Higher dietary intake of lignans is associated with better cognitive performance in postmenopausal women

Data on the relation between phytoestrogens and cognitive function are still sparse. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between the dietary intake of phytoestrogens and cognitive function in healthy postmenopausal women consuming a Western diet. We conducted a community-based survey among 394 postmenopausal women. Isoflavone and lignan intake was calculated from a validated FFQ. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data were analyzed using logistic regression with intact cognitive function defined as a score >/= 26 as the outcome variable. After adjustment for confounders, increasing dietary lignans intake was associated with better performance on the MMSE [OR and (95%CI): 1.49 (0.94-2.38)]. Results were most pronounced in women who were 20-30 y postmenopausal [2.02 (1.11-3.71)]. Isoflavone intake was not related to cognitive function. From our results we conclude that higher dietary intake of lignans is associated with better cognitive function in postmenopausal women.     

Alcohol and stimulants dietary pattern is associated with haptoglobin blood levels, among apparently healthy individuals

Studying dietary patterns and its relation to the development of various chronic diseases have received much interest during the past years, since they capture a holistic approach of true diet. Haptoglobin (Hp) has been associated with cardiovascular heart disease risk especially with acute myocardial infarction, coronary and peripheral artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and Hp blood levels among apparently healthy adults. During 2009, 490 volunteers (46 ± 16 years, 40 % male) were consecutively enrolled to the study (participation rate 85 %). Biochemical analyses were performed through established procedures, after 12 h fasting. Anthropometric, lifestyle and dietary characteristics were also recorded to account for potential confounders. Principal components analysis (PCA) was the data-driven technique to extract the dietary patterns. Pattern analysis revealed eight dietary patterns through the application of PCA; however, four of them were considered nutritionally important as they explained 35 % of total variance in food consumption (“Western diet”, “Mediterranean diet”, “Meat and bakery products” and “Alcohol and stimulants pattern”). The fourth pattern (alcohol and stimulants intake) has been characterised by intake of alcoholic drinks (wine, beer, and spirits) and stimulants (coffee and tea). Adherence to the latter pattern was associated with reduced Hp levels (b ± SE ?5.9 ± 2.7, p = 0.03), adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, physical activity, and smoking habits. However, multi-adjusted analysis revealed that the individual effect of alcohol or stimulants on lowering Hp levels was not significant (p = 0.27 and p = 0.05, respectively). Moderate drinking of alcoholic drinks and stimulants seems to be associated with lower haptoglobin levels, suggesting another potential mechanism for the health benefits achieved through alcohol and stimulants drinking.     

A rice-based traditional dietary pattern is associated with obesity in Korean adults

BackgroundDietary patterns are critical in the prevention of chronic disease. The relationship between specific dietary patterns and obesity has not been evaluated in a Korean adult population.ObjectiveThis study examined whether specific dietary patterns are associated with obesity using survey data of the largest, nationally representative, general Korean population.DesignThe cross-sectional study was comprised of 10,089 Korean adults (19 years or older) who participated in the second and third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Dietary data were assessed by 24-hour recall method. Obesity was defined as body mass index (calculated as kg/m²) ≥25, which is the cutoff point for adults in the Asian and Pacific regions.ResultsFour dietary patterns were derived using factor analysis (white rice and kimchi pattern; high-fat, sweets, and coffee pattern; meat and alcohol pattern; and grains, vegetables, and fish pattern). Each dietary pattern explained 8.6%, 6.7%, 5.7%, and 5.7% of the variation in food intake, respectively. The white rice and kimchi pattern (P for trend=0.0039) and the high-fat, sweets, and coffee pattern (P for trend=0.0054) were positively associated with obesity after adjustments for age, sex, energy intake, alcohol intake, smoking status, physical activity, and chronic diseases. No significant association was found among the meat and alcohol pattern; the grains, vegetables, and fish pattern; and obesity.ConclusionsSpecific dietary patterns, which include the white rice and kimchi and high-fat, sweets, and coffee patterns, may be independently associated with obesity in Korean adults.     

