Biomedical subjects
Yasuhiko Homma
Publications and source records attributed to Yasuhiko Homma.
Decrease in plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein by plant stanol ester-containing spread: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE: The ester of plant stanols significantly reduces plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Western people. Effects of plant stanol ester-containing spread on plasma levels of TC, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B (apoB) were studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Japanese subjects whose diet is low in fat and cholesterol. The effects of plant stanol ester on plasma levels of arteriosclerosis-promoting factors, namely remnants of triacylglycerol (TG)-rich lipoproteins, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL), were also studied. The assessment of safety was also made. METHODS: One hundred and five healthy volunteers were assigned randomly to one of three groups: placebo spread (n = 35), 2 g/d of plant stanol (3.4 g of stanol ester; n = 34), and 3 g/d of plant stanol (5.1 g of stanol ester; n = 36). Plasma levels of lipids were measured at start of the study, at 2 and 4 wk (end of trial), and at 8 wk (+4 wk). Plasma apoproteins, cholesterol in remnant-like particles which are equivalent to remnants of TG-rich lipoproteins (RLP-C), CETP mass, and Ox-LDL were measured at the beginning and the end of the trial. Plasma levels of plant steroids and fat-soluble vitamins were also measured for the assessment of safety. RESULTS: Background and dietary composition did not differ among groups. Plasma levels of TC, LDL-C, apoB, apoE, CETP mass, and Ox-LDL were reduced significantly by 6.5%, 9.6%, 8.3%, 4.5%, 6.1%, and 20%, respectively, in the 2 g/d plant stanol group. Plasma levels of TC, LDL-C, apoB, CETP mass, and Ox-LDL were decreased significantly by 5.5%, 7.3%, 5.6%, 3.3%, and 19%, respectively, in the 3 g/d plant stanol group. Plasma levels of plant stanols, plant sterols, retinol, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol did not change in any group, but levels of campestanol increased and alpha-tocopherol decreased slightly in the sitostanol groups. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of TC and LDL-C were significantly reduced by the plant stanol ester-containing spread. The smaller reduction than in Western studies and the lack of dose dependency in this study might be due to the different basal diets. We concluded that plant stanol ester-containing spread is efficacious in reducing plasma LDL-C, apoB, CETP, and Ox-LDL and that 2 g/d plant stanol is adequate for Japanese people. No significant side effects were observed in any group.
Association between gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and status of disorders constituting insulin resistance syndrome.
BACKGROUND: Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma GTP) activity is a well-established marker of alcohol consumption. However, recently, a correlation between serum gamma GTP activity and insulin resistance status has been demonstrated. METHODS: To determine whether serum gamma GTP activity could be associated with the status of various disorders caused by increased insulin resistance levels, namely, insulin resistance syndrome, a cross-sectional study for 11,884 Japanese men was performed. They were divided into three groups by their age, and associations between gamma GTP and various indexes of insulin resistance syndrome were studied by multiple logistic regression analysis in which subjects' drinking styles were corrected for in each age bracket. RESULTS: Consuming ethanol more than 40 g/day, body mass index more than 25.9 kg/m2, and triglyceride levels more than 150 mg/dl were significant risk factors accounting for increased gamma GTP activity (more than 78 IU/liters) irrespective of age. In addition, when subjects of 40 to 59 years old were selectively studied, hypertension, hypercholesteremia, hyperuricemia, and increased glycohemoglobin A1C levels were also significant risk factors for increased gamma GTP activity. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant associations between gamma GTP and the status of insulin resistance syndrome. In addition to excessive alcohol consumption, the status of insulin resistance syndrome could affect subjects' gamma GTP activities.
A case of anorexia nervosa with severe hyperlipoproteinemia.
