Dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients in relation to metabolic health status, serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and adropin

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is a lack of evidence on dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients with metabolic health status and related biomarkers. Thus, this study aimed to assess the relation between methyl donor nutrients intake and metabolic health status with regarding the interactive roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and adropin in Iranian adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 527 Iranian adults (45.7% female) selected by multistage cluster random-sampling method. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate participants' dietary intake. Metabolic unhealthy status was defined by Wildman criteria as having ≥ 2 of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertension, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Concentrations of metabolic parameters, BDNF and adropin were determined using fasting blood samples.

RESULTS

An inverse association was found between methyl donor nutrients intake and metabolically unhealthy status in multivariable-adjusted model (ORT3 vs. T1 = 0.30; 95%CI: 0.12-0.75). This association was especially significant among overweight/obese adults and was stronger in women. Additionally, consumption of vitamin B6 and choline was separately related to reduced odds of metabolically unhealthy status. Methyl donor intake was not significantly related to low BDNF (ORT3 vs. T1 = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.60-1.44) and adropin (ORT3 vs. T1 = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.44-1.15). However, the interaction between high methyl donor nutrients intake and high BDNF was related to lower odds of metabolically unhealthy status in multivariable-adjusted model (ORMDNS∗BDNF = 0.27; 95%CI: 0.11-0.67).

CONCLUSION

Higher intake of methyl donor nutrients, alone and in interaction with BDNF levels, was associated with decreased odds of metabolically unhealthy status in Iranian adults.

Total dietary fiber intake is inversely associated with metabolically unhealthy status in adolescents with excess weight

Little is known about the relationship between dietary fiber and metabolic health status in adolescents. This study was performed to investigate total dietary fiber intake and metabolic health status in a sample of Iranian adolescents with overweight/obesity. We hypothesized that higher total dietary fiber intake would reduce odds of metabolically unhealthy status. In this cross-sectional study, 203 adolescents (aged 12-18 years) with overweight/obesity were randomly recruited from several educational areas with different socioeconomic statuses using a multistage cluster sampling approach. Dietary intakes were evaluated by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Demographic, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic data were gathered through standard methods. Adolescents were categorized as having either metabolically healthy overweight/obesity or metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO) phenotypes according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and IDF/Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) criteria. Subjects had mean age of 13.97 (years) and mean fiber intake of 19.5 (g/d). After considering potential confounders, adolescents with the highest fiber intake, compared with the lowest intake, had decreased odds of MUO based on IDF (odds ratio [OR] = 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04-0.46) and IDF/HOMA-IR (OR = 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04-0.56) definitions. Also, each additional unit of total dietary fiber intake (1 g/d) was associated with lower chance of MUO phenotype considering IDF and IDF/HOMA-IR criteria. Individuals with higher intakes of dietary fiber were also less likely to have hyperglycemia (in fully adjusted model: OR = 0.17; 95% CI, 0.06-0.52). We found that consumption of total dietary fiber was inversely associated with odds of MUO among Iranian adolescents. Further prospective studies are required for confirming our results.

Association of priori-defined DASH dietary pattern with metabolic health status among Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity

There was no evidence on the relationship of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) with metabolic health condition in adolescents with overweight and obesity. The purpose of this research was to investigate the association of priori-defined DASH dietary pattern with metabolic health status among adolescents with overweight and obesity in Iran. A cross-sectional survey performed on a representative sample of adolescents with overweight and obesity (n = 203). Dietary intakes were collected via a validated food frequency questionnaire and DASH score was characterized according to eight components. Data of anthropometric measures, blood pressure, circulating insulin, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile were collected. Metabolic health status was defined based on criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and insulin resistance (IR). Based on IDF and IDF/IR criteria, 38.9% and 33.0% of adolescents suffered from metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO). After controlling all confounders, subjects in the highest vs. lowest tertile of DASH diet had respectively 92% and 91% lower odds of MUO based on IDF definition (OR = 0.08; 95%CI 0.03-0.22) and IDF/IR criteria (OR = 0.09; 95%CI 0.03-0.29). Subgroup analysis by sex and body mass index determined that this relationship was more powerful in girls and overweight individuals. Also, in fully adjusted model, highest vs. lowest adherence to DASH diet was linked to decreased odds of hyperglycemia (OR = 0.07; 95% CI 0.03-0.21), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.26; 95% CI 0.09-0.73), low HDL cholesterolemia (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.12-0.73) and insulin resistance (OR = 0.07; 95% CI 0.02-0.28), as metabolic health components. Greater compliance to DASH dietary pattern was linked to a remarkable lower odd of metabolic unhealthy condition among Iranian adolescents, especially in overweight subjects and girls. More prospective surveys are required to assert these results.

Associations of Fruit and Vegetable Intake with Metabolic Health Status in Overweight and Obese Youth

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake with metabolic health status among overweight and obese Iranian youth.

METHODS

In total, 203 obese and overweight youth including 101 boys and 102 girls, 12-18 years, were randomly recruited through a multistage cluster sampling approach in this study. A validated Persian format of food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate participants' usual food intake. Adolescents were categorized in accordance with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria as well as IDF plus insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) definition into metabolically healthy obese and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO).

