Prepubertal Dietary and Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids Related to Puberty Timing: Longitudinal Cohort and Mendelian Randomization Analyses

Dietary intakes of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids (FAs) have been inconsistently associated with puberty timing. We examined longitudinal associations of prepubertal dietary and plasma phospholipid FAs with several puberty timing traits in boys and girls. In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, prepubertal fat intakes at 3–7.5 years and plasma phospholipid FAs at 7.5 years were measured. Timings of Tanner stage 2 genital or breast development and voice breaking or menarche from repeated reports at 8–17 years, and age at peak height velocity (PHV) from repeated height measurements at 5–20 years were estimated. In linear regression models with adjustment for maternal and infant characteristics, dietary substitution of polyunsaturated FAs for saturated FAs, and higher concentrations of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3n6) and palmitoleic acid (16:1n7) were associated with earlier timing of puberty traits in girls (n = 3872) but not boys (n = 3654). In Mendelian Randomization models, higher genetically predicted circulating dihomo-γ-linolenic acid was associated with earlier menarche in girls. Based on repeated dietary intake data, objectively measured FAs and genetic causal inference, these findings suggest that dietary and endogenous metabolic pathways that increase plasma dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, an intermediate metabolite of n-6 polyunsaturated FAs, may promote earlier puberty timing in girls.     

Bidirectional Associations between Handgrip Strength and Depressive Symptoms: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the bidirectional associations between handgrip strength and depressive symptoms in a nationally representative sample.DesignCohort study with a 4-year follow-up.Setting and ParticipantsA total of 13,208 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were included in the analyses.MethodsDepressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale. Separate generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between handgrip strength and depressive symptoms. Restricted cubic spline models were performed to explore the shape of the dose-response relationship.ResultsDecreased handgrip strength was related to subsequent increased risk of depressive symptoms, such that participants in the lowest quartile of handgrip strength were found to have an approximately 36% increased in their risk of depressive symptoms compared with those in the highest quartile [odds ratio (OR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17, 1.58]. There was a linear dose-response relationship between handgrip strength and risk of depressive symptoms (P_nonlinearity = .25), in that a 5-unit increment in handgrip strength may lead to an 11% decrease in the risk of depressive symptoms (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85, 0.92). Conversely, depressive symptoms were prospectively associated with subsequent decreased handgrip strength (β = −0.84, 95% CI –1.13, −0.55). An approximatively L-shaped dose-response pattern was found for the association between depressive symptoms level and handgrip strength (P_nonlinearity = .02).Conclusions and ImplicationsThe present study identified bidirectional associations between handgrip strength and depressive symptoms, and the associations were found to have a dose-response pattern. It provides important insights into integrated mental and physical health intervention strategies that simultaneously promote handgrip strength and depressive symptoms.     

Longitudinal Associations of Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids in Pregnancy with Neonatal Anthropometry: Results from the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies—Singleton Cohort

Despite increasing interest in the health effects of polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), their roles in fetal and neonatal growth remain understudied. Within the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies—Singleton Cohort, we prospectively investigated the associations of individual and subclasses of plasma phospholipid PUFAs at gestational weeks (GW) 10–14, 15–26, 23–31, and 33–39 with neonatal anthropometric measures as surrogates for fetal growth among 107 women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 214 non-GDM controls. Multivariable weighted linear regression models estimated the associations between plasma phospholipid PUFAs and neonatal anthropometric measures. Adjusted beta coefficients for phospholipid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per standard deviation (SD) increase at GW 23–31 in association with birthweight z-score, neonatal length, and neonatal fat mass were 0.25 (95% CI: 0.08–0.41), 0.57 (0.11–1.03) cm, and 54.99 (23.57–86.42) g, respectively; all false discovery rates (FDRs) < 0.05. Estimated Δ5-desaturase activity per SD increase at GW 33–39 but not at other time points was positively associated with birthweight z-score: 0.29 (95% CI: 0.08–0.33); neonatal length: 0.61 (0.29–0.94) cm; and neonatal fat mass: 32.59 (8.21–56.96) g; all FDRs < 0.05. Longitudinal analysis showed consistent results. Our findings suggest that mid-to-late pregnancy presented as critical windows for primarily diet-derived DHA and Δ5-desaturase activity in relation to neonatal anthropometric measures.     

