Longitudinal changes in nutritional status and its effect on the risk of diabetes among evacuees after Great East Japan Earthquake

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20150
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University (2021-2023); Chiba University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: ZHANG WEN 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 博士研究員 (80736760)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: バイオマーカー / 生活習慣病 / 糖尿病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using 2019 biomarker data and 2023 specific health check data from residents of Naraha Town, one of the municipalities in the evacuation zones in Fukushima Prefecture, we examined the relationship between serum magnesium and serum iron levels and the risk of lifestyle-related diseases four years later.
Of the 1,797 residents, 767 people was found with hypertension, 111 people with kidney abnormalities, 296 people with diabetes or suspected diabetes, 698 people with dyslipidemia, and 120 people with liver abnormalities. High serum magnesium levels were significantly negatively associated with the risk of diabetes or suspected diabetes four years later. A negative association was observed between high serum iron levels and the risk of hypertension.

Free Research Field

栄養疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

長期間にわたる避難生活による食事習慣の変化や栄養状況の変化を把握することは、福島県の避難住民の生活習慣病予防にのみならず、災害の多い日本において今後の被災地域の方策として寄与できる可能性が高いと考え、今後にさらに追跡調査や分析研究も必要だと考える。