The Association Between Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) and Glioma and Evaluation of Nutrient Intakes of These Patients: A Case-Control Study

Associations between dietary antioxidant vitamins and risk of glioma: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Background

Epidemiological studies investigating the potential associations between antioxidant vitamins intake and risk of glioma have yielded inconsistent results. To address this, we carried out a systematic review and updated meta-analysis to explore the relationship between dietary antioxidant vitamins intake and risk of glioma.

Methods

We comprehensively searched electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wan fang Data from their inception to March 2024. We employed fixed-effects or random-effects models to estimate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between dietary antioxidant vitamins intake and risk of glioma. Publication bias was assessed through the visual inspection of the funnel plots and quantified by the Begg's and Egger's tests. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the Cochran's Q test and I-square (I2). Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity and evaluate the robustness of the results.

Results

Overall, a total of 15 articles involving 3,608 glioma cases and 771,930 participants were included in the final analysis. The pooled analyses revealed that the highest intake of vitamin C significantly reduced the risk of glioma (RR = 0.78; 95%CI: 0.63-0.96; P = 0.022), compared to the lowest intake. However, no significant associations were observed between vitamin A and vitamin E intake and the risk of glioma (P>0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed the inverse association between vitamin C intake and risk of glioma in the population-based case-control studies (RR = 0.82; 95%CI: 0.68-1.00, P = 0.049) and study quality <7(RR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.29-0.92, P = 0.025).

Conclusion

Our findings show that higher intake of vitamin C is strongly associated with a reduced risk of glioma, although a dose-response relationship was not evident. Future large-scale prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Mental Health Conditions, Including Depression and Stress, Are Associated with Increased Odds of Gastric Cancer-Insights into the Role of Diet: A Case-Control Study

Several risk factors, including nutritional/lifestyle ones, play a role in gastric cancer etiology. Further interactions with mental health have also been emphasized. We hypothesized that individuals with mental disorders would exhibit compromised nutrient intake, increasing their risk of gastric cancer. The state of mental health was evaluated in 82 patients with gastric cancer and 95 healthy controls using the 21-item Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale. The participants' dietary intakes were evaluated by a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Based on fully adjusted logistic regressions, there was a significant association between depression (OR = 1.938, CI 95%: 1.009-3.723) and stress (OR = 2.630, CI 95%: 1.014-6.819) with increased odds of gastric cancer. According to fully adjusted multinomial regressions, vitamins A and B6, beta-carotene, and black tea decreased the odds of depression, based on comparing the control group with cases of depression, while sugar and salt increased its odds. The highest significant association was found for salt intake and anxiety in cases with present anxiety (OR = 4.899, 95% CI: 2.218-10.819), and the highest significant protective effect was found for vitamin B6 and depression in cases with present depression (OR = 0.132, 95% CI: 0.055-0.320). However, considering causal relationships and clarifying the underlying mechanisms is imperative and requires further investigation. Advising healthy dietary patterns, e.g., a Mediterranean diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals such as vitamin A, B6, beta-carotene, and fiber, is expected to reduce the odds of gastric cancer, possibly related to lower levels of anxiety and depression.

Chinese Dietary Indices and Glioma: New Insights of a Case-Control Study in the Chinese Population

Identifying modifiable factors in primary prevention strategies is a typical goal of glioma epidemiology. Among many glioma risk factors, diet was always considered as one. Most of the relevant studies thus far were concentrated on the West. It was crucial to investigate the connection between the Chinese diet and gliomas given the stark variations between western and eastern diets. A food frequency questionnaire including 114 items was used to investigate the food intake of the study subjects. The Chinese Dietary Quality Index (CDQI), the Chinese Dietary Balance Index (CDBI), the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI), the Dietary Inflammation Index (DII), and the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) were calculated based on the data provided by the food frequency questionnaire to evaluate dietary quality, dietary balance, dietary antioxidants, dietary inflammation and adherence to the Chinese dietary guidelines in 506 glioma patients and 506 controls, respectively. After adjusting covariates, CHEI (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.88-0.93) and DAI (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.54-0.70) were correlated to a reduced glioma risk, and CDBI-based undernutrition (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.06-1.12) and overnutrition (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20) and DII (OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.81-2.68) were correlated to an elevated glioma risk. Moreover, restrictive cubic spline analysis showed that there were significant nonlinear dose-response relationships between CHEI, CDBI, DAI, DII, and glioma. Therefore, adhering to the Chinese dietary guidelines was connected with a lower glioma risk, and undernutrition and overnutrition in the Chinese diet were associated with an increased risk of glioma.

