An increased intake of thiamine diminishes the risk of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population with various comorbidities

The impacts of COVID-19 on childhood obesity: prevalence, contributing factors, and implications for management

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify changes in the prevalence of obesity and related diseases among children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

This study was conducted using data from the 2016-2021 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included 3,861 children and adolescents aged 10-18 years. The prevalence of obesity and related diseases was adjusted for age, sex, and income. We also analyzed the socioeconomic, nutritional, and physical activity items in the survey.

RESULTS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity (p=0.02), central obesity (p=0.001), mean body mass index (BMI, p=0.03), and hemoglobin A1c (p=0.005) among children and adolescents aged 10-18 years. The intake of food and calories was significantly reduced in the normal-weight group (p=0.001 and <0.001) but not in the obese group. Incidences of skipping breakfast increased and eating out decreased, regardless of obesity status. However, the changes in health behaviors were not significant. The prevalence of central obesity and increased BMI showed a significant linear association between children and their parents, especially in the 10-12-year-old age group. A clear increase in the proportion of metabolically unhealthy children and adolescents was observed in the obese group, and the frequency of central obesity in parents also increased.

CONCLUSION

The number of metabolically unhealthy, obese children and adolescents increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Age-specific strategies that consider growth, development, and genetic and social factors are required. Health strategies targeting the entire family are required to develop healthier habits.

Effects of mixed heavy metals on obstructive lung function: findings from epidemiological and toxicogenomic data

The molecular mechanisms and associations of mixed heavy metals (lead, mercury, and cadmium) on obstructive lung function (OLF) in males and females remain unknown. Here, we evaluated the interaction between the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio and three common heavy metals in males and females (n = 6221). Molecular processes involved in OLF development caused by mixed heavy metals were also identified to corroborate the earlier findings. In both males and females, as well as across the entire population, we found that serum cadmium levels were inversely related to the FEV1/FVC ratio. Interactions between serum cadmium and lead, as well as cadmium and mercury, were observed in relation to the FEV1/FVC ratio. Additionally, we observed negative correlations between the FEV1/FVC ratio and mixed serum cadmium, lead, and mercury in both men and women as well as in the overall population. Seven genes were identified as contributing to the etiology of OLF and targeted by combined heavy metals in silico analysis (CYP1A1, CRP, CXCL8, HMOX1, IL6, NOS2, and TNF). The primary relationships between these genes were co-expression interactions. The significant transcription factors and miRNAs associated with OLF and a combination of the examined heavy metals were identified as NFKB2, hsa-miR-155-5p, and hsa-miR-203a-3p. The main biological processes involved in the emergence of OLF induced by mixed heavy metals were listed as inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as cytokine activity, monooxygenase activity, oxidoreductase activity, and interleukin-8 production. Threshold estimations and miRNA sponge patterns for heavy metal exposure levels associated with OLF were evaluated for both males and females. This study found that cadmium plays the most important role in the mixture of cadmium, lead, and mercury in the pathogenesis of OLF. Future studies are required to verify our findings and uncover the molecular mechanisms of long-term exposure to a variety of heavy metals, especially cadmium, in other populations, including children, adolescents, and the elderly.

Association of vitamin B1 with cardiovascular diseases, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in US adults

Background

The correlation between dietary vitamin B1 intake and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the all-cause and cardiovascular-associated mortality, is not well known. A large-scale data pool was used to examine the aforementioned correlations of Vitamin B1.

Methods

This paper analyzed the dietary data from the survey conducted by National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES; 1999-2018). The correlation of vitamin B1 intake in each quartile with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. The hazard ratios for dietary vitamin B1 intake in each quartile, along with all-cause and cardiovascular-associated mortality, were performed using multivariate cox regression analysis, setting the lowest quartile (Q1) as a reference. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) method was used to study the nonlinear relationship. Subgroup stratification and sensitivity analyses were used to further investigate the association between them.

