Nutritional and biochemical parameters associated with 6-year change in bone mineral density in community-dwelling Japanese women aged 69 years and older: The Muramatsu Study.

OBJECTIVE: Predictors of bone loss in elderly Asian women have been unclear. This cohort study aimed to assess lifestyle, nutritional, and biochemical predictors of bone loss in elderly Japanese women. METHODS: Subjects included 389 community-dwelling women aged 69 y and older from the Muramatsu cohort initiated in 2003; follow-up ended in 2009. We obtained data on physical characteristics, osteoporosis treatment (with bisphosphonates or selective estrogen receptor modulators), physical activity, calcium intake, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, undercarboxylated osteocalcin, serum albumin, and bone turnover markers as predictors. The outcome was a 6-y change in forearm BMD (ΔBMD). Osteoporosis treatment was coded as 0 for none, 1 for sometimes, and 2 for always during the follow-up period. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of ΔBMD. RESULTS: Mean age of the subjects was 73.3 y. Mean values of ΔBMD and Δweight were -0.019 g/cm(2) (-5.8%) and -2.2 kg, respectively. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed baseline BMD (ß = -0.137, P < 0.0001), osteoporosis treatment (ß = 0.0068, P = 0.0105), serum albumin levels (ß = 0.0122, P = 0.0319), and Δweight (ß = 0.0015, P = 0.0009) as significant independent predictors of ΔBMD. However, none of the other nutritional or biochemical indices were found to be significant predictors of ΔBMD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that adequate general nutrition and appropriate osteoporosis medication, rather than specific nutritional regimens, may be effective in preventing bone loss in elderly women.

Mutagenicity and mutagens of the red chili pepper as gallbladder cancer risk factor in Chilean women.

High consumption of red chili pepper has been shown to be a risk factor for gallbladder cancer (GBC) in Chilean women with gallstones, and included mutagens may be important in this context. We aimed to investigate the mutagenicity and mutagens in Chilean red chili pepper in the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA1537, TA100, and TA1535 with and without metabolic activation (S9 mix). Pure capsaicin was tested for mutagenicity using strain TA98. The presence of aflatoxins was evaluated by two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, and then the concentrations of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 were measured by an HPLC system. In strain TA98, the mean numbers of revertant colonies with and without the S9 mix were 2.5- and 2.2-fold higher than those of each negative control, respectively. However, pure capsaicin did not show mutagenic activity in strain TA98. Aflatoxin contamination of red chili pepper was confirmed, and the concentrations of aflatoxins B1 and G1 were 4.4 ng/g and 0.5 ng/g, respectively. Our findings suggest that low-level but protracted exposure to aflatoxins may be associated with the development of GBC in Chilean women who carry gallstones.

Evidence that genetic variants of metabolic detoxication and cell cycle control are not related to gallbladder cancer risk in Chilean women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High consumption of red chili pepper has been shown to be a risk factor for gallbladder cancer (GBC) in Chilean women. However, genetic factors in addition to this and other environmental factors may also be associated with an increased risk of GBC. We aimed to examine the associations of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase class mu (GSTM1), and tumor protein p53 (TP53) polymorphisms with the risk of GBC in Chilean women. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study of 57 patients with GBC, 119 patients with gallstones, and 70 controls was conducted. The statuses of the polymorphisms CYP1A1 rs4646903, CYP1A1 rs1048943, and TP53 rs1042522 were assayed using Custom Taqman SNP Genotyping Assays and TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay. GSTM1 deletion polymorphism was detected by allele-specific PCR analysis. RESULTS: No significant differences in the genotypic or allelic frequencies in the CYP1A1, GSTM1, and TP53 polymorphisms were found between the three groups. CONCLUSION: These genetic variants were not related to an increased risk of GBC in Chilean women. Other polymorphisms, such as red-chili-pepper-related polymorphisms, may contribute to the development of GBC in Chilean women.

Genetic variants involved in gallstone formation and capsaicin metabolism, and the risk of gallbladder cancer in Chilean women.

AIM: To determine the effects of genetic variants associated with gallstone formation and capsaicin (a pungent component of chili pepper) metabolism on the risk of gallbladder cancer (GBC). METHODS: A total of 57 patients with GBC, 119 patients with gallstones, and 70 controls were enrolled in this study. DNA was extracted from their blood or paraffin block sample using standard commercial kits. The statuses of the genetic variants were assayed using Taqman SNP Genotyping Assays or Custom Taqman SNP Genotyping Assays. RESULTS: The non-ancestral T/T genotype of apolipoprotein B rs693 polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of GBC (OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.63). The T/T genotype of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) rs708272 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of GBC (OR: 5.04, 95% CI: 1.43-17.8). CONCLUSION: Genetic variants involved in gallstone formation such as the apolipoprotein B rs693 and CETP rs708272 polymorphisms may be related to the risk of developing GBC in Chilean women.

Low calcium intake is associated with increased bone resorption in postmenopausal Japanese women: Yokogoshi Study.

