Diet, blood pressure and hypertension

Associations of Systematic Inflammatory Markers with Diet Quality, Blood Pressure, and Obesity in the AIRWAVE Health Monitoring Study

Introduction

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a characteristic feature of obesity, and elevated levels of inflammation are associated with pathophysiologic consequences and a constellation of metabolic disturbances, such as hypertension. The relationships of inflammation with diet, obesity, and hypertension are complex, hence, this study aimed to assess cross-sectional relationships between inflammatory scores, diet quality, obesity, high blood pressure (BP), and hypertension in the Airwave Health Monitoring Study cohort, a large cohort of police officers and police staff in the United Kingdom.

Methods

Data from 5198 men and 3347 women who completed health screening measurements and dietary assessment between 2007 and 2012 were included (n=8545 adults). Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were calculated. Diet quality was evaluated using the Nutrient-Rich Food 9.3 (NRF9.3) index score.

Results

Results show that a 1SD higher diet quality score, waist circumference, and systolic/diastolic BP were significantly associated with SII differences of -33.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): -49.0, -17.6), 8.2 (95% CI: 0.2, 16.6), 17.9 (95% CI: 10.1, 25.8), and 18.3 (95% CI: 10.8, 25.7) (Model 2; P<0.0001), respectively. A 1SD higher diet quality score, waist circumference, and BMI were also significantly associated with PLR (P<0.0001). The odds of elevated PLR were higher in those with higher systolic and diastolic BP (P<0.0001, P=0.0006, respectively).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the findings of this analysis add to the existing knowledge indicating a link between inflammation and conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and behavioral factors including diet quality. Of the various inflammatory scores evaluated, SII and PLR were consistently significantly associated with diet quality and these conditions.

Association between dietary knowledge and muscle mass in Chinese older adults: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to explore the possible association between dietary knowledge and muscle mass in a Chinese population aged 60 years and above.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

SETTING

Data from the 2006 and 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) were used for this study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1487 Chinese participants (44.38% males) aged 60 and above in the 2006 survey were included in the cross-sectional study. From the same study population, a total of 1023 participants (46.82% males) with normal muscle mass on the interview date of 2006 were included in the longitudinal study.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Dietary knowledge was accessed by a validated CHNS questionnaire. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was calculated using a validated anthropometric equation derived from a representative Chinese population. Based on the 2021 Chinese consensus on sarcopenia, the appendicular skeletal muscle mass was categorised as 'normal' or 'low' using sex-specific cut-off values.

RESULTS

The prevalence of low muscle mass in the study population was 31.20%, with a higher prevalence in females (34.22%). People with low muscle mass have a significantly lower dietary knowledge score (mean difference: -1.74, 95% CI -2.20 to -1.29). In the cross-sectional analysis, one score higher in dietary knowledge score was associated with a 4% lower odds of low muscle mass (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.99). Compared with people in the lowest quartile of dietary knowledge, people in the highest quartile have a 44% lower odds of low muscle mass (OR=0.56, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.91). In the longitudinal analysis, no significant association was found between dietary knowledge and low muscle mass, yet the upper 95% CI was close to one (HR=0.97, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Sufficient dietary knowledge may play a protective role in maintaining normal muscle mass in Chinese adults aged 60 or above.

Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Factors among Residents Aged ≥18 Years in Ganzhou, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Reliable epidemiologic data on the present burden of hypertension are needed in developing region-specific strategies since previous studies have suggested that China is lagging in risk factor management.

Objective

The study aimed at exploring the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among adult residents in Ganzhou, China. Methodology. A multistage, stratified, and cluster random sampling method was used to conduct the cross-sectional survey. The study selected four county-level districts in Ganzhou City, China, as the investigation area. Permanent residents aged ≥18 years who have settled in the area for 6 months or more were selected. A total of 7430 residents were involved in the study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of hypertension.

Results

The prevalence of hypertension in Ganzhou was 28.5%, and the age-standardized prevalence of hypertension was 22.4%. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that multiple variables have a statistically significant effect on the prevalence of hypertension. The elderly (odds ratio [95% CI]: 2.791 [2.594-3.004]), men (1.805 [1.583-2.058]), lower educated (0.848 [0.805-0.893]), a family history of hypertension (4.575 [3.900-5.368]), higher body mass index (1.344 [1.215-1.488]), central obesity (1.532 [1.304-1.799]), and less vegetable intake (1.150 [1.023-1.294]) were the major risk factors for hypertension.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a major public health problem in Ganzhou and requires much effort to reduce its prevalence. An effective multifaceted implementation strategy is highly desirable to combat the emerging burden of hypertension.

The relationship between the intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products with hypertension: findings from the STEPS study

BACKGROUND

The current research aimed to evaluate the relationship between fruit, vegetable (FV), and dairy consumption with the odds of developing hypertension based on nationwide Stepwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) data in Iran.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was accomplished by the research center of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Tehran. In total, 29,378 individuals' data were analyzed. Participants were classified into normal, elevated BP, stage I, and stage II hypertension according to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) examinations. Based on the STEPS questionnaire, the consumption of FVs and dairy products was evaluated. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between the consumption of FVs and dairy products with hypertension.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that only fruit consumption (≥ 2 servings/day) was negatively related to stage I hypertension (odds ratio (OR) = 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.95) in two servings per day and OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.68-0.96 in > two servings per day) in the adjusted model. There was no significant relationship between consuming vegetables and dairy products with elevated BP and hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that increasing fruit consumption was related to reducing hypertension odds. Regarding the consumption of dairy products and vegetables, no significant relationship was found with the odds of hypertension. More studies, especially cohorts, are needed to evaluate the impacts of FV and dairy products on the risk of hypertension.

