Dietary patterns and the risk of abnormal blood lipids among young adults: A prospective cohort study

Background and aimsThe extent to which dietary patterns influence the risk of abnormal blood lipids throughout young adulthood remains unclear. The aim was to investigate whether early young adulthood dietary patterns predict the risk of abnormal blood lipids during later young adulthood.Methods and resultsWe used data from a long running birth cohort study in Australia. Western dietary pattern rich in meats, processed foods and high-fat dairy products and prudent pattern rich in fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy products were derived using principal component analysis at the 21-year follow-up from dietary data obtained using a food frequency questionnaire. After 9-years, fasting blood samples of all participants were collected and their total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured. Abnormal blood lipids were based on clinical cut-offs for total, LDL and HDL cholesterols, and TG and relative distributions for total:HDL and TG:HDL cholesterols ratios. Log-binomial models were used to estimate risk of each outcome in relation to dietary patterns. Greater adherence to the Western pattern predicted increased risks of high LDL (RR: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.06, 2.03) and TG (1.90; 1.25, 2.86), and high ratios of total:HDL (1.48; 1.00, 2.19) and TG:HDL (1.78; 1.18, 2.70) cholesterols in fully adjusted models. Conversely, a prudent pattern predicted reduced risks of low HDL (0.58; 0.42, 0.78) and high TG (0.66; 0.47, 0.92) and high total:HDL (0.71; 0.51, 0.98) and TG:HDL (0.61; 0.45, 0.84) cholesterols ratios.ConclusionThis is the first prospective study to show greater adherence to unhealthy Western diet predicted increased risks of abnormal blood lipids, whereas healthy prudent diet predicted lower such risks in young adults. Addressing diets in early course may improve cardiovascular health of young adults.     

A discussion of the unresolved 2016/17 plans for regulating the Polish dietary supplements market

The Polish dietary supplement market is growing steadily. However, even though these products may have an impact on health they are not as strongly regulated as pharmaceuticals. In 2016/17 the introduction of new regulations covering the marketing of dietary supplements in Poland was proposed. This article briefly describes the Polish market for dietary supplements and assesses the benefits and risks associated with its development. A range of potential legislative changes, such as a total ban on dietary supplements, a ban on using the images and recommendations of authoritative entities, increased fines for breaking the law, and other measures are under consideration. We describe the advantages (e.g., better customer protection, and the limitation of inappropriate, misleading advertising) and disadvantages (e.g., a decrease in product innovation, deterioration in product offerings, and rises in product prices) of the proposed changes. As a European Union member, Poland adopts EU law, but EU directives have only harmonized some issues relating to dietary supplement marketing, other key aspects remaining within the competence of member states, but it is noted that some proposed changes in Polish law (e.g., an advertising ban) are so strict that they are unlikely to be acceptable to the EU.     

Dietary fat intake and metabolic syndrome in adults: A systematic review

Background and aimsThe metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of coexisting cardiovascular risk factors. The role of specific dietary fats was reemphasized by dietary recommendations. This systematic review aims to assess evidence for the effect of dietary fat intake on MetS occurrence and reversion in adults.Methods and ResultsThe MEDLINE database was used to search the existing literature. We included observational studies that analyzed dietary fat intake in adults with MetS and clinical trials that compared the effects of different dietary fat diets on MetS and/or its components. Thirty articles were selected (14 observational and 16 clinical trials), and we included information of dietary fat and fatty acids as well as MetS, body mass index, cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes in adults. SFA intake was found to be positively associated with MetS components. Most of the observational reviewed studies found beneficial associations between MUFA and PUFA (including n-3 and n-6 subtypes) intake and MetS components. Clinical trials also supported the benefits of MUFA- or PUFA-enriched diets (including low-fat diets) in reducing MetS.ConclusionsThe effects of dietary SFAs on MetS will be influenced by other specific nutrients. Replacement of SFA by MUFA and PUFA has been associated with a decrease in MetS. Dietary recommendations should emphasize on different qualities of fat intake, not only to reduce total fat intake, to obtain health benefits in adults.     

Chemical isotope labeling liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for investigating acute dietary effects of cow milk consumption on human urine metabolome

Biomarker discovery has been increasingly important in the field of metabolomics for the detection and understanding of diseases. Of the many biofluids available for metabolomics, urine is a preferred option as it is non-invasive to collect and contains a wide range of metabolites reflective of the health status of the testing individual. However, urine also contains many exogenous metabolites which are introduced through various sources such as diet. This complicates the data interpretation when searching the metabolome for disease-related endogenous metabolites. Since diet is difficult to control, this work aims to study the acute effects of diet (particularly cow milk) consumption on the human urine amine/phenol submetabolome by utilizing differential chemical isotope labeling (CIL) liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). LC-MS analysis of 62 urine samples collected before and after (1 hour and 2 hours) milk intake resulted in the detection of 4985 metabolites with an average of 3815 ± 206 (n = 62) detected per sample. The work aims to differentiate the exogenous “food” metabolites from the endogenous metabolite pool and to determine any dietary effects from milk intake on the human urine metabolome.     

From pharmaceuticals to nutraceuticals: bridging disease prevention and management

Introduction: Nutraceuticals, up today, do not have a specific definition distinct from those of other food-derived categories, e.g. food supplements, herbal products, pre and probiotics, functional foods, etc. They have, however, a pharmacological beneficial effect on health. Many studies have been recently addressed to assess their safety, efficacy, and regulation since they are getting growing attention by market and research, with the aim to clear the difference between them and other market available food-derived products that claim beneficial effect on health.

Areas covered: The understanding of the potential mechanisms of action of pharmaceutically active substances contained in nutraceuticals that may improve health and reduce the risk of pathological conditions while enhancing overall well-being is the challenge for nutraceuticals to be considered as a preventive and therapeutic efficient tool in facing some diseases.

Expert commentary: It is of utmost importance to have a proper and unequivocal definition of nutraceuticals and a shared regulation. Nevertheless, there is a lack of clear information and, often, the claimed health benefits may not be properly substantiated by safety and by efficacy in vivo data, which can induce false expectations and miss the target for a product to be effective, as claimed.     

深圳市龙华区居民代谢性综合征流行状况及相关因素分析

目的 了解深圳市龙华区代谢综合征发病情况及相关因素。方法 采取横断面研究，经过多阶段随机抽样，最终确定1 015名调查对象。调查内容包括问卷调查、身体测量和实验室检测。结果 龙华区代谢综合征的患病率为15.57%， 11种组分组合中，有4个组分组合的比例为28.49%，有5个组分组合的比例为5.06%。膳食调查中，水果分别在代谢综合征和非代谢综合征被调查者中的摄入有统计学差异（Z = - 2.47, P = 0.0135）。logistic回归分析结果显示在控制了年龄、性别、婚姻和户籍所在地后，不吸烟者与吸烟≥20支/天者相比，患代谢综合征的可能性可降低58%。性别分别与年龄和BMI的交互效应结果显示，女性在55～65岁，或女性肥胖，患代谢综合征的可能性分别是男性的40.56倍和32.82倍。结论 龙华区代谢性综合征患病情况不容乐观，因代谢性综合征诱导的心血管疾病风险较大，应针对其风险因素采取措施，以控制代谢性综合征的发生，并控制其进行性发展。