Age- and height-dependent bias of underweight and overweight assessment standards for children and adolescents.

Background: Precision in evaluating underweight and overweight status among children and adolescents is paramount for averting health and developmental issues. Existing standards for these assessments have faced scrutiny regarding their validity. This study investigates the age and height dependencies within the international standards set by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), relying on body mass index (BMI), and contrasts them with Japanese standards utilizing the percentage of overweight (POW). Method: We scrutinized a comprehensive database comprising 7,863,520 children aged 5-17 years, sourced from the School Health Statistics Research initiative conducted by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. Employing the quantile regression method, we dissected the structure of weight-for-height distributions across different ages and sexes, quantifying the potentially biased assessments of underweight and overweight status by conventional criteria. Results: Applying IOFT criteria for underweight assessment revealed pronounced height dependence in males aged 11-13 and females aged 10-11. Notably, a discernible bias emerged, wherein children in the lower 25th percentile were classified as underweight five times more frequently than those in the upper 25th percentile. Similarly, the overweight assessment displayed robust height dependence in males aged 8-11 and females aged 7-10, with children in the lower 25th percentile for height deemed obese four or five times more frequently than their counterparts in the upper 25th percentile. Furthermore, using the Japanese POW criteria for assessment revealed significant age dependence in addition to considerably underestimating the percentage of underweight and overweight cases under the age of seven. However, the height dependence for the POW criterion was smaller than the BMI criterion, and the difference between height classes was less than 3-fold. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the intricacies of age-dependent changes in body composition during the growth process in children, emphasizing the absence of gold standards for assessing underweight and overweight. Careful judgment is crucial in cases of short or tall stature at the same age, surpassing sole reliance on conventional criteria results.

Association of body size distortion with low body mass index in female patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that female patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) are thinner and eat less than healthy controls. Therefore, we hypothesized that their thinness is associated with body size misperception. The aim of this study was to clarify whether patients' body size perception (BSP) is associated with body mass index (BMI) independent of potential confounders. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed 81 outpatients for BSP using the Japanese version of Body Image Scale, body composition, dietary intake, and biochemical markers. As a control, we used BSP and self-reported anthropometric data from 111 healthy women collected via a web survey. First, BSP and BMI were compared between the patients and the controls. Second, patient data was compared between patients who overestimated their body size (OE, n = 31) and a control who did not (Non-OE, n = 50). Multiple regression analysis was performed to clarify the association between BSP (independent variable) and BMI (dependent variable), adjusting for potential confounders, such as age, disease duration, and nutritional factors. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between body size distortion and BMI in both patients and controls (p < 0.001, both). In interpatient comparisons, the OE group had significantly lower BMI and body fat percentage (p < 0.001, both), normalized energy (p = 0.037), and protein (p = 0.013) intakes, and significantly greater weight loss from age 20 (p = 0.003) than the Non-OE group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that overestimation of body size was associated with lower BMI independent of confounders, such as longer disease history, longitudinal weight loss, and nutritional factors. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that body size distortion is an etiological factor for lower BMI in female patients with NTM-LD. Thus, it may be important to understand the patient's body image when providing dietary advice.

Association of a pro-inflammatory diet and gestational diabetes mellitus with maternal anemia and hemoglobin levels during pregnancy: a prospective observational case-control study.

Anemia is prevalent in pregnant women, and the causes include inadequate diet, increased demand for iron, and inflammation. We hypothesized that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hepcidin-related gene polymorphisms may contribute to maternal anemia and that an anti-inflammatory diet can alleviate this negative effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of an inflammatory diet, GDM, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in hepcidin-related genes, which are key regulators of iron, with maternal anemia. This was a secondary data analysis of a prospective prenatal diet and pregnancy outcome study in Japan. The Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index was calculated using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. We analyzed 121 SNPs in 4 genes: TMPRS6 (43 SNPs), TF (39 SNPs), HFE (15 SNPs), and MTHFR (24 SNPs). Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between the first variable and maternal anemia. The prevalence of anemia in first, second, and third trimesters were 5.4%, 34.9%, and 45.8%, respectively. The pregnant women with GDM had a significantly higher incidence of moderate anemia than those without GDM (40.0% vs. 11.4%, P = .029). In multivariate regression analysis, Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (ß = -0.057, P = .011) and GDM (ß = -0.657, P = .037) were significantly associated with hemoglobin levels during the third trimester. Using Stata's qtlsnp command, TMPRSS6 rs2235321 was found to be associated with hemoglobin levels during the third trimester. These results indicate that inflammatory diets, GDM, and TMPRSS6 rs2235321 polymorphism are associated with maternal anemia. This result suggests that a pro-inflammatory diet and GDM are associated with maternal anemia.

