1.
Moderate Consumption of Beer (with and without Ethanol) and Menopausal Symptoms: Results from a Parallel Clinical Trial in Postmenopausal Women.
Trius-Soler, M, Marhuenda-Muñoz, M, Laveriano-Santos, EP, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Sasot, G, Storniolo, CE, Estruch, R, Lamuela-Raventós, RM, Tresserra-Rimbau, A
Nutrients. 2021;13(7)
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
During the menopause, hormonal changes can trigger uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, and vaginal dryness. Hormone replacement therapy does reduce some of the symptoms, however there has been an increased interest in alternative therapies such as phytoestrogens to relieve these symptoms. Phytoestrogens are compounds with oestrogen-like properties naturally found in plants. Beer is the main food source of the strongest phytoestrogen identified to date. The aim of this six-month parallel, controlled clinical intervention trial was to evaluate if a moderate daily intake of beer, with or without alcohol, could reduce menopausal symptoms in women. Female sex hormone profile and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) were also monitored. 34 postmenopausal women took part. One group included alcoholic beer (AB), and a second group added non-alcoholic beer (NAB) for 6 months. The control group took no alcohol in this time. After a 6-month follow-up both groups (AB and NAB) significantly reduced the severity of the menopause-related symptoms. These results must be considered as preliminary and will require confirmation with larger sample sizes.
Abstract
The menopausal transition can be a challenging period for women's health and a trigger of uncomfortable symptoms. Beer is the main food source of isoxanthohumol, a precursor of 8-prenylnaringenin, the strongest phytoestrogen identified to date. As phytoestrogens are reported to reduce perimenopausal symptoms, we evaluated if a daily moderate consumption of beer with (AB) and without alcohol (NAB) could improve menopausal symptoms and modify cardiovascular risk factors. A total of 37 postmenopausal women were enrolled in a parallel controlled intervention trial and assigned to three study groups: 16 were administered AB (330 mL/day), 7 NAB (660 mL/day), and 14 were in the control group. After a 6-month follow-up of the 34 participants who finished the trial, both interventions (AB and NAB) significantly reduced the severity of the menopause-related symptoms (p-value AB vs. Control: 0.009; p-value NAB vs. Control: 0.033). Moreover, AB had a beneficial net effect on psychological menopausal discomforts compared to the control group. As the sex hormone profile did not differ significantly between the study groups, the effects of both types of beers (AB and NAB) are attributed to the non-alcoholic fraction of beer. Furthermore, moderate NAB consumption improved the lipid profile and decreased blood pressure in postmenopausal women.
2.
A Pecan-Rich Diet Improves Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
McKay, DL, Eliasziw, M, Chen, CYO, Blumberg, JB
Nutrients. 2018;10(3)
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
There has been a global rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (TD2M) and dietary risk factors are a known contributor. While evidence has shown that an increased intake of tree nuts is associated with a reduced risk of disease indicators, there is limited research specifically on the effects of pecans. The aim of this randomised crossover trial was to assess the impact of pecan consumption on biomarkers related to CVD and T2DM risk in 26 overweight or obese women. Participants consumed a pecan-rich diet with an iso-caloric control diet of similar fat and fibre content, but absent in nuts, for four weeks with a two-week washout period. This trial demonstrated that displacing a portion of saturated fat in the typical American diet with pecans has a protective effect for CVD and TD2M. Based on these results, the authors recommend using dietary change as a first-line approach to disease prevention and management and suggest further studies be done to better understand potential benefits and associated mechanisms.
Abstract
Evidence from observational and intervention studies has shown a high intake of tree nuts is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), mortality from type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and all-cause mortality. However, there is limited data regarding their effects on indicators of cardiometabolic risk other than hypercholesterolemia, and little is known about the demonstrable health benefits of pecans (Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch). We conducted a randomized, controlled feeding trial to compare the effects of a pecan-rich diet with an isocaloric control diet similar in total fat and fiber content, but absent nuts, on biomarkers related to CVD and T2DM risk in healthy middle-aged and older adults who are overweight or obese with central adiposity. After 4 weeks on a pecan-rich diet, changes in serum insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA-β) were significantly greater than after the control diet (p < 0.05). Pecan consumption also lowered the risk of cardiometabolic disease as indicated by a composite score reflecting changes in clinically relevant markers. Thus, compared to the control diet, the pecan intervention had a concurrent and clinically significant effect on several relevant markers of cardiometabolic risk.