Phytoestrogens have been suggested to have an anti-proliferative role in prostate cancer, potentially by acting through estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and modulating several hormones. We primarily ...aimed to investigate the effect of a phytoestrogen intervention on hormone concentrations in blood depending on the ERβ genotype. Patients with low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, scheduled for radical prostatectomy, were randomized to an intervention group provided with soybeans and flaxseeds (∼200 mg phytoestrogens/d) added to their diet until their surgery, or a control group that was not provided with any food items. Both groups received official dietary recommendations. Blood samples were collected at baseline and endpoint and blood concentrations of different hormones and phytoestrogens were analyzed. The phytoestrogen-rich diet did not affect serum concentrations of testosterone, insulin-like growth factor 1, or sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). However, we found a trend of decreased risk of increased serum concentration of estradiol in the intervention group compared to the control group but only in a specific genotype of ERβ (
= 0.058). In conclusion, a high daily intake of phytoestrogen-rich foods has no major effect on hormone concentrations but may lower the concentration of estradiol in patients with prostate cancer with a specific genetic upset of ERβ.
Synbiotic 2000, a pre + probiotic, reduced comorbid autistic traits and emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. Immune activity and bacteria-derived ...short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are microbiota-gut-brain axis mediators. The aim was to investigate Synbiotic 2000 effects on plasma levels of immune activity markers and SCFAs in children and adults with ADHD. ADHD patients (n = 182) completed the 9-week intervention with Synbiotic 2000 or placebo and 156 provided blood samples. Healthy adult controls (n = 57) provided baseline samples. At baseline, adults with ADHD had higher pro-inflammatory sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and lower SCFA levels than controls. Children with ADHD had higher baseline sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, IL-12/IL-23p40, IL-2Rα, and lower formic, acetic, and propionic acid levels than adults with ADHD. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and propionic acid levels were more abnormal in children on medication. Synbiotic 2000, compared to placebo, reduced IL-12/IL-23p40 and sICAM-1 and increased propionic acid levels in children on medication. SCFAs correlated negatively with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. Preliminary human aortic smooth-muscle-cell experiments indicated that SCFAs protected against IL-1β-induced ICAM-1 expression. These findings suggest that treatment with Synbiotic 2000 reduces IL12/IL-23p40 and sICAM-1 and increases propionic acid levels in children with ADHD. Propionic acid, together with formic and acetic acid, may contribute to the lowering of the higher-than-normal sICAM-1 levels.
The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is designed to capture an individual's habitual dietary intake and is the most applied method in nutritional epidemiology. Our aim was to assess the relative ...validity and reproducibility of the FFQ used in the Diet, Cancer, and Health-Next Generations cohort (DCH-NG). We included 415 Danish women and men aged 18-67 years. Spearman's correlations coefficients, Bland-Altman limits of agreement and cross-classification between dietary intakes estimated from the FFQ administered at baseline (FFQ
), and the mean of three 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) and the FFQ administered after 12 months (FFQ
) were determined. Nutrient intakes were energy-adjusted by Nutrient Density and Residual methods. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.18-0.58 for energy and energy-adjusted nutrient intakes, and the percentage of participants classified into the same quartile ranged from 28-47% between the FFQ
and the 24-HDRs. For the FFQ
compared with FFQ
, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.52-0.88 for intakes of energy, energy-adjusted nutrients, and food groups, and the proportion of participants classified into the same quartiles ranged from 43-69%. Overall, the FFQ provided a satisfactory ranking of individuals according to energy, nutrient, and food group intakes, making the FFQ suitable for use in epidemiological studies investigating diet in relation to disease outcomes.
Phytoestrogens may influence prostate cancer development. This study aimed to examine the association between prediagnostic circulating concentrations of isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, equol) and ...lignans (enterolactone and enterodiol) and the risk of prostate cancer. Individual participant data were available from seven prospective studies (two studies from Japan with 241 cases and 503 controls and five studies from Europe with 2,828 cases and 5,593 controls). Because of the large difference in circulating isoflavone concentrations between Japan and Europe, analyses of the associations of isoflavone concentrations and prostate cancer risk were evaluated separately. Prostate cancer risk by study‐specific fourths of circulating concentrations of each phytoestrogen was estimated using multivariable‐adjusted conditional logistic regression. In men from Japan, those with high compared to low circulating equol concentrations had a lower risk of prostate cancer (multivariable‐adjusted OR for upper quartile Q4 vs. Q1 = 0.61, 95% confidence interval CI = 0.39–0.97), although there was no significant trend (OR per 75 percentile increase = 0.69, 95 CI = 0.46–1.05, ptrend = 0.085); Genistein and daidzein concentrations were not significantly associated with risk (ORs for Q4 vs. Q1 = 0.70, 0.45–1.10 and 0.71, 0.45–1.12, respectively). In men from Europe, circulating concentrations of genistein, daidzein and equol were not associated with risk. Circulating lignan concentrations were not associated with the risk of prostate cancer, overall or by disease aggressiveness or time to diagnosis. There was no strong evidence that prediagnostic circulating concentrations of isoflavones or lignans are associated with prostate cancer risk, although further research is warranted in populations where isoflavone intakes are high.
What's new?
The role of phytoestrogens in prostate cancer development is uncertain. Here, the authors analysed participant data from seven prospective studies on the association between pre‐diagnostic circulating concentrations of isoflavones (mainly found in soybeans) and lignans (mainly found in cereal, nuts, and vegetables) and prostate cancer risk. They found no strong associations but point to the fact that further data are needed to examine associations based on disease aggressiveness, especially in populations with high isoflavone intakes.