The micronutrient content of the diet is correlated with serum glucose biomarkers and lipid profile and is associated with the odds of being overweight/obese-a case-control study

Background

A low micronutrient intake has been reported to contribute to the double-burden of obesity, increasing the risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and mental disorders. This case-control study compared micronutrient intake profiles in overweight/obese vs. normal-weight individuals. We hypothesized that a low intake of certain micronutrients would increase the odds of being overweight/obese.

Methods

The case group (n = 812 adults) consisted of individuals with a BMI of ≥25  kg/m², and the control group (n = 793) had BMIs of 17.9-24.9  kg/m². A validated 124-item food frequency questionnaire was used to determine micronutrient-related dietary-quality, using the index of nutritional quality (INQ), calculated as the fraction of a micronutrient consumed vs. its dietary requirement. In addition, body surface area (BSA) was calculated according to the Mosteller formula.

Results

The control group had significantly higher INQ-scores of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and selenium compared to the case group. Furthermore, individuals with normal BSA (≤1.91 m² for men; ≤1.71  m² for women) had significantly higher INQ scores of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and zinc compared to participants with high BSA. In multivariable adjustment regression models, INQs of vitamin C (OR_BMI = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.64-0.97; OR_BSA = 0.81, 95%CI, 0.68-0.97) and magnesium (OR_BMI = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.47-0.99; OR_BSA = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.52-0.97) were significantly associated with the odds of obesity/overweight (in both BMI and BSA categories).

Conclusion

The significant association between micronutrient levels of the diet, especially of vitamin C and magnesium, with both obesity criteria, emphasized the importance of certain micronutrients in the obesity/overweight causal network.

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN COLORECTAL CANCER AND INDEX OF NUTRITIONAL QUALITY (INQ); A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

•Is the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) associated with colon cancer? •This study compared the INQ of various dietary components between colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls. A total of 480 participants were enrolled in the study (160 patients with colorectal cancer as a case group and 320 healthy control). The results showed that CRC is significantly associated with INQ for some micronutrients. INQ can be considered as an indicator to assess clinical nutritional problems. Background - The nutritional quality of diet may influence the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study compared the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) of various dietary components between colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls. Methods - A total of 480 participants were enrolled in the study (160 patients with colorectal cancer as a case group and 320 healthy control). An analysis was conducted on the general characteristics of the participants, their medical histories, anthropometric indicators, physical activity, alcohol consumption, reproductive history, smoking and food intake. A valid food frequency questionnaire was used to assess nutrient intake and INQ was calculated from daily nutrient intake. Results - A Significant inverse association was found between CRC and INQ for vitamins A (OR=0.01, CI: 0.01-0.01), K (OR=0.04, CI: 0.01-0.15), and B12 (OR=0.71, CI: 0.51-0.98), B5 (OR=0.43, CI: 0.00-0.01), zinc (OR=0.35, CI: 0.13-0.95), and phosphorus (OR=0.17, 0.19-0.94). The association between the INQ of vitamin B12 and zinc with colorectal cancer was disappeared after age adjustment. There was a significant negative association between CRC with the INQ of vitamins A, K, B5, phosphorus, and calcium after further adjustments for gender, BMI, menopausal status, and total energy intake. Conclusion -CRC is significantly associated with INQ for some micronutrients. INQ can be considered as an indicator to assess clinical nutritional problems.

