Symptoms In Japanese Workers Research Articles

A pilot study investigating the association between perceived chewing conditions and systemic subjective symptoms in Japanese workers

A pilot study investigating the association between perceived chewing conditions and systemic subjective symptoms in Japanese workers

Associations Between Consumption of Different Vegetable Types and Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PurposeVegetable intake is an important part of our everyday diet and is associated with many positive health outcomes. Although previous studies have investigated the association between vegetable consumption and depressive symptoms among various populations, no study has examined this association in the adult working population. The present study investigated whether the frequency of consumption of a specific type of vegetable is associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese adult workers.Participants and MethodsThe final participants consisted of 1724 Japanese adults, and a cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the results. The frequency of vegetable consumption and depressive symptoms was evaluated using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), respectively. The association between the variables was examined using Poisson regression analysis. Age-stratified analysis was performed, and SDS cut-off values of 45 and 50 were used to perform a sensitivity analysis.ResultsAfter adjustment for covariates, including age, body mass index, sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables, health condition, C-reactive protein, and other dietary variables, an inverse association was found between tomato product consumption and the prevalence of depressive symptoms among men (P for trend <0.01); however, no significant association was found for other vegetable types. For women, there was no association between the frequency of consumption of any of the vegetable types and the prevalence of depressive symptoms. The results were confirmed by the age-stratified analysis for both genders.ConclusionConsumption of tomato products may help alleviate depressive symptoms, regardless of differences in dietary culture among men.

Prospective study on the association between dietary non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity and depressive symptoms

Oxidative stress has been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of depression, and a diet high in antioxidants may improve mood. However, studies addressing this issue are scarce. The aim of this cohort study was to investigate the prospective association between dietary non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC) in overall diet and depressive symptoms in Japanese employees. Additionally, we examined the association separated by dietary NEAC sources. Participants were 911 workers without depressive symptoms at baseline and participated in 3-y follow-up survey. Dietary NEAC was determined from a database of NEAC measurements obtained by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Dietary NEAC was calculated by multiplying the estimated NEAC values with the consumed amount and summing up those values. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios of depressive symptoms according to overall NEAC and separately from foods and beverages. At 3-y follow-up, 153 (16.8%) workers were newly identified as having depressive symptom. No significant associations were found between higher level of overall dietary NEAC and decreased risk of depressive symptoms after adjustment for potential confounders (overall: FRAP, P for trend=0.19 and ORAC, P for trend=0.20). Likewise, neither higher dietary NEAC from foods nor beverages were related with lower depressive symptoms. Our findings did not support an inverse association between dietary NEAC and the risk of depressive symptoms in Japanese workers.

Which autistic traits are related to depressive symptoms in Japanese workers?

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders are at a high risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. However, the relationship between autistic traits and depressive symptoms is unclear. This study aimed to identify which autistic traits are related to depressive symptoms in Japanese workers. The study participants included 2,049 workers from all areas of Japan. Autistic traits and depressive symptoms were measured using an abridged Japanese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-Short) and the Japanese version of the K6 scale, respectively. The AQ-Short comprises five autistic trait subcomponents that assess fascination for numbers/patterns, difficulties with imagination, preference for routine, difficulties with social skills, and attention-switching difficulties. Linear regression analyses were performed to estimate the association between total and subcomponent autistic trait scores and depressive symptoms. Participants with higher total autistic trait scores were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms (p<0.001). When scores on the five autistic trait subcomponents were entered simultaneously into the model, participants with higher scores on all subcomponents other than ‘difficulties with imagination’ were significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms. Total autistic traits and autistic trait subcomponents could be used for early detection of the risk of depressive symptoms.

Brief internet-based cognitive behavior therapy program with a supplement drink improved anxiety and somatic symptoms in Japanese workers

BackgroundSelf-help cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a useful approach for the treatment of psychological problems. Recent research on the effectiveness of self-help internet-based CBT (ICBT) indicates that the paradigm moderately improves psychological problems. Furthermore, previous studies have shown that food and drinks containing supplements improve various health conditions. We investigated the effect of a brief self-help ICBT administered with a supplement drink on psychological well-being and somatic symptoms.MethodsIn total, 101 healthy workers were enrolled in the 4-week ICBT program, which consisted of psychoeducation on stress management, behavior activation, and cognitive restructuring. The supplement soft drink was taken every day during the program. The participants were instructed to watch on-demand video clips and read the self-help guidebook and supporting comic strip weekly on the Internet or smartphone. The Japanese version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) was administered before and after completion of the program. Scores on the POMS tension-anxiety (POMS-TA), depression (POMS-D), and fatigue (POMS-F) subscales were used to assess the effect of the program. Somatic symptoms were assessed using the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire.ResultsIn total, 75 participants continued the program for 4 weeks; however, of those, 27 failed to complete all weekly tasks or meet the post-assessment deadlines. Therefore, the data of 48 participants were included in the analysis. Pre-post intervention comparisons using paired t-tests revealed significant improvement on the POMS-TA, but not the POMS-D or POMS-F subscales. Moreover, participants reported a significant reduction in the severity of low back pain.ConclusionOur brief intervention moderately improved anxiety levels and the symptom of low back pain. These findings suggest that the brief ICBT program is effective in non-patient populations. Future directions for brief ICBT are discussed.Trial registrationThis study was registered on February 10, 2016 at UMIN. The registration number is UMIN000020962.

