Low intakes of vitamins C and A are associated with obesity in early adulthood

A Systematized Review of the Relationship Between Obesity and Vitamin C Requirements

Obesity rates have increased globally in recent decades. Body weight is used as a modifiable factor in determining vitamin requirements. Accordingly, vitamin C requirements are volumetrically scaled from data for healthy weight males to other age- and sex-based categories. Likewise, it is possible that increases in body weight due to obesity may affect vitamin C needs. A systematized literature review was performed to summarize evidence on whether obesity affects vitamin C intake or status. The literature was also scanned for potential mechanisms for the relationship. Many observational studies showed that vitamin C status is lower in overweight and obese children and adults; this may be explained by lower vitamin C intakes. Nevertheless, a reanalysis of carefully conducted intervention studies has demonstrated a lower vitamin C status in participants who were overweight or obese when given the same dose of vitamin C as subjects of normal weight. Several mechanisms have been proposed to potentially explain why vitamin C status is lower in people with obesity: changes in vitamin C partitioning between lean and adipose tissue, volumetric dilution, metabolic alterations due to obesity, and gut microbial dysbiosis. Depletion-repletion or pharmacokinetic studies that include individuals of diverse body weights and ages would be helpful to further investigate whether obesity increases requirements for vitamin C. The current evidence base supports a lower vitamin C status in people who are overweight or obese; however, the association may be attenuated by lower vitamin C intakes.

The combined effects of overweight/obesity and dietary antioxidant quality score on hypertension in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

This study was to evaluate the combined effects of overweight/obesity and DAQS on the risk of hypertension in children and adolescents.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the data of 14,316 subjects were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associations of obesity and DAQS with the risk of hypertension. The combined effect of overweight/obesity and DAQS on the risk of hypertension was evaluated.

RESULTS

Body mass index (BMI)-for-age < 85th percentile was associated with reduced risk of hypertension in children and adolescents [odds ratio (OR) = 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41-0.62]. No significant association between DAQS ≥ 3 and the risk of hypertension before and after the adjustment of confounders (P > 0.05). Subjects with BMI-for-age of < 85th percentile and DAQS < 3 was associated with decreased risk of hypertension (OR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.35-0.79). People with BMI-for-age of < 85th percentile and DAQS ≥ 3 was correlated with decreased risk of hypertension (OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.36-0.74). Subgroup analysis revealed that in subjects aged ≥ 12 years, decreased risk of hypertension was observed in BMI-for-age < 85th percentile and DAQS < 3 group (OR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.31-0.73) as well as BMI-for-age < 85th percentile and DAQS ≥ 3 group (OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.32-0.67). In boys, BMI-for-age < 85th percentile and DAQS < 3 group (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.25-0.81) as well as BMI-for-age < 85th percentile and DAQS ≥ 3 group (OR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.25-0.65) were correlated with decreased risk of hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Overweight/obesity and DAQS had combined effects on the risk of hypertension in children and adolescents, which implied that for children and adolescents with normal weight, to keep normal weight combined with high quality of diet might be recommended.

Association of dietary patterns with general and central obesity among Chinese adults: a longitudinal population-based study

BACKGROUND

Limited evidence exists for the association between dietary patterns and later obesity phenotypes among Chinese adults. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate associations of dietary patterns with general and central obesity in Chinese adults.

METHODS

Based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) waves 2004 and 2015, the study was conducted on 4207 adult men and women (age range: 18-65 years). Dietary intakes were assessed by three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls, and dietary patterns were identified using exploratory factor analysis. Longitudinal associations of dietary patterns with general and central obesity were evaluated using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of general and central obesity were 14.2% and 42.1%, respectively. Factor analysis extracted three major dietary patterns: "traditional southern," "modern," and "traditional northern." After adjustment for potential confounders, adults in the highest quartile of the traditional southern dietary group were less likely to develop over 10 years general (odds ratio [OR] = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.39, 0.65) and central (OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.43, 0.63) obesity compared to those in the lowest quartile group. The modern dietary pattern was not significantly associated with general and central obesity. Adherence to the traditional northern dietary pattern increased the chance of both general and central obesity (OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.23, 2.10; OR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.36, 1.98) after 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides longitudinal evidence for associations between dietary patterns and later obesity phenotypes among Chinese adults. Our findings may guide the development of evidence-based preventive nutrition interventions to control the obesity epidemic.

The Association between Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) and Obesity: Baseline Data of Kharameh Cohort

Obesity is an increasing problem that can lead to noncommunicable diseases. The role of dietary factors on one's obesity is confirmed in many studies. One nutritional approach that can be used for assessment of the foods and diets is the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ). Our study is aimed at exploring the association between INQ and obesity. Our hypothesis is that enriched and high-quality diets reduce the risk of overweight or obesity. This study was carried out on 6248 overweight and obese participants, from whom 4356 (69.7%) and 1892 (30.3%) were overweight and obese, respectively. To assess the dietary intake for the participants, a valid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 130 food items was utilized. The analysis revealed an inverse association between the overweight and the INQ of iron, thiamin, riboflavin, B6, folate, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C and E. For the obese group, this inverse association was found for iron, B6, folate, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C and E. These results approved our hypothesis that a rich nutrition diet may lead to a lower risk of obesity.

Fat-soluble vitamins: updated review of their role and orchestration in human nutrition throughout life cycle with sex differences

Age and Gender are vital determinants for the micronutrient demands of normal indviduals. Among these micronutrients are vitamins that are required in small amounts for optimum metabolism, homeostasis, and a healthy lifestyle, acting as coenzymes in several biochemical reactions. The majority of previous studies have examined such issues that relates to a specific vitamin or life stage, with the majority merely reporting the effect of either excess or deficiency. Vitamins are classified into water-soluble and fat-soluble components. The fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Fat-soluble vitamins were found to have an indisputable role in an array of physiological processes such as immune regulation, vision, bone and mental health. Nonetheless, the fat-soluble vitamins are now considered a prophylactic measurement for a multitude of diseases such as autism, rickets disease, gestational diabetes, and asthma. Herein, in this review, a deep insight into the orchestration of the four different fat-soluble vitamins requirements is presented for the first time across the human life cycle beginning from fertility, pregnancy, adulthood, and senility with an extensive assessment ofthe interactions among them and their underlying mechanistic actions. The influence of sex for each vitamin is also presented at each life stage to highlight the different daily requirements and effects.

Clinical Impact Potential of Supplemental Nutrients as Adjuncts of Therapy in High-Risk COVID-19 for Obese Patients

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) in China at the end of 2019 caused a major global pandemic and continues to be an unresolved global health crisis. The supportive care interventions for reducing the severity of symptoms along with participation in clinical trials of investigational treatments are the mainstay of COVID-19 management because there is no effective standard therapy for COVID-19. The comorbidity of COVID-19 rises in obese patients. Micronutrients may boost the host immunity against viral infections, including COVID-19. In this review, we discuss the clinical impact potential of supplemental nutrients as adjuncts of therapy in high-risk COVID-19 for obese patients.