Energy Intake from Healthy Foods Is Associated with Motor Fitness in Addition to Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study of First-Grade Schoolchildren in Japan.

Childhood motor fitness is important for the physical and mental health of children and the prevention of future lifestyle diseases. This study aimed to investigate how energy intake from healthy foods and physical activity are associated with motor fitness among first-grade children. First-grade children (aged 6-7 years) attending three public elementary schools in Tokyo, Japan ( = 884), participated in this cross-sectional study.

Breakfast before resistance exercise lessens urinary markers of muscle protein breakdown in young men: A crossover trial.

Objectives: Skipping breakfast prolongs the fasting state initiated after the last meal consumed the previous day and can have negative effects on muscle protein balance. The aim of this crossover trial was to examine the effects of skipping breakfast before a single bout of resistance exercise (RE) on muscle protein breakdown (MPB), as assessed using the urinary 3-methylhistidine/creatinine ratio (3-MH/Cr).

Methods: Thirteen healthy young men, who habitually consumed breakfast (21.

Time-of-Day of Energy Intake Is Associated with Body Fat Percentage in Japanese Female University Rhythmic Gymnasts and Non-Athlete Students.

This study investigated whether body fat percentage (BF%) in Japanese female university rhythmic gymnasts (RG) and non-athletes (control) was associated with the time-of-day of energy intake. A total of 57 females (RG group, n=34; control group, n=23) completed 24-h dietary recall surveys on 3 non-consecutive days. BF% was measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer after overnight fasting.

Validity and Reproducibility of a Self-Administered Food Frequency Questionnaire for the Assessment of Sugar Intake in Middle-Aged Japanese Adults.

We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of estimated sugar intakes using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among middle-aged Japanese adults in the Japan Public Health Centre-Based Prospective (JPHC) study. In subsamples of the JPHC study (Cohorts I and II in multiple areas), we computed Spearman's correlations of FFQ results with urine sugar concentrations and dietary records (DR) for validity; we evaluated correlations between two FFQs for reproducibility. During 1994⁻1998, participants (Cohort I: = 27 [men], = 45 [women]) provided two (spring and fall) 24-h urine samples and completed 7-consecutive-day DR per season (I: = 99, = 113; II: = 168, = 171) and two FFQs (147 food items) at yearly intervals (I: = 101, = 108; II: = 143, = 146).

Higher energy intake at dinner decreases parasympathetic activity during nighttime sleep in menstruating women: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Previous studies have found more frequent increases in dietary intake and nonrestorative nocturnal sleep during the luteal phase than in the follicular phase, but few studies have investigated how increased energy intake at dinner influences sleep by considering the correlation between female hormone and cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. This study examined the effects of energy intake at dinner on ANS activity during nighttime sleep in order to evaluate restorative sleep in healthy women. We also examined whether ANS activity is associated with female hormone dynamics.

Association of habitual dietary intake with morningness-eveningness and rotating shift work in Japanese female nurses.

Rotating shift workers are associated with imbalanced dietary intakes. Rotating shift workers and dietary intakes in adults who do not engage in night work have also been shown to be associated with chronotype. However, no studies have examined associations between morningness-eveningness (i.

The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activity: An Observational Study Considering Lifestyle (Diet, Physical Activity, and Sleep) among Female College Students.

Studies examining the impact of menstrual cycle phases on the cardiac autonomic nervous system have produced inconsistent results. This study aimed to investigate this relationship, controlling for the confounding effects of diet, physical activity, and sleep, which can be affected by the menstrual cycle. Fifteen female college students with regular menses were enrolled.

Association of eating behaviours with diurnal preference and rotating shift work in Japanese female nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Our study examines differences in eating behaviour between day workers and rotating shift workers, and considers whether diurnal preference could explain the differences.

Methods: Japanese female nurses were studied (39 day workers and 123 rotating shift workers, aged 21-63 years) using self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires assessed eating behaviours, diurnal preference and demographic characteristics.

Habitual dietary protein intake affects body iron status in Japanese female college rhythmic gymnasts: a follow-up study.

Background: Many rhythmic gymnasts stay lean by reducing their body weight (BW); however, this may result in iron deficiency (ID). Our previous cross-sectional study reported an association between ID incidence and protein intake in gymnasts during the pre-season. The present study aimed to examine the association between dietary protein intake and ID incidence in a 2-year follow-up study.

Validity of a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for Collegiate Athletes.

Background: Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have been developed and validated for various populations. To our knowledge, however, no FFQ has been validated for young athletes. Here, we investigated whether an FFQ that was developed and validated to estimate dietary intake in middle-aged persons was also valid for estimating that in young athletes.

Examining the relationship between vegetable intake of mothers and that of their children: a cross-sectional study of 10- to 12-year-old schoolchildren in Japan.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between mothers' and children's vegetable intake and whether children are conscious about their vegetable intake.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Self-administered questionnaires for mothers and children, consisting of items regarding diet history, were distributed to children via homeroom teachers.

Relationship Between Dietary Factors and Bodily Iron Status Among Japanese Collegiate Elite Female Rhythmic Gymnasts.

This cross-sectional study explored the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and associations between dietary factors and incidence of ID in female rhythmic gymnasts during preseason periods. Participants were 60 elite collegiate rhythmic gymnasts (18.1 ± 0.

