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To clarify the degree of consistency between the international recommendations and the national Japanese system, the nutrient reference values (NRVs) adopted by the CODEX were compared with current Japanese NRVs 2015, the dietary reference intakes for Japanese (DRIs-J) 2015, and actual nutrient intake levels by the Japanese population. The Japanese NRV for protein was high relative to CODEX NRV-R (i.e., NRV-Requirement). The Japanese NRVs for folate and calcium were low, and vitamin K was high, relative to each CODEX NRV-R. However, it was similar to the DRI-J values, and current intake levels for the Japanese population. For iron, calculation methods were different between the CODEX and Japan. Japanese iron NRV was calculated based on the RDA without menstruatating women, whereas CODEX NRV-R was calculated based on the INL98 of all adult men and women. Actual intake levels of iron for the Japanese population were similarly low. The Japanese NRV for sodium was high and potassium was low based on DRI-J values, relative to the CODEX NRV-NCD. For nutrients that show large discrepancies between the CODEX and Japanese NRVs, the values should be discussed further.

New Zealand is a rich source of food components that may have bioactivity on bone. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil has been shown to maintain bone in ovariectomised (OVX) rats. Kiwifruit, a source of fibre and carotenoids, may also affect bone via a prebiotic as well as direct cell-based mechanisms. We aimed to 1) ascertain the effects of DHA on two cell models, including interactions with soy isoflavones; 2) and investigate the specific effects of carotenoids from kiwifruit as well as whole kiwifruit in cell-based and rodent models as well as in a human study. RAW 264.7 mouse monocytes or mouse bone marrow was used to generate osteoclasts (OC). Cells were exposed to the agents between 5 and 21 d and formation and activity of OC measured, including molecular markers. DHA inhibited OC formation in both cell models, including expression of cathepsin K, NFATc1 as well as actin ring formation. Combination with isoflavones enhanced these effects. In OVX rats and mice fed with kiwifruit for 8 wk, green kiwifruit reduced the rate of bone loss after OVX, and in mice it reduced C-telopeptide of Type 1 collagen (CTX) levels and RANKL expression while in menopausal women, green kiwifruit affected blood lipids and bone markers positively.

Skeletal tissue is formed during the first two decades of life; then a constant bone mass is maintained until 40 y of age. In the case of women, the bone mass is rapidly reduced at menopause at around 50 y of age. After that, bone mass slowly decreases in both men and women who have passed the 70-y-old mark. The National Institute of Health Consensus Conference adopted the definition of osteoporosis as a skeletal disorder that is characterized by compromised bone strength leading to a predisposition for and an increased risk of fracture. Since osteoporotic fractures are the third-highest cause for becoming bedridden, the maintenance of healthy bones is an important factor in extending a person's healthy lifespan. Bone mass is influenced by many factors, such as nutrition, physical activity, smoking and alcohol intake, as well as by genetic factors. Thus, a healthy diet providing balanced nutrients including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K and protein, regular physical activity, and not smoking help maintain bone health and delay or prevent osteoporosis. Some functional foods containing soy isoflavones, milk basic protein and n-3 fatty acid may help promote bone health.

The purpose of this study was to improve the efficiency of the microbiological assays for biotin, niacin, and pantothenic acid by using lyophilized cells from Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014. The use of lyophilized cells as an inoculum was assessed to avoid time-consuming processes like cell precultivation and washing. The authors also examined the effects of various protectants such as skim milk, sucrose, sorbitol, and trehalose on the assay. The viable cell counts of the lyophilized cells were found to be approximately equal for different protectants. The standard curves for biotin, niacin, and pantothenic acid concentrations obtained using lyophilized cells with sucrose and intact cells gave similar linear ranges. Furthermore, the measured vitamin concentrations of the standard reference material 3280 were in the range of the established values. Therefore, lyophilized cells with sucrose are potential alternative inocula for the turbidimetric method. This will increase the overall convenience associated with microbiological assays.

It has been reported that treatment with a pharmacological dose (45 mg/d) of menaquinone-4 (MK-4) prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women. However, it is not known whether supplementation with low dose MK-4 has beneficial effects on bone metabolism in healthy women. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of the supplementation of 1.5 mg/d MK-4 for 4 wk on bone and lipid metabolism in healthy postmenopausal Japanese women. The study was performed as a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial. The participants aged 53-65 y were randomly assigned to 2 groups and supplemented with 1.5 mg/d of MK-4 or a placebo for 4 wk (n=20 for each group). The most marked effects of MK-4 intake were observed on serum osteocalcin (OC) concentrations. Serum undercarboxylated OC (ucOC) concentration decreased, and the gamma-carboxylated OC (GlaOC) and GlaOC/GlaOC+ucOC ratio that indicates the degree of OC gamma-carboxylation increased significantly at 2 and 4 wk compared with that at baseline in the MK-4 group. The serum ucOC and GlaOC concentrations in the MK-4 group were significantly different from those in the placebo group at 2 wk. These results suggest that supplementation with 1.5 mg/d MK-4 accelerated the degree of OC gamma-carboxylation. The concentrations of serum lipids and other indices were not different between the groups at either intervention period. Thus, the additional intake of MK-4 might be beneficial in the maintenance of bone health in postmenopausal Japanese women.

The purpose of this study was to improve the efficiency of the microbiological assays for vitamin B(6) and inositol by using lyophilized cells from Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9080. The use of lyophilized cells as an inoculum was assessed to avoid time-consuming processes like cell precultivation and washing. The authors also examined the effects of various protectants such as skim milk, lactose, maltose, and trehalose on the assay. The viable cell counts of the lyophilized cells were approximately equal. The standard curves for vitamin B(6) and inositol concentrations obtained using lyophilized cells with maltose and intact cells gave similar linear ranges. Furthermore, the measured vitamin concentrations of the standard reference material 1849 were in the range of the established values. Therefore, lyophilized cells with maltose are potential alternative inocula for the turbidimetric method. This will increase the overall convenience associated with microbiological assays.