-
1.
Effects of a chronotype-adapted diet on weight loss, cardiometabolic health, and gut microbiota: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Dinu, M, Lotti, S, Pagliai, G, Napoletano, A, Asensi, MT, Giangrandi, I, Marcucci, R, Amedei, A, Colombini, B, Sofi, F
Trials. 2024;(1):152
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity and its associated health complications have become a global public health concern, necessitating innovative approaches to weight management. One emerging area of research focuses on the influence of chronotype, an individual's preferred timing for daily activities, on eating habits, weight regulation, and metabolic health. Recent observational studies suggest that the misalignment between an individual's chronotype and external cues, such as meal timing, may contribute to metabolic dysregulation and obesity, but evidence from intervention studies is still limited. This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial designed to explore the effects of a chronotype-adapted diet, compared with a diet with a conventional calorie distribution, on weight loss, cardiometabolic health, and gut microbiota composition. METHODS A total of 150 overweight/obese adults will be recruited for this 4-month parallel-group, randomized, two-arm, open-label, superiority trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group will receive a low-calorie chronotype-adapted diet with a calorie distribution adapted to the individual chronotype (morning or evening), optimizing meal timing according to their peak metabolic periods. The control group will follow a standardized low-calorie healthy eating plan without considering chronotype. Both diets will have equivalent daily calorie content, adjusted according to gender and starting weight. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, blood, and fecal samples will be obtained from each participant at the beginning and the end of the study. The primary outcome is weight change from baseline. Secondary outcomes are changes from baseline in body mass index (BMI), fat mass, lipid and glycemic profile, fecal microbiota profile, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). DISCUSSION The results of this randomized controlled trial have the potential to advance our understanding of the complex interactions between chronotype, diet, body weight, and health outcomes. By providing evidence for personalized dietary interventions based on individuals' circadian preferences, this research could offer insights into personalized nutrition strategies. Such knowledge could guide the development of innovative dietary interventions to optimize the prevention and management of overweight and obesity, while also improving the risk profile of these individuals. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05941871. Registered on 18 May 2023.
-
2.
Effects of a dietary intervention with lacto-ovo-vegetarian and Mediterranean diets on apolipoproteins and inflammatory cytokines: results from the CARDIVEG study.
Pagliai, G, Tristan Asensi, M, Dinu, M, Cesari, F, Bertelli, A, Gori, AM, Giusti, B, Marcucci, R, Sofi, F, Colombini, B
Nutrition & metabolism. 2024;(1):9
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apolipoproteins have been recently proposed as novel markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, evidence regarding effects of diet on apolipoproteins is limited. AIM: To compare the effects of Mediterranean diet (MD) and lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (VD) on apolipoproteins and traditional CVD risk factors in participants with low-to-moderate CVD risk. METHODS Fifty-two participants (39 women; 49.1 ± 12.4 years), followed MD and VD for 3 months each. Medical and dietary information was collected at the baseline. Anthropometric parameters and blood samples were obtained at the beginning and the end of interventions. RESULTS MD and VD resulted in significant improvement in anthropometric and lipid profiles. Both diets led to a reduction in most of the inflammatory parameters. As for apolipoproteins, a significant change was observed for ApoC-I after VD (+ 24.4%; p = 0.020). MD led to a negative correlation between ApoC-III and carbohydrates (R = - 0.29; p = 0.039) whereas VD between ApoD and saturated fats (R = - 0.38; p = 0.006). A positive correlation emerged after VD between HDL and ApoD (R = 0.33; p = 0.017) and after MD between plasma triglycerides and ApoC-I (R = 0.32; p = 0.020) and ApoD (R = 0.30; p = 0.031). IL-17 resulted to be positively correlated with ApoB after MD (R = 0.31; p = 0.028) and with ApoC-III after VD (R = 0.32; p = 0.019). Subgroup analysis revealed positive effects on apolipoproteins from both diets, especially in women, individuals older than 50 years-old or with < 3 CVD risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Both diets seem to improve CVD risk, however, MD showed a greater positive effect on apolipoproteins in some subgroups, thus suggesting how diet may influence new potential markers of CVD risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION registered at clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT02641834) on December 2015.
-
3.
Effects of the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® on body composition, biochemical parameters, gut microbiota composition and function, and clinical symptoms of overweight/obese subjects.
