Association of Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Middle-Aged to Elderly Japanese Men and Women: The Toon Health Study.

Fish and omega-3 fatty acid consumption is known to be beneficial for cardiometabolic health. However, the related evidence for individuals with a relatively higher intake of fish or omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, e.g., Japanese individuals, is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association of fish and omega-3 fatty acid intakes with the carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in the Japanese population. In total, 1803 Japanese men and women aged 30-84 years without a history of myocardial infarction or angina pectoris were included in the study. The fish and omega-3 fatty acid intakes were estimated using food frequency questionnaires. The C-IMT was measured using ultrasound imaging, and the participants were classified into three groups: normal, moderate (1.1 to 1.4 mm of maximum C-IMT), and severely increased C-IMT (≥1.5 mm). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the presence of moderately and severely increased C-IMT. The omega-3 fatty acid intake was shown to be associated with lower odds of severely increased C-IMT. The multivariable-adjusted OR (95%CI) was 0.55 (0.31-0.97; p for trend = 0.04). We also found a borderline significant negative association between fish intake and the presence of severely increased C-IMT. In conclusion, omega-3 fatty acid intake might protect against the development of atherosclerosis in the Japanese population.

CYP7A1, NPC1L1, ABCB1, and CD36 Polymorphisms Associated with Coenzyme Q10 Availability Affect the Subjective Quality of Life Score (SF-36) after Long-Term CoQ10 Supplementation in Women.

The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs3808607, rs2072183, rs2032582, and rs1761667 are associated with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) bioavailability in women after long-term CoQ10 supplementation. However, the beneficial aspects of the association between these SNPs and CoQ10 supplementation remain unknown. We investigated their relationship using the subjective quality of life score SF-36 by reanalyzing previous data from 92 study participants who were receiving ubiquinol (a reduced form of CoQ10) supplementation for 1 year. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction between rs1761667 and the SF-36 scores of role physical (p = 0.016) and mental health (p = 0.017) in women. Subgrouping of participants based on the above four SNPs revealed significant interactions between these SNPs and the SF-36 scores of general health (p = 0.045), role emotional (p = 0.008), and mental health (p = 0.019) and increased serum CoQ10 levels (p = 0.008), suggesting that the benefits of CoQ10 supplementation, especially in terms of psychological parameters, are genotype-dependent in women. However, significant interactions were not observed in men. Therefore, inclusion of SNP subgrouping information in clinical trials of CoQ10 supplementation may provide conclusive evidence supporting other beneficial health effects exerted by the association between these SNPs and CoQ10 on women.

Dietary intake of tocopherols and risk of incident disabling dementia.

Tocopherols, strong antioxidants, may be useful in preventing dementia, but the epidemiological evidence is insufficient. We performed a community-based follow-up study of Japanese, the Circulatory Risk in Community Study, involving 3739 people aged 40-64 years at baseline (1985-1999). Incident disabling dementia was followed up from 1999 through 2020. For subtype analysis, we classified disabling dementia into that with and that without a history of stroke. Dietary intake of tocopherols (total, α, ß, γ, and δ) were estimated using 24-h recall surveys. During a median follow-up of 19.7 years, 670 cases of disabling dementia developed. Total tocopherol intake was inversely associated with risk of disabling dementia with multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 0.79 (0.63-1.00) for the highest versus lowest quartiles of total tocopherol intake (P for trend = 0.05). However, the association was strengthened when further adjusted for α-linolenic acid intake (Spearman correlation with total tocopherol intake = 0.93), with multivariable hazard ratios of 0.50 (0.34-0.74) (P for trend = 0.001) but was weakened and nonsignificant when further adjusted for linoleic acid intake (Spearman correlation with total tocopherol intake = 0.92), with multivariable hazard ratios of 0.69 (0.47-1.01) (P for trend = 0.05). Similar but nonsignificant inverse associations were observed for α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols but not for ß-tocopherol. These results were similar regardless of the presence of a history of stroke. Dietary tocopherol intake was inversely associated with risk of disabling dementia, but its independent effect was uncertain owing to a high intercorrelation of α-linolenic linoleic acids with total tocopherol intake. Even with such confounding, a diet high in tocopherols may help prevent the onset of dementia.

