Associations between healthy eating patterns and immune function or inflammation in overweight or obese postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: The link between poor nutritional status and impaired immune function is well established; however, most studies have focused on individual nutrients instead of overall dietary patterns. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate associations between 3 indexes of overall diet quality [the Diet Quality Index (DQI), the DQI including supplementary calcium (DQI-Ca), and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)] and biomarkers of inflammation and immunity. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study included 110 overweight or obese postmenopausal women. Dietary intake measured by food-frequency questionnaire was used to calculate diet quality scores. C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were measured by latex-enhanced nephelometry. Flow cytometry was used to measure natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and to enumerate and phenotype lymphocyte subsets. T lymphocyte proliferation was assessed by (3)H-thymidine incorporation as well as by the carboxyfluorescein-succinimidyl ester method of cell division tracking. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression analysis was used to investigate associations between diet quality scores and markers of inflammation and immune function. RESULTS: Higher diet quality was associated with increased proportions of cytotoxic and decreased proportions of helper T lymphocytes. CRP and SAA concentrations were higher among women with a lower-quality diet; these associations became nonsignificant after adjustment for body mass index or percentage body fat. We observed limited evidence for an association between healthy eating patterns and greater lymphocyte proliferation and no evidence for an association with NK cell cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Our results provide limited evidence that healthy eating patterns contribute to enhanced immune function and reduced inflammation in overweight and obese postmenopausal women.     

Relationship between needs driving eating occasions and eating behavior in midlife women

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between type of eating occasion based on need state segments experienced by 200 midlife women (46+/-6 years) and food group, nutrient, and energy intake. Women completed an Eating Occasion Questionnaire for 3 eating occasions over a 3-day period for which they maintained diet records. Cluster analysis segmented 559 eating occasions into six need states. Energy, total fat, and cholesterol consumption per occasion were highest in "routine family meal" occasions of which more than 60% were dinner and eaten at home with their children. The percentage of eating occasions in which fruits/vegetables were eaten was also highest in "routine family meal," followed by "healthy regimen." More than half of "indulgent escape" eating occasions occurred away from home and about one-third were experienced as a snack. Saturated fat and sweets intakes were the highest in the "indulgent escapes" occasions. Eating occasions experienced by women according to needs surrounding the occasion should be considered when developing tailored interventions to improve intake.     

Relationship between protein intake and dynapenia in postmenopausal women

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between protein intake and dynapenia. Design: A cross-sectional/observational study. Setting: Department of Kinanthropology at the University of Quebec at Montreal. Participants: Seventy-two non-frail postmenopausal women aged between 50 to 75 years were recruited. Measurements: Body weight (BW), lean body mass (LBM; %) and skeletal muscle mass (bio-electrical impedancemetry analysis), maximum voluntary handgrip strength (using hand dynamometer), aerobic capacity (VO2peak) and dietary intake were measured. Women were divided according to dynapenia criteria. Results: The strongest correlation between muscle strength and protein intake was observed when we express the amount of protein in g/d/BW. No differences for age, BMI, status of menopause, fat mass and VO2peak were observed between non-dynapenic, type I dynapenic and type II dynapenic women, independently of the criteria used. We observed significant differences in protein intake (g/d/BW) between non-dynapenic and type II dynapenic (p<0.01) as well as between type I dynapenic and type II dynapenic (p<0.01) when dynapenia was expressed in kg/BW and in kg/LBM, respectively. It should be noted that no differences in LBM between the three groups were observed when dynapenia was expressed in kg/BW and kg/LBM. Protein intake for all groups respected the RDA of 0.8 to 1.2 g/d/BW (non-dynapenic: 1.44/1.38; type I dynapenic: 1.30/1.33; type II dynapenic: 1.05/1.08 g/d/BW). Conclusions: Protein intake seems to play a role in the development of dynapenia particularly at the level of type II dynapenia. Therefore, an increase in the recommended daily allowance for protein intake may be warranted.     

Exploring the relationship between perceived barriers to healthy eating and dietary behaviours in European adults

Purpose

Dietary behaviours may be influenced by perceptions of barriers to healthy eating. Using data from a large cross-European study (N = 5900), we explored associations between various perceived barriers to healthy eating and dietary behaviours among adults from urban regions in five European countries and examined whether associations differed across regions and socio-demographic backgrounds.

