Effects of dietary zinc deprivation on zinc concentration and ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme in serum of mice.

These findings suggest that ACE ratio is as sensitive as serum zinc concentration for the evaluation of zinc deficiency and can be used for the biochemical diagnosis of zinc nutritional status in patients with zinc deficiency-induced taste impairment.


Dietary zinc intake and its effects on zinc nutrition in healthy Japanese living in the central area of Japan.

In the present study, we first examined the dietary zinc intake from food groups in 109 healthy Japanese (24-82 years old, 45 male and 64 female) by means of the 72-h recall method. We then used the ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ratio) that is a more sensitive index of zinc nutrition than zinc concentration in the serum and examined the correlation between their zinc intake and ACE ratio. Dietary zinc intake in healthy Japanese was maximal from rice and rice products. There were significant inverse correlations between the ACE ratio and dietary zinc intake from rice and rice products and shellfish, and a significant positive correlation between ACE ratio and dietary zinc intake from other beans and bean processed foods. On the other hand, there were no significant correlations between serum zinc concentrations and dietary zinc intake from any food group except processed fish. These findings suggested that rice is a major source of dietary zinc intake in healthy Japanese. It is also suggested that shellfish also has a major impact on zinc nutrition, although dietary zinc intake from this source is minimal. Since beans contain phytic acid, which inhibits the absorption of dietary zinc, it is suggested that intake of beans causes impairment of zinc nutrition.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Effects of zinc supplementation on serum zinc concentration and ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with taste impairment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on hypogeusia, serum zinc concentration and the ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ratio) in patients with taste impairment. ACE ratio was used as an index of zinc nutritional status. METHODS: Forty patients complaining of taste impairment were divided into two groups: zinc deficiency taste impairment (n=12) and idiopathic taste impairment (n=28). Patients with zincemia values of less than 63 microg/dl with no history of other disorder or medication known to cause dysgeusia were diagnosed as zinc deficiency group, while those with the same condition and values more than 64 microg/dl were considered to belong to the idiopathic group. Patients orally received 150 mg of polaprezinc containing 33 mg of zinc every day. Subjective symptom was scored according to visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Zinc supplementation improved hypogeusia in both idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. The mean improvements of VAS were 3.02+/-3.03 in the idiopathic group and 3.13+/-2.53 in the zinc deficiency group. Thus, there were no significant differences in idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. Significant correlations were found between the improvement of VAS score and the ACE ratio after zinc supplementation in both idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. On the contrary, significant correlations were not found between the improvement of VAS score and the zinc concentration in the serum after zinc supplementation in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicated that zinc deficiency is a predominant factor underlying taste impairment and ACE ratio may be a predictor of the prognosis for taste impairment after zinc supplementation, in addition to a more sensitive indicator of zinc nutrition than zinc concentration in the serum.


High-dose dietary supplementation of vitamin A induces brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor production in mice with simultaneous deficiency of vitamin A and zinc.

Marginal vitamin A and zinc (Zn) deficiency often co-exist in many populations. Vitamin A plays a trophic role in brain and is important for its development. We investigated effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin A on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) production in mice depleted for vitamin A and Zn. After 3 months' feeding with a low vitamin A and Zn (LVA-LZ) diet, mice were divided into two groups and replenished with either normal or high vitamin A with low Zn diet for an additional 2 months. Levels of BDNF and NGF were measured from extracts of hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum at the end of the third and fifth months. The LVA-LZ group tended to show decreased amounts of the BDNF and NGF, while animals supplemented with high vitamin A along with Zn deficiency had high BDNF and NGF concentrations. From these results, we conclude that vitamin A may increase BDNF and NGF levels.


Zinc nutrition in healthy subjects and patients with taste impairment from the view point of zinc ingestion, serum zinc concentration and angiotensin converting enzyme activity.

To estimate the zinc nutrition in healthy subjects and patients with taste impairment. Dietary zinc intake, zinc concentration in the serum and the ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), a zinc dependent enzyme in the serum (ACE ratio) were used as indices. Healthy paramedical volunteers from a local hospital and patients with taste impairment seen in the Department of Otolaryngology, Tokushima University Hospital. Dietary zinc intake was estimated with the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Zinc concentration in the serum was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The ACE activity in the serum was measured spectrophotometrically as the activity of holo-ACE, which contains zinc and shows full ACE activity. The activity of apo-ACE, which dose not contain zinc, was determined as the increase of its activity over that of the initial holo-ACE activity after the addition of zinc to the serum in vitro. ACE ratio was used as a more sensitive indicator of zinc nutrition than measuring zinc concentration in the serum. There were no differences in dietary intake of zinc after adjusting for energy and zinc concentration in the serum between patients and age-adjusted healthy subjects. The ACE ratio in patients with taste impairment was significantly higher than that in age-adjusted healthy subjects (P<0.05). Our date demonstrate that zinc deficiency is a predominant factor underlying taste impairment and we hypothesize that patients with taste impairment may have malabsorption of dietary zinc.


Reproducibility and validity of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire among Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City

Our objective was to assess the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among individuals living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A total of 116 food items in our FFQ were selected by ranking food items according to their contribution to the population intake of nutrients, based on multiple 24-hour recalls (24HRs) from 144 participants in July 2001. The FFQ was validated by using three 24HRs for 118 men and women in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in August 2002. The reproducibility of the FFQ was assessed by repeated administration at 7 +/- 3.4 days. The reproducibility study showed that Spearman correlation coefficients, adjusted for energy intake, ranged from 0.47 to 0.72, and that weighted kappa values ranged from 0.42 for lipid to 0.65 for potassium. In the validation study, correlation coefficients, adjusted for energy intake, between the FFQ and the 24HRs ranged from 0.16 (calcium) to 0.45 (retinol). The proportion of subjects classified by the FFQ into the same third as determined by the 24HRs was between 42% and 62%. This food frequency questionnaire measured the usual intake of major nutrients for Vietnamese adults living in Ho Chi Minh City and its urban area, where dietary patterns are similar to those of the Vietnamese population.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition


Prevalence of dental caries and sugar consumption among 6-12-y-old schoolchildren in La Trinidad; Benguet; Philippines.

