Processed and ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption has been associated with development of noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCD). This systematic review aims to summarise and discuss evidence of ...the relationship between food consumption according to degree of food processing and cardiometabolic risk. Data search was conducted in databases as PubMed, Bireme and Science Direct until July 2018. Studies have shown a positive association of UPF consumption with excess body weight, hypertension, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome features. However, disparities found in the studies analysed regarding dietary assessment, confounding factors and differences in food classifications makes comparisons between studies difficult. In conclusion, current evidences indicate the need to monitor UPF intake in global population. However, more studies are necessary to interpret better these associations with similar methodologies used in the studies. As well as longitudinal analyses can help to improve comparisons between outcomes and establish cause-effect relationship between UPF intake and cardiometabolic risk.
Background
The nutritional composition of the dietary intake could produce specific effects on metabolic variables and inflammatory marker concentrations. This study assessed the effects of two ...hypocaloric diets (legume-restricted- vs. legume-based diet) on metabolic and inflammatory changes, accompanying weight loss.
Methods
Thirty obese subjects (17 M/13F; BMI: 32.5 ± 4.5 kg/m
2
; 36 ± 8 years) were randomly assigned to one of the following hypocaloric treatments (8 weeks): Calorie-restricted legume-free diet (Control: C-diet) or calorie-restricted legume-based diet (L-diet), prescribing 4 weekly different cooked-servings (160–235 g) of lentils, chickpeas, peas or beans. Body composition, blood pressure (BP), blood biochemical and inflammatory marker concentrations as well as dietary intake were measured at baseline and after the nutritional intervention.
Results
The L-diet achieved a greater body weight loss, when compared to the C-diet (−7.8 ± 2.9% vs. −5.3 ± 2.7%;
p
= 0.024). Total and LDL cholesterol levels and systolic BP were improved only when consuming the L-diet (
p
< 0.05). L-diet also resulted in a significant higher reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement C3 (C3) concentrations (
p
< 0.05), compared to baseline and C-diet values. Interestingly, the reduction in the concentrations of CRP and C3 remained significantly higher to L-diet group, after adjusting by weight loss (
p
< 0.05). In addition, the reduction (%) in CRP concentrations was positively associated with decreases (%) in systolic BP and total cholesterol concentration specifically in the L-diet group, independent from weight loss (
p
< 0.05).
Conclusion
The consumption of legumes (4 servings/week) within a hypocaloric diet resulted in a specific reduction in proinflammatory markers, such as CRP and C3 and a clinically significant improvement of some metabolic features (lipid profile and BP) in overweight/ obese subjects, which were in some cases independent from weight loss.
Malnutrition is very prevalent in geriatric patients with hip fracture. Nevertheless, its importance is not fully recognized. The objective of this paper is to review the impact of malnutrition and ...of nutritional treatment upon outcomes and mortality in older people with hip fracture. We searched the PubMed database for studies evaluating nutritional aspects in people aged 70 years and over with hip fracture. The total number of studies included in the review was 44, which analyzed 26,281 subjects (73.5% women, 83.6 ± 7.2 years old). Older people with hip fracture presented an inadequate nutrient intake for their requirements, which caused deterioration in their already compromised nutritional status. The prevalence of malnutrition was approximately 18.7% using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) (large or short form) as a diagnostic tool, but the prevalence was greater (45.7%) if different criteria were used (such as Body Mass Index (BMI), weight loss, or albumin concentration). Low scores in anthropometric indices were associated with a higher prevalence of complications during hospitalization and with a worse functional recovery. Despite improvements in the treatment of geriatric patients with hip fracture, mortality was still unacceptably high (30% within 1 year and up to 40% within 3 years). Malnutrition was associated with an increase in mortality. Nutritional intervention was cost effective and was associated with an improvement in nutritional status and a greater functional recovery. To conclude, in older people, the prevention of malnutrition and an early nutritional intervention can improve recovery following a hip fracture.
Dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has been assumed as a useful tool to assess the relationship between the cumulative antioxidant food capacity and several chronic disorders. The aim of this ...cross-sectional study was to investigate the potential relationships of dietary TAC with adiposity, metabolic and oxidative stress markers in healthy young adults.
This study enrolled 266 healthy subjects (105 men/ 161 women; 22 ± 3 years-old; 22.0 ± 2.7 kg/m2). Dietary intake, anthropometry, blood pressure, lifestyle features, and biochemical data were assessed with validated procedures.
In linear regression analyses, dietary TAC values were inversely associated with glycemia, total cholesterol:HDL-c ratio, triglycerides and oxidized-LDL concentrations, and positively associated with HDL-c concentrations, independently of gender, age, smoking status, physical activity, vitamin use supplement, waist circumference, energy intake, fatty acid intake. In addition, plasma TAC was negatively correlated with ox-LDL concentrations (r= -0.20, P = 0.003), independently of the assessed confounding variables. Finally, dietary TAC values were inversely related to waist circumference values (r= -0.17, P = 0.005) as well as to lower mild central obesity occurrence (waist circumference ≥ 80/ 94 cm for women/ men, respectively).
