Vegetable and Fruit Intake and LOX-Index in Japanese Municipal Workers.

Vegetable and fruit intake has been reported to be associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. To date, however, no study has examined the association between vegetable and fruit intake and LOX-index, which reflects the progression of atherosclerosis and is a predictive biomarker of stroke and coronary heart disease. Here, we examined the cross-sectional association between vegetable and fruit intake and LOX-index in Japanese municipal workers.

Meat intake and type 2 diabetes among Japanese workers: a prospective study.

Red meat and processed meat intake has been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes; however, evidence from Asia is limited and inconsistent. We prospectively examined the association of intake of total meat and its subtype with type 2 diabetes in a Japanese working population. Participants were 2709 workers aged 18-78 years who reported no history of diabetes when they responded to a health survey for the first time between 2012 and 2019.

[Identification of dietary patterns and their relationship with zinc intake in male and female workers].

Objectives　Deficiency of zinc, an essential trace element in the body, adversely affects taste, wound healing, and immunity. This study aimed to identify the dietary patterns of male and female workers using factor analysis and clarify the relationship between dietary patterns and zinc intake.Methods　The participants were 395 municipal employees (193 men and 202 women) in Northern Kyushu aged 19-71 years.

Association between Fish Intake and Serum Testosterone Levels in Older Males: The Hitachi Health Study II.

Background: Fish are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D, which can promote testosterone synthesis and secretion. However, some contaminants present in fish may disrupt testosterone production.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between fish intake (total, fatty, and lean fish) and serum testosterone levels in older males.

Antioxidant Vitamin Intake and LOX-Index in Japanese Municipal Workers.

Antioxidant vitamin intake has been reported to be associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases. To date, however, no study has examined the association between antioxidant vitamin intake and LOX-index, a predictive biomarker of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the cross-sectional association between antioxidant vitamin (α-carotene, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, and vitamin C) intake and LOX-index in Japanese municipal workers.

Eating behaviors and depressive symptoms among Japanese workers: the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study.

Background/objectives: In addition to the potential effects of nutrients on mood, eating behaviors have been suggested to be associated with depressive symptoms. We investigated the prospective association between the accumulation of unhealthy eating behaviors and depressive symptoms in a Japanese working population.

Methods: Participants were 914 workers (aged 19-68 years) who did not have depressive symptoms at baseline (April 2012 and May 2013) and attended a 3-year follow-up survey (April 2015 and May 2016).

Isoflavone intake and depressive symptoms among workers.

Background & Aim: High intake of isoflavones has been reported to be associated with decreased prevalence of depressive symptoms. However, no prospective study has examined this association. We prospectively investigated the association between isoflavone intake and depressive symptoms in a Japanese working population.

Development of the Scores for Traditional and Modified Japanese Diets.

Increasing attention is being paid to the role of diet quality in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. We developed a scoring system for the traditional Japanese diet and its modified version considering the dietary culture in Japan, dietary guidelines for the Japanese, and updated evidence for disease prevention. The traditional Japanese diet comprises white rice, miso soup, soybean products, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, fish and shellfish, high-sodium foods, and green tea.

Association of body mass index and weight change with pneumonia mortality in a Japanese population: Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that pneumonia mortality is lower for individuals with high body mass index (BMI) compared to normal BMI, but it remains unclear whether weight change during adulthood influences subsequent mortality due to pneumonia in Asian populations, who have a relatively lean body mass. This study aimed to examine the association of BMI and weight change over 5 years with the subsequent risk of pneumonia mortality in a Japanese population.

Methods: The present analysis included 79,564 Japan Public Health Center (JPHC)-based Prospective Study participants who completed a questionnaire between 1995 and 1998 were followed for death through 2016.

Vitamin D intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Japanese men and women: the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study.

While higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations have been reported to be associated with decreased risk of all-cause mortality, evidence on dietary vitamin D intake is limited and inconsistent. We investigated whether vitamin D intake is associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Japanese adults. Participants were 42,992 men and 50,693 women who responded to the second survey of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (1995-1998) and who were followed up for mortality through 2018.

Development, Relative Validity, and Reproducibility of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for the Japanese.

We have developed a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for use in assessing diet quality for Japan, with special reference to the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Here, we assessed the ranking performance of this FFQ and its reproducibility. We developed a 28-item (21 food groups and 7 beverage) FFQ with consideration to both Japanese dietary culture and evidence of disease prevention.

Associations of serum amino acids with insulin resistance among people with and without overweight or obesity: A prospective study in Japan.

Background & Aims: Limited evidence exists regarding the prospective associations between amino acids and insulin resistance. In addition, amino acids have been suggested to promote insulin resistance with the requirement of obesity in animal studies, but the interaction between amino acids and obesity on the development of insulin resistance has not been examined in epidemiological studies. We aimed to investigate the differences in the prospective associations of serum amino acids with insulin resistance among adults with and without overweight or obesity.

