This study clarifies the association between disaster knowledge levels and beginning to stockpile food at home as a disaster preparedness. This survey was conducted between 18-20 December 2019 using a self-administered web-based questionnaire. The participants were recruited from panel members of an online survey company. A total of 1,200 adults living in the five Japanese prefectures with the highest predicted food shortages after the anticipated Nankai Trough earthquake, took part in the study. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between disaster knowledge level and beginning food stockpiling (p for trend <0.001). Compared with those who had a low level of disaster knowledge, participants who had a medium level of knowledge were 2.11 times more likely to begin stockpiling food (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.11, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.49-2.97), whereas those with the highest knowledge level were 2.52 times more likely to begin stockpiling food (adjusted OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.79-3.56). Beginning food stockpiling can be the first step toward disaster preparedness. It is considered that people with low disaster knowledge levels are more likely to have no beginning food stockpiling and are at high risk for disasters. These findings suggest ways to approach prioritizing people facing high disaster risk.

Modern agriculture allows for the production of foods that are high in n-6 linoleic acid and low in n-3 α-linolenic acid (LA/ALA), which are suggested to be associated with an increased risk for the onset of anxiety disorders. However, there is not sufficient evidence to understand its underlying brain mechanism. Given that mouse offspring derived from mothers fed a LA/ALA diet during gestation and early lactation showed increased anxiety-related behaviors and that rodents exposed to a LA/ALA diet are more vulnerable to stress, in this study, we investigated the effects of maternal LA/ALA diet consumption on stress-induced anxiety-related behavior and the brain structures involved in the expression of negative emotional states in mouse offspring. In a standard environment, offspring exposed to either the control diet or the LA/ALA diet in utero showed similar stay times in the center zone in the open field test. On the other hand, under stressful environments, offspring exposed to the LA/ALA diet in utero showed decreased stay times in the center zone compared to those exposed to the control diet. We further found that the number of a subpopulation of pyramidal neurons in the basolateral amygdala, which can regulate negative emotional behaviors, was greater in the offspring exposed to the LA/ALA diet compared to those exposed to the control diet. These data suggest that maternal dietary imbalance between n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids confers stress vulnerability to offspring during the process of brain development.

Obesity, a factor increasing the risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, can be reduced by the intake of soy isoflavones. In this study, we investigated whether skeletal muscle PGC1α, a transcriptional activator known to promote a variety of exercise-related metabolic processes, is involved in the anti-obesity effects of soy isoflavones using skeletal muscle-specific PGC1α knockout mice. The results showed that the intake of soy isoflavones reduced white adipose tissue weight and increased expression of energy metabolism-related genes such as mitochondrial function, lipolysis, and fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle. However, these effects were not observed in skeletal muscle-specific PGC1α knockout mice. In C2C12 myoblasts with overexpressing PGC1α, soy isoflavone treatment increased energy-metabolism related genes. Therefore, PGC1α of skeletal muscle is likely to be involved in the anti-obesity effects of soy isoflavones.

The impact of long-term soy peptide consumption on mood-related behavior in adult male mice was studied under normal housing conditions. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a modified AIN-93M diet containing 7% soy peptide for 70 d. Sucrose preference and tail suspension tests were conducted to evaluate anhedonia and despair, respectively. Mice fed soy peptide consumed more sucrose than those in the control group fed AIN-93M in the sucrose preference test. However, no significant difference was observed in the total immobility time between the two groups in the tail suspension test. These findings suggest that chronic soy peptide intake may attenuate anhedonia, a hallmark symptom of major depressive disorder characterized by decreased sensitivity to reward and pleasure.