OBJECTIVE: The complication of severe hyperlipoproteinemia with anorexia nervosa is very rare. We investigated the mechanisms of severe hyperlipoproteinemia in a patient with anorexia nervosa. METHODS: The measurement of plasma levels of lipids, apolipoproteins (Apo), lipoprotein subfractions, free T3, and estrogen, apo (lipoprotein) E phenotyping, and the assay of lymphocyte low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor activity were accomplished in a 40-year-old female patient with anorexia nervosa. RESULTS: Her body mass index was 10.3 kg/m2. Her plasma levels of total cholesterol (C), triglyceride (TG), apoB, apoE, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-C, and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL)-C were 757 mg/dl, 526 mg/dl, 288 mg/dl, 13.6 mg/dl, 133 mg/dl, and 99 mg/dl, respectively. VLDL was cholesterol rich (C/TG ratio = 0.68; normal value = 0.2). The plasma LDL was high and skewed to less dense fractions. Her apoE phenotype was E 3/2. Her lymphocyte LDL-receptor activity was 79% of normal subjects. The plasma level of estradiol was low and that of free T3 was subnormal. DISCUSSION: We concluded that the plasma lipoprotein abnormality of this anorexia nervosa patient was induced by the impaired removal of TG-rich lipoprotein remnants and less dense LDL due to apoE phenotype E 3/2, subnormal LDL-receptor activity, subnormal plasma level of free T3, and diminished secretion of estrogen.
A spread enriched with plant sterol-esters lowers blood cholesterol and lipoproteins without affecting vitamins A and E in normal and hypercholesterolemic Japanese men and women.
The objective of the study was to investigate whether different initial baseline cholesterol levels modulate the efficacy of a spread enriched with plant sterol-esters (PS) in lowering blood cholesterol in a Japanese population consuming their usual diet. Healthy adults with a mean age of 45 y and mean plasma total cholesterol (TC) level of 6.5 mmol/L were recruited to participate in a double-blind trial comprised of a run-in period of 1 wk, followed by two intervention periods of 3 wks in a 2 x 2 crossover design and a post-trial follow-up of 3 wk. Volunteers consumed two spreads, one enriched with PS (12 g/100 g plant sterols) and a control spread not fortified with PS. Recommended spread intake was 15 g/d. Effects on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, beta-carotene and vitamins A and E were assessed. Plasma TC and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were 5.8 and 9.1% lower, respectively, when subjects consumed the PS spread than when they consumed the control spread (P < 0.001). Subjects were divided into two groups [normal and mildly cholesterolemic (TC <5.7 mmol/L) and hypercholesterolemic (TC >/= 5.7 mmol/L)]. Reductions (P < 0.001) in TC and LDL-C due to treatment in the former group were 4.9 and 7.9%, respectively. In the hypercholesterolemic group, the reductions (P < 0.001) were 7.1 and 10.6%, respectively. The decreases did not differ between normal/mildly cholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic subjects. Plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB) and remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol (RLP-C) concentrations were lower when subjects consumed the PS spread (44.3 g/L) than the control spread (49.7 g/L). Plasma beta-carotene concentration was lower (P < 0.001) in subjects consuming the PS spread than in the control. Changes in plasma vitamins A and E levels did not differ after intake of the PS and control spreads. In conclusion, consumption of a PS-enriched spread effectively lowered plasma TC, LDL-C, apoB and RLP-C regardless of baseline plasma TC at an intake of 1.8 g/d of plant sterols.
Influence of apolipoprotein E phenotype on metabolism of lipids and apolipoproteins after plant stanol ester ingestion in Japanese subjects.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of apolipoprotein E phenotype on changes in plasma levels of lipids and apoproteins by plant stanol ester (PSE) ingestion in Japanese subjects whose diet is low in fat and cholesterol. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect of PSE-containing spread was studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. One hundred five healthy volunteers were enrolled for this study. Apolipoprotein E phenotyping was done in 96 of 105 subjects. We compared plasma levels at the start and end of the test period (4 wk). The daily ingestion of 2 g of plant stanols from the PSE spread significantly reduced plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 8.9 +/- 6.6% (mean +/- standard deviation) in the E(3) group and 10.4 +/- 8.0% in the E(4) group. The daily ingestion of 2 g of plant stanols from the PSE spread significantly decreased plasma levels of apoprotein B by 5.4 +/- 7.9% in the E(3) group and 8.9 +/- 7.0% in the E(4) group. No further reductions of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apoprotein B were observed with 3 g/d of plant stanols from the PSE spread. CONCLUSION: The ingestion of PSE spread significantly reduced plasma levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apoprotein B. However, the response to PSE ingestion was not influenced by apolipoprotein E phenotype.