Association of Physical Activity With Bioactive Lipids and Cardiovascular Events

Oxylipin profile of human milk and human milk-derived extracellular vesicles

BACKGROUND

Small Extracellular Vesicles (sEVs) are nano-sized vesicles that are present in all biofluids including human milk (HM) playing a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication and the stimulation of the neonatal immune system. Oxylipins, which are bioactive lipids formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids, have gained considerable attention due to their potential role in mitigating disease progression and modulating the inflammatory status of breastfed infants. This study aims at an in-depth characterization of the oxylipin profiles of HM and, for the first time, of HM-derived sEVs (HMEVs) employing an ad-hoc developed and validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method.

RESULTS

The UPLC-MS/MS method covered a panel of 13 oxylipins for quantitation and 93 oxylipins for semi-quantitation. In 200 μL of HM and HMEV isolates of 15 individuals, 42 out of 106 oxylipins were detected in either HM or HMEVs, with 38 oxylipins being detected in both matrices. Oxylipins presented distinct profiles in HM and HMEVs, suggesting specific mechanisms responsible for the encapsulation of target molecules in HMEVs. Ten and eight oxylipins were quantified with ranges between 0.03 - 73 nM and 0.30 pM-0.07 nM in HM and HMEVs, respectively. The most abundant oxylipins found in HMEVs were docosahexaenoic acid derivatives (17-HDHA and 14-HDHA) with known anti-inflammatory properties, and linoleic acid derivatives (9-10-DiHOME and 12,13-DiHOME) in HM samples.

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

This is the first time a selective, relative enrichment of anti-inflammatory oxylipins in HMEVs has been described. Future studies will focus on the anti-inflammatory and pro-healing capacity of oxylipins encapsulated in HMEVs, with potential clinical applications in the field of preterm infant care, specifically the prevention of severe intestinal complications including necrotizing enterocolitis.

One-Year Effects of High-Intensity Statin on Bioactive Lipids: Findings From the JUPITER Trial

BACKGROUND

Statin effects extend beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction, potentially modulating the metabolism of bioactive lipids (BALs), crucial for biological signaling and inflammation. These bioactive metabolites may serve as metabolic footprints, helping uncover underlying processes linked to pleiotropic effects of statins and yielding a better understanding of their cardioprotective properties. This study aimed to investigate the impact of high-intensity statin therapy versus placebo on plasma BALs in the JUPITER trial (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin; NCT00239681), a randomized primary prevention trial involving individuals with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <130 mg/dL and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L.

METHODS

Using a nontargeted mass spectrometry approach, over 11 000 lipid features were assayed from baseline and 1-year plasma samples from cardiovascular disease noncases from 2 nonoverlapping nested substudies: JUPITERdiscovery (n=589) and JUPITERvalidation (n=409). The effect of randomized allocation of rosuvastatin 20 mg versus placebo on BALs was examined by fitting a linear regression with delta values (∆=year 1-baseline) adjusted for age and baseline levels of each feature. Significant associations in discovery were analyzed in the validation cohort. Multiple comparisons were adjusted using 2-stage overall false discovery rate.

RESULTS

We identified 610 lipid features associated with statin randomization with significant replication (overall false discovery rate, <0.05), including 26 with annotations. Statin therapy significantly increased levels of 276 features, including BALs with anti-inflammatory activity and arterial vasodilation properties. Concurrently, 334 features were significantly lowered by statin therapy, including arachidonic acid and proinflammatory and proplatelet aggregation BALs. By contrast, statin therapy reduced an eicosapentaenoic acid-derived hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid metabolite, which may be related to impaired glucose metabolism. Additionally, we observed sex-related differences in 6 lipid metabolites and 6 unknown features.

CONCLUSIONS

Statin allocation was significantly associated with upregulation of BALs with anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet aggregation and antioxidant properties and downregulation of BALs with proinflammatory and proplatelet aggregation activity, supporting the pleiotropic effects of statins beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction.

Nonlinear relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and lipid profile in Chinese adults

Background

Previous studies on the liner associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and lipid profiles revealed ambiguous findings. The current study therefore tried to elucidate the possible non-linear associations between 25(OH)D and lipid profiles.

Methods

This study involved 8,516 adult participants (aged 18-74 years, males N = 3,750, females N = 4,766) recruited from the Dalian health management cohort (DHMC). The risk (OR) for specific dyslipidemias was estimated across the serum 25(OH)D levels and the cut-off value for serum 25(OH)D were determined by using logistic regression, restricted cubic spline, and piecewise linear regression methods, adjusted for age, sex, season, and ultraviolet index.

