Consumption of ultra-processed foods could influence the metabolic syndrome odds: A cross-sectional study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence has augmented globally during recent decades. Over the past years, the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has grown significantly worldwide. So, the present research investigated the association between UPFs and MetS in an Iranian sample. This cross-sectional research was conducted on people (n = 8841) in the Fasa cohort study, Fars province, Iran. The participants' dietary consumption over a year, UPF consumption, and MetS diagnosis were evaluated through a 125-item modified food frequency questionnaire, the NOVA food group classification, and the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program, respectively. The association between the quartiles (Q) of UPF intake and the odds of MetS was estimated using the backward LR method of multivariate analysis. In the multivariate model, after adjusting potential confounders, the association between UPF intake and the odds of MetS was significant (Q4: odds ratio (OR = 3.27; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.76-3.89). Also, the odds of increasing triglycerides (TG), blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar (FBS) and decreasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly higher in the last quartile compared to the first quartile of UPFs (TG: OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.49-1.97, blood pressure: OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.30-1.79, FBS: OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.10-1.54, and HDL-C: OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.08-1.39). The current research found a relationship between UPF intake and MetS and its components, indicating a diet-containing UPFs can be related to the occurrence of noncommunicable diseases.

Effect of a plant-based diet on oxidative stress biomarkers in male footballers

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in modulating oxidative status. There is an increasing popularity of plant-based dietary patterns among athletes. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the plant-based diet index (PDI) score among male footballers and their non-athlete controls, as well as its relationship with oxidative biomarkers by evaluating the urinary excretion of F2alpha-isoprostane (F2a-IP) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). A group of footballers (n = 45) and a healthy non-athlete group (n = 45) were selected. The two groups were matched based on body mass index (BMI) and age. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of the subjects was 22.88 (2.41) years, and their BMI was 22.08 (1.35) kg/m2. Anthropometric indices were evaluated, and fasting morning urine samples were analyzed to measure oxidative biomarkers. The PDI, unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI), and healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI) were calculated using valid food frequency questionnaire data. Generalized estimating equation models were used for all analyses. Compared to the non-athlete group, the PDI score was significantly greater in the footballer group (β = 9.8; P < 0.001), while the differences between the two groups in uPDI and hPDI scores were not significant. Overall, footballers consumed more plant-based foods. By examining the relationship between dietary indices and oxidative biomarkers, only a negative association was observed between PDI score and F2a-IP level (β = -1.25; P = 0.03). Based on the results, footballers were more adherent to a plant-based diet than non-athletes. In addition, it seems that following plant-based diets (the higher PDI) may exert beneficial effects on lowering F2a-IP levels due to improving the body's antioxidant status.

The Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and Risk of Hypertension: A Case-Control Study

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension (HTN) is a common risk factor for various medical diseases. Recently, there is growing evidence focusing on the potential inflammatory properties of food in the developing HTN risk. However, limited data are indicating the link between the dietary inflammatory index score (DII) and HTN risk.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between DII score and HTN risk in middle-aged people.

METHODS

This case-control study was performed on 945 middle-aged participants (376 subjects with HTN and 569 control group). Usual dietary intakes were collected using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) for each participant was calculated with a standardized procedure, and the relationship between the risk of HTN and the DII score was investigated.

RESULTS

The multi-adjusted regression analysis showed that subjects with the higher DII score had a 1.61 times greater chance of developing HTN than individuals in the lowest ones (95% CI 1.07-2.65). Interestingly, after conducting a sex-based analysis, there was no significant relationship between DII score and risk of HTN in middle-aged women (95% CI 0.38-1.61). However, middle-aged men in the highest quartile of DII had greater (2.91 times) odds of HTN compared to the lowest quarter of DII (95% CI 1.52-5.23).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggested that adherence to a diet with a high inflammatory index could increase the risk of HTN in middle-aged men by approximately 2.9 times. However, following a diet with a high DII score had no significant relationship with HTN risk in middle-aged women.