Changes of Oral and Physical Functions in Older Japanese Who Participated in Keyboard Harmonica and Exercise Classes during COVID-19-Related Movement Restrictions.

Many older people have restricted activities or movements because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which causes concerns about secondary health problems. This study aimed to investigate how frailty-prevention activities implemented by local governments have changed the health of community-dwelling older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this observational study, the participants were 23 older Japanese people who took part in keyboard harmonica or exercise classes in 2021.

Dietary β-Conglycinin Modulates Insulin Sensitivity, Body Fat Mass, and Lipid Metabolism in Obese Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) Rats.

The physiological effects of dietary β-conglycinin (β-CON), one of the major components of soy protein (SOY), were examined in an obese animal model. Prior studies show that β-CON intake decreases plasma triglycerides and visceral adipose tissue weight, and increases plasma adiponectin in rodents. Since plasma adiponectin is known to affect both lipid and glucose metabolism, feeding a diet containing β-CON could modulate insulin sensitivity.