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.

Relationship between Sugar Intake and Obesity among School-Age Children in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

In recent years, the prevalence and problem of overweight and obesity in Taiwanese children have increased. There are many reports that the excessive intake of sugar increases the risk of lifestyle-related disease. However, sugar intake in Taiwanese children is not known. In this study, we investigated sugar intake from sugar-sweetened beverages, snacks and desserts among school-age children in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. We also tried to determine the relationship between sugar intake and body mass index (BMI). We contacted all the public elementary schools (10 schools) in a district, Kaohsiung, and obtained permission from 3 schools. The survey subjects were 410 (210 boys, 200 girls) school-age children (7, 10 and 12 y old). A nutrition survey was conducted using 3 non-consecutive days of the 24 h dietary recall method for sugar-sweetened beverages, snacks and desserts. Height and weight were measured. Sugar intakes were not significantly different among the different genders or ages (p>0.05) and average intake of all was 51.6 g/d. Percentages of each sugar in total intake were sucrose 60%, glucose 18%, fructose 16%, and lactose 6%. The intake of glucose and fructose may have come from isomerized sugar. Contributions of sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks (desserts) were 83.5% and 16.5%, respectively. Among the sugar-sweetened beverages the top 3 sources were tea (22%), milk tea (19%) and milk beverages (18%). A relationship between sugar intake and BMI was not observed. In conclusion, sugar intake of the children was higher than the WHO recommendation due to the high intake from beverages; however, sugar was not the cause of the high obesity rate.

How to Define Family Meals in "Shokuiku" (Food and Nutrition Education).

The Japanese government has set 11 targets to promote "Shokuiku." However, among the 11 targets, only two targets (frequency of shared family meals and the proportion of breakfast skipping in children and young men) are quantitative goals. The increase in children eating alone is often lamented in the popular media, but the methodology for identifying the status of family meals ("Kyoshoku"), or how the responses should be validated, is rarely discussed. In the current review, we attempt to clarify how a family meal and survey responses are defined, by searching literature published after 2009, using the following keywords: "family meals" or "shared meals," in the PubMed database for English. For literature published in Japanese, we searched the Igakuchuo-Zassi Database and Google Scholar for relevant studies. In the English literature, questions were likely to focus on whether a dinner or any meal was eaten together with family members living together, while Japanese literature was more focused on "breakfast or dinner" eaten together with family members. The response options varied across different studies, such as the number of family meals a week, or the number of days (per week) these family meals were eaten. We found it quite difficult to compare across the studies, as there is no standardized definition or response options for "family meals." Further studies are needed in order to develop a standardized method to assess the current status of "family meals."

Stockpiles and food availability in feeding facilities after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Food stockpiles and methods of ensuring food availability after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 have been studied. Questionnaires were sent to 1911 registered dietitians and general dietitians who were members of the Japan Dietetic Association in August 2012. Four hundred thirty-five dietitians (22.8%) completed the questionnaire about work involved in feeding facilities, types and administration of meals, and food stockpiles. Methods of ensuring food availability, preparation, and accommodating food for special dietary uses were recorded for the three-day period immediately following the earthquake, and the period from 4 days to one month after the earthquake. Three days after the earthquake, differences in administration of meals at feeding facilities providing three meals daily, food stockpiles, organization, contactable facilities, and how to contact them for food items were assessed. Sixty-nine percent of all feeding facilities in this study had stockpiles of food before the Great East Japan Earthquake. Administration of meals in feeding facilities and the possibility of contact with cooperative feeding facilities were found to correlate positively with ensuring the availability of food groups. Food scores were higher in facilities providing three meals daily by direct administration of meals and with accessible public administrators, cooperative facilities and suppliers, and facilities that were contactable by landline telephone, mobile phone, fax or email. The necessity for natural disaster-readiness through continuous stockpiling food at feeding facilities is confirmed. Each prospective feeding facility must be required to plan its stockpiles, their turnover and replaceability to maximise food security in the face of disaster.

Sugar intake and body weight in Cambodian and Japanese children.

