The nutritional profile of commercial complementary foods in Japan: comparison between low- and high-price products.

Despite the increasing market share of commercial complementary foods, their nutritional characteristics and those associated with the price of products are still unknown in Japan. We compared the nutritional characteristics of commercially available complementary foods of different price levels in Japan. Data were obtained from the websites of Japanese brands of infant and young children's food.

Characteristics of women who dropped out from pregnancy register in Okinawa, Japan: Findings from a retrospective cohort study.

Aim: There is little evidence regarding women who cannot register live births after pregnancy. We aimed to clarify the difference in baseline characteristics between women who registered live births and those who did not (i.e.

Formulas developed based on the ratio of urea nitrogen to creatinine concentrations obtained from multiple spot urine samples are acceptable to predict protein intake at group level but not at individual level.

In this study, we hypothesized that spot urine can be used to predict protein intake at both group and individual levels. Participants (n = 369) of this study were recruited from all 47 prefectures in Japan. Sex-specific formulas were developed based on the ratio of urea nitrogen to creatinine concentration obtained from 3 spot urine samples.

Snacking in Japanese nursery school children aged 3-6 years: its characteristics and contribution to overall dietary intake.

Objective: This cross-sectional study evaluated the dietary characteristics of snacks, the contribution of snacks to daily nutrient intake and the association of energy intake (EI) from snacks with the prevalence of nutritional inadequacy in Japanese nursery school children.

Design: Foods and nutrients consumed in each eating occasion were assessed by 3-d dietary records. The prevalence of inadequate intake of twenty nutrients assessed by the age- and sex-specific reference values in the Japanese Dietary Reference Intakes was compared according to tertile categories of EI from snacks.

Association of Free Sugar Intake Estimated Using a Newly-Developed Food Composition Database With Lifestyles and Parental Characteristics Among Japanese Children Aged 3-6 Years: DONGuRI Study.

Background: The lack of comprehensive food composition databases for sugar contents in Japanese foods has led to the lack of nutritional epidemiologic studies on sugar intake in Japanese population. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association of free sugar intake estimated using a newly developed food composition database with the characteristics and lifestyles of Japanese children aged 3-6 years.

Methods: The food composition database contained information on sugars in 2,222 commonly consumed Japanese foods.

Estimation of Starch and Sugar Intake in a Japanese Population Based on a Newly Developed Food Composition Database.

Due to a lack of a food composition database on starch and sugars, we developed a comprehensive database on starch and seven types of sugars in commonly consumed foods ( = 2222) in Japan. Dietary record data of 368 toddlers (aged 18⁻35 months), 376 preschool children (aged 3⁻6 years), 915 schoolchildren (aged 8⁻14 years) and 392 adults (aged 20⁻69 years) were used. The mean starch intake ranged from 55.

Adequacy of Usual Intake of Japanese Children Aged 3⁻5 Years: A Nationwide Study.

We assessed the adequacy of nutrient intakes of Japanese children aged 3⁻5 years. Dietary information was collected using a 3-nonconsective-day weighed dietary record among 143 boys and 143 girls. Estimates of usual nutrient intakes from foods and beverages were obtained using the best-power method.

Nutritional quality of meals offered to children (kids' meals) at chain restaurants in Japan.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional quality, particularly the fat and salt contents, of meals offered to children (kids' meals) at chain restaurants in Japan.

Design: A web-based content analysis was conducted to evaluate the type of restaurant, type of meal, incentives, health claims and nutrition data of kids' meals. The nutritional appropriateness of kids' meals was assessed with the Standard for the School Lunch Program, which regulates energy (≤2218 kJ), protein (20-30 g), fat (≤30 % of energy (E%)) and salt (<2 g) contents of the school lunch in Japan.

Dietary phosphorus intake estimated by 4-day dietary records and two 24-hour urine collections and their associated factors in Japanese adults.

Background/objectives: Both self-reported dietary information and urinary excretion have limitations in the assessment of phosphorus intake. We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate dietary phosphorus intake by dietary records (DR) and 24-h urine collections (UC) and examined associated factors.

