Effect of maternal Chlorella supplementation on carotenoid concentration in breast milk at early lactation.

Breast milk carotenoids provide neonates with a source of vitamin A and potentially, oxidative stress protection and other health benefits. Chlorella, which has high levels of carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-carotene, is an effective dietary source of carotenoids for humans. In this study, the effect of maternal supplementation with Chlorella on carotenoid levels in breast milk at early lactation was investigated. Ten healthy, pregnant women received 6 g of Chlorella daily from gestational week 16-20 until the day of delivery (Chlorella group); ten others did not (control group). Among the carotenoids detected in breast milk, lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-carotene concentrations in the Chlorella group were 2.6-fold (p = 0.001), 2.7-fold (p = 0.001) and 1.7-fold (p = 0.049) higher, respectively, than those in the control group. Our study shows that Chlorella intake during pregnancy is effective in improving the carotenoid status of breast milk at early lactation.

[Time serial changes in the concentrations of the etiological agents of fetal Yusho--PCDDs and PCDFs].

We determined polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in 6 preserved umbilical cords of fetal Yusho patients and in 11 preserved umbilical cords of Yusho suspected persons who were born to mothers with Yusho from 1970 to 2002, which were Yusho group. As a control, we also analyzed PCDFs and PCDDs in 15 preserved umbilical cords of babies who were born to healthy mothers, which was healthy group, in the same period of time. As a result, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran, true causal agents of fetal Yusho, were only determined in the umbilical cords of fetal Yusho patients, except for one umbilical cords of Yusho suspected persons. Decreasing rate in concentrations of PCDFs and PCDDs seemed to greater in Yusho group than in healthy group during this period of time. Therefore, we considered due to high exposure to PCDFs some drug metabolizing enzymes such as aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were induced and the excretion of PCDFs and PCDDs were enhanced from the bodies of Yusho group. In order to clarify this hypothesis, further more detail researches are required.

[Time serial changes in the concentrations of the related agents to fetal Yusho--dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs].

We determined dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PCBs in 6 preserved umbilical cords of fetal Yusho patients and in 11 preserved umbilical cords of Yusho suspected persons who were born to mothers with Yusho from 1970 to 2002, which were Yusho group. As a control, we also analyzed dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs in 15 preserved umbilical cords of babies who were born to healthy mothers, which was healthy group, in the same period of time. As a result, concentrations of three dioxin-like PCBs, that is, #156, #157 and #189 which were 6 to 20 times higher in fetal Yusho patients than in healthy babies were still 4 to 6 times greater in Yusho group than in healthy group about 20 years after the outbreak of Yusho, but could not recognize this characteristic anymore about 30 years after the outbreak. Decreasing rate in concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs seemed to higher in Yusho group than in healthy group during this period of time. Therefore, we considered due to heavy exposure to PCDFs some drug metabolizing enzymes such as aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were induced and excretion of the related agents to fetal Yusho were enhanced from the bodies of Yusho group. In order to clarify this hypothesis, further more detail studies are needed.

[Promotive excretion of causative agents of Yusho by fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryze in Yusho patients].