A healthy dietary pattern consisting of a variety of food choices is inversely associated with the development of metabolic syndrome

There are limited data on healthy dietary patterns protective against metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) development. We identified dietary patterns among middle-aged and older adults and investigated the associations with the incidence of MetSyn. A population-based prospective cohort study included 5,251 male and female Koreans aged 40-69 years. At baseline, all individuals were free of MetSyn, other major metabolic diseases, and known cardiovascular disease or cancer. Cases of MetSyn were ascertained over a 6-year of follow-up. Dietary patterns and their factor scores were generated by factor analysis using the data of a food frequency questionnaire. We performed pooled logistic regression analysis to estimate multivariable-adjusted relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for associations between factor scores and MetSyn risk. Two dietary patterns were identified; (1) a healthy dietary pattern, which included a variety of foods such as fish, seafood, vegetables, seaweed, protein foods, fruits, dairy products, and grains; and (2) an unhealthy dietary pattern, which included a limited number of food items. After controlling for confounding factors, factor scores for the healthy dietary pattern were inversely associated with MetSyn risk (P-value for trend < 0.05) while those for the unhealthy dietary pattern had no association. Individuals in the top quintile of the healthy diet scores showed a multivariable-adjusted RR [95% CI] of 0.76 [0.60-0.97] for MetSyn risk compared with those in the bottom quintile. The beneficial effects were derived from inverse associations with abdominal obesity, low HDL-cholesterol levels, and high fasting glucose levels. Our findings suggest that a variety of healthy food choices is recommended to prevent MetSyn.     

Increased attrition of leukocyte telomere length in young adults is associated with poorer cognitive function in midlife

Evidence for an association of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with cognitive function, predominantly in older adults, is inconsistent. No report has examined the association of LTL dynamics (age-specific LTL and its attrition rate) with cognitive function. We aimed to examine the association of LTL dynamics over 13 years in young adulthood with cognitive function in midlife. 497 individuals who had LTL measured at ages 28–32 and 41–46 years were assessed at ages 48–52 for global cognitive function and its five specific component domains with a NeuroTrax computerized test battery. Multivariable regression and logistic models were applied for cognition treated as a continuous and categorical variable, respectively. We found that LTL attrition (adjusted for sex, baseline LTL and potential confounders including socioeconomic variables) was inversely associated with global cognition (standardized β = ?.119, p = .004) and its component domains: information processing speed (β = ?.102, p = .024), visual-spatial function (β = ?.102, p = .017) and memory (β = ?.093, p = .045), but less so for the attention and executive domains. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for low global cognition comparing the upper versus lower thirds of LTL attrition was 2.12 (95 % CI 1.11–4.08, p for trend = .023). There was no association of baseline or follow-up LTL with cognition. No effect modification was evident for sex, smoking or inflammatory markers. In conclusion, faster LTL attrition in young adulthood was associated with poorer global and domain-specific cognitive function in midlife, suggesting that more rapid LTL attrition may be predictive of cognitive aging in healthy young adults.     

Cognitive performance is associated with glucose regulation in healthy elderly persons and can be enhanced with glucose and dietary carbohydrates

BACKGROUND: A glucose drink has been shown to improve memory in persons with poor glucose regulation and poor cognition. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine 1) whether an association between cognition and glucose regulation is apparent in healthy seniors and 2) the effects of dietary carbohydrates on cognition. DESIGN: After an overnight fast, 10 men and 10 women (aged 60-82 y) consumed 50 g carbohydrate as glucose, potatoes, or barley or a placebo on 4 separate mornings. Cognitive tests were administered 15, 60, and 105 min after ingestion of the carbohydrate. Plasma glucose and serum insulin were measured. RESULTS: In a multiple regression analysis, poor baseline (placebo) verbal declarative memory (immediate and 20-min delayed paragraph recall and word list recall) and visuomotor task performance were predicted by poor beta cell function, high incremental area under the glucose curve, low insulin resistance, and low body mass index. The difference in plasma glucose after food consumption [glucose > potatoes > barley > placebo (P: < 0.03)] did not predict performance. Although overall performance did not differ with consumption of the different test foods, baseline score and beta cell function correlated with improvements in immediate and delayed paragraph recall for all 3 carbohydrates (compared with placebo); the poorer the baseline memory or beta cell function, the greater the improvement (correlation between beta cell function and improvement in delayed paragraph recall: r > -0.50, P: < 0.03). Poor beta cell function correlated with improvement for all carbohydrates in visuomotor task performance but not on an attention task. CONCLUSIONS: Glucose regulation was associated with cognitive performance in elderly subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Dietary carbohydrates (potatoes and barley) enhanced cognition in subjects with poor memories or beta cell function independently of plasma glucose.     