Food processing and risk of central nervous system tumours: A preliminary case-control analysis from the MEditerranean DIet in relation to CancEr of brAin (MEDICEA) study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between diet and central nervous system (CNS) tumours was almost exclusively focused on food composition. We evaluated the relationship of different degrees of food processing with risk of CNS tumours.

METHODS

The study sample included 44 CNS tumours cases (20 non-malignant and 24 malignant) recruited from the Neurosurgery Department at the IRCCS Neuromed (Italy), and 88 controls matched 1:2 for sex and age± 10 years, identified from the Moli-sani Study. Dietary intake was assessed using a 188-item FFQ. Food items were grouped according to the NOVA classification on the basis of processing as: (1) unprocessed/minimally processed foods; (2) processed culinary ingredients; (3) processed foods; and (4) ultra-processed food (UPF). Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of dietary contributions from each NOVA group (as weight ratio on the total food eaten) and adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

In a multivariable conditional to match logistic regression analysis also controlled for overall diet quality, 1% increment in UPF intake was associated with higher odds of all CNS tumours (OR = 1.06; 1.01-1.13), particularly of malignant CNS tumours (OR = 1.11; 1.02-1.22), while no association with non-malignant CNS tumours was found (OR = 1.06; 0.99-1.15). In contrast, only processed food was inversely associated with risk of both CNS tumours overall (OR = 0.94; 0.90-0.98) and of malignant CNS tumours (OR = 0.90; 0.83-0.96).

CONCLUSION

Increasing UPF intake was associated with higher risk of CNS tumours, especially malignant ones, independently of the overall diet quality, while only processed food (but not UPF) was inversely related to the risk of this disease.

E-synthesis for carcinogenicity assessments: A case study of processed meat

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Recent controversies about dietary advice concerning meat demonstrate that aggregating the available evidence to assess a putative causal link between food and cancer is a challenging enterprise.

METHODS

We show how a tool developed for assessing putative causal links between drugs and adverse drug reactions, E-Synthesis, can be applied for food carcinogenicity assessments. The application is demonstrated on the putative causal relationship between processed meat consumption and cancer.

RESULTS

The output of the assessment is a Bayesian probability that processed meat consumption causes cancer. This Bayesian probability is calculated from a Bayesian network model, which incorporates a representation of Bradford Hill's Guidelines as probabilistic indicators of causality. We show how to determine probabilities of indicators of causality for food carcinogenicity assessments based on assessments of the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

We find that E-Synthesis is a tool well-suited for food carcinogenicity assessments, as it enables a graphical representation of lines and weights of evidence, offers the possibility to make a great number of judgements explicit and transparent, outputs a probability of causality suitable for decision making and is flexible to aggregate different kinds of evidence.

A Meta-Analysis of Calcium Intake and Risk of Glioma

BACKGROUND

A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between calcium intake and the risk of brain tumors (especially glioma).

METHODS

The PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for relevant papers on the association between calcium intake and glioma as of August 22, 2021. The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using a random-effects model. Egger's test was conducted to assess publication bias.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis includes four studies. The meta-analysis showed that calcium intake and the risk of brain tumors have a significant negative relationship (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.72; P = 0.008). Dose-response analysis showed that for every 100 mg/day increase in calcium intake, the risk of glioma decreased by 7% (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88 to 0.98). In addition, compared with humans without calcium intake, when calcium intake is 455 mg/day, 800 mg/day and 1000 mg/day, the risk of glioma is 0.65 (95% CI 0.43, 0.97), 0.55 (95% CI 0.37, 0.82) and 0.37 (95% CI 0.15, 0.86).

CONCLUSION

There is a significant negative association between calcium intake and brain tumors (especially gliomas), but more high-quality studies are needed to verify these results.

