Associations of Overweight, Obesity, and Underweight With High Serum Total Cholesterol Level Over 30 Years Among the Japanese Elderly: NIPPON DATA 80, 90, and 2010

Differing Effects of Body Size on Circulating Lipid Concentrations and Hemoglobin A1c Levels in Young and Middle-Aged Japanese Women

The condition of being underweight is a social problem in Japan among women. However, there is a lack of evidence for dietary guidance for underweight women because there has been no comparison of lipids or HbA1c among underweight, normal weight, and overweight women in different age groups. We analyzed the effect of body size and age on the serum lipid and hemoglobin A1c levels in Japanese women in a cross-sectional study. A total of 26,118 women aged >20-65 years underwent physical examinations between 2012 and 2022. Seventeen percent of women aged >20-29 years were underweight, and 8% of those aged 50-65 years were underweight. Total cholesterol and non-HDL-C concentrations increased with age, but the difference between underweight and overweight individuals was lowest among women aged 50-65 years. On the other hand, the differences in HDL-C, TG, and HbA1c levels between underweight and overweight subjects were greatest in the 50-65 age group, but the differences between underweight and normal weight subjects were much smaller. Considering that, unlike HDL-C, TG, and HbA1c, TC and non-HDL-C increase to levels comparable to overweight levels in underweight women in aged 50-65 years, educating people about a diet that lowers non-HDL-C is necessary even in young underweight women.

Obesity-Status-Linked Affecting Factors of Dyslipidemia in Korean Young-Adult Men: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2021)

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of obesity and dyslipidemia among young adult men in South Korea. Therefore, we aimed to identify the obesity-related factors of dyslipidemia among young adult men in Korea using 3-year data (2019-2021) from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We included 1559 eligible men aged 19-39 years and examined the association between dyslipidemia and participants' general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and food intake according to obesity status. Statistical analysis was performed using complex sample analysis with weighted household and individual data. The affecting factors of dyslipidemia included age, body image perception, stress, and waist circumference (WC) in the body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m² group and age and WC in the BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² group. To prevent and manage dyslipidemia in young adult men, interventions should be developed separately for the normal, underweight, and obese groups. Effective intervention requires measuring WC and focusing on body fat control. Moreover, regular screening of this population should be performed to ensure early diagnosis and management of dyslipidemia.

Postural deformities in Parkinson's disease: A bibliometric analysis based on web of science

Objective

Postural deformities are common debilitating conditions during the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying pathophysiology and optimal treatment strategy are unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify primary research fields, important achievements and emerging trends in postural deformities in PD.

Methods

Web of Science Core Collection database was searched to retrieve all literature related to postural deformities in PD over the past 20 years. Data such as annual numbers of publications, countries of origin, publication journals, cooperation between countries, citation index and keywords were retrieved from the selected publications. Bibliometrix Package in R software were used for bibliometric analysis and visualization.

Results

In total, 211 publications that met the criteria were collected. Analyses had shown that the annual numbers of publications increased gradually with fluctuations. Japan was the most prolific country (n = 59). Italy participated in international cooperation the most frequently. Parkinsonism & related disorders (n = 25) took a prominent lead among all journals, and the most productive institution in this area was University of Verona (n = 27). The most local cited author was Tinazzi Michele. According to the thematic map, "scoliosis", "fusion", and "balance" have rapidly become research hot spots in related fields.

Conclusions

Articles pertaining to postural deformities in PD are still being published, in which the etiology is a combination of peripheral plus central involvement. Treatment approaches include rehabilitative exercises, oral medication, botulinum toxin injection, deep brain stimulation and spine surgery, which is getting current attention and would be a hot topic of future research.

The Association Between Chronological Age and Dyslipidemia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chinese Aged Population

Background and Aims

Dyslipidemia is obviously an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which might further lead to disability and death in aged population. We thus performed the current study to evaluate the association between chronological age and dyslipidemia.

Subjects and Methods

A total number of 59,716 Chinese aged population (31,174 men and 28,542 women, average age 67.8y) were included in the current study. Age and sex were abstracted from medical records. Height, body weight, and blood pressure were measured by trained nurses. Serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC) and total triglycerides were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent method after at least 8-h fast. Dyslipidemia was defined if total cholesterol≥5.7 mmol/L, or total triglycerides≥1.7 mmol/L, or self-reported history of dyslipidemia.

Results

The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 50.4% in the current study population. Compared to the youngest age group (60-64y), the adjusted odds ratio was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.92), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.81), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.70), 0.55 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.59) for the participants who were 65 to 69, 70-74, 75-79, and ≥80 years old (p trend <0.001). Excluding participants with low body weight and with overweight and obesity, with high blood pressure and history of hypertension, with high fasting blood glucose and history of diabetes, generated similar results with main analysis.

Conclusion

Chronological age was closely associated with the risk of dyslipidemia in Chinese aged population.