Forty two years have passed since the outbreak of Kanemi rice oil poisoning, namely, Yusho in the western Japan. However, even now the Yusho patients have been still suffering from several objective and subjective symptoms. In order to improve or, if possible, to cure such symptoms, the most important therapeutic treatment is considered to actively excrete the causative agents, that is, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from the bodies of the patients and to reduce their body burdens. In rats, chlorophyll and dietary fiber have been shown to promote the fecal excretion of PCDFs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and to reduce their levels in rats. In this study, we have examined whether such kinds of effect are also observed by fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae (FBRA) containing 5% spirulina, which is so-called spirulina HI * GENKI, the health food and relatively rich with chlorophyll and dietary fiber, in eighteen Yusho patients. They were divided into two groups, namely group A, ten patients (3 males and 7 females) with the mean age of 67.7 years old and group B, eight patients (4 males and 4 females) with the mean age of 64.1 years old. Among the patients of group A, three patients were especially highly contaminated with PCDFs and we classified them into group A (High). Respective mean concentrations of PCDFs in the blood just before initiating this study were as follows; group A : 145 pg/g lipid, group A (High) : 371 pg/g lipid and group B : 52.1 pg/g lipid. Contamination levels of PCDFs, PCDDs and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in group A (High) were 1.7 to 2.6 times higher than those in group A and 2.4 to 7.1 times higher than those in group B. Accordingly, concentrations of dioxins (PCDFs + PCDDs + dioxin-like PCBs) in the blood of groups A, A (High) and B were, respectively, 194, 458 and 85 pg-TEQ/g lipid. Concentrations of PCBs were also the highest in group A (High) : 1399 ng/g lipid, in group A : 748 ng/g lipid and the lowest in group B : 456 ng/g lipid. Groups A and A (High) took around 7.0 g of spirulina HI * GENKI after each meal and three times a day for the first one year and for the second one year, they did not take spirulina HI * GENKI anymore. Group B took spirulina HI * GENKI with the same manner as the group A only for the second one year. The concentrations of PCDFs, PCDDs, dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs in the blood were also measured at the end of the first and second year, respectively. Assuming the body fat is also contaminated with these compounds at their concentrations on lipid weight basis in the blood and the content of body fat is 20% of 60 kg body weight, we computed the average amounts in their net excretion from the body of the patients due to spirulina HI * GENKI in the three groups. As a result, in group A (High), 341 ng-TEQ/patient of dioxins was excreted from the body, which was 3.4 times greater than that in group A and 12 times higher than that in group B. Therefore, promotive excretions of causative agents of Yusho were the most effective in group A (High) and we consider spirulina HI * GENKI is more effective from the therapeutic point of view in more highly contaminated Yusho patients.

Polychlorinated dibenzofurans as a causal agent of fetal Yusho.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs) are highly-toxic environmental pollutants that are still ubiquitous. About 40 years ago, a mass food poisoning, termed "Yusho", occurred in western Japan, and the causal agent of Yusho was thought to be PCDFs. The preserved umbilical cords of babies who were born to mothers with Yusho 2-5 years after the outbreak of Yusho and diagnosed with fetal Yusho were recently obtained, and the concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in these preserved umbilical cords were determined. Among babies with fetal Yusho, the pollutant concentrations in umbilical cords were compared between "black babies", a term that describes the dermatologic abnormality that is classically seen in fetal Yusho, and "non-black babies". There was almost no difference in the concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) toxic equivalents (TEQ) concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs found in these two groups of babies. Therefore, the Yusho infants with the dark brown skin pigmentation seemed to have a hypersensitive genetic predisposition to the production of melanin pigment in the skin after the exposure to these toxic compounds. The concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs in the preserved umbilical cords of infants diagnosed with fetal Yusho and of healthy babies were also determined and compared. PCDDs, dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs were detected in both groups. PCDFs, however, were found at high concentration only in the babies with fetal Yusho. In 2,3,7,8-TCDD TEQ concentrations, 90% of the total TEQ concentrations were attributable to PCDFs after taking into account the baseline concentrations found in healthy babies. This evidence shows that fetal Yusho is caused by PCDF intoxication.

[Dioxin concentration in the preserved umbilical cord from Yusho patients].

