Search

Abstract. Carotenoid intake is associated with low mortality and cancer risks; data on non-provitamin carotenoid intake is limited especially in Asians. We aimed to estimate carotenoid intake in Japanese adult women. Carotenoid content database comprises 196 food items, including 39 fruits, 87 vegetables and mushrooms, and 11 seaweeds, and was established using data from the literature and analyses of foods available in Japan. We surveyed the intake of these foods in Japanese women aged 21–56 years (n=109). Total intake of 7 carotenoids (mean±SD [range]) was 7,450±3,840 (1,160–21,300) μg/day; α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and fucoxanthin represented 4.3%, 23%, 3.4%, 15%, 2.0%, 39%, and 13% of total intake, respectively. Lutein intake was 1,132±686 (294–3,490) μg/day; its best sources were spinach, cucumber, chicken egg, green onion, and Chinese chives, representing 51% of total intake. Lutein can be obtained from a variety of sources. Thus, lutein intake levels did not vary widely among individuals and very few individuals consumed insufficient levels of lutein. Intake of zeaxanthin, lycopene, and fucoxanthin was 149±93 (2–479), 2,890±2,970 (0–17,100), and 980±1,230 (0–5,660) μg/day, respectively. Their intake required rich sources including chicken egg for zeaxanthin (52%); tomato products for lycopene (98%), and wakame seaweed for fucoxanthin (76%). The carotenoid content database including all food items consumed in Japan will be helpful for further investigations on carotenoid intake and its health benefits.

Estimations of individuals' polyphenol intake contributes to the understanding of the health benefits of dietary polyphenol. We developed a food frequency questionnaire for polyphenol intake (FFQ) and a short-form FFQ for polyphenol intake (SF-FFQ) for assessing the polyphenol intake of Japanese. The aim of this study was to compare the relative validity of polyphenol intake derived from the FFQ with that from the SF-FFQ, using a 4-consecutive-d dietary record (DR) as the reference. Sixty Japanese subjects aged 30-69 y completed the 4-d DR and the two FFQs regarding their polyphenol intake in November 2019. The polyphenol intake values estimated by the DR, FFQ, and SF-FFQ were 1,057±524 mg/d, 1,061±537 mg/d and 1,015±491 mg/d, respectively. No significant differences were present in the estimated polyphenol intake between the 4-d DR and both FFQs. The correlation coefficient with the DR was 0.779 for the FFQ and 0.814 for the SF-FFQ. These results indicate that the total polyphenol intake in a Japanese population were accurately estimated by the FFQ and SF-FFQ.

Purpose Hyperpigmentation of the skin can occur at any age depending on etiological factors but its intensity increases during adolescence in Japanese females and gradually develops further in adults. The purpose of this study was to characterize factors that influence skin hyperpigmentation, including age, skin type and dietary polyphenol sources. Patients and Methods A cross-sectional survey of healthy Japanese women aged from 30 to 60 years (n=244) was conducted using food and environmental questionnaires and a VISIA™ facial photoimage analyzer. Results UV Pigmented Spot (PS) scores correlated negatively with the consumption of total polyphenols (TPs) (R=-0.224, p

Although the benefits of the consumption of green tea and its components, including catechins and theanine, regarding aging, memory impairment and age-related cognitive decline have been investigated in senescence-accelerated prone mice (SAMP8), studies that simultaneously measured the kinds of proteins that vary in their expression due to the administration of green tea and its extracts were not found. In this study, the effect of dietary and decaffeinated matcha on protein expression in the hippocampus of SAMP 8 was examined comprehensively, mainly using proteomics. Although improvements in memory and the hair appearance of the back coat were limited upon administering the samples, the following regulations were observed in some of the proteins involved in neuron degeneration, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, synapse transmission and nerve cell plasticity, antioxidation, glutamate transport and metabolism, GABA (γ-amino butyric acid) formation and transport and excitatory amino acid transporters: proteins downregulated upon sample intake (p < 0.05): brain acid-soluble protein 1, microtubule-associated protein tau, synapsin-2, sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter; proteins that tended to decrease upon sample intake (0.05 < p < 0.10): Parkinson’s disease (autosomal recessive and early-onset) 7 and synapsin-1; proteins upregulated upon sample intake (p > 0.95): glutathione S-transferase Mu 1, tubulin alpha-1A chain, dynamin-2, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit gamma and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tyrosine 5-monooxygenase activation protein epsilon polypeptide; proteins that tended to increase upon sample intake (0.95 > p > 0.90): glutathione S-transferase Mu7 and soluble carrier family 1 (glial high-affinity glutamate transporter); proteins that tended to decrease: sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter 3. These results indicate that matcha and decaffeinated matcha could reduce aging and cognitive impairment by regulating the expression of these proteins. Furthermore, these proteins could be used as markers for the evaluation of food and its available components for reducing aging and cognitive impairment.