Greater adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern is associated with lower blood pressure in healthy Iranian primary school children

Purpose

The dietary determinants of children blood pressure (BP) are poorly understood. We examined the association between adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern and BP in healthy Iranian primary school children.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample (n?=?407) of healthy Shirazi students aged 6–12 years. Subjects’ systolic and diastolic BP were measured by a validated oscillometric BP monitor. Usual dietary intakes over the past 12 months were assessed using a valid and reproducible 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. A DASH score was calculated for each subject based on his/her energy-adjusted intakes of 8 major dietary components emphasized or minimized in the DASH dietary pattern. The higher the DASH score of a subject, the more his/her adherence to the DASH dietary pattern.

Results

After controlling for several potential confounders in the analysis of covariance models, multivariable-adjusted means of systolic and mean BP of subjects in the highest tertile of DASH score were significantly lower than those in the lowest tertile (for systolic BP: mean difference ?6.2 mmHg, P?=?0.010; and for mean BP: mean difference ?5.4 mmHg, P?=?0.013). Furthermore, a similar but statistically insignificant difference was found in terms of multivariable-adjusted means of diastolic BP (mean difference ?3.9 mmHg, P?=?0.146).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that greater adherence to the DASH dietary pattern is associated with lower BP in healthy Iranian primary school children. However, future prospective studies of adequate methodological quality are warranted to confirm these findings.

     

Cognitive dietary restraint is associated with higher urinary cortisol excretion in healthy premenopausal women

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dietary restraint, assessed by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire restraint subscale, is associated with subclinical menstrual cycle disturbances. This association may be mediated by stress-activated cortisol release. OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether 24-h urinary cortisol excretion differs between women with high and low restraint scores. DESIGN: Participants (aged 21.6+/-2.5 y; n = 62) with normal-length menstrual cycles and high (n = 33) or low (n = 29) restraint scores completed a questionnaire describing weight history, dietary practices, and exercise. Cortisol, calcium, and creatinine were measured in urine collected over 24 h on a day when all food and beverages were provided and measured. Previously, 3-d food records and anthropometric measurements were obtained. RESULTS: Age, height, weight, body mass index, and length of menstrual cycle were similar between groups. The reported amount of exercise was higher (3.4+/-1.7 compared with 2.2+/-1.8 h/wk; P<0.05) and energy intakes (assessed from 3-d and 24-h food records) were lower in the high- than in the low-restraint group. Ratios of urinary cortisol (nmol) to creatinine (mmol) were higher in the high-restraint than in the low-restraint group (42.9+/-12.9 compared with 36.3+/-8.9; P<0.05), whereas ratios of urinary calcium (mmol) to creatinine were lower (0.3+/-0.1 compared with 0.4+/-0.2; P<0.05) in the high-restraint group. Urinary cortisol was not associated with exercise, nutrient intakes, or anthropometric measurements. CONCLUSIONS: High dietary restraint scores are associated with urinary cortisol, a biological marker of stress, and high cortisol excretion may affect bone health. Our results suggest that further research is warranted to clarify these associations and to determine whether they persist over time.     