Results

In this study, a high prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency was observed in the participants (65.05%). The level of 25(OH)D showed the inverse U-shaped correlations with the risks (ORs) of abnormal lipid profile, with inflection points observed at 23.7 ng/ml for hypercholesterolemia, 24.3 ng/ml for hypertriglyceridemia, 18.5 ng/ml for hyper-low-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, 23.3 ng/ml for hypo-high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, 23.3 ng/ml for hyper-non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and 24.3 ng/ml for high remnant cholesterol. The stratified analyses showed that the risk for most dyslipidemias related to deficiency of 25(OH)D was particularly increased among females aged 50-74 (except for hypertriglyceridemia, where the highest risk was among men aged 50-74 years), during winter/spring or under low/middle ultraviolet index environments.

Conclusions

Nonlinear inverse U-shaped associations were observed between 25(OH)D levels and abnormal lipid profile. The risk was particularly increased among females aged 50-74, during winter/spring period or under lower ultraviolet index environments. In vitamin D deficient subjects [25(OH)D <20 ng/ml], a positive association of serum vitamin D levels with the risk for dyslipidemia was observed, which needs a further.

Adherence to an antioxidant diet and lifestyle is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality among adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: evidence from NHANES 1999-2018

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) stands a prevalent chronic liver condition significantly influenced by oxidative stress. We investigated the unclear relationship between antioxidant-rich diet and lifestyle and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence rate and mortality in adult patients with NAFLD.

Methods

This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHAENS) spanning from 1999 to 2018 to investigate the association between adherence to an antioxidant-rich diet and lifestyle and the cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence rate and mortality in adult patients with NAFLD. The study employed the Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) to define antioxidant diet and lifestyle.

Results

Including 8,670 adult patients with NAFLD, the study revealed an inverse association between OBS and the prevalence of most CVD conditions. Fully adjusted models demonstrated that each unit increase in diet OBS, lifestyle OBS, and overall OBS corresponded to a 2, 7, and 2% reduction in all-cause mortality, respectively. In models 2, findings revealed that lifestyle Q2 and Q3 were linked to reduced cancer mortality, whereas diet and overall OBS did not exhibit an association. Additionally, Stratified analysis revealed that age (<45 years) and education level (> high school) significantly influenced the association between the OBS and the prevalence of CVD.

Conclusion

These results underscore the protective link between adherence to an antioxidant diet and lifestyle and a diminished prevalence of CVD and mortality in adults with NAFLD, particularly among younger and higher-educated populations.

Prepandemic Physical Activity and Risk of COVID-19 Diagnosis and Hospitalization in Older Adults

Importance

Higher prepandemic physical activity (PA) levels have been associated with lower risk and severity of COVID-19.

Objective

To investigate the association between self-reported prepandemic PA levels and the risk and severity of COVID-19 in older US adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study combined cohorts from 3 ongoing prospective randomized clinical trials of US adults aged 45 years or older who provided prepandemic self-reports of baseline leisure-time PA and risk factors for COVID-19 outcomes using the most recent questionnaire completed as of December 31, 2019, as the baseline PA assessment. In multiple surveys from May 2020 through May 2022, participants indicated whether they had at least 1 positive COVID-19 test result or were diagnosed with or hospitalized for COVID-19.

Exposure

Prepandemic PA, categorized into 3 groups by metabolic equivalent hours per week: inactive (0-3.5), insufficiently active (>3.5 to <7.5), and sufficiently active (≥7.5).

Main Outcome and Measures

Primary outcomes were risk of COVID-19 and hospitalization for COVID-19. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odd ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for the association of COVID-19 diagnosis and/or hospitalization with each of the 2 upper PA categories vs the lowest PA category.

Results

The pooled cohort included 61 557 participants (mean [SD] age, 75.7 [6.4] years; 70.7% female), 20.2% of whom were inactive; 11.4%, insufficiently active; and 68.5%, sufficiently active. A total of 5890 confirmed incident cases of COVID-19 were reported through May 2022, including 626 hospitalizations. After controlling for demographics, body mass index, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and medications used, compared with inactive individuals, those insufficiently active had no significant reduction in infection (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.86-1.06) or hospitalization (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.76-1.28), whereas those sufficiently active had a significant reduction in infection (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.97) and hospitalization (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60-0.90). In subgroup analyses, the association between PA and SARS-CoV-2 infection differed by sex, with only sufficiently active women having decreased odds (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.95; P = .04 for interaction).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of adults aged 45 years or older, those who adhered to PA guidelines before the pandemic had lower odds of developing or being hospitalized for COVID-19. Thus, higher prepandemic PA levels may be associated with reduced odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization for COVID-19.