Purpose Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated the health benefits of polyphenols, but the associations between polyphenol intake and mortality including total and major causes of death remain unclear. We investigated the associations between subjects’ total polyphenol intake and their mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and other causes of death in a population-based cohort study in Japan. Methods A total of 29,079 residents of Takayama City, Japan were analyzed. Their dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in 1992. Mortality was ascertained over the subsequent 16 years. The dietary polyphenol intake was calculated by matching the subjects’ food consumption data with our original polyphenol content database. Results A total of 5339 deaths occurred during the follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, the highest quartile of total polyphenol intake compared with the lowest quartile was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.82–0.99, p trend = 0.003). The subjects in the highest quartile showed significantly lower CVD mortality compared to those in the lowest quartile, and among the types of CVD mortality, a strong inverse association was observed for stroke mortality. Inverse associations were also observed for mortality from other causes, specifically digestive disease. The total polyphenol intake was not significantly associated with the risk of cancer mortality. Conclusions The results of this prospective study indicate that dietary total polyphenol intake in Japanese is inversely associated with all-cause mortality and mortality from cardiovascular and digestive diseases.

The brain needs the appropriate capillary networks to maintain normal brain function. Since previous studies showed age-related decrease in the cortical capillaries, it is suggested that protection against capillary aging is critical for maintaining brain function. Epidemiological studies have indicated that brain functions were protected from age-related decline by the long-term consumption of matcha. However, whether matcha has protective effects on capillary aging has not been studied yet. In this study, we utilized Flt1-DsR mice that expressed a red fluorescent protein in vascular endothelial cells to visualize cortical capillaries clearly. We found that cortical capillary density decreased in aging Flt1-DsR mice. Our results of the aortic ring assay and tube formation assay revealed that matcha and its components vitamin K1 and lutein, which are abundant in matcha powder, enhanced the angiogenic potential. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of long-term ingestion of matcha on mouse cortical capillary aging by using imaging experiments. The capillary density of the Flt1-DsR mice, which were fed matcha-containing food, indicated the protective effects of matcha ingestion on capillary aging in a limited cortical layer. These results suggest that biological regulation of matcha and its components affect the angiogenic potential, which is related to the prevention of capillary aging.

Matcha Green Tea Powder contains a variety of active ingredients beneficial to health, such as tea catechins, lutein and vitamin K. It is also known that these ingredients confer benefits upon cognitive functions of elderly people. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between a daily supplementation of Matcha and the change in cognitive functions of community-dwelling elderly people. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week trial was performed. Sixty-one participants were recruited and randomly assigned to receive test drink containing 3 g powder from fresh Matcha or placebo powder per day. Changes in cognitive function were assessed utilizing a psychometric test battery. Daily food intake was assessed by a Brief-type Self-administered Diet History Questionnaire (BDHQ). In the gender-specific analysis, a significant cognitive enhancement was observed in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score in the active group of women. In dietary analysis, we found a significant inverse correlation between consumption of vitamin K in daily diet, excluding test drinks, and change in MoCA. The present study suggests that daily supplementation of Matcha Green Tea Powder has protective effects against cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly women.

Polyphenol intake has been estimated in some populations; however, information about day-to-day and individual differences in polyphenol intake has not been well-evaluated. In this study, we aimed to examine within- and between-individual variation in polyphenol intake in Japanese male workers. First, 56 male subjects (aged 37.9±10.4 y) completed detailed 7-d dietary records (DR). We then calculated their total polyphenol intake using our polyphenol content database and the within- and between-individual variations. We also estimated the minimum number of days of dietary assessment required both to rank individuals within a group and to assess an individual's usual polyphenol intake with acceptable accuracy. The estimated daily total polyphenol intake was 965±471 mg/d, which was largely sourced from beverages. The day-to-day variation (CVw) for polyphenol intake was 43.6%, and the variation between the individuals in the population (CVb) for polyphenol intake was 45.9%. A 4-d DR was required to rank individuals within a group with high correlation coefficients (r=0.9), and a 19-d DR was required to assess the individual's usual polyphenol intake with 20% deviation. The CVw for polyphenol intake was intermediate between those of the other nutrients, but the CVb for polyphenol intake was largest among the nutrients. These results suggest that the dietary intake of polyphenols should be carefully estimated considering its within- and between-individual variation.

Purpose Hyperpigmentation of the skin can occur at any age depending on etiological factors but its intensity increases during adolescence in Japanese females and gradually develops further in adults. The purpose of this study was to characterize factors that influence skin hyperpigmentation, including age, skin type and dietary polyphenol sources. Patients and Methods A cross-sectional survey of healthy Japanese women aged from 30 to 60 years (n=244) was conducted using food and environmental questionnaires and a VISIA™ facial photoimage analyzer. Results UV Pigmented Spot (PS) scores correlated negatively with the consumption of total polyphenols (TPs) (R=−0.224, p

The intake of polyphenols among Japanese has been estimated in several adult populations, but there has been no information regarding their intake among young adults, especially in those in their twenties. We conducted a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)-based dietary assessment four times a year (once in each season) among Japanese university students and evaluated the total polyphenol intake across and within seasons. Forty-nine subjects (aged 20.7±0.6 y) completed our FFQ regarding polyphenol intake in February, May, August, and November 2016. We then calculated their total polyphenol intake using our polyphenol content database. The mean intake of total polyphenol across the seasons was 567±236 mg/d, which was largely sourced from beverages (62%). No significant differences were found in the total polyphenol intake or polyphenol intake from beverages among the four seasons. By contrast, we observed significant seasonal differences in the subjects' polyphenol intake from food; the polyphenol intake from food in February (255 mg/d) was significantly higher than that in May (215 mg/d), August (187 mg/d) and November (196 mg/d) (p

