Impact of nutritional status and dietary quality on stroke: do we need specific recommendations?

Serum amyloid A-dependent inflammasome activation and acute injury in a mouse model of experimental stroke

Serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins increase dramatically in the blood following inflammation. Recently, SAAs are increased in humans following stroke and in ischemic animal models. However, the impact of SAAs on whether this signal is critical in the ischemic brain remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the role of SAA and SAA signaling in the ischemic brain. Wildtype and SAA deficient mice were exposed to middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, examined for the impact of infarct volumes, behavioral changes, inflammatory markers, TUNEL staining, and BBB changes. The underlying mechanisms were investigated using SAA deficient mice, transgenic mice and viral vectors. SAA levels were significantly increase following MCAo and mice deficient in SAAs showed reduced infarct volumes and improved behavioral outcomes. SAA deficient mice showed a reduction in TUNEL staining, inflammation and decreased glial activation. Mice lacking acute phase SAAs demonstrated a reduction in expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and SAA/NLRP3 KO mice showed improvement. Restoration of SAA expression via SAA tg mice or adenoviral expression reestablished the detrimental effects of SAA. A reduction in BBB permeability was seen in the SAA KO mice and anti-SAA antibody treatment reduced the effects on ischemic injury. SAA signaling plays a critical role in regulating NLRP3-induced inflammation and glial activation in the ischemic brain. Blocking this signal will be a promising approach for treating ischemic stroke.

The effect of the multimodal intervention on blood pressure in patients with first ischemic stroke: A randomized controlled trial

Background

Multimodal intervention is currently promoted to control blood pressure in patients with first ischemic stroke. However, a dearth of studies has examined the influence of the intervention among patients with ischemic stroke, particularly in Thailand.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effect of the multimodal intervention on blood pressure in patients with first ischemic stroke.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty participants were randomly selected from two tertiary hospitals in Thailand. Eligible participants were randomly assigned into an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The experimental group was provided with the multimodal intervention, while the control group was given the usual care. Data were collected from May 2021 to October 2021 at baseline (pre-test), 4^th week, 8^th week, and 12^th week using the demographic data form and sphygmomanometer. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, t-test, and repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results

The participants' blood pressures after receiving the multimodal intervention were lower than those before receiving the multimodal intervention. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were statistically significantly decreased over time, starting from baseline to the 8^th week and 12^th week (p <0.001). In addition, the participants' mean scores of systolic blood pressure (F (1, 58) = 4.059, p = 0.049) and diastolic blood pressure (F (1, 58) = 4.515, p = 0.038) were lower than the control group.

Conclusion

The multimodal intervention is effective in controlling blood pressure. Therefore, nurses should educate patients with ischemic stroke to manage systolic and diastolic blood pressure, facilitate the patient's participation in the exercise program, and monitor the patients via telephone to continue blood pressure control.

Trial Registry

Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR) identifier number 20210318001.

Negative Impact of Comorbidity on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Stroke as Modified by Good Diet Quality

Background

Comorbidity, along with aging, affects stroke-induced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We examined the potential role of diet quality in modifying the association between comorbidity and HRQoL in patients with stroke.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 951 patients with stroke from December 2019 to December 2020 across Vietnam. Comorbidity was assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) items and classified into two groups (none vs. one or more). Diet quality was evaluated using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q) questionnaire, and HRQoL was measured using the RAND-36, with a higher score indicating better diet quality or HRQoL, respectively. Besides, socio-demographics, health-related behaviors (e.g., physical activity, smoking, and drinking), disability (using WHODAS 2.0), and health literacy were also assessed. Linear regression analysis was utilized to explore the associations and interactions.

Results

The proportion of patients with stroke aged ≥65 years and having comorbidity were 53.7 and 49.9%, respectively. The HRQoL scores were 44.4 ± 17.4. The diet quality was associated with higher HRQoL score (regression coefficient, B, 0.14; (95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 0.04, 0.23; p = 0.004), whereas comorbidity was associated with lower HRQoL score (B, −7.36; 95% CI, −9.50, −5.23; p < 0.001). In interaction analysis, compared to patients without comorbidity and having the lowest DASH-Q score, those with comorbidity and higher DASH-Q score had a higher HRQoL score (B, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.03, 0.39; p = 0.021).

Conclusion

The findings showed that good diet quality could modify the adverse impact of comorbidity on HRQoL in patients with stroke. Diet quality should be considered as a strategic intervention to improve the HRQoL of patients with stroke, especially those with comorbidity, and to promote healthier aging.

Association between Oral Frailty and Dietary Variety among Community-Dwelling Older Persons: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between the severity of oral frailty (OF), which is one of the comprehensive oral functions evaluated, and dietary variety in community-dwelling older persons.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community-based.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 769 community-dwelling older persons aged 65 and over.

INTERVENTIONS

We examined basic demographic information, functional status, cognitive status, depressive symptoms, medical history, and oral functions of the participants.

MEASUREMENTS

OF was defined by 1-2 and 3 or more of 6 items of oral function evaluation in the pre-oral frailty and oral frailty groups, respectively. Dietary variety was assessed using the dietary variety score (DVS). The participants were categorized into 3 groups for evaluation: those with a low score (0-2), medium score (3-5), and high score (≥6). Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between OF and DVS.

