We assessed the nutritional status of vitamin B₆ in 139 female university students using selfrecorded food intake tables, and analyzed 4-pyridoxic acid (PiA) and xanthurenic acid (XA) excreted into urine. The food survey revealed that the dietary intake of vitamin E, vitamin B₆ and vitamin C was lower than that stipulated in the 6th revision of the Japanese Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), the RDA sufficiency percentages being 93, 83 and 81%, respectively, while the intake of other vitamins exceeded the RDA guidelines. The vitamin B₆ intake level of the subjects was 1.00±0.37mg/day and the ratio of vitamin B₆ to protein was 0.018±0.005mg/g. We calculated the individual recommended protein allowance using the body weight of each subject, and the individual vitamin B₆ requirement was calculated on the basis of bioavailability (75%) and the 0.014mg/g level stipulated in the RDA. The individual recommended vitamin B₆ allowance was calculated as the individual vitamin B₆ requirement ×1.2. The subjects were divided into three groups: a L group (n=70, 50% of subjects) below the individual vitamin B₆ requirement, a M group (n=27, 19%) meeting the individual vitamin B₆ requirement but below the individual recommended vitamin B₆ allowance, and a H group (n=42, 30%) above or equal to the individual recommended vitamin B₆ allowance. In the L group, vitamin B₆ intake (0.74±0.22mg) and the ratio of vitamin B₆ to protein (0.015±0.004mg/g) were the lowest (p<0.0001) of the three groups. The urinary PiA content of the L group (3.26±1.33μmol/day) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of the H group, and the ratio of XA to protein (0.64±0.34μmol/g) was higher (p<0.001) than that of the H group.

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We investigated the effects of various dietary starches in 1% cholesterol-supplemented diets on plasma lipids in groups of rats given diets that contained 20% raw potato starch, raw sweet potato starch, raw “nagaimo” (Japanese yam) starch and processed POI (taro root) for 14 days. Neither potato starch nor poi had any effect on food intake or total body weight gain. On the other hand, the rats receiving the sweet potato starch and nagaimo starch diets showed decreased food intake and total body weight gain compared with those of the control group (with cholesterol). The ratio of liver weight to body weight was significantly lowered only in the POI diet group. The plasma cholesterol levels of the animals fed the potato starch diet and the POI diet with 1% cholesterol were not significantly reduced compared with those of rats on the control diet (with cholesterol only). The lipid levels of rats receiving the sweet potato starch and nagaimo starch diets were significantly higher than those of the control group rats (p<0.05). On the other hand, the plasma triglyceride levels of all the starch-fed groups were markedly reduced compared with those of the control group (p<0.05).

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Many Cervus nippon yesoensis (yezo sika) deer are now being exterminated as harmful animals in Hokkaido, Japan, but the meat is mostly discarded. We have investigated the nutrient characteristics of Longissimus dorsi muscle of wild yezo sika deer and their seasonal changes to promote effective utilization of the meat. The moisture content was 68.9-77.3%, crude protein 21.0-26.6%, crude fat 0.3-6.1% and ash 1.1-1.4%. The crude fat content of Longissimus dorsi muscle increased from May to August, followed by a decrease in November. On the other hand, the moisture content showed a reverse tendency. As mineral components, 86.8-110.8mg of K, 4.5-7.7mg of Fe, 3.0-3.8mg of Zn, 0.7-1.0mg of Cu, and 0.7mg of Pb were found per 100g of muscle. No Cd was detected. The major fatty acid components of the total lipids were 16:0, 18:0, 18:1 and 18:2. In May the predominant fatty acid was 18:2, whereas 16:0 accounted for the largest proportion in August and November. Moreover, the proportions of 18:2, 20:4 and 22:5 decreased towards November, whereas 16:0, 16:1 and 18:1 increased. Total cholesterol content was 10.5-167.8mg per 100g.

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Body weight, body and tail length, total nitrogen (N) and N distribution in the body of female and male house musk shrews (Suncus murinus, suncus) from 0 to 90 days of age (group I) were measured. Moisture content, crude protein, fat, and ash in the carcass of female and male suncus at 3, 6 and 12 months of age were also measured (group II). Body weight, body and tail length, total N per suncus or per 100g of body weight of group I increased with age in days, and males showed higher values than females. For example, total carcass N per individual at 70 days of age was about 1, 100mg for females and about 2, 100mg for males. Total stomach N, including contents, was especially high (12-14mg N per 100mg of carcass N) in both females and males at 0 day of age. However, they decreased until 20 days of age and thereafter were maintained at about 2mg N. Total N of the small and large intestine (including contents), liver and kidneys per 100mg of carcass N showed no change with age, and females showed higher N than males. Body weight, body and tail length, total N per individual or per 100g of body weight and crude carcass protein in group II males were higher than those of females. However, moisture content, crude fat and ash of the carcass showed no difference by age or sex.

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