Age-Specific Association Between Handgrip Strength and Nutritional Quality in Korean Men: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to determine the potential association between handgrip strength and nutritional quality in Korean men aged ≥20 years using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016 to 2018. This population-based cross-sectional study included 5,748 men aged ≥20 years. A dietary intake survey was performed using the 24-hr dietary recall method. Nutritional quality was examined using the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) score. A high INQ score reflected poor nutritional quality, with insufficient intake of many nutrients. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine the association between handgrip strength and INQ scores after adjusting for other covariates. The intake of carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, and vitamins B2 and C was significantly positively associated with a higher quartile for handgrip strength for those aged ≥65 years (all p < .01). A significant inverse association was found between the quartiles of handgrip strength and INQ scores among men aged ≥65 years after adjusting for all covariates (β = -0.26, p < .01). This association was not found among those aged <65 years (p = .25). The age-specific association between handgrip strength and nutritional quality underscores the importance of public policies that promote sufficient and comprehensive nutrient intake among older adults. Handgrip strength may be useful in clinical practice as a simple and cost-effective tool for screening for nutritional quality in older adults.

The association between food diversity and serum antioxidant indices in cataract patients compared to healthy subjects

BACKGROUND

Cataract is a chronic disorder that is related to antioxidant-oxidant imbalance situation. We aimed to investigate the association between food diversity and serum antioxidant and oxidant indices in cataract patients compared to healthy subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, ninety volunteers (aged > 50 years) were divided into the cataract (n = 45) and healthy control (n = 45) groups. Anthropometric variables, physical activity and stress levels, food diversity score, serum total oxidant capacity (TOC), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) measurements were done for all participants.

RESULTS

Serum TAC, even after adjustment for stress level, was significantly higher in healthy people compared to cataract patients (P < 0.001). In addition, serum TOC was significantly lower in healthy controls compared to cataract patients (P < 0.002). In healthy group, there was a weak significant positive association between serum TAC and meats group diversity (r = 0.149, P = 0.047). In addition, there was a moderate negative association between meats group diversity and TOC in the healthy controls (r = -0.712, P = 0.041). In the cataract group, there was a significant negative association between serum TOC and diversity score of fruits (r = -0.811, P = 0.017) and meats group (r = -0.926, P = 0.046) as well as total score of food diversity (r = -0.466, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

It seems that increase in total dietary diversity and food groups' diversity can have a beneficial effect on oxidant situation among cataract patients.

Sagittaria trifolia tuber: bioconstituents, processing, products, and health benefits

Sagittaria trifolia is an aquatic plant that is distributed worldwide. The edible tuber part of S. trifolia is a very common and popular vegetable in China. The aim of the present review is to discuss the discovery of nutraceuticals from S. trifolia tuber by reviewing its major constituents, food processing, food products, and health-promoting benefits. Sagittaria trifolia tuber comprises a series of nutritional and bioactive constituents, including dietary fibers, amino acids, minerals, starches, non-starch polysaccharides, diterpenoids, colchicine, phenols, and organic acids. Food processing affects its flavor, biocomponents, and bioactivity. Numerous S. trifolia tuber-based food products and nutraceuticals have been developed, but new categories of products and the anticipated functions still need to be explored. The non-starch polysaccharides could be the central ingredients that contribute to the plant's antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, lipid-regulating, and immunostimulatory properties. Of these, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects have been thoroughly investigated. Procedures for the extraction and purification of polysaccharides influence their health-promoting actions. Overall, S. trifolia tuber is an underutilized aquatic vegetable species that is an emerging subject for nutraceutical research. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern in relation to glioma: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Although Mediterranean diet (MD) was associated with a lower risk of mortality and cancer, no data are available investigating the association between adherence to the MD and risk of glioma.

METHODS

In this case-control study, we enrolled a total of 128 newly diagnosed patients with glioma, confirmed by pathological assessment, and 256 hospital-based controls from 2009 to 2011 in Tehran, Iran. A valid and reliable Block-format food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary intakes. Adherence to the MD was examined using the scoring method suggested by Trichopoulou et al. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations of interest.

RESULTS

After controlling for age, sex, and energy intake, participants in the highest tertile of MD score had not significantly lower odds of glioma than those in the lowest tertile (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.32-1.03, P_trend = 0.06). However, after taking other potential confounders into account, individuals with the greatest adherence to the MD score were 74% less likely to have glioma than those with the lowest adherence (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12-0.55, P_trend < 0.001). Additional adjustments for dietary intakes and BMI did not significantly alter this association (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.16-0.78, P_trend = 0.009; OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.16-0.78, P_trend = 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

We found that adherence to the MD was associated with a lower likelihood of having glioma. Prospective cohort studies are needed to further examine these findings.