Association of Social Networking Sites Use with Actual and Ideal Body Shapes, and Eating Behaviors in Healthy Young Japanese Women.

Recent reports have associated the use of social networking sites (SNS) with the drive for thinness in young women; however, its influence on their actual body shape and eating behaviors (EB) remains unclear. We aimed to examine the effect of SNS use on body mass index (BMI), body image (BI), and EB in young women. Participants included 196 healthy women (20-29 years) who answered questions about their SNS use, height, weight, BI and EB via a web-based survey. First, the correlation between time spent on SNS and each variable was determined. Participants were then divided into quartiles according to the duration of daily SNS use as long (≥3 h, n = 52) and short (<1 h, n = 54), and the data were then compared between the groups. Correlation analysis showed that the longer the duration of daily SNS use, the significantly lower the BMI, the use of nutrition labels, and the frequency of consumption of milk and dairy products. The long group had significantly lower BMI and ideal BI than the short group. The results suggest that spending more time on SNS in young women may be associated with thinner actual and ideal body shapes and poorer access to health information and healthy foods.

Nutritional status in female patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease and its association with disease severity.

BACKGROUND: In women, slender body habitus has been reported to be one of the predisposing factors underlying the development and poor prognosis of non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD). Given the lack of nutritional data contributing to treatment strategies, we aimed to clarify the nutritional status of female patients with NTM-LD and its association with disease severity. METHODS: In this single-center observational study, we enrolled 81 female outpatients with NTM-LD. Data on healthy women of similar ages were selected from our previous survey data and categorized as controls. First, we compared anthropometric and dietary survey data between patients and controls. Second, after the patients were categorized into relatively mild (mild, n = 40) and relatively severe groups (severe, n = 41) based on pulmonary X-ray-image finding scores, body composition, nutritional intake, and biochemical markers were compared between the groups. To identify nutritional factors associated with disease severity, logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients with NTM-LD had significantly lower energy intake, body mass index, body fat, and skeletal muscle mass (all p < 0.001). Compared with the mild group, the severe group had significantly lower skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.037), albumin (p = 0.029), transthyretin (prealbumin) (p = 0.002), retinol-binding protein (p = 0.011), and hemoglobin (p = 0.001); however, no between-group differences were observed in energy or nutrient intake. Logistic analyses revealed that transthyretin (p = 0.025) and hemoglobin (p = 0.003) levels were independent factors associated with disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to comprehensively report the association between NTM-LD severity and nutritional status, including body composition, nutrient intake, and biomarkers. The results suggest that initiating nutritional therapy from the mild stage of the disease to prevent undernutrition is warranted.

Match or mismatch between chronotype and sleep-wake cycle and their association with lean body mass gain among male high-school baseball players.