Low Testosterone Levels,Depressive Symptoms,and Falls in Older Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

ObjectivesWhile several studies have cited a potential association between testosterone deficiency and risk of falls among community-dwelling older men, evidence for such an association is conflicting. Depressive symptoms, which occasionally accompany testosterone deficiency but which are often neglected as associated symptoms, may actually provoke falls independent of or jointly with testosterone deficiency. We examined the association between testosterone levels, depressive symptoms, and falls, and assessed the joint effect of testosterone levels and depressive symptoms on falls among older men.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsData for this cross-sectional study were obtained from 869 men aged over 60 years who participated in health check-ups conducted in 2010 from 2 Japanese municipalities. Salivary testosterone (sT) levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and depressive symptoms were assessed via the short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported “any fall” over the 1-month period.ResultsAmong the total of 482 participants analyzed (median age, 70 years), 10.8% reported any fall. On comparison between 90th percentile sT levels and lower levels, our logistic regression model with restricted cubic splines showed that lower sT levels were associated with an increased likelihood of suffering any fall after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and mobility function. For example, 5th percentile sT was associated with any fall [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 4.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.66–10.8]. Depressive symptoms were also strongly associated with any fall [adjusted OR, 3.49 (95% CI, 1.52–8.04)]. We noted no apparent interaction of sT and depressive symptoms with falls (P = .079), suggesting that the joint effect of testosterone deficiency and depressive symptoms on falls was multiplicative. Indeed, compared with a combination of 90th percentile sT values and no depressive symptoms, adjusted OR for any fall in a combination involving 5th percentile sT and depressive symptoms was 14.8-fold (95% CI, 3.76–58.0).ConclusionsOur findings indicated that both relatively low testosterone levels and presence of depressive symptoms were independently associated with falls among older men. Causality of these associations should be confirmed in future prospective studies.     

Cross-Sectional Associations of Intakes of Starch and Sugars with Depressive Symptoms in Young and Middle-Aged Japanese Women: Three-Generation Study of Women on Diets and Health

The relationship between the intakes of saccharide subtypes and depressive symptoms is unclear in Asian countries. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate this association among 3963 young (age of 18 years) and 3826 middle-aged (mean age of 47.8 years) Japanese women. The intakes of starch, total sugars, free sugars, sucrose, lactose, glucose, and total fructose were assessed using a validated diet history questionnaire. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 22.0% and 16.8% among young and middle-aged women, assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, higher starch intake was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in young women with an odds ratio (OR) of the fourth to the first quintiles of 0.75 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57, 0.99). Moreover, higher intakes of sugars (except for lactose) were associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in young women, with ORs (95% CI) of the fifth to the first quintiles ranging from 1.30 (0.995, 1.69) for glucose to 1.47 (1.12, 1.93) for sucrose. These associations were not observed in middle-aged women. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.     

Measurement of Circulating Phospholipid Fatty Acids: Association between Relative Weight Percentage and Absolute Concentrations

Objective: Most epidemiologic studies of circulating phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and disease risk have used the relative concentration (percentage of total) of each fatty acid as the measure of exposure. Using relative concentrations, the total of all fatty acids is summed to 100% and thus the values of individual fatty acid are not independent. This has led to debate, along with the suggestion to use absolute concentrations of fatty acids. We aimed to examine the relationship between relative (weight percentage) and absolute (mg/L) concentrations of individual circulating PLFAs.

Methods: Relative and absolute concentrations of 41 circulating PLFAs were measured by gas chromatography in samples from 3 diverse populations. Correlations between the relative and absolute concentrations for each fatty acid were used to measure agreement. Unadjusted correlations and correlations adjusting absolute PLFA concentrations for total cholesterol were calculated.

