Articles

Nutrition

• Title	The impact of rheological characteristics on the swallowing dynamics of xanthan gum-based thickeners
  Author	Y.Hayakawa, J.Okawa*1, Y.Izumi, R.Sato*1, S.Kawakami, H.Sonoki, K.Miyaji, T.Ono*2, and K.Hori*1 *1Division of Comprehensive Prosthodontics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Niigata University, *2Department of Gerodontology, Osaka Dental College
  Publication	Foods 15(3): Article No.461 (2026)
  Summary	Xanthan gum–based thickening products differ in physical properties, such as cohesiveness and stringiness, and these differences affect tongue movement during swallowing and the time it takes for the bolus to pass through the pharynx.

• Title	Changes in and relationships between human milk oligosaccharides and microRNAs in milk-derived extracellular vesicles during the first 4 months of lactation
  Author	M.Morozumi, H.Izumi, M.Tsuda, F.Tabata, H.Nakamura, and K.Miyaji
  Publication	Frontiers in Nutrition 12:1694093 (2025)
  Summary	This study is the first to investigate the longitudinal changes and relationships among 16 major human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and microRNAs contained in EVs in breast milk from Japanese mothers during the early postpartum period up to four months after delivery.

• Title	The effect of resistance training on physical function is associated with changes in serum albumin redox state in middle-aged and older Japanese adults: a Quasi-experimental study
  Author	T.Shibasaki, H.Nakamura, Y.Kurosaka*1, S.Sawada*1, K.Miyaji, and S.Machida*1,2 *1 Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, *2Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University
  Publication	Frontiers in Physiology 16:1649300 (2025)
  Summary	This study was aimed at examining the relationship between serum albumin redox state and the effects of resistance training in healthy middle-aged and older Japanese adults. The results indicated that serum albumin redox state may serve as a useful indicator of changes in physical function among middle-aged and older adults.

• Title	Relationship between dietary protein intake and serum essential free amino acid concentrations in Japanese pregnant women: an observational study.
  Author	T.Shibasaki, H.Nakamura, T.Kamimura, F.Tabata, S.Kawakami, M.Inubashiri*1, M.Hosaka*1, K.Noshiro*2, T.Umazume*2, and K.Miyaji *1Fukuzumi Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, *2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine
  Publication	BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 　25(1):852 (2025)
  Summary	This study aimed to explore the relationships among serum free amino acids, types of dietary protein sources, and protein nutritional status to improve diet during pregnancy. The results indicated that protein nutritional status was associated with serum concentrations of tryptophan and threonine during pregnancy.

• Title	Prevention of age-related-increases in the risks of incident functional disability and dementia by home-delivered functional dairy product consumption in Japanese older adults
  Author	Y.Wada, A.Matsuzaki Tada*1, M.Yokoyama*2, M.Tanaka, and K.Kondo*2 *1MILEI GmbH, *2Department of Social Preventive Medical Sciences, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University
  Journal	Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 70(4): 344-351 (2024)
  Summary	This study aimed to investigate Japanese subjects aged ≥ 65 years (n = 629) that routinely consumed functional dairy products. It was found that a high intake frequency or long term duration of these functional dairy products may be effective in preventing an aging-related increase in the risks of incident functional disability and dementia in older adults.

• Title	Evaluation of the effect of thickeners in enteral formulas on the gastric emptying rate of proteins and carbohydrates using a semi-dynamic gastric model
  Author	M.Tsukiashi, T.Koyama, H.Iwamoto, H.Sonoki, and K.Miyaji
  Journal	Nutrients 16(13): 2115 (2024)
  Summary	In this study, we evaluated the gastric emptying rate of nutrients in enteral formulas with various thickeners using a semi-dynamic gastric model. As a result, an increase in protein emptying rate was observed when agar was used. We anticipate that the optimal choice of thickeners added to liquid foods based on the patient’s metabolic profile, such as diabetes, could aid in nutritional management.

• Title	Comparison of protein digestibility of human milk and infant formula using the INFOGEST method under infant digestion conditions
  Author	Y.Komatsu, Y.Wada, T.Shibasaki, Y.Kitamura, T.Ehara, H.Nakamura, and K.Miyaji
  Journal	British Journal of Nutrition 132(3):351-358 (2024)
  Summary	This study aimed to evaluate the protein digestibility of infant formula using the infant INFOGEST digestion method. Infant formula showed a different tendency in curd aggregation in the stomach compared to human milk. In vitro protein digestibility of infant formula was not significantly different with human milk.

• Title	A methodological basis for estimating human mercaptalbumin in serum and plasma using a thiol-binding resin.
  Author	F.Tabata, Y.Wada, S.Kawakami, A.Tamakoshi*, and K.Miyaji *Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University
  Journal	Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 69(5): 340-346 (2023)
  Summary	The redox state of serum albumin has been viewed as an oxidative stress biomarker, and recent studies have found its potential as a protein nutrition biomarker. Serum albumin redox state has normally been measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, this requires an expensive equipment and laborious technique, and is not feasible in many clinical practices. To overcome these limitations, we developed a simple method to evaluate albumin redox state.

