BackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the digestive tract that causes chronic abdominal symptoms. We evaluated the effects of Lactobacillus brevis KB290 (KB290), which has been demonstrated to be effective at improving bowel movements and the composition of intestinal microflora, on IBS symptoms.MethodsWe performed a placebo control double-blind cross matched trial. Thirty-five males and females (aged 6 years and above) who had been diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome III criteria were divided into 2 groups, and after a 4-week pre-trial observation period, they were administered test capsules containing KB290 or placebo for 4 weeks (consumption period I). Then, the capsule administration was suspended for 4 weeks in both groups (washout period), before the opposite capsules were administered for a further 4 weeks (consumption period II). Fecal samples were collected on the first day of the pre-consumption observation period, the last day of consumption period I, the last day of the washout period, and the last day of consumption period II. In addition, the subjects’ IBS symptoms and quality of life (QOL) and any adverse events that they experienced were evaluated.ResultsNo significant difference in IBS symptoms was noted among the various periods. However, the mean QOL scores were improved during the test capsule consumption.The frequencies of watery and mushy feces were significantly lower in the test capsule consumption period than during the pre-consumption observation period, and the frequency of abdominal pain was significantly reduced in the test capsule consumption period compared with the other periods.The frequency of the genus Bifidobacterium was significantly higher, and that of the genus Clostridium was significantly lower, after the test capsule consumption than after the placebo consumption. The frequencies of the genera Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Enterococcus were also investigated, but no differences in their frequencies were detected between the placebo and test capsule consumption periods.ConclusionsProbiotics, the safety of which has been established, are used widely in various foods and can now be purchased readily. The results of the present study suggest that KB290 is useful for early intervention in IBS.

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Lycopene, a major carotenoid in tomato, is one of the strongest natural singlet-oxygen quenchers. Circadian rhythms have been suggested to affect the bioavailability of many nutrients, but no previous studies have investigated such effects on lycopene. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the timing of lycopene ingestion on its bioavailability in both rodents and humans. Rats or healthy human subjects consumed lycopenecontaining test food at different times, and their blood lycopene concentrations were then measured. It was found that the increase in blood lycopene level was highest when lycopene was ingested at the beginning of the active period in rats or in the morning in humans. The result appeared to depend on not only the time slot chosen but also the length of the adjacent fasting period. Our findings suggest that the bioavailability of lycopene is maximal at breakfast because it follows a period of fasting.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the effects of a nutrition education program on vegetable intake of workers, incorporating self-monitoring using a noninvasive skin carotenoid sensor in addition to a seminar to motivate vegetable intake and environmental support through provision of vegetable beverages. Methods:A randomized parallel-group study was conducted with 145 healthy workers (intervention group: 74; comparison group: 71; average age: 42) in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. A seminar by a registered dietitian to encourage vegetable intake and four weeks of environmental support of vegetable beverage distribution were provided to both groups. In addition, participants in the intervention group measured their vegetable intake by a noninvasive skin carotenoid sensor for 10 weeks. The primary outcome for program evaluation was the amount of vegetable intake, whereas the secondary outcome was its stage of change using the transtheoretical model (TTM). Results:The intervention group showed a significant increase in vegetable intake from pre-intervention at both week 4 and week 10. The TTM stage score showed a significant progress at each period in the intervention group, but there were no differences in changed scores between the two groups. Conclusion:The results suggested that the progress of TTM scores and the increase of vegetable intake was maintained even without the environmental support, due to self-monitoring with a noninvasive skin carotenoid sensor.