Background: Accumulation of visceral fat is known to be a serious health problem that causes various metabolic disorders. In an epidemiological survey of 11,646 Japanese workers, more than 40%, in middle-aged and older male were visceral fat obesity.
Study 1
Objective: Aim of study 1 was to investigate dietary and nutritional balance that contribute to the prevention of visceral fat accumulation.
Methods: Visceral fat area (VFA) of 11,438 subjects were measured and dietary habits were evaluated by factor analysis of newly-developed 35-item questionnaire. Dietary habits were quantitatively evaluated into five factors and relation with VFA was investigated. Dietary records of 579 subjects were also collected and food intake were estimated by trained dietitian.
Results: Among five dietary factors, “Healthy food choice (HFC)” score was negatively associated with VFA. Group with high HFC score was significantly high in protein / fat ratio, dietary fiber / carbohydrate ratio and N-3 fatty acids (or EPA+DHA) / fat ratio compared with group with low HFC score, despite calorie intake did not differ. Intake of beans, vegetables, seaweed, fish and seafood were significantly high and 8-item Japanese Diet Index was significantly high.
Conclusion: Food choice of a healthy diet with low VFA, which is high in three nutritional balance, is consistent with the characteristics of Japanese diet. We named this dietary concept as “Smart Washoku” (Washoku = Japanese diet).
Study 2
Objective: Aim of study 2 is to elucidate the metabolic character of Smart Washoku and the efficacy for VFA reduction.
Method; Twenty-one obese males were ingested test meal prepared according to the Smart Washoku concept (high in three nutrition balance) and postprandial blood parameters were investigated. All meals were replaced with Smart Washoku for two weeks and change in VFA was measured.
Results: Postprandial elevation of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) was significantly reduced compared with modern diet in Japanese. Excessive secretion of GIP is known to suppress fat utilization and promote fat accumulation. After two weeks meal replacement with Smart Washoku, VFA was significantly reduced.
Conclusion: Smart Washoku regulated postprandial GIP and reduce VFA by short-term replacement.
Social implementation: Smart Washoku has been adopted as a health promotion for several companies and local governments in Japan and effectiveness in real-world setting was reported.

Dr. Hideto Takase

Senior Principal Research Scientist, Kao corporation

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