Subjects/methods: A total of 161 men and 161 women aged 20-69 years completed a 4-day DR and two 24-h UC.

Simple questions in salt intake behavior assessment: comparison with urinary sodium excretion in Japanese adults.

Background And Objectives: To clarify whether six conventional 'high-risk' behaviors toward excess salt intake captured by simple questions such as frequency of salty food consumption are related to actual salt intake. Also, to examine the relationship of nutrition knowledge, food label use, and food preparation with actual salt intake.

Methods And Study Design: Study participants were 742 subjects (370 men and 372 women) aged 20-69 years from 20 areas of Japan.

Within-country variation of salt intake assessed via urinary excretion in Japan: a multilevel analysis in all 47 prefectures.

Salt intake in Japan remains high; therefore, exploring within-country variation in salt intake and its cause is an important step in the establishment of salt reduction strategies. However, no nationwide evaluation of this variation has been conducted by urinalysis. We aimed to clarify whether within-country variation in salt intake exists in Japan after adjusting for individual characteristics.

Urine 24-Hour Sodium Excretion Decreased between 1953 and 2014 in Japan, but Estimated Intake Still Exceeds the WHO Recommendation.

Accurate monitoring of sodium intake is necessary for evaluating strategies used to reduce sodium intake. However, no repeat survey has been conducted in representative populations in Japan to examine trends in sodium intake with the use of 24-h urinary sodium excretion, a standard evaluation method for sodium intake monitoring. The objective of this study was to examine potential trends in sodium intake by examining previous reports of 24-h urinary sodium excretion in healthy Japanese adult populations.

Iodine Excretion in 24-hour Urine Collection and Its Dietary Determinants in Healthy Japanese Adults.

Background: Since seaweed is a common component of the Japanese diet, iodine intake in Japanese is expected to be high. However, urinary iodine excretion, measured using 24-hour urine samples, and its dietary determinants are not known.

Methods: Apparently healthy adults aged 20 to 69 years living in 20 areas throughout Japan were recruited in February and March, 2013.

Dietary patterns extracted from the current Japanese diet and their associations with sodium and potassium intakes estimated by repeated 24 h urine collection.

Objective: To identify dietary patterns in the current Japanese diet and evaluate the associations between these patterns and Na and K intakes.

Design: Dietary patterns were extracted by factor analysis from the intakes of food groups assessed with a validated self-administrated diet history questionnaire. Na and K intakes and urinary Na:K were assessed by repeated 24 h urine collection.

Adequacy of iodine intake in three different Japanese adult dietary patterns: a nationwide study.

Background: Iodine intake is considered to be high in Japan due to regular seaweed consumption. Subgroups that do not have a traditional Japanese-style diet may consume insufficient amounts of iodine.

Method: Three hundred and ninety apparently healthy adults (195 men and 195 women) aged 20 to 69 years from 20 areas throughout Japan completed four-day diet records and collected a 24-h urine sample.

Advantage of multiple spot urine collections for estimating daily sodium excretion: comparison with two 24-h urine collections as reference.

Objective: Several estimation methods for 24-h sodium excretion using spot urine sample have been reported, but accurate estimation at the individual level remains difficult. We aimed to clarify the most accurate method of estimating 24-h sodium excretion with different numbers of available spot urine samples.

Methods: A total of 370 participants from throughout Japan collected multiple 24-h urine and spot urine samples independently.

Sodium sources in the Japanese diet: difference between generations and sexes.

Objective: Globally, the Na consumption of most people exceeds the WHO recommendation. To be effective, salt reduction programmes require assessment of the dietary sources of Na. Due to methodological difficulties however, comprehensive assessments are rare.

Estimation of sodium and potassium intakes assessed by two 24 h urine collections in healthy Japanese adults: a nationwide study.

Excess Na intake and insufficient K intake are well-known risk factors for CVD. International comparative studies have reported that Japan has the highest intake of Na and the lowest intake of K in the world. However, no recent study has precisely assessed Na and K intakes in Japanese adults.