Effects of Milk Amazake on Skin Elasticity, Hydration, and Transepidermal Water Loss: An 8-Week Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Amazakes made from rice and koji mold are rich in nutrients, such as groups of vitamin B, minerals, essential amino acids, and oligosaccharides, and can improve skin moisturization. However, there are few reports on milk amazake, made from milk and koji mold. Therefore, in this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, we investigate the effect of milk amazake on skin function. Healthy women and men (n = 40) were randomly allocated to the milk amazake or placebo group. The test beverage was consumed once daily for 8 weeks. Skin elasticity, hydration, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8, and all subjects completed the trial. Skin elasticity (R2 and R5) at 8 weeks was significantly increased in the milk amazake group compared with baseline. In addition, changes in R5 in the milk amazake group were significantly higher than those in the placebo group. Conversely, TEWL, an evaluation item of skin moisturizing function at 8 weeks, was significantly decreased in the active group compared with baseline. In conclusion, milk amazake may be useful as a functional food for improving skin function.

Effects of Dietary Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) Leaves on Mildly Postprandial Hypertriglyceridemia.

Prevention of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia is an important consideration for reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. While blueberry fruits have been reported to ameliorate lipid metabolism in humans, there are only few research reports on the effects of blueberry leaves (BL). Here, we investigated the efficacy of BL on postprandial hyperlipidemia in subjects with high fasting triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations. Randomized, double-blind, cross-over design study was conducted. The subjects consumed a BL containing beverage or a placebo beverage before a fat-enriched test meal. Blood samples were collected prior to and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours after consuming the test beverage. The postprandial serum TG and remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) concentrations were significantly lower in the BL beverage compared with those in the placebo beverage. Additionally, BL was more effective in subjects with high fasting ghrelin with gastric emptying function. In current study, fasting ghrelin correlated with the increase in postprandial serum TG, suggesting that BL ameliorates hypertriglyceridemia through delayed gastric emptying. In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that BL may be useful as an early dietary therapy for treating postprandial hyperlipidemia.

Recombinant immunoglobulin A specific for influenza A virus hemagglutinin: production, functional analysis, and formation of secretory immunoglobulin A.

Secretory immunoglobulin (Ig) A (SIgA), comprised of dimeric IgA and secretory component (SC), is believed to provide a defense mechanism on the mucosal surface. Influenza A virus (IAV) hemagglutinin (HA)-specific SIgA is thought to play an important role in the prevention of IAV infection. However, the topical application of preformed IAV-specific SIgA has not been shown to prevent IAV infection. This is due to the difficulty in the production of antigen-specific IgA monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and monoclonal SIgA. Here, a recombinant hybrid IgA (HIgA) was established that utilizes variable regions of an HA-specific mouse IgG mAb and the heavy chain constant region of a mouse IgA mAb. We expressed the dimeric HIgA in Chinese hamster ovary-K1 (CHO-K1) cells. When in vitro IAV infection of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells was tested, 10 times lower concentrations of HIgA were able to inhibit it as compared with an HA-specific IgG with the same variable regions. A functional hybrid secretory IgA (HSIgA) was also produced through incubation of the dimeric HIgA with recombinant mouse SC in vitro. It was demonstrated that HSIgA could be separated from the dimeric HIgA on size exclusion chromatography. This study provides a basic strategy for investigating the role of SIgA upon IAV infection on the mucosal surface.

Design of novel chiral N,N,O-tridentate phenanthroline ligands and their application to enantioselective addition of organozinc reagents to aldehydes.

The novel N,N,O-tridentate phenanthroline ligand (BinThro) bearing an axially chiral binaphthyl backbone prepared from BINOL was found to be an effective chiral catalyst for enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes with high enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee).

Effects of a meal rich in 1,3-diacylglycerol on postprandial cardiovascular risk factors and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide in subjects with high fasting triacylglycerol concentrations.