For athletes, it is important to acquire lean body mass (LBM) involving the skeletal muscle mass during their growth periods; however, the influence of chronotype on LBM gain remains unclear. We therefore aimed to investigate whether chronotype, sleep-wake cycle on weekdays (SWC-W), and their interaction contribute to LBM gain among adolescent male athletes in a 4-month intervention study. The participants were 45 male high-school baseball players. The intervention, including exercise menu (running and muscle strength training) and nutritional education, was conducted during a 4-month period of season-off training. The chronotype, body composition, lifestyle, and dietary intake were investigated before intervention (baseline) and after 4 months. Among the participants [Morningness (n = 14), Eveningness (n = 15), Intermediate (n = 16); ME score based on the Morningness/Eveningness Scale for Children (MES-C)], the midpoint of sleep on weekdays (MSW) was calculated in the "Morningness" and "Eveningness" participants, respectively. They were divided into 4 groups based on a match/mismatch with the chronotype: Type M-match (n = 8), Type M-mismatch (n = 6), Type E-match (n = 7), and Type E-mismatch (n = 8) groups. The data were compared among the 4 groups. Moreover, multiple regression analysis was conducted using an increase (kg) LBM gain as a response variable. When comparing the data between the "Morningness" and "Eveningness" participants, there were no differences in nutrient intake, the duration of training, or each parameter of body composition (per body weight) at baseline or after 4 months. There were also no differences in the rates of change in the body weight or each parameter of body composition. In groups in which the chronotype was consistent with the SWC-W (the Type M-match and Type E-match groups), the LBM gain were slightly greater than in the Type M-mismatch and Type E-mismatch groups (Type M-match: 3.5 ± 2.0 kg, Type M-mismatch: 1.6 ± 1.7 kg, Type E-match: 3.4 ± 2.2 kg, and Type E-mismatch: 1.2 ± 1.8 kg, p = .057). Multiple regression analysis revealed that an extent of the LBM gain was associated with a match between the chronotype and SWC-W (ß = 0.37, p = .030), independent of a long duration of training (ß = 0.52, p = .004). The results suggested that training-related LBM gain is associated with interactions between the chronotype and SWC-W in adolescent male athletes.Abbreviations: LBM: Lean body mass; SWC-W: Sleep-wake cycle on weekdays; ME score: Morningness-eveningness score; MES-C: Morningness/Eveningness Scale for Children; MSW: Midpoint of sleep on weekdays; MSF: Midpoint of sleep on free days; MSFsc: Midpoint of sleep on free days corrected for sleep debt accumulated through weekdays.

Association of Dietary Change during Pregnancy with Large-for-Gestational Age Births: A Prospective Observational Study.

Being born with large birthweight is considered as a risk of non-communicable diseases later in life. However, it is not fully understood what kind of maternal dietary intake during pregnancy affect large birthweight. Therefore, we examined the association of dietary intakes and its changes during pregnancy with large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births in Japanese pregnant women. In the prospective study, 245 pregnant women who visited Kyoto Medical Center were enrolled. Nutrition survey using brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) at all trimester was completed in 171 pregnant women. Based on birthweight and gestational age, participants were divided into three groups, such as small-for-gestational-age (<10th, SGA, n=17), appropriate-for-gestational-age (≥10th and <90th, AGA, n=144), and LGA (≥90th, n=10) groups. Compared with those without LGA births, mothers with LGA births showed: 1) greater weight gain during pregnancy (LGA: 14.0±3.2 kg, AGA: 9.9±3.9 kg, SGA: 8.4±3.1 kg, p<0.05); 2) higher energy intake throughout pregnancy (LGA: 310±368 kcal, AGA: 7±490 kcal, SGA: -97±293 kcal, ptrend<0.05); 3) larger changes in plant oil and sucrose consumptions from the 1st to 2nd trimester, probably due to the results of greater consumption of bread, Western confectionery, Japanese confectionery, and mayonnaise and dressing during the same period (ptrend<0.05, respectively). Our results suggest that higher energy intake throughout pregnancy, as well as greater consumption of plant oil and sucrose from the first to second trimester could be associated with LGA births.

Full-term low birth weight infants have differentially hypermethylated DNA related to immune system and organ growth: a comparison with full-term normal birth weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health issue as it increases the risk of noncommunicable diseases throughout life. However, the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns of full-term LBW infants (FT-LBWs) are still unclear. This exploratory study aimed to analyze the DNA methylation differences in FT-LBWs compared with those in full-term normal birth weight infants (FT-NBWs) whose mothers were nonsmokers and had no complications. Initially, 702 Japanese women with singleton pregnancies were recruited. Of these, four FT-LBWs and five FT-NBWs were selected as references for DNA methylation analysis, and 862,260 CpGs were assessed using Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was performed using DAVID v6.8 software to identify the biological functions of hyper- and hypomethylated DNA in FT-LBWs. RESULTS: 483 hyper-differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and 35 hypo-DMGs were identified in FT-LBW promoter regions. Hyper-DMGs were annotated to 11 biological processes; "macrophage differentiation" (e.g., CASP8), "apoptotic mitochondrial changes" (e.g., BH3), "nucleotide-excision repair" (e.g., HUS1), and "negative regulation of inflammatory response" (e.g., NLRP12 and SHARPIN). EREG was classified into "ovarian cumulus expansion" within the "organism growth and organization" category. Our data imply that LBW might be associated with epigenetic modifications, which regulate the immune system and cell maturation.