Estimating polyphenol intake contributes to the understanding of polyphenols’ health benefits. However, information about human polyphenol intake is scarce, especially in the elderly. This study aimed to estimate the dietary intake and major sources of polyphenols and to determine whether there is any relationship between polyphenol intake and micronutrient intake in healthy elderly Japanese. First, 610 subjects (569 men, 41 women, aged 67.3 ± 6.1 years) completed food frequency questionnaires. We then calculated their total polyphenol intake using our polyphenol content database. Their average total polyphenol intake was 1492 ± 665 mg/day, the greatest part of which was provided by beverages (79.1%). The daily polyphenol intake differed largely among individuals (183–4854 mg/day), also attributable mostly to beverage consumption. Coffee (43.2%) and green tea (26.6%) were the major sources of total polyphenol, the top 20 food items accounted for &gt, 90%. The polyphenol intake did not strongly correlate with the intake of any micronutrient, suggesting that polyphenols may exert health benefits independently of nutritional intake. The polyphenol intake in this elderly population was slightly higher than previous data in Japanese adults, and beverages such as coffee and green tea contributed highly to the intake.

Background Reactive oxygen species are known to mediate skin photoaging, which results in the formation of pigmented spots and wrinkles. Coffee is the largest source of polyphenols, which supplies a large number of antioxidants in one's daily life. However, little is known about how much coffee and polyphenol consumption influences skin health. In this study, a cross-sectional survey of the diet, environmental factors, and skin conditions was conducted in healthy Japanese females to explore the influence of coffee and polyphenol consumption on skin conditions. Materials and methods Non-smoking, healthy female subjects with moderate sun exposure in their daily lives were recruited for this study (n = 131, age range: 30–60 years old) and recorded their food and beverage intake and life circumstances using questionnaires. The skin water content, transepidermal water loss, and elasticity were measured on the cheek of each subject using non-invasive methods: a Corneometer, a Tewameter, and a Cutometer, respectively. Wrinkles and pigmented spots were evaluated using digital photograph images. Results Consumption of coffee and total polyphenols from all sources and from coffee showed a statistically significant correlation towards a decrease in pigmented spot scores (P

Purpose Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated the health benefits of polyphenols, but the associations between polyphenol intake and mortality including total and major causes of death remain unclear. We investigated the associations between subjects’ total polyphenol intake and their mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and other causes of death in a population-based cohort study in Japan. Methods A total of 29,079 residents of Takayama City, Japan were analyzed. Their dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in 1992. Mortality was ascertained over the subsequent 16 years. The dietary polyphenol intake was calculated by matching the subjects’ food consumption data with our original polyphenol content database. Results A total of 5339 deaths occurred during the follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, the highest quartile of total polyphenol intake compared with the lowest quartile was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.82–0.99, p trend = 0.003). The subjects in the highest quartile showed significantly lower CVD mortality compared to those in the lowest quartile, and among the types of CVD mortality, a strong inverse association was observed for stroke mortality. Inverse associations were also observed for mortality from other causes, specifically digestive disease. The total polyphenol intake was not significantly associated with the risk of cancer mortality. Conclusions The results of this prospective study indicate that dietary total polyphenol intake in Japanese is inversely associated with all-cause mortality and mortality from cardiovascular and digestive diseases.

In order to investigate the risk-reducing effects of coffee in metabolic syndrome, we performed a study in mice fed a high-fat diet with added coffee and analyzed gene expression in liver and adipose tissues using cDNA microarray. Male C57BL/6J mice were raised for 8 weeks on either a normal diet (N group), a high-fat diet (HF group), or a high-fat diet with 1.1% decaffeinated (HF+DC group) or 1.1% caffeine-containing instant coffee (HF+CC group). The body weights of mice in the HF+DC and HF+CC groups were mostly intermediate between the N and HF groups, even if there were no difference in the amount of diet consumption in each group. Mesenteric fat weight was lower in the HF+DC group than in the HF group (p < 0.05) and tended to become lower in the HF+CC group than in the HF group. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly lower in the HF+DC and HF+CC groups than in the HF group (p < 0.05). Inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1beta gene expression in liver was up-regulated in the HF group and significantly down-regulated in the HF+DC and HF+CC groups (p < 0.01), while MCP-1 gene expression in white adipose tissue was also significantly suppressed in the HF+DC group (p < 0.01). The induction of these anti-inflammatory responses by coffee consumption may contribute to reducing the risks of metabolic syndrome.