It was previously reported that compared to triacylglycerol (TAG) oil, diacylglycerol (DAG) oil improves postprandial lipid response. However, the effects of DAG oil on postprandial hyperglycemia and incretin response have not yet been determined. In this study, the effects of DAG oil on both postprandial hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia and the response to the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) were studied. This randomized, double-blind, crossover study analyzed data for 41 individuals with high fasting triacylglycerol concentrations. The subjects ingested test meals (30.3 g of protein, 18.6 g of fat, and 50.1 g of carbohydrate) containing 10 g of DAG oil (DAG meal) or TAG oil (TAG meal) after fasting for at least 12 h. Blood samples were collected prior to and 0.5, 2, 3, 4, and 6 h after ingestion of the test meal. Postprandial TAG concentrations were significantly lower after the DAG meal compared with the TAG meal. Postprandial TAG, insulin, and GIP concentrations were significantly lower after the DAG meal compared with the TAG meal in 26 subjects with fasting serum TAG levels between 1.36 and 2.83 mmol/L. DAG-oil-based meals, as a replacement for TAG oil, may provide cardiovascular benefits in high-risk individuals by limiting lipid and insulin excursions.

Effect of low concentration of diacylglycerol on mildly postprandial hypertriglyceridemia.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that a high concentration of diacylglycerol (DAG) oil (approximately 80% in 10 g of test oil) suppressed increases in postprandial serum triglyceride (TG), particularly hypertriglyceridemia. However, the effects of a lower concentration of DAG oil have not been demonstrated. In the present study, the effective dose of DAG oil was determined in hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, cross-over design study was conducted using 22 patients with mild hypertriglyceridemia. Changes in postprandial serum lipid concentrations were analyzed after ingestion of 10 g of test oil containing 1.3% (control), 27.3% (low dose), 54.6% (medium dose) or 80.8% (high dose) of emulsified DAG. RESULTS: The expanded Williams test indicated that the DAG dose that was most effective at altering postprandial serum TG and chylomicron-TG concentrations was ≥ 27.3% DAG in 10 g of test oil; ≥ 54.6% DAG in 10 g of test oil was needed to have an impact on postprandial serum apolipoprotein B-48 concentrations. Additionally, DAG was more effective in subjects with both hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension. In the current study, systolic blood pressure correlated with the increase in postprandial serum TG, suggesting that DAG improves hypertriglyceridemia, particularly when it is accompanied by hypertension. CONCLUSION: DAG oil could be useful as an initial dietetic therapy for the treatment of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia with hypertension. The effective dose was ≥ 27.3% DAG in 10 g of oil.

Efficient carrier separation from a photochromic diarylethene layer.

Electrical carrier separation from a photoexcited photochromic molecule could be a promising method for controlling the photosensitivity of such a molecule. We report an efficient carrier separation from a photochromic diarylethene (DAE) molecule by adopting a device structure with a heterojunction consisting of an n-type diarylethene layer and a p-type layer of N,N'-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N'-diphenylbenzidine (NPB). A photocurrent originating from carrier separation for the colored photostationary state was observed, even at zero applied voltage. The efficient carrier separation occurred at the interface between the DAE and NPB layers and was the result of the internal electrical field induced by the pn heterojunction.

Effectiveness and safety of 1-year ad libitum consumption of a high-catechin beverage under nutritional guidance.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that a continuous intake of a catechin beverage will reduce body fat. Traditionally, improvement of eating and exercise habits has been the basis for prevention and reduction of obesity. In this study, we conducted a trial involving human subjects who ingested a catechin beverage for 1 year under nutritional guidance. METHODS: This study was conducted based on a comprehensive cohort design using a catechin beverage (containing 588 mg of tea catechins) and a control beverage (containing 126 mg of tea catechins). At both the start and the end of the trial, the subjects underwent an annual health check and computer tomography for measurement of their abdominal fat. In addition, a food intake survey was conducted and all subjects were provided nutritional guidance by a registered dietitian every 3 months. RESULTS: Data were analyzed using per protocol samples of 134 subjects (catechin group, n = 77; control group, n = 57). Body weight and body mass index were reduced significantly in the catechin group compared to the control group. Changes in body weight during the study period were -1.1 kg in the catechin group and 0.2 kg in the control group. In the catechin group, the visceral fat areas at the start of the trial were significantly correlated with the magnitude of fat reduction at the end of the trial. Under the guidance of a registered dietitian, subjects in the catechin group who showed a reduction in their fat-derived energy percentage during the test period tended to reduce more body weight than those with an increase in this percentage, although no difference in total energy intake was noted between the two groups. One-year ad libitum consumption of a catechin beverage posed no health risks and resulted in a reduction in body weight. CONCLUSIONS: An overall improvement in dietary habits might enhance the weight-reduction effect of the beverage.