Because of the tastiness of sugars, it is easy to consume more than an adequate amount. There are many research reports that excess sugar intake contributes to dental decay, obesity, diabetes etc. Continuing economic development in Cambodia has made it easier than before for people to consume sugars in their daily life. Currently, isomerized sugar (a mixture of glucose and fructose) made from starches is commonly used in commercial beverages because of its low price. However, in Cambodia and Japan, sugar composition tables that include not only sucrose but also glucose, fructose, lactose and maltose have not been available. Prior to the present nutrition surveys, we made sugar composition tables for both countries. In this study we tried to estimate the intakes of various sugars by children in Cambodia and Japan and to determine the relationship between intake and body weight. Nutrition surveys of children aged 7, 10 and 13 years old were conducted for 3 nonconsecutive days by the 24 h recall method in 89 Cambodian children living in the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, and 151 Japanese children living in 3 prefectures from north to south. Height and weight of children in Cambodia and Japan were similar until 10 years old but at 13 years old, the Cambodians were shorter and lighter than the Japanese. We could not observe any differences in BMI in either country. The sugar intakes from beverages and snacks were not different among the different gender and age. Thus we combined the mean total sugar intake for Cambodian and Japanese, 28.42 ± 25.28 g and 25.69 ± 16.16 g respectively. These were within the range of WHO recommendations (less than 10% of energy intakes). Cambodian children consumed about 46% of sugars from commercial beverages and snacks and Japanese children 26%. This means that for Cambodians half of the sugars came from isomerized sugar made from starches. Relationships between sugar intake and body weight were not observed in both countries. In conclusion, the Cambodian children consumed about 46% of sugar from glucose and fructose (probably in the form of isomerized sugar), while the Japanese children took 26%; however, the intakes in both countries met the WHO recommendation and there was no relationship to body weight.

Sugar intakes from snacks and beverages in Japanese children.

While sugar intake is an important factor for obesity, diabetes and dental caries, sugars are also important energy sources, especially for rapidly growing children. Children like sugar-rich sweet foods. However, intake for Japanese children is not known due to a lack of studies and sugar composition data. This study was designed to determine sugar intakes from snacks and beverages in Japanese school children. A nutrition survey was conducted for 3 weekdays for 283 Japanese school children (7, 10 and 13 y old) in 8 prefectures from different areas of Japan. The methods for the survey were the weighing method for school lunches and the 24-h recall method for other foods. To estimate sugar intakes, the sugar composition table that was recently compiled by us for 135 beverages, cakes and other sweets was used. Height and weight were measured. They were similar to Japanese averages. Energy intakes were also similar to the results of the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Surveys. Sugar eaten outside meals was 24.7±15.5 g/d. From the National Health and Nutrition Surveys conducted in 2009, the mean sucrose intake from meals including some home-made cookies for 7-14-y-old children was 5.5 g/d, suggesting the mean total sugar intake of these children was about 30 g/d. This was within the range of FAO/WHO recommendation (less than 10% of energy intake, 49 g for these children. Mean intakes among age groups were not significantly different (p>0.05), but the intake for girls was lower than for boys in the oldest age group (p<0.05). Contributions of each sugar to total intake were sucrose 64%, fructose 14%, glucose 13% and lactose 9%. Fructose and glucose were mainly from isomerized sugar. Contributions of food groups to total intake were beverages 25%, baked goods 19% and ice cream 17%, respectively, covering 61% of all. In conclusion, we revealed that the average sugar intake of Japanese children was within the range of the FAO/WHO recommendation, though the effects of the kind of sugars on health remain to be clarified.

Study on the necessary survey days for energy intake in school children assessed by 7 day survey.

Theoretically, the longer the period of a nutrition survey, the more reliable the results. However, a long survey can impose a burden on subjects and cause the results to become inaccurate. For adults, a 3 non-consecutive day survey is usually recommended; however, for school children, at least in Japan, it has not been determined whether this is necessary. In this study we conducted a survey of 7 days and tried to find the minimum number of days necessary to determine the energy intake. The subjects were about 300 children aged from 6 to 7, 10 to 11 and 13 to 14 years old in a city in the western part of Japan. The weighing method was used for the school lunch and other meals were surveyed by 24-recalling method. For the 6-7 year-old school children, guardians were asked to keep dietary records. The final number of subjects who were able to complete the 7-day survey was 139. Energy intakes for each weekday were not statistically different (p>0.05) and those for each weekend did not differ (p>0.05). Average energy intakes on weekdays were higher than those on weekend days in 10-11 and 13-14 year-old children. The average intakes of energy in 10-11 and 13-14 year-old children were lower than Japanese estimated energy requirements (EER). However, body weight of more than 90% of subjects was within the normal range. The results suggest that a survey of one weekday is reliable for all weekdays and that of one week-end day is reliable for any weekend day and also indicate the necessity of further studies of EER in rapidly growing children.