Dioxins are known as endocrine disrupters and widespread environmental contaminants. They are bioaccumulated in the human body. In this study, we determined concentrations of dioxins (PCDD, PCDF, Non-ortho PCB and Mono-ortho PCB) in eighteen umbilical cords provided by twelve mothers of Yusho patients and twelve umbilical cords provided by ten mothers of normal controls. The average concentrations of PCDD, PCDF, Non-ortho PCB, Mono-ortho PCB and total dioxins (PCDD/ F + Dioxin-like PCB) in the umbilical cords of Yusho patients and normal controls were 0.55, 4.55, 0.08, 0.08 and 5.26 pg-TEQ/g, respectively, and 0.50, 0.11, 0.03, 0.02 and 0.66 pg-TEQ/g, respectively. Total dioxins and PCDF concentrations in the umbilical cords of Yusho patient were about 8 and 40 times higher than those in the umbilical cords of normal controls, respectively. The average concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in the umbilical cords of Yusho patients was 10 pg/g. We couldn't detect 2,3,4,7, 8-PeCDF in the umbilical cords of normal controls. We suspected the 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF concentrations in the mothers' blood were related to the 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF concentrations in umbilical cords.

[Promotive excretion of causative agents of Yusho by intake of fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryze in patients with Yusho --with regard to PCDFs and PCDDs].

Forty years have passed since the outbreak of Kanemi rice oil poisoning, namely, Yusho in the western Japan. However, even now the patients with Yusho have been still suffering from several objective and subjective symptoms. In order to improve or, if possible, to cure such symptoms, the most important therapeutic treatment is considered to actively excrete the causative agents, that is, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) from the bodies of the patients and to reduce their body burdens. In rats, chlorophyll and dietary fiber have been shown to promote the fecal excretion of PCDFs and PCDDs and to reduce their levels in rats. In this study, we have examined whether such kinds of effect are also observed by fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae (FBRA) containing 5% spirulina, which is so-called spirulina HI*GENKI, the health food and relatively rich with chlorophyll and dietary fiber, in eighteen patients with Yusho. They were divided into two groups, namely group A, ten patients (3 males and 7 females) with the mean age of 67.7 years old and group B, eight patients (4 males and 4 females) with the mean age of 64.1 years old. Respective mean concentrations of the three PCDF congeners, that is, 2,3,4,7,8-PenCDF, 1, 2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF and 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF in the blood on lipid weight basis just before initiating this study were as follows; group A: 413, 152 and 45.7 pg/g lipid, and group B: 151, 42.7 and 17.3 pg/g lipid. Contamination levels of these PCDF congeners in group A were 2.6 to 3.6 times higher than those in group B. In respective mean concentrations of PCDFs, PCDDs and PCDFs/DDs in both groups were as follows; group A: 228, 30.9 and 258 pg-TEQ/g lipid, and group B: 82.4, 19.7 and 102 pg-TEQ/g lipid. Contamination levels of PCDFs and PCDDs were around 2 times higher in group A than in group B. Group A took around 7.0 g of spirulina HI*GENKI after each meal and tree times a day for the first one year and for the second one year, they did not take spirulina HI*GENKI any more. Group B took spirulina HI*GENKI with the same manner as the group A only for the second one year. The concentrations of PCDFs and PCDDs in the blood of groups A and B were also measured at the end of the first and second year, respectively. Assuming the body fat is also contaminated with PCDFs and PCDDs at their concentrations on lipid weight basis in the blood and the content of body fat is 20% of 60 kg body weight, we computed the average amounts in the net excretion of PCDFs and PCDFs/DDs from the body of the patients due to the intake of spirulina HI*GENKI in groups A and B. As a result, in group A, 85.0 and 99.6 ng-TEQ/patient, respectively were excreted from the body of the patients. In group B, only 38.1 nd 40.0 ng-TEQ/patient were excreted. Accordingly, promotive excretion of PCDFs and PCDDs from the patients with Yusho seemed much effective in group A, of which their concentrations in the blood were much higher than those of group B.

Excretion of causative PCDFs congeners of Yusho by one year intake of FBRA in patients with Yusho.

