title: Short-term intake of a Japanese-style healthy lunch menu contributes to prevention and/or improvement in metabolic syndrome among middle-aged men: a non-randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome is now widely appreciated as a cluster of metabolic abnormalities such as visceral obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. To date, incidence of metabolic syndrome is continuously increasing worldwide.In addition, low vegetable consumption has recently become a serious issue in Japan. Furthermore, Japan is facing a shortfall in places offering food that can help prevent metabolic syndrome in the first place. Our study is designed to influence these developments. We conducted a non-randomized controlled trial by offering a Japanese-style healthy lunch menu to middle-aged men in a workplace cafeteria. This menu was designed to prevent and reduce metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  This intervention study took the form of a non-randomized controlled trial. Participants chose the control or intervention group. The control group consumed their habitual lunches without restriction and only nutrient contents were assessed. The intervention group received a Japanese-style healthy lunch at a workplace cafeteria for 3 months. The participants worked in offices at a city hall and mostly had low levels of physical activity. Data of 35 males (control group: 7 males, intervention group: 28 males, mean age: 47.2 ± 7.9 years) were collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained an effective outcome by demonstrating that ongoing intake of a Japanese-style healthy lunch decreased blood pressure and serum lipids and increased plasma ghrelin levels. The results grew more pronounced as intake of Japanese-style healthy lunches increased in frequency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study presents new empirical data as a result of an original intervention program undertaken in Japan. A Japanese-style healthy lunch menu containing many vegetables consumed can help prevent and/or improve metabolic syndrome.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aiso
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan. kuwano@u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D062409:Lunch; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D008055:Lipids