The Potential for Plant-Based Diets to Promote Health Among Blacks Living in the United States

A comparative analysis of nutritional quality, amino acid profile, and nutritional supplementations in plant-based products and their animal-based counterparts in the UK

Plant-based (PB) food products have surged in popularity over the past decade. Available PB products in the UK market were extracted from NielsenIQ Brandbank and compared with animal-based (AB) counterparts in their nutrient contents and calculated Nutri-Scores. The amino acid contents of four beef products and their PB alternatives were analysed by LC-MS/MS. PB products consistently exhibited significantly higher fibre content across all food groups. Protein was significantly higher in AB products from all food groups except beef and ready meals. PB products were more likely to have higher Nutri-Scores compared to AB counterparts, albeit with greater score variability within each food group. Nutrient fortifications were primarily focused on dairy and ready meals; the most supplemented nutrient was vitamin B12 (found in 15% of all products). A higher proportion of EAAs in relation to total protein content was observed in all beef products.

Empowering Strategies for Lifestyle Interventions, Diet Modifications, and Environmental Practices for Uterine Fibroid Prevention; Unveiling the LIFE UP Awareness

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common prevalent benign tumor among women of reproductive age, disproportionately affecting women of color. This paper introduces an innovative management strategy for UFs, emphasizing the curbing of disease prevention and progression. Traditionally, medical intervention is deferred until advanced stages, necessitating invasive surgeries such as hysterectomy or myomectomy, leading to high recurrence rates and increased healthcare costs. The strategy, outlined in this review, emphasizes UF disease management and is named LIFE UP awareness-standing for Lifestyle Interventions, Food Modifications, and Environmental Practices for UF Prevention. These cost-effective, safe, and accessible measures hold the potential to prevent UFs, improve overall reproductive health, reduce the need for invasive procedures, and generate substantial cost savings for both individuals and healthcare systems. This review underscores the importance of a proactive UF management method, paving the way for future research and policy initiatives in this domain.

Association between the dietary inflammatory index and all-cause mortality in the U.S. cancer survivors: A prospective cohort study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database

Background

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Diet can impact inflammation and consequently affect cancer outcomes. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) can serve as a tool to assess the inflammatory potential of cancer survivors' diets and further predict their survival.

Objectives

To investigate the relationship between the DII and the survival of cancer survivors in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

An overall sample of 2359 U.S. cancer survivors from the 2005-2014 cohorts of the NHANES were studied. The DII scores were calculated using 28 dietary components and the mortality status was ascertained until December 31, 2015. Based on the multiple analyses, the relationship between DII and all-cause mortality was examined.

Results

The weighted mean age at baseline was 65.17 ± 14.46 years, 53.16 % were female and 71.30 % were non-Hispanic white. The average DII was 1.51 ± 1.97. After accounting for multiple covariates, positive associations were observed (P < 0.01). Based on Kaplan-Meier survival curves, their significant relationship remains same and the survival probability was decreased among the groups of anti-inflammatory diets (DII < 0) versus pro-inflammatory diets (DII ≥ 0) significantly (Log rank test; P = 0.03). Further analyses were conducted on subgroups and the results are still robust.

Conclusions

An elevated DII was associated with a rising mortality rate among cancer survivors. DII might serve as a potential inflammatory predictor of cancer mortality prognosis, as well as guide nutritional care and even clinical treatment of cancer survivors.

Consumers' Preferences and Attitudes towards Plant-Based Milk

Plant-based milk (PBM) has become increasingly popular due to its environmental sustainability, health benefits, ingredient abundance, and unique taste. This study aims to identify the main factors that affect consumer preferences and attitudes towards PBM, and to examine the effect of consumer attitudes including environmental awareness, health consciousness, and food neophobia on WTP. We use the double-bounded dichotomy choice (DBDC) method to calculate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for PBM. We find that the appearance, taste, nutritional value, and environmental benefits of PBM significantly increase consumers' WTP for it. Consumers with high environmental awareness are more likely to perceive PBM as environmentally friendly and are willing to pay a higher price for it. Consumers with high health consciousness tend to value the environmental benefits of PBM and prioritize purchase convenience, as it aligns with their health-conscious lifestyle, leading to a higher WTP for PBM. The results of our study can help design effective strategies to market plant-based milk and develop sustainable and healthy food systems.

Bioactive Compounds for Customized Brain Health: What Are We and Where Should We Be Heading?

Many strides have been made in the field of nutrition that are making it an attractive field not only to nutrition professionals but also to healthcare practitioners. Thanks to the emergence of molecular nutrition, there is a better appreciation of how the diet modulates health at the cellular and molecular levels. More importantly, the advancements in brain imaging have produced a greater appreciation of the impact of diet on brain health. To date, our understanding of the effect of nutrients on brain health goes beyond the action of vitamins and minerals and dives into the intracellular, molecular, and epigenetic effects of nutrients. Bioactive compounds (BCs) in food are gaining a lot of attention due to their ability to modulate gene expression. In addition, bioactive compounds activate some nuclear receptors that are the target of many pharmaceuticals. With the emergence of personalized medicine, gaining an understanding of the biologically active compounds may help with the customization of therapies. This review explores the prominent BCs that can impact cognitive functions and mental health to deliver a potentially prophylactic framework for practitioners. Another purpose is to identify potential gaps in the literature to suggest new research agendas for scientists.

A whole-food, plant-based program in an African American faith-based population

Background

The African American (AA) population is disproportionately impacted by chronic disease as well as many of the leading causes of preventable death, including hypertension, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In the AA community of Kane County, Illinois, the incidence of chronic disease is particularly high. A standardized Zoom-based group program that gives participants the knowledge, skills, and support to adopt a whole-food plant-based diet has been shown to rapidly improve health. The results of a cohort analysis were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of this program within an AA community characterized by a high burden of chronic illnesses.

Methods

Participants were recruited from a network of 12 AA churches in Illinois to participate in Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute's "15-Day Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) Jumpstart" program. The medically-facilitated 15-Day Jumpstart program provided WFPB nutrition education, coaching, and cooking demonstrations during seven 1 and 2-h Zoom sessions. Participants underwent pre- and post- metabolic screenings to assess for changes in their weight, vital signs, blood sugar, and cholesterol measurements. Changes in diet, biometrics, and patient-centered outcomes from baseline to the end of the program were assessed via paired t-tests for the normally distributed measures, and a Wilcoxon signed rank test for measures that were not normally distributed.

Results

Twenty-one AA adults participated. Ten of 16 who provided results had hypertension, 5 had diabetes, 5 had pre-diabetes, and 5 had hyperlipidemia. Participants ate more vegetables (median 2 servings at baseline vs. 3 during the program), greens (1 vs. 3), fruit (2 vs. 3), whole grains (1 vs. 2), and legumes (1 vs. 2). They decreased their consumption of meat, eggs and dairy, added fat, processed foods, and high-fat plant foods (p < 0.05 for each comparison). Participants reported significantly better energy (median 5 at baseline vs. 9 during the program, on a 10-point scale), sleep (7 vs. 8.5), and mood (8 vs. 9). Average weight loss was 5.8 pounds (199.9 to 194.1, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure dropped from 129.7 to 119.9 (p = 0.02), and total cholesterol dropped from 185.1 to 147.9 (p < 0.001). All participants who provided data reported an intent to continue eating at least a partially WFPB diet following the program.

Conclusion

The 15-Day WFPB Jumpstart program led to significant changes in diet, resulting in improvement in several chronic disease measures in this AA community. This rapid improvement can reinforce behavior change. Further large-scale implementation is needed to confirm these preliminary results and to understand whether behaviors and outcomes are sustained.

Cytotoxic Potential of Diospyros villosa Leaves and Stem Bark Extracts and Their Silver Nanoparticles

Diospyros villosa is traditionally used for an anti-bacterial property. Its cytotoxic effects have not been studied before. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the nutritional properties as well the cytotoxic effects of D. villosa. The leaves and stem barks were subjected to three different extraction methods (methanol, chloroform and hexane) and their nanoparticles were synthesized at two different temperatures (room temperature and at 80 °C). Thereafter, extracts were assessed using the associated AOCC protocols, for their nutritional content (moisture, fibre, proteins, lipid, ash and hydrolysable carbohydrates). Diospyros villosa extracts and their corresponding nanoparticles were then incubated overnight with cancerous and noncancerous cell lines to evaluate their cytotoxic potential. The nutritional analysis revealed that both young and mature leaves were rich sources of protein having values of 14.95% and 11.37% respectively. The moisture content was observed to be higher in all the leaf types (8.54 ± 0.75%, 9.67 ± 0.98% and 7.40 ± 0.80%) compared to the stem (2.13 ± 0.07%) respectively. The MTT cytotoxicity assay showed that the cell viability of MCF-7 cell lines was significantly lower when exposed to hexane and chloroform leaves extracts of D. villosa (IC₅₀ of 26.64 and 26.07 µg mL^-1) respectively, compared to camptothecin (36.54 µg mL^-1). Similarly, the MCF-7 cell viability was observed to be significantly lower when exposed to hexane and chloroform stem extracts of D. villosa (IC₅₀ of 24.57 and 3.92 µg mL^-1), compared to camptothecin (36.54 µg mL^-1). The cell viability of A549 cell lines was also found lower when exposed to the hexane and chloroform extracts (IC₅₀ of 7.76 and 4.59 µg mL^-1) compared to camptothecin (IC₅₀ of 19.26 µg mL^-1). Furthermore, the viability of A549 cell lines was found lower when exposed to hexane and chloroform stem extracts of D. villosa (IC₅₀ of 10.67 and 5.35 µg mL^-1) compared to camptothecin (19.26 µg mL^-1). The biosynthesized nanoparticles further displayed an anticancer activity with an IC₅₀ value of 4.08 µg mL^-1 when compared to the control (36.54 µg mL^-1). However, the HEK293 cell viability was observed to be significantly higher on exposure to hexane stem extracts of D. villosa (IC₅₀ of 158.5 µg mL^-1) compared to camptothecin (IC₅₀ of 14.77 µg mL^-1). Therefore, Diospyros villosa leaves, stem bark and nanoparticles synthesized showed high potential for being considered as a candidate for an anti-cancer regimen.

The Impact of a Plant-Based Diet on Indices of Cardiovascular Health in African Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study

African American (AA) individuals are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular diseases. Plant-based diets (PBD) may be cardioprotective in part through their high antioxidant capacity and low inflammatory load. We tested the hypothesis that AA individuals adhering to a 100% PBD would have better vascular health than AA individuals following a typical American diet (TAD). Eighteen AA individuals participated; 9 (24±4 years; 6 females) were following a PBD for 2.4±0.8 years and 9 (21±2 years; 5 females) were following a TAD. Blood lipids and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed. Peripheral and central blood pressure (BP) were measured, and vascular function tests included cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation & reactive hyperemia, and local heating-induced cutaneous hyperemia. Total (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) serum cholesterol were lower (TC: 142±30 vs. 174±36 mg/dl; LDL-C: 76±17 vs. 106±33 mg/dl; p<0.05 and d>0.80 for both) and serum CRP tended to be lower (0.38±0.18 mg/l vs. 0.96±0.89 mg/l; p=0.05, d=0.91) in the PBD cohort. Brachial (b) and central (c) mean arterial BP (MAP) were lower in the PBD cohort (bMAP: 86±5 vs. 91±7 mmHg; cMAP: 81±5 vs. 87±7 mmHg; p<0.05 and d>0.80 for both). All indices of vascular function were similar between groups (p>0.05 for all). A PBD was associated with more optimal blood lipid concentrations and decreased peripheral and central BP in AA individuals, but this association was not present in the various indices of vascular function. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05344287.

Impacts of A Taste of African Heritage: A Culinary Heritage Cooking Course

OBJECTIVE

To examine changes in cooking and dietary behaviors and health outcomes following participation in A Taste of African Heritage, a culinary heritage cooking course.

DESIGN

One group, pre-post program design, surveys, and physical assessments.

SETTING

Community centers, churches, health care settings, homes, and housing complexes.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants (n = 586, 84% women) were recruited by partner organizations from 2013-2018 across 21 states and the District of Columbia.

INTERVENTION(S)

A 6-week cooking curriculum that teaches history, nutrition, and cooking techniques to reconnect participants with the vibrant, healthy traditions of the African Diaspora.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Weekly frequency of cooking, food group intake, and exercise assessed by surveys, measured weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure.

ANALYSIS

Linear and logistic mixed-effects models with random intercepts for participant and teacher, sex and site type as covariates comparing pre-post physical measurements and binary behavioral outcomes, P < 0.0033 for statistical significance after Bonferroni correction.

RESULTS

Intake frequencies of fruit, vegetable, and greens and exercise frequency were improved from preprogram to postprogram (all P < 0.0021). Weight, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure were also improved from preprogram to postprogram (all P <0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Participation in A Taste of African Heritage was associated with positive behavior changes and health outcomes. Integrating cultural heritage and behaviors are positive components to connect participants to healthy old ways or traditions.

Natural Flammulina velutipes-Based Nerve Guidance Conduit as a Potential Biomaterial for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

The treatment and repair of serious peripheral nerve injuries remain challenging in the clinical practice, while the application of multifunctional nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) based on naturally derived polymers has attracted much attention in recent years because of their excellent physicochemical properties and biological characteristics. Flammulina velutipes (Curt. ex FV) is a popular edible mushroom characterized by hollow tubular structures, antibacterial activities, and high nutritional properties. In this study, FV is utilized to construct NGCs (labeled FVC) via a freeze-drying technique without chemical modifications. The morphology, physical properties, cellular biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, and nerve regeneration capacity of FVC were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. FVC is composed of hollow tubes and evenly irregular interconnected micropores with 73.8 ± 5.5% porosity and 476.1 ± 12.9 μm hollow tube diameter. The inner surface of the FVC presents multiple microgrooves elongated parallel to the long axis. Moreover, FVC possessed strong antibacterial activity and could inhibit Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus growth by up to 96.0% and Gram-negative Escherichia coli growth by up to 94.8% in vitro. FVC exhibited excellent biocompatibility and effectively promoted PC-12 cell proliferation and elongation in vitro. When applied to repair critical-sized sciatic nerve defects, FVC could effectively stimulate nerve functional recovery and axonal outgrowth in a rat model. Interestingly, Western blot analysis indicated that growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) had increased expression levels in the FVC group compared with the autograft group. This result suggested that by activating the Janus activated kinase2 (JAK2)/Phosphorylation ofsignal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) signaling pathway, FVC upregulated Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (P-STAT3) in vivo, resulting in the secretion of GAP-43. Collectively, a natural NGC FVC was fabricated based on FV without chemical modifications. The morphology, physical properties, cellular biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, and nerve regeneration capacity of FVC provide new insights for its further optimization and application in the field of nerve tissue engineering.

Decreasing Older Adult COVID-19 Risk Factors Using Digital Technology to Implement a Plant-Based-Diet: An Opinion Paper

UNSTRUCTURED

A disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases affect older, minority populations. Obese older adults are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications and lower survival rates; minority older adults often experience higher rates of obesity. A plant-based diet intervention may improve COVID-19 obesity modifiable risk factors. Encouraging the consumption plant-based diets consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts utilizing community outreach strategies and digital technology can contribute to improving COVID-19 risk factors.

Recent Molecular Mechanisms and Beneficial Effects of Phytochemicals and Plant-Based Whole Foods in Reducing LDL-C and Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

Abnormal lipid metabolism leads to the development of hyperlipidemia, a common cause of multiple chronic disorders, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) currently remains the primary target for treatment of hyperlipidemia. Despite the advancement of treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia, medications used to manage hyperlipidemia are limited to allopathic drugs, which present certain limitations and adverse effects. Increasing evidence indicates that utilization of phytochemicals and plant-based whole foods is an alternative and promising strategy to prevent hyperlipidemia and CVD. The current review focuses on phytochemicals and their pharmacological mode of actions for the regulation of LDL-C and prevention of CVD. The important molecular mechanisms illustrated in detail in this review include elevation of reverse cholesterol transport, inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption, acceleration of cholesterol excretion in the liver, and reduction of cholesterol synthesis. Moreover, the beneficial effects of plant-based whole foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, dried nuts, flax seeds, whole grains, peas, beans, vegan diets, and dietary fibers in LDL-C reduction and cardiovascular health are summarized. This review concludes that phytochemicals and plant-based whole foods can reduce LDL-C levels and lower the risk for CVD.

Dietary protein intake, kidney function, and survival in a nationally representative cohort

BACKGROUND

High-protein diets (e.g., Paleo, Atkins, South Beach, ketogenic) have gained popularity as a means to promote weight loss and avoid excess carbohydrate consumption. Yet in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, evidence suggests low dietary protein intake (DPI) leads to attenuation of kidney function decline, although concerns remain for risk of protein-energy wasting.

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations of DPI with mortality in a nationally representative cohort of US adults, stratified by kidney function.

METHODS

We examined the association between daily DPI scaled to actual body weight (ABW), ascertained by 24-h dietary recall, with all-cause mortality among 27,604 continuous NHANES adult participants (1999-2010), stratified according to impaired versus normal kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rates <60 compared with ≥60 ml/min/1.72 m2, respectively), using multivariable Cox models. We also examined the relation between high biological value (HBV) protein consumption with mortality.

RESULTS

In participants with impaired kidney function, a high DPI of ≥1.4 g/kg ABW/day was associated with higher mortality, while lower DPI levels were not associated with mortality (reference, 0.6 to <1.0 g/kg ABW/day): the adjusted HRs (aHRs) were 1.09 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.32), 1.03 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.29), and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.85) for DPI <0.6, 1.0 to <1.4, and ≥1.4 g/kg ABW/day, respectively. Yet in participants with normal kidney function, a low DPI of <0.6 g/kg ABW/day was associated with higher mortality, whereas higher DPI levels were not associated with death: the aHRs were 1.18 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.34), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.04), and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.85, 1.16) for DPI <0.6, 1.0 to <1.4, and ≥1.4 g/kg ABW/day, respectively. The highest 2 tertiles of HBV consumption were associated with higher mortality in participants with impaired kidney function.

CONCLUSIONS

Among participants with impaired kidney function, a higher DPI and greater HBV consumption were associated with higher mortality, whereas a lower DPI was associated with higher mortality in those with normal kidney function. Further studies are needed to elucidate the specific pathways between higher DPI and mortality in CKD.

Green fabrication of seedbed-like Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides-derived scaffolds accelerating full-thickness skin wound healing accompanied by hair follicle regeneration

A novel seedbed-like scaffold was firstly fabricated by the "frozen sectioning" processing method using Flammulina velutipes as a raw material. The Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides scaffold is composed of a natural structure imitating the "ground" (connected and aligned hollow tubes with porous walls). Meanwhile, its biologically active components include polysaccharides and proteins, mimicking the "plant nutrition" in the seedbed. To further optimize the ground and nutrition components, Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides-derived scaffolds (FPDSs) were fabricated via the treatment of original Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides scaffold (labeled FPS) by NaOH, cysteine (labeled as FPS/NaOH, FPS/Cys, respectively). FPDSs were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, water absorption and retention, and mechanical evaluations. From the results, FPS/NaOH and FPS/Cys lost the characteristic big tubes of original strips and had higher water absorption capacities comparing to FPS. Simultaneously, FPS/NaOH had better ductility, FPS/Cys had showed increased stiffness. Biological activities of FPDSs were tested against different types of bacteria exhibiting excellent anti-bacterial activity, and FPS/NaOH and FPS/Cys had dramatically higher anti-bacterial activity than FPS. The cytocompatibility of FPDSs was evaluated utilizing mouse fibroblast cell line (L929), and all FPDSs showed good cytocompatibility. The FPDSs were further applied to a rat full-thickness skin wound model, and they all exhibited obviously accelerated re-epithelialization, among which FPS/NaOH showed the greatest efficiency. FPS/NaOH could shorten the wound-healing process as evidenced by dynamic alterations of the expression levels of specific stagewise markers in the healing areas. Similarly, FPS/NaOH can efficiently induce hair follicle regeneration in the healing skin tissues. In summary, FPDSs exhibit potential functions as seedbeds to promote the regeneration of the "seed" including hair follicles and injured skin, opening a new avenue for wound healing.

Dietary Strategies for Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors, characterized by abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), hypertension, and insulin resistance. Lifestyle modifications, especially dietary habits, are the main therapeutic strategy for the treatment and management of metabolic syndrome, but the most effective dietary pattern for its management has not been established. Specific dietary modifications, such as improving the quality of the foods or changing macronutrient distribution, showed beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome conditions and individual parameters. On comparing low-fat and restricted diets, the scientific evidence supports the use of the Mediterranean Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet intervention as the new paradigm for metabolic syndrome prevention and treatment. The nutritional distribution and quality of these healthy diets allows health professionals to provide easy-to-follow dietary advice without the need for restricted diets. Nonetheless, energy-restricted dietary patterns and improvements in physical activity are crucial to improve the metabolic disturbances observed in metabolic syndrome patients.

Will the plant-based movement redefine physicians' understanding of chronic disease?

The world is experiencing a cataclysmically increasing burden from chronic illnesses. Chronic diseases are on the advance worldwide and treatment strategies to counter this development are dominated by symptom control and polypharmacy. Thus, chronic conditions are often considered irreversible, implying a slow progression of disease that can only be hampered but not stopped. The current plant-based movement is attempting to alter this way of thinking. Applying a nutrition-first approach, the ultimate goal is either disease remission or reversal. Hereby, ethical questions arise as to whether physicians' current understanding of chronic illness is outdated and morally reprehensible. In this case, physicians may need to recommend plant-based diets to every patient suffering from chronic conditions, while determining what other socioecological factors and environmental aspects play a role in the chronic disease process. This article provides insights to aspects of diet and chronic illness and discusses how the plant-based movement could redefine current understanding of chronic disease. The ethical justifications for recommending of a plant-based diet are analyzed. The article concludes that not advocating for plant-based nutrition is unethical and harms the planet and patients alike.