Thirty-eight years have passed since the outbreak of Kanemi rice oil poisoning, namely, Yusho in the western Japan. However, even now the patients with Yusho have been still suffering from several objective and subjective symptoms. In order to improve or, if possible, to cure the such symptoms, the most important therapeutic treatment is considered to actively excrete the causative agents, that is, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) from the bodies of the patients and to reduce their body burdens. In rats, dietary fiber and chlorophyll have been shown to promote the fecal excretion of dioxins and to reduce their levels in rat liver. In this study, we examined whether such kinds of effect were also observed by FBRA, which was the health food and relatively rich with dietary fiber and chlorophyll, in eighteen patients with Yusho, which were divided into two groups, namely group A, ten patients (Male: 3 and Female: 7) with the mean age of 67.7 years old and group B, eight patients (Male: 4 and Female: 4) with the mean age of 64.1 years. Respective mean concentrations of the three PCDF congeners, that is, 2,3,4,7,8-PenCDF, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF and 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF in the blood on whole weight basis just before initiating this study were as follows; group A: 1.36, 0.491 and 0.150 pg/g, and group B: 0.571, 0.159 and 0. 064 pg/g. Contamination levels of these PCDF congeners in group A were 2 to 3 times higher than those in group B. Group A took 7.0 to 10.5g of FBRA after each meal and tree times a day for the first one year and for second one year, they did not take FBRA any more. Group B took FBRA with the same manner as the group A only for the second one year. The concentrations of these PCDFs congeners in the blood of groups A and B were also measured at the end of first and second year, respectively. Assuming that the lipid content of the blood is 0.3% in order to convert their concentrations on whole weight basis to those on lipid weight basis and also that the body fat is contaminated with these PCDF congeners at their concentrations on lipid weight basis and the content of body fat is 20% of the body weight (60 kg), we computed the average amounts in the net excretion of these PCDF congeners from the body of the patients due to the intake of FBRA in groups A and B. As a result, in group A, 120, 372 and 96 ng/patient of 2,3,4,7,8-PenCDF, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF and 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF, respectively, were excreted from the body of the patients. In group B, however, 36 ng/patient of 2,3,4,7,8-PenCDF only was excreted, but other two PCDF congeners were not. Accordingly, promotive excretion of theses PCDF congeners from the patients with Yusho seemed much effective in group A, of which their concentrations in the blood were much higher than those of group B.

Concentrations of organochlorine pollutants in mothers who gave birth to neonates with congenital hypothyroidism.

We have investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to dioxin-like compounds (PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs), PCBs and organochlorine pesticides (DDT, HCH, chlordane, HCB and their metabolites) on the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism and/or cretinism in Fukuoka, Japan from 2001 to 2004. Thirty-four positive neonates of the mass-screening for cretinism were classified into three groups by the pediatrician after the reevaluation of the serum TSH level, that is, negative in reevaluation group, hyper thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) emia group and cretinism group. One-hundred and two negative neonates of the mass-screening were classified into the normal group. Concentrations of these organochlorine compounds in the breast milk of mothers, which were considered as the indicator of prenatal exposures to them, were gradually increased from the normal group to the cretinism group in the four groups and were around two times higher in the cretinism group than in the normal group. According to the case-control study adjusted for the parity and mother's age, odds ratios of PCBs, DDT and HCB were 10 (p=0.003), 10 (p=0.003) and 22 (p=0.004), respectively and in dioxin-like compounds, PCDFs showed the highest odds ratio, 9.8 (p=0.005). Based upon those findings, these compounds seemed play an important role in the incidence and/or causation of the cretinism.

Immunologic effects of perinatal exposure to dioxins, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Japanese infants.

Effects of perinatal exposure to dioxins, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides on lymphocyte subsets were investigated in the peripheral blood from 101 Japanese infants with approximately 10 months of age. Perinatal exposure to these organochlorine compounds were estimated by their contamination levels in the breast milk of the mothers. Lymphocyte subsets such as CD16+, HLA-DR+, CD4+, CD4+8+, CD8+, CD3+ and CD20+ cells in peripheral venous blood were assessed in a subgroup of 92 infants. Greater exposures to HCE, chlordane and dioxins were significantly associated with the increase in the percentages of CD8+ and CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios, respectively. In addition, higher HCH exposure was also associated with a decrease in the percentage of HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore effects of dioxins, DDT and PCBs on the percentage of CD16+ T lymphocyte were more pronounced by the combined exposure of dioxins and PCBs or by the combined exposure of DDT and PCBs. Effects of HCE on the percentages of CD8+ T lymphocyte were also more pronounced by the combined exposure of HCE and chlordane. In conclusion, our study suggests that greater exposures to dioxins, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides determined in this study (except dieldrin) influence the immune system of Japanese infant, although the clinical significance of these changes is uncertain.

