Association between Gut Microbiota and Muscle Strength in Japanese General Population of the Iwaki Health Promotion Project.

The association between the gut microbiota and muscle strength has garnered attention in the context of mitigating muscle decline. However, many study subjects have been individuals with existing illnesses or the elderly only. This study aims to elucidate the association between the gut microbiota and muscle strength indicators using grip strength/BMI in a large-scale study of community residents. The mean age of men (n = 442) and women (n = 588) was 50.5 (15.3) and 51.2 (15.9) years, respectively. The muscle strength indicator used was grip/BMI. The association between total read count and genus-level gut microbiota and muscle strength was analyzed. The mean grip/BMI was 1.8 (0.3) for men and 1.2 (0.2) for women. The genus of the gut microbiota that showed an association in both sexes was Eggerthella (men: ß = 0.18, CI: 0.04-0.31, p = 0.009; women: ß = 0.07, CI: 0.00-0.12, p = 0.028). Blautia, Eggerthella and Faecalibacterium were found to be significantly associated with grip/BMI in both the multiple regression analysis and Spearman's correlation analysis after the multiple comparison adjustment. These results suggest that an increase in Blautia and Eggerthella, coupled with a decrease in Faecalibacterium, may contribute to muscle strengthening or the suppression of muscle weakness.

Correction: Kanda et al. Body Compression Corrective Garment and Eating Behavioural Change for Weight Reduction: The Mutsu City Randomised Controlled Trial. Healthcare 2023, 11, 942.

In the original publication [...].

The Association between Gut Microbiota and Depression in the Japanese Population.

Depression is a leading cause of disease worldwide. The association between gut microbiota and depression has barely been investigated in the Japanese population. We analyzed Iwaki health check-up data collected from 2017 to 2019 and constructed generalized linear mixed models. The independent variable was the relative abundance of each of the 37 gut microbiota genera that were reported to be associated with depression. The dependent variable was the presence of depression assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Potential confounders, including grip strength, gender, height, weight, smoking, and drinking habits, were adjusted in the regression models. Nine genera's regression coefficients (Alistipes, Blautia, Coprococcus, Dorea, Faecalibacterium, Holdemania, Lactobacillus, Mitsuokella, and Oscillibacter) showed statistical significance after multiple comparisons adjustment. Among these nine gut bacteria genera, Alistipes, Blautia, Coprococcus, Dorea, Faecalibacterium, and Oscillibacter were reported to be associated with butyrate production in the intestine. Our results indicate that gut microbiotas may influence the depression condition of the host via the butyrate-producing process.

Body Compression Corrective Garment and Eating Behavioural Change for Weight Reduction: The Mutsu City Randomised Controlled Trial.

Affordable and accessible behaviour-based interventions that do not overwhelm or demoralise overweight/obese individuals are needed. Combining clothing with behaviour change techniques might be an option. This is because clothing is a social norm, and clothing and motivation for weight loss are associated with the common desire to look better. Therefore, we conducted a single-blind randomised controlled trial to examine the effect of an intervention that combined behaviour change techniques, including simplified goal setting and self-monitoring, with a body compression corrective garment (BCCG), which exerts continuous but minimal tactile pressure on the hips and abdomen. We enrolled healthy community-dwelling adults with a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 and assigned 35 and 34 participants to the intervention and control groups, respectively. The reduction in body weight was 1.3 kg more in the intervention group than in the control group after the 12-week intervention period (p < 0.05, repeated-measures mixed model). In addition, eating behaviour and body appreciation showed significant improvement in the intervention group compared with the control group. Our newly developed intervention improved eating behaviour and body appreciation and reduced the body weight of overweight/obese participants. Wearing a BCCG seems to facilitate behavioural changes and lead to weight loss.

Relationship between the cross-sectional area of the lumbar dural sac and lower urinary tract symptoms: A population-based cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the cross-sectional area of the dural sac (DCSA) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study included 270 Japanese participants from a community health check-up in 2016. Overactive bladder (OAB) was diagnosed during the assessment of LUTS. The smallest DCSA of each participant was defined as the minimum DCSA (mDCSA). The cutoff size of the mDCSA in OAB was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for OAB, and a scoring system was developed for estimating these. The prevalence of OAB was 11.1%. Age and low back pain visual analogue scale (LBP VAS) scores were significantly higher, and the mean mDCSA was significantly lower in participants with OAB than in those without. The cutoff size of mDCSA in OAB was 69 mm2. There were significant correlations between OAB and age, LBP VAS score, and mDCSA<70 mm2. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) should be considered a cause of LUTS when mDCSA is <69 mm2. Assessing the mDCSA with age and LBP VAS score was more valuable in detecting LUTS in LSS than the mDCSA alone.