Results: Unadjusted correlations between relative and absolute concentrations, as well as correlations adjusting absolute PLFA concentrations for total cholesterol, were high for most PLFAs in all 3 studies. Across the 3 studies, 28 of the 41 analyzed PLFAs had unadjusted correlations > 0.6 and 39 had adjusted correlations > 0.6.

Conclusions: Choice of relative vs absolute concentration may not affect interpretation of results for most circulating PLFAs in studies of association between individual PLFAs and disease outcomes, especially if a covariate reflecting total lipids, such as total circulating cholesterol, is included in the model. However, for fatty acids, such as 16:0 (palmitic acid), with low correlation between the 2 metrics, using relative vs absolute concentration may lead to different inferences regarding their association with the outcome. Because both concentrations could be obtained simultaneously from the same laboratory assay, use of both metrics is warranted to better understand PLFA–disease relationships.     

血浆脂肪酸和食物频率法评估脂肪摄入的相关性研究

<正>食物频率法(FFQ)是常用的膳食调查方法之一,它经过几十年的研究发展可分为定性、定量和半定量食物频率法。食物频率法优点很多,但其缺点是存在回忆偏倚,因此需要对其准确度进行评价,国外很多研究显示食物频率法对各种营养素评价有优劣之分,可较好的反映体内某些营养素,但对于另外一些营养素又不适用。Hodson等的研究表明[1]血浆脂肪酸是评价膳食脂肪酸的良好指标。本研究以α-亚麻酸、亚油酸和硬脂酸作为生物标志物,比较膳食脂肪酸与血浆脂肪     

Association between Fecal Microbiota,SCFA, Gut Integrity Markers and Depressive Symptoms in Patients Treated in the Past with Bariatric Surgery—The Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: Depressive symptoms often appear after surgical treatment. (2) Methods: We involved 41 adults who underwent bariatric surgery a minimum of 6 months before the study and had the Beck scale ≥12. We analysed patients’ mental state, gut barrier markers, faecal short chain fatty acids, and microbiota. (3) Results: Gut microbiota composition differed significantly among patients undergoing two different types of surgery (F = 1.64, p = 0.00002). Additionally, we discovered an association between short chain fatty acids and the Beck scale (F = 1.22, p = 0.058). The rearrangement of bacterial metabolites may be due to the patients’ use of increased dietary protein, with insufficient intake of products containing vegetable fiber (Diet Quality Index (DQI-I )adequacy 22.55 (±3.46) points). (4) Conclusions: Bariatric surgery affects the gut microbiota, which may play an important role in the development of depressive and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients after bariatric surgery. Low fiber consumption and increased levels of faecal isobutyric acid may lead to intestinal inflammation. There is a need for further research on this topic including a larger sample size.     

Association between Dietary Macronutrient Intake and Symptoms in Uninvestigated Dyspepsia: Evidence from a Population-Based,Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: Limited evidence from laboratory-based studies suggests that specific dietary macronutrients, particularly fat, can induce dyspeptic symptoms. Through a population-based study, we investigated the relationship between dietary macronutrients and dyspeptic symptoms and sought to determine macronutrient intake thresholds to predict or prevent dyspepsia and reduce symptoms in patients with dyspepsia. (2) Methods: A total of 4763 Iranian people were enrolled in this population-based, cross-sectional study. Uninvestigated dyspepsia (UD) and its symptoms, including postprandial fullness, early satiation, and epigastric pain, were evaluated using a modified Persian version of the Rome III criteria. The dietary intakes of participants were evaluated using a validated food–frequency questionnaire. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to calculate threshold intakes of dietary macronutrients to prevent UD in the general population. The analysis was then repeated in those with UD to calculate intake thresholds for reducing UD symptoms. (3) Results: Early satiation occurred in 6.3% (n = 302), postprandial fullness in 8.0% (n = 384) and epigastric pain in 7.8% (n = 371) of participants. The prevalence of UD was 15.2%. Compared with individuals without UD, those with UD had a lower intake of carbohydrates (48.2% vs. 49.1%) and a higher intake of fats (38.3% vs. 37.4%), while protein and energy intakes did not differ. Higher dietary fat and protein intakes were associated with a higher prevalence of postprandial fullness and epigastric pain, respectively. Macronutrient intakes to predict UD in the general population were <49% of energy from carbohydrates, >14.7% from protein, and >37.7% from fats. Carbohydrate, protein, and fat intakes to prevent symptoms among those with UD were calculated to be >48.2%, <14.6%, and <38.6%, respectively. (4) Conclusion: Higher carbohydrate intake and lower fat or protein intakes were associated with a lower likelihood of UD. Prospective studies carefully manipulating dietary macronutrient composition are warranted to investigate the value of dietary changes to improve symptoms in people with UD.     

