Objective: An open-label noncontrolled study was conducted in subjects with increased oxidative stress burden to evaluate the mental and physical effects of antioxidant astaxanthin. Methods: Of 35 healthy postmenopausal women, 21 with high oxidative stress (diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites; d-ROM) were selected, and 20 (55.7±4.8 years old, BMI 22.1±3.9) were included in the study, after excluding 1 dropout. In subjects orally treated with astaxanthin (Fuji Chemical Industry) at a daily dose of 12 mg for eight weeks, Anti-Aging QOL Common Questionnaire, somatometry, hematological examination/urinalysis, oxidative stress test, and vascular function tests (cardio ankle vascular index, CAVI; ankle brachial pressure index, ABI; fingertip acceleration pulse wave; flow-mediated dilation FMD) were performed before and four and eight weeks after the start of the study. Results: After eight-week treatment with astaxanthin, significant improvement was observed in 5 of 34 physical symptoms listed in the common questionnaire, including "tired eyes", "stiff shoulders", "constipation", "gray hair", and "cold skin", and in 3 of 21 mental symptoms, including "daily life is not enjoyable", "difficulty in falling asleep", and "a sense of tension". In addition, systolic (118.0±16.4 mmHg at baseline, -4.6%, p=0.021) and diastolic blood pressure (74.1±11.7 mmHg at baseline, -6.9%, p<0.001) significantly decreased. In the vascular function test, CAVI, fingertip acceleration pulse wave, and FMD did not change, but ABI significantly increased from 1.06±0.10 at baseline to 1.10±0.06 at Week 8 (+3.7%, p=0.030). In the oxidative stress test, d-ROM did not change, but BAP significantly increased (+4.6%, p=0.030). In biochemical examination, AST (-19.2%, p=0.044), LDH (-6.4%, p=0.006), and HbA1c (-3.2%, p<0.001) significantly improved. Although IGF-I and insulin did not change, DHEA-s (-15.1%, p<0.001), cortisol (-22.8%, p=0.002), and adiponectin (-14.1%, p=0.003) decreased. No serious adverse event occurred during or after the study. Conclusion: Results show that astaxanthin may enhance antioxidant capacity (increase BAP), reduce lower limb vascular resistance (increase ABI), decrease blood pressure, and improve physical symptoms in women with high oxidative stress. Abstractwas different from conventional studies involving healthy subjects alone. In addition, this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of astaxanthin on a comprehensive basis from the viewpoint of anti-aging medicine 2) rather than focusing on certain tissues/organs.

Objective: To-date, in middle-aged men the collection of data regarding the measurement of a wide range of health indicators, and the mutual relationships among these indicators, has been insufficient. Here, we evaluated from the viewpoint of anti-aging medicine, the effects on various anti-aging indicators in middle-aged men of a long-term intervention to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. Methods: Subjects were 18 male employees (mean age, 54.4 ± 7.4 years; mean body weight 77.5 ± 12.5 kg; mean BMI, 26.1 ± 3.6 kg/m 2 ) of a machine manufacturer located in Kyoto City on whom a company-wide anti-aging medical checkup was performed. On the basis of the medical checkup results, exercise and nutritional instructions were given to the study subjects. In addition, subjects were lent pedometers and encouraged to walk, and the data recording the number of steps taken was collected once every four weeks. Anti-aging related indicators were measured before the study as well as 12 and 24 weeks thereafter. Muscle mass was measured with a body composition measuring device by bioelectrical impedance analysis (Physion MD), higher-brain functions were determined by the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), the degree of arteriosclerosis was evaluated by acceleration plethysmography (SDP-100), and bone mineral density was measured by ultrasonography (A-1000). Results: Over the 24-week intervention, of the prescribed instructions, the best compliance was found for walking. Twenty-four weeks after the start of intervention, a significant reduction was noted among the anthropometric parameters of body weight (-2.7%, p = 0.021), BMI (-2.7%, p = 0.020), systolic blood pressure (-7.3%, p = 0.014), and diastolic blood pressure (-11.7%, p = 0.002), and among the blood biochemistry parameters of LDL-cholesterol (-9.8%, p = 0.002), IGF-I (-25.4%, p < 0.001), and insulin (-20.4%, p = 0.002). Results from muscle mass measurement, acceleration plethysmography, WCST, DHEA and bone mineral density tests did not change. The mean number of steps taken during the period of intervention was 9,592 ± 1,978 steps/day. Analysis for correlation between the mean number of steps and a change from baseline (Δ) in the individual parameters revealed a positive correlation with Δcortisol and ΔLDL-cholesterol, and a negative correlation with ΔHbA1c (p < 0.05). A sub-class analysis provided a significant correlation between Δmuscle mass and the mean number of steps for an 18-week period after excluding the coldest and hottest seasons from the period of intervention. The sub-class analysis by site revealed a positive correlation with Δmuscle mass of trunk (r = 0.63) and Δmuscle mass of thigh (r = 0.55) (p < 0.01). No adverse events were noted. Conclusion: The 24-week intervention significantly improved many of the health indicators studied, indicating the utility of a company-wide anti-aging medical checkup and the use of pedometers. In the future, relationships between changes in the number of steps and changes in anti-aging indicators warrant further investiga...

