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1.
Daily Vegetables Intake and Response to COPD Rehabilitation. The Role of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and DNA Damage.
Ilari, S, Vitiello, L, Russo, P, Proietti, S, Milić, M, Muscoli, C, Cardaci, V, Tomino, C, Bonassi, G, Bonassi, S
Nutrients. 2021;(8)
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease associated with airways inflammation and lung parenchyma fibrosis. The primary goals of COPD treatment are to reduce symptoms and risk of exacerbations, therefore pulmonary rehabilitation is considered the key component of managing COPD patients. Oxidative airway damage, inflammation and reduction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Recently, also natural antioxidants have been considered as they play an important role in metabolism, DNA repair and fighting the effects of oxidative stress. In this paper we evaluated the response of 105 elderly COPD patients to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), based on high or low vegetable consumption, by analyzing clinical parameters and biological measurements at baseline and after completion of the three weeks PR. We found that daily vegetable intake in normal diet, without any specific intervention, can increase the probability to successfully respond to rehabilitation (65.4% of responders ate vegetables daily vs. 40.0% of non-responders, p = 0.033). The association was especially evident in subjects ≥ 80 year of age (OR = 17.0; p < 0.019). Three weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation are probably too short to reveal a reduction of the oxidative stress and DNA damage, but are enough to show an improvement in the patient's inflammatory state.
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2.
The CASSIOPEA Study (Economic Crisis and Adherence to the Mediterranean diet: poSSIble impact on biOmarkers of inflammation and metabolic PhEnotypes in the cohort of the Moli-sAni Study): Rationale, design and characteristics of participants.
Bonaccio, M, Costanzo, S, Di Castelnuovo, A, Persichillo, M, De Curtis, A, Olivieri, M, Cerletti, C, Donati, MB, de Gaetano, G, Iacoviello, L, et al
Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD. 2021;(4):1053-1062
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The CASSIOPEA Study was designed to evaluate whether the economic downturn during the late 2000s was a contributing factor to the observed decrease in adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD). METHODS AND RESULTS The study protocol consists of two steps: A) recall of 7406 men and women who, between 2005 and 2006, had been randomly recruited in the Moli-sani Study from the general population of Molise, to assess possible economic hardship (EH) related to the economic crisis initiated in 2007; B) re-examination, between 2017 and 2020, of available subjects identified in Step 1 as poorly or harder hit by EH to test the hypothesis that EH is associated with a decrease in MD adherence, possibly resulting in increased inflammation. The results of Step 1 are reported here. From the initial sample of individuals re-examined after 12.6 years (median; IQR = 12.1-13.0 y), 3646 were finally analysed. An Economic Hardship Score (EHS; range 0-14) was obtained by scoring three domains: 1) change in employment status; 2) financial hardship and 3) financial hardship for health expenditures. Overall, 37.8% of the sample reported high EHS (≥3), whilst 32% scored 0 (no EH). Those with high EHS were prevalently women and younger, with low socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS High economic hardship was prevalently reported by weaker socioeconomic groups. Longitudinal analysis (step 2) will examine whether the economic crisis had an effect on adherence to Mediterranean diet with consequent potential impact on inflammation, one of the main biological pathways linking MD to health outcomes. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER NCT03119142.
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3.
The Diet Quality of a Sample of Predominantly Racial Minority Children From Low-Income Households Is Lower During the Summer vs School Year: Results From the Project Summer Weight and Environmental Assessment Trial Substudy.
