Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology最新文献

As binge eating and unbalanced diets increase the prevalence of obesity and metabolic disorders, it has been noted that the increase in psychiatric disorders is also a consequence of diet. The present study examined aggressive behavior and peripheral stress-related hormone and catecholamine levels in BALB/c mice fed a high-sucrose diet during adolescent development. BALB/c mice are rarely used in research assessing the effect of diet, but were used for ethnic and personal differences and as a new experimental model. BALB/c mice were fed a diet in which all carbohydrate components were replaced with sucrose for 4 wk and were subjected to the resident-intruder and social dominance tube test. Plasma insulin, corticosterone, and catecholamine levels were also compared to mice fed a control diet. The high-sucrose diet did not alter body weight, glucose tolerance, and plasma insulin levels in BALB/c mice, indicating that the diet was resilient to obesity. Mice fed a high-sucrose diet exhibited increased aggressive behaviors in the resident-intruder test and had a significantly higher win rate in the tube test. Increases in adrenal weight and plasma corticosterone as well as noradrenaline and adrenaline levels were exhibited in mice fed a high-sucrose diet. In particular, this is the first evidence of increased social dominance and hyperplasia of the adrenal glands by a sucrose diet. Sucrose diet intake increased aggression in mice and caused elevated peripheral hormones involving the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system, indicating that this may be a central nervous system-mediated effect of excess sucrose.

Autism, with a global morbidity of approximately 0.6% annually, significantly burdens on families and society. A predominant characteristic among autistic children is intestinal dysfunction, generating nutrient absorption issues. This often causes vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which significantly impacts neurological development. To address this, we have developed a comprehensive nutritional supplement containing compound vitamins, minerals, and gut bacteria. The aim of this study is to investigate the behavioral effects of this supplement on autism rats. The supplement formulated in this study encompasses compound vitamins, minerals, and intestinal bacteria. The autism offspring model (VPA model) was established through intraperitoneal injection of sodium valproate into pregnant rats. Behavioral assessments, gastrointestinal microbiota analysis, and brain development evaluations were conducted to assess the effects of the supplement on VPA offspring rats. A nutritional supplement enriched with vitamins (VB6, VB12, VC, VD, folic acid), minerals (calcium, magnesium), and bifidobacteria was prepared. Open field experiments demonstrated a 3-mo supplementation intervention effectively alleviated anxiety symptoms and enhanced curiosity levels in VPA offspring. The bead embedding experiment revealed the supplementation significantly improved stereotypical behaviors in VPA offspring. The nesting experiment showed a 3-mo supplementation intervention effectively enhanced cognitive abilities in VPA offspring rats. The three-box social experiment demonstrated the supplementation improved social novelty and tendency in VPA offspring. Analysis of gastrointestinal microbiota revealed the supplementation modulated the gut microbiome, promoting better nutrient absorption and overall health. Our findings suggest the comprehensive nutritional supplement, containing compound vitamins, minerals, and gut bacteria, effectively alleviates core symptoms of autism in rats. This study provides valuable insights into the potency of nutritional interventions in improving the quality of life for autistic individuals. Future research is warranted to further explore the mechanisms underlying these observed benefits and to assess the long-term effects of this supplement in larger clinical trials.

Female adult chickens, known as laying hens, possess a distinctive bone structure in the intracortical region, which is responsible for storing calcium. Given the cyclical nature of calcium storage and demand during the egg-laying cycle, the medullary bone of laying hens plays a crucial role in maintaining calcium homeostasis. In this study, we examined the potential of orally administered components derived from adult chicken bones to improve calcium homeostasis and bone mass in mice. Samples from adult chickens and young chickens without egg-laying experience were prepared by pressing meat parts, including bones, and administered to wild type (WT) and vitamin D receptor knockout (VDRKO) mice respectively. The phenotypes observed in VDRKO mice, such as severe reductions in serum calcium concentration and bone mass, were normalized in mice fed the adult chicken bone-containing diet to the same extent as in WT mice. These effects were not observed in mice fed a young chicken bone-containing diet. The adult chicken bone-containing diet increased apparent calcium absorption in VDRKO mice compared to other dietary groups. To determine the effects on bone metabolism, osteoclasts activity was evaluated by histological measurements and the quantification of serum osteoclast marker, and it was restored by the adult chicken bone-containing diet. In addition, the treatment of adult chicken bone-derived components increased osteoclasts differentiation in vitro from cultured bone marrow macrophage. These results show that adult chicken bone-derived components improve calcium and bone homeostasis in mice lacking vitamin D action through combined effects that target calcium metabolism and bone turnover.

Malnutrition is a common and serious complication in patients undergoing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aimed to identify risk factors for malnutrition and to construct and validate a predictive model to aid early detection. A total of 158 NPC patients treated with radiotherapy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University between March 2023 and November 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data were collected, and nutritional status was assessed using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Patients were classified as malnourished or non-malnourished, and potential predictors were evaluated using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression followed by multivariable logistic regression. Among all patients, 118 (74.7%) developed malnutrition. Nutritional support and total protein were identified as independent protective factors, while dysphagia emerged as an independent risk factor. A nomogram incorporating these factors demonstrated strong discriminatory ability (AUC=0.964), good calibration, and clinical utility across threshold probabilities of 0.2-1.0 as shown by decision curve analysis. These findings indicate that malnutrition is highly prevalent in NPC patients undergoing radiotherapy and highlight the importance of nutritional support and protein status in reducing risk. The developed model offers a practical tool for early screening and targeted intervention in clinical practice.

