Ten-year trends in values of joint space width and osteophyte area of knee joints: Comparison of the baseline and fourth ROAD study surveys.

Objective: Considering the joint space width and osteophyte area (OPA) of the knee joints of Japanese adults, this study elucidated the ten-year trends in medial minimum joint space width (mJSW) and OPA using data of two independent cohorts from a population-based cohort study. Methods: The baseline survey of the Research on Osteoarthritis/Osteoporosis Against Disability study was conducted from 2005 to 2007; 2975 participants (1041 men, 1934 women) completed all knee osteoarthritis (OA) examinations. The fourth survey was performed from 2015 to 2016; distinct 2445 participants (764 men, 1681 women) completed identical examinations. The medial mJSW and medial tibial OPA were measured bilaterally using an automated system. Results: The mean medial mJSW (standard deviation) was 3.22 (0.96) mm and 2.65 (0.95) mm at baseline and 3.81 (1.20) mm and 3.13 (1.15) mm in the fourth survey for men and women, respectively. The mean medial mJSW in the fourth survey was significantly greater in both men and women in all age groups than at baseline (p â€‹< â€‹0.01). The mean OPAs in men aged 40-49 and 60-69 years and women aged 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years were significantly smaller in the fourth survey (p â€‹< â€‹0.05). The trend in mJSW remained the same even after adjusting for confounding factors in the multivariate analysis, but the trend in OPA was weakened. Conclusions: A significant improvement in the medial mJSW within 10 years could decrease the incidence and progression of knee OA and prevent the risk of walking disability.

Effects of Combining Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid with Sesame Lignan on Vascular Endothelial Function.

Vascular endothelial cells produce vasoactive substances, such as nitric oxide (NO), to regulate vascular relaxation and contraction. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) enhance NO production in endothelial cells, and sesamin, a sesame lignan contained in sesame seeds, also promotes NO production. This study examined DHA, EPA, and sesamin's combined effects since it was expected that combining them would further enhance NO production in endothelial cells. Using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), the NO amount secreted in the culture supernatant was analyzed. Sesamin metabolite (SC1) was used in the experiments because it is a major metabolite in human blood after sesamin absorption. When cells were treated with DHA or EPA alone, they increased NO production in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas no change in NO production was observed for SC1. NO production increased when DHA and EPA were treated in combination with SC1, although the low DHA and EPA concentrations showed no difference in NO production. In the concentrations in which the combined effect was observed, SC1 activated eNOS via calcium signaling, whereas DHA and EPA activated eNOS via alterations in the membrane lipid environment. The combined effect of the two pathways was considered to have enhanced the eNOS activity. These results suggested that combining DHA, EPA, and sesamin might improve vascular endothelial function.

Effects of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Combination with Lutein and Zeaxanthin on Episodic Memory in Healthy Older Adults.

Arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), as well as lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), can potentially improve brain function. However, the effect of a combination of these components (LCPUFAs + LZ) on memory function in healthy older individuals remains unclear. This study aimed to determine if LCPUFAs + LZ-supplemented food could improve memory function. Exploratory and confirmatory trials (Trials 1 and 2, respectively) were conducted in healthy older Japanese individuals with memory complaints. We conducted randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trials. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: placebo or LCPUFAs + LZ. LCPUFAs + LZ participants were provided with supplements containing ARA, DHA, EPA, L, and Z for 24 weeks in Trial 1 and 12 weeks in Trial 2. Memory functions were evaluated using Cognitrax before and after each trial. Combined analyses were performed for subgroups of participants with cognitive decline in Trials 1 and 2. The results showed that supplementation with LCPUFAs + LZ did not significantly affect memory function in healthy, non-demented, older individuals with memory complaints whereas it improved memory function in healthy, non-demented, older individuals with cognitive decline.

Sesamin Metabolites Suppress the Induction of Cellular Senescence.

