was separated from the previous dose by an interval of 1 wk. The highest dose level that did not cause diarrhea in any subject was regarded as the maximum non-effective level for a single dose. The results showed that no subject of either sex experienced diarrhea at dose levels of 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 1.0 g/kg bw. At the highest dose level of 1.1 g/kg bw, no female subject experienced diarrhea, whereas 1 male subject developed diarrhea with muddy stools 2 h after ingestion of the test substance. Consequently, the maximum non-effective level for a single dose of the resistant maltodextrin Fibersol-2 is 1.0 g/kg bw for men and >1.1 g/kg bw for women. Gastrointestinal symptoms were gurgling sounds in 4 subjects (7 events) and flatus in 5 subjects (9 events), although no association with dose level was observed. These symptoms were mild and transient and resolved without treatment.
Yeast mannan (YM) is an indigestible water-soluble polysaccharide of the yeast cell wall. In vitro fecal fermentation studies showed that YM could exhibit a notable prebiotic effect. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to assess the efficacy of YM intake on the intestinal environment and skin condition. One hundred and ten healthy female subjects aged 30–49 years were supplemented with YM or placebo for eight weeks. Skin dryness was set as the primary endpoint. No side effects were observed during the study. Microbiota analyses revealed that YM intake selectively increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides ovatus compared to that by placebo. Feces and urine analyses showed that YM intake lowered the concentration of fecal p-cresol, indole, and skatole, and elevated urinal equol levels compared to those in placebo. Furthermore, YM supplementation ameliorated subjective skin dryness. This study suggests that YM intake could promote beneficial Bacteroides and improve the intestinal environment and skin condition.
To elucidate a physiological function of dried-bonito broth (DBB) on blood fluidity and oxidative stress, we performed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in twenty-four healthy adult subjects. The subjects ingested DBB or a placebo for four weeks, and blood fluidity and oxidative stress were measured before and after ingestion. Blood fluidity was measured using a microchannel array flow analyzer by the passage time of 100 µl of heparinized whole blood through the microchannel array, while oxidative stress was evaluated as a level of derivative of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) by a free radical analysis system (FRAS). DBB ingestion significantly shortened the blood passage time from 55.4 ± 3.4 to 47.6 ± 2.0 sec (mean ± SEM, p < 0.05), while no significant change was observed in the placebo group (52.4 ± 3.4 to 51.4 ± 2.6 sec, mean ± SEM) indicating that DBB ameliorated blood fluidity. The level of d-ROMs, known as a biomarker of oxidative stress, significantly decreased after DBB ingestion from 337.2 ± 18.5 to 316.5 ± 12.9 Carrotelli units (Carr. U.) (mean ± SEM, p < 0.05), suggesting that DBB reduced oxidative stress. Among subjects with a d-ROMs score > 320, regarded as being in a state of oxidative stress, changes in blood fluidity tended to correlate with changes in d-ROMs score (ρ = 0.55, p = 0.06), showing that blood fluidity may have improved in subjects whose oxidative stress was markedly decreased. These results also showed a possibility that DBB ingestion improved blood fluidity by decreasing oxidative stress. In previous studies, daily DBB ingestion improved various fatigue-related symptoms, so we investigated the effect of DBB on fatigue-related symptoms via a questionnaire survey in the present study. The result of this survey showed that symptoms of shoulder stiffness and visual fatigue were improved only in the DBB group (p < 0.05, p < 0.1, respectively). Insufficient blood circulation is considered to lead to the development of shoulder stiffness, visual fatigue, and other fatigue-related symptoms. Based on these findings, we considered that dietary intake of DBB may improve blood fluidity by reducing oxidative stress and thus might protect against fatigue.
Summary The prognosis in 1000 asthmatic children who were followed up 5 to 15 years after the first attack was studied. Sex made no difference in the prognosis. Severity of asthma and treatment seemed to play some role in the prognosis of asthma. Mild cases and the specific hyposensitization group had a better prognosis. In the mild group none died. On the other hand in the moderately severe group 0.3% were dead and in the severe group 3.4% were dead. The group having no other allergic diseases revealed a better prognosis, but statistically not significant. Familial predisposition to allergic disease made no difference in the prognosis.
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