Food Insecurity and Blood Pressure in a Multiethnic Population

Food insecurity is a social determinant of health and is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for hypertension. Native Hawaiians bear a disproportionate burden of hypertension and known risk factors. Despite this, the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood pressure have yet to be investigated in this population. This study examines the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood pressure, controlling for potential confounders in a multiethnic sample. Participants (n = 124) were recruited from a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded study called the Children's Healthy Living Center of Excellence. Biometrics (i.e., blood pressure, weight, and height) were measured. Demographics, physical activity, diet, psychosocial variables, food insecurity, and financial instability were assessed via self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical linear regression models were conducted. Model 1, which included sociodemographic variables and known biological risk factors, explained a small but significant amount of variance in systolic blood pressure. Model 2 added physical activity and daily intake of fruit, fiber, and whole grains, significantly improving the model. Model 3 added financial instability and food insecurity, further improving the model (R2 = 0.37, F = 2.67, p = 0.031). Food insecurity, female sex, and BMI were significantly and independently associated with increased systolic blood pressure. These results suggest a direct relationship between food insecurity and systolic blood pressure, which persisted after controlling for physical activity, consumption of fruits, fiber, and whole grains, and BMI. Efforts to reduce food insecurity, particularly among Native Hawaiians, may help reduce hypertension in this high-risk population.

Association between fluoride exposure and blood pressure in children and adolescents aged 6 to19 years in the United States: NHANES, 2013-2016

To examine the association between fluoride exposure and childhood blood pressure (BP), we used data involving 3260 subjects participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2016. Both plasma and water fluoride concentrations were measured using the ion-specific electrode. Outcome variables were systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). For a 1-mg/L increase in water fluoride concentration, the participants' SBP decreased by 0.473 mm Hg (95% CI: -0.860, -0.087). Specifically, inverse associations were found between water fluoride and SBP in girls (β= -0.423, 95% CI: -0.886, -0.021), adolescents (β= -0.623, 95% CI: -0.975, -0.272), and non-Hispanic whites (β= -0.694, 95% CI: -1.237, -0.151). Also, every 1-μmol/L increase in plasma fluoride concentration was associated with a 1.183 mm Hg decrease in SBP among other races (95% CI: -2.258, -0.108). This study suggested that fluoride exposure may affect childhood blood pressure.

Carbohydrate quality indices and colorectal cancer risk: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth and third most common cancer in Iran and the world, respectively. Carbohydrates can lead to the proliferation of cancer cells, including CRC. The current study aimed to investigate the association between glycemic load (GL), insulin load (IL), glycemic index (GI), insulin index (II), low-carbohydrate diet score (LCDS), and carbohydrate quality index (CQI) with CRC odds.

METHODS

The present case-control study was performed on 71 CRC cases and 142 controls in the Hospital Cancer Organization and three general hospitals in Tehran, Iran. We calculated the dietary GI, GL, IL, II, CQI, and LCDS by a validated food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS

The results indicated that people who were in the highest tertile of the GI had higher odds of CRC compared to the lower tertile (in the adjusted model: odds ratio (OR) = 3.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.71-8.84). On the contrary, people who were in the highest tertile of the CQI and LCDS had significantly lower odds of CRC compared to the lower tertile (in the adjusted model: tertile (T) ₂-OR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11-0.53 and T₃-OR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.06-0.39 for CQI and T₂-OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.79 and T₃-OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.10-0.82 for LCDS). Also, IL was positively associated with the odds of CRC after adjusting for confounding factors (T₂-OR = 2.46; CI: 1.08-5.61 and T₃- OR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.07-7.31). Regarding the GL, only individuals who were in the second tertile had significantly higher odds of CRC compared to the first tertile (OR = 2.42; CI: 1.07-5.47).

CONCLUSION

According to the findings, it is recommended to use a diet with high-quality carbohydrates and low GI and GL to minimize the odds of developing CRC. People should also be encouraged to have a balanced carbohydrate intake.

Consumer acceptance of reduced sodium white and multigrain bread: Impact of flavor enhancement and ingredient information on sample liking

Chronic consumption of sodium in quantities exceeding recommendations has led to sodium being designated as a nutrient of health concern for overconsumption. As a result of the prevalence of sodium overconsumption, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released voluntary sodium reduction goals for a wide variety of products on both short- and long-term timespans. As food palatability may decrease when sodium is reduced, flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) may provide a promising solution to mitigate such palatability loss. The objective of this research was to investigate consumer acceptance of white and multigrain breads with either a 43% or 60% reduction in sodium content and with and without MSG as well as to investigate the influence of information on consumer acceptance of these breads under blind, informed, and informed with education conditions. Seventy-eight frequent bread consumers participated in the evaluations. A significant difference was evidenced across breads with different levels of sodium content and MSG status, although no difference was seen across the different evaluation conditions. Consumer segmentation found multiple consumer clusters showing different liking patterns of the bread treatments for both white and multigrain breads. Breads with sodium content set at the FDA's long-term goal with and without MSG were liked no differently in nearly all attributes evaluated than the full-sodium bread demonstrating the feasibility of producing acceptable reduced-sodium breads. Future research characterizing the predominant sensory attributes of full-sodium and reduced-sodium breads with and without MSG would be valuable for identifying the drivers of liking in such products. Practical Application: The findings of our study suggest that consumer liking of reduced sodium white and multigrain breads could be improved with the addition of monosodium glutamate. Increasing the acceptance of reduced sodium food products could help to reduce the risk of hypertension and subsequently heart attacks and stroke for the American population.

Effects of tart cherry juice consumption on cardio-metabolic risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Tart cherries are rich in bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanins and other phytochemicals known to have antioxidant properties and exert cardiovascular protective effects. However, there is no definitive consensus on this context. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of tart cherry juice consumption on cardio-metabolic risk factors.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted on electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception up to December 2021 to identify eligible RCT studies. A random-effect model was utilized to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence (95% CI).

RESULTS

Ten RCTs were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed that tart cherry juice consumption led to a significant reduction in the fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels (WMD = -0.51 mg/dl [95% CI: -0.98, -0.06]). This lowering effect of FBS was robust in subgroups with cross-over studies, participants with age range ≥ 40, duration of follow-up ≤ 4 weeks, and baseline BMI ≥ 30. In contrast, tart cherry juice had no effect on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), insulin, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, in the subgroup analysis, some significant effects were observed for insulin, TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this meta-analysis showed that tart cherry juice mostly had a favorable effect on FBG levels. However, further RCTs with long-term intervention with different doses of administration are needed.