Association between socioeconomic status and small-for-gestational-age in Japan: A single center retrospective cohort study.

AIM: Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) status has negative health consequences in neonates and later life. Low socioeconomic status (SES) is a reported risk factor for adverse birth outcomes, such as SGA and preterm birth (PTB). The present study investigated whether maternal SES is associated with adverse outcomes in Japanese pregnant women. METHODS: Retrospective data were collected for 1970 Japanese women with singleton pregnancies who delivered between January 2007 and December 2011 at a single center: low SES group (n = 197); and controls (n = 1773). Low SES was defined according to the criteria of the Japanese pregnant-childbirth hospitalization support policy system. RESULTS: The low SES group included a significantly higher proportion of young women, women with single marital status, greater parity, pre-pregnancy smoking and a lack of regular employment (P < 0.001, respectively). The crude odds ratio (OR) for the association between low maternal SES and SGA was 1.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-2.82, P = 0.010). After adjustment for baseline maternal age, parity, body mass index, smoking and gestational weight gain, the adjusted OR for the association between low maternal SES and SGA was 1.92 (95% CI 1.17-3.17, P = 0.010). No significant association was found between maternal SES and PTB. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that low maternal SES is associated with SGA births in the Japanese population. Mitigation of low maternal SES could be urgent public health to prevent disadvantage birth outcome.

Maslinic acid derived from olive fruit in combination with resistance training improves muscle mass and mobility functions in the elderly.

Maslinic acid, derived from olive fruit, reduces pro-inflammation cytokines, which are involved in muscle fiber atrophy. Therefore, the maslinic acid ingestion may enhance the muscular response to resistance training through anti-inflammatory action. We therefore conducted a parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that examined whether a combination of maslinic acid supplementation and resistance training improve mobility functions in community-dwelling elderly persons. Over a 12-week period, 36 participants underwent moderate resistance training and are assigned to the maslinic acid supplementation (n = 17, 60 mg/day) or the placebo (n = 19) group. At baseline and at 12-weeks, we assessed body composition, grip strength, walking speed, leg strength, mobility functions, and knee pain scores. Following the 12-weeks, skeletal muscle mass, segmental muscle mass (right arm, left arm, and trunk) and knee pain score of the right leg were significantly improved in the maslinic acid group, while there was no change or parameters had worsened in the placebo group. Grip strength of the better side significantly increased only in the maslinic acid group. These results suggest that maslinic acid supplementation combined with moderate resistance training may increase upper muscle mass and grip strength, and reduce knee pain, could be effective for preventing mobility-related disability in elderly persons. Clinical trial registration number: UMIN000017207.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Elevated Liver Enzymes in Japanese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among reproductive-aged women. While PCOS is associated with an increased risk of obesity and insulin resistance, little is known regarding the prevalence of and risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among Japanese women with PCOS. We estimated the prevalence of and risk factors for elevated liver enzymes, as the index of NAFLD, in Japanese women with PCOS. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 102 reproductive-aged women who visited the Department of Gynecology, Kyoto Medical Center in Japan from January 2000 to September 2016. Inclusion criterion was confirmed diagnosis of PCOS using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10) codes. Exclusion criteria were women with a history of liver diseases, missing body mass index (BMI) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) data, and pregnancy. Data regarding age; BMI; and levels of blood glucose, serum lipid, liver enzymes, and sex hormones were obtained from medical records. Elevated liver enzymes was defined as ALT > 19 IU/L. Optimal cutoffs for risk factors for elevated liver enzymes were calculated to determine predictors of elevated liver enzymes using area under the curve (AUC) by receiver-operating characteristics (ROC). RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated liver enzymes was 33.3%. BMI was significantly higher in PCOS patients than in those without elevated liver enzymes (25.3 vs. 20.7 kg/m2, P < 0.05). ROC analyses were performed using BMI and blood glucose and testosterone levels because BMI and blood glucose showed differences between the groups and testosterone is related to fatty liver. AUC of the model including BMI and blood glucose and testosterone levels was 0.861 (sensitivity, 66.7%; specificity, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that elevated liver enzymes are common in women with PCOS. An algorism using BMI and blood glucose and testosterone levels might be useful to determine elevated liver enzymes in women with PCOS. Our finding may be useful for the study of NAFLD among Japanese women with PCOS since several previous studies have indicated elevated liver enzymes to be related to the potential presence of NAFLD. Further examination, including abdominal ultrasonography and/or liver biopsy data, is required to confirm these results.

