Health effects of functional food factors has prompted paradigm change in nutritional science. Randomized clinical trials with beta-carotene as a supplement, however, ended in the unexpected results. We tried to find a breakthrough for nutrional epidemiology, and made a database for calculating all phytochemicals consumed based upon the dietary survey. Application of FFF database to the field study made it possible to calculate intake of more than 50 phytochemicals, and correlation analysis between intake of certain phytochemicals and biochemical markers revealed both favorable and unfavorable effects. Such new approach could contribute to estimate safety of phytochemicals, and safety of isoflavones was considered from such approach.

Japanese life expectancy is among the highest in the world and it keeps on increasing.Along with the extension of life span,healthy life expectancy is also increasing.Building geriatric hospitals and nursing homes could not cover the necessity.At present,the majority of people want to receive medical care at home.Health promotion and disease prevention at preclinical stage of elderly by diets and physical activity is the only effective resolution.

Recently, the number of cancer patients using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) hasu been increasing world wide. Many hospitals in China have been using integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (ITCWM, the use of both western and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) together) for treatment or prevention of cancer, and considerable progress has been made. The present study investigated and systematically reviewed previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted to verify the effects of ITCWM on cancer in China, from a database of Chinese literature. Papers published in Chinese scientific journals were searched using the database provided by the National Science and Technology Library (NSTL, http://www.nstl.gov.cn), China. On the basis of a limited search strategy, 14 reports of RCTs were identified and reviewed. Almost all of these RCTs reported better results with the use of ITCWM than with western medicine alone. In order to promote evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine (EBCAM) in Japan, it will be necessary to collect and evaluate the scientific content of many clinical studies of CAM performed in China and other countries to establish a database. In the future, there will be a need to develop and establish methods such as meta-analysis for scientific evaluation of CAM.

OBJECTIVEPhytoestrogen isoflavones (IFs) are considered to suppress estrogen-related cancers through their antiestrogenic activity. The antioxidant effect of IFs, however, has not been confirmed in anin vivo system, so suppression of hydroperoxide formation and resultant DNA adduct formation were studied.

METHODSThe antioxidant effects of the soya-hypocotyl tea (SHT), which contained daidzein (14+/-1.5 mg/l) and genistein (3+/-0.5 mg/l), were examined in Wistar rats fed the AIN-76 control diet or iron deficient diet (FeD) for 4 weeks. The intake amount of the diet and IFs were measured daily. Urinary excretion of IFs was measured for 3 days before sacrifice. In addition to the serum lipid analyses, phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH), and phosphatidylethanolamine hydroperoxide (PEOOH) production in red blood cells and the liver were measured as a biomarker of oxidants. Production of DNA adducts by oxidative stress was measured by the amount of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (oh(8)dG) in the liver and kidney, and urine. Histological changes were checked by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry for oh(8)dG.

RESULTSFeD rats showed anemia, growth retardation, hyperlipidemia. IFs only lowered the triacylglycerol level and did not change the cholesterol level. Rats fed the normal diet did not show suppression of PCOOH and PEOOH production in either red blood cells or the liver, while groups administered SHT showed suppressed production of PCOOH and PEOOH in the liver. The cumulative intake of daidzein, genistein and the total amount of IFs showed significant inverse associations with urinary excretion of oh(8)dG. oh(8)dG in the kidney showed an inverse association with the amount of oh(8)dG in the urine. Enzymehistochemically, a strong localization of oh(8)dG was found in the epithelial cells of the bile canaliculi and proximal tubules of the kidney.

CONCLUSIONIFs and SHT showed antioxidant effects at physiological concentrations in anin vivo system. The antioxidant effects of IFs decreased oxidation stress to the nuclear DNA, which was shown by the decreased oh(8)dG production. It is suggested that to prevent various cancers, in addition to the known antiestrogenie, antityrosin kinase, and other effects. IFs appeared to promote excretion of oh(8)dG.