Relationship of chronotype and social jetlag with adherence to the Japanese dietary guidelines among workers.

While late chronotype and greater social jetlag have been associated with poor dietary behavior among the general population, these associations have not been investigated among workers, who struggle to align their sleep timings with work schedules. We aimed to explore the cross-sectional association of social jetlag and a late chronotype with adherence to a healthy diet among Japanese workers. Participants were 1,435 non-shift workers (18-78 years) who attended a nutritional survey.

Green tea consumption and SARS-CoV-2 infection among staff of a referral hospital in Japan.

Background & Aim: This study examined the association between green tea consumption and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among Japanese.

Methods: Participants were staff of a large referral hospital in Tokyo. Green tea consumption was ascertained via a questionnaire.

Green Tea Consumption and Depressive Symptoms among Japanese Workers: The Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study.

Although several cross-sectional studies have described an inverse association between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms, only one study has prospectively investigated this association. We investigated the cross-sectional and prospective associations between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms in a working population in Japan. Participants were 1987 workers who participated in the baseline survey for a cross-sectional association, and 916 participants who did not have depressive symptoms at baseline who responded to both the baseline and follow-up surveys for a prospective association.

Preparation and Characterization of a Hybrid Complex of Cyclodextrin-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks-1 and Ascorbic Acid Derivatives.

Cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks-1 (CD-MOF-1) prepared using potassium hydroxide, ethanol, and γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) has been reported as a new type of MOF for the development of pharmaceutical formulations. The present study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties of ascorbic acid derivatives (L-ascorbyl 6-palmitate (ASCP); L-ascorbyl 2,6-palmitate (ASCDP)) complexed with CD-MOF-1 by a solvent evaporation method. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed that the crystal diffraction pattern of CD-MOF-1 changed from α-type to β-type when prepared by a solvent evaporation method.

Total, low-fat, and full-fat dairy consumption and risk of metabolic syndrome among workers.

Background & Aim: Dairy products may play a beneficial role against metabolic syndrome; however, epidemiological evidence is scarce in Asian populations, who consume less dairy than Western populations. We prospectively investigated the association between dairy product intake, both overall and by fat content, and metabolic syndrome in a Japanese working population.

Methods: Participants were 1014 workers (aged 19-68 years) without metabolic syndrome at baseline who completed a 3-year follow-up survey.

Low-carbohydrate diet and risk of cancer incidence: The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study.

Epidemiological evidence on the effects of a long-term low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) on cancer incidence remains sparse. We investigate the association between LCD and the risk of overall and specific cancer site incidence in a Japanese population-based prospective cohort study among 90 171 participants aged 45-74. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Serum sodium and risk of hypertension: a cohort study.

This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between serum sodium and blood pressure at baseline and, more importantly, investigate the prospective association between serum sodium and the risk of incident hypertension. We used data from 1 638 workers aged 18 to 71 years who participated in 2015-2016 survey of the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study. During a maximum follow-up of 3 years, 229 participants developed hypertension.

Prospective study on the association between serum amino acid profiles and depressive symptoms among the Japanese working population.

Objective: Accumulating evidence suggests that amino acids, particularly tryptophan and glutamate, play an important role in the pathology of depression, but prospective epidemiologic data on this issue is scarce. We examined the association between circulating amino acids and the risk of depressive symptoms in a Japanese working population.

Methods: Participants were 841 workers who were free from depressive symptoms and provided blood at baseline and completed 3-yr follow-up survey.

Prospective association of confectionery intake with depressive symptoms among Japanese workers: the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study.

High intake of sweet foods such as cakes, cookies, chocolate and ice cream has been reported to be associated with depressive symptoms. However, prospective studies are scarce and no study has been conducted in Asian populations. We prospectively investigated the association between confectionery intake and depressive symptoms in a Japanese working population.

Carbohydrate score and rice intake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and impaired glucose metabolism in a working population: A cross-sectional study.

Background & Aim: Few studies have examined the association between carbohydrate intake and diabetes with consideration to time of eating. We investigated the association of carbohydrate score and rice intake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with impaired glucose metabolism in a Japanese working population.

Methods: Participants were 1416 workers (aged 18-69 years) without a history of diabetes or serious disease who participated in a health survey.

Association Between Adherence to Healthy Lifestyles and Depressive Symptoms Among Japanese Hospital Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between adherence to healthy lifestyles (as measured by the healthy lifestyle index [HLI]) and depressive symptoms among staff members at a large national medical institution in Tokyo, Japan, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study sample consisted of 1228 staff members aged between 21 and 73 years who participated in a cross-sectional survey conducted in July 2020. We constructed the HLI by assigning one point to each healthy lifestyle factor: normal body mass index, sufficient physical activity, non-smoking status, non-to-moderate alcohol consumption, and sufficient sleep duration.