The effects of dietary licorice flavonoid oil supplementation on body balance control in healthy middle-aged and older Japanese women undergoing a physical exercise intervention: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

AIMS: In this study, the effects of licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) supplementation on mobility functions were evaluated in middle-aged and older women who underwent daily physical exercise. METHODS: The 73 women aged 59-85 years (71.2 ± 5.2 years) were randomly assigned to the LFO group (n = 37) or the placebo group (n = 36). For 16 weeks, the LFO group consumed a daily capsule containing 300 mg of LFO, while the placebo group consumed a placebo capsule. All participants were instructed to complete a strength training program during the 16 weeks and to increase their daily step count by 1000. 10-m walking speed (with/no obstruction), one-leg standing time with eyes open, handgrip strength, isometric knee extension strength, and body composition were evaluated at baseline and every eight weeks. RESULTS: In the 10-m walking speeds (with/no obstruction), LFO supplementation did not show significant improvements. One-leg standing time was significantly prolonged with LFO intake (LFO: baseline 73.9 s vs 16 weeks 93.5, placebo: baseline 82.8 vs 16 weeks 87.1, p = 0.03). In addition, a significant decrease in BMI and body fat percentage with LFO was found (p = 0.01, p = 0.03, respectively). DISCUSSION: Since a lower BMI corresponds to a lighter physical load on the lower limb, in addition, since LFO might improve skeletal muscle function by antioxidant activity, participants could stand longer and body balance control was improved. CONCLUSION: LFO supplementation improved body balance control and may contribute to fall prevention in healthy middle-aged and older women having daily physical exercise. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trial Registry No. 000029712.

The effects of bright light treatment via ear canals on quality of sleep and depressive mood among overworked employees: A randomized-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Many overworked employees need tools to improve their depressive mood or sleep disorder. In Finland, a new device of bright light therapy was developed. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bright light treatment via ear canals on improving the depressive mood and sleep disorder. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled, crossover designed, open-label trial. We examined 27 participants aged 23-52 years, assigned to either Early treatment or Later treatment groups. The Early treatment group used the device on weekdays for the first 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week observation period. The Later treatment group had an observation period for the first 4 weeks, followed by device treatment for the subsequent 4 weeks. Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form. RESULTS: While no significant effect was found on the SDS following treatment (p = 0.16), the AIS showed a significant improvement (p = 0.004), and the scores for the Depression (D) and Vigor (V) of POMs decreased significantly (p = 0.045, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Bright light treatment via ear canals may improve sleep quality and depressive mood.

Association between vitamin B group supplementation with changes in % flow-mediated dilatation and plasma homocysteine levels: a randomized controlled trial.

There is limited evidence examining the association between B vitamin supplementation and improved endothelial function via lowering plasma homocysteine levels. This study investigated whether low-dose B vitamin supplementation improves endothelial dysfunction in Japanese adults with one or more components of metabolic syndrome. A randomized, controlled, crossover trial, without a washout period or blinding of subjects, was conducted from May-September, 2010. The subjects were 127 Japanese men and women aged 40-65 years who had at least one component of metabolic syndrome without medication. Participants took a supplement drink for two months but were divided into early intervention or later intervention groups. The flow-mediated dilatation, plasma homocysteine level, serum B-vitamins, and vitamin C levels were measured. A significant increase in serum B vitamins and vitamin C levels, and a reduction in plasma homocysteine levels were observed. The mean serum homocysteine level pre- and post-intervention was 9.8 and 8.2 µmol/L in the early intervention group and 10.8 and 7.4 µmol/L in the later intervention group (p<0.01). However, no significant changes in flow-mediated dilatation was found. Low-dose multivitamin supplementation including B vitamins is associated with a significant reduction in plasma homocysteine levels among patients with one or more components of metabolic syndrome. This study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) centre, and has the identifier UMIN000004436.