Exercise in cold: Friend than foe to cardiovascular health

Exercise has been proven to benefit human health comprehensively regardless of the intensity, time, or environment. Recent studies have found that combined exercise with a cold environment displays a synergistical beneficial effect on cardiovascular system compared to exercise in thermoneutral environment. Cold environment leads to an increase in body heat loss, and has been considered a notorious factor for cardiovascular system. Exercise in cold increases the stress of cardiovascular system and risks of cardiovascular diseases, but increases the body tolerance to detrimental insults and benefits cardiovascular health. The biological effects and its underlying mechanisms of exercise in cold are complex and not well studied. Evidence has shown that exercise in cold exerts more noticeable effects on sympathetic nervous activation, bioenergetics, anti-oxidative capacity, and immune response compared to exercise in thermoneutral environment. It also increases the secretion of a series of exerkines, including irisin and fibroblast growth factor 21, which may contribute to the cardiovascular benefits induced by exercise in cold. Further well-designed studies are needed to advance the biological effects of exercise in cold. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the benefits of exercise in cold will help prescribe cold exercise to those who can benefit from it.

Exerkines and redox homeostasis

Exercise physiology has gained increasing interest due to its wide effects to promote health. Recent years have seen a growth in this research field also due to the finding of several circulating factors that mediate the effects of exercise. These factors, termed exerkines, are metabolites, growth factors, and cytokines secreted by main metabolic organs during exercise to regulate exercise systemic and tissue-specific effects. The metabolic effects of exerkines have been broadly explored and entail a promising target to modulate beneficial effects of exercise in health and disease. However, exerkines also have broad effects to modulate redox signaling and homeostasis in several cellular processes to improve stress response. Since redox biology is central to exercise physiology, this review summarizes current evidence for the cross-talk between redox biology and exerkines actions. The role of exerkines in redox biology entails a response to oxidative stress-induced pathological cues to improve health outcomes and to modulate exercise adaptations that integrate redox signaling.

How can we modulate aging through nutrition and physical exercise? An epigenetic approach

The World Health Organization predicts that by 2050, 2.1 billion people worldwide will be over 60 years old, a drastic increase from only 1 billion in 2019. Considering these numbers, strategies to ensure an extended "healthspan" or healthy longevity are urgently needed. The present study approaches the promotion of healthspan from an epigenetic perspective. Epigenetic phenomena are modifiable in response to an individual's environmental exposures, and therefore link an individual's environment to their gene expression pattern. Epigenetic studies demonstrate that aging is associated with decondensation of the chromatin, leading to an altered heterochromatin structure, which promotes the accumulation of errors. In this review, we describe how aging impacts epigenetics and how nutrition and physical exercise can positively impact the aging process, from an epigenetic point of view. Canonical histones are replaced by histone variants, concomitant with an increase in histone post-translational modifications. A slight increase in DNA methylation at promoters has been observed, which represses transcription of previously active genes, in parallel with global genome hypomethylation. Aging is also associated with deregulation of gene expression - usually provided by non-coding RNAs - leading to both the repression of previously transcribed genes and to the transcription of previously repressed genes. Age-associated epigenetic events are less common in individuals with a healthy lifestyle, including balanced nutrition, caloric restriction and physical exercise. Healthy aging is associated with more tightly condensed chromatin, fewer PTMs and greater regulation by ncRNAs.

Predictive Value of Cardiovascular Health Score for Health Outcomes in Patients with PCI: Comparison between Life's Simple 7 and Life's Essential 8

