Association between Hardness (Difficulty of Chewing) of the Habitual Diet and Premenstrual Symptoms in Young Japanese Women

Recent evidence suggests that voluntary rhythmic movements such as chewing may increase blood serotonin and subsequently brain serotonin, which in turn acts to alleviate premenstrual symptoms. In this observational cross-sectional study, we tested the hypothesis that hardness (difficulty of chewing) of the habitual diet (i.e. dietary hardness) is associated with decreased premenstrual symptoms. Subjects were 640 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18–22 years. Dietary hardness was assessed as an estimate of masticatory muscle activity for the habitual diet (i.e. the difficulty of chewing the food). The consumption of a total of 107 foods was estimated by means of a self-administered, comprehensive diet history questionnaire, and masticatory muscle activity during the ingestion of these foods was estimated according to published equations. Menstrual cycle symptoms were assessed using the retrospective version of the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, from which total score and subscale scores (i.e. pain, concentration, behavioral change, autonomic reactions, water retention, and negative affect) in the premenstrual phase were calculated and expressed as percentages relative to those in the intermenstrual phase. Dietary hardness was not associated with total score in the premenstrual phase (P for trend = 0.48). Further, no association was seen for any subscale score in the premenstrual phase (P for trend = 0.18–0.91). In conclusion, this preliminary study failed to substantiate a hypothesized inverse relationship between hardness of the habitual diet and premenstrual symptoms. Considering the plausibility of the putative mechanism, however, further investigation using more relevant measures of chewing and premenstrual symptoms is warranted

An Intervention Study of a Health Promotion Program on the Physical, Mental and Dietetic Health Status of Middle-Aged and Elderly Women

Purpose: To examine the effect of a walking exercise-centered health promotion program for middle-aged and elderly women who participated in the program between April 1999 and February 2002, the participants\u27 pre- and after medical data were assessed and compared. Method: One hundred and fifty-four women living in Tokyo who attended the health promotion programs and completed the health status assessment were recruited as subjects of this study. (Their (n=103) average age, height, body mass and BMI were 55.6±7.9 yrs (40-65 yrs), 153.1±5.6cm, 53.9±7.1kg, and 23.0±3.3kg/m^2 (mean±SD), respectively.) One program lasted 6 months; participants met once a week for a 2-hour session in the afternoons, resulting in 15 sessions in total. Each session included both aerobic and anaerobic exercises, lectures on preventing lifestylerelated diseases together with arranged meal trials. Before and after the program, health status assessments were measured. The assessment consisted of general medical records, medical history, questionnaire regarding exercise and relaxation activities, details of dietary intake based on food records, eating behavior, complaints (CMI) and physical activity levels. Results: Upon completion of the program 1) Values of serum total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased. Body mass and BMI values also decreased. 2) Total daily energy expenditures increased. 3) Major nutrient intakes, density of nutrients and eating behavior were improved. The daily salt intakes decreased. 4) Stress scores decreased, the subjects with higher scores at the beginning of the program markedly improved. Regarding CMI, there were improvements in categories II～IV. Participants with neurotic personality traits were mitigated. Conclusions: From the above results we concluded that the walking exercise-centered health promotion programs were effective in keeping desirable lifestyles in middle-aged and elderly women. These suggest that in order to maintain and/or improve the QOL of middle-aged and elderly women, good dietary habits and psychological support are essential. Further long-term investigations of a larger population (middle-aged to elderly) are necessary

Dietary total antioxidant capacity from different assays in relation to serum C-reactive protein among young Japanese women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association between dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) from different assays and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) has not been assessed in non-Western populations. We examined the association between dietary TAC and serum CRP concentration in young Japanese women using different four TAC assays.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The subjects were 443 young Japanese women aged 18–22 years. Dietary TAC was assessed with a self-administered diet history questionnaire and the TAC value of each food using the following four assays: ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP); oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC); Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC); and total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP). Serum CRP concentrations were measured by highly sensitive nephelometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The major contributor to dietary TAC was green, barley, and oolong tea (FRAP: 53%, ORAC: 45%, TEAC: 36%, and TRAP: 44%). The prevalence of elevated CRP concentrations (≥ 1 mg/L) was 5.6%. TAC from FRAP was inversely associated with serum CRP concentrations (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for elevated CRP concentration in high [compared with low] dietary TAC group: 0.39 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16-0.98]; <it>P</it> = 0.04). TAC from ORAC was inversely associated with CRP, although the association was not significant (OR: 0.48 [95% CI: 0.20-1.14]; <it>P</it> = 0.10). TAC from TEAC was inversely associated with CRP (OR: 0.32 [95% CI: 0.12-0.82]; <it>P</it> = 0.02), as was TAC from TRAP (OR: 0.31 [95% CI: 0.12-0.81]; <it>P</it> = 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Dietary TAC was inversely associated with serum CRP concentration in young Japanese women regardless of assay. Further studies are needed in other populations to confirm these results.</p