Cuffless and Touchless Measurement of Blood Pressure from Ballistocardiogram Based on a Body Weight Scale

Currently, in terms of reducing the infection risk of the COVID-19 virus spreading all over the world, the development of touchless blood pressure (BP) measurement has potential benefits. The pulse transit time (PTT) has a high relation with BP, which can be measured by electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG). The ballistocardiogram (BCG) reflects the mechanical vibration (or displacement) caused by the heart contraction/relaxation (or heart beating), which can be measured from multiple degrees of the body. The goal of this study is to develop a cuffless and touchless BP-measurement method based on a commercial weight scale combined with a PPG sensor when measuring body weight. The proposed method was that the PTTBCG-PPGT was extracted from the BCG signal measured by a weight scale, and the PPG signal was measured from the PPG probe placed at the toe. Four PTT models were used to estimate BP. The reference method was the PTTECG-PPGF extracted from the ECG signal and PPG signal measured from the PPG probe placed at the finger. The standard BP was measured by an electronic blood pressure monitor. Twenty subjects were recruited in this study. By the proposed method, the root-mean-square error (ERMS) of estimated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are 6.7 ± 1.60 mmHg and 4.8 ± 1.47 mmHg, respectively. The correlation coefficients, r2, of the proposed model for the SBP and DBP are 0.606 ± 0.142 and 0.284 ± 0.166, respectively. The results show that the proposed method can serve for cuffless and touchless BP measurement.

Supplementation of amino acids and organic acids prevents the increase in blood pressure induced by high salt in Dahl salt-sensitive rats

A high-salt (HS) diet leads to metabolic disorders in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats, and promotes the development of hypertension. According to the changes in the metabolites of SS rats, a set of combined dietary supplements containing amino acids and organic acids (AO) were designed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of AO supplementation on the blood pressure of SS rats after the HS diet and clarify the mechanism of AO by metabolomics and biochemical analyses. The results showed that AO supplementation avoided the elevation of blood pressure induced by the HS diet in SS rats, increased the renal antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase), reduced the H₂O₂ and MDA levels, and restored the normal antioxidant status of the serum and kidneys. AO also reversed the decrease in the nitric oxide (NO) levels and NO synthase activity induced by the HS feed, which involved the L-arginine/NO pathway. Metabolomics analysis showed that AO administration increased the levels of amino acids such as cysteine, glycine, hypotaurine, and lysine in the renal medulla and the levels of leucine, isoleucine, and serine in the renal cortex. Of note, lysine, hypotaurine and glycine had higher metabolic centrality in the metabolic correlation network of the renal medulla after AO administration. In conclusion, AO intervention could prevent HS diet-induced hypertension in SS rats by restoring the metabolic homeostasis of the kidneys. Hence, AO has the potential to become a functional food additive to improve salt-sensitive hypertension.

Exploiting of Secondary Raw Materials from Fish Processing Industry as a Source of Bioactive Peptide-Rich Protein Hydrolysates

Developing peptide-based drugs are very promising to address many of the lifestyle mediated diseases which are prevalent in a major portion of the global population. As an alternative to synthetic peptide-based drugs, derived peptides from natural sources have gained a greater attention in the last two decades. Aquatic organisms including plants, fish and shellfish are known as a rich reservoir of parent protein molecules which can offer novel sequences of amino acids in peptides, having unique bio-functional properties upon hydrolyzing with proteases from different sources. However, rather than exploiting fish and shellfish stocks which are already under pressure due to overexploitation, the processing discards, regarded as secondary raw material, could be a potential choice for peptide based therapeutic development strategies. In this connection, we have attempted to review the scientific reports in this area of research that deal with some of the well-established bioactive properties, such as antihypertensive, anti-oxidative, anti-coagulative, antibacterial and anticarcinogenic properties, with reference to the type of enzymes, substrate used, degree of particular bio-functionality, mechanism, and wherever possible, the active amino acid sequences in peptides. Many of the studies have been conducted on hydrolysate (crude mixture of peptides) enriched with low molecular bioactive peptides. In vitro and in vivo experiments on the potency of bioactive peptides to modulate the human physiological functions beneficially have demonstrated that these peptides can be used in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable lifestyle mediated diseases. The information synthesized under this review could serve as a point of reference to drive further research on and development of functionally active therapeutic natural peptides. Availability of such scientific information is expected to open up new zones of investigation for adding value to underutilized secondary raw materials, which in turn paves the way for sustainability in fish processing. However, there are significant challenges ahead in exploring the fish waste as a source of bioactive peptides, as it demands more studies on mechanisms and structure–function relationship understanding as well as clearance from regulatory and statutory bodies before reaching the end user in the form of supplement or therapeutics.

Potassium Lactate as a Strategy for Sodium Content Reduction without Compromising Salt-Associated Antimicrobial Activity in Salami

Reformulating recipes of ready-to-eat meat products such as salami to reduce salt content can mitigate the negative health impacts of a high salt diet. We evaluated the potential of potassium lactate (KL) as a sodium chloride (NaCl) replacer during salami production. NaCl and KL stress tolerance comparisons showed that four food-derived Listeria innocua isolates were suitable as biologically safe Listeria monocytogenes surrogates. Effects of the high salt (4% NaCl) concentration applied in standard salami recipes and a low salt (2.8% NaCl) plus KL (1.6%) combination on product characteristics and growth of contaminating Listeria and starter culture were compared. Simulated salami-ripening conditions applied in meat simulation broth and beef showed that the low salt plus KL combination retained similar to superior anti-Listeria activity compared to the high salt concentration treatment. Salami challenge tests showed that the low NaCl plus KL combination had comparable anti-Listeria activity as the high NaCl concentration during ripening and storage. No significant differences were detected in starter culture growth profiles and product characteristics between the high NaCl and low NaCl plus KL combination treated salami. In conclusion, KL replacement enabled a 30% NaCl reduction without compromising the product quality and antimicrobial benefits of high NaCl concentration inclusion.

The association between sarcopenic obesity (SO) and major dietary patterns in overweight and obese adult women

AIM

No studies have evaluated the contribution of major dietary patterns to Sarcopenic Obesity (SO) in obese and overweight people based on quintile of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and fat mass (FM). This study was conducted to examine the association between major dietary patterns and SO.

METHOD AND MATERIAL

A total of 301 overweight and obese women were included in the cross-sectional study. Body composition was measured by body composition analyzer. Resting metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry. The usual food intake was evaluated by a semi-quantitative FFQ. Serum HDL-c, LDL-c, TG, FBS, total cholesterol and hs-CRP were measured.

