0
selected
-
1.
Fermented Foods: Definitions and Characteristics, Impact on the Gut Microbiota and Effects on Gastrointestinal Health and Disease.
Dimidi, E, Cox, SR, Rossi, M, Whelan, K
Nutrients. 2019;11(8)
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
Fermented foods have grown in popularity due to their proposed health benefits but there is limited clinical evidence for the effectiveness of most fermented foods in gastrointestinal health. This review paper looks at non-dairy fermented foods which have been studied in at least one RCT: kefir, sauerkraut, natto, and sourdough bread. The health benefits are attributed to the high ratio of probiotic microorganisms, metabolites, or ability to convert compounds into active metabolites, as well as prebiotics and vitamins contained in these foods. Kimchi has the greatest evidence from epidemiological and case control studies investigating risk of gastric cancers. Different food composition of kimchi is shown to both increase and decrease risks, whilst it had no impact on H. pylori levels. There were no studies on kefir in functional bowel disorders however, it was shown to help lactose malabsorption and reduce H. pylori levels. A small RCT on Sauerkraut showed it reduced IBS severity in patients and increased in vitro activity of key liver and kidney detoxifying enzymes. There are small pockets of data that show that tempeh may influence gut microbiota in humans, and that natto may increase bifidobacterial and short-chain fatty acids in healthy volunteers. There are numerous limited cohort studies on miso and cancer risk but no studies on gastrointestinal conditions. Finally, sourdough was shown to reduce FODMAPS and be better tolerated in IBS patients, reducing bloating, nausea and discomfort. Overall, all the studies provide insufficient evidence on fermented foods and gastrointestinal health.
Abstract
Fermented foods are defined as foods or beverages produced through controlled microbial growth, and the conversion of food components through enzymatic action. In recent years, fermented foods have undergone a surge in popularity, mainly due to their proposed health benefits. The aim of this review is to define and characterise common fermented foods (kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh, natto, miso, kimchi, sourdough bread), their mechanisms of action (including impact on the microbiota), and the evidence for effects on gastrointestinal health and disease in humans. Putative mechanisms for the impact of fermented foods on health include the potential probiotic effect of their constituent microorganisms, the fermentation-derived production of bioactive peptides, biogenic amines, and conversion of phenolic compounds to biologically active compounds, as well as the reduction of anti-nutrients. Fermented foods that have been tested in at least one randomised controlled trial (RCT) for their gastrointestinal effects were kefir, sauerkraut, natto, and sourdough bread. Despite extensive in vitro studies, there are no RCTs investigating the impact of kombucha, miso, kimchi or tempeh in gastrointestinal health. The most widely investigated fermented food is kefir, with evidence from at least one RCT suggesting beneficial effects in both lactose malabsorption and Helicobacter pylori eradication. In summary, there is very limited clinical evidence for the effectiveness of most fermented foods in gastrointestinal health and disease. Given the convincing in vitro findings, clinical high-quality trials investigating the health benefits of fermented foods are warranted.
-
2.
Dietary Inflammatory Index, Dietary Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity, and Colorectal and Breast Cancer Risk (MCC-Spain Study).
Obón-Santacana, M, Romaguera, D, Gracia-Lavedan, E, Molinuevo, A, Molina-Montes, E, Shivappa, N, Hebert, JR, Tardón, A, Castaño-Vinyals, G, Moratalla, F, et al
Nutrients. 2019;11(6)
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
This study aims to correlate the risk factors of inflammation and antioxidant capacity in cases of colon and breast cancer, using data from a large Spanish case-controlled study (1852 colon cancer subjects, 1567 breast cancer subjects and a total 4933 controls). The role of diet in colon cancer is widely accepted, however it is more controversial with breast cancer where genetic mutations and other lifestyle factors are cited as primary risk factors. What unites these cancers is the inter-related presence of both inflammation and oxidative stress. The dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC) were used to evaluate inflammation and oxidative stress using 30 nutrient parameters and 6 inflammatory blood markers. The results showed that colon cancer subjects typically ate a more pro-inflammatory diet compared to controls, with a higher odds ratio of men to women, and tended to be older, heavier and less physically active. The breast cancer subjects also had higher inflammatory scores versus controls but demographically were younger, premenopausal, frequently with a first-degree family link to breast cancer, and including a higher percentage of smokers. For both cancers, inflammation significantly and statistically increased risk factors. Adding in oxidative stress results showed a statistically higher risk of developing colon cancer whilst in breast cancer subjects the risk was increased but non-statistically valid. They did report that meat-eaters had a relative 9% increased risk of Breast cancer. Overall the study concluded that dietary components of inflammation and oxidative stress increased risk of colon cancer but were not statistically valid for breast cancer.