Edamame and chamame (brown edamame) are immature soybeans that contain abundant protein, vitamins, and dietary fiber. Edamame has a different nutrient composition compared with mature soybeans, as evidenced by its higher content of vitamins and folic acid. Recent studies have shown that proteins in mature soybeans, such as β-conglycinin, and dietary fiber influence the metabolism of lipids such as triglyceride and cholesterol. However, the effect of edamame on lipid metabolism has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated whether oral consumption of edamame or chamame affects lipid metabolism. We focused on the analysis of hepatic lipids, serum cholesterol, and fecal lipids in rats after feeding them a normal or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diet containing edamame or chamame for 6 wk. We found that the consumption of dietary edamame and chamame significantly lowered hepatic triglyceride and serum cholesterol levels compared with those in the control groups fed with normal and NAFLD diets. Intake of edamame and chamame improved the NAFLD-like fatty liver. Finally, intake of edamame and chamame resulted in a significantly higher amount of fecal lipids and bile acid than in the control, suggesting the stimulation of lipid excretion. Together, dietary edamame and chamame decrease hepatic and serum cholesterol by promoting lipid excretion, not by the regulation of hepatic gene expression, leading to the improvement of lipid metabolism in both normal and NAFLD model rats.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has gained attention as a light-resistance exercise and can increase energy metabolism. The rare sugar D-allulose has anti-obesity effects that are mediated by the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis. In this study, we examined the anti-obesity effects of a combination of WBV and dietary D-allulose in rats fed a high-fat diet. Thirty-two male Wistar rats (3-wk-old) were randomly assigned to four groups: sedentary control (C), WBV (V), D-allulose (A), and WBV+D-allulose (VA). Rats in Groups A and VA were fed a 5% D-allulose diet, and rats in Groups V and VA were subjected to WBV using a vibrating platform during the 8-wk experimental period. Total abdominal adipose tissue was significantly lower in Groups V, A, and VA than that in Group C, whereas no differences were observed between Groups V, A, and VA. Dietary D-allulose significantly decreased the weights and percentages of carcass and total body fats, whereas the WBV stimulus significant reduced only the total body fat mass. We observed that both long-term WBV stimulation and dietary D-allulose intake inhibited body fat accumulation in rats fed a high-fat diet, which led to obesity; however, no synergistic effect of this combination could be confirmed.

The nutritional status of fathers plays a significant role in influencing the growth, metabolism, and susceptibility to diseases in their offspring. Paternal zinc deficiency can lead to developmental programming effects on the offspring's zinc homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of paternal zinc deficiency on the zinc homeostasis of offspring in a Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) model. Male flies were reared on a diet supplemented with a zinc-chelator, N,N,N',N'-Tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), from the egg stage until adulthood, and their offspring were subsequently reared on a normal diet for 7 d. Body zinc status and zinc transporters were assessed afterwards. The results indicated that the prenatal zinc deficiency significantly lowered total body zinc levels (p<0.05) compared to the controls. Additionally, the mRNA levels of zinc transporters, dZip42C.1, dZnT63C, and dZnT35C, were lower in the zinc-deficient male parents (p<0.05) and their male offspring (p<0.05). These findings suggested that paternal zinc deficiency can alter offspring zinc homeostasis, even when the offspring was fed a zinc-sufficient diet. This is an important finding, as zinc is an essential nutrient that is required for a variety of bodily functions. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms by which zinc deficiency in the male parent affects the health of the offspring and to develop strategies to prevent this from happening.

Fecal microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from intestinal epithelial cells have been suggested to influence gut microbiota homeostasis. We recently showed that supplementing murine fecal small RNAs, most likely miRNAs, alters the structure of cultured fecal microbiota in a sequence-dependent manner. The present study investigated the effect of consuming fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on the action of fecal small RNAs in altering the structure of cultured fecal microbiota. Female C57BL/6J mice were allowed free access to AIN-93G diet, and tap water supplemented with or without 4% (w/v) FOS for 2 wk. As assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis in cecal contents, the gut microbiota structure differed between mice supplemented with and without FOS. Fecal bacteria isolated from the cecal contents of mice without FOS supplementation were cultured for 24 h under anaerobic conditions. The structure of cultured microbiota differed between the cultures supplemented with small RNAs isolated from the cecal contents of mice supplemented with and without FOS. Microarray analysis showed that the miRNA profile in the cecal contents differed between mice supplemented with and without FOS. We propose that FOS consumption influences the action of intestinal epithelial cell-derived miRNAs in altering the structure of cultured gut microbiota, and such FOS action is associated with changes in the profile of miRNAs. It may be possible that intestinal epithelial cell-derived miRNAs contribute, at least in part, to diet-induced alteration of gut microbiota.