RESULT

The prevalence of sarcopenia (is referred to as two lower quintiles of SMM) and obesity (is referred to as two highest quintiles of FM) and SO was 19.6%, 20.4% and 9.9% respectively. We used the principal component analysis and three major dietary patterns were determined: the DASH, western and unhealthy dietary pattern, they covering 30.63% of total dietary pattern of our population. Participants in the in the upper category of DASH dietary pattern had lower odds of SO (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.96, P = 0.04). After adjustment for age, physical activity and total energy intake, the association between the DASH and SO, was still significantly negative (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.77, P = 0.01) and the risk of sarcopenia reduced by 80%.

CONCLUSION

The present evidence indicates, adherence of the DASH Diet, has a significant effect on reducing the risk of SO.

Census Tract Food Tweets and Chronic Disease Outcomes in the U.S., 2015⁻2018

There is a growing recognition of social media data as being useful for understanding local area patterns. In this study, we sought to utilize geotagged tweets—specifically, the frequency and type of food mentions—to understand the neighborhood food environment and the social modeling of food behavior. Additionally, we examined associations between aggregated food-related tweet characteristics and prevalent chronic health outcomes at the census tract level. We used a Twitter streaming application programming interface (API) to continuously collect ~1% random sample of public tweets in the United States. A total of 4,785,104 geotagged food tweets from 71,844 census tracts were collected from April 2015 to May 2018. We obtained census tract chronic disease outcomes from the CDC 500 Cities Project. We investigated associations between Twitter-derived food variables and chronic outcomes (obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure) using the median regression. Census tracts with higher average calories per tweet, less frequent healthy food mentions, and a higher percentage of food tweets about fast food had higher obesity and hypertension prevalence. Twitter-derived food variables were not predictive of diabetes prevalence. Food-related tweets can be leveraged to help characterize the neighborhood social and food environment, which in turn are linked with community levels of obesity and hypertension.

Benefits of blended oil consumption over other sources of lipids on the cardiovascular system in obese rats

High consumption of cooking oils in modern society is believed to be the major cause of cardiovascular disease.

Functions and Applications of Bioactive Peptides From Corn Gluten Meal

Corn protein has been identified as an important source of bioactive peptides. Such peptides can be released during hydrolysis induced by proteolytic enzymes or microbial fermentation. Corn peptides have been found to exhibit different functions in vitro and in vivo such as antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, anti-obesity, antimicrobial, antioxidative, mineral-binding and accelerating alcohol metabolism. To date, 22 sequences of bioactive corn peptides have already been identified. There is an increasing commercial interest in the production of corn peptides with the purpose of using them as active ingredients, which may find use in the treatment of liver injury, hypertension, dental carries, oxidative stress, mineral malabsorption and obesity. These bioactive peptides may be used in formulation of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and natural drugs because of their health benefit effects.

Usefulness of a Short Dietary Propensity Questionnaire in Japan

Aim: There is a growing need for nutritional education for prevention and non-pharmacological treatment of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We compared the results of a short dietary propensity questionnaire (SDPQ) with those from the food frequency and quantity survey (FF Quantity), which had been previously quantitatively assessed by comparison with the 24-hr dietary recall (24hr-DR), to examine the usefulness of the SDPQ. The SDPQ was designed to assess dietary propensities of 12 food/nutrients relevant to CVD risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a dietary survey using the SDPQ on Japanese men and women. After 2–3 weeks, we conducted the FF Quantity survey with the same participants. For each of the 12 food/nutrient categories, the relationships between quintiles of results from the SDPQ and FF Quantity were examined. Results from 79 participants who completed both surveys were used.

Results: Spearman's correlation coefficients (r) were significant for all food/nutrient categories. Good correlations were found with alcohol (r = 0.792), starchy foods (r = 0.566), and milk and dairy products (r = 0.687), for which good correlations between the FF Quantity and 24hr-DR had been observed previously. Moderate correlations were found for vegetables (r = 0.386) and high-salt foods (r = 0.505), although the FF Quantity survey poorly correlated with the 24hr-DR.

Conclusion: The SDPQ may be useful for assessment of dietary propensities for alcohol, starchy foods, and milk and dairy products in Japan.

Comparison of Oil Content and Fatty Acids Profile of Western Schley, Wichita, and Native Pecan Nuts Cultured in Chihuahua, Mexico

Two different extraction processes, Soxhlet and ultrasound, were used to obtain the oil extracts of Western Schley, Wichita, and Native pecan nuts cultured in Chihuahua, Mexico. The aspects evaluated in this study were the extraction yield of the processes and fatty acids' profile of the resulting extracts. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify and determine the composition percentage of fatty acids present in pecan nuts oils extracted. The results obtained show that higher oil extraction yields were obtained by Soxhlet method with hexane (69.90%) in Wichita varieties. Wichita, Western Schley, and Native pecan nuts from Chihuahua are rich in PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) and MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids) and have low levels of SFA (saturated fatty acids). The predominant fatty acid present in all pecan nuts oils was linoleic acid followed by oleic acid. Myristic acid, palmitic acid, and linolenic acid were also identified in representative quantities. The results from this study suggest that there are statistically significant differences in the chemical composition of the pecan nuts oils extracted from the varieties cultured in Chihuahua, Mexico, and those cultivated in other regions of the world.

Dietary and health biomarkers-time for an update

In the dietary and health research area, biomarkers are extensively used for multiple purposes. These include biomarkers of dietary intake and nutrient status, biomarkers used to measure the biological effects of specific dietary components, and biomarkers to assess the effects of diet on health. The implementation of biomarkers in nutritional research will be important to improve measurements of dietary intake, exposure to specific dietary components, and of compliance to dietary interventions. Biomarkers could also help with improved characterization of nutritional status in study volunteers and to provide much mechanistic insight into the effects of food components and diets. Although hundreds of papers in nutrition are published annually, there is no current ontology for the area, no generally accepted classification terminology for biomarkers in nutrition and health, no systematic validation scheme for these biomarker classes, and no recent systematic review of all proposed biomarkers for food intake. While advanced databases exist for the human and food metabolomes, additional tools are needed to curate and evaluate current data on dietary and health biomarkers. The Food Biomarkers Alliance (FoodBAll) under the Joint Programming Initiative-A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI-HDHL)-is aimed at meeting some of these challenges, identifying new dietary biomarkers, and producing new databases and review papers on biomarkers for nutritional research. This current paper outlines the needs and serves as an introduction to this thematic issue of Genes & Nutrition on dietary and health biomarkers.