Exploring associations of anthropometric parameters and serum triglycerides with serum thyroid hormones in young women

Establishing links between serum thyroid hormone panel and triglyceride (TG) concentrations with non-invasively obtained measurements of anthropometric parameters of young women may provide preliminary knowledge about the homeostasis of metabolic processes and body composition and about the strategic role of the tested parameters as early screening tests for assessing the health status of apparently healthy women in the period preceding pregnancy. The study was conducted in 381 healthy female students (aged 18-26 years, mean ± SD = 22.1 ± 1.3). Anthropometric indices (BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, FAT%) were calculated and serum concentrations of thyroid hormones (TSH, fT3, fT4) were determined using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays and serum triglycerides (TG) with a commercially available test. No association was established between serum TSH and anthropometric indices in healthy young women. Increased serum concentrations of fT4, fT3 and TG were found in overweight subjects, i.e. BMI > 24.9 kg/m² (p < 0.05). A significant negative association between fT3 and TG was found in underweight subjects (r = - 0.258, p = 0.049) and a significantly positive association in normal-weight subjects (r = 0.139, p = 0.019). In healthy young women differences in BMI are not related to thyroid function. The opposite directions between the associations fT3 vs TG in underweight compared to normal-weight young prepregnant females may suggest dependencies of fT3 and TG in the regulation of specific BMI-dependent metabolic processes.

Obese elderly with diabetes experience more pain and reduced quality of life compared to obese elderly with hypertension

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Growth of elderly population is a worldwide phenomenon that impacts public health. The objective of this study was to compare the pain levels, strength, and quality of life among elderly obese with diabetes or hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study cohort comprised 52 obese elderly subjects with hypertension (n = 35) and diabetes (n = 17). The parameters measured were anthropometric features, handgrip strength, visual analog scale for pain, and quality of life using the World Health Organization questionnaire.

RESULTS

The level of pain reported by obese hypertensive elderly subjects (5.3 ± 3.4) was lower than reported by obese diabetic elderly subjects (7.4 ± 2.4). Obese hypertensive elderly scored higher on quality of life (sensory functioning and past, present, and future [PPF] activities) than obese diabetic elderly. No differences were observed for the other parameters. Strength, pain, anthropometrics, and hemodynamics were not correlated to quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Obese elderly diabetics exhibit worse pain scores, sensorial abilities, and PPF activities than obese hypertensive elderly individuals.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

The difference in pain and quality of life aspects between obese elderly individuals with hypertension and diabetes should be accounted for in health-care programs designed for these individuals.

Effect of Metabolically Healthy Obesity on the Development of Carotid Plaque in the General Population: A Community-Based Cohort Study

Aim: Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) frequently coexist and are both important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the pathophysiological role of obesity without MetS, also referred to as metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), remains unclear. In this study, we aim to clarify the effect of MHO on the development of carotid plaque using a community-based cohort.

Methods: We examined 1,241 subjects who underwent health checkups at our institute. Obesity was defined as body mass index of ≥ 25.0 kg/m². Subjects were divided into three groups: non-obese, MHO, and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO).

Results: The prevalence of carotid plaque, defined as intima-media thickness (IMT) ≥ 1.1 mm, was higher in subjects with MUO and MHO than in non-obese subjects. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that MHO (odds ratio 1.6, p = 0.012) and MUO (odds ratio 1.9, p = 0.003) as well as age of ≥ 65 years, male sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with carotid plaque formation. A similar trend was observed in each subgroup according to age and sex.

Conclusions: MHO increased the prevalence of carotid plaque when compared with non-obese subjects, suggesting the potential significance of MHO in the development of subsequent cardiovascular diseases.

Time-Related Changes in Relationships Between the Keys Score, Dietary Lipids, and Serum Total Cholesterol in Japan - NIPPON DATA80/90/2010

BACKGROUND

In recent years, individuals with high serum total cholesterol (TC) have been more likely to modify their diet by reducing their intake of dietary lipids. The aim of this study was to investigate time-related changes in the relationships between the Keys score, dietary lipids, and TC between 1980 and 2010 in representative Japanese populations. Methods and Results: We used 3 cross-sectional cohort studies conducted among Japanese representative populations in 1980, 1990, and 2010 (NIPPON DATA80/90/2010) for the analyses. We analyzed data for 10,365, 7,714, and 2,657 participants, respectively, in each dataset. The relationships between TC and the Keys score (calculated by dietary lipids, cholesterol, and energy intake)/dietary lipids were examined. In men, a 1-unit higher Keys score correlated with 0.92 mg/dL and 0.64 mg/dL TC in 1980 and 1990, respectively, but not in 2010. In women, a 1-unit higher Keys score correlated with 0.70 mg/dL and 0.74 mg/dL TC in 1980 and 1990, respectively, but with 0.33 mg/dL in 2010. In men and women, dietary cholesterol, saturated fatty acid (SFA), and trans fatty acid (TFA) levels were positively associated with TC concentrations in 1980 and 1990, but not in 2010.

CONCLUSIONS

In these representative Japanese populations, a higher Keys score as well as dietary cholesterol, SFA, and TFA levels correlated with higher TC concentrations in 1980/1990, but the relationships were weaker or not observed in 2010.