Effects of dietary zinc deprivation on zinc concentration and ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme in serum of mice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary zinc deprivation on zinc concentration, the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and ratio of apo/holo-activities of ACE (ACE ratio) in the serum of mice. METHODS: Twenty-two male mice were deprived of dietary zinc for up to 9 days. Zinc concentration in the serum was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. Also, the activity of ACE in the serum was measured by HPLC as the activity of holo-ACE. After addition of zinc to the serum in vitro, the increase of ACE activity over the initial value was determined as that of apo-ACE. Finally, the ratio of apo/holo-ACE activities was calculated. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease of zinc concentration, but a slight decrease of the activity of ACE in the serum of mice by intake of zinc-deficient diet for 9 days. ACE ratio tended to increase on day 5 and was significantly increased on day 9 in mice deprived of dietary zinc. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that ACE ratio is as sensitive as serum zinc concentration for the evaluation of zinc deficiency and can be used for the biochemical diagnosis of zinc nutritional status in patients with zinc deficiency-induced taste impairment.

Dietary zinc intake and its effects on zinc nutrition in healthy Japanese living in the central area of Japan.

In the present study, we first examined the dietary zinc intake from food groups in 109 healthy Japanese (24-82 years old, 45 male and 64 female) by means of the 72-h recall method. We then used the ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ratio) that is a more sensitive index of zinc nutrition than zinc concentration in the serum and examined the correlation between their zinc intake and ACE ratio. Dietary zinc intake in healthy Japanese was maximal from rice and rice products. There were significant inverse correlations between the ACE ratio and dietary zinc intake from rice and rice products and shellfish, and a significant positive correlation between ACE ratio and dietary zinc intake from other beans and bean processed foods. On the other hand, there were no significant correlations between serum zinc concentrations and dietary zinc intake from any food group except processed fish. These findings suggested that rice is a major source of dietary zinc intake in healthy Japanese. It is also suggested that shellfish also has a major impact on zinc nutrition, although dietary zinc intake from this source is minimal. Since beans contain phytic acid, which inhibits the absorption of dietary zinc, it is suggested that intake of beans causes impairment of zinc nutrition.

Effect of dietary lipids on longevity and memory in the SAMP8 mice.

The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAMP8) is an animal model used in studies of aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different types of dietary lipids on longevity and age-related deterioration in memory in SAMP8 mice. Eight-month-old mice were fed diets with 5% lard (Lard group), 5% soybean oil (Soy group), 2% lecithin +3% soybean oil (Lecithin+Soy group) or 2% fish oil+3% soybean oil (Fish+Soy group), and learning and memory were examined by passive avoidance test at 8 and 10 mo of age. At the end of the experiment, the mice were killed, and the brain fatty acid composition was analyzed. The results indicated that the survival rates at 12 mo decreased in the order: Fish+Soy>Soy>Lecithin+Soy>Lard and were 50, 40, 30 and 20%, respectively. The rate of the lard group was lower than that of the Fish+Soy group, but this difference was not statistically significant. At 10 mo of age, the passive avoidance times of the Fish+Soy, Lecithin+Soy, Soy and Lard groups were 166, 170, 149 and 127 s, respectively. The passive avoidance times of the Fish+Soy and Lecithin+Soy groups were longer than that of the Lard group (p<0.01) at 10 mo. The brain DHA concentration was the highest in the Fish+Soy group SAMP8 mice, the linoleic acid levels was highest in the Soy group and the palmitic acid level was lowest in the Lard group (p<0.05). In conclusion, compared with SAMP8 mice fed a high saturated fatty acid diet, SAMP8 mice given a high poly-unsaturated fatty acid diet had higher brain concentrations of poly-unsaturated acid, better memory and greater longevity.

Effects of zinc supplementation on serum zinc concentration and ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with taste impairment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on hypogeusia, serum zinc concentration and the ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ratio) in patients with taste impairment. ACE ratio was used as an index of zinc nutritional status. METHODS: Forty patients complaining of taste impairment were divided into two groups: zinc deficiency taste impairment (n=12) and idiopathic taste impairment (n=28). Patients with zincemia values of less than 63 microg/dl with no history of other disorder or medication known to cause dysgeusia were diagnosed as zinc deficiency group, while those with the same condition and values more than 64 microg/dl were considered to belong to the idiopathic group. Patients orally received 150 mg of polaprezinc containing 33 mg of zinc every day. Subjective symptom was scored according to visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Zinc supplementation improved hypogeusia in both idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. The mean improvements of VAS were 3.02+/-3.03 in the idiopathic group and 3.13+/-2.53 in the zinc deficiency group. Thus, there were no significant differences in idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. Significant correlations were found between the improvement of VAS score and the ACE ratio after zinc supplementation in both idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. On the contrary, significant correlations were not found between the improvement of VAS score and the zinc concentration in the serum after zinc supplementation in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicated that zinc deficiency is a predominant factor underlying taste impairment and ACE ratio may be a predictor of the prognosis for taste impairment after zinc supplementation, in addition to a more sensitive indicator of zinc nutrition than zinc concentration in the serum.