To determine the prevalence of dental caries and the level of sugar consumption among 6-12-y-old schoolchildren in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines. A Cross-sectional study as a baseline survey for a later intervention program. A questionnaire was distributed to obtain information on dental history and total consumption of food with sugar. Caries were diagnosed based on the WHO recommendation. A total of 1200 schoolchildren, aged 6-12 y were included. The prevalence of dental caries in primary dentition was 71.7% and in the permanent dentition, 68.2%. The mean total decayed, extracted due to caries and filled primary teeth (DMFT) and decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) were 4.12 (s.d. 4.03) and 2.40 (s.d. 2.57), respectively. As age increased the mean DMFT increased. Majority (70%) had tooth brushing practices, and less than half (42.5%) had a dental visit only when necessary. Their sugar intake was twice more than the WHO recommendation with a mean daily total intake of 59 g per person. Most common sources of dietary sugar were hard candies (89%), banana cue (84.9%), camote cue (84.9%) and soft drinks (84.4%). No significant correlation was found between sugar intake and dental caries. The results indicate that dental caries is highly prevalent and increase with augmented sugar consumption. This maybe due to a widespread neglect of oral health and an increased availability of refined sugary products. Caries rates mirrored those of the developing countries with untreated lesions dominating all ages. The high level of untreated caries in all age groups is a cause for concern.


FAO/WHO/UNU equations overestimate resting metabolic rate in Vietnamese adults.

To evaluate the FAO/WHO/UNU equations for predicting resting metabolic rate (RMR) in Vietnamese adults. A cross-sectional study with healthy subjects was carried out at the Basic Nutrition Department, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam. RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry, and anthropometric indices were recorded. Equations derived by linear regression of RMR vs body weight were compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU 1985 predictive equations. A total of 188 subjects (98 males and 90 females) had a normal body mass index (BMI) and were divided into four groups by sex and age (male and female subjects 18-29 and 30-60 y old). Mean RMR (MJ/kg/day) in males was lightly significant by higher than that in female subjects in the 18-29 y old age group (0.1074+/-0.0100 vs 0.0965+/-0.0123) and the same result was seen in the 30-60 y old group (0.1018+/-0.0114 vs 0.0922+/-0.0129). However, differences were not statistically significant in the two age groups. Compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU equation, our findings were 7.4, 9.0, 11.7, and 13.5% lower in the four groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that the FAO/WHO/UNU equations may overestimate RMR in Vietnamese adults. Further studies examining the relationship between body weight and RMR are needed, and establishing new predictive equations for RMR in Vietnamese should be a priority.


Feeding practice among younger Tibetan children living at high altitudes

Few published data are available on the feeding practice of younger children in Tibet. Our study investigated feeding pattern of younger Tibetan children. The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in Tibet. A sample of 1655 children younger than 36 months old and their mothers was obtained by stratified multistage cluster random sampling method. Mothers were interviewed to collect information on feeding practice by a designed family questionnaire including initial time and duration of breastfeeding and time, frequency and types of complementary foods introduced. Most of the children was ever or being breastfed at the time of interview. The median duration of breastfeeding was 26 months. The prevalence of almost exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months was 20.1%. Mothers' age and education, child's residence, and introduction of egg, fresh milk and milk powder were strongly associated with the duration of breastfeeding. The partial feeding was a main pattern in the first 6 months of life. Zanban and porridge were offered at about 1 month after birth. By 6th month, less than 25% of children were fed protein foods such as egg and meats and only near 20% of children were fed fresh vegetables. Bean products, fish and chicken were seldom offered to children. We conclude that although they were breastfed for long time, complementary feeding practice of Tibetan children was disadvantaged, especially of rural children. Improvement of monotonous complementary foods and timely introduction should be stressed in local programmatic nutritional interventions.


Anthropometric characteristics, dietary patterns and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Vietnam

To determine the impact of anthropometric characteristics and dietary patterns on Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Vietnam. Data from 144 subjects (9m/39f newly diagnosed diabetics; 18m/78f control subjects) were analyzed in this case-control study. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and percent body fat were measured. Dietary intakes were assessed by 24-hour recall on three non-consecutive weekdays. Fasting blood samples were collected for the analysis of plasma glucose, fructosamine, protein and lipid concentrations. Although the body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) was similar between diabetic and control subjects, diabetic subjects had significantly greater percent body fat (31.1 +/- 5.8% vs. 27.7 +/- 6.2%) and waist-hip ratios (WHR, 0.91 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.86 +/- 0.08). Diabetic subjects had higher intakes of protein (p < 0.01), especially animal protein (p < 0.001), and consumed more meat (p < 0.01) than control subjects. Percent body fat and WHR were positively associated with diabetes (odds ratios [OR] 1.53 [95%CI 1.29-1.79] and 1.09 [95% CI 0.89-1.58], respectively) as were protein intake (OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.12-1.31]) and animal protein intake (OR 1.18 [95% CI 1.10-1.26]). This study indicates that percent body fat and WHR are risk factors associated with diabetes even when the BMI is normal. Evolving dietary patterns with increasingly more protein and meat consumption may also contribute to the deterioration of glucose metabolism among Vietnamese people.


Postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses to pre-gereminated brown rice in healthy subjects

Effects of pre-germinated brown rice (PGBR) on postprandial blood glucose and insulin concentrations were compared with brown rice (BR) and white rice (WR) in two studies. In the first study, we investigated the time course of postprandial blood glucose and insulin concentrations after ingesting 25% (W/V) glucose solution, PGBR, BR or WR in 19 healthy young subjects. In the second study, dose-dependent effect of PGBR on the time course of postprandial blood glucose concentrations was compared among 4 different mixtures of PGBR and WR in 13 healthy young subjects. They were solely PGBR, 2/3 PGBR (PGBR: WR = 2 : 1), 1/3 PGBR (PGBR : WR = 1 : 2) and solely WR. Each sample was studied on a different day. The samples were selected randomly by the subjects. All the rice samples contained 50 g of available carbohydrates. The previous day the subjects ate the assigned dinner by 9:00 pm and then were allowed only water until the examination. The next morning, they ingested each test rice sample with 150 ml of water in 5-10 min. Blood was collected into capillary tubes from finger at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after the ingestion. The incremental areas under the curve (IAUC) of blood glucose concentrations (IAUC-Glc) for 120 min after the administration of PGBR and BR were lower than those after WR. In contrast the IAUC-Glc of BR and PGBR were not different (Study 1). The higher the ratio of PGBR/WR, the lower the glycemic index became (Study 2). These results suggest that intake of PGBR instead of WR is effective for the control of postprandial blood glucose concentration without increasing the insulin secretion.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Determining the prevalence of osteoporosis and related factors using quantitative ultrasound in Vietnamese adult women