The CLOCK 3111T/C single nucleotide polymorphism and daytime fluctuations of gastric motility in healthy young women: A preliminary study.

The 3111T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK) gene reportedly affects gastric motility before breakfast. It is of interest to know whether this SNP can affect the motility during the daytime. We investigated the association between the CLOCK 3111T/C SNP and several gastric motility parameters during the time period from 8:00 to 20:00 in 34 young women with scheduled meals. There were similar daytime fluctuations in gastric motility before and after the meals between the major (T/T) and minor (T/C) allele carriers. The CLOCK SNP may affect daytime gastric motility less than food stimulation.

Oral Carbonation Attenuates Feeling of Hunger and Gastric Myoelectrical Activity in Young Women.

We previously reported that carbonated water ingestion induced fullness and gastric motility. In order to determine whether such satiating effects occur through oral carbonic stimulation alone, we conducted modified sham-feeding (SF) tests (carbonated water ingestion (CW), water ingestion (W), carbonated water sham-feeding (CW-SF), and water sham-feeding (W-SF)), employing an equivalent volume and standardized temperature of carbonated and plain water, in a randomized crossover design. Thirteen young women began fasting at 10 p.m. on the previous night and were loaded with each sample (15ºC, 250 mL) at 9 a.m. on separate days. Electrogastrography (EGG) recordings were obtained from 20 min before to 45 min after the loading to determine the power and frequency of the gastric myoelectrical activity. Appetite was assessed using visual analog scales. After ingestion, significantly increased fullness and decreased hunger ratings were observed in the CW group. After the load, transiently but significantly increased fullness as well as decreased hunger ratings were observed in the CW-SF group. The powers of normogastria (2-4 cpm) and tachygastria (4-9 cpm) showed significant increases in the CW and W groups, but not in the CW-SF and W-SF groups. The peak frequency of normogastria tended to shift toward a higher band in the CW group, whereas it shifted toward a lower band in the CW-SF group, indicating a different EGG rhythm. Our results suggest that CO2-induced oral stimulation is solely responsible for the feeling of satiety. Moreover, different gastric-contraction rhythms (slow or fast) were induced by oral carbonic stimulation alone and carbonated water ingestion.

Color of hot soup modulates postprandial satiety, thermal sensation, and body temperature in young women.

The color of food is known to modulate not only consumers' motivation to eat, but also thermal perception. Here we investigated whether the colors of hot soup can influence thermal sensations and body temperature, in addition to the food acceptability and appetite. Twelve young female participants consumed commercial white potage soup, modified to yellow or blue by adding food dyes, at 9 a.m. on 3 separated days. During the test, visual impression (willingness to eat, palatability, comfort, warmth, and anxiety) and thermal sensations were self-reported using visual analog scales. Core (intra-aural) and peripheral (toe) temperatures were continuously recorded 10 min before and 60 min after ingestion. Blue soup significantly decreased willingness to eat, palatability, comfort, and warmth ratings, and significantly increased anxiety feelings compared to the white and yellow soups. After ingestion, the blue soup showed significantly smaller satiety ratings and the tendency of lower thermal sensation scores of the whole body compared to the white and yellow soups. Moreover, a significantly greater increase in toe temperature was found with the yellow soup than the white or blue soup. In conclusion, this study provides new evidence that the colors of hot food may modulate postprandial satiety, thermal sensations and peripheral temperature. Such effects of color may be useful for dietary strategies for individuals who need to control their appetite.

Association of evening smartphone use with cardiac autonomic nervous activity after awakening in adolescents living in high school dormitories.

