Mediterranean dietary pattern and VEGF +405 G/C gene polymorphisms in patients with metabolic syndrome: An aspect of gene-nutrient interaction

Prognostic value of circulating macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1-growth differentiation factor 15 (MIC-1/GDF15) in obesity: Relation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and markers of oxidative stress

Background: Macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1-Growth differentiation Factor 15 (MIC-1/GDF15) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are novel regulators of obesity and energy homeostasis and food intake. Aims: In the current cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate MIC-1 and VEGF concentrations and their association with serum lipids and biomarkers of oxidative stress in obese individuals. Methods: Fifty six obese subjects, aged between 20-50 years old, participated in the current study. Anthropometric and nutritional parameters were assessed and serum and blood concentrations of MIC-1/GDF15, VEGF, markers of oxidative stress and serum lipids were evaluated. Results: Serum VEGF was strongly associated with serum lipids and MIC-1/GDF15 concentrations while serum MIC-1/GDF15 was associated with total cholesterol (TC) and VEGF levels. In multivariate regression analysis, serum VEGF, appetite and GPX were potent determinants of MIC-1/GDF15 concentrations while VEGF was only associated with serum MIC-1/GDF15. Conclusion: The findings of the current study demonstrated the association between MIC-1/GDF15 and VEGF. Moreover, a positive association between these cytokines and serum lipids, was also observed. The results suggest that MIC-1/GDF15 and VEGF might be considered as prognostic markers in obesity-related metabolic disorders. Although further mechanistic studies are needed to better clarify the underlying mechanism.

Diet and metabolic syndrome: a narrative review

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a highly prevalent condition defined by the presence of at least three out of five risk factors including central obesity, increased fasting glucose, high blood pressure, and dyslipidaemia. Metabolic syndrome is associated with a 2-fold increase in cardiovascular outcomes and a 1.5-fold increase in all-cause mortality. Excess energy intake and Western dietary pattern may influence the development of metabolic syndrome. By contrast, both Mediterranean diet (Med-diet) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, with or without calorie restriction, have positive effects. For the prevention and management of MetS, it is recommended to increase the daily intake of fiber-rich and low-glycaemic-index foods and the consumption of fish and dairy products, especially yogurt and nuts. Moreover, it is advisable to consume a large variety of unprocessed cereals, legumes, and fruit. Finally, it is suggested to replace saturated fatty acids with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and to limit the consumption of free sugars to less than 10% of the total energy intake. The aim of this narrative review is to analyze current evidence on the different dietary patterns and nutrients that may affect prevention and treatment of MetS and to discuss the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Association of the Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index with handgrip strength and muscle endurance: A cross‐sectional study

Mediterranean diet is a healthy eating pattern associated with various health advantages. Different scoring methods of adherence to this diet have been used to investigate the association between the Mediterranean diet and muscle outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the association of the Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index (Med‐DQI) with handgrip strength (HS) and muscle endurance (ME). The current cross‐sectional study involved 268 Iranian adults aged 18–70 years. Anthropometric measures were evaluated. We used the 168‐item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to develop the Med‐DQI score. The Med‐DQI score ranges from 0 to 14 (lower score suggests higher adherence to Mediterranean diet). HS was measured by a digital handgrip dynamometer, and ME was the amount of time to reach a maximum of 50% of grip strength. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the association of Med‐DQI and its components with HS and ME. Med‐DQI score was not associated with mean handgrip strength (MHS) (p = .34) and mean muscle endurance (MME) (p = .69) in the crude model. The associations remained insignificant after the adjustment of covariates (p = .16, .31, respectively). Among the components of Med‐DQI, cholesterol, meats, fish, and cereals were positively correlated with MHS (p < .001 for all). Meats (p = .02), olive oil (p < .001), cereals (p = .04), fruits and vegetables (p < .001 for all) were also positively correlated with MME. According to our findings, Med‐DQI score is not associated with MHS and MME in a population of Iranian adults. Further longitudinal studies are required to confirm these findings.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the adult population in western China and the association with socioeconomic and individual factors: four cross-sectional studies

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the prevalence of and individual influencing factors for metabolic syndrome (MS) as well as associated socioeconomic factors and regional aggregation.

DESIGN

Four cross-sectional surveys were analysed for trends in MS and associations with socioeconomic and individual factors through multilevel logistic regression analyses. The risk associated with nutrient intake was also assessed through a dietary survey in 2015.

SETTING

From 2010 to 2018, 8-15 counties/districts of West China were included.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 28 274 adults were included in the prevalence analysis. A total of 23 708 adults were used to analyse the related factors.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of MS ranged from 21.4% to 27.8% over the 8 years, remaining basically stable within the 95% CI. Our study found that the urbanisation rate and hospital beds per 1000 people were positively associated with MS, and the number of doctors in healthcare institutions per 1000 persons was negatively associated with MS. The ORs for females, people with college education and higher and unmarried or single people were 1.49, 0.67 and 0.51, respectively (p<0.05). The ORs of people who smoked at least 20 cigarettes/day, ate more than 100 g of red meat/day, consumed fruit or vegetable juice and drank carbonated soft drinks less than weekly were 1.10, 1.16, 1.19-1.27 and 0.81-0.84, respectively. The ORs rose with increasing sedentary time and decreased with higher physical activity.

CONCLUSION

The high burden of MS, unreasonable proportions of energy and micronutrient intake and low percentage of high levels of physical activity were the major challenges to public health in western China. Improving the human resources component of medical services, such as the number of doctors, increasing the availability of public sports facilities and E-health tools and improving individual dietary quality and education might help prevent MS.

