Electrolyzed hydrogen-rich water for oxidative stress suppression and improvement of insulin resistance: a multicenter prospective double-blind randomized control trial.

INTRODUCTION: Electrolyzed hydrogen-rich water (EHW) is known to have suppressive effects on oxidative stress (OS). However, its benefit in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of EHW on T2DM. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 50 patients with T2DM who were assigned to the EHW or filtered water (FW) groups. The primary endpoint was changes in insulin resistance (IR) evaluated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). OS markers such as urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine excretion (8-OHdG), plasma diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM), and plasma biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and other clinical data, including serum lactate concentration (lactate), were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the changes in HOMA-IR between the EHW and FW groups. However, lactate levels decreased significantly in the EHW group, and this decrease was significantly correlated with a reduction in HOMA-IR, fasting plasma glucose, and fasting plasma insulin level. Serum lactate level also significantly correlated to decreased insulin bolus secretion after 90 min with glucose loading in the EHW subjects with HOMA-IR > 1.73. No EHW treatment-related adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: There were no significant effect of EHW in the change in HOMA-IR in this study; larger-scale and longer-term study are needed to verify the effects of EHW in T2DM patients. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-021-00524-3.

Telomere shortening as a stress-related biomarker in children exposed to maternal chronic stress in utero measured 7 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Seven years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, we investigated telomeres as a potential biomarker of maternal chronic stress in children according to the timing of exposure to the disaster. The subjects were children aged 5-9 years living in Rikuzentakata, Japan. Relative telomere length (rTL) was measured with PCR in saliva samples. The partial regression coefficient of the rTL was significantly shorter in the group of children conceived after the disaster than in the children who were in utero on the day of the disaster. Telomere length should be investigated as a biomarker for assessing disaster-related trauma in future studies.

Health effects of a farming program to foster community social capital of a temporary housing complex of the 2011 great East Japan earthquake.

OBJECTIVE: We launched a health promotion program called the Hamarassen ("let's get together") Farm, which provided farming opportunities for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake who resided in temporary housing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this program on physical and mental health in terms of bone mineral density (BMD) and a sense of purpose in life. METHODS: Among 39 female participants in whom BMD was evaluated, there were 12 Hamarassen participants, 8 self-farming control subjects, and 19 non-farming control subjects. BMD was measured by calcaneal quantitative ultrasound immediately after the project launch and 5 months later. A sense of purpose in life prior to and 2 months after the project's commencement was measured in 21 additional Hamarassen participants by use of the K-I Scale. Interviews were also conducted to qualitatively evaluate the effects of the Hamarassen program. RESULTS: The mean BMD T-score improved by 0.43 in the Hamarassen group, by 0.33 in the self-farming group, and by 0.06 in the controls (p=0.02). Among the 21 Hamarassen participants in whom mental health was evaluated, the average score for a sense of purpose in life improved from 20.5 to 24.9 (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Hamarassen Farm provided disaster victims with opportunities for social participation, interpersonal interaction, and physical exercise; such opportunities may improve physical and psychosocial well-being.