The National Nutrition Survey in Japan (NNS-J) started in 1945 and has provided information on dietary intake and health status of Japanese citizens to the public and policymakers for more than half a century. We summarized several relevant issues on the survey in this report : the current framework of the NNS-J in accordance with the Nutrition Improvement Law, utilization of the survey for nutrition and health policy in Japan, the Health Promotion Law recently enacted in 2003, the national plan for health promotion and disease prevention (Health Japan 21), and possible measures to improve the survey systems under the new law. We also mentioned implementation structures of regional health and nutrition surveys, because the Health Promotion Law designates an active role of local governments on promoting health for their citizens, which will enhance the needs for appropriate assessment of health and nutrition conditions in each community as well as the monitoring at the national level. (J Community Nutrition 5(2) : 59-64,2003)

In Current Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (Fifth Revised Edition), standard composition values of food used regularly in Japan are shown by values per 100g of their edible portion, with one value of standard composition per one foodstuff as a rule. In the Explanation (Chapter 1) and Reference Data (Chapter 4) of the original table, the most important matters are mentioned, including the table of the weight change rate by cooking, the table of the outline of the cookery, and the formula of the actual amount of intake nutrition. These are helpful for an understanding of the actual amount of intake nutrition. The formula for the amount of purchase in consideration of the amount of refuse is also shown. Information concerning foodstuffs and composition items in the table as well as important points in the reference column are concurrently written in English. As related studies, the composition tables by values per 100m1 or considered loss, the table or the formula for estimation of the amount of sucrose, and the list of the composition extant rate after cooking, among others, are also provided. Users should understand the original composition table, and then suggest how to utilize it. (J Community Nutrition 5(2) : 65∼71, 2003)

We here outlined our study on the variations in intake of nutrients based on four season 7 consecutive day weighed diet records (WDRs) from 80 Japanese female dietitians in 1996 - 1997. Furthermore, we reviewed Japanese, Korean and international articles investigating variability in consumption of foods as well as nutrients. The relative contributions of variation for all nutrients by person were greater than those by day, week and season. Within individual variances were greater than that between individual variances, being generally observed in Korea and in the world. The ratios of within- vs. between-individual variations ranged from 1.3-26.9 in our study, the ratios being greatest in Korean, followed by Japanese and western people. Based on within individual coefficients of variation, minimal days necessary for estimating nutrient consumption per person within 10％ (20％) of the true mean with 95％ confidence intervals were estimated. They ranged from 10-35 (3-9) days for energy and major nutrients and 15-640(4-160) days for micro-nutrients. Two Japanese studies reported that the ratios for foods were as a whole greater than those for nutrients, except for cereals, rice and milk. (J community Nutrition 5(2) : 72-82,2003).

Several self-administered dietary assessment questionnaires have recently been developed, validated, and used in nutritional epidemiological and clinical studies in Japan. This article describes recent evidence on development and validation of them. After extensive search of published articles both in English and Japanese languages, we identified 25 articles on 13 questionnaires of which validation studies have existed. Number of foods/menus assessed varied from 31 to 169 according to questionnaires. Eleven questionnaires were food frequency type, either with fixed portion size or semiquantitative, and two diet history types. All the 13 questionnaires were validated against intakes assessed with dietary record or 24-hour recall, and only two with biomarkers. Number of subjects used in the studies was between 23 and 350. All the studies used adult subjects. In the studies with dietary record or recall, the correlation coefficient for or orgy intake was between 0.22 and 0.65 (median = 0.44). Median correlation coefficient for nutrients was between 0.21 and 0.61. In the studies with biomarkers, serum marine-origin n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenes, and urinary potassium seemed useful biomarkers. In conclusion, recent progress of this field in Japan is remarkable. But more research is needed for validation studies with biomarkers, and the development and validation of questionnaires for children and elderly subjects. (J Community Nutrition 5(2) : 83∼92,2003)

