A Study was conducted to compare total body water (TBW) and TBW/lean body mass (LBM) ratios between males and females, trained and untrained subjects, and subjects of various ages or with different body mass index (BMI) and to examine previous models for estimating LBM from TBW using the deuterium oxide (D₂O) dilution method in Japanese adults. We determined TBW and the TBW/LBM ratio in 58 untrained males (aged 18-59 yr), 158 untrained females (aged 18-29 yr), 26 trained males (aged 18-29 yr), and 30 trained females (aged 18-29 yr). We used the D₂O dilution method to estimate TBW, and measured the skinfold thickness to estimate LBM. The average TBW/LBM ratios were higher than those obtained in previous studies (0.72 by Forbes and 0.732 by Pace et al.) in all subjects. In the subjects aged 18 to 29 yr (BMI: 20 to 24 kg/mm²), it was found that males had higher TBW and TBW/body weight (BW) ratios than females. There were no significant differences between males (81.9±5.2%) and females (79.4± 6.2%) in the TBW/LBM ratios. Trained subjects exhibited significantly higher mean TBW, TBW/BW and TBW/LBM ratios than untrained subjects, both male and female. Males aged 18 to 29 yr had higher average TBW (44.1±3.4l) than males aged 40 to 49 yr (41.1±3.3l) and 50 to 59 yr (41.0±4.5l). There were no significant differences between the age groups in TBW/BW and TBW/LBM ratios. In females, a higher BMI was associated with a larger TBW and lower TBW/BW ratio. The TBW/LBM ratio did not vary with BMI. We conclude that TBW/LBM ratios do not vary significantly in untrained subjects differing in sex, age, or BMI. Trained subjects show higher TBW/LBM ratios than untrained subjects, both male and female. The average TBW/LBM ratio estimated by the D₂O method in the present study was higher than that in previous studies.

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The present study was designed to investigate changes in sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) balances during a daily exercise regime of 3h/day under dietary conditions that maintained an nutrient intake with an energy intake of 1, 000 kcal/day. The subjects were five healthy men, and the experiment consisted of 5 days of exercise preceded by 6 days of rest. During the exercise period, exercise was performed for 90 min with a bicycle ergometer at a target intensity of 60% VO₂ max every morning and afternoon. Extra energy was added by increasing the experimental food intake in proportion to energy intake. The increases in sweat Na, K, Ca and Mg excretion over the levels during the rest period were lower than the increases in their intake. Na and P retention due to a decrease in urinary excretion was observed, but K, Ca and Mg balances were unchanged. The level of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH_44-68) was increased early in the exercise period, but decreased later. These results suggest that a dietary regime that maintains nutrient intake per 1, 000 kcal of energy intake during exercise is reasonable for these minerals.

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A study was conducted to determine whether fatty liver and changes in the fatty acid pattern produced in rats fed a diet containing orotic acid are alleviated by feeding then with fish oil. When rats were fed 10% olive oil diet containing 2% orotic acid, the concentrations of serum triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly decreased and those of liver triglycerides were markedly elevated. In contrast, when rats were fed a 10% fish oil diet containing 2% orotic acid, these effects of orotic acid on the decreases in serum lipids and the accumulation of liver triglycerides were not observed. Similar effects on lipid concentration were also observed in kidney tissue. The concentrations of C16: 0, C18: 1 and C18: 2 were markedly elevated, and that of C20: 4 was decreased in liver of rats fed an olive oil diet containing orotic acid. However, the concentrations of C16: 0, C18: 1 and C18: 2 were unchanged, and the concentration of C20 : 4 was increased in the liver of rats fed a fish oil diet containing orotic acid. These results suggest that liver lipid accumulation and changes in the fatty acid pattern of the serum and liver are alleviated by feeding rats with fish oil diets containing highly unsaturated fatty acids.

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It has been reported that wheat water-soluble hemicellulose (WSH) has a suppressive effect on blood pressure, and also reported that WSH consists of two arabinoxylans (AX-1 and AX-2) that differ in their characteristics and structure. In order to clarify the hemicellulose component responsible for this effect, each of the arabinoxylans was separated and puhfied from WSH, and their suppressive effect on blood pressure in SHR (spontaneouly hypertensitive rats) was investigated. AX-1, characterized as an arabinoxylan consisting of a main chain of 1, 4-linked-β-D-xylopyranose residues having only a few L-arabinofuranosyl branches and few uronic acid moieties, which was separated by 50% ethanol precipitation from WSH, had no suppressive effect on blood pressure. On the other hand, AX-2, an arabinoxylan consisting of a main chain with many arabinofuranosyl branches, some uronic acid moieties and a proteinaceous portion, which was prepared by ultrafiltration following enzymatic treatment with cellulase Onozuka, was found to suppress blood pressure. Compared with control SHR fed no hemicellulose, SHR fed AX-2 showed increased excretion of sodium in thier feces, while SHR fed AX-1 showed no difference from the control. It is suggested that only AX-2 in WSH is the component responsible for the suppressive effect on blood pressure, due probably to its unique structure and ion-exchange ability through its uronic acid and/or proteinaceous portion.

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Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) obtained from both outdoor cultivation and hydroponic culture in a glasshouse was analyzed using four varieties, Okame, TG-1, S-20 and Lead. The plants grown outdoors had a higher vitamin C content than those grown hydroponically, whereas the latter had a higher moisture content. Furthermore, TG-1 and S-20 had lower dietary fiber and oxalic acid contents when grown hydroponically than when grown outdoors. However, Okame and Lead showed no significant difference in the content of these components. A preference test in the eating of raw vegetable using Okame and TG-1 showed that Okame obtained from hydroponic culture was preferable to that from outdoor cultivation, whereas TG-1 grown outdoors was preferable to that grown hydroponically. Soil culture in a glasshouse was then carried out using Okame and TG-1 to compare the results with outdoor cultivation, and the findings suggested that indoor soil cultivation produced a more palatable raw vegetable.

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The radial distribution of proteins and amino acids was determined in barley grain. Sixteen consecutive fractions from the outer layer to the center of the barley grain were obtained by milling with a modification of a machine used for polishing brewer's rice. The protein content of the grain increased from the outer to the middle layers and then decreased toward the center. The protein profile of each fraction was examined comparatively after sequential extraction with water, 0.5M NaCl and 60% propanol solutions. The watersoluble protein fraction decreased from the outer layer toward the center. The NaCl-soluble protein fraction showed a homogeneous distribution throughout the whole grain. The propanol-soluble protein fraction and insoluble protein fraction increased from the outer layer to the middle layer, and then decreased toward the center. These two fractions were major proteins of barley grain. Soluble protein fractions of the outer, middle and central layers, particularly their water, NaCl and lactic acid-soluble fractions, exhibited distinct individuality upon examination by SDS-gel electrophoresis. Examination of the amino acid compositions of each layer revealed that the contents of glutamic acid and proline increased from the outer layer toward the center. Other amino acids decreased from the outer layer to the center or did not change in each layer.

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Dephytinized wheat bran with a 65% dietary fiber content was prepared by treating wheat bran with an acidic solution. Its water-holding capacity and capacity for binding to lipase and bile acids were then studied. The dephytinized bran had higher water-holding capacity than cellulose, and showed stronger binding to lipase and cholic acid than cellulose and intact bran. These results indicate that dephytinized bran has favorable characteristics as a food.

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