Aim: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is known to correlate well with alcohol consumption; however, the relation between GGT and diabetes and that between alcohol consumption and diabetes mellitus (DM) is inconsistent. Thus, several questions, such as whether light to moderate drinkers can be considered as low risk for diabetes incidence irrespective of their GGT level, is unresolved. In this study, we investigated the relation of GGT or alcohol drinking with DM incidence considering the body mass index (BMI) in healthy Japanese workers. Methods: We followed 3095 men who did not have DM at baseline for 4 years. Incident diabetes was defined as a fasting (non-fasting) plasma glucose level of ≥ 7.0 (11.1) mmol/L, or treatment of diabetes. Multiple adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using Cox proportional models. Results: Participants with higher GGT (GGT ≥ 27 IU/L) showed an increased risk of diabetes incidence even when their BMI level was low. Although a U-shaped relation between alcohol drinking and incident diabetes was observed, the risk to light to moderate drinkers (alcohol 23 g/day) was not low if they were either overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ) or had higher GGT (HR 2.60, p 0.08) or both overweight and higher GGT (HR 3.16, p 0.07) compared with never drinkers without higher GGT and overweight. Conclusions: Higher GGT was associated with a higher incidence of DM irrespective of drinking status or obesity. Although a U-shaped relation between alcohol drinking and incident diabetes was observed, the risk to light to moderate drinkers was not low if they were either overweight or had higher GGT.

No abstract

Although cross-sectional studies regarding the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement among Japanese children have been previously reported, no longitudinal study has yet been reported for Japanese children. The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between physical fitness and academic achievement among Japanese adolescents. This cohort study included 1,189 seventh-and ninth-grade students from two schools. The follow-up period was 2 years. A physical fitness test involving eight test items (hand grip, sit-ups, sit and reach, side-to-side jump, 20-m shuttle run, 50-m dash, standing broad jump and handball throwing) was conducted to evaluate the fitness of the participants. Academic achievement in Japanese, mathematics and a foreign language (English) was assessed at baseline and follow-up using cumulative guidance records. Participants were classified into low-low, high-low, low-high, and high-high groups based on physical fitness test results at baseline and follow-up. Compared with the groups showing low fitness levels, those showing high fitness levels for all items of the physical fitness test expect handball throwing had increased odds of showing high academic achievement levels in all three subjects at baseline and/or follow-up compared with the low-fitness groups. Sit-ups and 20-m shuttle run in the high-high and lowhigh groups were related to higher academic achievement levels at follow-up compared with those in the low-low group for both boys and girls. Therefore, this study suggests that various physical fitness outcomes are positively associated with high academic achievement levels for Japanese children.

In Japan, the number of elderly living in nursing homes continues to increase with the progressive aging of its society. Malnutrition was detected in of the aged in care health centers for the elderly and in nursing-home-type units. The nursing care insurance system revision in introduced a payment for a nutritional care plan designed for undernourished subjects. Anemia, hypoalbuminemia and immunodeficiency are known to be indicators of malnutrition. The incidence rate of anemia increased after the age of , and it reached at the age of and older. Anemia caused by a nutrient deficiency accounts for one-third BMI Anemia was often observed in elderly women admitted to welfare facilities. BMI can be a surrogate marker of macrocytic anemia.