Equol, a Metabolite of Daidzein, Is More Efficient than Daidzein for Bone Formation in Growing Female Rats.

Few studies have examined the effects of isoflavones and particularly equol, a metabolite of the isoflavone daidzein, on bone formation during the growth period in animals. The present study investigated the effects of orally administered daidzein or equol on bone formation and bone mineral density in growing female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 3 weeks, were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group) as follows: rats were orally administered a corn oil, 8 mg/day of daidzein, 4 mg/day of equol or 8 mg/day of equol in corn oil for 4 weeks.

Assessment of safety and efficacy of perinatal or peripubertal exposure to daidzein on bone development in rats.

Neonatal exposure to isoflavones improved bone health in thereafter in previous animal studies. However, since isoflavones possess hormonal activity, it may interfere with reproductive development. In the present study, we assessed the safety and efficiency of perinatal or peripubertal exposure to daidzein on bone and reproductive organ development at early adulthood in rats.

[Material labeling of soft plastic toys and plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride products].

We investigated the labeling and content of plasticizers of soft plastic toys. First, we investigated material labeling in 96 products purchased in fiscal years 2000 and 2001. Among these products, 43% of those purchased in fiscal 2000 and 68% of those purchased in fiscal 2001 were labeled.

Estimation of inorganic food additive (nitrite, nitrate and sulfur dioxide), antioxidant (BHA and BHT), processing agent (propylene glycol) and sweetener (sodium saccharin) concentrations in foods and their daily intake based on official inspection results in Japan in fiscal year 1998.

The mean concentration and daily intake of inorganic food additives (nitrite, nitrate, and sulfur dioxide), antioxidants (BHA and BHT), a processing agent (propylene glycol), and a sweetener (sodium saccharin) were estimated based on the results of an analysis of 34,489 food samples obtained in official inspections by 106 local governments in Japan in fiscal year 1998. The ratios of mean concentrations of these seven food additives to each allowable limit were 20.0%, 53.

A simple and reproducible testing method for dialkyl phthalate migration from polyvinyl chloride products into saliva simulant.

We describe a method of mechanical agitation to determine rates of dialkyl phthalate migration from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products into saliva simulant. The method consists of rotary shaking of a sample with 30 mL of saliva simulant (pH 7.0) at 35 degrees C in a 50 mL glass tube at 300 rpm for 15 min, then measuring the amount of dialkyl phthalate in the saliva simulant by HPLC with a UV detector.

[Identification of acid-stable carmine in imported apple syrup product].

An unknown red pigment was purified from an apple syrup product imported from Canada, using a DIAION HP-20 column with methanol as the eluent. By spectroscopic means and chemical synthesis, the isolated pigment was identified as 4-aminocarminic acid, which is the major pigment of acid-stable carmine (a red colorant illegal in Japan). In addition, HPLC and TLC methods were proposed to detect this illegal colorant.

Simultaneous determination of phthalate di- and monoesters in poly(vinylchloride) products and human saliva by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method using selected ion monitoring (SIM) is described for the simultaneous determination of phthalate di- and monoesters in poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) products. The method consists of the following four procedures; (1). liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate from the acidified aqueous homogenates of the PVC products, (2).

Estimation of concentrations of antifungal agents allowed as food additives in foods and their daily intake based on official inspection results in Japan in fiscal year 1998.

The mean concentrations and daily intake of four antifungal agents were estimated based on the results of an analysis of 7,005 samples of food obtained in official inspections by Japanese local governments in fiscal year 1998. The mean concentration of diphenyl was 0.0004% of the allowable limit, and those of imazalil, o-phenylphenol, and thiabendazole were 14.

Release of Formaldehyde and Melamine from Melamine Tableware Manufactured in the Philippines.

The amounts of the melamine resin monomers, formaldehyde and melamine, that migrated from melamine tableware into food-simulating solvents were studied under various conditions. Undetectable or limited release of both monomers was determined in the extract when water was used as a food-simulating solvent. The release of both monomers into 4% acetic acid, another food-simulating solvent, was observed when the migration test was carried out at 95°C for 30 min.