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14 pages, 2081 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diet Quality and Its Relationship with Weight Characteristics in Pregnant Japanese Women: A Single-Center Birth Cohort Study

by Chihiro Imai, Hidemi Takimoto, Kayo Kurotani, Ayako Fudono, Iori Tarui, Tomoko Aoyama, Satoshi Yago, Motoko Okamitsu, Naoyuki Miyasaka and Noriko Sato

Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081827 - 10 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3494

Abstract

Maternal underweight and inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) are problems in Japan. However, increases in food intake aimed at weight gain alone are not sufficient for mother–child health. This study assessed diet quality based on the 3-day dietary records of pregnant women in an urban area of Japan in order to show the importance of evaluating diet quality, using the Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 (NRF9.3), which is one metric based on nutrition profiling, and the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (JFGST). After excluding misreporters of energy intake, we stratified women (n = 91) by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and determined energy intake, diet quality status, and their relationship with GWG. Intakes of carbohydrate-containing staple foods, vegetable dishes, and fruit were insufficient regardless of BMI. Most of the underweight women with inadequate GWG had insufficient energy intake but high diet quality, as assessed by NRF9.3. In contrast, most women who consumed energy within the recommended range had low diet quality and gained weight at inappropriate levels. These results highlight the importance for pregnant Japanese women to maintain diet quality through a nutrient-dense diet, while simultaneously increasing energy intake after evaluation of their individual diet quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition in Women)

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11 pages, 277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Categories for Breakfast and Mental Health among Children in Japan: Results from the A-CHILD Study

by Yukako Tani, Aya Isumi, Satomi Doi and Takeo Fujiwara

Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051091 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2841

Abstract

There is limited evidence that what children eat for breakfast contributes to their mental health. This study aimed to examine the associations between food categories for breakfast and mental health among children in Japan. A proportion of participants aged 9–10 years in the Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty (A-CHILD) study in Japan who consumed breakfast daily were included (n = 281). Foods eaten for breakfast were reported by the children each morning for 7 consecutive days, and defined according to the food categories in the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. Child mental health was assessed by caregivers using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. The mean intake frequencies per week were six times for grain dishes, two times for milk products, and one time for fruits. Linear regression analysis revealed an inverse association between the frequent intake of grain dishes, whether rice or bread, and problem behaviors after adjustment for potential confounders. However, confectionaries, which mainly consisted of sweet breads or pastries, were not associated with problem behaviors. The intake of non-sweet grain dishes at breakfast may be effective for preventing behavioral problems in children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2023 Collection: Dietary, Lifestyle and Children Health)

11 pages, 654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adherence to the Japanese Food Guide: The Association between Three Scoring Systems and Cardiometabolic Risks in Japanese Adolescents

by Masayuki Okuda, Aya Fujiwara and Satoshi Sasaki

Nutrients 2022, 14(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010043 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4488

Abstract

The Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (JFGST) indicates optimal intake of five food groups (grain, fish and meat, vegetables, milk, and fruits) and sugar and confectionaries. We aimed to investigate whether adherence to the JFGST in 8th grade junior high school students (n = 3162) was associated with cardiometabolic risks and how different scorings of the JFGST influenced the associations. Metabolic risks were assessed from anthropometrics, blood pressure measurements, and blood glucose and lipid profile measurements. Three types of scoring adherent to the JFGST were analyzed (10 points were given for each item with optimal intake; range: 0–60): the original scoring (ORG scoring); first modified scoring, which had no upper limits for vegetables and fruits (MOD1 scoring); and MOD2 scoring without upper limits for five dishes (MOD2 scoring). The MOD2 scoring was positively associated with dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, and vitamins. All types of scorings were associated with low glucose levels (p ≤ 0.001); the MOD2 scoring was associated with low systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001) and low cardiometabolic risk (p = 0.003). Our findings suggest that Japanese adolescents adherent to the JFGST had low cardiometabolic risks and should not fall below lower limits for intake of the abovementioned five food groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Eating in Relation to National Dietary Guidelines)

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11 pages, 611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Change in Growth and Diet Quality Among Preschool Children in Tokyo, Japan

by Chisa Shinsugi, Yukako Tani, Kayo Kurotani, Hidemi Takimoto, Manami Ochi and Takeo Fujiwara

Nutrients 2020, 12(5), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051290 - 1 May 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4982

Abstract

Dietary intake of adequate quality and quantity in early life is essential for healthy growth and development. This study aimed to examine the association between one-year change in growth and diet quality in preschool children in Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan. A total of 110 participants (49% boys, four to five years old at baseline) were included in this analysis. Body mass index for age z-score (BAZ) and height for age z-score (HAZ) were calculated in accordance with WHO reference. Dietary intakes were assessed using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire for children (BDHQ3y), and daily quality score was calculated based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (JFGST score). Regression analyses found no significant association between one-year change in growth and diet quality (compared to a low JFGST score, BAZ: β = 0.16, 95% CI: −0.29 to 0.60 for a middle JFGST score, β = −0.14, 95% CI: −0.61 to 0.33 for a high JFGST score, HAZ: β = −0.15, 95% CI: −0.50 to 0.21 for a middle JFGST score, β = −0.06, 95% CI: −0.43 to 0.30 for a high JFGST score). Further studies are needed to develop an appropriate diet quality index for healthy growth in Japanese preschool children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Persuading the Population to Eat a Healthier Diet)

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