Associations of leisure-time, occupational, and commuting physical activity with risk of depressive symptoms among Japanese workers: a cohort study.

BackgroundLeisure-time physical activity is associated with a lower risk of depression. However, the precise shape of the dose–response relationship remains elusive, and evidence is scarce regarding other domains of activity. We prospectively investigated associations of physical activity during leisure, work, and commuting with risk of depressive symptoms in Japanese workers.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study of 29 082 Japanese workers aged 20–64 years without psychiatric disease (including depressive symptoms) at baseline with a maximum 5-year follow-up. Physical activity was self-reported. Depressive symptoms were assessed by 13 self-report questions on subjective symptoms. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for incidence of depressive symptoms were calculated using Cox regression analysis.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 4.7 years, 6177 developed depressive symptoms. Leisure exercise showed a U-shaped association with risk of depressive symptoms adjusting for potential confounders. Additional adjustment for baseline depression scores attenuated the association, but it remained statistically significant (P for trend = 0.037). Compared with individuals who engaged in sedentary work, the HR (95 % CI) was 0.86 (0.81, 0.92) for individuals who stand or walk during work and 0.90 (0.82, 0.99) for those who are fairly active at work. However, the association disappeared after adjusting for baseline depression scores. Walking to and from work was not associated with depressive symptoms.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that leisure-time exercise has a U-shaped relation with depressive symptoms in Japanese workers. Health-enhancing physical activity intervention may be needed for individuals who engage in sedentary work.

DNA Methylation Status of the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene is associated with Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, that is considered to be the most important genetic determinant of blood homocysteine concentration, are associated with various diseases, including psychiatric disorders. However, the epigenetic factors influencing on the transcription and expression of this gene are unclear. The current study aims to detect the relationship between epigenetic factor-DNA methylation status, on the human MTHFR gene and depressive symptoms in Japanese workers. Methods: 774 DNA samples were extracted from saliva samples collected from subjects recruited for a mental health study, and an Illumina Human Methylation 450K Microarray Assay was used to examine DNA methylation profile across the human MTHFR gene. Depressive symptoms were determined by K6 questionnaire. Four independent DNA pools were created based on K6 scores, and the methylation levels were compared among the pools. Results: The DNA methylation level was lower in subjects with higher degrees of depression for both the entire gene ( p=2.10×10 -14

Dietary patterns and sleep symptoms in Japanese workers: the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study

ObjectiveExperimental studies have shown that some nutrients are involved in initiating and maintaining sleep, but epidemiological evidence on overall dietary patterns and insomnia is scarce. We investigated the relationship between dietary patterns and sleep symptoms in a Japanese working population. MethodsThe participants were 2025 workers, aged 18–70 years, who participated in a health survey during a periodic checkup in 2012 and 2013. Dietary intake was assessed with a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Dietary patterns were extracted by principal component analysis on the basis of the energy-adjusted intake of 52 food and beverage items. Sleep duration, difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, and poor quality of sleep were self-reported. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios of each sleep symptom according to quartile categories of each dietary pattern with adjustment for potential confounding variables. ResultsWe identified three major dietary patterns. A healthy pattern, characterized by a high intake of vegetables, mushrooms, potatoes, seaweeds, soy products, and eggs, was associated with a decreased prevalence of difficulty initiating sleep once or more a week (P for trend = 0.03); the multivariate adjusted odds ratio in the highest quartile of this score compared with the lowest was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.57–0.99). This association persisted after the exclusion of individuals with severe depressive symptoms. However, there was no significant association with difficulty initiating sleep at least three times a week. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that a healthy dietary pattern may be associated with difficulty initiating sleep at least once a week.

Bedtime and Sleep Duration in Relation to Depressive Symptoms among Japanese Workers

While bedtime may influence circadian rhythms, potentially leading to depression, epidemiological data on this issue are limited. We cross-section-ally investigated the association between bedtime and depressive symptoms in Japanese workers, taking sleep duration into consideration. The participants were 1,197 workers who participated in a health survey during a periodic checkup and had no history of psychiatric disease. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Usual bedtime and wake time were inquired about using a self-administered questionnaire, and sleep duration was calculated based on the difference between these two values. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of depressive symptoms for bedtime or sleep duration categories. Short sleep duration (<6 hours) was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms. Late bedtime was also significantly associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D score of £19); the multi-variable-adjusted odds ratio of depressive symptoms for a bedtime of 1:00 or later versus 23:00 to 23:59 was 1.90 (95% confidence interval, 1.16-3.12). After additional adjustment for sleep duration, however, the association was largely attenuated (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-2.06). Late bedtime was associated with increased prevalence of depressive symptoms, but this association could be largely accounted for by short sleep duration. Avoiding a late bedtime and obtaining a sufficient sleep duration may prevent depressive mood among workers.