Abstract
Inflammation and antioxidant capacity have been associated with colorectal and breast cancer. We computed the dietary inflammatory index (DII®), and the total dietary non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC) and associated them with colorectal and breast cancer risk in the population-based multi case-control study in Spain (MCC-Spain). We included 1852 colorectal cancer and 1567 breast cancer cases, and 3447 and 1486 population controls, respectively. DII score and NEAC were derived using data from a semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for energy-adjusted DII (E-DII), and a score combining E-DII and NEAC. E-DII was associated with colorectal cancer risk (OR = 1.93, highest quartile versus lowest, 95%CI:1.60-2.32; p-trend: <0.001); this increase was observed for both colon and rectal cancer. Less pronounced increased risks were observed for breast cancer (OR = 1.22, highest quartile versus lowest, 95%CI:0.99-1.52, p-trend: >0.10). The combined score of high E-DII scores and low antioxidant values were associated with colorectal cancer risk (OR = 1.48, highest quartile versus lowest, 95%CI: 1.26-1.74; p-trend: <0.001), but not breast cancer. This study provides evidence that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with increased colorectal cancer risk while findings for breast cancer were less consistent.
-
3.
The relationship between nut intake and risk of colorectal cancer: a case control study.
Lee, J, Shin, A, Oh, JH, Kim, J
Nutrition journal. 2018;17(1):37
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
Nut consumption has been shown to be associated with reduced risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This retrospective, case-controlled study aimed to examine the association between nut consumption and the risk of colo-rectal cancer in a cohort of Korean adults. 923 colorectal cancer patients and 1846 controls were included in the study. Each completed a validated food frequency questionnaire, including peanuts, pine nuts and almonds. A nut serving was considered to be 15g and was categorised as none, less than 1 serving per week, 1-3 servings per week and greater than 3 servings per week. Nut consumption was found to have a strong association with reduced colo-rectal cancer in both men and women, after adjusting for age, education level, alcohol consumption, BMI, regular exercise, red meat intake, fruit and vegetable intake and total energy intake. This association was found in all sub-sites of the colon for men and for the distal and rectum subsites for women.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nut consumption is known to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. However, in previous studies, portion sizes and categories of nut consumption have varied, and few studies have assessed the association between colorectal cancer risk and nut consumption. In this study, we investigated the relationship between nut consumption and colorectal cancer risk. METHODS A case-control study was conducted among 923 colorectal cancer patients and 1846 controls recruited from the National Cancer Center in Korea. Information on dietary intake was collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 106 items, including peanuts, pine nuts, and almonds (as 1 food item). Nut consumption was categorized as none, < 1 serving per week, 1-3 servings per week, and ≥3 servings per week. A binary logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between nut consumption and colorectal cancer risk, and a polytomous logistic regression model was used for sub-site analyses. RESULTS High nut consumption was strongly associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer among women (adjusted ORs: 0.30, 95%CI: 0.15-0.60 for the ≥3 servings per week group vs. none). A similar inverse association was observed for men (adjusted ORs: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.17-0.47). In sub-site analyses, adjusted ORs (95% CIs) comparing the ≥3 servings per week group vs none were 0.25 (0.09-0.70) for proximal colon cancer, 0.39 (0.19-0.80) for distal colon cancer, and 0.23 (0.12-0.46) for rectal cancer among men. An inverse association was also found among women for distal colon cancer (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04-0.48) and rectal cancer (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.17-0.95). CONCLUSIONS We found a statistically significant association between high frequency of nut consumption and reduced risk of colorectal cancer. This association was observed for all sub-sites of the colon and rectum among both men and women, with the exception of proximal colon cancer for women.
-
4.
Comprehensive Nutritional and Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Randomized, Controlled 12-Month Trial.
Adams, JB, Audhya, T, Geis, E, Gehn, E, Fimbres, V, Pollard, EL, Mitchell, J, Ingram, J, Hellmers, R, Laake, D, et al
Nutrients. 2018;10(3)
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have significant nutritional deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, and digestive problems. Many studies have previously looked at individual nutrients for ASD. This study was designed to look at the accumulative effect of using a wide range of dietary and nutritional interventions, including vitamin and mineral supplements, essential fatty acids, Epsom salt baths, carnitine, digestive enzymes, and a gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free (HGCSF) diet. The objective being to see if combining multiple interventions for a 12-month period, had greater benefits versus single nutrient interventions, and shorter trials. This US study recruited a wide age range of participants from 3-58yrs because it targeted, and was funded, by family groups of the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. The study was deliberately single-blinded (meaning the participants knew what they were being given, but the clinical evaluators did not), as it was thought this would be more compelling and lead to less dropouts, especially considering the 12-month timing. In total 67 participants with ASD were recruited and 50 controls. Blood and urine samples were taking at the beginning and end of the study alongside autism severity assessments. Results showed an improvement in nutrient profiles for vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and carnitine alongside a significant decrease in homocysteine. There was an improvement in non-verbal IG test and cognitive function, and gastro-intestinal symptoms. There were no significant differences in complete blood count, blood chemistry panels or markers for inflammatory C-reactive protein (CRP). There was no change to BMI. Three exceptional cases of improvement were recorded in the control group and made into case studies highlighting improved physical strength and ability to walk, and resolution of urinary issues and pica eating disorder. Because it was single blinded there may be some ‘placebo effect’ but overall the researchers conclude that the study demonstrates how interventions can be safely and effectively implemented in families, with minimal adverse effect. And that combined nutrient and diet interventions should be considered for use in clinical practice.