Hopkins, LC, Tiba, S, Westrick, M, Gunther, C
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2021;(1):112-120
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the diet quality of racial minority children during the summertime when school is out of session and there is risk of accelerated weight gain. Project Summer Weight and Environmental Assessment Trial was an observational, prospective study exploring child weight status and health trends during the summer. OBJECTIVE The objective of this substudy of Project Summer Weight and Environmental Assessment Trial was to examine the diet quality of elementary-aged racial minority children during the summertime vs school year. DESIGN This observational, prospective substudy was conducted from June to September 2017. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Students in prekindergarten through fifth grade were recruited from 2 schools located in low-income urban neighborhoods of Columbus, OH, with a predominantly Black population. Sixty-two children (39 families) enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls (2 weekdays, 1 weekend day) were collected at 3 time points: (1) beginning of summer (T0); (2) midsummer (T1); and (3) beginning of subsequent school year (T2). Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 total and component scores were calculated to assess diet quality. Daily calories (kilocalories) and servings of types of foods within food groups were also assessed. STATISTICAL ANALYSES Repeated measures analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc analyses were performed. RESULTS Retention was 76% (n = 47). Mean age was 7.0 ± 0.3 years, 79% (n = 37) were African American, and 58% of participants (n = 26) reported annual household incomes ≤$20,000. HEI-2015 total score was significantly lower during the summertime vs school year (P = .02). HEI-2015 component score for whole fruits (P = .04) was also lower in the summer vs school year, along with total vegetables (P < .001), greens and beans (P < .001) specifically, and legumes (P < .001). The HEI-2015 component score for added sugars (P = .04) was significantly lower in the summer vs the school year as well, indicating a higher intake of added sugars during the summer. On the other hand, whole grains were higher during the summer vs school year (P < .01), specifically snack chips (P = .03) and popcorn (P < .01). Total daily calories did not differ between the summertime vs school year. CONCLUSIONS In a small sample of predominantly racial minority school-aged children from low-income households, child diet quality is better during the school year vs summer. Future research is needed to determine if and to what extent summer vs school year diet quality may be associated with differences in weight status.
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4.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIET QUALITY INDEX IN NURSING MOTHERS AND THE FATTY ACID PROFILE OF MATURE BREAST MILK.
Freitas, RF, Macedo, MS, Lessa, ADC, Pinto, NAVD, Teixeira, RA
Revista paulista de pediatria : orgao oficial da Sociedade de Pediatria de Sao Paulo. 2021;:e2019089
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between the maternal diet quality and the fatty acid composition of breast milk in the first trimester of lactation. METHODS This is an observational cross-sectional epidemiological study of nursing mothers. The data collection instruments were a semi-structured questionnaire for sample characterization and a recall of usual intake. Diet quality was assessed based on the healthy eating index (HEI). Samples of mature breast milk were obtained by hand milking. Milk fat was extracted using the Bligh-Dyer method and methylated with 0.25 mol/L sodium methoxide in methanol diethyl ether. A gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector determined the milk fatty acid profile. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation tests evaluated association between the variables. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression model was built and multivariate regression analysis was applied. RESULTS Our findings revealed an inverse relationship between the consumption of total fruits and the polyunsaturated fatty acid profile and a direct association of the intake of total fruits and total grains with monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that maternal diet quality affects the fatty acid composition of breast milk.
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5.
Dietary patterns associated with obesity and overweight: When should misreporters be included in analysis?
Malinowska, AM, Mlodzik-Czyzewska, MA, Chmurzynska, A
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2020;:110605
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to identify dietary patterns associated with overweight and obesity and to examine the effect of including and excluding misreporters on the analysis of these dietary patterns and on the associations between identified dietary patterns and anthropometric parameters. METHODS The study was carried out with adult participants in an observational case-control manner. The participants' diet was assessed using 3-d dietary records. To identify misreporters, the Goldberg and Black cutoff method was used. Dietary patterns were evaluated using factor analysis and dietary indices. RESULTS Among 410 participants, 100 were underreporters and 1 was an overreporter. The nutritional value of the diets and the relative intake of several groups of food products differed between those with normal and increased body weight. Excluding misreporters affected the differences between body weight groups in energy; dietary fiber; empty calories; cholesterol; sodium; magnesium; folate; vitamins C, PP, and A; groats; vegetables; coffee; and water intake. The Western diet (WD) factor correlated positively with the waist circumference and the amount of fat tissue, whereas the healthy diet (HD) factor correlated negatively with body weight, waist circumference, and the fat tissue amount. The coefficients of the correlation between the HD factor and the anthropometric parameters were stronger when misreporters were excluded, whereas those between the WD factor and the parameters did not change much after exclusion of misreporters. CONCLUSIONS There is a positive relationship between the WD pattern and obesity. The exclusion of misreporters from the data set may positively affect the association between the HD pattern and anthropometric parameters.