In 2003, the authors conducted a population-based, cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis and related factors in Vietnamese adult women by using quantitative ultrasound at the heel bone (calcaneus). A total of 2,232 adult women aged > or =20 years, living in Hanoi City, and free of illnesses affecting bone metabolism were randomly selected to participate in the study. Subjects' bone mass was assessed by speed of sound at the calcaneus, referred to as quantitative ultrasound measurement. The T-score threshold, defined as < or =-1.8, was used to identify subjects with osteoporosis. The crude prevalence of osteoporosis in Hanoi City was 15.4%; after adjustment for age, it was 9.0%. Among premenopausal women, the crude prevalence of osteoporosis was higher in the urban areas compared with the rural areas. By contrast, postmenopausal women in the rural areas had a higher prevalence of osteoporosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that factors associated with low speed of sound were age, menopause, educational level, lifelong occupation, recreational weight-bearing exercise, number of births, and height. Results suggest that osteoporosis is a noteworthy problem in Vietnam, and intervention strategies should be considered to control it, especially in high-risk populations.


Obesity increases the risk of allergy in Vietnamese adolescents

The prevalence of allergic diseases has remarkably increased in the last decades in tandem with the number of obese individuals. Results of studies on obesity and allergic diseases are controversial, and most of them are related to asthma and asthma-like symptoms. In our study, we evaluated the association of several obesity indices and the prevalence of allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis and food allergy. Cross-sectional study. From a total of 1185 adolescents (49.3% boys) aged 12 to 17 y old, 19.3% reported a physician-diagnosed allergic disease, and 35.3% reported undiagnosed allergic symptoms. Logistic regression analysis revealed a higher risk of allergy in children of middle (OR = 2.02, CI: 1.12-3.64) and high (OR = 2.40, CI: 1.25-4.61) compared to low socioeconomic status, in subjects reporting industrial emissions in the neighborhood (OR = 2.19, CI: 1.40-3.41), and in adolescents with parental history of allergy (OR = 1.92, CI: 1.26-2.92). Body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat (%BF) were significantly related to allergy (OR = 1.16, CI: 1.01-1.34 for BMI; OR = 1.03, CI: 1.01-1.06 for %BF). After controlling for socioeconomic status, industrial emissions and parental history of allergy, only %BF remained statistically significant (OR = 1.03, CI: 1.01-1.06). Food allergy was not related to obesity in our study population, and when adolescents with food allergy were excluded from the analysis, the odds of having allergy increased 28% with each increase in SD of BMI (OR = 1.28, CI: 1.05-1.57) and 5% for each unit increase in the percentage of body fat (OR = 1.05, CI: 1.01-1.08). In conclusion, being overweight was associated with an increased risk of allergy in our study population. Our results point towards an association between being overweight and rhino-conjunctivitis, but not food allergy. No association was observed with other allergic diseases.


The metabolic syndrome: prevalence and risk factors in the urban population of Ho Chi Minh City

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MeS) and its risk factors in urban population of Ho Chi Minh City. A cross-sectional study was conducted in urban areas of Ho Chi Minh City with 611 participants. The demographic, socio-economic details, anthropometric indexes and blood pressure were recorded. A fasting blood sample was collected for the analyses of glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). MeS was defined by presence of three or more of the following components: abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterolemia, high blood pressure and high fasting plasma glucose. The crude prevalence of MeS was 18.5% (95% CI: 15.5-21.9). After age, sex standardization, this prevalence was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.9-13.2). The prevalence increased with age and sedentary work. Subjects with MeS had significantly higher body fat percentage than that of normal subjects. Metabolic syndrome showed a positive association with age, body fat percentage and sedentary occupation. This first study on MeS showed that 12% adults in urban areas of Ho Chi Minh City had metabolic syndrome. It suggests that MeS is becoming a noteworthy health problem in Vietnam and to the early detection and appropriate intervention as well as healthy lifestyle education programs need to be established.


Overweight is associated with allergy in school children of Taiwan and Vietnam but not Japan

We collected information concerning diagnosed allergy from 2027 school children in Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam. Children were classified according to the age and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) per-age as indicator of weight status. Logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between percentiles of BMI-per-age and allergy. Compared with children at the lowest percentile group Taiwanese children at > 85th percentile group showed a tendency toward higher risk of allergy (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 0.98 to 3.27; p = 0.060). When children with rhino-conjunctivitis were excluded from the analysis the association reached statistical significance (OR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.08 to 7.75; p = 0.035). Vietnamese children at > 85th percentile group showed a significantly higher risk of allergy (OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.17; p = 0.035). This association was not observed when children with atopic dermatitis or food allergy were excluded from the analysis, although a tendency toward increased risk of allergy at BMI-per-age > 85th percentile remained. Our study sample of Japanese school children showed no association between being overweight and allergy.


Relationship between smoking habits and serum oxygen radical absorption capacity and dietary intake in Japanese adults

1. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of smoking habits on dietary intake, serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and lifestyle in Japanese adults. 2. Lifestyle factors were recorded by questionnaire and dietary intake was measured by a single 24 h food recall. Blood was collected under fasting conditions for analysis. 3. Smokers had lower intakes of vitamin C, fruits and dark green and yellow vegetables (DGYV), higher consumption of alcohol, lower physical activity and lower ORAC values than non-smokers. Body mass index (BMI), serum total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG) increased, whereas high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased with an increase in the amount smoked, but there were no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers. 4. It is considered that high cancer and cardiovascular risks among smokers are also reinforced by undesirable lifestyle factors other than smoking.

Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology


Zinc deficiency in patients with idiopathic taste impairment with regard to angiotensin converting enzyme activity

The present study aimed at measuring the ratio of apo/holo activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) ratio in the serum of patients with taste impairment to evaluate their status of zinc nutrition. Nineteen patients complaining of taste impairment were divided into two groups: zinc-deficiency taste impairment (n=6) and idiopathic taste impairment (n=13) and compared to 30 volunteers. Zinc concentrations in the serum were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (normal values: 64-111 microg/dl). Patients with zincemia values of <63 microg/dl with no history of other disorder or medication known to cause dysgeusia were diagnosed as zinc deficient, while those with the same condition and values >64 microg/dl were considered to belong to the idiopathic group. The activities of ACE in the serum were measured spectrophotometrically as the activity of the holo-ACE, and after addition of 80 microM of zinc to the serum in vitro, the increase of ACE activity over initial value in the serum was determined as that of the apo-ACE. Finally, the apo/holo-ACE activities ratio was used as an index of zinc nutritional status. The mean concentrations of zinc in the serum were 77.4+/-8.4 microg/dl in volunteers, 77.6+/-8.4 microg/dl in the idiopathic patients and significantly decreased at 55.7+/-5.8 microg/dl in zinc-deficiency patients. ACE activities in the serum were 14.7+/-7.6, 14.5+/-4.0 and 14.1+/-3.3 IU/l in volunteers, the idiopathic group and zinc-deficiency taste impairment group, respectively. The mean ACE ratios were 1.10+/-0.6% in volunteers and significantly increased at 9.8 +/- 4.0% in the idiopathic group and at 13.7+/-6.6% in zinc-deficiency taste impairment group. The results of the present study indicated that zinc deficiency is a predominant factor underlying hypogeusia even when zinc concentrations are within normal ranges in the serum and show that clinically, ACE ratio may be a more sensitive indicator of the zinc nutritional status than measuring zinc concentration in the serum.


Nutritional factors, parasite infection and allergy in rural and suburban Vietnamese shool children

Urban areas often have more allergy than rural areas. Dietary patterns and parasite infection have been suggested as possible related factors. This study evaluated the prevalence of allergy in school children in one rural and suburban area of Vietnam where parasite infection is common. A total of 195 children aged 9 to 13 years old completed a self-administered allergy questionnaire and provided blood and stool samples for analysis. Nutritional status, dietary intake and parasite infection were determined in all participants. Allergy was more common in girls (10.7% vs. 7.6%), suburban children (11.8% vs. 6.9%), children with weight-for-age (16.7% vs. 6.0%) and height-for-age (14.8% vs. 4.9%) in the 10th to 75th percentile compared to <3rd percentile, and in children without trichuriasis compared to light trichuriasis (12.5% vs. 9.3%), although none of these comparisons were statistically significant. Logistic regression adjusted for sex, age and area of residence revealed no association between allergy and nutritional status, food intake or parasite infection. Intake of riboflavin, however, was negatively associated with allergy (OR=0.00, 95% CI:0.00-0.65, p=0.038). In conclusion, we were unable to detect any association between allergy and nutritional status, diet, or parasite infection. However, in a population with high undernutrition and parasite infection, the prevalence of allergy was low and the extremely low intake of riboflavin was associated with a higher risk of allergy.


Recommendations to develop an intervention for Japanese youth on weight management.

In the last 20 years the average change in BMI among Japanese youth is minimal, but significant changes appear when the categories of overweight/obesity and underweight are investigated within gender. Now intervention programs for Japanese youth on weight management need to be developed. To address the issue, there are a series of steps that could be undertaken utilizing theory of behavior change. Using the Transtheoretical Model-Stages of Change as the health promotion theory an intervention could be developed that would tailor messages to the level of the stage of readiness to weight change that exists among youth. Different aspects of the intervention could be developed and targeted to groups of youth by their needs. To assist with planning and development of the intervention principles of Intervention Mapping could be used to guide development using data from a needs assessment survey to: a) determine youths' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about body size, b) determine youth's barriers to change in body size, c) determine parental knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about body size, d) determine parental barriers to change in youth body size, e) determine the prevalence of health problems from low and high BMI of young females and males, f) determine which youth are at risk-rural/urban areas, socioeconomic status.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Poor nutritional status of younger Tibetan children living at high altitudes

The growth, development and nutrition of children in Tibet with high-altitude and unique traditional culture have recently gained attention. However, few researches are available on the nutritional status of younger children of Tibet. The objective of the study was to evaluate the nutritional status of children below 36 months old in Tibet by means of anthropometry. The cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and September in 1999 and a sample of 1655 children below 36 months old was obtained using a stratified multistage cluster random sampling method from a total of seven districts of Tibet. Height, weight and hemoglobin concentration were measured and at the same time related sociodemographic and environmental information were collected. NCHS/CDC/WHO reference data were used to evaluate the nutritional status of the entire study children population and estimate the prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting. Compared with the reference of NCHS/CDC/WHO, the distributions of HAZ and WAZ shifted to the left significantly and the means of HAZ and WAZ were -1.53 and -1.05, respectively, which were significantly lower than the reference value. The distribution of WHZ, however, was close to that of the reference. The reduction of Z-scores for height and weight occurred very early in life and was greatest in the second year after birth. The prevalence of malnutrition of children was 39.0% for stunting, 23.7% for underweight and 5.6% for wasting, respectively. Rural children had prevalence of stunting of 41.4% and underweight of 24.7%, as compared with prevalence of stunting of 25.3% and underweight of 18.1% for urban children. Stunting and underweight were associated with altitudes. The mean of hemoglobin (Hb) of children was 120.4 g/l and rural children had a significantly lower Hb concentration (119.9 g/l) than urban children (123.3 g/l). The prevalence of anemia seemed higher when using different altitude corrections for Hb to estimate the prevalence, but the consequences were uneven. For Tibetan young children, the nutritional status of the entire population is poor and the prevalence of malnutrition is higher, especially for stunting. Malnutrition is related to high altitudes. Although the Hb concentration is higher induced by high altitude, there must be quite a lot of anemic children at high altitudes. The relationship between altitude and Hb for children on the Tibetan plateau requires further study in order to determine correctly the magnitude of anemia of children.