Contamination status of persistent organochlorines in human breast milk from Japan: recent levels and temporal trend.

Contamination levels of persistent organochlorines (OCs) such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and chlordane compounds (CHLs) was examined in human breast milk collected during 2001-2004 from Fukuoka prefecture in Japan. The concentrations of OCs such as dioxins and related compounds, DDTs, CHLs and HCB in human breast milk from primiparae were comparable to or slightly higher than the data obtained during 1998, indicating that the levels of these contaminants in Japanese human breast milk have not decreased since 1998 and Japanese are continuously exposed to these chemicals, presumably via fish intake. In addition, OC levels in human breast milk from primiparae were significantly higher than those from multiparae, implying elimination of OCs via lactation. Furthermore, significant positive correlations were observed between levels of OCs in human breast milk and the age of primiparae. These results indicate that the mothers with higher age may transfer higher amounts of OCs to the first infant than to the infants born afterwards through breast-feeding, and hence the first born children might be at higher risk by OCs.

Promotive excretion of causative agents of Yusho by one year intake of FBRA in Japanese people.

Thirty-six years have passed since the outbreak of Kanemi rice oil poisoning, namely, Yusho in the western Japan. However, even now the patients with Yusho have been still suffering from several objective and subjective symptoms. In order to improve or, if possible, to cure the such symptoms, the most important therapeutic treatment is considered to actively excrete the causative agents, that is, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) from the bodies of the patients and to reduce their body burdens. In rats, dietary fiber and chlorophyll have been shown to promote the fecal excretion of dioxins and to reduce their levels in rat liver. In this study, we examined whether such kinds of effect were also observed by FBRA, which was the health food and relatively rich with dietary fiber and chlorophyll, in nine married Japanese couples. As a result, concentrations of PCDFs and PCDDs on the lipid weight basis in the blood of the FBRA-intake group in which they took 7.0 to 10.5g of FBRA after each meal and three times a day for one year were more lowered than those in the blood of the non-intake group; Blood levels of PCDFs and PCDDs in the FBRA-intake group were decreased by 41.0 and 37.2%, respectively, and those decreases were 33.7 and 29.4% in the non-intake group. Their total body burdens just before and one year after the study were calculated on the assumptions that the body fat was also contaminated with these dioxins at their blood levels on the lipid weight basis and the content of body fat was 20% of the body weight. Then, we computed the average amounts in excretion of PCDFs and PCDDs from the body in both the FBRA-intake and non-intake groups. Consequently, the amounts of excretion of PCDFs and PCDDs in the FBRA-intake group were 1.81 and 1.74 times, respectively, greater than those in the non-intake group. Therefore, FBRA seemed to promote the fecal excretion of causative agents of Yusho, from the human body. We also expect FBRA to reduce their body burdens of patients with Yusho and to improve some objective and subjective symptoms of Yusho patients.

Impact of FEBRA (fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae) intake and concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in blood of humans from Japan.

