Characteristics of and changes in the cardiometabolic measures of Japanese workers grouped according to their vegetables and salt intake through workplace cafeteria meals.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to objectively evaluate the diet consumed in a workplace cafeteria to group Japanese workers according to vegetables and salt intake and estimate the association of these groups with changes in cardiometabolic measurements. DESIGN: This longitudinal observational study estimated the food and nutrient intake of Japanese workers from data recorded in the cafeteria system of their workplace. The primary outcomes included cardiometabolic measures obtained via regular health check-ups conducted at the workplace. The participants were divided into four groups according to high or low vegetables and salt intake based on their respective medians and the association of each group with cardiometabolic measurement changes was estimated using robust regression with MM-estimation. SETTING: A Japanese automobile manufacturing factory. SUBJECTS: The study included 1,140 men and women workers with available cafeteria and health check-up data. RESULTS: An inverse marginal association was observed between changes in triglyceride levels and high vegetables and low salt intake (ß: -9.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -20.45, 0.59, p: 0.065) with reference to low vegetables and high salt intake. This association was stronger in participants who used the cafeteria more frequently (>71 days; ß: -13.55, 95% CI: -25.51, -1.60, p: 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The participants in the higher vegetables and lower salt intake group were more likely to exhibit decreased triglyceride levels. These findings encourage using workplace cafeteria meals to promote the health of workers.

Association between functional foods and cardiometabolic health in a real-life setting: a longitudinal observational study using objective diet records from an electronic purchase system.

The effects of the regular consumption of soy, barley, and green tea in a real-life setting are unclear. This longitudinal observational study showed the associations of their intake with cardiometabolic health when employees freely selected these foods in the workplace cafeteria of an industrial company in Japan. The consumption was objectively assessed by an electronic purchase system using integrated circuit chip-equipped tableware and personal identification cards. The associations between the cumulative number of servings of each food during the 12 weeks prior to a health examination and changes in cardiometabolic measurements were examined among Japanese male workers (n = 890). Higher total intake of soy products was associated with significant lower levels in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Higher total intake of rice with barley was marginally associated with lower levels in systolic blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin. These associations were attenuated after adjustment for the baseline values of the dependent variables. Serving soy and barley products in the workplace cafeteria possibly promotes real-life benefits to employees' cardiometabolic health.

Dietary Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study Using Objective Sequential Diet Records from an Electronic Purchase System in a Workplace Cafeteria in Japan.

As a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related restrictions, food systems have undergone unprecedented changes, with the potential to affect dietary behavior. We aimed to investigate workers' dietary changes resulting from the introduction of regulations to combat COVID-19 in a Japanese factory cafeteria. Objective data on daytime dietary intake were automatically collected from electronic purchase system records. The dataset included the weekly data of 890 men from 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2020. The cafeteria regulations came into effect on 10 April 2020; in this context, the purchase of dishes and estimated dietary intake were monitored. The number of cafeteria visits decreased slightly after the introduction of the regulations. The purchase of main and side dishes also decreased, but the purchase of grain dishes was less affected. When compared with summer 2019 (pre-pandemic, no regulations: 1 July to 29 September 2019), in summer 2020 (during the pandemic and with regulations: 29 June to 30 September 2020), the estimated mean grain, meat, fish, and total energy intake was stable; however, vegetable intake decreased by 11%. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, workplace cafeteria regulations need to be monitored to avoid unfavorable dietary changes in employees.

Cut-off values for skeletal muscle strength and physical functions in Japanese elderly with walking difficulty.

Age-related changes in muscle strength and physical functions, and the association between vitamin D status and skeletal muscle functions were investigated in 36 men (21-90 years old) and 52 women (21-104 years old). Significant ageing-related decreases in several skeletal muscle functions and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were observed in both men and women. Cut-off values for the Timed up and go (TUG) test, walking speed, handgrip strength and Barthel Index (BI) detecting walking difficulties in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were 11.1 sec, 0.60 m / sec, 17.0 kg, and 90.0 in males, and 28.6 sec, 0.43 m / sec, 13.9 kg, and 67.5 in females, respectively. By comparing personal present data of muscle strength with these cut-off values, people can easily understand their process to walking difficulty. Therefore, these results are important and useful to avoid or to delay a handicapped and dependent status by improving the vitamin D level, rehabilitation and nursing care. J. Med. Invest. 68 : 48-52, February, 2021.