This study investigated the behavioral effects of intravenous caffeine administration in mice using a modified Irwin test. Thirty-two male ICR mice were divided into four groups and received intravenous doses of caffeine: 0 (control), 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg. Behavioral observations were conducted at 0, 0.25, 1.5, 6, and 24 h post administration. Notable traction, locomotion, and respiratory rate changes were observed at 10 and 20 mg/kg doses. Specifically, traction was altered at 0.25 and 1.5 h in the 10 mg/kg group, with more frequent alterations in the 20 mg/kg group. Increased locomotion (grade 6, characterized by frequent grooming and rapid movement) was observed in all the mice at 10 and 20 mg/kg doses between 0.25 and 1.5 h. Respiratory rate changes were observed only in the 20 mg/kg group during the same period. Our findings indicate that intravenous caffeine exposure significantly affects traction and locomotion, providing valuable insights for safe pharmacological testing of the central nervous system.

This cross-sectional study examined the link between screen time and lifestyle habits in upper elementary school children. It included 400 elementary schoolchildren studying in the fifth and sixth grades in elementary (187 boys, 213 girls, age: 10-12 y) in Japan. Gender, obesity index, physical fitness score, screen time, and lifestyle habits related to breakfast, midnight snacks, exercise, and sleep were the study items. Using logistic regression analysis, we examined lifestyle habits factors and screen time as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. We found that >3 h of screen time was significantly associated with increased odds of eating breakfast sometimes or never (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.37 [1.05, 5.38]) and eating midnight snacks (2.72 [1.41, 5.23]). Additionally, the same factor significantly associated with <6 h of sleep (10.45 [2.78, 39.30]) and bedtime later than 10 pm (2.81 [1.43, 5.53]) and 11 pm (3.97 [1.95, 8.07]). These results hold true even after accounting for demographics, obesity index, and physical fitness score. Conversely, 2-3 h of screen time was significantly associated with sleep onset conditions (2.05 [1.17, 3.58]), whereas >3 h of screen time was not. Our results showed that increased screen time was associated with skipping breakfast, midnight snacks, sleep onset conditions, and less bedtime.

Several Japanese cohort studies have reported that the intakes of plant foods, such as vegetables, fruits, seaweed, and soy products, are inversely associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent. We investigated the association between CAD and the intakes of plant foods in 802 Japanese patients undergoing coronary angiography. The intakes of vegetables, fruits, seaweed, and soy products were determined by 3 categories (<3, 3-4, and >4 times/wk). CAD was found in 511 patients, of whom 173 had myocardial infarction (MI). Patients with higher vegetable and fruit intakes had a significantly lower prevalence of CAD and tended to have a lower prevalence of MI. However, no significant difference was found in the prevalence of CAD or MI among the 3 groups of seaweed and soy product intakes. In the multivariate analyses, the prevalence of CAD decreased depending on the intakes of vegetables and fruits. The odds ratios (OR) for >4 times/wk intakes of vegetables and fruits relative to <3 times/wk were 0.46 (95%CI: 0.29-0.74) and 0.62 (0.40-0.95), respectively. Thus, in Japanese patients undergoing coronary angiography, the intakes of vegetables and fruits were found to be inversely associated with CAD but not with MI. However, no significant association was found between the intakes of seaweed or soy products and CAD or MI.

It is important to clarify the factors that cause errors when calculating nutrient and food group intake using dietary surveys. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of errors in nutrient and food group intake among those who ate out and those who consumed ready-made meals when they recorded their meals using photographic and weighing methods. In October 2020, 38 second- and third-year students who were enrolled in dietitian training programs at two Japanese universities were asked to record their meals using both photographic and weighed records. Nutrient calculations were performed from the dietary records of both methods, and data from 29 subjects (all female) for whom 4-d dietary records were obtained were analyzed. The subjects were divided into two groups (high and low frequency of home-made meals) based on the median number of home-made meals, and a correlation analysis of the nutritional calculations obtained using both methods was performed. The results showed that most nutrient and food group intake levels were correlated (Spearman's correlation coefficient r=0.6-0.9) for both the high and low frequency of home-made meals. However, no correlation was found for "seasonings and spices" or their component "salt" in the low frequency of home-made meals group, indicating that there are errors in the nutritional calculations, especially for salt. It is thought that errors occurred for both the recorder and the nutrition calculator during the survey of meals eaten out; therefore, it is necessary to consider how to minimize errors before dietary surveys.

Age-related cataracts (ARC) are a leading cause of blindness worldwide, with lens epithelial cell (LEC) senescence playing a key role in their progression. While oxidative stress and DNA damage are known to induce LEC senescence, the mechanisms that actively suppress or delay this process remain poorly understood. The vitamin D receptor (VDR), a nuclear receptor and transcription factor, has been implicated in various physiological processes, including calcium homeostasis, immune modulation, and cell proliferation. Additionally, VDR activation has been reported to protect against cellular aging and oxidative stress. However, the role of VDR in LEC senescence and its potential function in preventing ARC has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of VDR in regulating LEC senescence using the human lens epithelial cell line SRA01/04. VDR knockdown induced senescence markers, including increased SA-β-GAL activity, p21 expression, and γ-H2AX accumulation and reduced Lamin B1 expression. Additionally, VDR knockdown led to a significant increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Conversely, VDR overexpression suppressed H₂O₂-induced senescence and enhanced the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD2 and GPX1. These findings indicate that VDR modulates LEC senescence by regulating oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme expression, suggesting that VDR may be a potential therapeutic target for ARC prevention. Further studies, particularly in vivo models, are necessary to validate these findings and explore the translational potential of targeting VDR in cataract therapy.