Cellular senescence induces inflammation and is now considered one of the causes of organismal aging. Accumulating evidence indicates that age-related deterioration of mitochondrial function leads to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage, which in turn causes cellular senescence. Thus, it is important to maintain mitochondrial function and suppress oxidative stress in order to inhibit the accumulation of senescent cells. Sesamin and its isomer episesamin are types of lignans found in sesame oil, and after being metabolized in the liver, their metabolites have been reported to exhibit antioxidant properties. However, their effects on cellular senescence remain unknown. In this study, the effects of sesamin, episesamin, and their metabolites SC1 and EC1-2 on replicative senescence were evaluated using human diploid lung fibroblasts, and TIG-3 cells. The results showed that sesamin and episesamin treatment had no effect on proliferative capacity compared to the untreated late passage group, whereas SC1 and EC1-2 treatment improved proliferative capacity and mitigated DNA damage of TIG-3 cells. Furthermore, other cellular senescence markers, such as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), mitochondria-derived ROS, and mitochondrial function (ROS/ATP ratio) were also reduced by SC1 and EC1-2 treatment. These results suggest that SC1 and EC1-2 can maintain proper mitochondrial function and suppress the induction of cellular senescence.

The association between long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and changes in brain volumes among older community-dwelling Japanese people.

The relationship between age-related brain atrophy and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) intake is not fully understood. This study investigated the association of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and arachidonic acid (ARA) intake and brain atrophy in non-demented older Japanese people (n = 810, aged 60-89 years) using data sets of a 2-year longitudinal study. Brain volumes were measured using 3D-MRI in the baseline and follow-up periods. The associations of multivariate-adjusted changes in brain volumes with baseline LCPUFA intake were assessed using a general linear model. Higher ARA intake was associated with a smaller decrease in frontal cortex volumes, which was accompanied by a lower risk of cognitive decline among the participants. In the subgroup analysis for low DHA and EPA intake, accounting for one-third of Japanese intake, DHA and EPA intake was positively correlated with preservation of the temporal cortex volume. These findings suggest that appropriate intake of LCPUFA may decelerate age-related brain atrophy and lead to the maintenance of brain health in older people.

Quercetin attenuates adipogenesis and fibrosis in human skeletal muscle.

Age-associated increase in ectopic fat degeneration and fibrosis in the skeletal muscle contribute to muscle degradation and weakness. Quercetin is a bioactive flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin on adipogenesis and fibrosis in the human skeletal muscle, which have not yet been elucidated. Human muscle-derived PDGFRα+/CD201+ cells (mesenchymal progenitors) were incubated with various concentrations of quercetin (0, 0.3, 1, and 3 µM) under adipogenic or fibrogenic conditions. Lipid accumulation was visualized via Oil Red O staining. The expression of genes implicated in adipocyte or fibroblast differentiation and activation of signaling pathways was analyzed. The quercetin-treated PDGFRα+/CD201+ cells showed attenuated lipid accumulation and adipogenic gene expression (CEBPA and ADIPOQ) via the inhibition of CREB phosphorylation under adipocyte differentiation conditions. Additionally, quercetin treatment significantly attenuated the expression of fibrogenic genes (TIMP1, ACTA2, COL1A1 and COL3A1) by inhibiting Smad2 phosphorylation. Quercetin suppressed the differentiation of muscle-derived PDGFRα+/CD201+ cells to adipocytes and fibroblasts at concentrations achievable by dietary and dietary supplement intake, which indicated its preventive or therapeutic effect against the loss of muscle quality.

