Obesity, pregnancy and lactation all affect body composition. Simple methods to estimate body composition are useful in clinical practice and to evaluate interventions. In overweight and obese ...lactating women, such methods are not fully validated. The objective of this study was to validate the accuracy and precision of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) by Xitron 4200 and 8-electrode multifrequency impedance (multifrequency bioimpedance analysis, MFBIA) by Tanita MC180MA with the reference methods dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and doubly labeled water (DLW) for the assessment of body composition in 70 overweight and obese women postpartum.
The LEVA-study (Lifestyle for Effective Weight loss during lactation) consisted of an intervention and follow-up with three assessments at 3, 6 and 15 months postpartum, which made possible the validation of both accuracy and precision. Mean differences between methods were tested by a paired t-test and Bland-Altman plots for systematic bias.
At baseline, BIS and MFBIA underestimated fat mass (FM) by 2.6±2.8 and 8.0±4.2 kg compared with DXA (P<0.001) but without systematic bias. BIS and MFBIA overestimated total body water (TBW) by 2.4±2.2 and 4.4±3.2 kg (P<0.001) compared with DLW, with slight systematic bias by BIS. BIS correctly estimated muscle mass without systematic bias (P>0.05). BIS overestimated changes in TBW (P=0.01) without systematic bias, whereas MFBIA varied greatly and with systematic bias.
BIS underestimates mean FM compared with DXA but can detect mean changes in body composition, although with large limits of agreement. BIS both accurately and precisely estimates muscle mass in overweight and obese women postpartum. MFBIA underestimates FM and overestimates TBW by proprietary equations compared with DXA and DLW.
Context:
Lactation is associated with decreased areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Replenishment occurs especially after ceased lactation. Changes in volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), ...microstructure, and dimensional parameters are unknown and may clarify the role of lactation for skeletal health.
Objective and Main Outcomes:
The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that lactation is associated with changes in aBMD, vBMD, microstructure, and dimensional parameters.
Design:
At baseline (0.5 mo after delivery) and 4, 12, and 18 months thereafter, bone was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.
Participants and Setting:
Eighty-one fair-skinned postpartum women and 21 controls aged 25–40 years were recruited. The completion ratio was 73%. Postpartum women were categorized depending on duration of lactation: 0–3.9, 4–8.9, and 9 months or longer.
Results:
During the first 4 months, aBMD decreased at several sites (geometric mean ± SE; −0.73% ± 0.21% to −3.98% ± 0.76%) in women lactating at least 4 months. During the same time, cortical vBMD at the ultradistal tibia decreased in women lactating 4–8.9 months (−0.26% ± 0.08%) and 9 months or longer (−0.49% ± 0.10%). At 12 months postpartum, cortical thickness (≥9 mo, −2.48% ± 0.41%) and trabecular thickness (4–8.9 mo, −2.14% ± 0.92%; ≥ 9 mo, −2.56% ± 1.21%) also were lower than baseline. No decreases were found in women lactating less than 4 months or in controls in these parameters. At 18 months postpartum, both cortical vBMD (≥9 mo, −0.77% ± 0.17%) and trabecular thickness (4–8.9 mo, −2.25% ± 1.25%; ≥ 9 mo, −3.21% ± 1.41%) were lower in women with long lactation.
Conclusions:
Decreases in cortical vBMD, thickness, and trabecular thickness at the ultradistal tibia were found in women lactating 4 months or longer. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm whether women with extended lactation recover fully or whether the changes could potentially lead to an increased risk of fracture in later life.
Background
Habitual coffee intake has been associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), but few studies used biomarkers to reflect intake and investigated different coffee brews, ...that is boiled and filtered, separately.
Objectives
To identify plasma metabolites associated with boiled or filtered coffee intake and to examine their association with T2D risk in Swedish adults.
Methods
In a case–control study nested within the Västerbotten Intervention Programme, baseline plasma samples from 421 case–control pairs and samples from a subset of 149 pairs at a 10‐year follow‐up were analysed using untargeted LC‐MS metabolomics. We identified metabolites associated with food frequency questionnaires (FFQ)‐estimated coffee intake and assessed odds ratios of T2D.
Results
In total, 24 and 32 metabolites were associated with boiled or filtered coffee intake. We determined robust metabolite panels for highly specific prediction of boiled or filtered coffee. We observed an inverse association between the metabolite panel of filtered coffee and T2D risk. No association with T2D was observed for the panel of boiled coffee intake. Similar results were observed for FFQ‐estimated coffee intake.
Conclusions
We identified plasma metabolites specifically associated with boiled or filtered coffee intake, which might be used as selective biomarkers. Our study supports a protective role of habitual intake of filtered coffee on T2D development. The lack of association for boiled coffee intake might be due to the lack of a protective effect of boiled coffee or due to the limited number of boiled coffee consumers in this population, but it warrants further investigation.