Japanese citrus fruit (sudachi) juice is associated with increased bioavailability of calcium from whole small fish and suppressed bone resorption in rats

Shirasuboshi (boiled and semi-dried whitebait) is a processed fish food that contains abundant calcium. It is eaten whole and commonly consumed in Japan. In this study, the effect of sudachi (Citrus sudachi) juice on calcium, magnesium and phosphorus bioavailability, and bone metabolism in rats was examined. After 14 d of diets low in calcium and phosphorus, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed shirasuboshi diets containing dried shirasuboshi powder treated with 20% (S20) or 40% (S40) sudachi juice, or distilled water (C) (0.5% Ca; 0.3% P) for 14 d. The apparent absorptions and retentions of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus from shirasuboshi were determined. Bone formation was calculated by measuring serum osteocalcin, and bone resorption by measuring urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline. The apparent absorption and retention of calcium and magnesium in the S20 group were significantly higher than in the C and S40 groups. Although serum osteocalcin was not affected by the addition of sudachi juice, the urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline concentrations in the S40 group were significantly lower than in the C and S20 groups. Our results indicate that sudachi juice added to shirasuboshi was associated with increased calcium bioavailability and suppressed bone resorption in rats.

Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology


Prevalence and risk factors for Diabetes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

To determine the prevalence of diabetes and associated risk factors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A total of 2932 participants aged 15 and above in Ho Chi Minh City were screened for diabetes in a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted from March-May 2001. Demographic, occupation, anthropometry and blood pressure were recorded. Blood glucose was calculated on fasting capillary and venous blood. The classification of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was carried out according to WHO and American Diabetes Association criteria. The crude prevalence of diabetes and IFG were 6.6 and 3.2%, respectively. After age, sex-adjustment to the Vietnam population census, the prevalence was 3.8 and 2.5%, respectively; approximately 40% of cases were found to be newly diagnosed diabetes. The crude prevalence of diabetes in the urban area was approximately 2.8 times higher than that recorded in the 1993 study (6.9 vs. 2.5%, respectively). In this study, there was a positive association between diabetes and sex, age, overweight, waist hip ratio (WHR), and having a history of delivering large for gestational age child; there was a negative association between diabetes and physical activity and occupation. This study found that the age, sex-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and IFG in Ho Chi Minh City were 3.8 and 2.5%, respectively, a rapid increase in the recent decade. Our study also indicates that ageing, a high WHR level, overweight and a sedentary lifestyle may be important determinants of the increased prevalence of diabetes during this transition period in Vietnam.


Comparative study of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron concentrations in organs of zinc-deficient rats and rates treated neonatally with L-monosodium glutamate

The effects of a zinc-deficient (ZD) diet on the growth and trace element concentrations of various organs (body hair, liver, kidney, gastrocnemius muscle, and femur) of male rats were studied. Furthermore, these trace element concentrations of the above-mentioned organs in male rats neonatally treated with l-monosodium glutamate (MSG) are compared with those of the ZD rats. The ZD rats showed growth retardation compared to rats fed a zinc- adequate diet (controls). The feed efficiency of the ZD rats was only one-fifth of the controls. This is one reason why the ZD rats showed retarded growth. Body hair concentration of zinc (Zn) in the ZD rats was significantly lower than in the controls. On the other hand, copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) concentrations in the body hair were significantly higher in the ZD rats than in the controls. Moreover, the apparent absorption rate of these trace elements was significantly higher in the ZD rats than in the controls. The reason for the decrease in Zn contents of the body hair in the ZD rats is probably the reduced dietary Zn intake. Liver and kidney concentrations of Zn in the ZD rats were significantly lower than in the controls. Femur Zn concentrations in the control rats showed higher values than in the ZD rats. Cu and Mn concentrations in the femur in the ZD rats showed higher values than in the controls. Ninh et al. suggested that growth retardation in ZD rats is the result of a decrease in protein biosynthesis. The results of this study support their theory. The reasons for the use of MSG-treated rats in this study are as follows. (1) We reported on the head hair concentration of the above-mentioned elements from pituitary dwarfism (human growth hormone deficient) patients. In that study, the sample was restricted to head hair from pituitary dwarfism patients. More detailed physiological data may be obtained by the used of MSG-treated rats. (2) We took notice of many resemblances between the pituitary dwarfism patients and the MSG-treated rats in morbidity. The MSG-treated rats showed a severe growth retardation compared to NaCl-treated controls. Zn concentration in the body hair was significantly higher in the MSG-treated rats that in the NaCl-treated controls. For other trace element concentrations, there were no significant differences between the MSG-treated rats and the NaCl-treated controls. The concentrations of these trace elements in the liver of the MSG-treated rats were lower than in the NaCl-treated controls. In the MSG-treated rats, the concentrations of Zn and Cu in the femur were higher than in the NaCl-treated controls. However, the Fe concentration in the femur of teh MSG-treated rats showed lower values compared with NaCl-treated controls. The results of this study suggest that the reduction of rat growth hormone (rGH) secretion and/or its synthesis are a consequence of the impairment of rGH anabolic effects. Furthermore it indicates that MSG-treated rats are useful as an in vivo model for the study of the effects of GH.


CaおよびMgの出納に及ぼすタンパク質摂取量の影響.

CaおよびMgの出納に及ぼすタンパク質摂取量の影響.


Strategies for the promotion of nutritional status of the elderly in Japan.

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Nutritional Approach for the Health Promotion of the Elderly.


Agreement of body weight, body fat percentage values between two body composition analyzers


Oolong tea increases energy metabolism in Japanese females.

Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea that has long been believed to be beneficial to health such as decreasing body fat. We were interested in this assertion and tried to evaluate the effect of oolong tea on energy expenditure (EE) in comparison with green tea. The subjects were eleven healthy Japanese females (age 20+/-1 y; body mass index (BMI) 21.2+/-2.5 kg/m2) who each consumed of three treatments in a crossover design: 1) water, 2) oolong tea, 3) green tea. Resting energy expenditure (REE) and EE after the consumption of the test beverage for 120 min were measured using an indirect calorimeter. The cumulative increases of EE for 120 min were significantly increased 10% and 4% after the consumption of oolong tea and green tea, respectively. EE at 60 and 90 min were significantly higher after the consumption of oolong tea than that of water (P<0.05). In comparison with green tea, oolong tea contained approximately half the caffeine and epigallocatechin galate, while polymerized polyphenols were double. These results suggest that oolong tea increases EE by its polymerized polyphenols.