RESULTS

The rate of OF in the participants was 21.6%, and its severity was significantly associated with DVS after adjusting for potential confounders (Pre-OF; adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.687, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.219-2.335, OF; adjusted OR = 2.857, 95% CI = 1.489-5.484).

CONCLUSION

The severity of OF was significantly associated with DVS in community-dwelling older persons. This suggests that DVS may be useful in understanding the effects of OF on the nutritional status. Further longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the association between OF and DVS.

Combined impact of body mass index and glycemic control on the efficacy of clopidogrel-aspirin therapy in patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack

Background: A single index of body mass index (BMI) may not fully address its impact on anti-platelet therapy. We aimed to elucidate the combined impact of BMI and dysglycemia expressed by glycated albumin (GA) on efficacy of clopidogrel-aspirin therapy among minor stroke (MS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients.

Results: Patients with overweight/obesity and low GA levels still benefited from clopidogrel-aspirin therapy for stroke recurrence (Hazard ratio [HR]: 0.48, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.28–0.82), so did those with high GA levels but low/normal weight (HR: 0.67, 95 % CI: 0.45–0.99). However, patients with both overweight/obesity and high GA levels did not benefit from clopidogrel-aspirin therapy (HR: 0.89, 95 % CI: 0.59–1.33).

Conclusions: Compared with aspirin alone, efficacy of clopidogrel-aspirin therapy for stroke still exists in overweight/obesity patients with normal glycemic control.

Methods: In Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events trial, 3044 patients with available baseline GA were recruited. Low/normal weight and overweight/obesity were defined as BMI < 25 kg/m² and ≥ 25 kg/m², respectively. Elevated and low GA levels were defined as GA levels > 15.5 % and ≤ 15.5 %, respectively. The primary outcome was stroke recurrence during the 90-day follow-up.

Vitamin D and Rehabilitation after Stroke: Status of Art

Stroke is the first cause of disability in the population and post-stroke patients admitted to rehabilitation units often present a malnutrition status which can influence nutritional indices and then vitamin levels. Vitamin D deficiency seems implicated beyond stroke severity and stroke risk, and also affects post-stroke recovery. Some studies on vitamin D levels and outcome in stroke patients are available but very few data on vitamin D levels and outcome after rehabilitation treatment are reported. This literature review shows the possible relationship between vitamin D deficiency and recovery in post-stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment. Moreover, because several studies have reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms and promoter methylation in genes are involved in vitamin D metabolism and might affect circulating vitamin D levels, these aspects are evaluated in the current paper. From the studies evaluated in this review, it emerges that vitamin D deficiency could not only have an important role in the recovery of patients undergoing rehabilitation after a stroke, but that genetic and epigenetic factors related to vitamin D levels could have a crucial role on the rehabilitation outcome of patients after stroke. Therefore, further studies are necessary on stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment, including: (a) the measurement of the 25(OH) vitamin D serum concentrations at admission and post rehabilitation treatment; (b) the identification of the presence/absence of CYP2R1, CYP27B1, CYP24A1 and VDR polymorphisms, and (c) analysis of the methylation levels of these genes pre- and post-rehabilitation treatment.

Dietary cholesterol intake and stroke risk: a meta-analysis

Background/Objectives

The association between dietary cholesterol and stroke risk has remained controversial over the past two decades. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the relationship between dietary cholesterol and stroke risk.

Results

Seven prospective studies including 269,777 non-overlapping individuals (4,604 strokes) were included. The combined RR of stroke for higher cholesterol intake (> 300 mg/day) was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.90–1.07), and the combined RR of stroke for higher cholesterol intake (> 300 mg/day) in females (age of ≥ 60 years or body mass index of ≥ 24 kg/m²) was 1.18 (95% CI, 1.02–1.36).

Materials and Methods

The PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Relevant studies were identified by searching these online databases through September 2017. The relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to investigate the strength of the association.

Conclusions

Higher cholesterol intake has no association with the overall stroke risk. Age and body mass index affect the relationship between dietary cholesterol intake and stroke risk. However, the association between higher dietary cholesterol and stroke risk in males remains unclear.

Impact of Early High-protein Diet on Neurofunctional Recovery in Rats with Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke, featuring high incidence, morbidity, and mortality, is one of the three major diseases troubling human beings. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of early high-protein diet on neurofunctional recovery in rats with ischemic stroke as well as their cerebral infarct areas and molecular expressions of oxidative stress. MATERIAL AND METHODS The middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAO) was established, and 48 adult, male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats of clean grade aged seven to eight months (250-280 g body weight) were randomized into four groups: the MCAO group with high-protein diet (MH), the MCAO group with standard-protein diet (MS), the sham group with high-protein diet (SH), and the sham group with standard-protein diet (SS). High-protein diet intervention started on the first day of the surgery, and the rats' body weights and their neurological deficit scores were measured on each postoperative day while the scores of motors coordination and balance ability were recorded every other day. In addition, their cerebral infant areas and the molecular expressions of oxidative stress injuries were detected as well. RESULTS Compared to the MS group, the rats in the MH group gained faster weight growth (p<0.05), presented significantly lower neurological impairment scores (p<0.05), remarkably improved motor coordination and balance ability (p<0.05) as well as showed smaller cerebral infarct areas (p<0.05), increased expression of SOD (superoxide dismutase), and reduced expressions of MDA (malondialdehyde) and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase). However, there was no significant difference between the SS group and the SH group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Early high-protein diet facilitates the recovery of body weights and neurological functions as well the reduction of the cerebral infarct areas of rats, thus alleviating ischemic stroke-caused oxidative stress injuries.