Methods

Frequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables, fish, fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, breakfast and home-cooked meals were split by the median into higher and lower consumption. We tested associations between barriers (irregular working hours; giving up preferred foods; busy lifestyle; lack of willpower; price of healthy food; taste preferences of family and friends; lack of healthy options and unappealing foods) and dietary variables using multilevel logistic regression models. We explored whether associations differed by age, sex, education, urban region, weight status, household composition or employment.

Results

Respondents who perceived any barrier were less likely to report higher consumption of healthier foods and more likely to report higher consumption of fast food. ‘Lack of willpower’, ‘time constraints’ and ‘taste preferences’ were most consistently associated with consumption. For example, those perceiving lack of willpower ate less fruit [odds ratio (OR) 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.64], and those with a busy lifestyle ate less vegetables (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.47–0.62). Many associations differed in size, but not in direction, by region, sex, age and household composition.

Conclusion

Perceived ‘lack of willpower’, ‘time constraints’ and ‘taste preferences’ were barriers most strongly related to dietary behaviours, but the association between various barriers and lower intake of fruit and vegetables was somewhat more pronounced among younger participants and women.

     

Cravings and food consumption in binge eating disorder

The purpose of this study was to extend existing work that examines the role of cravings in Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The current study uses a case–control design to establish a relationship between cravings and food exposure, and between cravings and food consumption in individuals diagnosed with BED. Twenty-nine females with BED, 40 obese controls, and 50 normal-weight controls were first presented with a neutral cue and completed a food-craving measure. They were then presented with their favourite snack food and completed the craving measure again, after which they were allowed to consume the food. The BED group had significantly higher scores for pre- and post-craving measures, and consumed more food compared to the controls. There was, however, no significant interaction between group and craving scores. Results also showed a positive correlation between food consumption and cravings scores both before and after food exposure for individuals with BED. The findings suggest that the level of cravings prior to food exposure may be sufficient to predict overeating in BED and that treatment may want to target this as a defining feature that differentiates individuals with BED from those who do not binge eat.     

绝经女性血清瘦素水平与代谢综合征关系

目的 探讨绝经女性血清瘦素与代谢综合征(MS)关系。方法 对沈阳市某社区106名绝经女性进行人体测量、血清瘦素及MS指标测定。结果 因子分析抽出2个公因子,累计方差贡献率为60.7%;核心因子为瘦素-体脂肪,包括瘦素、体脂肪含量、体质指数、腰围;另一因子为MS因子,包括腰围、血压、空腹血糖、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇。体脂肪含量和收缩压是预测瘦素的独立变量(R²=0.607,P<0.01);瘦素浓度随MS成分数的增多而升高,MS≥3项组瘦素浓度为(11.33±4.51)ng/mL、2项组为(9.21±4.70)ng/mL,均高于≤1项组的(5.54±3.46)ng/mL(均P<0.05);高瘦素水平组(>9.2 ng/mL)MS的危险度是低瘦素水平组(≤9.2 ng/mL)的4倍(OR=4.00,95% CI=1.34~11.97,P<0.05)。结论 绝经女性瘦素与体脂肪含量、收缩压呈正相关,高瘦素水平可增大MS的危险度。     

Construal levels of healthy eating. Exploring consumers' interpretation of health in the food context

Although many studies consider health and food, little is known about consumers' actual interpretation of healthy eating. This study aims to explore, operationalise, and test consumers' interpretation of healthy eating by using insights from construal level theory. In this exploratory research three consecutive studies were executed, applying focus group (n=35) and two quasi-experimental studies with, respectively 97 and 235 respondents. Respondents appeared to use different levels for their judgment of food products' healthiness. Thinking about healthy eating can take place at a concrete representation level (e.g. "an apple contains vitamins"), but also at an abstract representation level (e.g. "it depends how much you eat"). The main yield of this paper is the coding scheme with exemplary phrasings used by consumers for different representations of healthy eating. This study shows that healthy eating does not always mean the same for different individuals, it depends at least partly on the representation level they are reasoning from. Both in academic reasoning and public health interventions health and healthy eating are usually discussed as universal and univocal concepts. However, this paper argues that healthy eating is not as clear-cut for consumers, and is not understood and interpreted identically by everybody. This paper suggests to take this insight into account in both future research and in the design of any communication message on healthy eating.     