Effect of Vietnamese common diet on postprandial blood glucose level in adult females.

To elucidate the effect of a typical Vietnamese diet including a high content of white rice on postprandial blood glucose levels, the present study was designed. Thirty healthy female subjects with a similar body mass index, 10 each in their twenties, forties and sixties, were recruited. Four meals with a similar protein energy percentage (13-15%) but different energy ratios of fat and carbohydrate (FC ratio) and vegetable contents were provided by cross-over design. Meal A was designed according to the commonly consumed diet in Vietnam. The FC ratio was 14:71 and 84 g of carbohydrate was from rice. Meal B contained carbohydrate in a lower ratio than meal A by fat replacement and its FC ratio was 30:57. Meal C was similar to meal A except lacking vegetables. The energy of meal A, B and C was about 2.1 MJ. Meal D was designed to match the amount of carbohydrate and fat within A and B, respectively. The FC ratio of meal D was 26:61 and the energy was about 2.4 MJ. Fasting blood glucose was measured before consumption of a test meal. Postprandial blood glucose was measured every 30 min for 2 h. Areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated to compare the glycemic response among the four test meals. There was no significant difference in AUC among the four test meals in the subjects in their twenties. In the subjects in their forties, the AUC of meal A tended to be lower than that of meal C (p = 0.07). In the subjects in their sixties, the AUC of meal A was significantly higher than that of meal B (p < 0.001). Glycemic responses showed a significant relationship with age (r = 0.26, p < 0.01); however, there was no association between glycemic responses and BMI (p = 0.20). Dietary fat ratios were inversely associated with glycemic responses (r = -0.28, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the diet with about 70% energy from carbohydrate which is commonly consumed by Vietnamese may increase glycemic response, especially in elderly people and dietary vegetables may be beneficial to prevent such an increase in glycemic response.

Zinc nutrition in healthy subjects and patients with taste impairment from the view point of zinc ingestion, serum zinc concentration and angiotensin converting enzyme activity.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the zinc nutrition in healthy subjects and patients with taste impairment. Dietary zinc intake, zinc concentration in the serum and the ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), a zinc dependent enzyme in the serum (ACE ratio) were used as indices. SUBJECTS: Healthy paramedical volunteers from a local hospital and patients with taste impairment seen in the Department of Otolaryngology, Tokushima University Hospital. MEASUREMENTS: Dietary zinc intake was estimated with the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Zinc concentration in the serum was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The ACE activity in the serum was measured spectrophotometrically as the activity of holo-ACE, which contains zinc and shows full ACE activity. The activity of apo-ACE, which dose not contain zinc, was determined as the increase of its activity over that of the initial holo-ACE activity after the addition of zinc to the serum in vitro. ACE ratio was used as a more sensitive indicator of zinc nutrition than measuring zinc concentration in the serum. RESULTS: There were no differences in dietary intake of zinc after adjusting for energy and zinc concentration in the serum between patients and age-adjusted healthy subjects. The ACE ratio in patients with taste impairment was significantly higher than that in age-adjusted healthy subjects (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our date demonstrate that zinc deficiency is a predominant factor underlying taste impairment and we hypothesize that patients with taste impairment may have malabsorption of dietary zinc.

Increased nerve growth factor by zinc supplementation with concurrent vitamin A deficiency does not improve memory performance in mice.

We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of zinc (Zn) with or without vitamin A (Vit. A), to elucidate any cross activity between the two micronutrients, on memory and nerve growth factor (NGF) production in ddY male mice depleted for the two elements. After 3 mo-feeding with a Zn and Vit. A deficient (VAD) diet, mice were divided into three groups and replenished with normal Zn with VAD diet (NZ-VAD), high Zn with VAD diet (HZ-VAD) or normal Zn + normal Vit. A (NZ-NVA) for additional 2 mo. One more group was made and given the normal diet for the same period (Control group). Levels of NGF were measured from extracts of hippocampus, cerebellum and cortex at the end of the 3rd and 5th month. In addition, a radial arm maze task was performed at the end of the 5th month. The two Zn supplemented groups (NZ-VAD and HZ-VAD) tended to show high NGF concentration but memory was not improved. However, improved memory was observed in the NZ-NVA group. From these results we concluded that Zn may increase NGF; however, memory was improved only when Vit. A was sufficient.