Adipose tissue and metabolic and inflammatory responses to stroke are altered in obese mice

Obesity is an independent risk factor for stroke, although several clinical studies have reported that obesity improves stroke outcome. Obesity is hypothesised to aid recovery by protecting against post-stroke catabolism. We therefore assessed whether obese mice had an altered metabolic and inflammatory response to stroke. Obese ob/ob mice underwent a 20-min middle cerebral artery occlusion and 24-h reperfusion. Lipid metabolism and expression of inflammatory cytokines were assessed in the plasma, liver and adipose tissue. The obese-specific metabolic response to stroke was assessed in plasma using non-targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) metabolomics coupled with univariate and multivariate analysis. Obesity had no effect on the extent of weight loss 24 h after stroke but affected the metabolic and inflammatory responses to stroke, predominantly affecting lipid metabolism. Specifically, obese mice had increases in plasma free fatty acids and expression of adipose lipolytic enzymes. Metabolomics identified several classes of metabolites affected by stroke in obese mice, including fatty acids and membrane lipids (glycerophospholipids, lysophospholipids and sphingolipids). Obesity also featured increases in inflammatory cytokines in the plasma and adipose tissue. Overall, these results demonstrate that obesity affected the acute metabolic and inflammatory response to stroke and suggest a potential role for adipose tissue in this effect. These findings could have implications for longer-term recovery and also further highlight the importance of considering comorbidities in preclinical stroke research, especially when identifying biomarkers for stroke. However, further work is required to assess whether these changes translate into long-term effects on recovery.

Summary: Obesity, a co-morbidity for stroke, affected the acute metabolic and inflammatory response to stroke, highlighting the importance of considering comorbidities in preclinical stroke research, especially when identifying biomarkers.

Association between previously diagnosed circulatory conditions and a dietary inflammatory index

Inflammation is a key contributor to the development or recurrence of circulatory disorders. Diet is a strong modifier of inflammation. It was hypothesized that more pro-inflammatory diets, as indicated by higher Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores, would be associated with self-reported previously diagnosed circulatory disorders using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. This analysis included NHANES respondents from 2005-2010 (n = 15,693). The DII was calculated from micro and macronutrients derived from a single 24-hour recall. Logistic regression, stratified by sex and adjusted for important covariates, was used to determine the odds of previous circulatory disorder diagnoses by quartile of DII scores. Excluding hypertension, which had a prevalence of 30%, the prevalence of any circulatory disorder was 8%. Those in DII quartile 4 were 1.30 (95%CI = 1.06-1.58) times more likely to have a previous circulatory disorder (excluding hypertension) compared to those in DII quartile 1. Similar findings were observed for specific CVDs including congestive heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. Participants in DII quartile 4 were more likely to have a diagnosis of hypertension compared to those in DII quartile 1 (prevalence odds ratio = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.05-1.34). Results tended to be stronger among females. Individuals with a previous circulatory disorder diagnosis from NHANES appear to have more pro-inflammatory diets compared to those without a previous diagnosis. Because inflammation is an important factor related to recurrence of circulatory disorders, the DII could be used in treatment programs to monitor dietary modulators of inflammation among individuals with these conditions.

Dietary supplementation of GrandFusion(®) mitigates cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal damage and attenuates inflammation

OBJECTIVES

Dietary supplementation of fruits and vegetables has been the main stay for nutritional benefit and overall well-being. GrandFusion(®) is a nutritional supplement that contains the natural nutrients from whole fruits and vegetables that include complex nutrients and phytonutrients that contain anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.

METHODS

In this study, C57BL/6 mice were fed a diet supplemented with GrandFusion(®) for 2 months prior to 1 hour of ischemia induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAo) followed by various times of reperfusion. Mice were subjected to MCAo for 1 hour and then at various times following reperfusion, animals were assessed for behavioral outcomes (open field testing, rotarod, and adhesive test removal), and infarct volumes (cresyl violet and triphenyltetrazolium chloride). In addition, to determine the potential mechanisms associated with treatment, the brain tissue was examined for changes in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers.

RESULTS

The GrandFusion(®) diet was able to show a significant protection from infarct damage in the brain and an improvement in neurological outcomes. The diet did not alter heart rate, blood pressure, pO2, pCO2, or pH. In addition, the diet mitigated inflammation by reducing microglial and astrocytic activation following ischemia and reperfusion and limiting oxidative stress.

DISCUSSION

The study demonstrates the neuroprotective effect of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables that contain anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory against the impact of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.