Dietary TAC values are inversely associated with glucose and lipid biomarkers as well as with central adiposity measurements in healthy young adults, indicating dietary TAC as a useful tool to assess the health benefits of cumulative antioxidant capacity from food intake. In addition, the independent and inverse relationships of ox-LDL concentrations with dietary and plasma TAC respectively suggest a putative role of antioxidant rich-diet in the link between redox state and atherogenesis at early stage.
The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the potential relationships between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and some oxidative stress markers in young adults, with particular ...emphasis on fibre and vitamin C intake. The study enrolled 246 healthy subjects (eighty-eight men and 158 women), with a mean age of 22 (sd 3) years and a mean BMI of 21·9 (sd 2·8) kg/m2. Dietary intake, anthropometry, blood pressure, lifestyle features and blood biochemical data were assessed with validated procedures. Those subjects in the highest tertile (T) of FV consumption ( ≥ 705 g/d) had statistically lower oxidised LDL (ox-LDL) concentrations as well as higher plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (P for trend <0·05), after adjusting for sex, age, energy intake, physical activity, smoking, BMI, vitamin supplement use and other confounding factors. Moreover, plasma ox-LDL concentrations showed a decreasing trend and TAC an increasing trend across tertiles of fibre (T3: ≥14 g/d) and vitamin C (T3: ≥150 mg/d) from FV intake, while GPx activity was positively associated with vitamin C intake (P for trend < 0·05). In conclusion, greater FV consumption was independently associated with reduced ox-LDL as well as increased TAC and GPx activity in healthy young adults, with dietary fibre and vitamin C from FV clearly being implicated in this beneficial relationship.
Previous studies, mainly focused on quantity rather than variety, have shown beneficial associations between the amount of fruit and vegetable consumed, diet quality and healthy lifestyle. The aim is ...to evaluate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption, diet quality and lifestyle in an elderly Mediterranean population, considering both variety and the combination of quantity and variety (QV).
A cross-sectional analysis of 6647 participants (51.6% of males) was conducted in the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus study. A variety score was created as the sum of vegetables and/or fruits consumed at least once per month using food frequency questionnaires. Dietary Reference Intakes (EAR and IA values) were used to estimate the prevalence of inadequate intake of dietary fiber and micronutrients. Logistic regression models were performed to examine the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and not meeting the DRIs, by tertiles of fruit and vegetable variety and QV categories.
Participants with higher fruit and vegetable variety score reported a significant higher intake of fiber, vitamins, minerals and flavonoids and were significantly more likely to be physically active and non-smoker. Besides, higher variety in fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with lower prevalence of having an inadequate intake of fiber (0.13 (0.11–0.16), two or more (0.17 (0.14–0.21), three or more (0.15 (0.13–0.18) and four or more (0.11 (0.10–0.14) micronutrients in our participants. Higher quantity and variety in fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with lower prevalence of having an inadequate intake of fiber (0.05 (0.04–0.06), two or more (0.08 (0.06–0.10), three or more (0.08 (0.06–0.09) and four or more (0.06 (0.05–0.07) micronutrients.
Greater variety in fruit and vegetable intake was associated with better nutrient adequacy, diet quality and healthier lifestyle in an elderly Mediterranean population.
Background: Increased albuminuria is associated with increased serum ferritin, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Liver iron accumulation is also related to ...hyperferritinemia, insulin resistance, and NAFLD; however, there is no evidence on its relationship with albuminuria. Aims: To assess the relationship between hepatic iron load and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and NAFLD. Methods: In total, 75 MetS and NAFLD patients (aged 40–60 years, BMI 27–40 kg/m2) were selected from a cohort according to available data on hepatic iron load (HepFe) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Subjects underwent anthropometric measurements, biochemistry testing, and liver MRI. Increased albuminuria was defined by UACR. Results: UACR correlated with NAFLD, HepFe, triglycerides, serum ferritin, fasting insulin, insulin resistance (calculated using the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance—HOMA-IR- formula), and platelets (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, eGFR, HbA1c, T2DM, and stages of NAFLD, found that HepFe (p = 0.02), serum ferritin (p = 0.04), fasting insulin (p = 0.049), and platelets (p = 0.009) were associated with UACR (R2 = 0.370; p = 0.007). UACR, liver fat accumulation, serum ferritin, and HOMA-IR increased across stages of HepFe (p < 0.05). Patients with severe NAFLD presented higher HepFe, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and systolic blood pressure as compared to patients in NAFLD stage 1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Hepatic iron load, serum ferritin, fasting insulin, and platelets were independently associated with albuminuria. In the context of MetS, increased stages of NAFLD presented higher levels of HepFe. Higher levels of HepFe were accompanied by increased serum ferritin, insulin resistance, and UACR. The association between iron accumulation, MetS, and NAFLD may represent a risk factor for the development of increased albuminuria.