Food and beverages rich in polyphenols with antioxidant activity are highlighted as a potential factor for risk reduction of lifestyle related diseases. This study was conducted to elucidate total polyphenol consumption from beverages in Japanese people. Total polyphenol (TP) contents in beverages were measured using a modified Folin-Ciocalteu method removing the interference of reduced sugars by using reverse-phase column chromatography. A beverage consumption survey was conducted in the Tokyo and Osaka areas in 2004. Randomly selected male and female subjects (10-59 years old, n = 8768) recorded the amounts and types of all nonalcoholic beverages consumed in a week. Concentration of TP in coffee, green tea, black tea, Oolong tea, barley tea, fruit juice, tomato/vegetable juice, and cocoa drinks were at 200, 115, 96, 39, 9, 34, 69, and 62 mg/100 mL, respectively. Total consumption of beverages in a Japanese population was 1.11 +/- 0.51 L/day, and TP contents from beverages was 853 +/- 512 mg/day. Coffee and green tea shared 50% and 34% of TP consumption in beverages, respectively, and contribution of each of the other beverages was less than 10%. TP contents in 20 major vegetables and 5 fruits were 0-49 mg and 2-55 mg/100 g, respectively. Antioxidant activities, Cu reducing power, and scavenging activities for DPPH and superoxide, of those samples correlated to the TP contents (p0.001). Beverages, especially coffee, contributed to a large share of the consumption of polyphenols, as antioxidants, in the Japanese diet.

Summary In a recent study, we obtained some evidences that probiotic strain Lactobacillus affects the autonomic nerve activities and regulates blood glucose and cardiovascular function. In the study presented here, we found that long-term ingestion of the lactobacillus strain Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 (NCC2461) reduced body weight and abdominal fat weight. To investigate possible role of autonomic nerves in anti-obesity action of NCC2461, we examined the effects of intraduodenal (ID) injection of the lactobacillus strain L. paracasei ST11 (NCC2461) on sympathetic nerve activity innervating white adipose tissue (WAT-SNA) in urethane-anesthetized rats, and found that it accelerated WAT-SNA. Moreover, intraduodenal (ID) injection of NCC2461 increased in sympathetic nerve activity innervating brown adipose tissue (BAT-SNA) and decreased in hepatic vagal nerve activity (HVNA). In addition, using conscious rats, we examined the effects of intra-gastric (IG) injection of NCC2461 on lipolysis and BAT thermogenesis, and observed that it clearly elevated the plasma FFA level, BAT temperature and abdominal temperature. Thus, these data suggest that the NCC2461 affects autonomic nerves, enhances lipolysis, and reduces body weight in rats.

Probiotics have potential to improve host immunity; however, there is less evidence showing their efficacy against infections and nutritional status in the elderly. We conducted a double-blinded feeding trial in the elderly to elucidate the effect of fermented milk containingLactobacillus johnsoniiLa1 (LC1®) on infections and nutritional status. Twenty-four completely enterally fed elderly in-patients aged over 70 years were randomly assigned into two groups. All subjects were administered 3768 kJ (900 kcal)/d of total enteral nutrition (EN) through tube feeding for 12 weeks. Subjects in the LC1 group were administered 373 kJ (89 kcal)/d of LC1 fermented milk after feeding of 3395 kJ (811 kcal)/d of EN for 12 weeks. In the control group, 373 kJ/d of the same EN was replaced from the fermented milk. In the LC1 group, the percentage of days with infections during the run-in observation period was 15·4 (sd17·3) %, which significantly decreased to 5·7 (sd8·1) % during the intervention period (P = 0·018), and the reduction was larger than that of the control group (P = 0·047). Blood Hb increased (P L. johnsoniiLa1 may contribute to suppressing infections by improving nutritional and immunological status in the elderly.

The natural defense systems of animals, including humans, have been developed to maintain the hosts' health by fighting exogenous microbes. Immune systems, which have functions to recognize and keep out exogenous organisms, play a central role in the host defense systems. Intestinal microflora, mainly composed of commensal bacteria, also provide defense functions called colonization resistance to keep out exogenous bacteria. We have been investigating probiotic strains Lactobacillus johnsonii Lal (NCC533) and Bifidobacterium animalis subspp. lactis Bb-12 to elucidate the efficacy of these probiotic strains in strengthening the natural defense system of the host and their potential for risk reduction of infections as an end point benefit. Feeding trials using fermented milk with L. johnsonii Lal (LC1®) showed that intestinal microflora were improved and blood phagocytic activity, a biomarker for natural immunity, increased in healthy adults. In a feeding trial of LC1 in the elderly, we found that the frequency of infection was reduced by administration of the probiotics. In the LCl-fed elderly, blood phagocytic activity increased, and serum TNF-α, an inflammation biomarker, was lowered. Serum albumin, a biomarker for nutritional status, also increased in the LCl-fed elderly, suggesting that probiotic feeding may contribute to regulation of infection through immune system modulation, activation of immunity and suppression of inflammation, and nutritional status improvement. The Lal strain was shown to stimulate the parasympathetic nerve system in vivo, implying that anabolic action might contribute to nutritional status improvement. An anti-inflammatory effect of the Lal strain was also observed in the animal studies using colitis, Helicobacter pylori-infection, and atopic dermatitis models, and a human study in pollen allergy patients. Feeding of the Bb-12 strain in weaning children improved intestinal microflora and increased intestinal IgA production. Probiotics such as L. johnsonii Lal and Bifidobacterium Bb-12 could play a significant role in improving the QOL of human beings through strengthening the natural defense systems of the host. In this paper, we review and discuss our recent work with references to other research.