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6.
Healthy Eating Index of Living Donor Renal Transplantation Recipients During the First Year Posttransplant.
Le, N, Moore, LW, Fong, JVN, Doan, T, Mitch, WE, Workeneh, B, Moore, CE
Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.). 2020;(3):271-277
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between diet quality and weight gain in kidney transplant recipients from pretransplant baseline through posttransplant at 3 months and 1 year. METHODS Data from a prospective, observational cohort study of kidney transplant patients (n = 26) were analyzed. Participants were adult (aged 18-65 years), living donor kidney transplant recipients who were participating in a prospective body composition study. Body weight, body mass index, dietary intake, and Healthy Eating Index scores were used to assess changes in weight, nutrient intake, and diet quality. FINDINGS At the time of kidney transplantation, 42% (n = 11) were obese and 27% (n = 7) were overweight. Weight significantly increased from transplantation to 12 months (mean [SD]: 83 [18] kg and 90 [18] kg, respectively; mean change 8.4%, P = .002). At 12 months posttransplant, dietary fat intake significantly increased (P = .033). Body weight was strongly correlated with total dietary fat intake (r = 0.56, P = .003). The Healthy Eating Index total scores at baseline and 1-year posttransplant were not significantly different (45.75 [14.99] and 42.59 [12.70]). Likewise, component scores did not change from pretransplant to posttransplant. DISCUSSION Diet quality of transplant recipients was poor both before and after transplantation. Using the Healthy Eating Index confirmed that improvements in food intake are needed. Further research is warranted to identify dietary recommendations for the prevention of excessive weight gain and the potential adverse health complications following kidney transplantation.
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7.
Diet quality of patients with acute coronary syndrome receiving public and private health care.
Costa, IMNBC, Silva, DGD, Barreto Filho, JAS, Oliveira, JLM, Silva, JRS, Buarque, MDBM, Nascimento, T, Jorge, JG, Almeida, AS, Almeida-Santos, MA, et al
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2019;:131-137
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of the diets consumed by patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who received public and private health care. METHODS This observational, prospective, longitudinal cohort study evaluated patients with ACS who attended three private and one public cardiology reference hospitals. Information about dietary parameters during the 6 mo before the acute ACS event was collected at admission and 180 d later using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was assessed using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (2010), and a multilinear regression model was developed to evaluate the associated variables. RESULTS The 581 volunteers included in this study comprised 325 (55.9%) and 256 (44.1%) patients treated at private and public hospitals, respectively. Although the dietary index increased significantly after ACS (P < 0001), diet quality remained unsatisfactory, particularly in terms of reductions in the consumption of cardioprotective components (vegetables, fruits, and eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic fatty acids). Compared with patients receiving private health care, those attending a public hospital reported lower dietary quality (P < 0.001). The best diet quality was found to correlate with female sex (P < 0.001), receipt of dietary guidance at hospital discharge (P < 0.001), private health care (P < 0.001), a stable relationship status (P, 0.016), and older age (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The overall post-ACS diet quality remained unsatisfactory, especially in terms of cardioprotective components and among patients receiving public health care. Sociodemographic factors and the assistance model/quality were determinants of the observed differences in dietary quality.
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8.
Development and Testing of the Healthy Food Pantry Assessment Tool.
Bush-Kaufman, A, Barale, K, Aragón, MC, Walsh, M
Journal of nutrition education and behavior. 2019;(5):578-588
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop and test an observational survey that quantifies food pantry environments (FPE). DESIGN Best practices in FPE were identified through key informant interviews. The tool was pilot-tested, including a content review, and then field-tested for reliability. SETTING Key informant phone interviews (n = 41); pilot and field test visits occurred at 45 pantries from multiple states. SUBJECTS Food bank/pantry staff and nutrition educators were recruited for interviews through purposive and snowball sampling. Pilot and field test survey users (n = 65) were food pantry representatives and matched community partners who both rated the FPE using the tool. VARIABLES MEASURED Pearson correlation was used to determine test-retest and interrater reliability. ANALYSIS Qualitative data were coded for healthy FPE strategies. Quantitative data were calculated using descriptive statistics (significant at P < .05). RESULTS Qualitative data were coded for observable FPE characteristics. Reliability scores were substantial to nearly perfect for 48 of 61 survey items (79%) for test-retest and 49 of 61 (80%) for interrater reliability (Pearson r = .6-1.0). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The Healthy Food Pantry Assessment Tool is research-tested and can be used to evaluate and quantify the healthfulness of FPE.