Peptide Analysis and the Bioactivity of Whey Protein Hydrolysates from Cheese Whey with Several Enzymes

The aim of this study was identifying a suitable food grade enzymes to hydrolyze whey protein concentrates (WPCs), to give the highest bioactivity. WPCs from ultrafiltration retentate were adjusted to 35% protein (WPC-35) and hydrolyzed by enzymes, alcalase, α-chymotrypsin, pepsin, protease M, protease S, and trypsin at different hydrolysis times (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h). These 36 types of hydrolysates were analyzed for their prominent peptides β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) and α-lactalbumin (α-La), to identify the proteolytic activity of each enzyme. Protease S showed the highest proteolytic activity and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity of IC50, 0.099 mg/mL (91.55%) while trypsin showed the weakest effect. Antihypertensive and antioxidative peptides associated with β-Lg hydrolysates were identified in WPC-35 hydrolysates (WPH-35) that hydrolyzed by the enzymes, trypsin and protease S. WPH-35 treated with protease S in 0.5 h, responded positively to usage as a bioactive component in different applications of pharmaceutical or related industries.

The Anti-Inflammatory and Vasodilating Effects of Three Selected Dietary Organic Sulfur Compounds from Allium Species

The anti-inflammatory and vasodilating effects of three selected dietary organic sulfur compounds (OSC), including diallyl disulfide (DADS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), and propyl disulfide (PDS), from Allium species were investigated. In the anti-inflammatory activity assay, the three OSC demonstrated significant inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in activated RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by the three OSC, indicating that the three OSC prevented the LPS-induced inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. For the vasodilative assay, the three OSC were ineffective in producing NO in SVEC4-10 cells, but they did enhance prostacyclin (PGI₂) production. The expression of COX-2 in SVEC4-10 cells was activated by DADS and DMDS. Pretreatment of SVEC4-10 cells with the three OSC decreased ROS generation in H₂O₂-induced SVEC4-10 cells. In addition, the three OSC significantly inhibited angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE). The up-regulation of PGI₂ production and COX-2 expression by DADS and DMDS and the reduction of ROS generation by DADS, DMDS, and PDS in SVEC4-10 cells contributed to the vasodilative effect of the three OSC. Collectively, these findings suggest that DADS, DMDS, and PDS are potential anti-inflammatory and vasodilative mediators.

Diagnostic status of hypertension on the adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is a widely recommended diet for individuals with hypertension. Adherence to the DASH diet has been shown to be effective for controlling hypertension, but it is unclear whether a hypertension diagnosis has an impact on adherence to the diet and nutrient intake. This study examined the association between hypertension diagnosis and the DASH nutrient intake using the multivariate linear regression method. The sample was composed of individuals with hypertension in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2012. The outcome was the DASH accordance score (0 to 9 points), which measures the intake of nine nutrients compared to target amounts. Study findings indicate that a diagnostic status of hypertension was associated with increased consumption of sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and protein. Adherence to the DASH diet was more likely to be associated with health conditions such as obesity and heart diseases and lifestyle behaviors such as current smoking status and physical activity. Individuals diagnosed with hypertension showed less adherence to the DASH diet than those not diagnosed with hypertension, so a diagnosis of hypertension did not seem to provide an incentive to engage in healthy dietary behavior. Overall, regardless of diagnostic status, individuals with hypertension did not seem to follow the DASH guidelines.

The effects of proteins and medium-chain fatty acids from milk on body composition, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure in abdominally obese adults

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether intake of whey protein and butter naturally enriched in medium-chain fatty acids (MC-SFAs) (C6-C12) affected body composition, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure (BP) and plasma cholesterol concentrations.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

A 12-week randomised, double-blinded, intervention study was completed in 52 abdominally obese adults. Subjects were assigned to one of four dietary supplementations: 63 g per day of milk fat with either high- (8.5 g per day) or low-MC-SFA (6.9 g per day) content combined with 60 g per day of whey or casein.We examined changes in the body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorption scan, insulin sensitivity using homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Matsuda index, and diurnal BP and plasma cholesterol concentrations. Two-factor analysis of variance was used to examine the impact of MC-SFA content and protein type.

RESULTS

We observed that lean body mass increased by 981 g (95% confidence interval (CI): 248-1713; P=0.010) after high-MC-SFA compared with low-MC-SFA supplementation. Concomitantly, total body-fat percentage increased by 0.70 percentage points (95% CI: 0.10-1.31; P=0.024) after intake of low-MC-SFA butter compared with intake of high-MC-SFA butter. Both changes were independent of protein type (P=0.96 and P=0.99, respectively). We found no difference in HOMA-IR, Matsuda index, diurnal BP or plasma cholesterol concentrations related to MC-SFA content or protein type.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced intake of MC-SFA increased the lean body mass and caused a significantly lower total body-fat percentage compared with lower intake of MC-SFA. Consequently, the composition of dairy fat should be considered when evaluating the impact of dairy products on body composition.

Protein Foods Group and 3-Year Incidence of Hypertension: A Prospective Study From Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

OBJECTIVES

Dietary factors play an important role in the development of hypertension (HTN). In this study, we aimed to determine the possible effect of protein foods group and its subgroups on risk of HTN after 3-year follow-up in Iranian adults.

DESIGN

Prospective study in framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

SUBJECTS

A total of 1,152 healthy adults, aged 20 to 84 years participated and were followed-up for 3 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Usual dietary intake was assessed using a 168-item validate semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline and again after 3 years. Protein foods group was considered as the sum of meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, beans and peas, nuts, and seeds. Blood pressure was measured at baseline and after 3 years, and HTN was diagnosed by the seventh report of Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure (JNC-VII). To assess the odds ratio of HTN in each tertile of protein foods group and its subgroup, a multivariate logistic regression adjusted for potential confounding variables was used.