Bone remodelling is not affected by consumption of a sodium-rich carbonated mineral water in healthy postmenopausal women

This study was designed to investigate the possible effects of consuming Na-rich carbonated mineral water on bone remodelling and urinary mineral excretion in postmenopausal women. Women (n 18) included were amenorrhoeic (>1 year), healthy and not obese (BMI <30 kg/m2). No woman was taking oestrogen replacement therapy, mineral and vitamin supplements, phyto-oestrogens or medications known to affect bone and lipid metabolism. In two consecutive interventions that lasted 8 weeks each, women drank 1 litre of control mineral water daily and 1 litre of carbonated mineral water, rich in Na, HCO3- and Cl-, daily. Body weight and height were measured, BMI was calculated and blood pressure was measured. Blood samples were taken from fasting subjects and serum obtained to analyse the biochemical bone markers, procollagen I amino-terminal propeptide (PINP) and beta-carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen (beta-CTX). At the end of each period, 24 h urine samples were collected to determine Ca, Mg, P, Na+, K+, Cl-, urine excretion and urinary pH. No changes in body weight, BMI or blood pressure were observed during the experimental period. Ca excretion was lower after the intake of carbonated water than after intake of the control water (P=0.037) while P excretion was higher (P=0.015). Total urine, Na and Cl- excretion did not differ between the two periods but urinary pH was increased after the intake of carbonated mineral water. PINP and beta-CTX did not differ between the two periods. Daily consumption of 1 litre of Na-rich carbonated mineral water for 8 weeks does not affect bone remodelling in healthy postmenopausal women.     

Milk consumption and zinc retention in postmenopausal women

We measured intestinal 65Zn absorption and whole-body retention in postmenopausal women following a meal extrinsically labeled with 65Zn. The meal was consumed with 200 mL of milk or with a calcium phosphate supplement. Fifteen elderly (mean age 69) subjects were studied during three 12-d experimental periods in which they were fed either a basal diet containing 16 mg Zn or the basal diet supplemented either with 400 mL of milk or with dibasic calcium phosphate supplements containing an equivalent amount of calcium (468 mg) and phosphorus (360 mg). Measurements of fractional zinc absorption were made in 9 of the 15 subjects by a dual-isotope technique using 65Zn and 51Cr (as nonabsorbable fecal markers). Fractional zinc absorption was 0.22 +/- 0.06 (mean +/- SEM) after the standard meal, 0.23 +/- 0.06 with added milk and 0.22 +/- 0.03% with the added calcium phosphate supplement. The corresponding values for 65Zn retention in 15 subjects 12 d after dosing were 0.10 +/- 0.01% for all treatments. No significant effect of milk or calcium phosphate supplementation was observed on either 65Zn absorption or retention. We conclude that increased milk consumption with meals has no detrimental consequences on zinc nutriture in elderly women.     

绝经女性中心型肥胖及其前期与高血糖发病风险关系的研究

目的探讨绝经女性中心型肥胖及其前期与高血糖发病风险的关系。方法调查苏州工业园区2014年进行慢性病社区综合防治的35岁以上健康自然绝经12个月以上的女性323人,测量血压、身高、体重、腰围,采血测定空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、血脂水平。根据腰围诊断中心型肥胖及中心型肥胖前期,根据FPG和HbA1c诊断高血糖。结果绝经女性中心型肥胖及前期占31.0%。腰围水平与FPG(r=0.18,P0.01)及HbA1c(r=0.20,P0.01)呈正相关。用FPG和HbA1c诊断高血糖,检出率分别为34.4%和83.9%。用FPG诊断高血糖,中心型肥胖及前期人群高血糖检出率以及发病风险与正常人群差异无统计学意义(31.8%vs 40.0%,P=0.076)。用HbA1c诊断高血糖,中心型肥胖及前期人群高血糖检出率显著高于正常人群(91.0%vs 80.7%,P=0.020)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示人群患高血糖的OR=2.46(95%CI 1.07~5.62)(P=0.034)。结论中心型肥胖以及中心型肥胖前期可能是高血糖发生的危险因素。     

Relationships between temperament and eating behaviours in young children

This study examined the associations between eating behaviours and temperament in a sample of young children. Mothers (N=241) of children aged 3-8 years completed measures of their children's eating behaviours and temperament and reported their child's height and weight. Children with more emotional temperaments were reported to display more food avoidant eating behaviours. Shyness, sociability and activity were not related to children's eating behaviours. Higher child BMI was related to more food approach eating behaviours but BMI was unrelated to child temperament. Future research should explore more specifically how emotional temperaments might influence child eating behaviour.     