Energy-dense, low-fiber, high-fat dietary pattern is associated with increased fatness in childhood

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the dietary determinants of obesity in children is limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to identify a dietary pattern that explained dietary energy density (DED), fiber density (FD), and percentage of energy intake from fat and analyze its relation to fatness in children. DESIGN: The subjects were 521 (at ages 5 and 9 y) and 682 (at ages 7 and 9 y) children participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Diet was assessed with the use of 3-d diet diaries at ages 5 and 7 y. Reduced rank regression derived a dietary pattern with the use of DED, fiber, and fat intake as intermediate variables. Fat mass was measured at age 9 y with the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fat mass index (FMI) was calculated, and excess adiposity was defined (as the top quintile of logFMI). RESULTS: Pattern score at ages 5 and 7 y was correlated with DED (r = 0.8), FD (r = -0.7), and percentage of energy intake from fat (r = 0.5). An increase of 1 SD of pattern score at ages 5 and 7 y, respectively, was associated with a 0.15-kg (95% CI: -0.1, 0.45 kg) and a 0.28-kg (95% CI: 0.05, 0.53 kg) higher fat mass at age 9 y, after controlling for confounders. The adjusted odds of excess adiposity at age 9 y for children in quintile 5 compared with quintile 1 of dietary pattern score at ages 5 and 7 y, respectively, were 2.52 (95% CI: 1.13, 6.08) and 4.18 (95% CI: 2.07, 9.38). CONCLUSION: An energy-dense, low-fiber, high-fat diet is associated with higher fat mass and greater odds of excess adiposity in childhood.     

An energy-dense, nutrient-poor dietary pattern is inversely associated with bone health in women

Measures of dietary patterns have been increasingly used to capture the complex nature of dietary intake. Few studies have investigated the impact of specific dietary patterns on bone health. Areal bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and total hip and total body bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using DXA in Australian women aged 18-65 y (n = 527). Dietary patterns were assessed using a 4-d food diary and factor analysis. Scores were calculated based on the amount of each food consumed in the pattern and the weightings determined by factor analysis. Analysis was conducted using generalized estimating equation methods. Factor analysis revealed 5 dietary patterns. Pattern 1 (high consumption of refined cereals, soft drinks, fried potatoes, sausages and processed meat, vegetable oils, beer, and takeaway foods and low consumption of other vegetables, vegetable dishes, tea, coffee, fruit, wholegrain breads, and breakfast cereals) were significantly inversely associated with total body BMC (g) [β = -15.4 (95% CI -27.4, -3.3), adjusted for age, height, physical activity, smoking, education, energy, and calcium intake]. Pattern 4 (high consumption of legumes, seafood, seeds, nuts, wine, rice and rice dishes, other vegetables, and vegetable dishes and low consumption of bacon and ham) were directly associated with BMD at both sites and total body BMC in adjusted models [BMC (g): β = 15.2 (95% CI 2.84, 27.6), fully adjusted model]. The remaining dietary patterns were not consistently associated with BMD or BMC. This study identified specific dietary patterns associated with BMD and total body BMC among women and provides evidence that will contribute to potential food-based strategies for improving bone health.     

A role for dietary saccharide intake in cognitive performance

Objective: The current study investigated the relationship between dietary intake of saccharides and cognitive performance.

Design: The study used a cross-sectional correlational design in which the relationship between saccharide intake and cognitive performance was investigated among younger and middle-aged adults.

Methods: Forty-two young adults (18–30 years) and 42 middle-aged adults (45–62 years) completed a food diary on three non-consecutive days during 1 week in order to estimate dietary saccharide intake. In addition, participants completed a battery of cognitive measures that included measures assessing memory (verbal and visuo-spatial recall and recognition, working memory), speed of processing, attention and general cognitive ability.

Results and conclusion: Results indicated that saccharide intake was related to performance only in verbal memory recall, and only for the middle-aged adults. Importantly, saccharide intake remained a significant predictor of verbal memory performance after controlling for education and health factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and exercise.     

Under-reporting of energy intake is more prevalent in a healthy dietary pattern cluster

