Background Studies of immigrant populations are useful for analysis of the effects of environmental factors on cardiovascular disease. We have examined the association between dietary habit of fish intake and cardiovascular risk.Methods Population-based samples of 433 middle-aged Japanese men and women in Japan (Shimane (group JS) and Okinawa (group JO)) and 269 Japanese immigrants in Brazil ( S~O Paulo (group BS) and Campo Grande (group BC)), who had originally moved to Brazil mainly from Shimane and Okinawa, were recruited to the study. They underwent blood pressure measurement, 24-h urine collection, blood tests and electrocardiographic examination, and completed a dietary questionnaire. ResultsThere was a significant gradient through the groups, from J S to JO, BS and BC with respect to the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, increased glycohaemoglobin concentrations and ST-T segment change on the electrocardiogram (prevalences for men and women combined: group JS 2.0%, group JO 3.8%, group BS 3.9% and group BC 9.00/0; P< 0.025). The prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia was noted more frequently in groups BS and BC. Twentyfour-hour urinary taurine excretion in both sexes and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in plasma phospholipids in men were significantly higher in groups JS and JO than in groups B S and BC. A striking negative gradient in the frequency of fish intake per week was found from group JS (medwomen, 4.7/4.8) to groups JO (3.8/3.6), BS (1.911.6) and BC (0.5/0.5). ConclusionsThis study suggests a possible association between fish intake and reduced cardiovascular risk, through the beneficial effects of taurine and n-3 PUFA and a habitual low intake of calories and fat.

The prevalence of dementing disorders in Campo Grande of a community of Japanese-Brazilians who immigrated from Okinawa was studied. Previous reports showed that the dietary pattern in Japanese immigrants in Brazil, which characterized by a low fish and large meat intake, is possibly responsible for increased risk of cardiovascular diseases compared with Japanese in Okinawa. A total of 157 persons over 70-year-old were examined, and 19 cases were diagnosed as having dementia. The prevalence (cases/100 aged 70-year-older) was 12.1 for all types of dementia, 5.7 for Alzheimer's disease (AD), 0.6 for vascular dementia (VD), 4.5 for mixed dementia (AD/VD) and 1.3 for other types of dementia. There was no case of dementia with Lewy bodies or frontotemporal lobar degeneration. These results are similar to many previous studies in Western countries and some recent surveys in Japan, and clearly show that more AD than VD appears even in the Japanese-Brazilian population. The higher prevalence rate of dementia in Japanese-Brazilians compared with several studies in Japan may indicate the importance of dietary factors rather than genetic factors.

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Objectives:To investigate whether combined isoflavones and antioxidants in oriental and occidental drinks reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in high-risk Japanese immigrants living in Brazil. Materials and methods:From among over 100 Japanese immigrants thirty-seven females aged 45-60 years in Porto Alegre, Brazil, were randomized after informed consent into two groups to drink 200 ml of whole soy cell juice (S) containing 7.5 g soy protein and 10 mg of isoflavones (aglycone) in peach juice or placebo peach juice (P) with 80 Kcal for 12 weeks. Health survey including 24-hour urine (24 U) examination were carried out before the randomization and after the double blind placebo controlled intervention study.Results: Both weight and body mass index (BMI) were significantly (p < 0.05, 0.01) decreased from the baseline only in the S group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from the baseline in the S group with elevated 24 U isoflavone excretion (>10 mmol), and there was a significant (p < 0.05) inter-group difference between the S and P groups after intervention. Total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (C) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the S group from the baseline and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the S and P groups after intervention. HbA1c and atherogenic index (non-high density lipoprotein (HDL)-C/HDL-C) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in both groups.Conclusions: Soy isoflavones combined with fruit antioxidants, the combination of which might potentiate local nitric oxide (NO) affect, decreased SBP, total cholesterol and LDL-C. Peach juice itself improved blood glucose levels and the atherogenic index of the high-risk Japanese population in Brazil.