Effects of resistance training intensity on muscle quantity/quality in middle-aged and older people: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A sarcopenia diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of low muscle quantity or quality under the 2018 revised definition by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2. Imaging methods [i.e. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)], dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bioelectrical impedance analysis are tools to evaluate muscle quantity or quality. The present study aimed to investigate whether and how low-intensity and moderate-intensity resistance training improved both muscle quantity and quality measured by MRI, DXA, and segmental bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (S-BIS) in middle-aged and older people. METHODS: A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted. Community-dwelling people aged 50-79 years were randomly allocated to no exercise (no-Ex), low-intensity exercise (low-Ex), and moderate-intensity exercise (moderate-Ex) groups. Participants in the exercise groups performed resistance training for 24 weeks, with loads of 40% and 60% of one repetition maximum in the low-Ex and moderate-Ex groups, respectively. Cross-sectional area (CSA), lean mass, and muscle electrical properties on S-BIS were used to determine the effects of training interventions on muscle quantity and quality of the lower limbs. RESULTS: Fifty participants (no-Ex 17, age 63.5 ± 8.5 years, women 47.1%; low-Ex 16, age 63.6 ± 8.1 years, women 50.0%; moderate-Ex 17, age 63.5 ± 8.3 years, women 52.9%) completed the 24 week exercise intervention. For the primary outcome, significant intervention effects were found in thigh muscle CSA on MRI between the moderate-Ex and no-Ex groups (+6.8 cm2 , P < 0.01). Low-Ex for 24 weeks only increased quadriceps CSA (+2.3 cm2 , P < 0.05). The per cent change of thigh muscle CSA (+7.0%, P < 0.01) after 24 week moderate-Ex was higher than that of leg lean mass on DXA (+2.3%, P = 0.088). Moderate-Ex for 24 weeks also improved S-BIS electrical properties related to muscle quantity and quality, including the intracellular resistance index (+0.1 cm2 /Ω, P < 0.05), membrane capacitance (+0.7 nF, P < 0.05), and phase angle (+0.3 deg, P < 0.05); their changes were positively correlated with that of thigh muscle CSA (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Resistance exercise with moderate intensity improved muscle quantity and quality measured by MRI and S-BIS, whereas that with low intensity only increased muscle quantity in middle-aged and older people. The comparisons among the responses to exercise between the assessment methods indicate the greater value of MRI and S-BIS to measure changes of muscle quantity and quality than of lean mass measured by DXA for assessing the local effects of resistance training.

Characteristics of the Passive Muscle Stiffness of the Vastus Lateralis: A Feasibility Study to Assess Muscle Fibrosis.

Skeletal muscle fibrosis occurs with aging and has been suggested to impair muscle performance, thereby decreasing quality of life. Recently, muscle stiffness, a surrogate measure of muscle fibrosis, was noninvasively quantified as the shear modulus using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) in humans. We aimed to investigate thigh muscle stiffness in females and males, respectively, across a broad range of ages by using SWE. Eighty-six community-dwelling Japanese people who were aged 30 to 79 years and did not regularly exercise participated in this study. The vastus lateralis (VL) shear modulus was measured at three different knee joint angles: full extension, 90° of flexion, and full flexion. There were no significant main effects of sex or age on the VL shear modulus in full extension or 90° of flexion of the knee. However, the VL shear modulus in knee full flexion was significantly smaller in females than in males and increased with age from 47.9 years. The results suggest that the accelerated increase in VL stiffness that occurs after an individual passes their late 40s may be an important therapeutic target for developing effective treatments and programs that preserve and improve quality of life.

