BACKGROUND: Obesity is one of the most common risks for lifestyle-related diseases, but the personality of individuals in relation to obesity has not been well studied. We investigated the association of personality traits with physical activity levels and eating behaviors in obese subjects. METHOD: The subjects were 116 males and 119 females in the Saku Control Obesity Program SCOP study. The influence of personality on obesity was analyzed using a questionnaire from the NEO-FFI. We analyzed the association of physical activity level (measured with an accelerometer) and eating behavior (assessed by a questionnaire) among the three classes (low, average, high) of scores within five personality domains. RESULTS: Scores in the Neuroticism and Agreeableness domains of females were significantly higher than those of males. There were significant differences among the three classes of Neuroticism and Agreeableness with regard to physical activity levels. Eating behavior was associated with the Neuroticism and Openness domains. The scales of bad eating behavior related to obesity were positively correlated with scores in the Neuroticism domain in both males and females. In males the scale of all categories of eating behavior increased as scores in the Openness domain rose; in females the scale of “perception of constitution and weight” decreased as Openness scores rose. CONCLUSION: Personality determined by NEO-FFI was related to physical activity level and eating behavior. In particular, the Neuroticism domain had great effects on these parameters.

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OBJECTIVES: Relationship between dioxin exposure and diabetes mellitus (DM) has been in debate. Our cross-sectional study suggested that low-level dioxin exposure may cause type 2 diabetes in a general population. A case control study was performed to confirm the risk of dioxins. DESIGN and METHODS: 60 DM patients and 60 controls were selected for the case control study to detect the risk of dioxins for type 2 diabetes mellitus. After performing 75 g GTT, 56 DM, 12 IGT and 49 Control were grouped. In addition to the routine physical examination, questionnaire for life habits, past illness, family history and others were performed. 70 ml blood was collected for hematological and biochemical test, and measurement of 7 polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), 10 polychloro-dibenzofurans (PCDF), and 12 coplanar polychlorobiphenyl (PCB). Concentration of dioxin congeners and their TEQ were used for regression factor analysis and logistic regression analysis to detect the risk of dioxins by SPSS. RESULTS: Total blood dioxin level was 23.4 ± 11.2 in Control, 30.8 ± 11.5 in IGT and 33.7 ± 13.7 pg TEQ/g lipid in DM. Logistic regression analysis revealed that family history (OR=20.4) and 4 of 5 dioxin factors (OR=2.2-2.8) had significant odds ratio. Crude congener concentration and their TEQ yielded the similar results. Other variables did not show significant odds ratio. Adverse effects of dioxins on TNFalpha, NEFA, adiponectin, and leptin were found. CONCLUSION: DM and IGT patients showed higher dioxin level compared to Control. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the exposure to both PCB and PCDD/PCDF showed significant effect.

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Equol, a metabolite of daidzein, is considered to be the most effective estrogen modifier in the human body. The production of equol depends on an individual's intestinal flora, however, so an equol supplement has been developed for nonproducers. To examine the pharmacokinetics in humans of a newly developed equol supplement made from fermented soy germ by Lactococcus sp. Equol supplements were given to 18 adults (20-22 yr) in three doses (one 10-mg dose, one 30-mg dose, or three 10-mg doses per day) to investigate the pharmacokinetics and physiological effects. Equol reached a peak in plasma at 30 or 60 min after supplement intake, and the average plasma half-life was 83 min. Plasma concentrations of equol were always higher in females than in males. Less than 5% of the highest plasma concentration remained in the plasma after 2 days. Up to 56% of the orally administered equol was excreted in urine within 1 day. This short-term, high-dose equol exposure yielded no observable adverse effect in both feeling and biochemical markers. For equol nonproducers, this newly developed equol supplement may yield more beneficial effects of isoflavones.

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BACKGROUND: Various genes related to fat-, sugar-or energy-metabolism are suspected that their polymorphisms (SNPs) are susceptible to development of obesity and other metabolic syndromes. Although many lines of evidences are accumulated, inspections as to their relation are still insufficient. Here, we assembled 235 obese people in Saku Control Obesity Program (SCOP), and are going to investigate the association between those SNPs, body mass index (BMI) and other clinical parameters. METHODS: 235 subjects, whose BMI belonged in upper quintile (over 28.3), are recruited from examinees for periodic medical checkup in the Health Dock of Saku Central Hospital (Nagano, Japan). Genotyping for the SNPs were conducted using the PCR-PFLP method from peripheral venous blood. The frequencies of the SNPs in UCP1 (-3826A/G), UCP2 (Ala55Val), UCP3 (-55C/T), PPARγ2 (Pro12Ala), adiponectin (Ile164Thr), leptin receptor (LEPR, Arg109Lys), calpain 10 (SNP43), β2AR (Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu), β3AR (Trp64Arg) were analyzed and associations between those SNPs, body mass index (BMI) and other clinical parameters were investigated. The frequency was compared with those in HapMap Project or in Nansei Cohort.. RESULTS: Frequencies of above SNPs in SCOP were not different from those of healthy people in Nansei Cohort or HapMapProject, except for adiponectin Ile164Thr. SNPs of UCPs or β2, β3AR genes, often reported their association with BMI, were not confirmed in obese subjects in SCOP. We found significant association in the LEPR Arg109Lys in woman; Lys/Lys minor homozygotes had higher levels of leptin, TNF-α, C-peptide, insulin, triglyceride and fasting serum glucose, and also, the genotype showed a trend of higher values of HbA1c, BMI, body fat mass and waist circumference. CONCLUSION: Adipocytokines, such as leptin and adiponectin, may play an important role in the development of metabolic syndrome, and they would be influenced by polymorphism of UCP or β2, β3AR genes.

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BACKGROUND: The increasing number of patients with metabolic syndrome and resultant diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and other lifestyle-related diseases are an urgent focus of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Because obesity is a common basis of these diseases, the control of obesity is an important aim. METHODS: A cognitive-behavioral treatment is being employed in a randomized intervention trial at the Saku Health Dock Center. 976 people whose BMI in upper quintile were identified from the health checkup database, and 235 people participated in the Saku Control Obesity Program (SCOP). Various biomarkers (including lipokines and single nucleotide polymorphism SNPs), physical activity, personality type (measured by the NEO-FFI), and dietary habits and dietary intake behavior (measured by the SQ-DHQ) will be measured to clarify the multiple factors influencing obesity. Each participant will use a diary to record body weight, body fat, number of steps, physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), and success in achieving the established plan; a dietary record and appropriate equipment are also provided. At 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, each participant will be interviewed by a doctor and dietician and receive individual education regarding physical activity. Follow-up will occur 1 and 2 years after baseline measurements. RESULTS: A total of 116 men (52.9 ± 6.6 years) and 119 women (54.4 ± 6.5 years) are participating in the study. Average body weight (± SD) was 86.4 ± 11.8 kg in males and 75.2 ± 9.5 in females. BMI was 30.4 ± 3.5 in males and 31.1 ± 3.1 in females. Waist and visceral fat area were 101.5 ± 8.7 cm and 159 ± 54 cm² in males and 103.7 ± 8.3 cm and 130 ± 47 cm² in females, respectively. PAEE was 271 ± 127 kcal in males and 246 ± 102 kcal in females. Basal metabolic rate, measured in one-tenth of the participants, was 1659 ± 226 kcal in males and 1477 ± 210 kcal in females. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral treatment designed to help obese patients lose weight and to maintain their weight losses over time. SCOP has been started with a good participation rate.

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