Acculturation, body image, and eating behaviours in Muslim-Australian women

The relationship between western acculturation, body dissatisfaction, and eating behaviours was examined in a sample of 101 Muslim-Australian women between 18 and 44 years of age (M=27.3, SD=7.5). A questionnaire was completed containing measures of cultural identification (heritage and mainstream), body dissatisfaction and disordered eating (dietary control, bingeing and purging), internalization of the thin ideal, and self-esteem. A series of path analyses identified significant positive relationships between mainstream identification and the measures of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating that were mediated by thin-ideal internalization. Path analyses also identified significant negative relationships between heritage identification and the measures of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating that were mediated by self-esteem. These results are indicative of the potential risks to body image incurred by women who adopt Western values, and of the benefits in retaining heritage cultural values that promote a positive self image.     

成都地区女性绝经后血清促甲状腺激素与代谢综合征相关性研究

目的 探讨成都地区绝经后女性代谢综合征（MS）发生情况及与血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）关系。方法 采用分层整群抽样方法对成都地区绝经后女性进行调查,调查内容包括问卷调查、体格检查及血生化指标检测,对结果进行描述分析,并对MS与TSH相关性进行研究。结果 2018年共对成都地区绝经后女性3 512人进行调查,调查对象年龄40~74岁,文化程度以小学为主,占37.10%,家庭人均月收入以3 000~4 999元为主,占38.87%,以本地户籍为主,占76.74%,职业类型以文职为主,占58.68%,57.94%调查对象有MS家族史。检出MS 983例,发生率为27.99%。TSH与BMI、腰高比、空腹血糖、胰岛素抵抗指数、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、甘油三酯呈正相关关系（r=0.860、0.820、0.819、0.680、0.718、0.588）,与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇呈负相关（r=-0.668）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示TSH（OR=1.952）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（OR=1.861）、胰岛素抵抗指数（OR=1.850）值越高,绝经女性MS发生风险越高。结论 成都地区绝经后女性MS发病率较高,TSH水平升高与MS发病密切相关。     

Leptin and body composition in healthy postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: Leptin has been proposed to be involved in central control of adiposity and fat distribution but the role of this peptide is controversial. The aim of our study was to test the relationship between serum leptin and body composition, fat distribution, and some biochemical markers such as fasting insulinemia and lipoproteins in a population of healthy Italian postmenopausal women. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three postmenopausal women (62.1+/-8.7 years) were evaluated. Body composition (fat and lean mass) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Two regions of interest were determined for regional fat analysis. Serum leptin and insulinemia were measured by radioimmunoassay, lipoproteins with colorimetric methods and apolipoproteins nephelometrically. RESULTS: Plasma leptin levels are strongly related to total fat mass, in grams (r=0.73, p<0.001) or as a percentage of soft tissue (r=0.75, p<0.001), and to adiposity, calculated as ratio between lean and fat mass (r=0.76, p<0.001). A significant correlation was also found between serum leptin and central fat distribution (r=0.29, p<0.01). As concerns biochemical markers, serum leptin was significantly related to fasting insulin (r=0.38, p<0.001), total cholesterol (r=0.29, p<0.01), Apolipoprotein-B (r=0.35, p<0.001), and triglycerides (r=0.22, p<0.05). When corrected for total fat mass, the partial correlation coefficients remain significant for percentage of total body fat (r=0.27, p<0.01), adiposity (r=0.23, p<0.01), and fat proportion in android region (r=0.18, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that leptin levels are related to adiposity and fasting insulin levels; indeed fast insulin mantains significant correlation with leptin (r=0.23, p<0.01) after controlling for fat mass. Android distribution of fat mass in elderly women is associated with leptin concentration.     

Disordered eating behaviours in women with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

The aim of the article is to investigate the relationship between disordered eating, particularly binge eating, and Type 2 diabetes in women. Subjects included 215 women with Type 2 diabetes (mean age: 58.9 years, mean body mass index (BMI)=33.5 kg/m(2)). Measurements included a structured clinical interview for disordered eating (Eating Disorder Examination, EDE), self-report measures of psychological functioning, glycosylated haemoglobin A1c, BMI. A total of 20.9% of women was binge eating regularly. Binge eating was associated with poorer well being, earlier age of diagnosis, poorer self-efficacy for diet and exercise self-management, and higher BMI. Binge eating frequency predicted blood glucose control after controlling for BMI and exercise level. A history of binge eating independently predicted age of diagnosis of diabetes. Binge eating is relatively common in women with Type 2 diabetes. The relationship between binge eating severity and diabetic control is not explained by overweight. Binge eating may be an independent risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.     