An association between the dietary intake of polyphenols and human health has been shown in many epidemiological studies. Since beverages are rich sources of polyphenols, we aimed to evaluate the polyphenol intake from beverages in Japanese individuals with a focus on differences according to year, age, gender and season. More than 10,000 Japanese male and female subjects aged 1-99 y old participated in this survey every year from 1996 to 2013, and their beverage consumption and amount of polyphenol intake were calculated. Polyphenol intake from beverages in Japan showed no tendency to increase or decrease over the 18-y period, and the major sources of polyphenols in Japanese daily life were coffee and green tea. Polyphenol intake was larger in participants with higher age up to 59 y old in both male and female subjects. There was a slight difference in polyphenol intake by gender, with adult males consuming more polyphenols than adult females. Polyphenols were consumed slightly more in the winter than the summer, although the seasonal difference in polyphenol intake was not large. Our results suggest that polyphenol intake from beverages is influenced by age rather than gender or season in Japan, and may not have changed over time, at least over the 18-y period beginning in 1996 in Japan.

Traction inverter system with Lithium-ion batteries for electric multiple units (EMUs) is developed in order to utilize the regenerative electric energy and to reduce peak power at substations. In the system, Lithium-ion batteries unit is connected to the DC link of the traction system in parallel via the DC-DC converter which controls storing and supplying battery power. In powering mode of the train, this system reduces peak power at substations by supplying electric power from the batteries unit. In braking mode of the train, this system prevents getting higher of overhead line voltage by storing excess regenerative power, and saves energy consumption by using battery energy for train powering. This system is installed in one of the Seibu 20000 series which are the commuter trains of SEIBU Railway Company. The traction system with Lithium-ion batteries for EMUs has been evaluated in commercial operations on the Seibu Sinjuku Line since October 2013, and it is confirmed that this system can save energy consumption of 26% and peak power at substations is reduced by 13%. This trial in commercial operations is continued until September 2015.

Oral administration of Lactobacillus casei reportedly reduces blood glucose concentrations in a non-insulin-dependent diabetic KK-Ay mouse model. In order to determine if other lactobacillus strains affect glucose metabolism, we evaluated the effect of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (LJLa1) strain on glucose metabolism in rats. Oral administration of LJLa1 via drinking water for 2 weeks inhibited the hyperglycemia induced by intracranial injection of 2-deoxy- d -glucose (2DG). We found that the hyperglucagonemic response induced by 2DG was also suppressed by LJLa1. Oral administration of LJLa1 for 2 weeks also reduced the elevation of blood glucose and glucagon levels after an oral glucose load in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. In addition, we recently observed that intraduodenal injection of LJLa1 reduced renal sympathetic nerve activity and enhanced gastric vagal nerve activity, suggesting that LJLa1 might affect glucose metabolism by changing autonomic nerve activity. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of intraduodenal administration of LJLa1 on adrenal sympathetic nerve activity (ASNA) in urethane-anesthetized rats, since the autonomic nervous system, including the adrenal sympathetic nerve, may be implicated in the control of the blood glucose levels. Indeed, we found that ASNA was suppressed by intraduodenal administration of LJLa1, suggesting that LJLa1 might improve glucose tolerance by reducing glucagon secretion via alteration of autonomic nerve activities.

To elucidate the effect of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus johnsonii Lal (LC1®) on defecation, a double blind placebo controlled study was conducted. Healthy Japanese adults (24-67 years of age, n = 57, male: 31,female: 26) were randomly divided into two groups, and the subjects in the LC1 group (n = 30) consumed LC1 fermented milk containing L. johnsonii Lal at 1 x 10 9 cfu/90 g (90 g per day) for 21 days and the subjects in the control group (n = 27) consumed placebo fermented milk without the Lal strain in the same manner. In the subjects of the LC1 group with mild constipation (n = 9), less than one defecation per day in the 3 weeks observation period, defecation frequency both in times per week and days per week significantly increased during consumption of LC1 compared to before consumption (p < 0.05), and the frequency recovered to normal status with at least one defecation per day in 4 out of 9 of subjects (44%) after 3 weeks LC1 consumption. Subjects with mild constipation in the control group (n = 7) showed no significant changes in defecation frequency. The frequency in the subjects with normal defecation did not change in either group. L. johnsonii Lal was found in all feces from 10 subjects in the LC1 group participating in fecal collection, suggesting that Lal strain efficiently reached the gastrointestinal tract as a viable form. Excess amount (360 g per day) of LC1 intake for 2 weeks in the other healthy subjects (n = 10) caused an increase in defecation frequency, which was kept at the normal level of less than twice per day. These results suggest that LC1®, a probiotic fermented milk containing L. johnsonii Lal, is beneficial for improving mild constipation without any safety concerns.