产妇及其新生儿血浆长链脂肪酸组成分析

目的 分析了20名正常产妇静脉血及其新生儿脐血血浆中脂肪酸组成.方法 采用气相色谱法.结果 脐血中廿二碳六烯酸(DHA)、花生四烯酸(AA)含量显着高于母血(P<0.001);脐血中亚油酸(LA)含量为母血的1/5,而α亚麻酸(αLNA)含量脐血与母血无显着差异;脐血中DHA含量与母血中DHA含量高相关(r²=0.76,P<0.001),脐血中AA与母血中AA、LA含量均显着性相关(P<0.05,P<0.001).结论 母血中DHA、AA可优先通过胎盘满足胎儿需要;胎儿对n-3和n-6脂肪酸的利用可能存在差异.     

Examining Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Young Survivors of Urban Violence

Our study examines the association between Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among survivors of violence. In this cross-sectional study, an ACE questionnaire and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) were completed by 147 participants ≤ 3 months after presenting to a Philadelphia, PA emergency department between 2014 and 2019 with a violent injury. This study treated ACEs, both separate and cumulative, as exposures and PTSD symptom severity as the outcome. Most participants (63.3%) met criteria for provisional PTSD, 90% reported experiencing ≥ 1 ACE, and 39% reported experiencing ≥ 6 ACEs. Specific ACEs were associated with increasing PCL-5 scores and increased risk for provisional PTSD. Additionally, as participants’ cumulative ACE scores increased, their PCL-5 scores worsened (b = 0.16; p < 0.05), and incremental ACE score increases predicted increased odds for a positive provisional PTSD screen. Results provide further evidence that ACEs exacerbate the development of PTSD in young survivors of violence. Future research should explore targeted interventions to treat PTSD among survivors of interpersonal violence.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11524-022-00628-4.     

Plasma Free Fatty Acids and Metabolic Effect in Type 2 Diabetes,an Ancillary Study from a Randomized Clinical Trial

Most nutrition studies looking at the association of food with cardiometabolic markers rely on food frequency questionnaires, which are prone to recall bias. Pentadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid and trans-palmitoleic acid are fatty acids that are not synthesized endogenously but are obtained from the diet, particularly dairy, making them reasonable biomarkers of dairy consumption. We investigated the association of dairy fatty acid biomarkers with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes (T2D). In a clinical trial, 111 participants with T2D (age 58.5 ± 8.9 years, HbA1c 8.09 ± 0.96%) were randomized into three groups: a control group that maintained baseline dairy intake, a low-fat (LF) group that incorporated ≥3 servings/day of LF dairy and a high-fat (HF) group that incorporated ≥3 servings/day of HF dairy. We compared the fatty acids (FA) composition between the three groups at 24 weeks. Pentadecanoic acid and trans-palmitoleic acid increased in the HF group by 14.1% ± 5.4% and 17.5% ± 5.1%, respectively, but not in the control and LF groups (p = 0.0474 and p = 0.0025 for group-by-time interaction, respectively). Those increases were positively associated with changes in total cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol VLDL-C and triglycerides but were not associated with changes in HbA1c from baseline to 24 weeks. These results suggest that the intervention was successful and that participants were likely compliant, which supports the validity of the main trial.     