RESULTS

Based on IDF criteria, youth in the third tertile of vegetable and the combination of fruit and vegetable intake had 66% (odds ratio = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12-0.95) and 73% (odds ratio = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09-0.81) lower odds of MUO compared to those in the first tertile, in the fully-adjusted model. According to IDF plus HOMA-IR definition, inverse associations were also found between vegetable (odds ratio = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.12-1.02) and the combination of fruit and vegetable (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08-0.79) intake with MUO phenotype. Stratified analysis indicated inverse associations between intake of vegetables and the combination of fruits and vegetables with MUO phenotype (based on IDF definition) in overweight, but not obese subjects.

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrated that greater consumption of vegetables as well as the combination of fruits and vegetables was related to a lower risk of MUO phenotype, particularly in overweight youth.

Joint association of modifiable lifestyle and metabolic health status with incidence of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

We aimed to identify the joint associations of modifiable lifestyle and metabolic factors with the incidences of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.

METHODS

We recruited 94,831 participants (men, 79.76%; median age, 51.60 [43.47-58.87]) without a history of cardiovascular disease from the Kailuan study during 2006 and 2007 and followed them until a cardiovascular disease event, or death occurred, or until December 31, 2017. Baseline metabolic health status was assessed using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and details of the lifestyles of the participants were recorded using a self-reported questionnaire. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the joint associations.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 11.03 years, we recorded 6590 cardiovascular disease events and 9218 all-cause mortality. Participants with the most metabolic risk components and the least healthy lifestyle had higher risk of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.77-2.39]) and mortality (HR 1.53 [95% CI 1.31-1.78]), than participants with fewer metabolic risk components and the healthiest lifestyle. Compared with those in participants with the healthiest lifestyle, the HRs for cardiovascular disease in participants with the least healthy lifestyle were 1.26 (95% CI 1.17-1.37), 1.16 (95% CI 1.03-1.31), and 1.07 (95% CI 0.90-1.27) for those with low, medium, and high metabolic risk, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Healthy lifestyle is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and there is no significant interaction between metabolic risk and a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle should be promoted, even for people with high metabolic risk.

The association between serum uric acid levels and 10-year cardiovascular disease incidence: results from the ATTICA prospective study

Limited data suggests possible gender-specific association between serum uric acid (SUA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence. The aim of the present analysis was to evaluate the association between SUA levels and 10-year CVD incidence (2002-2012) in the ATTICA study participants. Overall, 1687 apparently healthy volunteers, with SUA measurements, residing in the greater metropolitan Athens area (Greece), were included. Multivariable Cox-regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios for SUA in relation to 10-year CVD incidence. Receiver operating curve analysis was conducted to detect optimal SUA cut-off values. Participants in the 2nd and 3rd SUA tertile had 29 and 73% higher 10-year CVD incidence compared with those in the 1st tertile (p < 0.001). In gender-specific analysis, only in women SUA was independently associated with CVD incidence; women in the 3rd SUA tertile had 79% greater 10-year CVD event risk compared to their 1st tertile counterparts. Obese in the 3rd SUA tertile had 2-times higher CVD incidence compared to those in the 1st tertile. Similar findings were observed in metabolically healthy (vs. unhealthy) and metabolically healthy obese. SUA thresholds best predicting 10-year CVD incidence was 5.05 and 4.15 mg/dL (0.30 and 0.25 mmol/L) in men and women, respectively. In conclusion, increased SUA levels were independently related to 10-year CVD event rate in women, obese and metabolically healthy individuals. SUA could predict 10-year CVD incidence even at low levels. Further studies are warranted to identify SUA cut-off values that may improve the detection of individuals at higher CVD risk in clinical practice.

Obesity increases the risk of erosive esophagitis but metabolic unhealthiness alone does not: a large-scale cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a known risk factor for erosive esophagitis (EE) and metabolic unhealthiness has been implicated in EE pathogenesis. However, obesity and metabolic unhealthiness are not synonymous and the associations between obesity, metabolic health, and EE are unclear. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the relationship between EE, obesity, and metabolic health.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of subjects undergoing health screening at a university hospital. Subjects were classified into 4 groups based on metabolic and obesity criteria: metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO), metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUNO), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). Multivariable analysis was used to identify EE risk factors with MHNO subjects as reference. To determine if there were synergistic interactions between metabolic health and obesity status, the Rothman's synergy index and attributable proportion of risk were also calculated.

RESULTS

We included 10,338 subjects (5448 MHNO, 1605 MHO, 1600 MUNO, 1685 MUO). The prevalence of EE was 6.5% in MHNO, 12.6% in MHO, 9.3% in MUNO, and 14.3% in MUO. EE risk was increased significantly by obesity (MHO: OR, 1.589, 95% CI, 1.314-1.921, P < 0.001; MUO: OR, 1.734, 95% CI, 1.441-2.085, P < 0.001), but not in MUNO subjects (OR, 1.224, 95% CI, 0.991-1.511, P = 0.060). Male sex, blood leukocyte count, alcohol, and smoking significantly increased EE risk, but H. pylori infection was protective. Replacement of obesity with abdominal obesity gave similar results. The Rothman's synergy index was 0.920 (95% CI, 0.143-5.899) and the attributable proportion of risk was - 0.051 (95% CI, - 1.206-1.105), indicating no interaction between metabolic and obesity status on EE risk.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that obesity increased the risk of EE, regardless of metabolic health status. However, EE risk was not significantly increased in MUNO subjects, suggesting that metabolic unhealthiness may not be involved in EE pathogenesis. As observational cross-sectional studies cannot prove causality, prospective longitudinal studies involving obesity and metabolic treatment should be performed to further investigate the association between obesity, metabolic health, and EE risk.