Recently, we demonstrated, using mRNA microarray analysis, that fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which are indigestible carbohydrates, enhanced the expression of several inflammation-related genes, such as CLEC7A, CCL2, ITGA2, and F3, by ≥4-fold in Caco-2 cells, a model of human intestinal absorptive cells, independently of intestinal bacteria (Harasawa A et al., Nutrition, 112140, 2023). However, whether FOS enhances the expression of genes in other pathways, particularly the non-inflammatory pathways, in Caco-2 cells has not been investigated. Here, we explored the pathways affected by FOS, based on identification of differentially expressed genes with ≥2-fold change (linear-fold change) in expression upon FOS treatment. Caco-2 cells were cultured for 24 h in high glucose-Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum containing FOS. The differentially expressed genes in these cells, identified using mRNA microarray analysis, were categorized using the pathway analysis and subsequently upregulated genes in typical pathways were subjected to protein network analysis. RT-qPCR was performed to validate the expression of selected genes. Treatment with 10% FOS enhanced the expression of a set of genes, such as ITGB8, ITGA6, SPP1, CAV1, LAMA3, ARHGAP5, and LAMC2, in the focal adhesion pathway. In addition, this treatment increased the expression of many genes involved in various inflammatory pathways, such as TNF, ITGA5, ITGB3, PTGS2, FGF2, FLNC, EDNRB, VEGFA, and MMP13. Protein network analysis showed that genes in the focal adhesion and endothelin pathways induced by FOS were closely associated with each other. FOS treatment of human intestinal absorptive-like cells enhances a set of genes in the focal adhesion and inflammation pathways.

The diet consumed by most Japanese people, which contains high amounts of carbohydrate and low levels of fat compared with the Western-style diet (WD), has been considered an effective diet for promoting glycogen recovery after exercise. However, there is no direct evidence to support this general belief, because no studies have examined the effect of whole, actually cooked Japanese-style diet (JD) on post-exercise glycogen replenishment. In this study, we comparatively examined the effects of a cooked typical JD and WD on glycogen accumulation in mouse skeletal muscle and liver after acute exercise. One-week menus (total 21 meals) of the JD and WD were reproduced based on national nutrition surveys in Japan and the U.S. All the meals were cooked, mixed and then fed to mice after acute 60-min running exercise. After the 4-h recovery period, mice given the JD had significantly higher muscle and liver glycogen concentrations than those fed the isoenergetic WD. Furthermore, even after the 24-h recovery period, the JD-fed mice also had significantly higher muscle glycogen concentration than the isoenergetic WD-fed group. Compared with the mice fed a WD, the JD-fed mice showed significantly higher plasma insulin level during the 4-h but not the 24-h recovery period. These results suggest that both short- and long-term feeding of the JD promote post-exercise muscle glycogen recovery compared to the WD, possibly through an insulin-dependent mechanism and non-insulin-dependent mechanism, respectively.

Carbohydrate-rich solid foods, such as bread, pasta, and steamed rice, are applied for test meals in studies examining digestion and absorption of food related to glucose metabolism and sports science. Such research must consider that drinking water is sometimes better as it avoids the risk of choking or aspiration. However, the water increases test meal volume and dilutes glucose concentration, which may influence the digestion and absorption of ingested foods, as well as energy metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether the peak time and concentration of glucose and energy metabolism will differ among the intake of steamed rice alone (Rice), simultaneous intake of steamed rice and water (Mixed), and water alone (Water). Following the intake of the test meals, there was an immediate increase in blood glucose in Mixed compared to Rice and Water. The glucose peak time of Rice (60 (56-68) min; median and quartile) was also delayed compared to Mixed (38 (29-45) min). The blood lactate peak time was also significantly different in Mixed and Rice. Although meal and time interaction was not found in energy expenditure, Mixed increases the respiratory quotient by 40 min compared to Water. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that simultaneous intake of steamed rice and water hasted digestion and absorption of glucose and activates glycolysis. Future studies investigating gastric emptying rate and glucose metabolism should ensure that the conditions of fluid intake and the test meal volumes are consistent and do not differ significantly.