Measurement of visceral fat by abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis is beneficial in medical checkup.

OBJECTIVE: In addition to the waist circumference (WC) measurement, an accurate measurement of visceral fat is very important in terms of the pathology associated with the metabolic syndrome. The only method available for an accurate measurement of a visceral fat area (VFA) is abdominal computed tomography (CT). To overcome this limitation, we estimated VFA using abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with accuracy comparable to that of abdominal CT, and investigated the relationship between VFA and risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Because abdominal BIA detects excess visceral fat accumulation that cannot be detected by a measurement of WC, the characteristics of the subjects who were identified as having excessive visceral fat using BIA, but not WC, were examined. METHODS: Abdominal BIA was used to estimate VFA in male subjects (n = 1803) (age: 48 ± 10 years, body mass index: 23.9 ± 3.0 kg/m(2)) who provided informed consent. RESULTS: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome diagnosed based on the diagnostic criteria established by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine was 18%. Among the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome, WC was significantly correlated with triglycerides (TG), but estimated VFA was correlated with blood pressure and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), in addition to TG. Abdominal BIA detected excess visceral fat accumulation in 3% of subjects for whom WC had detected none. Elevated blood pressure, TG, and fasting plasma glucose and decreased HDL-C were also noted in these subjects, and the values of these risk factors were comparable to those of subjects in whom visceral fat accumulation was detected using WC. CONCLUSION: Abdominal BIA is a simple and safe method that is superior to WC for the detection of excessive visceral fat accumulation. Therefore, abdominal BIA will likely be used clinically to detect excessive accumulation of visceral fat, which is an important predictor of the metabolic syndrome.

Effects of phytosterols in diacylglycerol as part of diet therapy on hyperlipidemia in children.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hyperlipidemia in children is increasing in Japan, but drug therapy for such children is limited. The ingestion of 4% phytosterols-containing diacylglycerol (PS/DAG) decreases serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations in adults. In the present study, we examined the effect of PS/DAG as part of a diet therapy in pediatric patients with hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Pediatric patients with hyperlipidemia with > or =5.18mmol (200 mg/dL) serum total cholesterol and/or >or =1.70mmol (150 mg/dL) triglycerides (N=22) ingested bread containing PS/DAG (total daily intake, 10g) for 6 months. Blood chemistry was examined prior to and 2, 4, 6 months after the initiation of ingestion, and 4 months after the ingestion period. RESULTS: No significant differences in energy intake or cholesterol intake during the study period were found. After 4 months of ingestion of PS/DAG, LDL-C, lipoprotein(a) [ Lp(a)], free fatty acids and total ketone bodies decreased significantly. In seven patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, total cholesterol and remnant-like lipoprotein particles (RLP)-cholesterol also significantly decreased in addition to LDL-C and Lp(a). CONCLUSIONS: PS/DAG improves serum lipid metabolism in pediatric patients with hyperlipidemia for whom drug therapy is limited, suggesting that PS/DAG may reduce the risk of developing various diseases induced by hyperlipidemia.

Suppressive effects of diacylglycerol oil on postprandial hyperlipidemia in insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.

