Nutrition in metabolic syndrome : with recent topics

Metabolic syndrome is a pathological condition with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, or hypertension resulting in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Factors that affect visceral fat accumulation and weight gain include not only physiological factors such as heredity, constitution, and age, but also behavioral factors and environmental factors. Eating behavior and eating environment are critical for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. In this report, we will discuss about recent topics of nutrition in metabolic syndrome, especially association with macronutrients such as carbohydrate, fatty acids and protein. In recent years, several publications have determined the benefit of low carbohydrate diet on obesity and diabetes, and the American Diabetes Association has also recommended low carbohydrate diet, Mediterranean diet, and a diet mainly consistent with vegetables and plants. There have been many reports that the effect of carbohydrate restriction has not only the weight loss effect but also reduces risk factors such as cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. Fanelli et al . recently have shown that half of US adults with diabetes have less than the recommended daily intake of protein, which may lead to poor dietary quality. Diabetic patients with low protein intake had significantly lower dietary nutrient density and １２．５％ higher carbohydrate intake, whereas diabetic patients with daily protein intake meeting the recommended amount have shown that the overall quality of the diet was high and almost met the recommended daily amount of vegetables, whole grains, dairy products and added sugars. Therefore, in addition to the prevention of metabolic syndrome, protein is important for treatment of metabolic syndrome and higher QOL. Nutritional research needs further development to deal with metabolic syndrome

Taste receptor genes and renal function

Dysgeusia is not only associated with zinc deficiency but also with certain drugs or diseases, including diabetes and renal failure. It often lowers the patient’s quality of life and hinders access to proper nutrition. The underlying mechanism is unclear and there is a lack of awareness among patients. Here, we focused on lingual taste receptor gene expression in diabetes and elucidated the relationship between taste receptor gene expression and renal function. Forty-seven patients with diabetes and 10 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled. Lingual foliate papillae were scraped and the derived cDNA was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Dysgeusia was assessed using SALSAVE®. All statistical analyses were performed using JMP® software 13. The expression of T1R1 and T1R2 was significantly upregulated in type 2 diabetes patients as compared with that in healthy subjects (P < 0.01) but did not change in type 1 diabetes patients. T1R3 expression positively correlated and Scnn1 expression negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate, suggesting that altered taste receptor gene expression could reflect impaired renal function. Thus, alterations in T1R3 and Scnn1 expression in diabetes correlated with renal function. Taste receptor gene expression dysregulation could indicate dysgeusia associated with impaired renal function in patients with diabetes

Water balance in healthy and handicapped adults

The body’s water balance is changed by food and beverage intake, metabolism, and excretion. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional study that investigated the changes of water intake and water output in healthy Japanese young and elderly people and handicapped adults. Water balance was assessed by water intake from foods and beverages, metabolic water production, non-renal water losses (NRWL), and urine volume. Most of the parameters did not change with aging in healthy adults. Estimated total water intake (ml / kg / day) increased with aging. In the healthy men, healthy women, and handicapped adults, daily water intake (median [interquartile range]) accounted for 49.4 (41.4-59.9) ml / kg, 42.9 (38.7-51.8) ml / kg, and 50.9 (43.8-74.0) ml / kg, respectively. Water loss from the kidney accounted for 19.2 (16.2-29.2) ml / kg, 22.0 (16.2-26.6) ml / kg, and 27.5 (22.7- 47.2) ml / kg, respectively. NRWL accounted for 26.6 (18.5-35.2) ml / kg, 22.4 (16.2-28.8) ml / kg, and 23.5 (19.8-28.5) ml / kg, respectively. Our findings suggest that a daily total water intake of more than 50-55 ml / kg is required to prevent dehydration in healthy and handicapped adults

Diaper-zero program in nursing home

With an aging population, the number of older adults admitted to nursing homes has increased. Diapers are often used to manage nursing home resident urinary incontinence, yet only one-third of these required assistance from caregivers to urinate. Unnecessary diaper use was reported in 23.9% of people, mostly for precautionary purposes. In this study, the Diaper-zero program caregivers asked residents regularly (every 2-3 h) whether they required voiding and prompted them to void. Over 11 months, the effects on 38 nursing home residents’ diaper use, nursing care level, physical activity, daily energy, and water intake were measured. A higher rate of diaper wearing was initially observed with lower daily energy and water intakes at the beginning of the Diaper-zero program, but this association was not observed after 11 months of the program. The diaper usage rate decreased significantly from 71.1% to 47.4% after 11 months. During this period, for all subjects, nursing care level, physical activity, and total daily intakes of energy and water were unchanged. In conclusion, this program enhances the desire to void, minimizing diaper usage, thus protecting the human dignity of nursing home residents