Results from studies evaluating the sustainability of diets combining environmental and nutritional aspects have been diverse; thus, greenhouse gas emissions (that is, carbon footprint (CF)) of diets ...in line with dietary recommendations in free-living individuals warrants further examination. Here, changes in dietary CF related to changes in food choice during a weight loss trial among lactating women who received a 12-week diet intervention based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) 2004 were analyzed. The objective of this study was to examine if a diet intervention based on NNR 2004 results in reduced dietary CF.
Changes in dietary CF were analyzed among 61 lactating women participating in a weight loss trial. Food intake data from 4-day weighed diet records and results from life cycle analyses were used to examine changes in dietary CF across eight food groups during the intervention, specified in the unit carbon dioxide equivalent (CO
eq/day). Differences in changes in dietary CF between women receiving diet treatment (D-group) and women not receiving it (ND-group) were compared.
There was no difference in change in dietary CF of the overall diet between D- and ND-group (P>0.05). As for the eight food groups, D-group increased their dietary CF from fruit and vegetables (+0.06±0.13 kg CO
eq/day) compared with a decrease in ND-group (-0.01±0.01 kg CO
eq/day) during the intervention, P=0.01.
A diet intervention in line with NNR 2004 produced clinically relevant weight loss, but did not reduce dietary CF among lactating women with overweight and obesity. Dietary interventions especially designed to decrease dietary CF and their coherence with dietary recommendations need further exploration.
Background
Among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), atopic disease has been proposed as a common comorbidity increasing the IBS symptom burden. We therefore assessed the prevalence of ...self‐reported atopy among patients with IBS as compared to non‐IBS controls, and whether atopy and higher serum IgE levels were associated with increased IBS symptom severity.
Methods
Levels of total and specific IgE in serum were measured and questionnaires assessing the presence of atopic disease (ie, eczema, asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and pollen allergy), gastrointestinal symptom burden, food intolerance, somatic, and psychological symptoms were completed.
Key results
In total, 223 patients with IBS and 47 controls participated. Presence of atopic disease was reported in 55% of patients with IBS compared to 40% of controls (P = .07). IBS patients with atopic manifestations (N = 123) had higher total serum IgE levels (median 31 vs 16 kUA/L, P < .001) and higher prevalence of self‐reported food intolerance (28% vs 9%, P = .002) than non‐atopic IBS patients (N = 100), respectively, but no major difference in gastrointestinal or psychological symptom burden was noted. However, severe somatic symptoms were more common among atopic than non‐atopic patients with IBS (38% vs 27%, P = .028). We found no associations between self‐reported atopy and IBS symptom severity using linear regression models.
Conclusions & Inferences
Atopic disease is common in patients with IBS, but that is also true for subjects without IBS. The presence of atopic disease in IBS is associated with self‐reported food intolerance and somatic symptom severity, but unrelated to IBS symptom severity.
This article focuses on the link between atopic disease and IBS, and if atopic patients have more severe IBS symptoms than non‐atopic patients. We saw that atopic disease is common in patients with IBS, but not associated with the severity of IBS symptoms. Compared to non‐atopic IBS patients, atopic IBS patients had an increased prevalence of self‐reported food allergy/intolerance and more severe somatic symptoms.
Background and aims: Dietary folate is believed to protect against colorectal cancer (CRC). However, few studies have addressed the role of circulating levels of folate. The aim of this study was to ...relate prediagnostic plasma folate and homocysteine concentrations and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms to the risk of developing CRC. Subjects: Subjects were 226 cases and 437 matched referents from the population based Northern Sweden Health and Disease Cohort. Results: We observed a bell-shaped association between plasma folate concentrations and CRC risk; multivariate odds ratio for middle versus lowest quintile 2.00 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–3.56). In subjects with follow up times greater than the median of 4.2 years however, plasma folate concentrations were strongly positively related to CRC risk; multivariate odds ratio for highest versus lowest quintile 3.87 (95% CI 1.52–9.87; p trend = 0.007). Homocysteine was not associated with CRC risk. Multivariate odds ratios for the MTHFR polymorphisms were, for 677 TT versus CC, 0.41 (95% CI 0.19–0.85; p trend = 0.062), and for 1298 CC versus AA, 1.62 (95% CI 0.94–2.81; p trend = 0.028). Interaction analysis suggested that the result for 1298A>C may have been largely due to linkage disequilibrium with 677C>T. The reduced CRC risk in 677 TT homozygotes was independent of plasma folate status. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a decreased CRC risk in subjects with low folate status. This possibility of a detrimental component to the role of folate in carcinogenesis could have implications in the ongoing debate in Europe concerning mandatory folate fortification of foods.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pregnancy complication associated with short- and long-term health consequences for mother and child. First line treatment is diet and exercise but there is a ...recognized knowledge gap as to what diet treatment is optimal. A healthy Nordic diet has been associated with improved health but no studies in women with GDM exist. The New Nordic Diet (NND) is an initiative with the purpose to develop a healthy Nordic diet including foods with the potential to grow in Nordic countries; including fruit, berries, vegetables, whole-grain cereal products, nuts, fish, and rapeseed oil. The purpose of the intervention with new Nordic DIet in women with GestatiOnal diabetes mellitus (iNDIGO) is to test if the NND compared with usual care improves glucose control in women with GDM.