Impact of FEBRA (fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae, a rich dietary fiber) intake on the concentrations of polychlorinated-biphenyls (PCBs), -dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs), -dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and -dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in blood of nine married Japanese were studied for 2 years. Concentrations of total PCBs (average+/-standard deviation) were greater 326,000+/-263,000 and 207,000+/-89,000 in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups, respectively, on pg/g lipid (from now onwards data expressed on pg/g lipid). DLPCBs were second major contaminants 94,000+/-77,000 and 60,000+/-28,000, orderly in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups. The concentrations of PCDD/DFs were several orders of magnitude lower than those of PCBs, whereas PCDDs were greater (433+/-233 and 512+/-511, in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups, respectively) than PCDFs (56+/-50 and 43+/-35). Calculated toxic equivalency (TEQ) concentrations were 34+/-24 and 23+/-10 in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups, respectively. In order to corroborate the impact of FEBRA, the changes of PCDD/DFs and PCB concentrations for 0.5-year, 1-year, 1.5-year, and 2-year samples were estimated from average concentration of 1-day before study commences and 1-week study samples. The results explicit FEBRA-intake group eliminated 7%, 33%, 45%, 36%, and 26% and non-FEBRA-intake group eliminated 8%, 28%, 36%, 31%, and 20% of DLPCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, PCDD/DF TEQ and total TEQ, respectively. This study is the first of its kind showing the possible elimination of PCDDs, PCDFs and their TEQ in humans from Japan after the consumption of FEBRA.

Impact of fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae (FEBRA) intake and concentrations of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) in blood of humans from Japan.

The isotope dilution technique was applied for the analysis of new polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) calibration standard (both labeled and non-labeled) using high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS). The relative response factor (RRF) and relative standard deviation (RSD) for new calibration standard in Finnigan Thermo Electron (MAT-95XL) and Micromass (Autospec Ultima) were more or less identical with mean RRF (0.9882), RSD (0.0865) and CV% of (8.75). The results also revealed for DeBDE-209 quantification; labeled DeBDE-209 is essential. Furthermore, we recommend on column injection technique with a thin film instead of splitless injection in order to reduce the thermal degradation of DeBDE-209 and formation of octabromodibenzofurans (OBDF). Besides, analysis of human blood (n = 156) of FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake individuals elucidated frequent detection of eighteen PBDE congeners. The average PBDE concentrations in non-FEBRA intake and FEBRA-intake humans were 6000-11,000 (mean: 8400) and 5400-15,000 (mean: 9900) respectively on pg/g fat basis. Although FEBRA-intake individuals showed slightly greater PBDEs, computer-normalized concentrations of TeBDE-47 corroborate FEBRA-intake individual from four family showed reduced concentrations. The contamination profiles of PBDEs varied in between family, gender as well as geography. International comparison with predominant PBDE congener (TeBDE-47) prevailed lower levels in Japan when compared to Korea, Germany and USA nevertheless, congener specific profiles were different which is in accordance with different technical PBDE usage in between countries.

Active elimination of causative PCDFs/DDs congeners of Yusho by one year intake of FBRA in Japanese people.

Thirty-five years have been passing since the outbreak of Kanemi rice oil poisoning, namely, Yusho in the western Japan. However, even now the patients with Yusho have been still suffering from several objective and subjective symptoms. In order to improve or, if possible, to cure the such symptoms, the most important therapeutic treatment is considered to actively excrete the most toxic causative PCDFs/DDs congeners, that is, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PenCDF) and 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HxCDD) from the bodies of the patients and to reduce their body burdens. In rats, dietary fiber and chlorophyll have been shown to promote the fecal excretion of dioxins and to reduce their levels in rat liver. In this study, we examined whether such kinds of effect were also observed by FBRA, which was the health food and relatively rich with dietary fiber and chlorophyll in nine married Japanese couples. As a result, concentrations of PenCDF and HxCDD on the lipid weight basis in the blood of the FBRA-intake group in which they took 7.0 to 10.5 g of FBRA after each meal and three times a day for one year were more lowered than those in the blood of the non-intake group; Blood levels of PenCDF and HxCDD in the FBRA-intake group were decreased by 30.5 and 33.9%, respectively, and those decreases were 22.0 and 24.5% in the non-intake group. Their total body burdens just before and one year after the study were calculated on the assumptions that the body fat was also contaminated with these congeners at their blood levels on the lipid weight basis and the content of body fat was 20% of the body weight. Then, we computed the average amounts in excretion of PenCDF and HxCDD from the body in both the FBRA-intake and non-intake groups. Consequently, the amounts of excretion of PenCDF and HxCDD in the FBRA-intake group were 2.1 and 1.9 times, respectively, greater than those in the non-intake group. Therefore, FBRA seemed to promote the fecal excretion of PenCDF and HxCDD, the main causative PCDFs/DDs congeners of Yusho, from the human body. We also expect FBRA to reduce their body burdens of patients with Yusho and to improve some objective and subjective symptoms of Yusho patients.