PURPOSE: Smartphones are prevalently used among adolescents; however, nighttime exposure to blue-enriched light, through electric devices, is known to induce delays of the circadian rhythm phases and poor morning somatic conditions. We therefore investigated whether evening smartphone use may affect sleep-wake cycle and cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity after awaking in dormitory students. METHODS: The participants were high school students, living under dormitory rules regarding the curfew, study, meals, lights-out, and wake-up times. The students were forbidden from the use of both television and personal computer in their private rooms, and only the use of a smartphone was permitted. According to prior assessment of smartphone use, we chose age-, sex-, exercise time-matched long (n = 22, >120 min) and short (n = 14, ≤60 min) groups and compared sleep-wake cycle and physiological parameters, such as cardiac ANS activity, blood pressure, and intra-aural temperature. All measurements were performed during 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. in the dormitories. RESULTS: Compared with the short group, the long group showed a significantly lower cardiac ANS activity (2727 ± 308 vs. 4455 ± 667 ms2, p = 0.030) with a tendency toward a high heart rate, in addition to later bedtimes during weekdays and more delayed wake-up times over the weekend. Blood pressure and intra-aural temperature did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, evening smartphone use may be associated with altered sleep-wake cycle and a diminished cardiac ANS activity after awakening could be affecting daytime activities.

Thorough Mastication Prior to Swallowing Increases Postprandial Satiety and the Thermic Effect of a Meal in Young Women.

There is evidence to support that mastication may contribute to the prevention of weight gain via reduction of appetite sensations and subsequent energy intake. However, the metabolic effect of mastication after consumption of a daily meal, composed of the staple food (rice), soup, main and side dishes, is limited. Therefore, the effect of thorough mastication on greater satiety and the thermic effect of a meal (TEM) was investigated in young women. In study 1, energy expenditure (EE) derived from masticatory muscle activity for 20 min was measured while chewing hard, tasteless, non-caloric gum in seven subjects. In study 2, ten subjects consumed a solid meal performing 30 chews per mouthful (30 CPM), or swallowed the same, pureed meal without chewing (0 CPM) on two separate days, and postprandial EE, substrate oxidation, subjective appetite ratings and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity for 3 h were examined. Both test meals were iso-caloric (2,510 kJ) and -weighted (884 g), and consumed in 20 min. From study 1, the EE of mastication itself for the 20 min was estimated to be 3.7±0.8 kJ. From study 2, significantly higher TEM (134.2±15.5 vs. 67.8±13.8 kJ/3 h, p<0.001) as well as satiety (p=0.005), and tendency toward greater fat oxidation (p=0.090) and ANS activity (p=0.069) were observed after consumption of the meal with 30 CPM compared to 0 CPM. In conclusion, thorough mastication before swallowing increased postprandial satiety and the TEM in young women, suggesting such eating behavior may be useful for preventing obesity.

Circadian rhythm genes CLOCK and PER3 polymorphisms and morning gastric motility in humans.

BACKGROUND: Clock genes regulate circadian rhythm and are involved in various physiological processes, including digestion. We therefore investigated the association between the CLOCK 3111T/C single nucleotide polymorphism and the Period3 (PER3) variable-number tandem-repeat polymorphism (either 4 or 5 repeats 54 nt in length) with morning gastric motility. METHODS: Lifestyle questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were performed with 173 female volunteers (mean age, 19.4 years). Gastric motility, evaluated by electrogastrography (EGG), blood pressure, and heart rate levels were measured at 8:30 a.m. after an overnight fast. For gastric motility, the spectral powers (% normal power) and dominant frequency (DF, peak of the power spectrum) of the EGG were evaluated. The CLOCK and PER3 polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: Subjects with the CLOCK C allele (T/C or C/C genotypes: n = 59) showed a significantly lower DF (mean, 2.56 cpm) than those with the T/T genotype (n = 114, 2.81 cpm, P < 0.05). Subjects with the longer PER3 allele (PER34/5 or PER35/5 genotypes: n = 65) also showed a significantly lower DF (2.55 cpm) than those with the shorter PER34/4 genotype (n = 108, 2.83 cpm, P < 0.05). Furthermore, subjects with both the T/C or C/C and PER34/5 or PER35/5 genotypes showed a significantly lower DF (2.43 cpm, P < 0.05) than subjects with other combinations of the alleles (T/T and PER34/4 genotype, T/C or C/C and PER34/4 genotypes, and T/T and PER34/5 or PER35/5 genotypes). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that minor polymorphisms of the circadian rhythm genes CLOCK and PER3 may be associated with poor morning gastric motility, and may have a combinatorial effect. The present findings may offer a new viewpoint on the role of circadian rhythm genes on the peripheral circadian systems, including the time-keeping function of the gut.

