We examined whether oral immunotherapy (OIT) using a diet supplemented with 0.1% egg white ameliorates the severity of allergy and immunological tolerance to an extent comparable to OIT by oral gavage. Allergy to egg white was induced in mice via peritoneal administration of egg white-mixed aluminum hydroxide gel, and the allergy reaction was induced via oral gavage of egg white. Mice sensitized with egg white were divided into three groups (untreated group, oral gavage group, and diet group) , and non-sensitized mice were also prepared. The OIT period lasted 4 weeks. The diet group was fed a 20% casein diet containing 0.1% egg white, and the other groups were fed a 20% casein diet alone. Furthermore, the oral gavage group was forcibly administered 100 μL of 30 mg/mL egg white solution orally every day, while each of the other groups received 100 μL of phosphate-buffered saline by daily forced oral gavage. The change in rectal temperature following intraperitoneal food challenge was inhibited to a greater degree in the oral gavage and diet groups than in the untreated group. Moreover, the ovalbumin-specific IgE concentrations and ovomucoid-specific IgE titers in plasma were lower in the oral gavage and diet groups than in the untreated group. However, these antibodies did not differ between the oral gavage and diet groups. These findings suggest that if the amount of allergen ingested per day is small and equivalent, continuous intake of the allergen has therapeutic efficacy similar to that of single oral administration of the allergen.

Powdered oils are oil products in which fine oil particles with an average diameter of 1 μm are encapsulated with carbohydrates, proteins, etc., and have been used in food products to fulfill a variety of functions, such as conferring cooking properties and flavors, and improving texture. It has been suggested that the particle size of fat globules affects their speed of digestion and absorption, but the digestion and absorption of powdered oils have not been investigated in any detail. In this study, we conducted a crossover trial involving 24 healthy young adult males to compare the postprandial plasma TG and FFA response to two types of fat load: powdered oil and liquid oil. A total of seven blood specimens were collected at one-hour intervals from 0 h to 6 h, and plasma TG and FFA values were measured. Plasma TG values peaked at three hours after consumption of both powdered oil and liquid oil. Between 0 h and 3 h, a significant interaction between time and the type of oil was found, and the area under the curve (delta AUC) of plasma TG after consumption of powdered oil was significantly larger than that after consumption of liquid oil. These findings suggest that powdered oil may be absorbed to a greater degree than liquid oil during the early postprandial phase.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of programs for improving metabolic syndrome in the occupational field. Ninety-two employees from three companies located in Hirosaki city, Aomori, participated, and all received health checkups before and after the 3-month intervention program, which consisted of three components: measurement of visceral fat every month, providing education on a healthy daily diet, and adherence to a Japanese-style lunch box designed to decrease visceral fat. There were significant improvements in waist circumference, visceral fat area, and systolic blood pressure. Furthermore, weight loss was observed in men. These findings suggest that not only dietary intervention, but also a program for self-monitoring and health education, may be beneficial for individuals with metabolic syndrome.