Bias in protein and potassium intake collected with 24-h recalls (EPIC-Soft) is rather comparable across European populations

Purpose

We investigated whether group-level bias of a 24-h recall estimate of protein and potassium intake, as compared to biomarkers, varied across European centers and whether this was influenced by characteristics of individuals or centers.

Methods

The combined data from EFCOVAL and EPIC studies included 14 centers from 9 countries (n?=?1,841). Dietary data were collected using a computerized 24-h recall (EPIC-Soft). Nitrogen and potassium in 24-h urine collections were used as reference method. Multilevel linear regression analysis was performed, including individual-level (e.g., BMI) and center-level (e.g., food pattern index) variables.

Results

For protein intake, no between-center variation in bias was observed in men while it was 5.7% in women. For potassium intake, the between-center variation in bias was 8.9% in men and null in women. BMI was an important factor influencing the biases across centers (p?<?0.01 in all analyses). In addition, mode of administration (p?=?0.06 in women) and day of the week (p?=?0.03 in men and p?=?0.06 in women) may have influenced the bias in protein intake across centers. After inclusion of these individual variables, between-center variation in bias in protein intake disappeared for women, whereas for potassium, it increased slightly in men (to 9.5%). Center-level variables did not influence the results.

Conclusion

The results suggest that group-level bias in protein and potassium (for women) collected with 24-h recalls does not vary across centers and to a certain extent varies for potassium in men. BMI and study design aspects, rather than center-level characteristics, affected the biases across centers.     

Dietary folate intake and pancreatic cancer risk: Results from the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has an exceptionally low survival rate and primary prevention strategies are limited. Folate plays an important role in one-carbon metabolism and has been associated with the risk of several cancers, but not consistently with PC risk. We aimed to investigate the association between dietary folate intake and PC risk, using the standardised folate database across 10 European countries. A total of 477,206 participants were followed up for 11 years, during which 865 incident primary PC cases were recorded. Folate intake was energy-adjusted using the residual method. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. In multivariable analyses stratified by age, sex, study centre and adjusted for energy intake, smoking status, BMI, educational level, diabetes status, supplement use and dietary fibre intake, we found no significant association between folate intake and PC risk: the HR of PC risk for those in the highest quartile of folate intake (≥353 μg/day) compared to the lowest (<241 μg/day) was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.31; p_trend = 0.38). In current smokers, a positive trend was observed in PC risk across folate quartiles [HR = 4.42 (95% CI: 1.05, 18.62) for ≥353 μg/day vs. <241 μg/day, p_trend = 0.01]. Nonetheless, there was no significant interaction between smoking and dietary folate intake (p_interaction = 0.99). We found no association between dietary folate intake and PC risk in this large European study.     

Consumption of fruits,vegetables and fruit juices and differentiated thyroid carcinoma risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study

Fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is considered as probably protective against overall cancer risk, but results in previous studies are not consistent for thyroid cancer (TC). The purpose of this study is to examine the association between the consumption of fruits, vegetables, fruit juices and differentiated thyroid cancer risk within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. The EPIC study is a cohort including over half a million participants, recruited between 1991 and 2000. During a mean follow‐up of 14 years, 748 incident first primary differentiated TC cases were identified. F&V and fruit juice intakes were assessed through validated country‐specific dietary questionnaires. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors. Comparing the highest versus lowest quartile of intake, differentiated TC risk was not associated with intakes of total F&V (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.68–1.15; p‐trend = 0.44), vegetables (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.69–1.14; p‐trend = 0.56), or fruit (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.79–1.26; p‐trend = 0.64). No significant association was observed with any individual type of vegetable or fruit. However, there was a positive borderline trend with fruit juice intake (HR: 1.23; 95% CI: 0.98–1.53; p‐trend = 0.06). This study did not find any significant association between F&V intakes and differentiated TC risk; however a positive trend with fruit juice intake was observed, possibly related to its high sugar content.     

Endothelial autophagy is not required for liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice with fatty liver

Background & Aims

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have impaired liver regeneration. Liver endothelial cells play a key role in liver regeneration. In non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver endothelial cells display a defect in autophagy, contributing to NASH progression. We aimed to determine the role of endothelial autophagy in liver regeneration following liver resection in NAFLD.

Methods

First, we assessed autophagy in primary endothelial cells from wild type mice fed a high fat diet and subjected to partial hepatectomy. Then, we assessed liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice deficient (Atg5^lox/lox;VE-cadherin-Cre⁺) or not (Atg5^lox/lox) in endothelial autophagy and fed a high fat diet. The role of endothelial autophagy in liver regeneration was also assessed in ApoE^−/− hypercholesterolemic mice and in mice with NASH induced by methionine- and choline-deficient diet.

Results

First, autophagy (LC3II/protein) was strongly increased in liver endothelial cells following hepatectomy. Then, we observed at 40 and 48 h and at 7 days after partial hepatectomy, that Atg5^lox/lox;VE-cadherin-Cre⁺ mice fed a high fat diet had similar liver weight, plasma AST, ALT and albumin concentration, and liver protein expression of proliferation (PCNA), cell-cycle (Cyclin D1, BrdU incorporation, phospho-Histone H3) and apoptosis markers (cleaved Caspase-3) as Atg5^lox/lox mice fed a high fat diet. Same results were obtained in ApoE^−/− and methionine- and choline-deficient diet fed mice, 40 h after hepatectomy.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that the defect in endothelial autophagy occurring in NASH does not account for the impaired liver regeneration occurring in this setting.