From Metabolic Syndrome to Neurological Diseases: Role of Autophagy

Metabolic syndrome is not a single pathology, but a constellation of cardiovascular disease risk factors including: central and abdominal obesity, systemic hypertension, insulin resistance (or type 2 diabetes mellitus), and atherogenic dyslipidemia. The global incidence of Metabolic syndrome is estimated to be about one quarter of the world population; for this reason, it would be desirable to better understand the underlying mechanisms involved in order to develop treatments that can reduce or eliminate the damage caused. The effects of Metabolic syndrome are multiple and wide ranging; some of which have an impact on the central nervous system and cause neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Autophagy is a catabolic intracellular process, essential for the recycling of cytoplasmic materials and for the degradation of damaged cellular organelle. Therefore, autophagy is primarily a cytoprotective mechanism; even if excessive cellular degradation can be detrimental. To date, it is known that systemic autophagic insufficiency is able to cause metabolic balance deterioration and facilitate the onset of metabolic syndrome. This review aims to highlight the current state of knowledge regarding the connection between metabolic syndrome and the onset of several neurological diseases related to it. Furthermore, since autophagy has been found to be of particular importance in metabolic disorders, the probable involvement of this degradative process is assumed to be responsible for the attenuation of neurological disorders resulting from metabolic syndrome.

Soluble P-selectin, procalcitonin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and apo-proteins in association with the components of metabolic syndrome in obese individuals

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clinical disorder with widespread prevalence. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the association between serum soluble P-selectin, procalcitonin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and apo-proteins with the components of metabolic syndrome in obese individuals.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty two obese patients with MetS and sixty five obese apparently healthy controls were participated in the current case-control study. The participants' anthropometric assessments and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were measured. Serum lipids and the concentrations of ox-LDL, P-selectin, procalcitonin, TGF-β and apo-proteins were measured with commercial ELIZA kits.

RESULTS

Serum TG and TC were significantly higher in obese subjects with MetS; while TGF-β, procalcitonin, apoprotein B and insulin concentrations were higher in obese non- MetS group. In obese subjects with MetS, procalcitonin was in positive association with ox-LDL and apoprotein-B was in positive association with HDL. In obese subjects without MetS, apoprotein -B was in positive association with WC and HDL and WC.

CONCLUSION

The current study found several associations between serum lipids and PCT and serum apo-proteins in obese individuals either with or without MetS. Further studies with large sample size are warranted to better elucidate the observed relationships and underlying mechanism.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not Applicable.

The interaction between dietary inflammatory index and 6 P21 rs2010963 gene variants in metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND

The Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulates endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis, promotes vascular and capillary permeability and also is involved in inflammation. VEGF gene has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory potential of a diet and + 405 VEGF C/G (rs2010963) polymorphism and metabolic components in patients with metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

One hundred fifty patients with metabolic syndrome and fifty healthy individuals were enrolled. A semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for dietary assessments and dietary inflammatory index (DII) calculation. Biochemical assays including fasting serum glucose (FSG), serum insulin, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), liver enzymes and lipid profile were measured. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used for the determination of gene polymorphism.

RESULTS

In the current study, patients with metabolic syndrome had higher serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) and lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations compared with healthy subjects. Patients with lower DII quartiles and lower inflammatory potential of the diet had lower waist to hip ratio (WHR) and lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared with patients in higher DII quartiles (P < 0.05). Moreover, patients and healthy subjects in second quartile of DII had significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations compared with subjects in the first quartile; also healthy subjects in third quartile had significantly higher triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations compared with subjects in second quartile (P < 0.05). Among different genotypes of 6 P21 rs2010963 gene variants in patients with metabolic syndrome, CC genotype indicated the highest DII compared with other genotypes (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed the association between DII and metabolic risk factors of metabolic syndrome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control analytic study.

Benefits of the Mediterranean diet: Epidemiological and molecular aspects

More than 50 years after the Seven Countries Study, a large number of epidemiological studies have explored the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and health, through observational, case-control, some longitudinal and a few experimental studies. The overall results show strong evidence suggesting a protective effect of the MD mainly on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and certain types of cancer. The beneficial effects have been attributed to the types of food consumed, total dietary pattern, components in the food, cooking techniques, eating behaviors and lifestyle behaviors, among others. The aim of this article is to review and summarize the knowledge derived from the literature focusing on the benefits of the MD on health, including those that have been extensively investigated (CVD, cancer) along with more recent issues such as mental health, immunity, quality of life, etc. The review begins with a brief description of the MD and its components. Then we present a review of studies evaluating metabolic biomarkers and genotypes in relation to the MD. Other sections are dedicated to observation and intervention studies for various pathologies. Finally, some insights into the relationship between the MD and sustainability are explored. In conclusion, the research undertaken on metabolomics approaches has identified potential markers for certain MD components and patterns, but more investigation is needed to obtain valid measures. Further evaluation of gene-MD interactions are also required to better understand the mechanisms by which the MD diet exerts its beneficial effects on health. Observation and intervention studies, particularly PREDIMED, have provided invaluable data on the benefits of the MD for a wide range of chronic diseases. However further research is needed to explore the effects of other lifestyle components associated with Mediterranean populations, its environmental impact, as well as the MD extrapolation to non-Mediterranean contexts.