Comparison of ventilatory threshold between subjects with and without proteinuria in Japanese

We compared the levels of ventilatory threshold (VT) between subjects with and without pro-teinuria. We used data of 402 men and 413 women who were not taking any medications, aged 20 - 77 years, in this cross-sectional in-vestigation study. Aerobic Parameters at VT i.e. oxygen uptake, work rate and heart rate, and exercise habits were evaluated, which are con-sidered to be cardio respiratory fitness. Pro-teinuria was measured by using urine strip de-vices. Forty three men (10.7%) and 29 women (7.0%) were diagnosed as having the proteinuria (± ≦). There were no significant relationships between proteinuria and exercise habits in both sexes after adjusting for age. Oxygen uptake at VT in subjects with proteinuria was significantly lower than that in subjects without proteinuria after adjusting for age in men. However, such link was not noted in women after adjusting for age (p = 0.9964). Finally, associations were at-tenuated after adjusting for age and exercise habits in both sexes. Among Japanese not tak-ing medications, proteinuria might be a modifi-able factor of VT, especially in Japanese men.

Decreasing serum uric acid levels might be associated with improving estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Japanese men

The link between changes in a subject’s serum uric acid levels and his estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated in Japanese men. We used data for 108 Japanese men (45.3 ± 8.0 years) with a 1-year follow up. eGFR was defined by a new equation developed for Japan. eGFR was weakly correlated with serum uric acid levels (r = –0.287, p = 0.0026) at baseline. Subjects were given advice for dietary and life-style improvement. At the 1-year follow up, almost metabolic syndrome components were significantly improved. However, blood sugar and uric acid did not change and eGFR was significantly decreased. The changes in eGFR were weakly correlated with abdominal circum-ference (r = –0.249, p = 0.0094) and uric acid (r = –0.340, p = 0.0003). A decrease in serum uric acid levels may be associated with improving eGFR in Japanese men.

The relation between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and coffee consumption in the Japanese

We investigated the link between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and coffee consumption in Japanese. We used data of 376 men and 794 women who were not taking any medications, aged 20 - 78 years, in this cross- sectional investigation study. eGFR was calcu-lated using serum creatinine (Cr), age and sex. Habitual coffee consumption was defined as drinking one or more cups of coffee per day. Two hundred thirty three men (62.0%) and 400 women (50.4%) were subjects with habitual coffee consumption (coffee consumption 1 cup/ day ≥). eGFR was negatively correlated with age (men: r = –0.533, women: r = –624). eGFR in subjects with coffee consumers was not significantly different from that in subjects without coffee consumers after adjusting for age in both sexes (men: p = 0.1375, women: p = 0.2069). Among Japanese not taking medications, coffee consumption was not associated with eGFR in the Japanese population.

Comparison of muscle strength between subjects with and without proteinuria

We compared the levels of muscle strength between subjects with and without proteinuria. We used data of 721 men and 1,063 women, aged 20-79 years, in this cross-sectional investigation study. Parameters at muscle strength i.e. grip strength, leg strength and leg strength per body weight were evaluated. Proteinuria was measured by urine strip devices. Thirty five men (4.9%) and 27 women (2.5%) were diagnosed as having the proteinuria (+: 30 mg/dl) ≦). Leg strength and leg strength per body weight in men with proteinuria was significantly lower than that in men without proteinuria after adjusting for age. Grip strength in men with proteinuria was also lower than that in men without, but not at a significant level. However such link was not noted in women after adjusting for age. Among Japanese, proteinuria might be a modifiable factor of muscle strength in Japanese men.

Decreasing serum uric acid levels are associated with improving estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Japanese women

The aim of this study was to investigate the link between changes in a subject’s serum uric acid levels and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Japanese women. We used data for 161 Japanese women (49.8 ± 11.7 years) with a 1-year follow up. eGFR was defined by a new equation developed for Japan. eGFR was negatively correlated with serum uric acid levels (r = -0.402, p