The association of coffee consumption and oxygen desaturation index during sleep among Japanese male workers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Coffee is a major caffeine-containing food source that can be used for treatment of apnea in prematurity. However, few studies have examined the association between coffee consumption and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). We investigated whether coffee consumption is associated with the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) as a marker of SDB among middle-aged Japanese male workers. METHODS: The subjects were 1126 male local government workers aged 22-59 who participated in SDB screening in 2011-2012. Daily coffee consumption was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. We measured 3% oxygen desaturation (3%ODI) during a night's sleep using a pulse oximeter. A general linear model was used to calculate the multivariate-adjusted means of 3%ODI per quartile of coffee consumption. We further analyzed the data after stratifying by overweight and current smoking status. RESULTS: A inverse association between coffee consumption and 3%ODI was found. The multivariate-adjusted mean of 3%ODI for the lowest and highest coffee consumption groups were 11.9 times/h and 10.6 times/h (p for trend = 0.06), respectively; 14.6 and 11.5 times/h (p for trend = 0.01) in overweight participants; and 12.7 and 11.0 times/h (p for trend = 0.06) in non-smokers. No associations were found in non-overweight and smoking workers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that higher coffee consumption was associated with lower 3% ODI as a marker of SDB in overweight and non-smoking workers.

Yellow Tongue Coating is Associated With Diabetes Mellitus Among Japanese Non-smoking Men and Women: The Toon Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Yellow tongue coating is one of the clinical signs for diabetes mellitus according to traditional East Asian medicine. Few reports have been available on the association between yellow tongue coating and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the general population. We examined that association among population samples of non-smoking men and women. METHODS: The study subjects were Japanese non-smoking men (n = 315) and women (n = 654) aged 30-79 years who resided in Toon city and participated in the Toon Health Study from July 2011 through November 2014. Tongue coating was assessed by a nationally licensed acupuncturist and classified into three categories of white (normal), light yellow, and yellow. We performed an oral glucose tolerance test to confirm the presence of diabetes mellitus and prediabetes. The associations between yellow tongue coating and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and prediabetes were examined using multivariable logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, drinking status, and physical activity. RESULTS: The multivariable odds ratios of diabetes mellitus were 1.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-2.67) for light yellow tongue coating and 2.23 (95% CI, 1.16-4.30) for yellow tongue coating compared with white tongue coating. The respective multivariable odds ratios of prediabetes were 1.13 (95% CI, 0.80-1.61) and 1.43 (95% CI, 0.96-2.12). CONCLUSIONS: Yellow tongue coating was associated with higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and tended to be associated with that of prediabetes among Japanese non-smoking men and women.

Associations of food and nutrient intakes with serum IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3, TGF-b1, total SOD activity and sFas levels among middle-aged Japanese: the Japan Collaborative Cohort study.

No observational study has examined whether cancer-related biomarkers are associated with diet in Japanese. We therefore assessed sex-specific food and nutrient intakes according to serum IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3, TGF-b1, total SOD activity and sFas levels, under a cross-sectional study of 10,350 control subjects who answered the food frequency questionnaire in the first-wave nested case-control study within the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. For both men and women, IGF-I levels were associated with higher intakes of milk, fruits, green tea, calcium and vitamin C. IGF-II levels were associated with higher intakes of milk, yogurt, fruits and miso soup, and lower intakes of rice, coffee and carbohydrate. IGFBP-3 levels were associated with higher intakes of milk, yogurt, fruits and vitamin C, and lower intakes of rice, energy, protein, carbohydrate, sodium and polyunsaturated fatty acids. TGF-b1 levels were associated with lower intakes of coffee intakes, and higher intakes of miso soup and sodium. Total SOD activity levels were associated with lower intakes of most nutrients other than energy, carbohydrate, iron, copper, manganese, retinol equivalents, vitamin A, B2, B12, niacin, folic acid, vitamin C and fish fat. sFas levels were associated with higher intakes of manganese and folic acids. The results of the present study should help to account for findings on those biomarkers regarding risks of cancer and other lifestyle-related diseases in terms of dietary confounding as causality.