The American Heart Association recently published an updated algorithm for quantitative assessments of cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics, namely Life's Essential 8 (LE8). This study aimed to compare the predictive value between Life's Simple 7 (LS7) and LE8 and predict the likelihood of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to determine the utility of the LE8 in predicting CVH outcomes. A total of 339 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who had undergone PCI were enrolled to assess the CVH scores using the LS7 and LE8. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was employed to evaluate the predictive value of the two different CVH scoring systems at 2 years for MACEs. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that both the LS7 and LE8 scores were protective factors for MACEs (HR = 0.857, [95%CI: 0.78-0.94], HR = 0.964, [95%CI: 0.95-0.98]; p < 0.05, respectively). Receiver operator characteristic analysis indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) of LE8 was higher than that of LS7 (AUC: 0.662 vs. 0.615, p < 0.05). Lastly, in the LE8 score, diet, sleep health, serum glucose levels, nicotine exposure, and physical activity were found to be correlated with MACEs (HR = 0.985, 0.988, 0.993, 0.994, 0.994, respectively). Our study established that LE8 is a more reliable assessment system for CVH. This population-based prospective study reports that an unfavorable cardiovascular health profile is associated with MACEs. Future research is warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of optimizing diet, sleep health, serum glucose levels, nicotine exposure, and physical activity in reducing the risk of MACEs. In conclusion, our findings corroborated the predictive value of Life's Essential 8 and provided further evidence for the association between CVH and the risk of MACEs.

Temperature-dependent metabolite orchestration to acute submaximal exercise indicates cardiorespiratory fitness in humans

AIMS

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), an important biomarker of human health, is impaired in cold environment compared to thermoneutral condition. The study aimed to investigate the role of metabolome response to acute exercise in regulation of CRF at different ambient temperatures.

MAIN METHODS

A total of 27 young adults were recruited, and each subject underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and a constant load submaximal exercise at both room temperature (25 °C) and cold temperature (0 °C). The serum samples were collected before and immediately after constant load exercise.

KEY FINDINGS

Acute cold exposure decreased CRF by 41 %, accompanied by a metabolic shift to anaerobic respiration. It also decreased VO₂ and increased respiratory quotient during constant load exercise. Metabolome profiling revealed that acute exercise reprogrammed serum metabolome in an ambient temperature-dependent manner. Specifically, exercise increased a cluster of fatty acids during cold exposure, possibly due to impaired fatty acid oxidation. The correlations between metabolite responses to acute exercise and exercise parameters were analyzed using partial least squares regression and machine learning, revealing that metabolite responses to acute exercise were highly correlated with exercise parameters and predictive of CRF. Among the contributors, tryptophan and its metabolites stood out as important ones.

SIGNIFICANCE

These results suggested that the metabolite responses to acute submaximal exercise unmasks the exercise performance at different ambient temperatures, highlighting the role of metabolite orchestration in the physiological regulation of CRF.

Almond intake alters the acute plasma dihydroxy-octadecenoic acid (DiHOME) response to eccentric exercise

Introduction

This investigation determined if 4-weeks ingestion of nutrient-dense almonds mitigated post-exercise inflammation and muscle soreness and damage.

Methods

An acute 90-min of eccentric exercise (90-EE) was used to induce muscle damage in 64 non-obese adults not engaging in regular resistance training (ages 30-65 years, BMI < 30 kg/m²). Using a parallel group design, participants were randomized to almond (AL) (57 g/d) or cereal bar (CB) (calorie matched) treatment groups for a 4-week period prior to the 90-EE (17 exercises). Blood and 24-h urine samples were collected before and after supplementation, with additional blood samples collected immediately post-90-EE, and then daily during 4 additional days of recovery. Changes in plasma oxylipins, urinary gut-derived phenolics, plasma cytokines, muscle damage biomarkers, mood states, and exercise performance were assessed.

Results

The 90-EE protocol induced significant muscle damage, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), inflammation, reduced strength and power performance, and mood disturbance. Interaction effects (2 group × 7 time points) supported that AL vs. CB was associated with reduced post-exercise fatigue and tension (p = 0.051, 0.033, respectively) and higher levels of leg-back strength (p = 0.029). No group differences were found for post-90-EE increases in DOMS and six cytokines. AL was associated with lower levels of serum creatine kinase immediately- and 1-day post-exercise (p = 0.034 and 0.013, respectively). The 90-EE bout increased plasma levels immediately post-exercise for 13 oxylipins. Interaction effects revealed significantly higher levels for AL vs. CB for 12,13-DiHOME (p < 0.001) and lower levels for 9,10-DiHOME (p < 0.001). Urine levels increased in AL vs. CB for seven gut-derived phenolics including 5-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone that was inversely related to changes in plasma 9,10-DiHOME (r = -0.029, p = 0.021).

Discussion

These data support some positive effects of almond intake in improving mood state, retaining strength, decreasing muscle damage, increasing the generation of gut-derived phenolic metabolites, and altering the plasma oxylipin DiHOME response to unaccustomed eccentric exercise in untrained adults. The elevated post-exercise plasma levels of 12,13-DiHOME with almond intake support positive metabolic outcomes for adults engaging in unaccustomed eccentric exercise bouts.