How does fortification affect the distribution of calcium and vitamin B1 intake at the school lunch for fifth-grade children?

The purpose of this study was to estimate the usual intake distribution of calcium and vitamin B(1) of fifth-grade children based on a 3-d dietary survey and to assess nutrient intake using Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs 2010). A cross-sectional study was undertaken from October 2007 to February 2008 in schools located in Tokyo and Okayama, Japan. A total of 94 fifth-grade children attending 5 elementary schools participated in the study. The weighed plate waste method and observation were used to collect data on the school lunches and dietary records by children, accompanied by photographs used to collect data on meals at home. The study lasted 3 d, 2 non-consecutive days with school lunches and 1 d without. The estimated proportion of subjects below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for calcium intake with milk in the school lunch decreased by 40% compared to the calcium intake without milk in the school lunch. Vitamin B1 intake from less than 0.45 mg/1,000 kcal fortified rice was estimated to be 0%. The intake distribution of calcium has increased by 150 mg by taking milk and the intake distribution of vitamin B1 has increased 0.20 mg by taking fortified rice in the school lunch. Calcium and vitamin B1 intake in the school lunch has changed the distribution of calcium and vitamin B1 intake upward, and decreased the number of estimated subjects that were below EAR. However, the distribution was not shifted across the board and the shape of the distribution has changed.

The CLOCK 3111T/C SNP is associated with morning gastric motility in healthy young women.

Circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) molecule plays major roles in circadian rhythmicity and regulates daily physiological processes including digestive activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that the CLOCK 3111T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) might have adverse effects on the regulation of gastric motility. Based on the hypothesis, we investigated whether this SNP was associated with morning gastric motility. Ninety-five female university students (19.6±0.2 years) completed life-style questionnaires. Gastric motility, evaluated by electrogastrography (EGG), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured at 8:30 a.m. after an overnight fast. To determine the gastric motility, the spectral powers and dominant frequency (DF, a peak of the spectrum) of the EGG were calculated. No significant differences were found in breakfast frequency, energy intake, or HRV between CLOCK 3111T/C minor C allele (T/C or C/C) and T/T subjects. However, C allele carriers showed significantly lower DF than T/T subjects, suggesting slower gastric motility. Moreover, C allele carriers had a lower heart rate (HR) and tended to have lower diastolic BP compared with T/T subjects. These results support our hypothesis that this SNP is likely correlated with morning gastric motility. Such attenuated gastric and cardiovascular function that characterized CLOCK 3111C allele carriers could be affecting biological behavior in the morning.

The effects of carbonated water upon gastric and cardiac activities and fullness in healthy young women.

Although previous reports suggested that carbonated water drinking was effective against gastrointestinal symptoms, there is little information about the effects of carbonated water on gastric and appetite sensation. We therefore investigated the effect of carbonated water on short-term fullness with respect to gastric and cardiac responses in 19 healthy young women. Each subject was tested on three separate days at approximately 9 a.m. after an overnight fast. Gastric motility, evaluated by electrogastrography (EGG) and heart rate (HR), was measured for 20 min in the fasting state and 40 min after ingestion of water. Preloads consisted of an equivalent amount (250 mL) of water (W) or carbonated water (CW) and no drinking (blank). Fullness scores were measured using visual analog scales. To determine gastric motility, we assessed the component of bradygastria (1-2 cycles/min [cpm]), normogastria (2-4 cpm), tachygastria (4-9 cpm), and dominant frequency of the EGG power spectrum. After ingestion of CW, significant increases in fullness scores were observed compared with W. All postprandial EGG powers were significantly greater than preprandial, but no group difference was found. However, a dominant frequency tended to shift toward a lower band after ingestion of W. A significantly higher HR was found following consumption of CW as opposed to W. Multiple regression analysis revealed that increased HR was a significant variable contributing to the variances in fullness after ingestion of CW at 40 min. Our data suggest that CW may induce a short-term, but significant, satiating effect through enhanced postprandial gastric and cardiac activities due possibly to the increased sympathetic activity and/or withdrawal of parasympathetic activity.