Frequency of SCEs in Japanese infants exposed to dioxins and PCBs through the breast milk.

Frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), which has been considered an index to the synthetic and sharp genotoxic and clastogenic potencies, was examined by using the infant lymphocytes postnatal of around ten months, in order to evaluate the genotoxic or clastogenic potency of exposures to PCBs and dioxins through the breast milk. SCE frequency (mean +/- S.D.) as the control culture treated with the solvent, DMSO, alone (SCEcontrol) was 8.3 +/- 1.1/cell and that as the culture treated with 7,8-benzoflavone (SCEANF) was 11.9 +/- 1.5/cell. In addition, the difference between SCEANF and SCEcontrol, that is, delta SCEs was calculated 3.6 +/- 1.5/cell. The intake of PCBs (mean +/- S.D.) through the breast milk in these infants was 133 +/- 85 mg/kg body weight and that of dioxins 24 +/- 13 TEQ-ng/kg body weight. PCBs intake in the average was about 5,500 times greater than that of dioxins. We however, could not find any significant effect of PCBs on the frequencies of SCEs. Dioxins, on the contrary, showed a significant negative relationship to the frequency of delta SCEs. Therefore, exposure to dioxins through the breast milk seemed to elicit some genotoxic or clastogenic effects on Japanese general infants postnatal of around ten months.

Frequency of SCEs in Japanese infants lactationally exposed to organochlorone pesticides.

Changes in the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in cultured mammalian cells have been considered as indices to the synthetic and sharp genotoxic and clastogenic potencies. Frequency of SCEs in cultured lymphocyte obtained from infants postnatal of around ten months was examined to evaluate the genotoxic or clastogenic potency of lactational exposures to some organochlorine pesticides such as HCHs, DDT and chlordane in this study. Frequency (median, min.-max.) of SCEs as the control culture treated with the solvent, DMSO, alone (SCE control) was 8.0/cell, 6.5-12.4/cell, that as the culture treated with 7,8-benzoflavone (SCEANF) was 11.8/cell, 9.1-15.6/cell and the difference between SCEANF and SCEcontrol, that is, delta SCEs was 3.9/cell, 0.2:7.2/cell. Lactational exposures (median, min.-max.) to the three organochlorine pesticides were as follows: HCHs; 341 mg/kg body weight, 43-1449 mg/kg body weight, DDT; 272 mg/kg body weight, 33-1361 mg/kg body weight and chlordane; 69 mg/kg body weight, 13-379 mg/kg body weight. The median exposure level to chlordane through the breast milk was one fourth to one fifth times lower than that to HCHs or DDT and probably due to such small amounts of it's intake, we could not find any correlation of chlordane with frequencies of SCEcontrol, SCEANF and delta SCEs in cultured lymphocytes of Japanese infants postnatal of about ten months. In the meantime, frequencies of SCEcontrol and SCEANF showed increasing and decreasing tendencies with the increasing exposure to DDT and also HCHs through the breast milk. In consequence, the frequency of delta SCEs was significantly lowered. Therefore, lactational exposure to DDT and HCHs seemed to elicit some genotoxic or clastogenic effects on Japanese general infants at ages of around the months. These compounds were also considered rather potent S-dependent clastogens than non-S-dependent ones. So, further detailed studies are needed not only to get conclusive findings but also from this viewpoint.