This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of raspberry ketone on hypothalamic inflammation and its mechanism. Mouse microglia cells (BV2 cells) were cultured in vitro with palmitic acid (100 μM) to induce inflammation model and then incubated with raspberry ketone (5, 20, 50 μM) alone or raspberry ketone (50 μM) and the specific inhibitor of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), genipin (10 μM), to test the role of UCP2 in raspberry ketone regulatory of inflammation. Meanwhile, C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet containing raspberry ketone (0.2%, wt/wt) for 16 wk or 7 d to observe the effects of raspberry ketone on the body weights and hypothalamic inflammation of mice. The expression levels of inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), were detected using RT-qPCR, Elisa, and Western blotting, respectively. At the cellular level, raspberry ketone reduced the content of inflammatory factors in BV2 cells and in the cell culture medium. Genipin inhibited the anti-inflammatory effect of raspberry ketone on BV2 cells. At the animal level, after 16 wk of feeding, raspberry ketone-containing diets significantly reduced the body weight of mice, but had no significant effect on the mRNA expression level of hypothalamic inflammatory factors. On the other hand, 7 d of raspberry ketone gavage significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression of hypothalamic inflammatory factors. The results of this study suggest that raspberry ketone could regulate high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice, and the specific mechanism may be to inhibit hypothalamic inflammation in mice by regulating UCP2 gene expression.

The Forsythia has been used in herbal medicine, and the leaf is also expected to contain various putative bioactive substances. In this study, we investigated the effects of Forsythia viridissima leaf extract (FLE) on bone metabolism. The anti-osteoporotic effect of FLE was determined in male rats fed a low-calcium diet. Micro-CT analysis of the distal end of the left femur showed a trend toward less reduction in total bone mineral density (total BMD) in the group received FLE on a 0.05% low-calcium diet compared to the low-calcium control group. Also, trabecular bone mineral density (Tb.BMD) was significantly less decreased in the FLE group. Then, in vitro experiment, we found that matairesinol, a lignan particularly rich in Forsythia leaf, remarkably promotes osteoblastic mineralization. Thus, our study revealed that FLE inhibits the progression of osteoporosis caused by calcium deficiency.

The study aimed at analyzing the therapeutic effect of salmon calcitonin on patients with lumbar spine fracture after operation. Eighty-eight cases with lumbar spine fracture who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in The Huichang People's Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023 were separated into two groups. The 44 cases in the control group were treated with calcium carbonate and Vitamin D3 tablets, on the basis, the salmon calcitonin was applied to treat the 44 cases in study group. The pain degree, bone metabolism index and matrix metalloproteinase levels were determined and compared between two groups. Lumbar function and daily living activity ability in two groups were evaluated, and adverse reactions during treatment were observed. The pain degree in study group was alleviated after treatment for 3 mo compared with the control group (p<0.05). The bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and osteocalcin (OC) levels were increased, while beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX) levels were decreased in study group after treatment for 3 mo compared with control group (p<0.05). After treatment for 3 mo, the serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels in study group were lower than those in control group (p<0.05). Three months after treatment, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score was lower and Barthel Index (BI) score was higher in study group than those of control group (p<0.05). No severe adverse reactions were observed in both groups during treatment (p>0.05). Salmon calcitonin can relieve the pain degree, improve the levels of bone metabolism and matrix metalloproteinase, and improve the lumbar spine function and ability of daily living activity in patients with lumbar spine fracture.