Results

The study enrolled 27,958 subjects (with a mean follow-up time of 9.11 years). After multivariate adjustment, dietary vitamin B1 intake was significantly associated with hypertension, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality, with the most significant association in quartile 4 (Q4) of vitamin B1 intake. The results of the restricted cubic spline showed that vitamin B1 intake was nonlinearly associated with hypertension, whereas it was linearly associated with heart failure and cardiovascular mortality. Meanwhile, a dose-response correlation was observed, indicating that increased vitamin B1 intake leads to reduced risk of both cardiovascular prevalence and mortality. The stratified analysis showed that the correlation between age ≥ 50 years, overweight, smoking history, drinking history and dyslipidemia were more significant in male patients. The associations remained similar in the sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

The large NHANES-based studies indicate a gradual trend toward decreasing the risk of hypertension and heart failure prevalence and cardiovascular mortality with increasing dietary vitamin B1 intake. This association is especially significant in elderly-aged men, overweight individuals, smokers, drinkers, and dyslipidemia patients.

Roles of mixed nutrient intakes on metabolic syndrome among korean adults 19-80 years old: molecular mechanisms involved

Purpose

We aim to identify the association between nutrient intake mixtures (22 micro-macro nutrients) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) or its components, including molecular mechanisms involved, among 16,807 Korean adults aged 19-80.

Methods

The associations of mixed nutrient intakes on MetS or its components were identified using linear regression models, WQS regression, qgcomp, and BKMR regression. Genes, transcription factors, miRNA, biological processes, and pathways were assessed using GeneMania, CHEA3, MIENTURNET, and ToppFun functions.

Results

We found that the overall effect of mixed nutrient intakes was also related to MetS and its components. In silico analysis, we found that a mixture of nutrients interacted with the IL6 gene and was linked with MetS. Physical interactions were the key interactions (77%) involved in the mutual genes and MetS targeted by a mixture of nutrients. IL6 related pathways, "positive regulation of type B pancreatic cell apoptotic process", "regulation of glucagon secretion", "LDL pathway during atherogenesis", and "IL-10 anti-inflammatory signaling pathway" were identified as key molecular mechanisms that may be targeted by mixed nutrients implicated in MetS. The key miRNAs and transcription factors involved in the process of MetS targeted by a mixture of nutrients were also described. The cutoff levels for nutrient intake levels associated with MetS and its components were also described.

Conclusion

Our findings will pave the way for further research to evaluate the interactions between a mixture of nutrients and non-communicable diseases.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-01158-1.

Association between diabetes and thiamine status - A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is an essential cofactor in glucose metabolism, but it remains unclear whether thiamine status is lower in individuals with diabetes compared to individuals with normal glucose metabolism.

AIMS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to study whether the circulating concentrations of various thiamine analytes differ between people with and those without diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched according to the study protocol. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) of thiamine markers between individuals with and without diabetes were used as effect size (random effects model). Subgroup analysis considered albuminuria as an additional variable.

RESULTS

Out of the 459 articles identified, 24 full-texts were eligible for the systematic review, 20 of which qualified for the data analysis and four were evaluated for coherence. Compared to controls, individuals with diabetes showed lower concentrations of thiamine (pooled estimate SMD [95 % CI]: -0.97 [-1.89, -0.06]), thiamine monophosphate (-1.16 [-1.82, -0.50]), and total thiamine compounds (-1.01 [-1.48, -0.54]). Thiamine diphosphate (-0.72 [-1.54, 0.11] and erythrocyte transketolase activity (-0.42 [-0.90, 0.05]) tended to be lower in persons with diabetes than in controls without reaching statistical significance. Subgroup analysis showed that individuals with diabetes and albuminuria had lower thiamine levels than the controls (-2.68 [-5.34, -0.02]).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes is associated with lower levels of various thiamine markers, suggesting that individuals with diabetes may have higher thiamine requirements than those without diabetes, but well-designed studies are required to confirm these findings.