Association of body mass index with lifestyle and rotating shift work in Japanese female nurses.

Objective: Higher body mass index (BMI) values have been reported in rotating shift workers compared with regular daytime workers. This study examines the relationship between work schedule and BMI, and considers whether lifestyle habits could explain the relationship.

Methods: Japanese female nurses (1179 day workers and 1579 rotating shift workers, aged 20-59) were studied using self-administered questionnaires.

Effects of feeding schedule changes on the circadian phase of the cardiac autonomic nervous system and serum lipid levels.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether scheduling meals earlier in the day affects the circadian phase of the cardiac autonomic nervous system as assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) and serum lipid levels.

Methods: Healthy men aged 21.4 ± 0.

Diurnal 24-hour rhythm in ambulatory heart rate variability during the day shift in rotating shift workers.

Circadian variation in cardiac autonomic nervous system activity and behavior during the day shifts of shift workers has not hitherto been clarified. This study examined diurnal 24-h variation in heart rate variability (HRV), sleep-wake cycle, physical activity, and food intake during the day shift in rotating shift workers. The subjects were female nurses and caregivers working at a health care facility (14 day workers and 13 rotating shift workers).

Influence of dietary behavior on the circadian rhythm of the autonomic nervous system as assessed by heart rate variability.

Background: Misalignment of circadian systems is detrimental to human health. However, only a few studies have examined the influence of late meals on the human circadian system. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether delayed meals affect circadian rhythm as assessed by heart rate variability (HRV).

Individual and environmental factors related to stage of change in exercise behavior: a cross-sectional study of female Japanese undergraduate students.

Background: The purpose of the current study was to examine the association between the level of exercise behavior and individual and environmental factors related to exercise behavior among female Japanese undergraduate students.

Methods: The participants were 2482 female Japanese undergraduate students. Participants' level of exercise behavior was measured by the stage of change to exercise in the transtheoretical model.

Effects of egg white protein supplementation on muscle strength and serum free amino acid concentrations.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of egg white protein compared to carbohydrate intake prior to exercise on fat free mass (FFM), one repetition maximum (1RM) muscle strength and blood biochemistry in female athletes. Thirty healthy female collegiate athletes were recruited for this study and matched by sport type, body fat percentage and 1RM leg curl muscle strength. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: protein group (15.

Decreased expression of MHC class II and cathepsin E in dendritic cells might contribute to impaired induction of antigen-specific T cell response in NC/Nga mice.

NC/Nga (NC) mice are an animal model for human atopic dermatitis. We found that induction of antigen (Ag)-specific T cell response is diminished in ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized NC mice. Ability of Ag presentation in NC mouse dendritic cells (DCs) was significantly weaker than that in BALB/c and DBA/2 mouse DCs.

Relationship of dietary intake and lifestyle factors to health-related quality of life in the community-dwelling elderly.

Quality of life (QOL) encompasses a broad notion of health and is increasingly used to evaluate the effectiveness of health care services. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in the community-dwelling elderly (mean age, 72.7±0.

Fish oil fed prior to ethanol administration prevents acute ethanol-induced fatty liver in mice.

Background/aims: We examined whether dietary fish oil can prevent acute ethanol (alcohol)-induced fatty liver.

Methods: Mice were fed safflower oil, fish oil, or safflower oil plus a PPAR alpha activator on the day prior to ethanol administration. Oil red O staining, serum analysis, and RT-PCR were used to analyze ethanol-induced fatty liver.

Blood substrates and hormonal responses to increased egg white protein intake prior to a 12,000 m run in heat.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of isoenergetic and increased amounts of egg white protein one hour before a run on the changes in the post-exercise blood biochemistry and the rating of the perceived exertion (RPE). Twenty-four male distance runners were divided into four groups. Venous blood samples were collected at three time points: just before the experiment (Pre), just after a 12,000 m run (Post 0 h) and one hour after the run (Post 1 h).

Effects of a fixed dietary intake on changes in red blood cell delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity and hemolysis.

This study was to assess the effect of a fixed dietary intake on biomarkers of red blood cell (RBC) biosynthesis and degradation. Over a two-year period, eight collegiate rhythmic gymnasts participated in this study. During the first year, they ate self-selected diets.

Differential response of arcuate proopiomelanocortin- and neuropeptide Y-containing neurons to the lesion produced by gold thioglucose administration.

The effect of gold thioglucose (GTG) administration on neurons containing feeding-related peptides in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus was examined in mice. Intraperitoneal GTG injection increased the body weight and produced a hypothalamic lesion that extended from the ventral part of the ventromedial nucleus to the dorsal part of the arcuate nucleus. Neurons containing proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) present in the dorsal part of the arcuate nucleus were destroyed by GTG.

Effect of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Ren-Shen-Yang-Rong-Tang (Japanese name: Ninjin-Youei-To), on oligodendrocyte precursor cells from aged-rat brain.

Understanding of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and their role in the generation of oligodendrocytes in developing and adult rodents has been considered, particularly much less is known about aged-rodent oligodendrocyte precursor cells and their cell lineage. In this present study, we have developed oligodendrocyte cultures from the 30-month-old rat brain and examined whether oligodendrocyte precursor cells can proliferate in vitro. Adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells (O1(-), O4(+)) and oligodendrocytes (O1(+), O4(+)) are present in the cultures of the 30-month-old rat brain.