IgE responses in mice fed moderate protein deficient and high protein diets

While severe protein energy malnutrition (PEM) has been known to depress several immune functions, allergies are suppressed by decreasing IgE and impairing vascular permeability and mast cell functions. To address the effect of moderate protein malnutrition without growth arrest and protein hypernutrition on type I allergy, we examined the effect of various levels of protein nutrition on allergy at humoral immunity and the regulation of Th cell function levels. Mice fed 100g/kg (moderate protein malnutrition; MPM), 200g/kg (normal protein nutrition; PN) and 400g/kg (protein hypernutrition; PH) protein diets were intraperitoneally sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) in aluminum hydroxide. Higher elevations of OVA-specific IgE and total IgE in the serum were observed in the PH group as compared to the PN group. However, OVA-specific IgE in the MPM group was not significantly different from that in the PN group, although the former appeared higher than the latter. While CD3, CD4, CD8 and B220 expressions in the splenic lymphocytes were decreased in the MPM group, B220 expressions were increased in the PH group. Splenic lymphocyte proliferative responses to OVA were augmented in the PH group and depressed in the MPM group. IFN-yproduction from splenic lymphocytes was significantly decreased; however, IL-4 production was not affected significantly in the MPM group, and increased in the PH group. These findings suggest that immune functions to specific antigens in the MPM state are depressed at the cytokine level but not in terms of IgE responses. They also suggest that immune functions become Th2-predominant in the PH state, resulting in an increased risk of type I allergy.


Vietnamese type 2 diabetic subjects with normal BMI but high body fat.


Anti-hyperglycemic effect of oolong tea in type 2 diabetes mellitus

To determine the efficacy of oolong tea for lowering plasma glucose in type 2 diabetic patients in Miaoli, Taiwan. A total of 20 free-living subjects who had type 2 diabetes and took hyperglycemic drugs as prescribed were enrolled in the present study. Subjects consumed oolong tea (1,500 ml) or water for 30 days each in a randomized crossover design. Tea was not consumed for 14 days prior to treatments. Relative to initial concentrations, oolong tea markedly lowered concentrations of plasma glucose (from 229 +/- 53.9 to 162.2 +/- 29.7 mg/dl, P < 0.001) and fructosamine (from 409.9 +/- 96.1 to 323.3 +/- 56.4 micromol/l, P < 0.01), whereas the water control group had not changed (208.7 +/- 61.0 vs. 232.3 +/- 63.1 mg/dl for glucose and from 368.4 +/- 85.0 to 340.0 +/- 76.1 micromol/l for fructosamine). Oolong tea may be an effective adjunct to oral hypoglycemic agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.


Further Evidence Regarding the Effect of Dietary Protein on Oral Tolerance against Beta-Lactoglobulin through Th1-mediated Immune Response in Mice

Oral tolerance is a potential strategy for preventing or minimizing aberrant immune responses. Although, oral tolerance has been extensively studied, to date the effects of dietary protein on the induction of oral tolerance are poorly understood. We have previously shown that restricted dietary protein induces oral tolerance to ovalbumin. This study was designed to investigate whether or not such tolerance occurs with beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) instead of ovalbumin (OVA) and if the tolerance resulting from this feeding regimen involves Th1-mediated immune response. Female BALB/c mice fed either 20% or 5% dietary protein were given 5 mg BLG or water orally for four consecutive days and then immunized intraperitoneally (ip) twice with BLG at 3-wk intervals. Oral tolerance induction was compared in BLG-fed and water-fed mice by measuring total IgE, BLG-specific antibodies, footpad reactions, splenocyte proliferation, and cytokine production. When mice were given BLG orally before ip immunization, the Th1-mediated immune responses (production of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IgG2a) were significantly reduced, whereas the Th2-mediated immune responses (production of IL-4 and IgG1) were unchanged. The Th1-mediated immune responses were markedly down-regulated in mice fed 5% protein as compared to those in mice fed 20% protein. Moreover, the production of total IgE, BLG-specific IgE, splenocyte proliferation, and footpad reactions were more reduced in mice fed 5% protein than those in mice fed 20% protein. The present study provides evidence that dietary protein plays an important role in the induction of oral tolerance against BLG as the result of, clear down-regulation of Th1 helper activity accompanied by a reduction in IgE.

Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology


Gene gun-based co-immunization of merozoite surface protein-1 cDNA with IL-12 expression plasmid confers protection against lethal Plasmodium yoelii in A/J mice


生活習慣病予防のための日本人のタンパク質必要量に関する基礎的研究.

生活習慣病予防のための日本人のタンパク質必要量に関する基礎的研究.


Genetic studies on reference strains of mutans streptococci

Twenty four reference strains (serotype a-h) belonging to the mutans group of streptococci were compared for DNA fragment patterns of rDNA after treatment with Hind III. It was shown that Streptococcus cricetus (serotype a), S. rattus (serotype b), and S. downei (serotype h) reveals comparatively homogeneous patterns while S. mutans (serotype c, e and f) exhibits differences between the different serotypes as well as within single serotypes. S. sobrinus had an intermediary diversity. These data support the previous findings that S. mutans is heterogeneous at the serological, biochemical and genetical level.


Nutrition during pregnancy may be associated with allergic diseases in infants

The prevalence of allergic diseases is high in Japan, even in infants. Their risk for developing allergies is influenced by the antigens in the mother's diet during pregnancy. We hypothesized that, apart from the antigens, hypersensitivity induced through high energy and nutrient intake by mothers during pregnancy may be a factor for allergic diseases in their babies. In this study, we tried to confirm our hypothesis. Allergy histories of parents and their infants, body characteristics and food and nutrient intake were measured by a questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire, respectively. A total of 2, 642 responses were obtained (return rate, 94.7%). The major allergic diseases in the infants were atopic dermatitis (6.0%), food allergy (3.7%) and bronchial asthma or asthmatic bronchitis (3.2%). About 60% of the infants with allergies had a family history of allergies. Family his-tory of allergy, age of infant, order of birth, head and chest circumferences of infants, BMI of mothers before pregnancy and delivery and intake of lipids (fat and vegetable oil) and vegetables by mothers related positively, and the intake of protein, carbohydrates and milk and its products correlated negatively with allergic diseases in the infants (p<0.05). The results, together with previous reports, suggest that a high intake of energy and lipids (fat and vegetable oil) during pregnancy may accelerate allergic diseases in infants.


