Vitamins and minerals included in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Japanese (2020) are reviewed with emphasis on the recent revision. The recent recognition of a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has led to a change in the definition of the Adequate Intake (AI) of vitamin D from the median intake in healthy subjects to the amount necessary for prevention of bone fracture minus that produced in the skin. The distinction of folate from folic acid has become more clearly defined. The tentative dietary goal for preventing lifestyle-related diseases (DG) for sodium (salt equivalent), based on the average amount favorable for primary prevention of hypertension and chronic kidney disease (5 g/day) and the current median intake for Japanese, is ＜ 7.5 g/day for men and ＜ 6.5 g/day for women. The amount for preventing progression has been newly defined (＜ 6 g/day). The basis for the DG of potassium is also the average of the favorable and current intake. The importance of the sodium/potassium ratio has been newly stressed. The additional amount of iron necessary in mid to late gestation has been reduced. Twenty-six vitamins and minerals, for which the DRIs are defined, remain the same, since all except chromium are already established as indispensable. Practically, co-utilization of the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan is recommended. Human studies to aid the establishment of DRIs are extremely scarce in Japan, and therefore urgently needed.

Unrefined palmyra palm sugar contains high amounts of polyphenols and minerals, making it a potential sucrose substitute and/or nutraceutical for prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. We therefore evaluated the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of palm sugar and studied the effects of single-dose and long-term palm sugar administration on the blood glucose response in mice. This revealed that the total polyphenol content of palm sugar from Cambodia was slightly lower than that of brown sugar from Okinawa, and that palm sugar had a higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity than coconut sugar or maple syrup. Mouse delta blood glucose levels at 30, 120, and 180 minutes after single-dose administration of palm sugar were significantly lower than those after single-dose administration of sucrose (30 min, p ＜ 0.01; 120 and 180 min, p ＜ 0.05); moreover, the delta area under the curve was significantly lower for palm sugar than for sucrose (p ＜ 0.01). Fasting blood glucose levels, measured every two weeks to evaluate long-term intake, did not increase during the experimental period of about 3 months. We suggest that palm sugar is a sweetener with a more moderate elevation effect on blood glucose.

We analyzed the nutritional components of the hermit crab Pagurus ochotensis, an untapped potential marine resource. Deshelled whole P. ochotensis specimens with the exoskeleton were analyzed for proximate composition and heavy metals, and partly divided specimens along with the exoskeleton were also analyzed for free amino acids and fatty acids. The lipid, ash and carbohydrate contents were high, whereas the water content was low, due to inclusion of the exoskeleton. Mercury, lead, and cadmium were not detected. The total arsenic content was 0.77 ppm. The total free amino acid and taurine contents were higher than those of the snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio. P. ochotensis also contained anserine and carnosine. The abdomen had high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (1,600 mg and 800 mg per 100 g, respectively), although there was some seasonal variation. Interestingly, the EPA content was higher than that of bluefin tuna (1,400 mg per 100 g belly meat). Because there are some reports of human consumption, and the heavy metal content of P. ochotensis is not problematic as a foodstuff, we conclude that it could be used as a food resource. Nutritionally, P. ochotensis is characterized by high levels of free amino acids, taurine, anserine, and carnosine, as well as a high content of the functional fatty acids EPA and DHA.

The purpose of this study was to clarify differences in energy values between a method proposed by the FAO using amino acid components, fatty acid components, carbohydrate components, etc. and the conventional (present) method. Methods: The energy values per 100 g of edible portions were calculated for the listed foods in the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (new values), and compared with the listed energy values (present values). Next, using the intake amounts of each food in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the two types of energy values the two energy intakes were calculated, and these results were compared and examined. Results: The agreement rate between the new value per 100 g of edible portion and the current value was largest for algae (126％) and smallest for vegetables (76％). The concordance rate was less than 100％ in 14 food groups, and the average concordance rate for the foods overall was 91％. As for the concordance rate of individual foods, the 80‐100％ range included 68％ of the target foods, 60‐80％ included 13％, and 100‐120％ included 12％. From the rate of concordance between the total energy intake based on the new value calculated from the intake amounts determined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the total daily energy intake per capita was 92％ of the current values.