Ketogenic effects of medium chain triglycerides containing formula and its correlation to breath acetone in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single dose-response study.

The efficacy of low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets, such as ketogenic diets, for cancer patients is of research interest. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in a case study in which medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) or MCT-containing formula (ketogenic formula) was used as a supplement to increase blood ketone bodies. However, little is known about the amounts needed to induce ketogenic effects and about the usefulness of monitoring of breath acetone. To investigate the pharmacokinetics of MCTs and their metabolites, blood ketone bodies and breath acetone, 24 healthy subjects received one of four single oral doses of the ketogenic formula (equivalent to 0, 10, 20, and 30 g of MCTs) under fasting conditions. Total blood ketone bodies, ß-hydroxybutyrate, octanoic acid, and decanoic acid were increased in a dose-dependent manner. The ketogenic effect was considered to depend on octanoic and decanoic acids, because a positive correlation was observed between them. A strong positive correlation was also observed between total serum ketone bodies and breath acetone at each time points. Therefore, monitoring breath acetone levels seems a less invasive method to predict blood concentrations of ketone bodies during ketogenic diet therapy. Clinical trial registration:https://rctportal.niph.go.jp/en/detail?trial_id=UMIN000032634, UMIN-CTR UMIN000032634.

A multidimensional physical scale is a useful screening test for mild depression associated with childcare in Japanese child-rearing women.

Introduction: Maternal depression is one of the important problems of postpartum women. For its early detection and appropriate treatment, it is necessary to identify women at high risk for depression quickly and easily. Materials and methods: A simple screening scale for depression from physical aspects, the multidimensional physical scale (MDPS), which is a 17-item, self-report, three-step scale (0, 1, 2) according to the theory of Kampo medicine, was developed. The aim of the present study was to develop (n = 785) and validate (n = 350) the MDPS that was designed to rate the risk of depression. The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition was used for determination of depression. In the development cohort, the final model was determined using multi-regression logistic analysis. Results: The components of the MDPS for mothers (MDPS-M) were developed, containing the total score of MDPS (0-34 points) and resumption of menstruation or not (-3, 0 points). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis of the MDPS-M (-3 to 34) for identifying a high risk of depression showed moderately good discrimination [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70-0.78]. At the cutoff value of MDPS-M (9/10), its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 84.9, 45.7, 36.7, and 89.2%, respectively. External validation of the MDPS-M showed moderately good discrimination (AUC = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.68-0.79) using the same analysis as the development cohort. Conclusion: These results indicate that the MDPS-M is a useful, simple, clinical scale for early identification of mothers at high risk of depression in primary care.

The Japan Frailty Scale is a promising screening test for frailty and pre-frailty in Japanese elderly people.

Frailty is one of the most important problems in a super-aged society. It is necessary to identify frailty quickly and easily at the bedside. We developed a simple patient-reported frailty screening scale, the Japan Frailty Scale (JFS), based on the aging concept of Kampo medicine. Eight candidate questions were prepared by Kampo medicine experts, and a simple prediction model was created in the development cohort (n = 434) and externally validated in an independent validation cohort (n = 276). The physical indicators and questionnaires associated with frailty were also comprehensively evaluated. The reference standard for frailty or pre-frailty was determined based on the Kihon checklist. In the development cohort, four questions, nocturia (0-2), lumbago (0-2), cold sensitivity (0-2), exhaustion (0-4), and age (0-1) were selected by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The total JFS score is 0-11. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis of the JFS for identifying frailty status showed moderately good discrimination (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.78, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.73-0.82). At the JFS cutoff value of 3/4 for frailty or pre-frailty, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 86.9 %, 53.3 %, 62.8 %, and 81.7 %, respectively. External validation of the JFS showed moderately good discrimination (AUC = 0.76, 95 % CI: 0.70-0.81). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 79.9 %, 61.4 %, 69.3 %, and 73.7 %, respectively. These results indicate that the JFS is a promising patient-reported clinical scale for early identification of pre-frail/frail patients at the bedside in primary care.

Ketogenic Effects of Multiple Doses of a Medium Chain Triglycerides Enriched Ketogenic Formula in Healthy Men under the Ketogenic Diet: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Ketogenic diets, which are carbohydrate-restricted high-fat diets, may have therapeutic effects on various diseases, including cancer. However, ketogenic diets are often not standardized and, therefore, results are difficult to interpret. We previously investigated the usefulness of ketogenic diets in cancer therapy, where ketogenic formulas (KF) were used as supplements to enhance blood ketone bodies; however, the amount of KF was determined empirically with reference to blood ketone bodies levels. Here, to determine a standardized optimal amount of KF, we investigated temporal changes in blood ketone bodies (acetoacetic acid (AcAc), ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)) and safety in 20 healthy individuals when KF was taken repeatedly under the conditions of a ketogenic diet (UMIN000034216). The diurnal variation in total ketone bodies, and AcAc and BHB levels significantly increased after lunch and after dinner, on the 4th day of KF administration. There were no significant safety issues related to KF in the context of anthropometric, metabolic, nutritional, urological and gastrointestinal parameters. In addition, ketogenic diets lead to changes in gut microbiota. KF showed a decrease in phylum Firmicutes. Our study provides baseline data of the usefulness of KF in a ketogenic diet.