Psychological measures of eating behavior and the accuracy of 3 common dietary assessment methods in healthy postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: Factors affecting the accuracy of reported energy intake (rEI) need to be identified. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the association of psychological measures of eating behavior with the accuracy of rEI assessed by 7-d weighed intakes, a 24-h recall, and a food-frequency questionnaire. DESIGN: Subjects were 26 restrained eaters aged 60.3 +/- 0.6 y (mean +/- SEM) and weighing 63.8 +/- 1.7 kg and 34 unrestrained eaters aged 59.4 +/- 0.6 y and weighing 64.0 kg. rEI was assessed by using 3 dietary assessment methods and total energy expenditure (TEE) was determined by using doubly labeled water. Calculated EI (cEI) was determined as TEE corrected for the estimated change in body energy. Subjects completed the Eating Inventory. RESULTS: rEI values were significantly lower than TEE values for all 3 dietary assessment methods (P < 0.05); there was no significant relation between rEI and TEE by any method. There was no significant difference in 100 x rEI:TEE between restrained and unrestrained eaters by any of the dietary assessment methods. When combined data from the 3 methods were used, 100 x rEI:cEI was not significantly different from 100% in unrestrained eaters (99 +/- 6.8%) but was lower in restrained eaters (89.1 +/- 5.3%; P < 0.05). There was a positive relation between hunger and 100 x rEI:TEE (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low hunger is associated with undereating relative to normal eating during measurement of dietary intake; high dietary restraint may be associated with a reduction in reporting of consumed foods. Dietary hunger and restraint assessed with use of the Eating Inventory may help to identify subjects likely to underreport dietary intake.     

Consumer support for healthy food and drink vending machines in public places

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of introducing vending machines for healthier food into public places, and to examine the effectiveness of two front‐of‐pack labelling systems in the vending machine context. Methods: A survey was conducted with 120 students from a university and 120 employees, patients and visitors of a hospital in regional NSW, Australia. Questions explored vending machine use, attitudes towards healthier snack products and price, and the performance of front‐of‐pack labelling formats for vending machine products. Results: Most participants viewed the current range of snacks and drinks as “too unhealthy” (snacks 87.5%; drinks 56.7%). Nuts and muesli bars were the most liked healthier vending machine snack. Higher proportions of participants were able to identify the healthier snack in three of the five product comparisons when products were accompanied with any type of front‐of‐pack label (all p<0.01); however, participants were less likely to be able to identify the healthier product in the drinks comparison when a front‐of‐pack guide was present. Conclusion: Respondents were interested in a range of healthier snacks for vending machines. Front‐of‐pack label formats on vending machines may assist consumers to identify healthier products. Implications: Public settings, such as universities and hospitals, should support consumers to make healthy dietary choices by improving food environments.     

Overeating in America: association between restaurant food consumption and body fatness in healthy adult men and women ages 19 to 80

PURPOSE: To examine the association between the frequency of consuming restaurant food and body fatness in adults. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Usual free-living dietary intake and the frequency of consuming food from seven different restaurant types (fried chicken, burger, pizza, Chinese, Mexican, fried fish, and "other") were assessed by food frequency questionnaire in 73 healthy men and women [ages 19 to 80, body mass index (BMI) 18 to 33]. In addition, body fatness (percent weight) was determined by hydrostatic weighing, and physical activity and other lifestyle parameters were assessed by questionnaire. The relationship between the frequency of consuming restaurant food and body fatness was determined after controlling for age, sex, and other confounders by using multiple regression techniques. RESULTS: Restaurant food consumption averaged 7.5+/-8.5 (Standard Deviation) times/month. After controlling for age and sex, the frequency of consuming restaurant food was positively associated with body fatness (partial r = 0.36, p = 0.003). The strength of this association did not change after controlling for education level, smoking status, and alcohol intake, but after additionally controlling for physical activity, the partial r increased to 0.42 (p = 0.004). Total daily intakes of energy, fat, and fiber were significantly associated with restaurant food consumption frequency (r = 0.59, 0.28, and -0.45, respectively, p = 0.02 to 0.0001). DISCUSSION: The frequency of consuming restaurant food was positively associated with increased body fatness in adults. The increasing proportion of household food income spent on food prepared away from home in the United States may therefore help explain the rising national prevalence of obesity.