The relationship between the index of nutritional quality and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma : a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, whereas dietary factors are its most modifiable risk factors. The index of nutritional quality is considered as a general overview of the nutrient content of diet. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the index of nutritional quality and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenomas.

METHODS

Overall, 129 colorectal cancer and 130 colorectal adenoma cases and 240 healthy controls were studied in three major general hospitals in Tehran province, Iran. Index of nutritional quality scores were calculated based on information on the usual diet that was assessed by a valid and reliable Food Frequency Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between the index of nutritional quality scores and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma.

RESULTS

After controlling for several confounding factors, the index of nutritional quality of calcium, vitamin C, riboflavin, folate and fiber were associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer [ORcalcium: 0.21 (0.08-0.52), ORvitC: 0.16 (0.09-0.28), ORvitB2: 0.35 (0.18-0.65), ORfolate: 0.33 (0.16-0.65), ORfiber: 0.35 (0.21-0.58)]. Also, the inverse association were observed between risk of CRA and the index of nutritional quality of calcium, vitamin C, riboflavin, folate and fiber [OR calcium: 0.32 (0.14-0.74), ORvitC: 0.51 (0.34-0.73), ORvitB2: 0.48 (0.28-0.82), OR folate: 0.44 (0.23-0.81), OR fiber: 0.62 (0.42-0.92)].

CONCLUSION

This study showed that individuals who have a healthier diet, high in calcium, vitamin C, riboflavin, folate and fiber and food groups like fruits, vegetables and whole-grain and less in sweets and red or process meats are at a lower risk of colorectal cancer and CRA than those with unhealthy and poor diet.

Association Between Index of Nutritional Quality and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Role of Vitamin D and B Group

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have revealed that diet has been considered as an important pathogenic factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) is a method of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of single foods and diets, which has special significance in recognizing clinical nutritional problems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 295 patients with NAFLD and 704 controls. The dietary intake was assessed through a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. INQ was calculated from the questionnaire data and was compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The controls had higher INQ of vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12; biotin, pantothenic acid, magnesium and zinc compared to the patients with NAFLD. After controlling for several covariates, positive associations were observed between NAFLD risk and INQs of riboflavin (OR_riboflavin = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28-0.78; OR_biotin = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18-0.76; OR_pantothenic = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.64; OR_magnesium = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.75; OR_zinc = 0.15 95% CI: 0.05-0.42).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of the present study suggest that subjects who follow a more healthy and nutrient-rich diet, especially in terms of vitamins D, B1, B2, B12, B3 and zinc, are at a lower risk of NAFLD compared to those who consume unhealthy and nutrient-poor diet.

The association between index of nutritional quality and ulcerative colitis: A case-control study

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Recent studies have shown that dietary factors play an important role in the development of UC. Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) is a suitable method that analyzes quantitatively and qualitatively single foods, meals, and diets. The aim of this study was to determine the association between INQ and UC.

Materials and Methods

Overall, 62 newly diagnosed cases with UC and 124 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were studied in a referral hospital in Tabriz, Iran. INQ scores were calculated based on information on the usual diet that was measured by a valid and reliable Food Frequency Questionnaire consisting of 168 food items. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, education, smoking, Helicobacter pylori, family history of UC, appendectomy, alcohol, and total energy intake was used to estimate multivariable odds ratios (ORs).

Results

After controlling for several covariates, we found inverse associations between UC risk and INQs of Vitamin C (OR = 0.34 [0.16-0.73]) and folate (OR = 0.11 [0.01-0.99]). In crude model of analysis, cases had a higher intake of total energy, protein, carbohydrate, total fat, saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, and iron compared to controls, whereas controls had higher intakes of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, folate, and biotin compared to cases.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that enough consumption of Vitamin C and folate was associated with lower risk of UC.