Chlorella vulgaris strain CK22 enriched with DHA (D-CVP) was examined for its safety and influence on serum lipid levels in 6 middle-aged participants. D-CVP was administered orally for 9 weeks. For the first 2 weeks, D-CVP 4g/day was supplemented with DHA 150mg. At 2-week intervals, D-CVP was increased progressively to 8 and 12g, after which 20g/day was administered for the last 3 weeks. At the start of the experiment, 5 of 6 and 1 of 6 subjects showed higher total cholesterol (T-CHO) and higher triglyceride levels, respectively, compared to the normal ranges. The 9 week-administration of D-CVP did not change the body weight, blood pressure or body mass index of any of the participants. The subjects' serum levels of DHA after D-CVP administration were different from those before administration. Although no change in T-CHO levels was observed after the first 3 weeks of administration, D-CVP had clearly lowered the T-CHO levels at 6 weeks. These lowered levels of T-CHO continued during the final 3 weeks of administration and beyond 3 weeks after administration. LDL-cholesterol, esterified cholesterol, and phospholipid showed the same patterns as T-CHO. HDL-cholesterol levels had decreased significantly at 9 weeks compared to the normal range. The D-CVP treatments did not change the other parameters of serum-biochemical and blood examination, and no adverse effects were observed in these experiments. D-CVP may be a candidate for prophylaxis of diseases caused by aging-related hyperlipidemia.

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Chlorella vulgaris strain CK22 was grown heterotrophically in a pilot-scale fermentor, then docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 2mL/L) was added to the culture in the stationary phase of growth. The exogenous DHA was taken up by the cells, and accumulated in neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids. The contents of total lipids and DHA in the cells reached 18.4 and 7.6%, respectively. The glycolipid of the DHA-fortified C. vulgaris strain CK22 consisted of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol, and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol. The phospholipid of the cells consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, and so on. All of the glycolipids and phospholipids fractions contained supplemental DHA among their total fatty acids. The DHA content of the cells showed a tendency to decrease slightly during 6 months of storage at 40°C. Then the DHA in the cells gave little increase of POV (peroxide value) in the cellular lipids.

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We examined the anti-obesity effect of soy milk containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on resting energy expenditure and body composition in young Japanese adult women. Thirty-four healthy young women aged 18-22yr were divided into two groups. One group ingested soy milk containing 1, 000mg of DHA (test drink) and the other group ingested soy milk containing corn oil (control drink) daily for 6 weeks. In both groups, body weight and BMI decreased after 6 weeks. Body fat and lean body mass (LBM) decreased in the test drink group and only LBM decreased in the control drink group. In the test drink group, the area of subcutaneous fat was reduced. significantly and the area of visceral fat showed a tendency to become lower, although no significant changes in either subcutaneous fat or visceral fat were observed in the control drink group. Resting energy expenditure in the test drink group had increased significantly by the end of the study, but no significant changes in resting energy expenditure were observed in the control drink group. These results show that the anti-obesity effect of soy milk containing DHA involves acceleration of resting energy expenditure.

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We examined the influence of vitamin C administration on chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells of mice given total body X-ray irradiation. When vitamin C was administered orally or intraperitoneally to mice, the concentrations of vitamin C in plasma and bone marrow reached maximum at 2h after administration, regardless of the administration route. The concentration of vitamin C in plasma was markedly increased after administration, while that in the bone marrow increased only slightly even after a dose of 4g/kg body weight. Based on these findings, mice were subjected to X-ray irradiation (0.5, 1 or 1.5Gy) at 2h after administration of vitamin C (3 or 4g/kg body weight). Chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells was evaluated by the micronucleus assay using peripheral blood. Vitamin C treatment did not prevent X-ray-induced chromosomal damage. Also, no protective effect of vitamin C against X-ray-induced chromosomal damage was observed when vitamin C was administered with drinking water (20g/L) for 5 weeks. It was thought that vitamin C was not effectively accumulated in bone marrow even after excessive administration, and that this was the reason for the lack of any protective effect of vitamin C treatment against X-ray induced chromosomal damage in the bone marrow.

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Effect of administration of 4^G-β-D-galactosylsucrose (lactosucrose: LS) on breath hydrogen excretion and abdominal symptoms after ingestion of lactose were investigated. Ten lactose-intolerant volunteers were administrated 5g of LS daily for 7 days before and after lactose ingestion test (lactose 20g). The breath hydrogen excretion after ingestion of lactose was decreased by LS administration. Abdominal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, borborysmus and abdominal distension, after lactose ingestion were alleviated by LS administration. Thus it was revealed that administration of LS effectively prevented abdominal symptoms in lactose-intolerant subjects.

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The tryptophan-niacin conversion ratio was increased by feeding a high-fat diet. One of the most crucial factors determining the rate of metabolic conversion of tryptophan to niacin derivatives was found to be the enzyme activity of α-amino-β-carboxymuconate-ε-semialdehyde decarboxylase [EC 4.1.1.45] (ACMSD) in mammalian liver. Hepatic ACMSD was suppressed by a high-fat diet. We found that only unsaturated fatty acids in the diet possess the ability to reduce ACMSD activity. This phenomenon was observed in hepatocytes in primary culture. We purified ACMSD and cloned the cDNA encoding ACMSD. In rats fed dietary linoleic acid, ACMSD protein and mRNA levels in the liver were strongly suppressed as compared with rats fed a fat-free diet. These results suggest that the transcription level of ACMSD is probably modulated by polyunsaturated fatty acids or their metabolites.

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In addition to scientific training, elite athletes have recently adopted nutritional knowledge as a guide to what and when to eat. Nutritional considerations have to take account of individual variability in physical constitution, metabolic characteristics, training history, eating habits and other factors. As the athletes train and learn, some of their characteristics change from day to day, and also in the long term. Naoko Takahashi, the women's marathon gold medallist at the Sydney Olympic, is one athlete who became conscious of the importance of nutrition during training. Her coach has also become a nutritionally minded person, and considers the relationship between exercise and ingestion important. In order to enhance the effect of training, we need to be aware of athletes' physiological and psychological condition and their environment.

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Several studies have indicated that the nutritional status of elite Japanese athletes is not always good. This state of affairs may have arisen not only from their poor knowledge about nutrition and their poor economic situation, but also as a result of a specific sports subculture where thinness is thought to ensure a better performance. Thus, a number of female athletes, especially those in endurance (middle and long distance running, marathon, etc.) and aesthetic (rhythmic gymnastics, cheerleading, figure skating, etc.) sport groups, have suffered from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Therapy for eating disorders has been proven to be largely unsuccessful. Severely restricted intake of food in female athletes often results in amenorrhea, which reduces bone mineral density and immune function and impairs cognitive ability, in turn decreasing athletic performance. Therefore, when coaches and trainers advise athletes about weight control, they should not emphasize leanness, but a change in the athlete's lifestyle instead. Avoiding rich meals at night, ingesting food right after exercise training, doing endurance exercise to oxidize fat in red muscle and doing weight training to increase muscle mass and obtain a higher basal metabolic rate are better practices for athletes who wish to attain a suitable weight for a better performance.

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People in various sport fields have become more aware of the importance of nutrition. To succeed in sports competitions, it seems to be important to aim for a body form that fits each sport and to attain sufficient stamina. Recent reports related to sports nutrition have indicated that the quality and quantity of food, as well as the timing of food ingestion, are important for this purpose. This review covers recent reports on sports nutrition centering on muscle-building and stamina.

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