The Relationship of Dietary Factors to Cardiovascular Diseases among Japanese in Okinawa and Japanese Immigrants, Originally from Okinawa, in Brazil.

Abstract

To investigate the relationship of dietary factors to cardiovascular diseases, we conducted a study of 234 middle-aged Japanese men and women in Okinawa (JJ), and 160 Japanese immigrants of similar age, originally from Okinawa, in Brazil (JB). JB showed double the prevalence (%) of ST-T changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) (JJ: M3.4, F4.4, JB: M8.3, F10.1) and of hypertension (HT) (JJ: M15.9, F18.4; JB: M32.8, F36.4, p < 0.05) when this was assessed on BP> 160195 and/or the taking of antihypertensive medication; however the mean level of blood pressure did not differ. A gradient in the rate of HT in men and of ECG ST-T changes in both sexes was observed from JJ to JB of first-generation and to JB of second-generation. JB had much higher body mass index (kg/m2) (JJ: M24.8 ± 0.3, F24.8 ± 0.4; JB:M26.2 ± 0.4, F26.5±0.4, p < 0.01) in both sexes, and an 8-fold higher rate of oral contraceptive usage (p < 0.001). Total cholesterol level showed no significant difference between JJ and JB. 24-hour urinary taurine excretion in both sexes and plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acid level in men were significantly higher in JJ than in JB. The dietary pattern in Japanese immigrants in Brazil, characterized by low fish and large meat intake, is possibly responsible for the higher risk of HT and ECG ST-T changes, indicating the importance of dietary rather than genetic factors. (Hypertens Res 1992;15: 45-55)

Prevalence of dementia in the older Japanese‐Brazilian population

“…A remarkable difference of the dietary pattern between Japan and Brazil has been reported. 15,16 Mizushima et al confirmed a lower frequency of fish intake by JapaneseBrazilians (immigrants from Okinawa) compared with Japanese living in Okinawa. 15,16 Furthermore, a lower value of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma in Japanese-Brazilians has been shown.…”

“…15,16 Mizushima et al confirmed a lower frequency of fish intake by JapaneseBrazilians (immigrants from Okinawa) compared with Japanese living in Okinawa. 15,16 Furthermore, a lower value of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma in Japanese-Brazilians has been shown. 16 In a Rotterdam study, fish consumption has been inversely related to the incidence of dementia, especially AD.…”

“…15 The dietary patterns of Japanese immigrants in Brazil, characterized by a low fish and large meat intake, have been suspected to be closely linked to the higher rate of cardiovascular diseases, indicating the importance of dietary factors rather than of genetic factors. 16 In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of dementing disorders in the Japanese population in Campo Grande, originally from Okinawa, and compared the data with studies on Japanese-American and Japanese communities, including Okinawa.…”

Copper and zinc status as a risk factor for Ischemic heart disease: A comparison between Japanese in Brazil and Okinawa

“…The main source of zinc is meat. Okinawians have the highest meat intake in Japan, but they have only half meat intake frequency Brazilian immigrants [14]. The Japanese in general have a relatively high intake of copper in the range of 1.3 mg/day (18) to 1.6 mg/day [19].…”

“…Japanese from Okinawa have half the IHD mortality of all Japan. However, first-generation Japanese who emigrated from Japan (originally from Okinawa) to Brazil have almost fourfold increased IHD mortality rate [13,14]. The data are summarised in Table I. The aim of the present study was to compare the leucocyte and plasma copper and zinc in Japanese from Okinawa with Japanese immigrants (originally from Okinawa) living in two cities in Brazil: Sao Paulo and Campo Grande.…”