RESULTS

Mean age of participants was 36.0 ± 11.2 years, and mean intake of protein foods group was 855 ± 343 g/week (range 70.5-3,450 g/week). After 3 years of follow-up, the incidence of HTN was 12.5%. There was no significant association between dietary intakes of the protein foods group, meats, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, and nuts and seeds and the occurrence of HTN over 3 years. However, 3-year incidence of HTN was significantly decreased in the highest tertile of eggs in compared with the lowest (odds ratio: 0.54; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.91; P for trend = .02).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that egg consumption could have favorable effect against development of HTN.

Dietary fat intake and its association with risk of selected components of the metabolic syndrome among rural South Indians

CONTEXT

There is limited literature on the dietary fat intake of rural Indian populations, particularly in relation to the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS).

AIM

This study aims to assess the dietary fat intake and analyze its association with the risk of selected components of the MS among rural population in the state of Tamil Nadu.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Adults (n = 27012) ≥20 years of age were recruited from the rural component of the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study, a cross-sectional study conducted in 42 villages in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Using a validated food frequency questionnaire, data were obtained on the fat intake among 6907 adults. Anthropometric and clinical measures were collected using standard methods. The components of the MS assessed were abdominal obesity, hypertension, and impaired fasting glucose. All analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 20).

RESULTS

Prevalence of abdominal obesity, hypertension, and impaired fasting glucose were significantly higher in the highest quintile of fat intake (33%, P < 0.001; 39%, P = 0.04, and 23.3%, P = 0.003, respectively). Highest intake of fat was also significantly associated with risk of abdominal obesity (P < 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.04), and impaired fasting glucose (P = 0.01). Sunflower oil as the main cooking oil was significantly associated with a higher risk of these components of the MS (P for trend <0.001) compared to traditional oils and palmolein.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher dietary fat was significantly associated with risk of components of the MS and use of sunflower oil as main cooking oil increased metabolic risk in rural South Indians.

Lifestyle Factors and Metabolic Syndrome among Workers: The Role of Interactions between Smoking and Alcohol to Nutrition and Exercise

This study aimed to investigate (1) relations of smoking and alcohol to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, with nutrition and exercise controlled; and (2) interactions between smoking/alcohol and nutrition/exercise on MetS. This cross-sectional study enrolled 4025 workers. Self-reported lifestyles, anthropometric values, blood pressure (BP), and biochemical determinations were obtained. Among males, smoking significantly increased the risk of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high triglyceride, abdominal obesity (AO), and MetS. Additionally, smoking showed significant interaction effects with nutrition on high BP, AO, and MetS; after further analysis, nutrition did not decrease above-mentioned risks for smokers. However, there was no significant interaction of smoking with exercise on any metabolic parameter. Alcohol increased the risk of AO, but decreased low HDL-C. It also showed an interaction effect with exercise on AO; after further analysis, exercise decreased AO risk for drinkers. Among females, alcohol significantly decreased the risk of high fasting blood glucose, but did not show significant interaction with nutrition/exercise on any metabolic parameter. In conclusion, in males, smoking retained significant associations with MetS and its components, even considering benefits of nutrition; exercise kept predominance on lipid parameters regardless of smoking status. Alcohol showed inconsistencies on metabolic parameters for both genders.

Beneficial effects of simulated gastro-intestinal digests of fried egg and its fractions on blood pressure, plasma lipids and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background

We have previously characterized several antihypertensive peptides in simulated digests of cooked eggs and showed blood pressure lowering property of fried whole egg digest. However, the long-term effects of this hydrolysate and its fractions on blood pressure are not known. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to determine the effects of long term administration of fried whole egg hydrolysate and its fractions (i.e. egg white and egg yolk) on regulation of blood pressure and associated factors in cardiovascular disease such as plasma lipid profile and tissue oxidative stress.

Methods and Results

We used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), an animal model of essential hypertension. Hydrolysates of fried egg and its fractions were prepared by simulated gastro-intestinal digestion with pepsin and pancreatin. 16–17 week old male SHRs were orally administered fried whole egg hydrolysate, non-hydrolyzed fried whole egg, egg white hydrolysate or egg yolk hydrolysates (either defatted, or not) daily for 18 days. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were monitored by telemetry. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the treatment for vascular function studies and evaluating plasma lipid profile and tissue oxidative stress. BP was reduced by feeding fried whole egg hydrolysate but not by the non-hydrolyzed product suggesting a critical role for in vitro digestion in releasing anti-hypertensive peptides. Egg white hydrolysate and defatted egg yolk hydrolysate (but not egg yolk hydrolysate) also had similar effects. Reduction in BP was accompanied by the restoration of nitric oxide (NO) dependent vasorelaxation and reduction of plasma angiotensin II. Fried whole egg hydrolysate also reduced plasma levels of triglyceride although it was increased by the non-hydrolyzed sample. Additionally the hydrolyzed preparations attenuated tissue oxidative stress.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that fried egg hydrolysates exert anti-hypertensive effects, improve plasma lipid profile and attenuate tissue oxidative stress in vivo.

Dietary responses to a hypertension diagnosis: evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010

Dietary modification has been shown to substantially reduce blood pressure among people with hypertension. This article uses data from the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 cross-sections of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the extent to which a hypertension diagnosis can influence individuals' dietary choices. Several models were estimated to clarify the association of a hypertension diagnosis with dietary factors related to hypertension management. A comparison group of individuals at risk for developing hypertension was used. Results suggest that individuals who received a recent diagnosis of hypertension are more likely to have lower intakes of some dietary factors important in blood pressure management, including sodium. The results also highlight a discrepancy between added salt use and dietary sodium intake. While more recent hypertensive patients tended to consume lower levels of dietary sodium, patients diagnosed longer ago tended to use less added salt. Given that those diagnosed were more likely to have lower blood pressure profiles and improved diets, especially close to the time of diagnosis, the results of this study underscore the need for a prompt and accurate diagnosis of hypertension.