Japanese dietary pattern consistently relates to low depressive symptoms and it is modified by job strain and worksite supports

BackgroundThis study examined the association between traditional Japanese dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in Japanese workers, employing large-scale samples, considering socioeconomic status (SES) and job stress factors. MethodsA cross-sectional study of 2266 Japanese employees aged 21–65 years from all areas of Japan was conducted as part of the Japanese Study of Health, Occupation and Psychosocial factors related Equity (J-HOPE). Habitual diet was assessed by FFQ (BDHQ). The depression degree and job stress factors (job demand, job control, and worksite support) were measured by K6 and Job Content Questionnaire. ResultsParticipants with high scores for the balanced Japanese dietary pattern were significantly less likely to show probable mood/anxiety disorders (K6≥9) with multivariate adjustment including SES and job stress factors (odds ratio=0.66 [0.51–0.86], trend P=0.002). Other dietary patterns were not associated with depressive symptoms. Even after stratification by job stress factors, the Japanese dietary pattern was consistently protective against depressive symptoms. Furthermore, a highly significant difference between the first and third tertiles of the dietary pattern was observed in participants with active strain (high demand and high control) with low worksite supports (8.5 vs. 5.2, P=0.011). LimitationsFemale participant sample was relatively small. ConclusionsJapanese dietary pattern consistently related to low depressive symptoms in this large-scale cohort of Japanese workers, even after adjusting for SES and job stress factors. The protective impact is especially strong for workers with active strain and low support. Making better use of traditional dietary patterns may facilitate reducing social disparities in mental health.

Folate intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese workers considering SES and job stress factors: J-HOPE study

BackgroundRecently socioeconomic status (SES) and job stress index received more attention to affect mental health. Folate intake has been implicated to have negative association with depression. However, few studies were published for the evidence association together with the consideration of SES and job stress factors. The current study is a part of the Japanese study of Health, Occupation and Psychosocial factors related Equity (J-HOPE study) that focused on the association of social stratification and health and our objective was to clarify the association between folate intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese general workers.MethodsSubjects were 2266 workers in a Japanese nationwide company. SES and job stress factors were assessed by self-administered questionnaire. Folate intake was estimated by a validated, brief, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were measured by Kessler’s K6 questionnaire. “Individuals with depressive symptoms” was defined as K6≧9 (in K6 score of 0–24 scoring system). Multiple logistic regression and linear regression model were used to evaluate the association between folate and depressive symptoms.ResultsSeveral SES factors (proportion of management positions, years of continuous employment, and annual household income) and folate intake were found to be significantly lower in the subjects with depressive symptom (SES factors: p < 0.001; folate intake: P = 0.001). There was an inverse, independent linear association between K6 score and folate intake after adjusting for age, sex, job stress scores (job strains, worksite supports), and SES factors (p = 0.010). The impact of folate intake on the prevalence of depressive symptom by a multiple logistic model was (ORs[95% CI]: 0.813 [0.664-0.994]; P =0.044).ConclusionsOur cross-sectional study suggested an inverse, independent relation of energy-adjusted folate intake with depression score and prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese workers, together with the consideration of SES and job stress factors.

Benchmark Duration of Work Hours for Development of Fatigue Symptoms in Japanese Workers with Adjustment for Job‐Related Stress

The objective of this study was to calculate benchmark durations and lower 95% confidence limits for benchmark durations of working hours associated with subjective fatigue symptoms by applying the benchmark dose approach while adjusting for job-related stress using multiple logistic regression analyses. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 3,069 male and 412 female daytime workers (age 18-67 years) in a Japanese steel company. The eight dependent variables in the Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index were decreased vitality, general fatigue, physical disorders, irritability, decreased willingness to work, anxiety, depressive feelings, and chronic tiredness. Independent variables were daily working hours, four subscales (job demand, job control, interpersonal relationship, and job suitability) of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, and other potential covariates. Using significant parameters for working hours and those for other covariates, the benchmark durations of working hours were calculated for the corresponding Index property. Benchmark response was set at 5% or 10%. Assuming a condition of worst job stress, the benchmark duration/lower 95% confidence limit for benchmark duration of working hours per day with a benchmark response of 5% or 10% were 10.0/9.4 or 11.7/10.7 (irritability) and 9.2/8.9 or 10.4/9.8 (chronic tiredness) in men and 8.9/8.4 or 9.8/8.9 (chronic tiredness) in women. The threshold amounts of working hours for fatigue symptoms under the worst job-related stress were very close to the standard daily working hours in Japan. The results strongly suggest that special attention should be paid to employees whose working hours exceed threshold amounts based on individual levels of job-related stress.

P2045 事務系職員における労働時間、VDT作業時間と抑うつ症状との関連(一般演題:ポスター,地方の時代の産業保健,第79回日本産業衛生学会)

P2045 事務系職員における労働時間、VDT作業時間と抑うつ症状との関連(一般演題:ポスター,地方の時代の産業保健,第79回日本産業衛生学会)