To elucidate the effects of sea salt and various other soap ingredients on skin in humans. Methods: Forty healthy women (age 30.4 ± 6.0 years) were assigned to one of four test-soap groups (sea salt, SS; collagen added, SS+C; humic added, SS+H; or, fucoidan added, SS+F) or a control group. Subjects washed their face with the soap twice daily for eight weeks. Before and after the study, subjects undertook the Anti-Aging QOL Common Questionnaire (AAQol), skin image analysis (VISIAII), elasticity tests by a Cutometer (MPA580), and moisture tests by a Corneometer (CM825). Results: At 8 weeks, significant improvements were seen in symptoms scores for "noticeable blackheads in pores" and "oily face" in the SS group, the score for "concerned about spots or freckles" in the SS+H group, and the scores for "noticeable pores", "concerned about pore opening", "dry skin", "rough skin", "concerned about rough skin", and "corner of eyes sagging" in the SS+F group. There was no significant change in skin moisture. Compared to controls, the R2 index of skin elasticity showed improvement in the SS+C group by inter-group analysis (p=0.009). On skin image analysis, the number of face wrinkles bilaterally (-26.6%, p=0.008) in the SS+F group and the number of wrinkles on the right side of the face (-45.5%, p＝0.005) in the SS group) showed significant improvement. Although an increase in ultraviolet (UV) spots was seen in the SS and control groups, this increase was significantly attenuated in the SS+C group (inter-group analysis: p<0.05). Further, compared to controls, there was a significant reduction in the number of red spots in the SS+H group (number：-7.9%, p＝0.022, % area：-11.7%, p=0.039). No severe adverse effects were observed during this study. Conclusion: An improvement in wrinkles was seen in the SS group, with different additional elements displaying benefits in different areas of skin appearance and health. The SS+C group showed beneficial results with regard to elasticity and UV spots, the SS+H group showed beneficial results in red spots, and the SS+F group showed beneficial results in moisture levels and wrinkles.

Objective: Vascular function testing and microarray analysis were performed to evaluate the physical effects of cassis (Ribes nigrum L.) juice in women. Methods: In healthy women (Study I: n=21, age 53.6±3.6 years, BMI 24.2±3.9; Study II: n=40, age 47.4±8.8 years, BMI 22.4±3.9) assigned to one of four cassis groups (polysaccharide (PS) content: 0, 50, 125, and 250 mg) or a water control group (duration of intake: 2 to 8 weeks), the following parameters were assessed: for vascular function, blood pressure, thermographically measured body surface temperature, CAVI (cardio-ankle vascular index), ABI (ankle-brachial pressure index), accelerated plethysmography, and FMD (flow-mediated dilation) were determined. In the PS 250 mg (n=3) and water (n=4) groups, total RNA was extracted from blood collected before and 2 weeks after the study to perform gene expression analysis using Human Whole Genome 4 44K kit (Agilent). Results: Cassis juice (PS content: 125 to 250 mg) (n=16) increased body fat percentage (+2.5%, p=0.011), decreased systolic (121.3±15.8 mmHg at baseline,-4.8%, p=0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (76.9±11.2 mmHg at baseline,-5.9%, p=0.001), and increased FMD blood flow (p=0.004), upper limb temperature (+0.23±0.47˚C, p=0.011), and lower limb temperature (+0.55±0.50˚C, p<0.001). The percentage increase in lower limb temperature was dependent on PS (p<0.05) and polyphenol (p<0.01) contents. In gene analysis, inhibition of expression of α-adrenoceptor ADRA1D and thromboxane A2 receptor TBXA2R was prominent. Pathway analysis revealed significant accumulation of less frequently expressed genes (CACNA1B, GJB3, etc.) in the "Ca regulation in the cardiac cell" pathway (p=0.006). No serious adverse events occurred during the study. Conclusion: Cassis juice induced limb peripheral vasodilatation, increase in blood flow, and decrease in blood pressure. The microarray analysis showed inhibited expression of genes of α-adrenoceptor, thromboxane A2 receptor and Ca channel, and an inhibited pathway of Ca influx into vascular smooth muscle. Couppled with the fact that vascular endothelium plays a role in vasodilatation associated with various mRNA expressions, it is suggested that cassis juice may improve the function of endothelial cells.