Association of serum creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio with skeletal muscle mass and strength in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project.

We evaluated the feasibility of using serum creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio in the assessments of muscle mass and strength in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In a community-based cross-sectional study, skeletal muscle mass and handgrip strength were assessed in 641 Japanese adults. Low skeletal muscle mass index and low handgrip strength were defined as indicated in the sarcopenia diagnostic criteria of the Japan Society of Hepatology. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was defined as fatty liver on ultrasonography in the absence of other causes of steatosis. The creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio was useful for identifying the participants with low skeletal muscle mass index, with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77-0.91] in men and 0.72 in women (95% CI, 0.65-0.78), and those with low handgrip strength, with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93-0.99) in men and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.66-0.92) in women. Moreover, the creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio correlated with skeletal muscle mass index (r = 0.511, p<0.001) and handgrip strength (r = 0.657, p<0.001), whereas it did not correlate with exacerbation of hepatic steatosis. In this study, creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio correlated with muscle mass and strength in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease regardless of hepatic steatosis.

Association between Gut Microbiota and Body Composition in Japanese General Population: A Focus on Gut Microbiota and Skeletal Muscle.

This study aimed to investigate the gut microbial genera associated with skeletal muscle mass, using a large-scale survey from the standpoint of preventing sarcopenia. A total of 848 participants were included in the analysis. The mean (SD) ages of men (n = 353) and women (n = 495) were 50.0 (12.9) years and 50.8 (12.8) years, respectively. Body composition was assessed using appendicular skeletal muscle mass/body weight (ASM/BW), ASM, and BW. Additionally, the relationship between gut microbial genera and body composition was analyzed. The means (SD) of ASM/BW were 34.9 (2.4) % in men and 29.4 (2.9) % in women. Blautia and Bifidobacterium were positively associated with ASM/BW only in men (Blautia: ß = 0.0003, Bifidobacterium: ß = 0.0001). However, Blautia was negatively associated with BW (ß = -0.0017). Eisenbergiella was positively associated with ASM/BW (ß = 0.0209) and negatively associated with BW (ß = -0.0769) only in women. Our results indicate that Blautia, Bifidobacterium and Eisenbergiella, which are positively associated with ASM/BW, might help increase skeletal muscle mass. ASM/BW may clarify the relationship between gut microbiota and skeletal muscle mass without being affected by obesity or excess body fat mass.

Association between female urinary urgency and aponeurotic ptosis: Results from a community-based cross-sectional study in Japan.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between urinary urgency (UU) and aponeurotic ptosis (AP) in a health promotion project. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 658 women in Aomori, Japan. The presence of UU was evaluated using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score. The distance from the light reflex on the cornea to the upper eyelid (margin reflex distance-1 [MRD-1]) was measured. AP was defined as MRD-1 of less than 2.0 mm. The daily salt intake amount was estimated using the dietary questionnaire. Daily salt intake was defined as excessive if it was 10 g/day or higher. Independent factors of UU and AP were analyzed via multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: The number of women with UU and AP was 193 and 65, respectively. Similar background differences were observed in age, cardiovascular disease history, renal function, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and daily salt intake between participants with UU and those with AP. Participants with UU had a higher prevalence of AP (19% vs. 6.2%) than those without. Moreover, more than 50% of the women with AP experienced UU. Multivariable logistic analysis on UU showed that age (≥65 years), diabetes mellitus, daily salt intake (≥10 g/day), and AP (odds ratio, 2.07, p = .014) were independent factors. Multivariable analysis on AP revealed that age (≥65 years), hypertension, daily salt intake (≥10 g/day), and UU were independent factors. CONCLUSIONS: AP was an independent indicator of UU, in addition to excessive daily salt intake. Women with AP may tend to intake excessive salt and experience UU.