• Title	Sensory evaluation of a low-volume high-protein EPA-containing nutritional supplement for patients undergoing chemotherapy
  Author	K.Yoshida, K.Takahashi, Y.Shiraishi*1, S.Morita, H.Iwamoto, K.Tanaka*2, and K.Miyaji *1Department of Nutrition, Iga City General Hospital, *2Department of Surgery, Iga City General Hospital
  Journal	JSPEN 4(4-5): 195-200 (2022)
  Summary	We performed the sensory evaluation of “Small E Pudding,” a low-volume high-protein eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-containing nutritional supplement on cancer patients. Some features related to “flavor attributes,” “texture,” and “continuity” were rated significantly higher by the cancer patients than by the healthy subjects. “Small E Pudding” is highly acceptable to cancer patients.

• Title	Associations between maternal diet, human milk macronutrients, and breast-fed infant growth during the first month of life in the SMILE Iwamizawa in Japan
  Author	Y.Komatsu, Y.Wada, F.Tabata, S.Kawakami, Y.Takeda, K.Nakamura*1, T.Ayabe*1, K.Nakamura*2,3, T.Kimura*3, and A.Tamakoshi*3 *1Department of Cell Biological Science, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Department of Cell Biological Science, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Life Science, *2Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, *3Department of Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine
  Journal	Nutrients 15(3): 654 (2023)
  Summary	This study aimed to examine (1) how maternal diet influences human milk macronutrients, and (2) to what extent the variation in milk macronutrients affects infant growth during the first month of life. The result indicates that a part of the maternal diet impacts macronutrient contents in human milk, but milk macronutrients have a limited effect on infant growth only within the normal growth curve during the first month of life.

• Title	Nutritional evaluation of milk-, plant-, and insect-based protein materials by protein digestibility using the INFOGEST digestion method
  Author	Y.Komatsu, M.Tsuda, Y.Wada, T.Shibasaki, H.Nakamura, and K.Miyaji
  Journal	Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 71(5):2503-2513 (2023)
  Summary	The INFOGEST method is a valuable tool for understanding and monitoring food digestion as an alternative to in vivo assays. This study aimed to evaluate the protein quality of milk-, plant-, and insect-based protein materials by in vitro protein digestibility and in vitro digestible indispensable amino acid score, following the INFOGEST method. These results indicate that milk-based protein materials have higher protein quality than plant- and insect-based protein materials by the nutritional evaluation following the INFOGEST method.

• Title	A lower ratio of reduced to total albumin in serum is associated with protein nutritional status of pregnant women in Japan
  Author	F.Tabata, Y.Wada, T.Shibasaki, S.Kawakami, M.Inubashiri*1, M.Hosaka*1, K.Noshiro*2, T.Umazume*2, and K.Miyaji *1Fukuzumi Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, *2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine
  Journal	Nutrition Research 114: 1-12 (2023)
  Summary	The serum reduced albumin ratio of pregnant women was compared with protein intake and with gestation outcomes (gestation length and infant birth weight) in an observational study of Japanese pregnant women. The serum reduced albumin ratio reflects protein nutritional status during pregnancy and may contribute to healthier gestation outcomes.

• Title	The relationship between intake frequency of regular or home delivered dairy products and the risk of dementia in the elderly
  Author	A.Tada, M.Tanaka, M.Yokoyama*, and K.Kondo* *Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University.
  Journal	Japanese Pharmacology & Therapeutics 50(4):645-661 (2022)
  Summary	We examined the association between the frequency of intake of home delivered dairy products containing functional ingredients and the risk of dementia among elderly people who were not certified long-term care nor needed support. The results of this study showed that high-frequency users of home delivered dairy products with functional ingredients in the late-stage elderly have a lower risk of dementia.

• Title	Blood glucose response of a low-carbohydrate oral nutritional supplement with isomaltulose and soluble dietary fiber in individuals with prediabetes: A randomized, single-blind crossover trial
  Author	E.Kokubo, S.Morita, H.Nagashima*, K.Oshio, H.Iwamoto, and K.Miyaji *Medical Corporation Chiseikai Tokyo Center Clinic
  Journal	Nutrients 14(12): 2386 (2022)
  Summary	Low-carbohydrate oral nutritional supplement with isomaltulose and soluble dietary fiber (LC-ONS) showed significantly lower blood glucose rise after intake than the same energy amount of standard product in adults with prediabetes. LC-ONS is oral nutritional supplement with small blood glucose rise after ingestion.

• Title	Dynamic associations of milk components with the infant gut microbiome and fecal metabolites in a mother-infant model by microbiome, NMR metabolomic, and time-series clustering analyses
  Author	Y.Komatsu, D.Kumakura*, N.Seto, H.Izumi, Y.Takeda, H.Onishi*, S.Nakaoka*, and T.Aizawa* *Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University
  Journal	Frontiers in Nutrition 8:813690 (2022)
  Summary	This study examined dynamic associations of human milk components with the infant gut microbiome and fecal metabolites throughout the lactation period. The result indicates that human milk oligosaccharides could influence the infant gut microbiome, including bifidobacterium species, and its metabolites could contribute to the developmental benefits to the infant.