Background/Aims: Evidence regarding the association between body mass index (BMI) and functional dyspepsia (FD) in the Asian population is limited.Further, no study has evaluated this issue in young people in Asian and Western populations. Thus, we aim to investigate this issueamong young Japanese people. Methods: The study subjects comprised of 8923 Japanese university students. BMI was divided into 4 categories (quartiles) on the basis of thestudy subjects’ distribution (lowest, low, moderate, and high [reference]). The definition of lean, normal, overweight, and obesewas BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 , 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 (reference), 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2 , and 30 kg/m2 ≤ BMI, respectively. The definition of FD was based on the Rome III criteria. Results: The prevalence of FD was 1.9% in this cohort. The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-3.67); P for trend = 0.001). The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD in women but not in men (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.59-5.77; P for trend = 0.001). Leanness was independently associated with FD in total and in women but not in men (total: adjusted OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.40-2.86) and women (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.35-3.45). However,interaction analysis showed no significant difference for sex. Conclusions Among young Japanese people, BMI may be independently inversely associated with FD. Leanness may be an independent associated factor for FD in the young Japanese women.

Background/Aims: Functional dyspepsia (FD) may be a common digestive disease worldwide and reduces the quality of life of patients. However, only a few studies have investigated the association between eating behavior and FD. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between eating behavior and prevalence of FD in a young Japanese cohort. Methods: In this study, we enrolled 8923 Japanese university students. FD is diagnosed based on the Rome III criteria. Eating habits and frequency of meals were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The FD subjects had a younger mean age, a lower body mass index, and a lower proportion of men compared to the non-FD subjects.An independent positive association between skipping breakfast and/or lunch and FD was found (adjusted ORs were 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10-2.32] for breakfast and 2.52 [95% CI, 1.04-5.18] for lunch). Skipping dinner, extra meals (snacks) or midnight snacks was not associated with FD. The prevalence of FD in subjects eating 1, 2, and 3 meals per day was 4.8%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. The frequency of meals was independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD (adjusted ORs were 1 per day: 2.72 [95% CI, 1.19-5.42], and 2 per day: 1.69 [95% CI, 1.16-2.43], P for trend = 0.001). Conclusions In the young Japanese people, the frequency of meals may be independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD. In particular, skipping breakfast and/or lunch was associated with the prevalence of FD.

Background/Aims: Although certain allergic diseases have been reported to be associated with the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is unclear whether the presence of multiple allergic diseases further increases the prevalence of FD and IBS.The aim of this study is to determine this issue in young people. Methods: A cohort of 8923 Japanese university students was enrolled and diagnoses of FD and IBS were confirmed using Rome III criteria.Allergic disorders diagnosed at medical institutions were obtained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of FD, IBS, and their overlap was found to be 1.9%, 6.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. Pollen allergy was independently positively correlated with FD, IBS, and overlap of FD and IBS. Allergic rhinitis was positively linked to IBS. Drug allergy was positively associated with FD. The presence of multiple allergic diseases was positively correlated with FD and IBS (FD: adjusted OR for 2 allergic diseases: 1.95 [95% CI, 1.24-2.98], P for trend = 0.003; and IBS: adjusted OR for 1 allergic disease: 1.40 [95% CI, 1.15-1.69], 2 allergic diseases 1.47 [95% CI, 1.12-1.91], and 3 or more allergic diseases: 2.22 [95% CI, 1.45-3.28], P for trend = 0.001). Additionally, the concomitant existence of multiple allergic diseases was also demonstrated to have a trend that correlated with the overlap of FD and IBS (P for trend = 0.018). Conclusion Allergic disease multimorbidity is positively correlated with the prevalence of FD and IBS in a young population.

Purpose: The albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) is a recognized chronic inflammation marker. No evidence regarding the relationship between AGR level and ulcerative colitis (UC) exists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between AGR and clinical outcomes among Japanese subjects with UC. Methods: The study subjects consisted of 273 Japanese individuals with UC. AGR was divided into 4 categories (low, moderate, high, and very high). The definition of complete mucosal healing (MH) was based on the Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0. Clinical remission (CR) was defined as no rectal bleeding and no abnormally high stool frequency (<3 times per day). Results: The percentage of MH was 26.4%. High AGR and very high AGR were significantly positively correlated with CR (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 5.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.52–14.18 and adjusted OR, 4.97; 95% CI, 2.14–12.04) and complete MH (adjusted OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.56–11.51 and adjusted OR, 5.22; 95% CI, 1.97–14.89), respectively after adjustment for confounding factors (P for trend=0.001). Only in the low C-reactive protein (CRP) group (≤0.1 mg/dL), very high AGR was significantly positively correlated with complete MH but not CR (adjusted OR, 4.38; 95% CI, 1.06–21.77; P for trend=0.017). In the high CRP group, no correlation between AGR and complete MH was found. Conclusion Among Japanese patients with UC, AGR may be independently positively correlated with complete MH. In particular, among UC patients with low CRP, AGR might be a useful complementary marker for complete MH.