Effects of neutral polysaccharide from Platycodon grandiflorum on high-fat diet-induced obesity via the regulation of gut microbiota and metabolites

The obesity epidemic has become a global problem with far-reaching health and economic impact. Despite the numerous therapeutic efficacies of Platycodon grandiflorum, its role in modulating obesity-related metabolic disorders has not been clarified. In this study, a purified neutral polysaccharide, PGNP, was obtained from Platycodon grandiflorum. Based on methylation and NMR analyses, PGNP was found to be composed of 2,1-β-D-Fruf residues ending with a (1→2)-bonded α-D-Glcp. The protective effects of PGNP on high-fat HFD-induced obesity were assessed. According to our results, PGNP effectively alleviated the signs of metabolic syndrome, as demonstrated by reductions in body weight, hepatic steatosis, lipid profile, inflammatory response, and insulin resistance in obese mice. Under PGNP treatment, intestinal histomorphology and the tight junction protein, ZO-1, were well maintained. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC-MS were employed to assess the positive influence of PGNP on the gut microbiota and metabolites. PGNP effectively increased species diversity of gut microbiota and reversed the HFD-induced imbalance in the gut microbiota by decreasing the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. The abundance of Bacteroides and Blautia were increased after PGNP treatment, while the relative abundance of Rikenella, Helicobacter were reduced. Furthermore, PGNP notably influenced the levels of microbial metabolites, including the increased levels of cholic and gamma-linolenic acid. Overall, PGNP might be a potential supplement for the regulation of gut microbiota and metabolites, further affecting obesity.

Interactions between heavy metals and sleep duration among pre-and postmenopausal women: A current approach to molecular mechanisms involved

The effects of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury) and their mixtures on sleep duration in pre-and postmenopausal women, particularly the molecular mechanisms, remain unknown. Here, we assessed the interaction between heavy metals and sleep duration among pre-and postmenopausal women (n = 1134). Furthermore, molecular mechanisms related to sleep disorders induced by studied heavy metals were further analyzed to support the previous findings. We found that serum lead levels were positively related to weekend and weekday sleep duration in premenopausal women. There were interactions between serum lead and mercury and menopausal status for sleep duration. Serum lead and mercury levels were shown to be inversely related to sleep duration in postmenopausal women. Despite the lack of statistically significant associations between mixed heavy metals and sleep duration, there were increasing trends in premenopausal women's sleeping patterns and decreasing trends in postmenopausal women's sleeping patterns. In silico analysis, IL1B, hsa-21-5p, hsa-887-3p, hsa-877-3p, and NR4A1 were identified as the most relevant genes, miRNAs, and transcription factors linked with sleep disorders induced by combined heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury). Furthermore, "type 1 melanocortin receptor binding," "endocrine hormone secretion," "interleukin-1 receptor antagonist activity," "altered melanocortin system," and "sleep wake disorders" were identified as the predominant molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of sleep disorders induced by the studied heavy metals. Cut off point values and miRNA sponge templates for heavy metal exposure levels relevant to sleep disorders in pre- and postmenopausal women were reported. Future research is needed to verify our findings and provide insight into the molecular processes of long-term mixed heavy metal exposure in various populations, such as children and the elderly.

Interactions between nutrient intake and comorbidities for quality of life in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify the associations between nutrient intake and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Using data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2019-2020), EQ-5D-3L, and multivariate logistic and linear regression models, we analyzed the association and interaction between nutrient intake, comorbidities, and HRQOL among 4,027 Korean women.

RESULTS

Nutrient intake levels were lower in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. Interactions were observed between numerous nutrient intakes and comorbidities for HRQOL among premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Higher intakes of various nutrients (particularly, folic acid and vitamin A) were related to higher HRQOL scores in premenopausal women with comorbidities (log of inverse HRQOL scores, β = -0.31 [95% confidence interval [CI], -0.58 to -0.05] and β = -0.19 [95% CI, -0.37 to -0.001]) and postmenopausal women with comorbidities (log of inverse HRQOL scores, β = -0.34 [95% CI, -0.61 to -0.07] and β = -0.19 [95% CI, -0.38 to -0.01]), respectively. Regular exercise was associated with a lower risk of mobility problems (odds ratio [OR], 0.59; 95% CI, 0.44-0.81), self-care problems (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.28-0.99), usual activity problems (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.26-0.67), and any problem (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.90), as well as an increase in HRQOL score (log of inverse HRQOL scores, β = -0.42; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.16) in postmenopausal women. Smoking was related to a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety problems (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.53-4.13) and any problem (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.11-2.52), as well as a decrease in HRQOL scores (log of inverse HRQOL scores, β = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.14-0.88) in premenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the lower nutrient intake levels in postmenopausal women, it is critical to establish HRQOL-improving approaches for this population, including regular exercise, nutrient intake, and smoking cessation.