Dairy consumption, bone turnover biomarkers, and osteo sono assessment index in Japanese adults: A cross-sectional analysis of data from the Iwaki Health Promotion Project.

Purpose: Dairy foods are nutritional sources of calcium, phosphorus, protein, and other nutrients that improve bone health. However, the effects of dairy consumption on bone biomarkers in the Japanese population remain unclear. This study explored the association between dairy consumption and bone biomarkers in Japanese adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in Aomori, Japan. In total, 1063 adults were included in the analysis. Bone turnover marker levels were measured in local citizens during their annual medical checkups. The calcaneus osteo sono assessment index (OSI) was calculated using a quantitative ultrasound technique. The dietary intake of foods and nutrients was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Linear regression models were established using dairy consumption and bone biomarkers with adjustments. Statistic significance was considered by P < 0.05. Results: In multivariate models, the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b and parathyroid hormone concentrations were inversely associated with dietary dairy consumption after adjusting for age and sex. The undercarboxylated osteocalcin, a procollagen type I N-terminal peptide to bone alkaline phosphatase ratio, and OSI were the directly associated with dairy consumption in multivariate models with adjustment. Conclusions: Dairy consumption is partially associated with bone turnover biomarkers and OSI in adult Japanese participants. Habitual consumption of dairy foods may contribute to the nutritional supplementation for maintaining bone health, including turnover and structure. Clinical trial registry number and website where it was obtained: The Japanese Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000040459), https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000046175.

Ramen Consumption and Gut Microbiota Diversity in Japanese Women: Cross-Sectional Data from the NEXIS Cohort Study.

A cross-sectional study involving 224 healthy Japanese adult females explored the relationship between ramen intake, gut microbiota diversity, and blood biochemistry. Using a stepwise regression model, ramen intake was inversely associated with gut microbiome alpha diversity after adjusting for related factors, including diets, Age, BMI, and stool habits (ß = -0.018; r = -0.15 for Shannon index). The intake group of ramen was inversely associated with dietary nutrients and dietary fiber compared with the no-intake group of ramen. Sugar intake, Dorea as a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing gut microbiota, and γ-glutamyl transferase as a liver function marker were directly associated with ramen intake after adjustment for related factors including diets, gut microbiota, and blood chemistry using a stepwise logistic regression model, whereas Dorea is inconsistently less abundant in the ramen group. In conclusion, the increased ramen was associated with decreased gut bacterial diversity accompanying a perturbation of Dorea through the dietary nutrients, gut microbiota, and blood chemistry, while the methodological limitations existed in a cross-sectional study. People with frequent ramen eating habits need to take measures to consume various nutrients to maintain and improve their health, and dietary management can be applied to the dietary feature in ramen consumption.