Combinations of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine are frequently used in oral formulations. Although there have been many reports on the efficacy of each of these ingredients, little information is known about their combined effects on skin cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine, as well as the effect of adding α-lipoic acid, on skin cells. Human keratinocytes were treated with individual antioxidants or combinations of them, and glutathione levels and expression of glutathione synthesis-related genes were measured. The combination of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine increased the expression of γ-GCSc and tended to increase glutathione levels compared to the controls. Interestingly, the addition of α-lipoic acid further increased glutathione levels by increasing the expression of CD98. Similarly, in 3D-human skin models, the combination of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine promoted glutathione synthesis, and this effect was enhanced by the addition of α-lipoic acid. Furthermore, melanin synthesis inhibition was shown to be dependent on increased glutathione levels. These results suggest that the addition of α-lipoic acid to the combination of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine enhances glutathione production and may have anti-aging effects through efficient oxidative stress reduction.

Vegetable and fruit intake has been reported to be associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. To date, however, no study has examined the association between vegetable and fruit intake and LOX-index, which reflects the progression of atherosclerosis and is a predictive biomarker of stroke and coronary heart disease. Here, we examined the cross-sectional association between vegetable and fruit intake and LOX-index in Japanese municipal workers. Participants were 338 workers (166 men and 172 women aged 19-71 y) with no history of serious disease who participated in a health and nutrition survey. Vegetable and fruit intake was assessed using a validated brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. LOX-index was calculated by multiplying serum concentrations of the soluble form of lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 by those of LOX-1 ligands containing apolipoprotein B. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the geometric mean of LOX-index according to tertile of vegetable and/or fruit intake. Total vegetable and fruit intake was associated with a trend toward decreased LOX-index after adjustment for covariates (p for trend=0.067). In stratified analyses by sex, a significant inverse association between total vegetable and fruit intake and LOX-index was observed in women (p for trend=0.023), whereas such association was not observed in men (p for trend=0.70). None of the intakes of vegetables, fruit, green and yellow vegetables, or other vegetables was associated with LOX-index. Our results suggest that higher intake of total vegetables and fruit is associated with a lower LOX-index in Japanese women.

Mental stress is a known risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases. Previously, we reported that short-term stress sharpens the sense of taste and dulls the sense of pungency, but in this study, we examined the effects of chronic mental stress on taste and pungency by comparing normal days with end-of-semester examination days. Furthermore, the relationship between pungency measured on the tongue and the corresponding skin current value causing forearm pain was investigated. Taste and pungency were blindly measured using the filter paper disc method on a normal day and the day before the end-of-semester examination (chronic mental stress day) in 27 healthy male university students. A commercially available taste liquid for taste testing and a capsaicin solution for pungency were used. Taste perception was also tested using cognitive thresholds, and pungency was tested using a unified concentration and maximum tolerated threshold concentration. With a PainVision device, currents were gradually increased in forearm skin to quantify the sensation of pain. Stress levels were measured with electrocardiography and a questionnaire. The median cognitive threshold for taste (salty, sweet, sour, and bitter) was slightly dulled due to chronic mental stress on the day before examination day and was duller than that on the normal day, but the difference was not significant. Pungency and forearm skin pain were significantly dulled on the day before examination day, and pungency correlated significantly with forearm skin pain. Chronic mental stress appeared to dull especially the sensitivity to pungency and skin pain.

In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of breakfast intervention on autonomic nerve function in healthcare workers who skip breakfast. This cross-sectional, interventional study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2021. All participants were full-time healthcare workers who completed a self-administered questionnaire on fatigue and subjective symptoms and underwent noninvasive autonomic nerve function tests. "Skippers" were defined as individuals who ate breakfast <4 times per week, and "eaters" were those who ate breakfast >4 times per week. We introduced a cereal, Frugra (Calbee, Inc.), to skippers who opted for the breakfast intervention. Subsequently, they completed the questionnaire again and repeated the autonomic nerve function tests. Among 196 participants (age [mean±SD]: 29.8±7.8 y; 177 women and 19 men), 120 were categorized as skippers and 76 as eaters. In the skipper group, more participants were nurses, lived alone, and worked the night shift than in the eater group. The Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS) score in the skipper group was higher than that in the eater group, although not significantly. Regarding autonomic nerve function, no significant differences were observed between the groups. In 50 skippers who opted for the breakfast intervention, the CFS score significantly decreased after 4 wk. Log low frequency and log coefficient of component variance total power significantly increased, whereas log high frequency increased, but not significantly, after the intervention. In conclusion, for healthcare workers who were breakfast skippers, the consumption of breakfast cereal reduced their fatigue level and improved their autonomic nervous system activity.

