Information regarding drug interactions is useful for avoiding adverse effects from medicinal drug administration, and similar information is obviously desirable for health food products and supplements. When examining findings related to drug-supplement interactions, it is vital to understand pharmacokinetics such as drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. The interaction disposition of one particular drug is primarily related to inhibition and induction of the drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP). Thus, experiments evaluating the expression level of CYP isoforms in human hepatic microsomes and their relative ratio in drugs metabolized by them would be useful. However, investigations of drug-supplement interactions such as inhibition tests using the cDNA-expressed human CYP and specific substrates in combination are scarce. It is essential to consider studies for averting such interactions and to disseminate information for improving safety.

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To confirm the safety and efficacy of a low-calorie mayonnaise supplemented with phytosterol esters (PEM) at a daily consumption dose of 884 mg given for 12 weeks with the goal of lowering serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, we conducted a double-blind comparative study in healthy adults with marginally high serum levels of LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol using a mayonnaise without phytosterol esters supplementation (CM) as the control food. Serum LDL cholesterol levels decreased significantly in the PEM group as compared with the CM group during the 12-week intervention period (136.3 ± 16.4 vs. 145.0 ± 19.3 mg/dL at Week 8 (P < 0.05) and 135.0 ± 17.4 mg/dL vs. 144.9 ± 17.5 mg/dL at Week 12; P < 0.05). No observable adverse effects were observed due to the ingestion of PEM in this study. The safety of PEM was again confirmed by an additional clinical study in which healthy adult subjects ingested a 3-fold greater amount of PEM (2,652 mg of phytosterol esters as a daily dose) for 4 weeks. Thus, we concluded that PEM is effective in lowing serum levels of LDL cholesterol and is safe and well tolerated without any clinical problems.

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We examined the effect of aromatherapy massage on the circadian rhythm in 8 elderly subjects in an open semi-comparative trial, comparing the parameters in the 2^nd week during which the aromatherapy massage sessions were performed, with 1-week periods (1^st and 3^rd weeks) before and after the sessions. Time spent asleep while in-bed and the sleep efficiency during the sleep time increased significantly in the 2^nd week compared with those in the 1^st and/or 3^rd weeks. A higher peak of the 24-h cycle circadian rhythm was noted following aromatherapy massage in elderly people, who often exhibit circadian rhythm disturbance. Furthermore, the peaks of the spectrum cycle in the 2^nd week were significantly closer to 24 h than those in the 1^st and 3^rd weeks. These results suggest that aromatherapy massage improves sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance.

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Objective/Design: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of herbal tea therapy on Ménière’s disease. We studied 15 patients with Ménière’s disease who came to the International University of Health and Welfare MITA hospital between 2007 and 2008.
Methods: According to criteria of the Japan Society for Equilibrium Research, all patients were diagnosed as having Ménière’s disease and underwent otoneurologic examination, audiometric measurements, questionnaires of functional level and tinnitus every month. Moreover, we instructed these patients to keep a record of the number of times vertigo was experienced. After 6 months of general treatment, we treated patients with herbal tea for one year. This herbal tea was effective as a diuretic, in promoting antivertigo, and relaxing. We compared results before and after herbal tea therapy.
Result: Herbal tea therapy was effective in about 10 patients, but 5 patients relapsed. However, symptom of the relapsed patients improved after using less medicine, although the quantity of medication was less than before starting the herbal tea therapy. Herbal tea therapy improved their Ménière’s symptoms, especially vertigo after 6 months from starting herbal tea therapy.
Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that herbal tea therapy is useful for preventing worsening of Ménière’s disease.

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Objective: To assess the effectiveness of preferred colored light on psychosomatic state.
Methods: Preferred color light and other colored light were projected on a screen and shown to experimental and control subjects. To determine the effect of such light, mood adjective scores as determined by the Multiple Mood Scale (MMS) were measured as an emotional parameter, and levels of salivary chromogranin A (CgA) and salivary immune globulin A were measured as biochemical parameters. This study was performed in a randomized, crossover design. These data were analyzed statistically and a p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: After being exposed to preferred colored lights, mean MMS scores indicating positive moods, such as well-being increased significantly (p = 0.025), and scores indicating negative moods, such as depression and boredom decreased significantly (p = 0.005, p = 0.041). Mean value of salivary CgA also decreased and was significantly different between experimental and control group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Preferred colored light may be effective in promoting a calm positive state.

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In the present study, we investigated the effects of plasma cluster ions on moisturizing skin and increasing comfort sensation in healthy female volunteers. Thirty-two healthy women who often experienced dry skin participated in a randomized crossover trial. We evaluated skin moisture using the Corneometer CM825 and comfort sensation using the visual analogue scale. Plasma cluster ion concentrations of 25000 pcs/cm³ increased skin moisture, while concentrations of 7000 pcs/cm³ increased comfort sensation. These results suggest that plasma cluster ions have an effect on skin moisture contents and comfort sensation.

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In the present study, in order to investigate the healthy functionality of superheated steam cooking, we examined triacylglyceride, RLP-cholesterol, ascorbic acid and d-ROM levels in blood after intake of fried pork cooked using superheated steam or in a deep fryer. At 6 hours after intake, in the superheated steam cooking group, triacylglyceride and RLP-cholesterol levels were lower, while ascorbic acid levels were higher and d-ROM levels were lower when compared with the deep fryer group. These results suggest that superheated steam cooking has healthy functionality with regard to the inhibition of postprandial triacylglyceride increase and lipid peroxidation in blood.

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Anoectochilus formosanus, an orchidaceous plant native to Taiwan, is widely used as a folk medicine in Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries. We attempted to isolate the bioactive principles from A. formosanus and succeeded in purifying the compounds. Two known compounds (N-cis-feruloyl tyramine and N-trans-feruloyl tyramine) were isolated and both significantly inhibited osteoclast formation, which is important in the development of osteoporosis.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate moderate endurance exercise-induced changes in oxidative stress in different phases of the menstrual cycle. We used saliva samples which can be collected non-invasively. The resting oxidative stress levels determined by oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were significantly higher in the menstrual phase than the follicular and luteal phases. The ORP significantly increased 30 minutes after exercise started and at the end of the 60 minute exercise session in the follicular phase. The menstrual cycle may affect oxidative stress levels at rest among young women, whereas moderate endurance exercise is likely to increase oxidative stress in the follicular phase.

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Bischofia javanica leaf extract exhibited inhibitory activities against hyaluronidase, collagenase, tyrosinase and urease, suggesting that it is useful as an active ingredient for functional foods and cosmeceutical products. In particular, its 50% inhibitory concentration for hyaluronidase was comparable to that of disodium cromoglycate, which is a well-known hyaluronidase inhibitor used as an anti-inflammation and anti-allergy agent. In addition, the extract also inhibited urease with the almost the same potential as acetohydroxamic acid, which is reported to suppress Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis by inhibiting urease.

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