Associations of Drug Use,Violence, and Depressive Symptoms with Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Women with Alcohol Misuse

Background

Alcohol misuse is associated with increased human immunodeficiency virus sexual risk behaviors by women. Drug use, intimate partner violence (IPV), and depressive symptoms frequently co-occur, are well-recognized alcohol misuse comorbidities, and may interact to increase risk behaviors. Using a syndemic framework we examined associations between drug use, IPV, and depressive symptoms and sexual risk behaviors by 400 women with alcohol misuse attending an urban sexually transmitted infections clinic.

Ecological-Level Associations Between Highly Processed Food Intakes and Plasma Phospholipid Elaidic Acid Concentrations: Results From a Cross-Sectional Study Within the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)

Elaidic acid is the main unnatural trans fatty acid isomer occurring during partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils used as ingredients for the formulation of processed foods. The main objective is to assess associations between processed food intakes and plasma phospholipid elaidic acid concentrations within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. A cross-sectional study was used to determine fatty acid profiles in 3,003 subjects from 16 centers. Single 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDR) were collected using a standardized computerized interview program. Food intakes were computed according to their degree of processing (moderately/nonprocessed foods, processed staple foods, highly processed foods). Adjusted ecological and individual correlations were calculated between processed food intakes and plasma elaidic acid levels. At the population level, mean intakes of highly processed foods were strongly correlated with mean levels of plasma elaidic acid in men (P = 0.0016) and in women (P = 0.0012). At the individual level, these associations remained but at a much lower level in men (r = 0.08, P = 0.006) and in women (r = 0.09, P = 0.0001). The use of an averaged 24-HDR measure of highly processed food intakes is adequate for predicting mean levels of plasma elaidic acid among European populations.     

Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Elderly Women Are Associated with a Low Intake of Vitamin B6: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study investigated the nutritional factors that are associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in Japanese middle-aged and elderly women. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 289 study participants aged ≥40 years (mean age = 52.0 ± 6.9 years). Their dietary habits, menopausal status and symptoms, and varied background factors, such as body composition, lifestyle factors, and cardiovascular parameters, were assessed. Their anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), where scores of 0–7 points, 8–10 points, and 11–21 points on either the anxiety or depression subscales were categorized as mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. The dietary consumption of nutrients was assessed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. The relationships between the moderate-to-severe anxiety/depressive symptoms and the dietary intake of 43 major nutrients were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analyses. After adjusting for age, menopausal status, and the background factors that were significantly related to depressive symptoms, moderate and severe depression was significantly inversely associated with only vitamin B6 (adjusted odds ratio per 10 μg/MJ in vitamin B6 intake = 0.89, 95% confidence interval = 0.80–0.99). A higher intake of vitamin B6 could help relieve depressive symptoms for this population.     

Plasma Fatty Acids Pattern and Dry Eye Disease in the Elderly: The Montrachet Population-Based Study

(1) Background: To investigate the association between plasma fatty acids (FAs) and dry eye disease (DED) in an elderly population; (2) Methods: We conducted a population-based study, the Montrachet study, in individuals older than 75 years. DED was evaluated using the Schirmer I test without anesthesia, tear film breakup time (TFBUT) measurement and fluorescein corneal staining. Plasma FAs were measured in fasting blood using gas chromatography; (3) Results: A total of 740 subjects with a plasma measurement of 25 FAs were included in this study. The mean age was 82.2 ± 3.7 years, and 62.7% were women. DED was present in 35.0% of participants. We identified a plasma FAs pattern positively associated with DED, characterized by low polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), high monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and low saturated fatty acids (SFAs) levels. After adjustment for major confounders, individuals in the upper quartile of the FAs pattern scores compared with those in the lower quartile were more likely to present DED (OR 2.46 (95% CI 1.51–4.01), p = 0.001); (4) Conclusion: In this study, we found that a plasma FAs pattern characterized by low PUFAs, high MUFAs and low SFAs was significantly associated with DED in elderly participants.