Greater consumption of noodle is associated with higher serum phosphorus levels: a cross-sectional study on healthy participants.

Higher serum phosphorus levels are associated with mortality and cardiovascular events, both in healthy individuals and those with chronic kidney disease. Owing to the increasing westernization of eating habits, a decrease in rice consumption and an increase in the intake of bread and noodle products were observed in Japan. This cross-sectional study investigated the influence of staple food (rice, bread, and noodle) consumption patterns on the serum levels of phosphorus and phosphate-regulating factors in 103 healthy young participants. Fasting blood and 24-h urine samples were collected; data about dietary habits were collected using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Cluster analysis was conducted to assess subgroups classified according to staple food consumption patterns. Serum levels of phosphorus and phosphate-regulating factors did not significantly differ between subgroups classified based on the frequency of rice or bread consumption. However, the serum levels of phosphorus and fibroblast growth factor 23 were more significantly elevated in the higher than in the lower noodle consumption frequency subgroup. Cluster analysis defined three clusters, and the serum phosphorus levels in the high-noodle cluster were significantly higher than that in the high-bread and high-rice clusters. A high consumption of noodles was associated with elevated serum phosphorus levels. The trial was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center system (The name of the trial register: Hidekazu Arai, and UMIN accession number: UMIN000034352).

Relationship between age-related decreases in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and skeletal muscle mass in Japanese women.

A clearer understanding of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in middle-aged and elderly individuals is important for maintaining functionality. In the present study, age-related changes in SMM, the threshold of SMM with walking difficulty, intestinal nutrient absorption rate, and various serum factors were examined in Japanese populations of different ages. We used 24-h creatinine excretion as a measure of total body SMM. Age-related decreases in SMM, intestinal nutrient absorption rates, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men. The cut-off values for SMM (kg), its percentage of total body weight (BW), the SMM index [SMMI] (Kg / m2), and creatinine height index (CHI) (%) in elderly individuals with walking difficulty were approximately 8-10 kg, 17-20% of BW, 3.9-4.6 kg / m2, and 44%, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were closely associated with SMM (kg, % of BW, kg / m2) and CHI (%) as well as the intestinal absorption rates of nitrogen (%) and phosphorus (%) in women, but not in men. The present results demonstrate that vitamin D is an important metabolic factor in skeletal muscle, and contributes to the optimal management of skeletal muscle and the prevention of sarcopenia. J. Med. Invest. 67 : 151-157, February, 2020.

High-fat diets provoke phosphorus absorption from the small intestine in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The ratio of dietary carbohydrate to fat may affect phosphorus metabolism because both calcium and phosphorus are regulated by similar metabolic mechanisms, and a high-fat diet (HFD) induces deleterious effects on the absorption of dietary calcium. We hypothesized that an HFD induces an increase in phosphorus absorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of differences in the quantity and quality of dietary fat on phosphorus metabolism over the short- and long-term. METHODS: Eighteen 8-wk-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed an isocaloric diet containing varied ratios of carbohydrates to fat energy and sources of fat (control diet, HFD, and high- saturated fat diet [HF-SFA]). At 3 d and 7 wk after the allocation and initiation of the test diets, feces and urine were collected and used for phosphorus and calcium measurement. RESULTS: The fecal phosphorous concentration (F-Pi) was lower in the HF-SFA group than in the other two groups; however, the urine phosphorus concentration (U-Pi) was significantly higher in the HF-SFA group than the other two groups when the rats were fed over the short- (P < 0.01) and long -term (P < 0.01 versus control, P < 0.05 versus HFD group). There were no significant differences in type-IIa sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-2 a) and type-IIc sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-2 c) mRNA expression, which are renal phosphate transport-related genes; however, the expression of type-IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-2 b) and type-III sodium-phosphate cotransporter (Pit-1) mRNA in the duodenum was higher in the HFD and HF-SFA groups than in the control group (P < 0.05), although there were no significant differences in these in the jejunum. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicated that an HFD, particularly HF-SFA, increases intestinal phosphate absorption compared with control.