Abstract
This study involved a randomized, controlled, single-blind 12-month treatment study of a comprehensive nutritional and dietary intervention. Participants were 67 children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ages 3-58 years from Arizona and 50 non-sibling neurotypical controls of similar age and gender. Treatment began with a special vitamin/mineral supplement, and additional treatments were added sequentially, including essential fatty acids, Epsom salt baths, carnitine, digestive enzymes, and a healthy gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free (HGCSF) diet. There was a significant improvement in nonverbal intellectual ability in the treatment group compared to the non-treatment group (+6.7 ± 11 IQ points vs. -0.6 ± 11 IQ points, p = 0.009) based on a blinded clinical assessment. Based on semi-blinded assessment, the treatment group, compared to the non-treatment group, had significantly greater improvement in autism symptoms and developmental age. The treatment group had significantly greater increases in EPA, DHA, carnitine, and vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, B12, folic acid, and Coenzyme Q10. The positive results of this study suggest that a comprehensive nutritional and dietary intervention is effective at improving nutritional status, non-verbal IQ, autism symptoms, and other symptoms in most individuals with ASD. Parents reported that the vitamin/mineral supplements, essential fatty acids, and HGCSF diet were the most beneficial.
-
5.
Dietary inflammatory index and risk of pancreatic cancer in an Italian case-control study.
Shivappa, N, Bosetti, C, Zucchetto, A, Serraino, D, La Vecchia, C, Hébert, JR
The British journal of nutrition. 2015;113(2):292-8
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Plain language summary
Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate amongst gastro-intestinal cancers and evidence suggests that diet plays a pivotal role in the aetiology of the disease. Chronic inflammation is often present with cancers however it is not known if inflammation has a causal role or is simply part of the body’s natural response mechanism. This 2015 case control study evaluated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data from 326 incident cases and 652 controls and indexed foods based on their inflammatory status using a global database derived from previous studies: the dietary inflammatory index (DII). The DII ranks foods against forty-five nutrient parameters to generate an overall score. The higher DII scores reflect a greater pro-inflammatory potential of the diet. Food parameters measured included: carbohydrate; protein; fat; alcohol; fibre; cholesterol; SFA; MUFA; PUFA; n -3; n -6; niacin; thiamin; riboflavin; vitamin B6; Fe; Zn; vitamin A; vitamin C; vitamin D; vitamin E; folic acid; β-carotene; anthocyanidins; flavan-3-ol; flavonol; flavonones; flavones; isoflavones; caffeine and tea. The DII is designed to consider all pro-inflammatory foods (such as red meat) and all anti-inflammatory foods (such as fruits and vegetables) to represent the potential inflammatory effect of diet as a whole. After adjustments for sex, age and other lifestyle factors the results showed that subjects with higher DII scores (i.e. representing a more pro-inflammatory diet) had a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that various dietary components may be implicated in the aetiology of pancreatic cancer. However, the possible relationship between diet-related inflammation and the risk of pancreatic cancer has not yet been investigated. We examined the ability of a newly developed literature-derived dietary inflammatory index (DII) to predict the risk of pancreatic cancer in a case-control study conducted in Italy between 1991 and 2008. This included 326 incident cases and 652 controls admitted to the major teaching and general hospitals for non-neoplastic diseases, frequency-matched to cases by study centre, sex and age. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed using a validated and reproducible seventy-eight-item FFQ. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable OR adjusted for age, sex, study centre, education, BMI, smoking status, alcohol drinking and history of diabetes. Energy adjustment was performed using the residual method. Subjects with higher DII scores (i.e., representing a more pro-inflammatory diet) had a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, with the DII being used as both a continuous variable (ORcontinuous 1.24, 95% CI 1.11, 1.38) and a categorical variable (i.e., compared with the subjects in the lowest quintile of the DII, those in the second, third, fourth and fifth quintiles had, respectively, OR(quintile2 v. 1) 1.70, 95% CI 1.02, 2.80; OR(quintile3 v. 1) 1.91, 95% CI 1.16, 3.16; OR(quintile4 v. 1) 1.98, 95% CI 1.20, 3.27; OR(quintile5 v. 1) 2.48, 95% CI 1.50, 4.10; P trend= 0.0015). These data suggest that a pro-inflammatory diet increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.