The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has surged in recent decades, and the identification of differential glycemic responders can aid tailored treatment for the prevention of ...prediabetes and T2DM. A mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) based on regular foods offers the potential to uncover differential responders in dynamical postprandial events. We aimed to fit a simple mathematical model on dynamic postprandial glucose data from repeated MMTTs among participants with elevated T2DM risk to identify response clusters and investigate their association with T2DM risk factors and gut microbiota. Data were used from a 12-week multi-center dietary intervention trial involving high-risk T2DM adults, comparing high- versus low-glycemic index foods within a Mediterranean diet context (MEDGICarb). Model-based analysis of MMTTs from 155 participants (81 females and 74 males) revealed two distinct plasma glucose response clusters that were associated with baseline gut microbiota. Cluster A, inversely associated with HbA1c and waist circumference and directly with insulin sensitivity, exhibited a contrasting profile to cluster B. Findings imply that a standardized breakfast MMTT using regular foods could effectively distinguish non-diabetic individuals at varying risk levels for T2DM using a simple mechanistic model.
Fermentation has long been utilized to preserve and enhance the flavor and nutritional value of foods. Recently, fermented foods have gained popularity, reaching new consumer groups due to perceived ...health benefits. However, the microbial composition of many fermented foods re-mains unknown. Here, we characterized the bacterial composition, diversity, and richness of 47 fermented foods available in Sweden, including kombucha, water kefir, milk kefir, yogurt, plant-based yogurt alternatives, kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented vegetables. Via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we identified 2497 bacteria (amplicon sequence variants). The bacterial composition was strongly associated with the type of fermented food, and lactic acid bacteria and/or acetic acid bacteria dominated most samples. However, each fermented food had a unique composition, with kombucha and water kefir having the highest diversity across and within samples. Few bacteria were abundant in multiple foods and food groups. These were Streptococcus thermophilus in yogurts and plant-based yoghurts; Lactococcus lactis in milk kefirs and one water kefir; and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented cucumber. The broad range of fermented foods included in this study and their diverse bacterial communities warrant further investigation into the implications of microbial compositions for product traits and potential impact on human health.
Anthocyanins (ACNs) are (poly)phenols associated with reduced cardiometabolic risk. Associations between dietary intake, microbial metabolism, and cardiometabolic health benefits of ACNs have not ...been fully characterized. Our aims were to study the association between ACN intake, considering its dietary sources, and plasma metabolites, and to relate them with cardiometabolic risk factors in an observational study. A total of 1351 samples from 624 participants (55% female, mean age: 45 ± 12 years old) enrolled in the DCH-NG MAX study were studied using a targeted metabolomic analysis. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were used to collect dietary data at baseline, six, and twelve months. ACN content of foods was calculated using Phenol Explorer and foods were categorized into food groups. The median intake of total ACNs was 1.6mg/day. Using mixed graphical models, ACNs from different foods showed specific associations with plasma metabolome biomarkers. Combining these results with censored regression analysis, metabolites associated with ACNs intake were: salsolinol sulfate, 4-methylcatechol sulfate, linoleoyl carnitine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and one valerolactone. Salsolinol sulfate and 4-methylcatechol sulfate, both related to the intake of ACNs mainly from berries, were inversely associated with visceral adipose tissue. In conclusion, plasma metabolome biomarkers of dietary ACNs depended on the dietary source and some of them, such as salsolinol sulfate and 4-methylcatechol sulfate may link berry intake with cardiometabolic health benefits.
Consumption of whole grain has been associated with lower incidence of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and their risk factors including improved glycemic control. In comparison with other ...whole grain products, rye bread has been shown to induce lower insulin response in the postprandial phase, without affecting the glucose response. This phenomenon has been referred to as the “rye factor” and is being explored in this review where we summarize the findings from meal and extended meal studies including rye-based foods. Overall, results from intervention studies showed that rye-based foods vs. (wheat) control foods had positive effect on both insulin and glucose responses in the postprandial phase, rather than on insulin alone. Mechanistic studies have shown that the rye factor phenomenon might be due to slowing of the glucose uptake in the intestine. However, this has also been shown for wheat-based bread and is likely an effect of structural properties of the investigated foods rather than the rye
per se
. More carefully controlled studies where standardized structural properties of different cereals are linked to the postprandial response are needed to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms and determinants for the effect of specific cereals and product traits on postprandial glycemic control.
Abdominal obesity is associated with elevated postprandial triglycerides (TG), an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies show that whey protein (WP) and dietary fiber ...may separately reduce postprandial TG. However, few studies have investigated the long-term effects of WP and dietary fiber on postprandial TG. We aimed to investigate the separate and combined long-term effects of WP and dietary fiber from wheat bran on postprandial TG and markers of lipid metabolism in subjects with abdominal obesity. We conducted a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel intervention study. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, 73 adults were randomized to receive 60 g/day of either WP hydrolysate or maltodextrin (MD) combined with high-fiber wheat bran products (HiFi; 30 g dietary fiber/day) or low-fiber refined wheat products (LoFi; 10 g dietary fiber/day). A high-fat meal test was conducted before and after the intervention. Sixty-five subjects were included in the final analyses. There were no differences between intervention groups in postprandial TG assessed as incremental area under the curve (iAUC). WP-LoFi had reduced postprandial TG assessed as total area under the curve (tAUC) and reduced fasting TG compared with all other groups, and reduced fasting apolipoprotein B-48 compared with MD-LoFi. There were no changes in lipoprotein lipase activity. Total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B-100 were reduced after WP intake compared with MD. Total cholesterol was increased after HiFi intake compared with LoFi. In conclusion, intake of WP in combination with low-fiber cereal products for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on postprandial TG tAUC and fasting TG, but not on postprandial TG iAUC in subjects with abdominal obesity. Combining WP with high-fiber wheat bran products did not improve lipid profile.
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