Serum fatty acids, lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein profiles of middle-age men and wome in south Vietnam

In Vietnam, increasing fat consumption is a trend recognized recently in urban areas. To obtain a reasonable nutrition status and prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is necessary to obtain information on habitual fat intake and biochemical parameters as risk factors for CVD in Vietnamese populations. Therefore, from the analysis of serum fatty acid composition, fat consumption patterns in Vietnamese populations in South Vietnam, with different incomes, are discussed in this study. In addition, some risk factors for premature CVD, serum lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein concentrations are also assessed in these Vietnamese populations. The study was carried out in men and women aged 40-59 in three different districts: urban (n = 100), suburban (n = 98) and rural (n = 98). The results of serum fatty acid composition analysis reflected differences in quality fat intake among the three populations. The urban population was estimated to consume more vegetable oil but less fish than their rural counterparts. Although serum lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein B levels were below the ranges associated with atherogenesis, ongoing attention to dietary fat intake for the prevention of CVD in Vietnamese populations is required.

Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition


Glutamine and arginine affect Caco-2 cell proliferation by the promotion of nucleotide synthesis

We tested our hypothesis that 1) the major effect of Gln is as a nitrogen donor, not an energy source, for nucleotides (NT) and 2) the supplementation of culture medium with arginine (Arg) decreases the flux of glutamine (Gln) for conversion to Arg, thus accelerating NT synthesis. Various concentrations of nucleosides (NS+NT) Gln, and glutamate (Glu) in culture were tested for their effect on Caco-2 cell proliferation. (Arg was tested in media with and without Gln to evaluate the Gln pathway. The incorporation of (15)N from L-[5-(15)N]-Gln into NTs of DNA was measured under different NS + NT and Arg concentrations.) The proliferation of Caco-2 cells was increased by NS + NT and Gln supplementation, but not by Glu. The effective concentration of NS + NT was 100-fold smaller than that of Gln. An Arg effect was observed only in the presence of Gln. The NT synthesis from Gln, as indicated by (15)N incorporation from L-[5-(15)N]-Gln, was increased by Arg supplementation and decreased by NS + NT supplementation. These results support our hypothesis that the effects of Gln and Arg on Caco-2 cell proliferation are by the promotion of NT synthesis and that the major role of Gln is not energy supply.


Low Protein Diet Induces Oral Tolerance to Ovalbumin in Mice

The suitable development of oral tolerance against ingested dietary foods is of critical importance to escaping food allergy. Using mice as an animal model for oral tolerance against ovalbumin (OVA) as a dietary antigen, we investigated the effects of dietary protein on their immunological tolerance. Female BALB/c mice fed either a 20% or 5% protein diet were orally administered 5 mg of OVA for four consecutive days, then immunized intraperitoneally with 100 microg of OVA. The immunized group of mice were fed and treated in the same manner, except that they received orally distilled water for four consecutive days before receiving intraperitoneal immunization with the antigen. Immunization alone with OVA elevated the total IgE and induced the production of OVA-specific antibodies IgE, IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a in the sera of both the 20% and 5% protein diet groups. The oral administration of OVA to mice before intraperitoneal immunization significantly reduced the total IgE and OVA-specific antibodies in mice fed 5% protein diet, but it had hardly any effect on those in mice fed a 20% protein diet. When spleen cells from these groups of mice were cultured with OVA as a mitogen, they responded substantially to OVA in the immunized groups fed 20% and 5% protein diets and in the presensitized group fed 20% protein, but those from the presensitized group fed a 5% protein diet did not respond. Furthermore, when IL-4 was assayed in the spleen cell cultures of the 20% and 5% groups, mice in the presensitized group fed a 5% protein diet produced a significantly less amount of IL-4 than those fed a 20% protein diet. Moreover, irrelevant to the protein amount in the diet, the production of IFN-gamma from spleen cell cultures dramatically decreased in the group without presensitization and profoundly increased in the presensitized group of mice fed a 5% protein diet. These findings suggest that a low-protein diet leads to an induction of oral tolerance against dietary antigens; this appears to involve a clear down-regulation of Th2 cytokine, IL-4.


Nutritional status of middle-aged Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City

To investigate the nutritional status of middle-aged Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City. A cross-sectional survey in 300 Vietnamese aged 40 to 59 years (113 men, 187 women) was conducted in an urban, suburban and rural area of Ho Chi Minh City based on interviews that included a 24-hour dietary recall, food frequency questionnaire, and a short socioeconomic questionnaire. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured, and blood was collected for serum protein and lipid analysis. A high prevalence of underweight (BMI < 18.5) was observed in the rural and suburban populations (35% and 23%, respectively), and overweight (BMI > or = 25) was observed in the urban population (18%). A high percentage of serum total cholesterol (TC) below 150 mg/dL was observed in the rural and suburban areas (43% and 37%, respectively). By contrast, the prevalence of TC above 220 mg/dL was twofold higher in the urban and suburban residents (13% and 12%, respectively) than in rural residents (6%). More than 80% of urban residents were of medium or high-income status, whereas 61% of suburban residents were of medium-income status and 66% of rural residents were of low-income status. The nutritional status of middle-aged Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City was characterized by undernutrition in 35% of the low-income population and by overnutrition in 18% the high-income population. Undenutrition was still a public health problem in the rural area whereas overnutrition started to become a noteworthy problem in the urban area. The suburban area suffered from both under- and overnutrition problems. Low lipid intake was the most important problem related to undernutrition in middle-aged residents of Ho Chi Minh City.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition


Oolong Tea Increases Metabolic Rate and Fat Oxidation in Men

According to traditional Chinese belief, oolong tea is effective in the control of body weight. Few controlled studies, however, have been conducted to measure the impact of tea on energy expenditure (EE) of humans. A randomized cross-over design was used to compare 24-h EE of 12 men consuming each of four treatments: 1) water, 2) full-strength tea (daily allotment brewed from 15 g of tea), 3) half-strength tea (brewed from 7.5 g tea) and 4) water containing 270 mg caffeine, equivalent to the concentration in the full-strength tea treatment. Subjects refrained from consuming caffeine or flavonoids for 4 d prior to the study. Tea was brewed each morning; beverages were consumed at room temperature as five 300 mL servings. Subjects received each treatment for 3 d; on the third day, EE was measured by indirect calorimetry in a room calorimeter. For the 3 d, subjects consumed a typical American diet. Energy content of the diet was tailored to each subject's needs as determined from a preliminary measure of 24-h EE by calorimetry. Relative to the water treatment, EE was significantly increased 2.9 and 3.4% for the full-strength tea and caffeinated water treatments, respectively. This increase over water alone represented an additional expenditure of 281 and 331 kJ/d for subjects treated with full-strength tea and caffeinated water, respectively. In addition, fat oxidation was significantly higher (12%) when subjects consumed the full-strength tea rather than water.


Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire Based on Food Groups for Estimating Individual Nutrient Intake

栄養素および食品群別摂取量推定のための食品群をベースとした食物摂取頻度調査票の作成および妥当性

The Japanese Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics


アレルギーを持つ園児に対する保育所における保育状況

アレルギーを持つ園児に対する保育所における保育状況


Blood pressure, serum cholesterol concentration and their related factors in urban and rural elderly of Ho Chi Minh City

In Vietnam, information about blood pressure, serum lipids and their factors is limited. To obtain some of this information, a cross sectional nutrition survey was carried out in an urban and rural area of Ho Chi Minh City with 217 participants aged 60-69 y (148 females and 69 males). Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured. For three consecutive weekdays, 24 h dietary recalls were performed. Single 24 h urine was collected for sodium and potassium analysis. A fasting blood sample was taken and biochemical parameters were measured. Results indicate a high percentage of hypertension in urban (female: 35.5%, male: 43.8%) and rural areas (female: 22.2%, male: 35.1%). Blood pressure was correlated with body mass index (BMI) and 24 h urinary sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio. A high prevalence of serum total cholesterol (TC) above 220 mg/dL (female: 55.3%, male: 31.3%) and overweight (female: 34.2%, male: 25.0%) were observed in urban residents. By contrast, 5.6% and 24.3% of rural females and males respectively had TC below 150 mg/dL and both genders had the same prevalence of underweight (32.4%). TC was positively correlated with body weight, BMI, dietary protein and dietary lipids. Overweight might be a major risk factor for hypertension in our urban elderly. A high Na/K intake ratio might be a risk factor for hypertension in both areas. The high prevalence of elevated TC in the urban area might to be related to the high lipid intake, and the high prevalence of low TC in the rural area might to be related to the low lipid intake.

Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology


Food Intake and Lipid Status of Three Vietnamese Populations with Different Incomes

In order to have basic data for dietary preventive measures against some vascular diseases caused by disorder of lipid metabolism, food intake and lipid status were investigated in three Vietnamese populations with different per capita income levels. Totally, 299 people aged over 18 were involved in this study. Among them, 98 subjects were selected from one commune with low income, 100 and 101 subjects from two urban areas with medium and high income respectively. Food intake was assessed by 24-h recall method and lipid status was evaluated by measuring serum concentration of triglyceride, total cholesterol and its subfractions. The results showed that food consumption, dietary habits and lipid status varied with income levels. In general, diet was still unbalanced in all three groups, and low in fat and protein. In the rural, fat and protein intakes were lower than in the urban. The high prevalence of low serum cholesterol was observed in all three groups, the highest in the rural (45.3%) and the lowest in the urban (11.2%). On the contrary, the prevalence of high serum cholesterol was the lowest in the rural (2%) and the highest in the urban (16%). From these data, it is suggested that the majority of the Vietnamese might be vulnerable to some vascular diseases such as stroke if the situation of low fat intake and low serum cholesterol is not a problem of concern.


Soy Protein Hydorolyzate with Bound Phospholipids Reduces Serum Cholesterol Levels in Hypercholesterolemic Adult Male Volunteers

This study was done to evaluate the effects of soy protein hydrolyzate with bound phospholipids (c-SPHP), on the serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects over a three-month period. Subjects were Taiwanese adult male volunteers whose serum total cholesterol levels were above 220 mg/dl. Twenty-one subjects were divided into three groups randomly, and each group was given c-SPHP zero, 3, or 6 g per day. Test diets were orally administered in a powdered drink form that contained c-SPHP or casein hydrolyzate (placebo). The subjects were given the test diet four times daily. The study consisted of a two-week pre-feeding period, a three-month feeding period, followed by a two-week post-feeding period. After 3 months of c-SPHP administration, 3 g per day, serum total cholesterol decreased significantly from the initial level (15.0%, p<0.01) and compared with the placebo group (p<0.05). Furthermore, LDL-cholesterol decreased significantly (27.7%, p<0.01) and the LDL/HDL ratio also decreased significantly (47.4%, p<0.01) from the initial levels. These effects of c-SPHP were dose-dependent. This study suggests that c-SPHP has remarkable improving effects on the serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry


小児の食物アレルギーの実態と食生活

小児の食物アレルギーの実態と食生活


経口免疫寛容に及ぼす低蛋白質食の影響

経口免疫寛容に及ぼす低蛋白質食の影響


アレルギーを持つ保育園児に対する保育対応について

アレルギーを持つ保育園児に対する保育対応について


乳幼児のアレルギー性疾患の発症に妊娠中の母胎の食生活が与える影響

乳幼児のアレルギー性疾患の発症に妊娠中の母胎の食生活が与える影響


Suppressive Mechanisms of EPA on Human T cell Proliferation

In vivo and in vitro experiments show that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) inhibit mitogen- or antigen-stimulated proliferation of T cells in rodents and humans. However, the exact manner and mechanisms by which PUFA inhibits T cell proliferation is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the suppressive effects of EPA, an n-3 PUFA, on PHA stimulated human peripheral blood T cells. Our results showed that EPA suppresses mitogen- or antigen-stimulated human T cell proliferation by at least 2 steps; step 1) EPA suppresses T cell proliferation by inhibiting IL-2R alpha expression and IL-2 production; step 2) EPA induces cell death of blast T cells without reducing the expression of IL-2R alpha. We also showed that EPA selectively stimulates the cell death of blast T cells but not resting T cells. The suppressive effect of EPA was mediated via the production of reactive oxygen products, because EPA-stimulated H2O2 production and the suppressive effect of EPA was restored by addition of catalase or NAC. These results taken together suggest that such immunosuppressive effects of EPA may explain the apparent benefits of EPA-enriched diets for patients with inflammatory disorders.


アレルギー疾患の栄養管理

アレルギー疾患の栄養管理


Russia-Japan Medical Symposium ``Amur 2000''


Effects of protein intake on immune parameters in mice surviving streptococcal infection