Pagliai, G, Coman, MM, Baldi, S, Dinu, M, Nannini, G, Russo, E, Curini, L, Colombini, B, Lotti, S, Pallecchi, M, et al
Frontiers in nutrition. 2023;:1142527
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM In recent decades, obesity prevalence has reached epidemic proportions and considering the pivotal role of gut microbiota (GM) in the regulation of energy balance, alternative non-pharmacological approaches involving probiotics' administration have been proposed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® supplementation on anthropometric and biochemical parameters, GM composition and functionality, and gastrointestinal and general symptoms of overweight/obese subjects. METHODS Forty overweight/obese subjects were randomly assigned to daily consume the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® or placebo for 3 months. Before and after the administration period, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, self-administered questionnaires, and plasma and stool samples were obtained from each participant. The GM characterization was performed with 16S rRNA sequencing, while fecal short (SCFAs) and medium (MCFAs) chain fatty acids were analyzed with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry protocol. RESULTS Compared to placebo, probiotic supplementation determined a significant decrease in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and blood glucose. Moreover, probiotic administration produced a significant decrease of the genera Hafnia-Obesumbacterium and Romboutsia and an increase of Succiniclasticum spp.; conversely, placebo administration resulted in the decrease of Actinomycetaceae and an increase of both Alloprevotella spp. and of the levels of pro-inflammatory hexanoic and heptanoic acids. CONCLUSION Thanks to its effect in increasing some beneficial gut bacteria and lowering effects on waist circumference, fasting glucose levels and gastrointestinal symptoms of obese subjects, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® supplementation could represent a future and encouraging strategy for the prevention or treatment of obesity.
-
4.
Quality of life and nutritional status of a group of post-operative head and neck cancer patients.
Tristan Asensi, M, Giangrandi, I, Sartini, L, Pagliai, G, Dinu, M, Lotti, S, Colombini, B, Sofi, F
Nutricion hospitalaria. 2023;(5):919-923
Abstract
Introduction: scientific evidence on the appropriate nutritional support in the treatment of post-operative head and neck cancer (HNC) patients is still limited. Objectives: our aim was to evaluate nutritional status and quality of life in HNC patients in post-operative phase with different nutritional support. Methods: fifty-four HNC patients (26 with enteral nutrition [EN] via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [PEG] and 28 with oral nutrition [ON]) were included. Nutritional status was evaluated with biochemical parameters and quality of life through the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: ON patients reported significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of hemoglobin, lymphocytes, iron, folic acid, and vitamin D than EN patients, with greater percentage of ON patients found to be below the reference limits for hemoglobin (21.4 % vs 19.4 %), and significantly for serum iron (17.9 % vs 0 %) and vitamin D (78.6 % vs 30.8 %). Furthermore, EN patients had a better quality of life (63.8 ± 17.6) than ON (55.4 ± 20.3), although ON patients reported less symptoms related to dyspnea (-5.8 %), loss of appetite (-11.3 %) and vomiting (-23.1 %). Conclusions: these results suggest that the use of EN in post-operative HNC patients could have a positive effect on the nutritional status and quality of life of these patients. However, further research is needed to optimize the nutritional support in these patients in order to avoid malnutrition and improve their well-being.
-
5.
Quality of life in liver transplant recipients during the Corona virus disease 19 pandemic: A multicentre study.
Gitto, S, Golfieri, L, Mannelli, N, Tamè, MR, Lopez, I, Ceccato, R, Montanari, S, Falcini, M, Vitale, G, De Maria, N, et al
Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver. 2022;(7):1618-1628
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplant recipients require specific clinical and psychosocial attention given their frailty. Main aim of the study was to assess the quality of life after liver transplant during the current pandemic. METHODS This multicentre study was conducted in clinically stable, liver transplanted patients. Enrollment opened in June and finished in September 2021. Patients completed a survey including lifestyle data, quality of life (Short Form health survey), sport, employment, diet. To examine the correlations, we calculated Pearson coefficients while to compare subgroups, independent samples t-tests and ANOVAs. To detect the predictors of impaired quality of life, we used multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS We analysed data from 511 patients observing significant associations between quality of life's physical score and both age and adherence to Mediterranean diet (p < .01). A significant negative correlation was observed between mental score and the sedentary activity (p < .05). Female patients scored significantly lower than males in physical and mental score. At multivariate analysis, females were 1.65 times more likely to report impaired physical score than males. Occupation and physical activity presented significant positive relation with quality of life. Adherence to Mediterranean diet was another relevant predictor. Regarding mental score, female patients were 1.78 times more likely to show impaired mental score in comparison with males. Sedentary activity and adherence to Mediterranean diet were further noteworthy predictors. CONCLUSIONS Females and subjects with sedentary lifestyle or work inactive seem to show the worst quality of life and both physical activity and Mediterranean diet might be helpful to improve it.