Food and beverages rich in polyphenols have been shown to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. The present study estimated polyphenol levels and consumption from food and beverages in Japanese women. Randomly recruited housewives living in the area around Tokyo (n 109; aged 21–56 years; Group 1) recorded all beverages and foods they ingested for 7 d, and the total polyphenol (TP) consumption was estimated based on the TP content of each item measured with a modified Folin–Ciocalteu method. For Group 1, TP was consumed at 841 (sd 403) mg/d (range 113–1759 mg/d), and beverages were a larger source of TP (79 %) than food (21 %). The largest single source of TP was coffee at 47 %, followed by green tea, black tea, chocolate, beer and soya sauce, at 16, 5·7, 3·3, 3·2 and 3·1 %, respectively. In terms of food groups, cereals/noodles, vegetables, fruits, beans and seeds, and seasonings (except for soya sauce) contributed 5·0, 4·0, 1·4, 1·8 and 2·4 %, respectively. Another group of housewives who consumed at least one cup of coffee per d were separately recruited (n 100; Group 2) in the same area. Their consumption of TP was higher at 1187 (sd 371) mg/d (range 440–2435 mg/d) than Group 1 (P

To elucidate the effects of probiotics on the stimulation of immunoglobulin production during lactation, feeding trials of bifidobacteria in lactating mice were conducted. Bifidobacteria appeared in feces at 9.67+/-0.17 log 10 number per gram levels. All bifidobacteria found in the feces were the administered strain. Mice fed bifidobacteria for 12 days showed significantly high levels of fecal total IgA compared to that of the control group (P0.05). The levels of anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgA in milk as well as in fecal extracts were significantly higher in the bifidobacteria-fed group than that of the control group (P0.05). These results suggest that the intake of bifidobacteria can enhance local production of IgA in milk and the intestine, which may help to protect both pups and dams from exposure to food antigens.

We studied the preventive effect against allergies in infants who and whose mothers consumed hypoallergenic formulas until 6 months after birth. Mother and infant pairs were divided into three groups, and the infants were monitored for the development of allergies for the first 2 years. In the MD group (n = 102; n = number of infants), the mothers were given a hypoallergenic formula for mothers (MOM HA), which contained hydrolyzed whey protein as the only protein source, as a substitution for cow's milk during late pregnancy and lactation. In the CD group (n = 127), the mothers were given cow's milk during the corresponding period. All infants in the MD and CD groups were exclusively breast-fed or mixed-fed with breast milk and hypoallergenic infant formula (NAN HA), which contains the same hydrolyzed protein as MOM HA. In the AF group (n = 54), the mothers consumed MOM HA and their infants were mixed-fed with breast milk and a cow's milk-based adopted infant formula during the corresponding period. In the MD group, no infants were positive to cow's milk-specific immunoglobulin E (RAST) at 4 months of age, in contrast to 6% and 3% of infants in the CD and AF groups, respectively. The infants in the MD group showed low incidence of various allergies, especially of eczema, as compared to the CD and AF groups. These results suggest that consumption of cow's milk by mothers and cow's milk-based formula feeding to infants elevate the risk of allergies in infants, and that consumption of hypoallergenic formula for pregnant and lactating women and for infants could be helpful in preventing allergy development in infants.

Food antigens transferred into breast milk sometimes cause an allergic reaction in exclusively breast-fed infants. This study will show whether the intake of a whey hydrolysate formula for lactating women (MOM HA) can reduce the appearance of food antigens in breast milk. Lactating women in the MOM group (n = 12) consumed MOM HA as a substitute for cow's milk and those in the COW group (n = 13) consumed cow's milk for more than 4 months. After the ingestion of 200 mL of MOM HA and cow's milk by the women in the MOM and COW groups, respectively, the first breast milk samples were obtained and beta-lactoglobulin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The number of subjects with detectable beta-lactoglobulin (> 0.1 ng/mL) in the MOM group was two (17%), which was significantly less than that in the COW group (11 subjects, 85%, p < 0.01). The level of beta-lactoglobulin was also lower in the MOM group than the COW group (p < 0.01). Subsequently, the women in the MOM group consumed cow's milk and those in the COW group consumed MOM HA for one week; then a second sampling was performed. beta-Lactoglobulin was detected in three (25%) and 8 subjects (62%) in the MOM and COW groups, respectively. The level of beta-lactoglobulin was still lower in the MOM group (p < 0.05). The consumption of whey hydrolysate formula by lactating women over a considerable time reduces the transfer of beta-lactoglobulin into their breast milk, and the low level can be maintained even after inadvertent ingestion of cow's milk.

A retrospective survey of a family history of allergy employing a special questionnaire for children was performed. The survey included 1-year-old (n = 267) and 6-year-old children (n = 410) with allergies as well as 1-year-old (n = 313) and 6-year-old children (n = 329) without allergies. An 'Allergy Risk Score' (ARS) for each subject was calculated according to the history of allergy in three family members: father, mother and a sibling. Each family member was scored as 2.0 (overt history of allergies), 1.0 (provable), 0.5 (possible) or 0 (absent), and the ARS of the subjects was calculated as the total of the family members' scores. The ARS of children in the allergy groups was statistically higher than that of the control groups in both age groups. The ARS increased with an increase in the odds ratio (an approximate value of the risk), especially in 6-year-old children. An ARS calculated on the basis of family history could be a useful and practical index for estimating the risk of allergy development in children, and may be helpful in predicting and preventing allergies in infants and children.

The effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (LC1) on Helicobacter pylori colonization in the stomach were investigated. H. pylori colonization and gastritis in LC1-inoculated Mongolian gerbils were significantly less intense than those in the control animals. LC1 culture supernatant (>10-kDa fraction) inhibited H. pylori motility and induced bacterial aggregation in human gastric epithelial cells, suggesting the potential of clinical use of LC1 product.