OBJECTIVE: Low Ca intake is common among Japanese women, but its effect on bone metabolism has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between Ca intake and serum markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal Japanese women. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A community setting. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 595 home-dwelling postmenopausal Japanese women. Ca intake was assessed by a validated FFQ. Serum type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTX) and osteocalcin were measured as markers of bone turnover. The relationships between demographic characteristics, lifestyles, serum Ca, vitamin D and intact serum parathyroid hormone and bone turnover were also assessed. RESULTS: The average age of the subjects was 64.5 (sd 5.8) years and the mean Ca intake was 527 (sd 160) mg/d. Ca intake was significantly associated with serum NTX (P = 0.0104), but not with serum osteocalcin. Mean serum NTX concentration in the lowest quartile of Ca intake (<417 mg/d) was significantly higher than in the fourth, referent quartile. Among these Japanese postmenopausal women, very low Ca intake (less than approximately 400 mg/d) was associated with increased bone resorption but not bone formation. CONCLUSIONS: Increased bone resorption may be one mechanism by which this Ca-depleted population normalizes bone metabolism and prevents osteoporosis.

Unhealthy maternal lifestyle leads to rapid infant weight gain: prevention of future chronic diseases.

Infants' rapid (catch-up) weight gain is associated with later obesity and chronic adult diseases. The aim of this study was to determine maternal and environmental factors related to rapid weight gain at one month and 18 months after full-term birth in Japan. Subjects were 1,524 infants and their mothers who visited the 18-month check-up in Niigata City between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008. An anonymous questionnaire elicited information on the infant's weight (at birth, 1 month, and 18 months), sex, feeding method, presence of food allergy, gestational age, and caregiver. Mother's information was height, pre-pregnancy weight, pregnancy weight gain, age at delivery, pregnancy toxicosis, number of daily meals during pregnancy, smoking and drinking habits. Some questionnaire items were obtained from a maternal and child health handbook. Independence of predictors for rapid weight gain (vs. slow or average weight gain), i.e. a score gain of 0.67 SD, during the first month and first 18 months was tested by multiple logistic regression analysis. In the first month, having a meal once or twice daily during pregnancy (P = 0.0016) and daily smoking in pre-pregnancy (P = 0.0175) were associated with rapid weight gain. In the first 18 months, use of daycare (P = 0.0083) and daily drinking in pre-pregnancy (P = 0.0130) were associated with rapid weight gain. We conclude that mother's pre-pregnancy smoking and drinking, dieting during pregnancy, and infant daycare attendance lead to rapid infant weight gain. Controlling these factors may prevent future chronic adult lifestyle-related diseases.

Effect of dietary intake on the levels of biliary unsaturated free Fatty acids having inhibitory activity on mutagens.

Unsaturated free fatty acids (FFAs), such as palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids, have inhibitory actions on mutagenesis. These FFAs in bile may play a role in preventing cholecystopathy and their levels may be influenced by diet. However, the effects of dietary intake on biliary FFAs levels are not known. In order to examine possible associations between dietary habits and biliary FFAs levels, bile samples were collected from resected gallbladders of 114 Chilean female patients with gallstones, and FFAs were measured with an HPLC system. The long-term dietary intake of the patients was investigated through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. A high intake of vegetables was negatively correlated with the total FFA level (r = -0.264, P = 0.010). Positive correlations were found between fruit consumption and the lauric acid level (r = 0.200, P = 0.041), fish consumption and the levels of oleic (r = 0.370, P <0.0001), linolenic (r = 0.197, P = 0.038) and arachidonic (r = 0.200, P =0.035) acids, and consumption of foods fried in vegetable oil and the linoleic acid level (r = 0.269, P =0.004). Linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids which may have an inhibitory effect on actions of unknown mutagens in bile appear to be increased by consumption of high levels of fish and fried foods.

Effect of genetic predisposition on the risk of gallbladder cancer in Hungary.

A CYP1A1 polymorphism has been associated with an increased risk for gallbladder cancer (GBC) in Japanese women. However, genetic risk factors for GBC in Hungary, where the population has a relatively high GBC incidence, has not been well studied. We therefore tested associations between CYP1A1 T3801C, CYP1A1 Ile462Val, GSTM1deletion, and TP53 Arg72Pro and GBC in Hungary. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 100 controls (52 men and 48 women) and from the tissue embedded in paraffin of 43 cases (6 men and 37 women). The case-control analysis was limited to females due to a small number of males. Of 37 female cases, 21 (56.8%) were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, and the remaining 16 (43.2%) were classified as non-adenocarcinoma. The odds ratios (ORs) for the Ile/Val genotype and the Val allele were 8.9 (95% CI: 2.9-27.4) and 4.4 (95% CI: 1.7-11.1), respectively. The occurrence of the combined variant genotypes of CYP1A1 Ile462Val and GSTM1 (37.8% vs. 8.3%) or CYP1A1 Ile462Val and TP53 Arg72Pro (24.3% vs. 0%) was significantly higher in the cases than in the controls. The Ile/Val genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of adenocarcinoma (OR 9.2; 95% CI: 2.6-32.6) and non-adenocarcinoma (OR 8.4; 95% CI: 2.2-32.4). Additionally, the Arg/Pro genotype increased risk of non-adenocarcinoma (OR 3.8; 95% CI: 1.2-12.8). The Val allele may contribute to the development of GBC not only in Japanese but also in Hungarian women. Our results provide a rationale for further studies of genetic variation on the risk of GBC in Hungary.