The diacylglycerol (DAG), a commonly used as a cooking oil in Japan, results in a lower elevation of serum triglyceride (TG) after ingestion compared to triacylglycerol (TAG). Postprandial hyperlipidemia (PPHL) and an increase in remnant lipoproteins (RLP) levels are risk factors for CAD, and a close relationship between PPHL and type 2 diabetes and/or insulin resistance has been reported. To evaluate the effect of DAG on PPHL in insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, 11 subjects with a normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 14 subjects with IGT received oral fat tolerance test (OFTT) twice. They ingested emulsified test oils prepared with either DAG or TAG. In the IGT subjects, after the DAG and TAG load, the serum concentrations of TG, RLP-TG, and RLP-cholesterol increased throughout the 4-h study. The responses of these variables above baseline after the DAG load were significantly smaller than those after the TAG load (p<0.05). In contrast, in the NGT subjects, changes in these parameters were much smaller than those observed for IGT subjects. The difference in the integrated responses for serum RLP-cholesterol concentration during OFTT between DAG and TAG in all subjects can be easily explained by the integrated response of insulin rather than glucose during oral glucose tolerance test (r=0.7, p<0.01). DAG was more effective in insulin resistant and hyperinsulinemic participants regardless of glucose intolerance, and may be beneficial in reducing the extent of CAD risk in such individuals.

Effects of diacylglycerol oil on adiposity in obese children: initial communication.

Several studies have shown that diacylglycerol (DAG) oil may suppress accumulation of body fat in adults compared to triacylglycerol (TAG) oil. In this study, we investigated the effect of DAG oil as part of dietetic therapy in obese children. The participants were 11 male and female obese children who were under treatment at the outpatient clinic (four boys, seven girls, age: 7-17 years old). Daily-use cooking oil was changed to DAG oil, and the effects on abdominal fat areas, adipocytokines, and serum lipids were investigated. The total and subcutaneous fat areas significantly decreased in the 5th month after ingestion of DAG oil. Leptin was significantly lower than the initial level after ingestion of DAG oil. The ingestion of DAG oil decreased both the abdominal fat area and leptin in obese children, suggesting that DAG oil prevents obesity in children as well as in adults.

Effect of diacylglycerol on postprandial lipid metabolism in non-diabetic subjects with and without insulin resistance.

The effects of diacylglycerol ingestion on postprandial lipid metabolism in non-diabetic subjects with and without insulin resistance were investigated. This was single dose ingestion study, in a double blind cross over manner and postprandial lipid concentrations were compared between diacylglycerol oil (DAG) and triacylglycerol oil (TAG) ingestion. The subjects were 18 male volunteers and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-R) was used to classify them into insulin sensitive (IS, n=10, HOMA-R<2.0) and insulin resistant (IR, n=8, HOMA-R> or =2.0) groups. Fasting serum triglycerides (TG) and remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) correlated with HOMA-R and were significantly higher in the IR as compared to the IS group. Postprandial increments of TG and RLP-C after DAG ingestion were significantly lower as compared to those after TAG ingestion. In a case of TAG ingestion, their increments positively correlated with HOMA-R and were significantly higher in the IR as compared with the IS group. In contrast, their increments remained constant after DAG ingestion in both groups. In the IR group, the postprandial lipidemia were reduced after DAG ingestion to about half of those after TAG ingestion. In conclusion, DAG reduced postprandial lipidemia especially in subjects with insulin resistance and may be beneficial in preventing atherosclerosis and related diseases.

Effects of diacylglycerol ingestion on postprandial hyperlipidemia in diabetes.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that diacylglycerol (DAG) as compared with triacylglycerol (TAG) suppressed increases in postprandial lipids in healthy volunteers. This study was to investigate the effects of DAG on postprandial lipids, particularly remnant lipoproteins in diabetics. METHODS: Emulsified DAG oil or TAG oil with a fatty acid composition similar to DAG oil was orally administered (30 g fat/m2 of body surface) to moderately controlled six diabetics, with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) below 8%, after fasting for at least 12 h in a randomized crossover manner. Serum cholesterol and TAG, lipids in remnant-like particles (RLP), and other lipid parameters including serum ketone bodies were measured prior to and 2, 4, and 6 h after fat loading. RESULTS: DAG loading significantly suppressed increases in postprandial serum TAG and lipids in RLP as compared with TAG loading. The incremental area under the curve (IAUC) for serum TAG and that for lipids in RLP with DAG loading were also significantly smaller than those with TAG loading. However, changes in serum levels of insulin, free fatty acids, and ketone bodies during fat loading were essentially the same for DAG and TAG. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that substituting DAG intake for TAG may be beneficial to moderately controlled diabetics due to its effect in reducing postprandial hyperlipidemia.