Koningic acid inhibits glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by binding to the SH group in the active center. The fungus Trichoderma koningii , the producer of koningic acid, contains two GAPDH isozymes (GAPDHs I and II). GAPDH I is inhibited 50% by 1.1 · 10 −3 M koningic acid, while GAPDH II is inhibited 50% at 6.8 · 10 −6 M. cDNAs of the two isozymes were cloned from T. koningii and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The sequence of coding region and codon usage in both clones were compared with each other and with those of the gene for Aspergillus nidulans GAPDH (enzyme activity is inhibited 50% by 2.7 · 10 −7 M koningic acid). Results indicated that GAPDH II is more closely related to A. nidulans GAPDH than GAPDH I. All essential amino acid residues, except 174 and 181, which are implicated in catalysis and binding of NAD and substrates, were conserved among A. nidulans GAPDH and GAPDHs I and II. Residues 174 and 181 are threonine in both A. nidulans GAPDH and GAPDH II, but alanine and serine, respectively, in GAPDH I. The side-chain of alanine-174 in GAPDH I can not replace threonine-174 functionally as threonine-174 side-chain forms a hydrogen bond with the catalytically essential histidine-176.

Publisher Summary Probiotics is defined as live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host, and the terminology was introduced in 1991. Probiotics are scientifically well-documented food components that could deliver health benefits including gut microbiota balancing, normalizing regularity, gut comfort, immune boosting, anti-infection, anti-diarrhea, anti-allergy, and skin health. Emerging science increasingly shows health benefits of food and approximately 500 scientific articles per year show the health benefits of probiotics. The establishment of health claims for food is a major trend for the food industry, academics, and the authorities. Even though scientific evidence is the same, the requirement for scientific substantiation on health claims is different in Japan, China, Brazil, and the European Union, which may be due to cultural and historical differences with respect to food and food policy and hence the achievement of consensus by authorities. The final goal for health claims is for the benefit of consumers. Further scientific evidence on clearer benefits of probiotics, and more discussion on health claims with authorities in order to achieve consensus on claims, should allow better communication to consumers and thus expand the opportunity for promoting health through using probiotics.

Bacterial exposure in infancy may be one of the determinants of atopic dermatitis (AD) morbidity in later life. Some clinical studies have shown that an intake of probiotics reduced the risks of AD in children; however, the timing and duration of administration for the prevention of AD still remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on AD development of the administration of Lactobacillus johnsonii NC553 (La1) during the weaning period, using an animal model of human AD, NC/NgaTnd mice. La1 suspended in drinking water was administered to 4-week-old NC/NgaTnd mice for 4 weeks. Mice were kept up to 16 weeks of age in an air uncontrolled conventional condition. Clinical skin severity, scratching behaviour, histological features, and production of regulatory or inflammatory cytokines in spleens were analyzed. The results indicated that oral administration of La1 suppressed exacerbation of the clinical severity of dermatitis when compared to the controls. Scratching duration, which is the most important cause of skin damage, was also suppressed in mice fed with La1. La1 supplementation also suppressed epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of inflammatory cells in skin. This study showed that exposure to La1 from the early stages might be beneficial to reduce the exacerbation of AD in children at high-risk of allergy.

Objective Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a serious nutritional problem that causes immune dysfunction in elderly people. Probiotic lactic acid bacteria may potentially modify immunity; however, there is little evidence to elucidate the influence of these bacteria on PEM in the elderly. Methods The immune modulation effects of lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (La1) were examined in aged mice and aged mice with PEM. Twenty-month-old male 57BL6/n mice ( n = 28) were divided into four groups and received the following diet for 14 d: a complete diet (20% protein) without Lal (control) or with Lal or a low-protein diet (5% protein) to induce PEM, with or without La1. All mice were immunized with diphtheria toxin (DT) with alfacalciferol at 7 d and sacrificed 14 d after starting the experimental diets. Results Serum albumin concentrations and body weight, both of which were reduced by the low-protein diet, were ameliorated by La1 intake and were the same as in mice receiving the control diet. Anti-DT immunoglobulin (Ig) A in fecal extract was increased by La1 intake in mice receiving the complete and low-protein diets. Serum anti-DT IgA, IgG, splenocyte proliferation, and CD8 + T cells were reduced by the low-protein diet and restored by La1 intake. Conclusion La1 enhances intestinal IgA production and helps recover nutritional status and systemic immune responses in aged mice with PEM. It is possible that La1 may contribute to immune system recovery in immunocompromised hosts such as elderly humans with PEM.

Calcium is not sufficiently consumed by Japanese at any age groups. Childhood is an important period, when they should earn bone minerals to reach higher peak bone mass for reducing the risk of osteoporosis in their later life. Children require higher calcium consumption per body weight than adults, and also establish their dietary pattern in this period. MILO has attracted widespread popularity as a good-taste chocolate-flavored malt drink with balanced nutrients for children. We developed FOSHU MILO with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) aiming at improving absorption of calcium, which is originally rich in the products. Using the calcium stable isotope (44)Ca, we found that the urinary excretion in the subject fed the products with FOS was higher than that of control product without FOS, suggesting that the FOSHU MILO is effective in promoting calcium absorption from the intestines. MILO could contribute to bone health by increasing consumption of calcium and/or improving the calcium bioavailability.