Higher consumption of coffee and caffeine has been linked to less weight gain and lower body mass index in prospective cohort studies. The aim of the study was to longitudinally assess the ...association of changes in coffee and caffeine intake with changes in fat tissue, in particular, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
In the setting of a large, randomized trial of Mediterranean diet and physical activity intervention, we evaluated 1483 participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Repeated measurements of coffee consumption from validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and DXA measurements of adipose tissue were collected at baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 3 years of follow-up. DXA-derived measurements of total and regional adipose tissue expressed as % of total body weight were transformed into sex-specific z-scores. Linear multilevel mixed-effect models were used to investigate the relationship between changes in coffee consumption and corresponding concurrent changes in fat tissue during a 3-year follow-up.
After adjustment for intervention group, and other potential confounders, an increase in caffeinated coffee consumption from no or infrequent consumption (≤3 cups/month) to moderate consumption (1–7 cups/week) was associated with reductions in total body fat (Δ z-score: −0.06; 95% CI: −0.11 to −0.02), trunk fat (Δ z-score: −0.07; 95% CI: −0.12 to −0.02), and VAT (Δ z-score: −0.07; 95% CI: −0.13 to −0.01). Neither changes from no or infrequent consumption to high levels of caffeinated coffee consumption (>1 cup/day) nor any changes in decaffeinated coffee consumption showed significant associations with changes in DXA measures.
Moderate changes in the consumption of caffeinated coffee, but not changes to high consumption, were associated with reductions in total body fat, trunk fat and VAT in a Mediterranean cohort with MetS. Decaffeinated coffee was not linked to adiposity indicators. Moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee may be part of a weight management strategy.
The trial was registered at the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial (ISRCTN: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89898870) with number 89898870 and registration date of 24 July 2014, retrospectively registered.
This study assessed the potential association of some proinflammatory markers with adiposity (total vs. central) and metabolic features in young adults. Measurements included body composition, ...lifestyle features, blood biochemical, and selected inflammatory indicators on 154 healthy subjects (53 M/101 F; 21.5 ± 3 years; 22.1 ± 2.6 kg/m
2
). Those subjects with higher waist circumference (WC) and waist–hip ratio (WHR) showed higher (
P
< 0.05) C-reactive protein (CRP), complement C3, interleukin-6 (IL6), and retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4) concentrations, while only IL6 was positively associated with total body fat (%). Furthermore, CRP and RBP4 were higher in former/current smokers, as compared to never smokers (
P
< 0.05). Some indicators of glucose (homeostasis model assessment—insulin resistance) and lipid metabolism (total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein—cholesterol and triglycerides) were positively associated with the assayed inflammatory markers (
P
< 0.05). The findings of this cross-sectional study indicate that central adiposity-related indicators (WC/WHR) correlated better than those assessing total adiposity with plasma proinflammatory markers, which additionally were associated with lifestyle and metabolic features in healthy young adults.
Oxidative stress has a pivotal role in the onset of obesity-related chronic diseases. This study assessed potential gender differences in the associations of adiposity (total vs. central) with ...oxidative stress markers in healthy young adults.
This cross-sectional study enrolled 272 subjects (97 males, 175 females; 22 ± 3 years, body mass index 22.0 ± 2.8 kg/m(2)). Body composition, cardiometabolic and lifestyle features, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL) concentrations, plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in erythrocytes were determined by validated procedures.
Compared to women, men had statistically higher concentrations of ox-LDL (61.7 vs. 53.5 U/l, p = 0.022). In analyses with the whole sample, those individuals included in the highest tertile of central adiposity indicators (waist circumference, WC, or waist-to-hip ratio, WHR) presented higher ox-LDL and lower TAC values (p < 0.01), while no statistical differences were found across tertiles of total body fat. WHR values were more strongly associated with ox-LDL and TAC concentrations, compared to other adiposity indicators, with higher slopes for women. Sex differences in ox-LDL concentrations were abolished (p > 0.05) after individual pairing of men and women for WC (53.8 vs. 61.6 U/l, p = 0.225) or WHR (56.1 vs. 56.3 U/l, p = 0.471). No differences were found in GPx values concerning gender or adiposity indicators.
Plasma ox-LDL and TAC values were more strongly influenced by central adiposity indicators (WHR and WC) in women than in men, suggesting that the change of the gynoid to android pattern phenotype among young women could lead to a steeper unfavourable redox status compared to men.
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