Comparison of biochemical data, blood pressure and physical activity between longevity and non-longevity districts in Japan.
BACKGROUND
There is controversy about longevity-associated factors, including environmental and genetic factors. Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that multiple risk factors decrease life-span, but there has not been a definitive report regarding the association of risk factors with longevity. The ultimate aim of the present study was to prevent the overwhelming increase in life-style-related diseases by evaluating this association in 2 districts in Japan.


RESULTS
Plasma glucose levels, hemoglobin (Hb) A1c, lipids, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, adiponectin and physical activity were examined in 133 subjects (M/F 47/86, 67+/-1 years) in Kokufu, a longevity district (mean life span: 80.4 years according to 2000 Japanese census) and 69 subjects (M/F 29/40, 62+/-1 years) in Miyama, a non-longevity district (mean life span 77.4 years, 2000 census). There were significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs, p < 0.001), exercise capacity (p < 0.0001) and plasma adiponectin levels (p < 0.04) between the districts. Plasma adiponectin level was significantly correlated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (r = 0.333, p < 0.0001), triglyceride (TG) (r = -0.161, p < 0.04), HbA1c (r = -0.163, p < 0.03) and HOMA-R (r = -0.163, p < 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Life-style-related factors such as BP, exercise capacity and plasma adiponectin levels might play an important role in longevity, and those of HDL-C and TG, as well as glucose tolerance, might be associated with adiponectin levels.
Mori
Ichiro
I
Department of General Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Ishizuka
Tatsuo
T
Morita
Hiroyuki
H
Matsumoto
Masami
M
Uno
Yoshihiro
Y
Kajita
Kazuo
K
Ikeda
Takahide
T
Fujioka
Kei
K
Matsubara
Kenji
K
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011674:Pulse; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology