Evaluation of Primary DNA Damage in Young Healthy Females Based on Their Dietary Preferences

Association between Healthy Eating Index-2015 total and component food scores with reproductive lifespan among postmenopausal women: a population-based study from NHANES 2005-2016

BACKGROUND

Prior research has demonstrated that nutrition plays a crucial role in the establishment and maturation of the reproductive lifetime. Although the specific dietary components involved in preventing or postponing the reproductive lifespan are still unknown, a healthy diet can affect the reproductive lifespan. Here, the study aimed to explore the relationship between reproductive lifespan and diet quality by utilizing the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015).

METHODS

In this study, a total of 2761 postmenopausal women were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2016. Diet quality was determined using HEI-2015 based on two 24-hour dietary recalls. Reproductive lifespan was defined as the number of years between self-reported age at menarche and menopause. Weighted linear regression and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) models were used to analyze the relationship between HEI-2015 and reproductive lifespan. Subsequently, the impact of various components of HEI-2015 on reproductive lifespan was assessed through weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models.

RESULTS

Among 2761 postmenopausal women, the mean age was 63.7 years. 41.5% were obese, and 49.7% were non-Hispanic white. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and medical history, individuals in the highest tertile of HEI-2015 had a 4.81% (95% CI: 1.82-7.79%) longer reproductive time life. Higher HEI-2015 was also significantly associated with a higher likelihood of late menopause (p for trend < 0.05). Based on XGBoost models, the relative importance of HEI-2015 on reproductive lifespan was determined. Whole fruits, whole grains, total protein foods, and greens and beans significantly contributed to extending age at menopause and reproductive time life in the HEI-2015. The weights of the WQS index for age at menopause were 27.1%, 23.2%, 10.1%, and 7.5% respectively, while the weights of the WQS index for reproductive time life were 30.2%, 14.6%, 9.3%, and 14.0% respectively.

CONCLUSION

There is a positive association between the HEI-2015 and reproductive lifespan. This underscores the significance of enhancing adherence to healthy dietary patterns in preventing a shorter reproductive lifespan.

Analysis of Fish-Consumption Benefits and Safety Knowledge in a Population-Based Sample of Polish Adolescents

Inadequate fish consumption is common and may result from multiple reasons, especially in adolescents who are a population at particular risk of the negative consequences of not consuming the recommended amounts of fish. The aim of the study was to analyze the knowledge about fish-consumption benefits and safety in a population-based sample of Polish adolescents. The stratified random sampling was conducted within two stages: sampling of counties from all voivodeships in Poland (being the basic administrative units of Poland) and inviting secondary schools from the drawn counties to obtain a sample representative of all regions of Poland. The Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method was applied to gather the data within the study, and a questionnaire concerning knowledge about fish-consumption benefits and safety with 20 true-false statements was applied. Among 1289 participants, the statement with the highest share of correct answers concerned fish being a source of protein (78.9%) and fish-derived fats being health promoting (77.0%). The statement receiving the least correct answers concerned the type of fatty acids found in fish (7.6%) and the risk of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish (20.5%). Participants who were female, older than 18, underweight, living in an urban environment, from a region far away from the sea and from comprehensive schools provided a higher share of correct answers than other subgroups (p < 0.05). Knowledge concerning fish-consumption benefits and safety among Polish adolescents is in many cases inadequate; thus, nutritional education is needed, especially among younger adolescents, those attending vocational schools, males and those living in a rural environment.

Genomic Instability and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Two Communities Exposed to Pesticides in the Mexicali Valley by the L-CBMN Assay

The continuous biomonitoring of a population directly or indirectly exposed to pesticides could be an additional tool for decision makers to improve their health conditions. In this work, we performed biomonitoring on two groups of people from the Mexicali Valley who were continuously exposed to pesticides using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay (L-CBMN) to evaluate cytotoxic and genotoxic damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The study groups comprised 14 indigenous Cucapah with non-vegetarian habits (NV group) from Ejido el Mayor (32.12594°, -115.27265°) and 21 lacto-ovo vegetarian (LOV) persons from the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Ejido Vicente Guerrero (32.3961°, -115.14023°). The L-CBMN assay determines the nuclear division index (NDI), apoptosis, necrosis, micronuclei (MNs), nuclear buds (NBUDs), and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs). Our results show that, regardless of diet or daily habits, both the studied groups presented with cytogenotoxic damage compared with non-exposed pesticide individuals, without modifications to the nuclear division index. In the rest of the evaluated biomarkers, the NV group exhibited greater cytotoxic and genotoxic damage than the LOV group. Nevertheless, individuals practicing a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (LOV) showed lower damage than those with non-vegetarian habits (NV), suggesting a better antioxidant response that helps decrease the genotoxic damage due to the enhanced intake of folates and antioxidants from a plant-based diet.