monosodium glutamate increases T1R3 expression

We previously showed that chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia was associated with lingual taste receptor gene expression, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) improved dysgeusia by upregulating taste 1 receptor 3 (T1R3) gene expression. In recent years, decreased taste sensitivity has also been reported in some young people, and these are partly due to their disordered eating habits. From these background, we investigated the effects of MSG supplementation on taste receptor expression and dietary intake in healthy females. Fifteen young healthy volunteers were enrolled for the present crossover study and divided in two groups (dietary supplementation with MSG at 2.7 g / day or 0.27 g / day). The relative expression of T1R3, a subunit of both umami and sweet taste receptors, in the tongue was assessed by quantitative PCR analysis. Food intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQg), and body composition was measured using Omron HBF-701. T1R3 expression levels in the tongue and taste sensitivity increased significantly in participants who consumed 10 g of MSG daily. Furthermore, protein, fat, and carbohydrate (PFC) balance and salt and sugar intake improved by MSG supplementation. In conclusion, MSG supplementation increased T1R3 expression in the tongue and improved dietary balance

Risk of dementia with hearing impairment and social isolation

Abstract INTRODUCTION This study aimed to determine whether the concomitance of hearing impairment and isolation with lack of conversation, which is considered self‐evident but has not been investigated extensively, is associated with the occurrence of dementia. METHODS A total of 2745 participants were divided into four groups according to the presence/absence of hearing impairment and isolation with lack of conversation. The association of dementia with hearing impairment and isolation with lack of conversation was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS The combined hearing impairment and isolation with lack of conversation (hazard ratio: 1.69, 95% confidence interval: 1.09‐2.61) and non‐hearing impairment and isolation with lack of conversation (hazard ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence: 1.07‐2.39) were associated with the development of dementia. DISCUSSION These findings emphasize the importance of promoting high‐quality social relationships throughout life by adopting preventive measures against isolation with lack of conversation from the early stage of awareness of hearing impairment. Highlights Dementia affects 12.9% of those with hearing impairment and isolation. Hearing impairment and isolation are associated with increased risk of dementia. Addressing these risk factors may help reduce the risk of developing dementia. Preventing isolation and promoting quality social relationships is important

Umami taste sensitivity in diabetes

Objective : Dysgeusia is a serious problem in patients with diabetes because it often leads to overeating, which is associated with disease progression. This study aimed to investigate the association between taste sensitivity, eating habits, and the oral environment. Subjects and methods : In this cross-sectional study of 75 subjects with diabetes, gustatory function was assessed using the whole-mouth method, and lingual taste receptor gene expression was measured by real-time PCR. Food intake was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire based on food groups. The oral environment was assessed using xerostomia and periodontal comprehensive examination. Results : In total, 45.3%, 28.0%, and 18.7% of subjects showed lower umami taste sensitivity, low sweet taste sensitivity, and low salt taste sensitivity, respectively. Lower umami sensitivity correlated with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and higher energy-source food intake. Subjects with diabetes with higher plaque control record showed significantly higher T1R3 gene expression than those with lower plaque control record. Conclusion : Reduced umami taste sensitivity is associated with decreased renal function and high energy food intake in diabetes. Subjects with diabetes with higher plaque control record showed significantly higher T1R3 gene expression, suggesting that the oral environment affects taste gene expression

Spectroscopy of flux-driven Kerr parametric oscillators by reflection coefficient measurement

We report the spectroscopic characterization of a Kerr parametric oscillator (KPO) based on the measurement of its reflection coefficient under a two-photon drive induced by flux modulation. The measured reflection spectra show good agreement with numerical simulations in terms of their dependence on the two-photon drive amplitude. The spectra can be interpreted as changes in system’s eigenenergies, transition matrix elements, and the population of the eigenstates, although the linewidth of the resonance structure is not fully explained. We also show that the drive-amplitude dependence of the spectra can be explained analytically by using the concepts of Rabi splitting and the Stark shift. By comparing the experimentally obtained spectra with theory, we show that the two-photon drive amplitude at the device can be precisely determined, which is important for the application of KPOs in quantum information processing