Interaction between cognitive leisure activity and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on global cognitive decline in a Japanese longitudinal cohort study: National Institute for Longevity Sciences-Longitudinal Study of Aging.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing interest in the significance of adopting a variety of lifestyle habits for maintaining cognitive function among older adults. A lifestyle that is easy to modify, simple, and less burdensome for older people is ideal. We investigated the longitudinal association between global cognitive decline and cognitive leisure activities (CLAs) combined with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) intake. METHODS: The National Institute for Longevity Sciences-Longitudinal Study of Aging (NILS-LSA) enrolled community-dwelling middle-aged and older men and women who were randomly selected from Obu-City and Higashiura Town, Aichi, Japan. Baseline data (2006-2008), including CLAs and dietary intake, were obtained from 517 participants (aged 60-84 years) with normal cognition. Global cognitive decline, defined as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≤ 27, was assessed at baseline and four years later. Interaction between CLAs and LCPUFAs on cognitive decline was investigated using a multiple logistic analysis with adjustment for confounders. CLA engagement and LCPUFA intake were divided into high and low groups according to the frequency at which each participant engaged in the activity and the median intake level according to sex, respectively. RESULTS: A significant interaction was detected for the combination of CLA engagement and LCPUFA intake. Logistic regression coefficients revealed significant interactions when participants engaged in more than five CLA varieties. One of the CLAs, art appreciation, produced a significant main effect against cognitive decline and a significant interaction in combination with LCPUFA intake. The major LCPUFAs-docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid-also exhibited a significant interaction. The combination of high LCPUFA intake and high art appreciation frequency yielded a lower adjusted odds ratio for cognitive decline than the combination of low LCPUFA and low art appreciation [0.25 (95 % confidence intervals, 0.11-0.56)]. CONCLUSIONS: Preserving cognitive function might be associated with a combination of varied and high-frequency engagement in CLAs combined with high LCPUFA intake.

Dietary Intake of Vitamin E and Fats Associated with Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese People: A Cross-Sectional Study from the Fifth Survey of the ROAD Study.

Dietary habits are of considerable interest as a modifiable factor for the maintenance of muscle health, especially sarcopenia. The present study aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake and sarcopenia prevalence in community-dwelling Japanese subjects. This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the fifth survey of the Research on Osteoarthritis/Osteoporosis against Disability (ROAD) study, and 1345 participants (437 men and 908 women) aged ≥60 years were included in the analysis. Sarcopenia was determined by the definition of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia established in 2014, and dietary intake was assessed with the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Overall, 77 subjects (5.7%) were identified as having sarcopenia, 5.0% of men and 6.1% of women. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratios of sarcopenia for the dietary intake of vitamin E (α-tocopherol, 0.14 (CI 0.04-0.49), ß-tocopherol (0.24, CI 0.07-0.78), γ-tocopherol (0.28, CI 0.09-0.87), and fats (fat 0.27, CI 0.08-0.96; monounsaturated fatty acids, 0.22, CI 0.07-0.72, polyunsaturated fatty acids, 0.28, CI 0.09-0.89) at the highest quantile were significantly lower compared with those at the lowest quantile. Therefore, higher dietary intakes of vitamin E and fats would be associated with a lower prevalence of sarcopenia.

Effects of combining exercise with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on cognitive function in the elderly: a randomised controlled trial.

Multifactorial lifestyle intervention is known to be more effective for ameliorating cognitive decline than single factor intervention; however, the effects of combining exercise with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on the elderlies' cognitive function remain unclear. We conducted a randomised, single-masked placebo-controlled trial in non-demented elderly Japanese individuals. Participants were randomly allocated to the exercise with LCPUFA, placebo, or no exercise with placebo (control) groups. Participants in the exercise groups performed 150 min of exercise per week, comprised resistance and aerobic training, for 24 weeks with supplements of either LCPUFA (docosahexaenoic acid, 300 mg/day; eicosapentaenoic acid, 100 mg/day; arachidonic acid, 120 mg/day) or placebo. Cognitive functions were evaluated by neuropsychological tests prior to and following the intervention. The per-protocol set analysis (n = 76) revealed no significant differences between the exercise and the control groups in changes of neuropsychological tests. Subgroup analysis for participants with low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) corresponding to sarcopenia cut-off value showed changes in selective attention, while working memory in the exercise with LCPUFA group was better than in the control group. These findings suggest that exercise with LCPUFA supplementation potentially improves attention and working memory in the elderly with low SMI.

Annexin A1 accounts for an anti-inflammatory binding target of sesamin metabolites.