Dietary nitrate (NO) supplementation can offer health benefit and improve exercise performance by increasing nitric oxide (NO) through NO-nitrite (NO)-NO pathway. Individuals may benefit from dietary NO supplementation by monitoring blood [NO] and [NO], although a simple and practical method for assessing blood [NO] and [NO] has not been established. We examined whether fingertip serum samples could substitute for venous plasma samples in assessing [NO] and [NO]. Ten young adults consumed 140 mL of nitrate-rich beetroot juice. Fingertip serum and venous plasma samples were collected at baseline and every hour for up to 4 h after ingestion. [NO] and [NO] were similar between samples at baseline, whereas they were higher in fingertip serum throughout the post-ingestion periods. Significant correlations existed between fingertip serum vs. venous plasma for both [NO] and [NO] throughout post-drink periods, except [NO] assessed at 2 and 4 h after ingestion of beetroot juice. We show that although fingertip serum [NO] and [NO] overestimate those measured by venous plasma after dietary NO intake (125-141% and 156-183% of venous values), [NO] and [NO] in fingertip serum samples may be utilized for assessing blood [NO] and [NO] levels, although [NO] assessment may lack precision compared to [NO].

Patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) often experience insufficient physical activity, leading to osteoporosis. The active form of vitamin D is commonly prescribed for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis. We observed four cases of kidney injury believed to be associated with the administration of 1α-OH vitamin D (alfacalcidol) preparations. This study employed a case series design to investigate change in kidney function in SMID patients following administration or discontinuation of alfacalcidol. We retrospectively analyzed data of 23 SMID patients (sex: 10 males, 13 females; age range: 27 to 74 y), and assessed kidney function, serum calcium, and albumin levels. Data was grouped into A: 16 cases collected both before starting alfacalcidol administration and during alfacalcidol administration; and into B: 11 cases collected during alfacalcidol administration and after discontinuation of alfacalcidol administration. Of the 23 patients, four were assigned into both group A and group B. Of the 16 cases in group A, six showed ≥30% decreased kidney function. Of the 11 cases in group B, the median values of modified Cr-eGFR were 43.0 and 65.1 mL/min/1.73 m, respectively (p=0.008), indicating a significant improvement in kidney function. It is essential for practitioners to understand that osteoporosis may ordinarily occur in SMID patients due to reduced bone stimulation. Thus caution must be exercised when administering active vitamin D preparations to this population, as they carry a risk of kidney organ damage despite having no direct effect on bone health.

Black rice (BR) is beneficial for the health of animals and humans. Herein, we investigated the pharmacokinetics of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), a major anthocyanin constituent of BR, in male rats. After its intravenous administration, C3G was rapidly distributed throughout the body and disappeared from the plasma. Its cumulative urinary excretion accounted for less than 20% of the dose administered. After a single dose of BR extract (C3G40) containing C3G was orally administered (300 mg C3G/kg body weight), the C3G plasma concentration peaked at 30 min and then rapidly declined within 4 h. The extent of the cumulative urinary excretion of C3G, together with the area under the curve (AUC) of the plasma C3G concentration, indicated a bioavailability of approximately 0.5-1.5%. These results suggest that C3G was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in rats; however, its plasma concentration was very low. We also examined the enhancing effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a pungent component of wasabi, on the gastrointestinal absorption of C3G in rats. Following the co-administration of C3G with AITC dissolved in PEG200, the urinary excretion and AUC of C3G were 4.5- and 2.7-fold higher than those in the control group (without AITC) (p<0.01), respectively. This is the first study to show that the gastrointestinal absorption of BR anthocyanins is promoted by AITC.