Effects of an isocaloric healthy Nordic diet on ambulatory blood pressure in metabolic syndrome: a randomized SYSDIET sub-study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Dietary pattern is central in the prevention of hypertension and blood pressure (BP)-related diseases. A diet based on healthy Nordic foods may have a favourable impact on BP. The objective was to clarify whether a Nordic alternative for a healthy food pattern would have beneficial effects on ambulatory BP in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

SUBJECTS/METHODS

In total, 37 subjects were randomized to either a healthy Nordic diet or a control diet. A healthy Nordic diet embraced whole grains, rapeseed oil, berries, fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and low-fat dairy products of Nordic origin. The mean nutrient intake in the Nordic countries formed the control diet, embracing wheat products, dairy fat-based spread and a lower intake of fruits, vegetables and fish. Diets were isoenergetic. Ambulatory BP was monitored and 24-h urine was collected before and after 12 weeks of intervention.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, ambulatory diastolic BP (-4.4 mm Hg; P=0.001) and mean arterial pressure (-4.2 mm Hg; P=0.006) were lowered by the healthy Nordic diet compared with the control diet, whereas changes in ambulatory systolic BP did not differ significantly between diets (-3.5 mm Hg; P=0.122). Heart rate tended to be lower in those on the healthy Nordic diet (P=0.057). Urinary sodium and potassium excretions were unaffected by diets and consequently not associated with the healthy Nordic diet-induced lowering of BP.

CONCLUSIONS

Consumption of Nordic varieties of health-enhancing foods for 12 weeks decreased diastolic ambulatory BP and mean arterial pressure in subjects with features of MetS during weight-stable condition, suggesting beneficial effects of a healthy Nordic dietary pattern on ambulatory BP.

Age-dependent effect of high-fructose and high-fat diets on lipid metabolism and lipid accumulation in liver and kidney of rats

Background

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by variable coexistence of metabolic and pathophysiological alterations which are important risk factors for developing of type II diabetes and/or cardiovascular diseases. Increased of MS patients in worldwide has stimulated the development of experimental models. However, it is still challenging to find an dietetic model that most closely approximates human MS and, in addition, is not yet fully established the effect of different diets of MS in lipid metabolism in rats of different ages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different diets of MS in lipid metabolism and ectopic fat deposition and define the most appropriate diet for inducing the characteristic disturbances of the human MS in rats of different ages.

Methods

Young (4 weeks old) and adult rats (12 weeks old) were given a high-fat (FAT) or high-fructose diet (FRU) for 13 weeks and biochemical, physiological, histological and biometric parameters were evaluated.

Results

In young rats, the FAT diet induced increased mean blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR), body weight after 6 to 10 weeks, and in the 13th week, increased the liver, mesenteric, retroperitoneal and epididymal fat weights, fasting glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and reduced HDL cholesterol; and also induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and renal inflammatory infiltrates. In adult rats, the FRU diet induced transient elevations of MAP and HR in the 6th week, and, at 13 weeks, increased fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, AST and ALT; increased liver, kidneys and retroperitoneal fat weights; and induced macrovesicular and microvesicular NAFLD, the presence of fat cells in the kidney, glomerular sclerosis, and liver and kidney inflammation. Additionally, the FAT and FRU diets induced, respectively, increases in liver glycogen in adults and young rats.

Conclusions

Our data show that FRU diet in adult rats causes biggest change on metabolism of serum lipids and lipid accumulation in liver and kidney, while the FAT diet in young rats induces elevation of MAP and HR and higher increased visceral lipid stores, constituting the best nutritional interventions to induce MS in rats.

Novel angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from enzymatic hydrolysates of goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus) muscle proteins

In recent years, food protein-derived bioactive peptides have received considerable attention because of their numerous health benefits. Amongst bioactive peptides, those with antihypertensive activity are receiving special attention due to their role in cardiovascular diseases. Goby protein hydrolysates (GPHs) prepared by treatment with five different crude bacterial proteases were found to exhibit varying degrees of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. The hydrolysate generated by the crude protease from Bacillus mojavensis A21, which displayed the highest ACE inhibitory activity, was further fractionated by size exclusion chromatography on a Sephadex G-25 and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The molecular masses and amino acid sequences of five peptides, in sub-fraction F5-2, which exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity, were determined using ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS, respectively. The structures of these peptides were identified as Ala-Arg-Ser, Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Ala-His-Gly-Thr, Arg-Ser-Thr-Ala, Phe-Tyr-Pro-Pro, Arg-Cys-Ser-Ala-Gly-Val. Further, the sequences of fifteen peptides in the F5-4 sub-fraction, which exhibited high activity, were determined. Therefore, GPHs have a potential as hypotensive nutraceutical ingredients.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Peptides find many outlets of application in the biotechnological field, amongst which are pharmaceutical applications. Progression amongst new small molecules deposited like substance medicamentous blows itself. In this context, large pharmaceutical companies invest in peptide research to open therapeutic new prospects. Even if they are used as therapeutic agents for nearly one century in their natural form, the use of peptides remains parsimonious although we experienced a significant development since a few tens of years, in particular thanks to the clarification of the methods of production, chemical in solid or biological phase such as in phage display. Peptides present many advantages compared to traditional drugs that have small molecules, Generation of bioactive peptides by proteolysis of food proteins, using exogenous proteases, is a new and interesting approach for the production and identification of new and potent specific hypotensive agents. From another side, compared with natural peptides isolated from different sources, there is more diversity in structure and mode of action of the derived bioactive peptides. In fact, proteolysis of protein substrates, having different amino acid composition and sequences, by proteases having different specificities may generate numerous specific peptide inhibitors, with different lengths and amino acid sequences. These bioactive peptides have received considerable attention for their effectiveness in both the prevention and the treatment of hypertension.