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9.
Application of Mindfulness in a Tier 3 Obesity Service Improves Eating Behavior and Facilitates Successful Weight Loss.
Hanson, P, Shuttlewood, E, Halder, L, Shah, N, Lam, FT, Menon, V, Barber, TM
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2019;(3):793-800
Abstract
CONTEXT Mindfulness strategies may facilitate healthier eating behavior but have not previously been studied in a United Kingdom-based tier 3 obesity service. OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the clinical effectiveness of mindfulness as part of newly created group sessions within a tier 3 obesity service. METHODS Recruitment of participants (n = 53, including n = 33 completers) from patients attending a tier 3-based obesity service at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire. Each participant attended four group sessions, at which mindfulness-based eating behavior strategies were taught. Self-reported eating behavior and body weight were assessed at baseline and following completion of attendance at the group sessions. Paired-sample t tests were performed. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Data are reported for the 33 completers. Weight difference was assessed in a retrospective control group of 33 patients who did not attend the group sessions but received the standard multidisciplinary input. RESULTS There were statistically significant improvements (P = 0.009) in self-reported eating behavior [driven by improvements in "fast-foodism" (P = 0.031)] and reduction in body weight [3.06 kg (SD 5.2 kg), P = 0.002] at 6 months following completion of the group sessions. This was statistically more (P = 0.036) than 6-month weight loss in the control group (0.21 kg). Participants reported improved self-esteem and confidence in self-management of body weight. CONCLUSION Application of mindfulness-based eating behavior strategies, taught at group sessions within a tier 3 obesity service, resulted in significant improvement in eating behavior, and facilitated subsequent weight loss over 6 months. Such a strategy has potential for scalability to the wider obese population.
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10.
Consumption of individual saturated fatty acids and the risk of myocardial infarction in a UK and a Danish cohort.
Praagman, J, Vissers, LET, Mulligan, AA, Laursen, ASD, Beulens, JWJ, van der Schouw, YT, Wareham, NJ, Hansen, CP, Khaw, KT, Jakobsen, MU, et al
International journal of cardiology. 2019;:18-26
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of individual saturated fatty acids (SFAs) on serum cholesterol levels depends on their carbon-chain length. Whether the association with myocardial infarction (MI) also differs across individual SFAs is unclear. We examined the association between consumption of individual SFAs, differing in chain lengths ranging from 4 through 18 carbons, and risk of MI. METHODS We used data from 22,050 and 53,375 participants from EPIC-Norfolk (UK) and EPIC-Denmark, respectively. Baseline SFA intakes were assessed through validated, country-specific food frequency questionnaires. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate associations between intakes of individual SFAs and MI risk, for each cohort separately. RESULTS During median follow-up times of 18.8 years in EPIC-Norfolk and 13.6 years in Denmark, respectively, 1204 and 2260 MI events occurred. Mean (±SD) total SFA intake was 13.3 (±3.5) en% in EPIC-Norfolk, and 12.5 (±2.6) en% in EPIC-Denmark. After multivariable adjustment, intakes of C12:0 (lauric acid) and C14:0 (myristic acid) inversely associated with MI risk in EPIC-Denmark (HR upper versus lowest quintile: 0.80 (95%CI: 0.66, 0.96) for both SFAs). Intakes in the third and fourth quintiles of C4:0-C10:0 also associated with lower MI risk in EPIC-Denmark. Moreover, substitution of C16:0 (palmitic acid) and C18:0 (stearic acid) with plant proteins resulted in a reduction of MI risk in EPIC-Denmark (HR per 1 energy%: 0.86 (95%CI: 0.78, 0.95) and 0.87 (95%CI: 0.79, 0.96) respectively). No such associations were found in EPIC-Norfolk. CONCLUSION The results from the present study suggest that the association between SFA and MI risk depends on the carbon chain-length of the SFA.