To exert beneficial effects for the host, for example, improving the intestinal microflora, a probiotic must reach the intestine as a viable strain. These properties must be demonstrated byin vitroas well asin vivomethods. However, only a few well-designed human clinical studies have shown these properties.Lactobacillus johnsoniiLa1 has been shown to give many beneficial effects for the host, but it is unclear whether a viable strain ofL. johnsoniiLa1 has the effect of improving host intestinal microflora. In the present study, a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial was conducted to elucidate the effect ofL. johnsoniiLa1 on human intestinal microflora. Twenty-two young healthy Japanese women were randomly divided into two groups, and either received fermented milk withL. johnsoniiLa1 or a fermented milk withoutL. johnsoniiLa1 (placebo) daily for 21d. Consumption of the fermented milk: (a) increased totalBifidobacteriumandLactobacillus, and decreased lecithinase-positiveClostridiumin the faeces; (b) increased the faecal lactic acid concentrations; (c) decreased the faecal pH; (d) increased the defecation frequency. These changes were stronger than those observed with the placebo.L. johnsoniiLa1 was identified in all subjects only after the consumption of the fermented milk. These results suggest thatL. johnsoniiLa1 can contribute to improve intestinal microflora with probiotic properties.

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted on 63 subjects to determine the antihypertensive effect of a vegetable drink in which sardine protein hydrolysates containing a dipeptide, Valyl-Tyrosine (VY), were incorporated. The subjects, consisting of people with mild hypertension, high-normal blood pressure and normal blood pressure, were randomly divided into test (male/female = 25/6, average age 50.1 +/- 10.4 years old) and control groups (26/6, 49.0 +/- 5.0). Each subject in the test group was given 195 g of the vegetable drink containing 0.5 g of sardine peptides (sardine protein hydrolysates) with 0.4 mg of VY (test drink) once a day for 13 weeks in a row, and subjects in the control group were given the same amount of the vegetable drink without sardine peptides (control drink) in the same manner. In the test group, 40 subjects with mild hypertension or high-normal blood pressure (130 mmHgor = systolic blood pressure (SBP)160 mmHg and/or 80 mmHgor = diastolic blood pressure (DBP)100 mmHg) showed a significant decrease in SBP, from 142.0 +/- 10.3 mmHg at the start of the test to 134.4 +/- 11.1 mmHg during the first week of the test period, after which similar values were seen throughout the test period (13 weeks). Compared to the control group, the difference in SBP from baseline was statistically significant in the test group throughout the intake period. DBP also decreased significantly from 88.0 +/- 7.9 mmHg at baseline to 83.5 +/- 8.6 mmHg after 13 weeks. In the control group, SBP and DBP were 140.8 +/- 8.4 mmHg and 90.5 +/- 6.6 mmHg respectively at the start of the test, and neither decreased during the test period. In subjects with normal blood pressure, neither those in the test group nor those in the control group showed a significant change in SBP and DBP during the test period. An excessive ingestion test was performed on 25 subjects with hypertension, mild hypertension, high-normal blood pressure, and normal blood pressure by giving 585 g (3 times the recommended amount of intake) of the test drink for 14 days in a row. As a result, a significant decrease of blood pressure was observed in the hypertension, mild hypertension and high-normal blood pressure groups, but no excessive decline in blood pressure or any side-effects were associated with any subjects during the test period. In the groups with normal blood pressure, the excessive ingestion of the test drink did not affect blood pressure. In these two studies, physical check-ups and biochemical analyses of blood and urine were also conducted in all subjects, and no abnormalities were observed. These results suggest that the test drink containing sardine protein hydrolysates exhibited the antihypertensive effect in only the subjects with mild hypertension or high-normal blood pressure. No adverse effects were observed in either hypertensive or normotensive subjects.

This study was performed to elucidate the effect of whey hydrolysate formula on the transfer of an antigen into serum and milk. The concentrations of beta-lactoglobulin in serum and milk were positively correlated (p0.01). The concentration of beta-lactoglobulin in serum tended to become low in the mouse and to be accompanied with a high level of fecal anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgA concentration. The fecal anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgA of mice fed hydrolysate formula for 12 weeks was significantly higher than that of the control formula-fed mice (p0.05). These results suggest that a high level of intestinal IgA elicited by the feeding of hydrolysate formula may reduce the transfer of beta-lactoglobulin into serum and milk.

The anti-infectious effect of probiotics has recently been reported and one mechanism may be the non-specific stimulation of immunity. This study was performed to elucidate the influence of a probiotic formula on intestinal microflora and local immunity in healthy children. A follow-up formula containing viable bifidobacteria was given to seven healthy Japanese children (15 to 31 months old) for 21 days. During intake of the formula, the administered strain was detected in feces from five subjects (71%) and total fecal bifidobacteria slightly increased. Fecal levels of total IgA and anti-poliovirus IgA during intake of the formula were significantly higher than those before intake (P < 0.05). The increase in local IgA levels resulting from ingestion of the probiotic formula may contribute to enhancement of the mucosal resistance against gastrointestinal infections.