Sesamin [(7α,7'α,8α,8'α)-3,4:3',4'-bis(methylenedioxy)-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane] is a major lignan in sesame seeds. Sesamin is converted to the catechol metabolite, SC1 [(7α,7'α,8α,8'α)-3',4'-methylenedioxy-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane-3,4-diol] with anti-inflammatory effects after oral administration. However, its molecular target remains unknown. Analysis using high-performance affinity nanobeads led to the identification of annexin A1 (ANX A1) as an SC1-binding protein. SC1 was found to bind to the annexin repeat 3 region of ANX A1 with a high-affinity constant (Kd = 2.77 µmol L-1). In U937 cells, SC1 exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect dependent on ANX A1. Furthermore, administration of sesamin or SC1 attenuated carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice and concurrently suppressed inflammatory responses dependent on ANX A1. The mechanism involved SC1-induced ANX A1 phosphorylation at serine 27 that facilitates extracellular ANX A1 release. Consequently, the ANX A1 released into the extracellular space suppressed the production of tumor necrosis factor α. This study demonstrates that ANX A1 acts as a pivotal target of sesamin metabolites to attenuate inflammatory responses.

Changes in behavior and fatty acid composition induced by long-term reduction in murine Δ6-desaturation activity.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), play an important role in biological regulation. In our previous study using mice deficient in Δ6 desaturase (D6D), we reported that ARA is required for body growth, while DHA is necessary for functional development. In mammals, ARA and DHA are supplied directly or by synthesis from linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA). However, as desaturase enzyme activity is immature or low in newborns, and humans with minor alleles of the gene encoding desaturase, respectively, they require dietary supplementation with ARA and DHA. To investigate how the body reacts to a long-term reduction in fatty acid synthesis, we measured behavioral changes and fatty acid composition in mice heterozygous for the D6D null mutation with reduced D6D activity fed a diet containing only LA and ALA as PUFAs. During the growth-maturity period, heterozygous mice showed a slightly change in interest and curiosity compared with the wild-type group. ARA levels were decreased in the brain and liver in the heterozygous group, especially during the growth-maturity period, whereas DHA levels were decreased in the liver only in the old age period, suggesting that there are differences in the synthesis of and demand for ARA and DHA during life. For newborns, and humans with minor alleles with low desaturase activity, direct ARA intake is particularly important during the growth-maturity period, but they may need to be supplemented with DHA in the old age period. Further research is needed to determine the optimal intake and duration of these fatty acids.

Administration timing and duration-dependent effects of sesamin isomers on lipid metabolism in rats.

Metabolism of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides has daily variations and is controlled by a circadian clock. Sesamin isomers, a mixture of sesamin and episesamin (SE), are types of lignans in sesame seed that have shown the improvement of lipid metabolism with various diseases in an animal model. We therefore tested whether the effects of SE on lipid metabolism are influenced by timing of administration. High-fat diet (HFD)-loaded rat was administered SE in the ZT13 or 14 (at the beginning of the active phase) or ZT23 or 22 (at the end of the active phase) every day for 7 or 28 days, and the effects on lipid metabolism were evaluated. The effects of SE were enhanced by duration-dependency: 28-day administration of SE strongly affected some parameters related to lipid metabolism, particularly cholesterol metabolism, as compared to 7-day administration. In particular, in 28-day administration, the analysis of serum and liver cholesterol levels revealed that SE administration decreases more effectively at the beginning of the active phase when compared to at the end of that. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and functional analysis indicated that suppression of cholesterol synthesis in the liver and promotion of cholesterol excretion from the liver, as well as inhibition of the functional activity and gene expression of sterol response element-binding protein 2 (Srebp2), which is a transcriptional factor and controls the gene expression involved in cholesterol-metabolism enzymes, contribute to enhancement of SE's effects at this administration timing. No significant differences were observed in triglyceride metabolism with regard to timing of SE administration. After 28-day administration of SE, administration at the beginning of the active phase only affected the expression of clock genes in the liver with phase-advance. In the pharmacokinetic study, administration time had no effect on the level of sesamin, episesamin or their metabolites in the liver after administration of SE for 28 days. The present results suggest that continuous long administration of SE at the beginning of the active phase is preferable for obtaining beneficial effects on lipid metabolism.