The iNDIGO study is a randomized parallel controlled trial where 50 women with GDM will be randomized to either an NND or usual care for 14 days (30–32 weeks of gestation). Participants in the NND group will receive menus and food bags containing foods to be consumed. Primary outcome is glycemic control (time in target) measured using continuous glucose monitoring. Compliance to the dietary intervention will be tested using dietary biomarkers and adherence questionnaires.
Diet treatment represents first line treatment in GDM but it remains unclear what type of diets are effective. iNDIGO is an efficacy study and will provide evidence as to whether a healthy Nordic diet can improve glucose control in women with GDM.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov registration Number: NCT04169243. Registered 19 November 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04169243.
To characterize meal patterns across ten European countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) calibration study.
Cross-sectional study utilizing ...dietary data collected through a standardized 24 h diet recall during 1995-2000. Eleven predefined intake occasions across a 24 h period were assessed during the interview. In the present descriptive report, meal patterns were analysed in terms of daily number of intake occasions, the proportion reporting each intake occasion and the energy contributions from each intake occasion.
Twenty-seven centres across ten European countries.
Women (64 %) and men (36 %) aged 35-74 years (n 36 020).
Pronounced differences in meal patterns emerged both across centres within the same country and across different countries, with a trend for fewer intake occasions per day in Mediterranean countries compared with central and northern Europe. Differences were also found for daily energy intake provided by lunch, with 38-43 % for women and 41-45 % for men within Mediterranean countries compared with 16-27 % for women and 20-26 % for men in central and northern European countries. Likewise, a south-north gradient was found for daily energy intake from snacks, with 13-20 % (women) and 10-17 % (men) in Mediterranean countries compared with 24-34 % (women) and 23-35 % (men) in central/northern Europe.
We found distinct differences in meal patterns with marked diversity for intake frequency and lunch and snack consumption between Mediterranean and central/northern European countries. Monitoring of meal patterns across various cultures and populations could provide critical context to the research efforts to characterize relationships between dietary intake and health.
Long-term effects of carbohydrate-restricted diets are unclear. We examined a low-carbohydrate, high-protein (LCHP) score in relation to mortality.
This is a population-based cohort study on adults ...in the northern Swedish county of Västerbotten. In 37,639 men (1460 deaths) and 39,680 women (923 deaths) from the population-based Västerbotten Intervention Program, deciles of energy-adjusted carbohydrate (descending) and protein (ascending) intake were added to create an LCHP score (2-20 points). Sex-specific hazard ratios (HR) were calculated by Cox regression.
Median intakes of carbohydrates, protein and fat in subjects with LCHP scores 2-20 ranged from 61.0% to 38.6%, 11.3% to 19.2% and 26.6% to 41.5% of total energy intake, respectively. High LCHP score (14-20 points) did not predict all-cause mortality compared with low LCHP score (2-8 points), after accounting for saturated fat intake and established risk factors (men: HR for high vs low 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-1.20), P for continuous = 0.721; women: HR for high vs low 1.10 (95% CI 0.91-1.32), P for continuous = 0.229). For cancer and cardiovascular disease, no clear associations were found. Carbohydrate intake was inversely associated with all-cause mortality, though only statistically significant in women (multivariate HR per decile increase 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.99), P = 0.010).
Our results do not support a clear, general association between LCHP score and mortality. Studies encompassing a wider range of macronutrient consumption may be necessary to detect such an association.
Objective
To validate total energy expenditure (TEE) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) from the portable SenseWear armband (SWA) Pro 2 (TEESWA and AEESWA; InnerView software versions SWA 5.1 and ...SWA 6.1) against TEE from doubly labeled water (DLW) and AEE from DLW and indirect calorimetry (TEEDLW and AEEDLW) in overweight/obese lactating women at 10 weeks postpartum.
Design and Methods
TEE was measured simultaneously with DLW (14 days) and SWA (first 7 days). Lactating women (n = 62), non‐smoking, with a BMI > 25 kg/m2 and wearing time SWA ≥ 90% were included.
Results
Mean TEESWA5.1 was overestimated with 85 kcal/day compared to TEEDLW (P = 0.040), while mean TEESWA6.1 was underestimated with 241 kcal/day compared to TEEDLW (P < 0.001). Mean AEESWA5.1 was similar to mean AEEDLW (P = 0.818), while mean AEESWA6.1 was underestimated with 581 kcal/day compared to AEEDLW (P < 0.001). TEESWA6.1 and AEESWA6.1 were systematically underestimated at higher levels of energy expenditure and BMI while only AEESWA5.1 was systematically overestimated at higher levels of energy expenditure.
Conclusions
TEESWA5.1 and AEESWA5.1 were fairly estimated on a group level while TEESWA6.1 and AEESWA6.1 were significantly and systematically underestimated. Both SWA software versions showed large individual variation in agreement with TEEDLW and AEEDLW, limiting the validity on individual level.