-
6.
DIet and Health From reGIstered Trials on ClinicalTrials.gov: The DIGIT Study.
Dinu, M, Pagliai, G, Del Bo', C, Porrini, M, Riso, P, Serafini, M, Sofi, F, Martini, D, Angelino, D
Frontiers in nutrition. 2022;:870776
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical trial registration has become a valuable tool that can be used to track the status and nature of trials conducted on a specific topic. This approach has been applied to many areas of research, but less is known about the characteristics and trends over time of clinical trials focused on diet and health. The aim of this study was to analyze diet-related clinical trials registered on the National Institute of Health "ClinicalTrials.gov" web platform in the last 10 years, to list and describe their characteristics, and to identify possible gaps to be filled in the future research. METHODS A search was performed on the ClinicalTrials.gov database. Intervention studies registered from January 2010 to December 2020, conducted on adults, with a follow-up of ≥2 weeks, evaluating the impact of different diets on all outcomes except those assessed with scales or questionnaires were considered. RESULTS At the end of the selection process, a total of 1,016 registered clinical trials were identified and included in the analysis. The most investigated dietary approaches were balanced diets (n = 381 trials), followed by those based on a modification of macronutrients (n = 288) and time-restricted feeding and intermittent fasting diets (n = 140). The main measured outcomes included anthropometric parameters and body composition (57.8%), glycemic control parameters (49.7%), lipid parameters (40.1%), inflammatory markers (29.1%), and blood pressure and/or heart rate (24.5%). A growing body of studies also focused on microbiota and host metabolism (17.8%). Most studies had a duration of less than 12 weeks (~60%), and more than 90% of studies enrolled volunteers with overweight/obesity or other diseases. Regarding aging, only 21 studies focused only on older adults. CONCLUSION The number of studies investigating the relationship between diet and health has increased over the years. Despite the growing interest in the topic, there are some gaps, such as the limited duration of most trials, the underrepresentation of some population groups, and the limited number of studies for some diets that, although popular in the population, lack robust scientific evidence.
-
7.
Chronotype Differences in Energy Intake, Cardiometabolic Risk Parameters, Cancer, and Depression: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.
Lotti, S, Pagliai, G, Colombini, B, Sofi, F, Dinu, M
Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). 2022;(1):269-281
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
Chronotype is a behavioral manifestation of the internal circadian clock system. It refers to the specific activity-rest preference of an individual over a 24-h period and can be assessed using different methodologies that classify individuals into morning or evening chronotype. In recent years, several studies have suggested a relation between individual chronotype, eating habits, and the risk of developing obesity and other conditions. Our aim was to evaluate the association between chronotype, energy intake, and health status through a meta-analytic approach. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database was conducted. Observational studies that reported a measure of association between chronotype, energy intake, and health indicators were considered eligible. Overall, 39 observational studies (37 cross-sectional studies, 2 prospective cohort studies) were included in the systematic review, with a total of 377,797 subjects. By comparing morning and evening subjects, pooled analyses of cross-sectional studies showed significantly (P < 0.001) higher concentrations of blood glucose [mean difference (MD): 7.82; 95% CI: 3.18, 12.45], glycated hemoglobin (MD: 7.64; 95% CI: 3.08, 12.21), LDL cholesterol (MD: 13.69; 95% CI: 6.84, 20.54), and triglycerides (MD: 12.62; 95% CI: 0.90, 24.35) in evening subjects. Furthermore, an association between evening type and the risk of diabetes (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.41), cancer (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.30), and depression (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.88) was reported. Regarding the other outcomes examined, no significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of energy intake, anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, insulin, total and HDL cholesterol, and hypertension risk. In conclusion, evening chronotype was associated with a worse cardiometabolic risk profile and higher risk of diabetes, cancer, and depression. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to better elucidate the interplay between chronotype, nutrition, and health status. This systematic review was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ as CRD42021231044.
-
8.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: results from the web-based Medi-Lite questionnaire.
