While sugar intake is an important factor for obesity, diabetes and dental caries, sugars are also important energy sources, especially for rapidly growing children. Children like sugar-rich sweet foods. However, intake for Japanese children is not known due to a lack of studies and sugar composition data. This study was designed to determine sugar intakes from snacks and beverages in Japanese school children. A nutrition survey was conducted for 3 weekdays for 283 Japanese school children (7, 10 and 13 y old) in 8 prefectures from different areas of Japan. The methods for the survey were the weighing method for school lunches and the 24-h recall method for other foods. To estimate sugar intakes, the sugar composition table that was recently compiled by us for 135 beverages, cakes and other sweets was used. Height and weight were measured. They were similar to Japanese averages. Energy intakes were also similar to the results of the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Surveys. Sugar eaten outside meals was 24.7 Ϯ 15.5 g/d. From the National Health and Nutrition Surveys conducted in 2009, the mean sucrose intake from meals including some home-made cookies for 7-14-y-old children was 5.5 g/d, suggesting the mean total sugar intake of these children was about 30 g/d. This was within the range of FAO/WHO recommendation (less than 10% of energy intake, 49 g for these children. Mean intakes among age groups were not significantly different (p Ͼ 0.05), but the intake for girls was lower than for boys in the oldest age group (p Ͻ 0.05). Contributions of each sugar to total intake were sucrose 64%, fructose 14%, glucose 13% and lactose 9%. Fructose and glucose were mainly from isomerized sugar. Contributions of food groups to total intake were beverages 25%, baked goods 19% and ice cream 17%, respectively, covering 61% of all. In conclusion, we revealed that the average sugar intake of Japanese children was within the range of the FAO/WHO recommendation, though the effects of the kind of sugars on health remain to be clarified.

In this study, a series of electroactive polyimide/SiO2 (EPIS) composite materials containing conjugated segments of electroactive amino‐capped aniline trimer (AT) unit were successfully prepared. First of all, the amino‐modified silica (AMS) particles of ∼100 nm in diameter were synthesized by performing the conventional base‐catalyzed sol–gel reactions. Subsequently, the AMS nanoparticles were blending into the polymerization reactions between AT and 4,4′‐(4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenoxy)‐bis(phthalic anhydride), leading to the formation of EPIS composites. The as‐prepared EPIS materials in the form of coating on cold‐rolled steel (CRS) electrode were found to be much superior in corrosion protection over those of non‐electroactive polyimide and EPI materials based on a series of electrochemical corrosion measurements in saline. The significant enhancement in corrosion protection of EPIS coatings on CRS electrodes might probably be attributed to the redox catalytic property of organic EPI inducing the formation of passive metal oxide layer and the barrier property of well‐dispersed AMS nanoparticles existed in EPI matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:617–625, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Hyaluronan (HA) is present in all connective tissues and organs, including the skin and joint fluid. However, few clinical trials have comprehensively evaluated the impacts of oral HA on skin conditions, including wrinkles and moisturization. In this study, we conducted a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial of daily HA (120 mg) intake for 12 weeks in 40 healthy Asian men and women (aged 35–64 years). Skin condition was determined by the evaluation of wrinkles, stratum corneum water content, the amount of transepidermal water loss, elasticity, and through image analysis. After 12 weeks, skin condition was significantly improved in terms of wrinkle assessment, stratum corneum water content, transepidermal water loss, and elasticity in the HA group compared to the placebo group. Regarding the percentage change from baseline, wrinkle assessment, stratum corneum water content, and skin elasticity were significantly improved in the HA group versus the placebo group after 8 and 12 weeks of ingestion. The present findings indicate that oral ingestion of HA may suppress wrinkles and improve skin condition.

SummaryThe senescence-accelerated mouse (SAMP8) is an animal model used in studies of aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different types of dietary lipids on longevity and age-related deterioration in memory in SAMP8 mice. Eightmonth-old mice were fed diets with 5% lard (Lard group), 5% soybean oil (Soy group), 2% lecithin ϩ 3% soybean oil (Lecithin ϩ Soy group) or 2% fish oil ϩ 3% soybean oil (Fish ϩ Soy group), and learning and memory were examined by passive avoidance test at 8 and 10 mo of age. At the end of the experiment, the mice were killed, and the brain fatty acid composition was analyzed. The results indicated that the survival rates at 12 mo decreased in the order: Fish ϩ Soy Ͼ Soy Ͼ Lecithin ϩ Soy Ͼ Lard and were 50, 40, 30 and 20%, respectively.

There are rising public health concerns about the links between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain, obesity, and other metabolic problems. Sodium citrate (Na-citrate) is used as an additive in colas and various commercial drinks worldwide. Although potassium citrate (K-citrate) has been prescribed and well accepted by urologists for treating urinary stone disease (urolithiasis), the clinical role of Na-citrate has not been well established. We investigated the effects of Na-citrate and cola on the treatment of urolithiasis with an emerging translational model -Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila medium containing 0.5% ethylene glycol (EG) was used as a lithogenic agent for calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal formation in Drosophila Malpighian tubules. Cola (25%) and Na-citrate (2% and 4%) were added to the fly medium for urolithiasis treatment. Medium containing Kcitrate (2% and 4%) was used as a positive control. After 3 weeks of treatment, the Malpighian tubules were dissected, removed, and processed for polarized light microscopy examination; fly lifespan was also monitored in different groups. Cola failed to reduce CaOx crystal formation, whereas Na-citrate and the positive control K-citrate significantly reduced EG-induced CaOx crystal formation in Drosophila. Administration of either Na-citrate or cola did not inhibit Drosophila lifespan. Consumption of cola exerts no detectable change in the lithogenic agent associated with CaOx stone formation in the Drosophila model. By contrast, Na-citrate had an inhibitory effect on EG-induced CaOx crystal formation, albeit a lower inhibitory rate upon comparison with K-citrate.