Although a generation-related difference in nutrient and food-group intake has been broadly recognized in the Japanese population, few studies have examined the difference and correlation of intakes with consideration of a family line and co-habitation status. We conducted a dietary survey using female college students in dietetic course in Aichi, Japan, and their mothers and grandmothers. A validated self-administered diet history questionnaire was used for assessment of intakes. Data from 110 families were included in the analysis. The means of 13 nutrients and 10 food groups (of the 15 and 14, respectively) showed significant differences among the three generations. A significant difference was observed in the carbohydrate, protein, saturated fatty acid, cholesterol, and fish intakes between the students living with their mothers and those apart. In the correlation analyses between generations, moderate correlation was observed for most nutrients and food groups between the students and their mothers living together (correlation range = 0.30-0.61 for nutrients, and = 0.21 -0.56 for food groups). A wide variation with no consistency was observed for the correlation between the students and their grandmothers (-0.18 -0.59 and -0.33 -0.65, respectively), No meaningful correlation was observed between any two generations living apart. Among the food groups examined, pulses, fish, and vegetables showed relatively large differences for the correlation between two groups with different living conditions. When living together, the correlation coefficients for nutrients and food groups between the students and their mothers decreased according to the increase in frequency of eating out by the students. These results suggest that living together and eating together were an important factor for the resemblance in dietary habits between generations in the population with a marked generation-related difference in intakes. (J Community Nutrition 5(2) : 93-104, 2003)

Balanced intake of appropriate nutrients is the key to sustaining and promoting health as well as preventing and treating diseases. It is not always easy, however, to take balanced nutrition and various related factors must be taken into consideration. This report provides a summary of studies that have examined the nutrient intakes of Japanese middle-aged men and the relationship of this intake to drinking, job-related separation from families, and health practices. The alcohol consumption of Japanese middle-aged men has more than tripled in the last forty years. When nutrient intake was examined in relation to alcohol consumption, it was discovered that the maximum acceptable alcohol consumption was approximately 23 grams (about two drinks) of pure alcohol, provided the level of nutrient intake for drinkers was equal to that of non-drinkers. The alcohol energy ratio was approximately 5％. It was also discovered that middle-aged men's eating habits deteriorate when they relocate to new posts without their families and live by themselves. Compared to those living with their families, a higher proportion of those living alone have unfavorable eating habits including skipping breakfast or lunch, having a late lunch, and eating and drinking after dinner until bedtime. When Breslow's seven health practices, nutrient intake, and consumption weight by food group were examined, it was discovered that the group that had many beneficial eating and living habits consumed plenty of legume, pulses, fruit, green yellow vegetables and milk products. Their intake of vitamins and minerals was high and the results of a physical examination proved to be excellent. According to nutrition surveys conducted in Japan, China, the United Kingdom and the United States using a 24-hour recall method with common protocols and strict controls to ensure high levels of accuracy and cross-study validity, the Japanese had the highest cholesterol intake and the lowest dietary fiber intake among the four countries. Also, the alcohol energy ratio of the Japanese exceeded 8％, the highest among the four countries, while their intake of magnesium and iron was the lowest These results indicate that it is necessary to enhance nutritional education for middle-aged men and to reinforce the social environments in which they live and work in order to promote proper diet and nutrition in Japan. (J Community Nutrition 5(2) : 105-111, 2003)

Dietary counseling is undoubtedly important for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Several dietary counseling methods have been developed and used in Japan to promote healthier diets. However, in Japan, few studies have established effective counseling methods. We developed a computer-assisted tailored dietary counseling system with self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ) to assess nutrient intakes and the feedbacks for counseling. We examined the effectiveness of the system in three studies , two among mildly-hypercholesterolemic and one among healthy subjects. We observed significant changes in intakes of targeted nutrients in all three studies. We also observed favorable changes in the corresponding serum and urinary biomarkers in two studies, i.e., non-significant change in serum cholesterol, serum carotene and vitamin C, and a significant change in 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium. In addition, one of the studies observed a significant modified dietary habit for one-year after the intervention was completed. No unfavorable change was observed for non-targeted nutrients in all three studies. The dietary counseling system with DHQ was concluded to be effective among motivated high-risk and healthy subjects. The system's application to other diseases and populations such as children, adolescents, and elderly, should be examined further. (J Community Nutrition 5(2) : 112-119, 2003)