RD, PhD
Senior researcher
Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Center for Clinical Sciences, Japan Institute for Health Security, Japan
Google Scholar / researchmap
ORCID: 0000-0003-1008-3367
PAPERS
- Diabetes, prediabetes, and mild cognitive impairment among older adults: The Hitachi Health Study II
Ami Fukunaga, Aoi Ito*, Yosuke Inoue, Hitomi Inada, Tohru Nakagawa, Shuichiro Yamamoto, Maki Konishi, Tetsuya Mizoue
Acta Diabetologica. 2026.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 0 - Serum Manganese, Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Selenium, and Iodine Levels, and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: A Nested Case-control Study
Aoi Ito*, Shohei Yamamoto, Miyuki Iwai-Shimada, Yayoi Kobayashi, Tomohiko Isobe, Kenta Iwai, Shoji F. Nakayama, Maki Konishi, Shuichiro Yamamoto, Yuya Watanabe, Tohru Nakagawa, Shin Yamazaki, Tetsuya Mizoue
Biological Trace Element Research. 2026.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 0 - Association between individual-level social capital and metabolic syndrome among middle-aged community dwellers in rural Vietnam
Aki Yazawa, Ichiro Kawachi, Thuy Thi Phuong Pham, Chau Que Nguyen, Aoi Ito, Danh Cong Phan, Masahiko Hachiya, Hung Thai Do, Tetsuya Mizoue, Yosuke Inoue*
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. 2026.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 0 - Serum mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic and incidence of type 2 diabetes among adults: A nested case–control study
Aoi Ito*, Shohei Yamamoto, Miyuki Iwai-Shimada, Yayoi Kobayashi, Tomohiko Isobe, Kenta Iwai, Shoji F. Nakayama, Maki Konishi, Shuichiro Yamamoto, Tohru Nakagawa, Shin Yamazaki, Tetsuya Mizoue
Clinical Nutrition. 57: 106563, 2026.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 2 - Serum Vitamin D and the Risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Seasonal Influenza Infection During the Twindemic Period
Aoi Ito*, Shohei Yamamoto, Zobida Islam, Tomofumi Tan, Yusuke Oshiro, Natsumi Inamura, Takashi Nemoto, Maki Konishi, Kumi Horii, Tetsuya Mizoue, Wataru Sugiura, Norio Ohmagari
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 6;68:263-266, 2025.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 0 - Serum Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Levels and Hearing Loss in Older Males: The Hitachi Health Study II
Aoi Ito*, Shohei Yamamoto, Yosuke Inoue, Ami Fukunaga, Maki Konishi, Katsuyuki Ohara, Shuichiro Yamamoto, Tohru Nakagawa, Tetsuya Mizoue
Otology & Neurotology. 46(8):e342-e348, 2025.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 1 - Association between Fish Intake and Serum Testosterone Levels in Older Males: The Hitachi Health Study II
Aoi Ito*, Shohei Yamamoto, Yosuke Inoue, Ami Fukunaga, Akiko Nanri, Maki Konishi, Shuichiro Yamamoto, Tohru Nakagawa, Tetsuya Mizoue
Current Developments in Nutrition. 8(4):102133, 2024.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 4 - Vitamin D deficiency during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among healthcare workers
Aoi Ito, Shohei Yamamoto, Yusuke Oshiro, Natsumi Inamura, Takashi Nemoto, Tomofumi Tan, Maki Konishi, Tetsuya Mizoue*, Nobuyoshi Aoyanagi, Haruhito Sugiyama, Wataru Sugiura, Norio Ohmagari
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 60:210-216, 2024.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 4 - Gut microbiota-mediated associations of green tea and catechin intakes with glucose metabolism in individuals without type 2 diabetes mellitus: a four-season observational study with mediation analysis
Aoi Ito, Yuji Matsui, Masao Takeshita, Mitsuhiro Katashima, Chiho Goto, Kiyonori Kuriki*
Archives of Microbiology. 205(5):191, 2023.
[DOI] [PubMed] Citations: 14
*Corresponding author
Grant
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up (number: 25K24284)
Associations of exposure to heavy metals and PFAS with the risk of diabetes and chronic kidney disease
Principal Investigator
July 31, 2025–March 31, 2027
Findings
Toxic metal(loid)s
Among Japanese adults, higher serum mercury was associated with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes. There were no associations between serum cadmium, lead, or arsenic and type 2 diabetes. These findings were reported in Clinical Nutrition (2026).
Essential elements
Trace elements such as manganese, zinc, and copper play important roles in glucose metabolism, but excess levels of these elements can induce glucose metabolic abnormalities. This study examined the associations between blood concentrations of these elements and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Higher serum manganese and zinc were associated with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes. Serum cobalt, copper, selenium, and iodine were not associated with type 2 diabetes. These findings were reported in Biological Trace Element Research (2026).
CONFERENCE
- ISEE 2026, Munich, Germany, Aug 30–Sept 2, 2026 (planned)
MEDIA COVERAGE
- Study: Eating Fish with High Mercury Raises Risk of Diabetes
The Asahi Shimbun, April 4, 2026. Free article.