Lotti, S, Dinu, M, Pagliai, G, Giangrandi, I, Colombini, B, Sofi, F
International journal of food sciences and nutrition. 2022;(5):650-656
Abstract
The aims of this study were to assess the Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence in 2566 Italians who completed the validated Medi-Lite questionnaire during the year 2020, and to investigate the effect of COVID-19 confinement on dietary habits and MD adherence. To do this, we compared subjects (n = 389) that answered the questionnaire during the confinement occurred in Italy from March to May 2020 with subjects (n = 653) who completed the questionnaire in the same period (March-May) of the previous year (2019). From the results, a moderate level of MD adherence in the total sample emerged, and a significantly (p<.0001) increased adherence during lockdown was observed. Specifically, during confinement significantly (p < 0.05) higher consumption of vegetables (+9.4%), legumes (+13.5%) and pasta (+12.9%) emerged, while lower consumption was reported for bread (-13.4%) and meat and meat products (-15.4%). This study showed increased adherence to MD and a better-quality diet during the COVID-19 confinement in Italy.
-
9.
Association between Psychological Disorders, Mediterranean Diet, and Chronotype in a Group of Italian Adults.
Dinu, M, Lotti, S, Napoletano, A, Corrao, A, Pagliai, G, Tristan Asensi, M, Gianfredi, V, Nucci, D, Colombini, B, Sofi, F
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022;(1)
Abstract
Mental health conditions are a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. The aim of this study was to explore the association between psychological disorders, Mediterranean diet (MD), and chronotype. A total of 344 participants (74% women) with a mean age of 33.5 ± 13 years were recruited. According to the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) score, 22% of participants had symptoms of depression, 23% anxiety, and 10% stress. The assessment of MD adherence through the Medi-Lite score revealed that participants with psychological disorders had significantly (p < 0.05) lower MD adherence than those without these conditions. Furthermore, less than 10% of the subjects with at least one symptom reported consuming the optimal amount of fruit and vegetables, while 72% showed excessive consumption of meat and meat products. Regarding chronotype, evening subjects reported the lowest MD adherence and the highest prevalence of all three psychological disorders analyzed. A multivariate analysis showed that female gender, age, being unmarried/single, sedentary lifestyle, and low MD adherence were associated with a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, and stress. Future studies are needed to explore the relationship between mental health and risk factors to improve personal and global population health.
-
10.
Effect of ancient wheat pasta on gut microbiota composition and bacteria-derived metabolites: A randomized controlled trial.
Baldi, S, Dinu, M, Pagliai, G, Colombini, B, Di Gloria, L, Curini, L, Pallecchi, M, Ramazzotti, M, Bartolucci, G, Benedettelli, S, et al
Frontiers in nutrition. 2022;:971666
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM In recent years, many studies have suggested that ancient wheat products might have beneficial effects on cardiometabolic risk profile, but little is known about their effect on gut microbiota (GM). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a replacement diet with pasta made from ancient wheat (AD) could influence the GM composition and its metabolites' production compared to a replacement diet with pasta made from modern wheat (CD). METHODS A randomized, double-blinded crossover trial with two intervention phases was conducted on 20 clinically healthy adults (9 females; 11 males; mean age 43.1 ± 12.5 years). Study participants were assigned to consume pasta made using semi-whole flour from organic wheat that was either from ancient or modern control wheat for 8 weeks in a random order. An 8-week washout period was implemented between the interventions. Stool samples were collected from all subjects at the beginning and at the end of each intervention period. GM composition, and short- (SCFAs) and medium- chain fatty acids (MCFAs) production was evaluated. RESULTS Dietary interventions did not produce significant diversity in the GM composition at higher ranks (phylum, class, order and family), but only at genus level. In detail, the AD significantly (adj. p < 0.05) changed the abundance of Erysipelatoclostridium spp., Bacteroides_pectinophilus_group spp., CAG-873 spp., and Holdemanella spp. The CD significantly affected the abundance of Akkermansia spp., CAG-873 spp., Hungatella spp., Lachnospiraceae_UCG-008 spp., NK4A214_group spp., Frisingicoccus spp., Megasphaera spp., Synergistes spp., and Tyzzerella spp. Regarding the production of SCFAs and MCFAs, AD resulted in a significant increase of fecal acetic (+0.7%), isobutyric (+30.1%), 2-methylbutyric (+64.2%), and isovaleric (+22.5%) acids. On the other hand, CD resulted in increased levels of isobutyric (+71.4%), 2-methylbutyric (+116.2%), isovaleric (+99%), and valeric (+21.4%) acids, and a reduction of butyric (-31.6%) and hexanoic (-66.4%) acids. CONCLUSION A short-term replacement diet with both ancient and modern wheat pasta determined significant changes in GM composition at the genus level but notably the AD resulted in a greater beneficial impact on anti-inflammatory SCFAs.