Aging and FADS1 polymorphisms decrease the biosynthetic capacity of long-chain PUFAs: A human trial using [U-13C]linoleic acid.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are important constituents of biomembranes. Observation of blood fatty acids indicated that LCPUFA biosynthesis is affected by aging and FADS polymorphisms. This study examined the effects of aging and FADS polymorphisms on LCPUFA biosynthetic capacity via direct quantification using [U-13C]linoleic acid. Healthy young (25-34 years) and elderly (65-74 years) participants were administered [U-13C]linoleate, and its metabolites were monitored for 14 days. The time of maximum plasma concentration of 13C-arachidonic acid (ARA) was 4-5 days. The area under the curve of the 13C-ARA concentration differed by FADS1 rs174547 polymorphism (TT [100%] > TC [57%] > CC [37%]). Among C allele carriers, 13C-ARA formation was 32% lower in elderly than in young participants. This is the first report to directly demonstrate that LCPUFA biosynthetic capacity is regulated by FADS1 polymorphisms and decreased by aging in FADS1 C allele carriers.

Quercetin glycosides prevent dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in mice.

Although quercetin has numerous biological benefits, including preventing muscle atrophy due to disuse, no reports have been published to date about the preventive effects and molecular mechanisms underlying drug-induced muscle atrophy. Highly soluble and bioavailable quercetin glycosides (QGs) were used to examine the inhibition of dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy in vivo. Male BALB/cCrSlc mice were treated with or without QGs for 7 days ad libitum, followed by addition of DEX to their drinking water for a further 7 days. The weight of gastrocnemius (GM) adjusted by body weight was significantly decreased on day 7 after DEX treatment. DEX-induced decrease of GM weight was improved by QG co-administration on day 7. The mRNA levels of muscle atrophy-related genes in the gastrocnemius were significantly lowered by QGs on day 1. In particular, the expression of myostatin, a master regulator of muscle mass homeostasis, was suppressed to that of the control level. In murine C2C12 myotubes, quercetin elevated the phosphorylation of Akt, which are downstream of the myostatin pathway, as well as expression of atrogenes. We demonstrated the protective effect of QGs in DEX-induced muscle atrophy, which might depend on the suppression of myostatin signaling.

Longitudinal Association between n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Depressive Symptoms: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Japan.

It remains unclear whether n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) have a preventive effect on depression in the general population. This study investigated the longitudinal association between n-3 LCPUFA intake and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling Japanese participants. The participants were aged 40⁻79 years at baseline in the cohort study; wherein examinations; including the assessment of depressive symptoms and nutritional status; were biennially conducted from 1997 to 2012. The subjects (n = 2335) who had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score < 16 at the first examination and who participated in the follow-up study at least once were included in the analysis. The follow-up end point was the first onset (CES-D ≥ 16) or the last examination participation. Hazard ratios (95% CIs) for CES-D ≥ 16 were estimated using the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Overall; 22.1% participants showed depressive symptoms during follow-up (average; 8.1 years). Compared with the lowest tertile; the highest HR for EPA was 0.74 (0.60⁻0.93), and highest and middle HRs for DHA were 0.79 (0.63⁻0.98) and 0.80 (0.65⁻0.99) (P for trend = 0.009 and 0.032), respectively. Among populations with high fish consumption; higher n-3 LCPUFA intake may be associated with a low risk of depressive symptoms.

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of [14 C]sesamin in rats.