Association between dietary protein intake and the risk of hypertension: a cross-sectional study from rural western China

Evidence for an association between dietary proteins and the risk of hypertension in rural Chinese adults, whose diets are protein-poor and unbalanced, is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary proteins on hypertension among adults of rural western China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hanzhong, China, and 2241 residents were included in the analysis. Logistic regression models were used to examine whether dietary proteins (total, plant and animal protein) were independently correlated with hypertension. The total protein intake was inadequate (51.7 g per day for male and 40.1 g per day for female), accounting for 56-71% of the Chinese recommended nutrient intakes or adequate intakes. Nearly 80% of protein intake derived from plants, especially grains, and the proportion derived from plants was higher in females than in males. The daily animal protein intake was 12.1 g for males and 8.3 g for females. For females, no significant association was found between hypertension and total protein or plant protein intake. However, animal protein intake was significantly and negatively associated with the risk of hypertension after controlling for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, body mass index and other dietary nutrients. In addition, the odds ratio for the upper quartile compared with the bottom quartile was 0.64 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.43-0.95, P for trend <0.05). Furthermore, a significant decrease of 1.082 mm Hg (95%CI: 0.189-1.975) in systolic blood pressure and 0.668 mm Hg (95%CI: 0.105-1.232) in diastolic blood pressure was observed per s.d. increase of animal protein intake in females. For males, we did not observe a significant association between dietary proteins and hypertension or blood pressure. In conclusion, for the western rural Chinese population, especially women, whose dietary protein intake is low and largely derived from plants, the intake of animal protein may be related to a decreased risk of hypertension.

Health benefits of nut consumption with special reference to body weight control

Nuts are an integral part of the Mediterranean food patterns, and their incorporation into the regular diets of human beings is believed to provide many health benefits. The recent recognition of nuts as "heart-healthy" foods by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given a major boost to the positive image of nuts. Nut consumption has been associated with several health benefits, such as antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic benefits, among other functional properties. However, although nuts possess these many health benefits, their consumption has been hampered by a lack of adequate information regarding those benefits. In addition, because nuts are energy-dense foods with high-fat content, there is a misconception among consumers that increased consumption may lead to unwanted gain in body weight with the risk of developing overweight/obesity. Nonetheless, available epidemiologic studies and short-term controlled feeding trials have supported the theory that the inclusion of nuts in the typical diet does not induce weight gain, despite an expected increase in total caloric intake. To address the misperception about nuts and body weight gain, the present review focuses mainly on the relation between nut consumption and body weight gain, in the context of the many health benefits of nuts.

Diet and blood pressure in 18-74-year-old adults: the French Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS, 2006-2007)

OBJECTIVE

Dietary recommendations to reduce blood pressure (BP) have been widely disseminated. We investigated associations between dietary intake and BP in a national sample of adults living in France.

METHODS

The survey included 1968 18-74-year-old participants in the French Nutrition and Health Survey (Etude Nationale Nutrition Santé), a cross-sectional national multistage sampling study. Dietary intake and SBP and DBP were assessed using three 24-h recalls and three measurements, respectively. Mean dietary intake was compared across BP categories: previously diagnosed hypertensive and among undiagnosed optimal (SBP <120  mmHg and DBP <80  mmHg), intermediate and high (SBP ≥140  mmHg and/or DBP ≥90  mmHg) BP participants. After exclusion of previously diagnosed hypertensive participants, linear regressions were also carried out between dietary intake and SBP and DBP.

RESULTS

Eating habits of previously diagnosed hypertensive participants were not different from those of undiagnosed high BP participants, except higher milk consumption (P = 0.03) and lower seafood and alcohol intake (P < 0.03 and P = 0.002, respectively) in previously diagnosed hypertensive. After exclusion of them, dairy products (milk especially), fruit and vegetables, fiber and whole-grain food consumption were inversely and linearly associated with SBP (P < 0.04), whereas alcohol intake was positively associated with SBP (P < 10) and DBP (P = 0.005). Modification effect of sex was observed for saturated fatty acids intake (positive association with DPB in women) and calcium (negative association with SBP in men).

CONCLUSION

Adherence to nutritional recommendations still needs to be improved in hypertensive adults even if they are aware of their condition. In the rest of the population, proper habits regarding milk, fruit and vegetables, fiber and alcohol should decrease the risk of hypertension onset.

Dietary restriction (DR) and its advantages

Dietary restriction (DR) also called dietary control or calorie restriction is reported to have many advantages with regard to human health. It leads to suppression of obesity, mitigates free radicals and increases available antioxidants which are accounted for extending the life span of individuals. DR is also reported to induce synthesis of heat shock proteins in animals as a control mechanism against stress. Further, it is known to play a significant role in decreasing toxicity and lethality due to a variety of toxic chemicals and drugs by stimulating tissue repair damaged by the toxicants leading to restoration of intact organ and its functions. Moreover, extensive work done on animals indicate DR has an important role in suppressing certain types of cancer. In this review an effort is made to highlight the various advantages of DR from the point of human health perspective.

Early high-sodium solid diet does not affect sodium intake, sodium preference, blood volume and blood pressure in adult Wistar-Kyoto rats

A high-Na diet may lead to the development of hypertension in both humans and rats; however, the causes of Na intake in amounts greater than physiologically needed as well as the mechanisms whereby high-Na food elevates blood pressure are not clear. Therefore, we decided to test the hypothesis that a high-Na diet introduced after suckling affects Na intake, food preference, resting blood pressure and blood volume in adult rats. Male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, 4 weeks old, were divided into three groups and placed on either a high-Na (3.28%), a medium-Na (0.82%) or a regular diet (0.22%) with the same energy content for 8 weeks. Subsequently, food preference, resting arterial blood pressure, blood volume, plasma osmolality and Na blood level were evaluated. When offered a choice of diets, all the groups preferred the regular chow, and there was no significant difference in total Na intake between the groups. When the rats experienced the change from their initial chow to a new one with different Na content, they continued to eat the same amount of food. Body weight, resting arterial blood pressure, blood volume, plasma osmolality and Na blood level were comparable between the groups. In conclusion, the results show that a high-Na diet introduced immediately after suckling does not affect Na preference and Na intake in adult WKY rats. Furthermore, the findings provide evidence that both blood volume and arterial blood pressure are highly protected in normotensive rats on a high-Na diet.

WITHDRAWN: Bioactive peptides derived from meat proteins

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Exercise in the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension that is occurring in increasing frequency across the global population. Although there is some controversy about its diagnostic criteria, oxidative stress, which is defined as imbalance between the production and inactivation of reactive oxygen species, has a major pathophysiological role in all the components of this disease. Oxidative stress and consequent inflammation induce insulin resistance, which likely links the various components of this disease. We briefly review the role of oxidative stress as a major component of the metabolic syndrome and then discuss the impact of exercise on these pathophysiological pathways. Included in this paper is the effect of exercise in reducing fat-induced inflammation, blood pressure, and improving muscular metabolism.