Habitual confectionery intake is associated with serum phosphorus levels : A cross-sectional study on healthy subjects.

Hyperphosphatemia is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Recently, it has been shown that high serum phosphorus levels are associated with increased cardiovascular events in healthy subjects, but the dietary factors determining serum phosphorus level have not been fully investigated. The study investigated the influence of habitual dietary factors on serum phosphorus levels in healthy young participants. This cross-sectional study conducted fasting blood sampling in 109 healthy young people and used a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire to evaluate the subject's habitual meals. Since the bioavailability of dietary phosphorus depends on the food sources, habitual phosphorus intakes from different food groups and intake frequency (times/month) of processed foods were calculated. The mean serum phosphorus level was 3.9 0.5 mg/dl ; 10.1% of the subjects had serum phosphorus levels that exceeded the reference levels of 4.5 mg/dl. Total phosphorus intake and phosphorus intake from animal-based food did not differ between serum phosphorus quartiles. Higher intake of confectionery was associated with increased serum phosphorus levels. This study showed that frequent consumption of confectionery was associated with elevated serum phosphorus levels. Additional studies are needed to determine whether this is a causal relationship. J. Med. Invest. 66 : 134-140, February, 2019.

The Effects of Long-Term Dietary Therapy on Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of diet on serum lipids and to assess the effectiveness of long-term dietary therapy for hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients (34 males and 45 females) with hypertriglyceridemia were enrolled and underwent dietary counseling for 12 months based on the following three recommendations: (1) reduce carbohydrate intake, (2) increase n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake, and (3) limit alcohol drinking. We examined the effect of dietary therapy for 6 months on serum triglyceride (TG) levels and also compared the effectiveness of dietary and combined drug therapies on preventing arteriosclerotic disease from 7 to 12 months. RESULTS: We observed that serum TG levels of the patients receiving dietary counseling were decreased compared with baseline at 6 months. Body weight and serum TG levels were decreased, and serum high-density lipoprotein levels were increased in the dietary therapy alone group, whereas BW, body mass index, and abdominal circumference were decreased in the combined drug treatment group compared with baselines at 6 and 12 months. Furthermore, the dietary therapy alone group demonstrated reductions in intake of total energy, carbohydrate, and saturated fatty acids, as well as n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio compared with baselines, but only n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was decreased in the combined drug treatment group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a decrease in serum TG level after 12 months of dietary therapy similar to drug therapy, which suggests that it is an effective treatment for hypertriglyceridemia, and heightened awareness should be made to encourage its use.The clinical trial registration number: UMIN000028860.

Soymilk intake has desirable effects on phosphorus and calcium metabolism.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of replacing milk with soymilk or calcium-fortified soymilk as a part of a meal on postprandial serum phosphorus levels. This study had a randomized crossover design. Ten healthy subjects were enrolled and consumed three test meals that contained either milk, soymilk, or calcium-fortified soymilk containing the same amount of calcium as milk. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 min and urine samples were collected from 0 to 360 min after consuming the test meal. Serum phosphorus levels decreased the most after the ingestion of the soymilk meal, and the least after the ingestion of the milk meal. After the ingestion of each meal, serum intact parathyroid hormone levels showed an initial drop followed by a gradual rise, and these changes were more pronounced for the soymilk meal than for the milk meal and the soymilk + calcium meal. Our study shows that replacing milk with soymilk as a part of a meal may suppress the postprandial elevation in serum phosphorus levels, even when the soymilk contains the same amount of calcium as milk.