Increased Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Association with Dietary Transition (Westernization) in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease has become a global disease, but its key environmental factors still remain unrecognized. This study aimed to clarify the role of dietary transition (westernization) in the increased incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Japan. METHODS: Annual numbers of new cases of inflammatory bowel disease in Japan over the period from 1965 to 2000 found in a nationwide database compiled by the government and the daily amount of food and nutrient intake per capita for the same period revealed by the National Nutrition Survey have been used to analyze their interrelation. RESULTS: Rapid increases in the estimated incidence per 100,000 population have been observed, that is, from 0.08 in 1965 to 4.8 in 2000 for ulcerative colitis and from 0.003 to 1.3 in 2000 for Crohn's disease, with an extremely high correlation between the annual numbers of new cases of the respective diseases (r = 0.970). Intake of both animal fat and animal protein increased, while intake of rice decreased during the period. Of all food groups, the intake of rice as a staple food showed the highest negative correlation coefficient with the numbers of new cases of both ulcerative colitis (r = -0.825, 95% CI: -0.908 to -0.681, p < 0.0001) and Crohn's disease (r = -0.836, 95% CI: -0.914 to -0.700, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: An increased incidence of inflammatory bowel disease was observed to coincide with dietary westernization in Japan. Our results support the assertion that dietary westernization is a key environmental factor in inflammatory bowel disease.

Validation of improved 24-hour dietary recall using a portable camera among the Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: The collection of weighed food records (WFR) is a gold standard for dietary assessment. We propose using the 24-h recall method combined with a portable camera and a food atlas (24hR-camera). This combination overcomes the disadvantages of the 24-h dietary recall method. Our study examined the validity of the 24hR-camera method against WFR by comparing the results. METHODS: Study subjects were 30 Japanese males, aged 31-58 years, who rarely cook and reside in the Tokyo metropolitan area. For validation, we compared the estimated food intake (24hR-camera method) and weighed food intake (WFR method). The 24hR-camera method uses digital photographs of all food consumed during a day, taken by the subjects, and a 24-h recall questionnaire conducted by a registered dietitian, who estimates food intake by comparing the participant's photographs with food atlas photographs. The WFR method involves a registered dietitian weighing each food item prepared for the subject to consume and any leftovers. Food intake was calculated for each food group and nutrient using the 24hR-camera vs. weighed methods. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between the estimated vs. weighed food intake were 0.7 or higher in most food groups but were low in food groups, such as oils, fats, condiments, and spices. The estimated intake of vegetables was significantly lower for the 24hR-camera method compared to the WFR method. For other food groups, the percentages of the mean difference between estimated vs. weighed food intake were -22.1% to 5.5%, with no significant differences between the methods (except for algae, which had a very low estimated intake). The correlation coefficients between the two methods were 0.774 for energy, and 0.855, 0.769, and 0.763 for the macronutrients, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, respectively, demonstrating high correlation coefficients: greater than 0.75. The correlation coefficients between the estimated vs. weighed for salt equivalents and potassium intake were 0.583 and 0.560, respectively, but no significant differences in intake were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The 24hR-camera method satisfactorily estimated the intake of energy and macronutrients (except salt equivalents and potassium) in Japanese males and was confirmed as a useful method for dietary assessment.

Time-lag estimate between dietary intake and breast cancer mortality in Japan.

This study examines the relationship between the nutrient intake, including total dietary fiber (TDF) and fat, and the age-adjusted mortality from breast cancer (MBC) in Japanese females during the period from 1948 to 2000. The information for MBC in females was based on the data in Vital Statistics of Japan. Nutritional data were collected from the National Nutrition Survey reports. The data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation and a partial correlation, adjusting for the effect of reproductive factors. The time lag was estimated by measuring the strength of the linear relationship set up for a 0-35-year delay in mortality and statistically evaluated by comparing the correlation coefficients. The partial correlation analysis indicated that the individual intakes of total fat (r=0.688), animal protein (r=0.657), carbohydrate (r=-0.886), and plant protein (r=-0.770) were significantly (p<0.01) correlated with MBC. Each of these coefficients of correlation changed and reached a maximum value with increasing time lag. The estimated time lag values for the influence of fat, animal protein and TDF were 20-32 years, 19-31 years and 9-35 years, respectively. It is deduced from the results that the increased MBC in Japanese women is related to the long-term effect from the intake of a high-fat, high-animal protein and low-fiber diet typical in the western world.

Development of a 1-week cycle menu for an Advanced Life Support System (ALSS) utilizing practical biomass production data from the Closed Ecology Experiment Facilities (CEEF).

Productivities of 29 crops in the Closed Ecology Experiment Facilities (CEEF) were measured. Rice and soybean showed higher productivities than these given by the Advanced Life Support System Modeling and Analysis Project Baseline Values and Assumption Document (BVAD), but productivities of some other crops, such as potato and sweet potato, were lower. The cultivation data were utilized to develop a 1-week cycle menu for Closed Habitation Experiment. The menu met most of the nutritional requirements. Necessary cultivation area per crew was estimated to be 255 m2. Results from this study can be used to help design the future Advanced Life Support System (ALSS) including the CEEF.