The aim of the present study was to determine whether under-reporting rates vary between dietary pattern clusters. Subjects were sixty-five Brazilian women. During 3 weeks, anthropometric data were collected, total energy expenditure (TEE) was determined by the doubly labelled water method and diet was measured. Energy intake (EI) and the daily frequency of consumption per 1000 kJ of twenty-two food groups were obtained from a FFQ. These frequencies were entered into a cluster analysis procedure in order to obtain dietary patterns. Under-reporters were defined as those who did not lose more than 1 kg of body weight during the study and presented EI:TEE less than 0.82. Three dietary pattern clusters were identified and named according to their most recurrent food groups: sweet foods (SW), starchy foods (ST) and healthy (H). Subjects from the healthy cluster had the lowest mean EI:TEE (SW = 0.86, ST = 0.71 and H = 0.58; P = 0.003) and EI - TEE (SW = - 0.49 MJ, ST = - 3.20 MJ and H = - 5.08 MJ; P = 0.008). The proportion of under-reporters was 45.2 (95 % CI 35.5, 55.0) % in the SW cluster; 58.3 (95 % CI 48.6, 68.0) % in the ST cluster and 70.0 (95 % CI 61.0, 79) % in the H cluster (P = 0.34). Thus, in Brazilian women, under-reporting of EI is not uniformly distributed among dietary pattern clusters and tends to be more severe among subjects from the healthy cluster. This cluster is more consistent with both dietary guidelines and with what lay individuals usually consider 'healthy eating'.     

Academic performance of Korean children is associated with dietary behaviours and physical status

The purpose of this study was to obtain a fuller understanding of the association of dietary behaviours, physical status and socio-economic status with academic performance in Korean teenagers. The subjects in this study were 6,463 boys and girls, in grade 5, 8, and 11 in Korea. A self-administered questionnaire and the food-frequency form were used. Grade point average (GPA), height, weight, and physical fitness score for the year were recorded from the school record. The academic performance of students was strongly associated with dietary behaviours, especially with regularity of three meals even after control for parent's education level. Regular breakfast and lunch were more important in grades 5 and 8, while regular dinner was more related with academic performance in grade 11. Small, positive associations of height and physical fitness to academic performance were also found. The relative importance of regularity of meals was greater than that of socio-economic status and physical status in older teenagers. The results of this study suggest that accommodation of better dietary environment and nutrition education for three regular meals is recommended.     

Better cognitive and physical performance is associated with higher blood pressure in centenarians

Objectives  

Knowledge of rational, evidence based health care in the hundred-year-old is still poor. The aim of the study was to evaluate health and functional state in hundred-year-old inhabitants of Upper Silesia, Poland, with a focus on the heart and vascular function.     

Cognitive performance is associated with macronutrient intake in healthy young and middle-aged adults

Abstract

Primary objective: The objective was to examine whether dietary intakes of macronutrients are associated with neuropsychological performance.

Research design and method: Study participants were 3960 adults aged 20–59 years, who completed three neuropsychological tests and a 24-hour dietary recall as a part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994. Poor performance was defined as the test score below gender-specific 15th percentile.

Main outcomes and results: While holding the energy percentages from different macronutrients, additional 100 kcal intake of energy was associated with a reduced odds of poor performance on serial digital learning test (OR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.96, 0.99) and symbol digital substitution test (OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.96, 0.99). Compared with equivalent energy from carbohydrates, each 5% of energy from poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or total fat was associated with a reduced OR of poor performance on simple reaction time test (PUFA: OR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.63–0.95 and total fat: OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.87, 0.99). Poor global cognition was associated with an additional intake of 100mg cholesterol (OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.05, 1.23). These associations were more salient in men.

Conclusion: Habitual intake of macronutrients is weakly but significantly associated with cognitive functioning. These relationships are more evident in men.     

Acute effects of a dietary non-starch polysaccharide supplement on cognitive performance in healthy middle-aged adults

Abstract

Objective

Certain plant polysaccharides may provide psychological health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether they can acutely improve mood and cognitive function.

Method

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, between subjects design trial, 73 middle-aged adults consumed 4 g of a proprietary mixture of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) (Ambrotose^® complex), a rice flour placebo, or a sucrose control. Participants completed testing at baseline and 30 minutes post-consumption. Acute effects of consumption on mood, cognition, and blood glucose were evaluated during mental tests designed to induce mental fatigue.

Results

Significant improvement in recognition and working memory performance was observed in the group that consumed NSP compared with placebo or sucrose. Improvements in memory performance following NSP intake were independent of changes in blood glucose.

Discussion

This is the first report of acute behavioural improvement following plant polysaccharide intake in healthy middle-aged adults under conditions of mental fatigue. The findings suggest that certain NSP may enhance memory performance through mechanisms other than elevated blood glucose.