SCOPE: Sesamin is a major lignan in sesame seeds and has various physiological effects. Although metabolism of sesamin by cytochrome P450 or intestinal microflora has been reported, little is known concerning the mass balance, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution of sesamin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of [14 C]sesamin were investigated after a single oral dose of 5 mg/kg in rats. Sesamin was absorbed with peak plasma radioactivity at 1.0 h and declined with a terminal half-life 4.7 h. The cumulative excretion of radioactivity was 37.5 ± 3.1% in urine and 58.7 ± 4.8% in feces. In bile duct-cannulated rats, the cumulative excretion of radioactivity was 66.3 ± 8.4% in bile and 27.8 ± 10.2% in urine. Tissue distribution was investigated using quantitative whole-body autoradiography. Radioactivity was widely distributed over the whole body and was highly detected in the liver and kidney. The metabolites profile was examined using radiochromatography. Sesamin was mainly distributed in the form of conjugate metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: Sesamin was absorbed efficiently and distributed over the whole body. In particular, sesamin was highly distributed in the form of the metabolites in the liver and kidney. The results of this study are useful in elucidating the action mechanism of sesamin.

Cross-sectional association between serum concentrations of n-3 long-chain PUFA and depressive symptoms: results in Japanese community dwellers.

The effect of n-3 long-chain PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA) on depression in healthy subjects is unclear, and most of the previous studies have focused on populations eating Western diets with lower fish intake. The present study investigated the association between blood levels of n-3 LCPUFA and depressive symptoms in Japanese community dwellers with higher n-3 LCPUFA blood levels. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2006 to 2008, including 1050 men and 1073 women aged 40 years or older from the National Institute for Longevity Sciences--the Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the OR and 95% CI for a CES-D score ≥ 16. Serum concentrations of n-3 PUFA, but not n-6 PUFA, were inversely associated with depressive symptoms. Compared with the lowest quintile, the adjusted OR for serum EPA at the fourth and fifth quintiles were 0·55 (95% CI 0·35, 0·85) and 0·64 (95% CI 0·42, 0·98), respectively, and at the fifth quintile for DHA it was 0·58 (95% CI 0·37, 0·92), for the presence of depressive symptoms (P for trend=0·013 and 0·011, respectively). Serum levels of EPA and DHA were inversely associated with depressive symptoms in Japanese community dwellers with higher blood levels of n-3 LCPUFA, suggesting that n-3 LCPUFA intakes corresponding to higher levels in a Japanese population may have implications for a lower prevalence of depression.

Arachidonic acid intake and asthma risk in children and adults: a systematic review of observational studies.

The effect of arachidonic acid (ARA) intake on asthma risk is unclear. The objective of the present review was to systematically evaluate available observational studies on the relationship between ARA exposure and asthma risk in children and adults. A PubMed search was conducted on 22 October 2013 and seventy-three publications were checked against predefined criteria for eligibility. To identify additional eligible publications, potentially relevant articles were searched from bibliographies of articles on ARA and asthma. A total of 2924 citations were scrutinised. Finally, fourteen articles were included. A quality assessment was conducted based on the reporting and methodological quality. A meta-analysis was not conducted; therefore, a qualitative assessment is presented. Three high-, two medium- and ten low-quality studies were reviewed. Eleven studies, including two high- and two medium-quality studies, did not find a significant association between ARA exposure and asthma risk. In contrast, one high-quality study indicated a significant trend toward reducing asthma risk in children with decreasing maternal ARA intake (P trend = 0·025), and one low-quality study reported a significant trend of increasing asthma risk with higher blood ARA levels (P trend = 0·007). In two low-quality studies, asthma patients had significantly lower blood ARA levels than controls (both P < 0·05). These studies did not sufficiently demonstrate any relationships between ARA exposure and asthma risk because of the limited number of studies and their methodological limitations. They seem to suggest that ARA exposure is not consistently associated with asthma risk. Nevertheless, further evidence is required to prove or disprove the association.