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Tag: Fruit

  • Healthy eating social media accounts influence diet choices

    Healthy eating social media accounts influence diet choices

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    Researchers from Aston University have found that people following healthy eating accounts on social media for as little as two weeks ate more fruit and vegetables and less junk food.

    Previous research has shown that positive social norms about fruit and vegetables increases individuals’ consumption. The research team sought to investigate whether positive representation of healthier food on social media would have the same effect. The research was led by Dr Lily Hawkins, whose PhD study it was, supervised by Dr. Jason Thomas and Professor Claire Farrow in the School of Psychology.

    The researchers recruited 52 volunteers, all social media users, with a mean age of 22, and split them into two groups. Volunteers in the first group, known as the intervention group, were asked to follow healthy eating Instagram accounts in addition to their usual accounts. Volunteers in the second group, known as the control group, were asked to follow interior design accounts. The experiment lasted two weeks, and the volunteers recorded what they ate and drank during the time period.

    Overall, participants following the healthy eating accounts ate an extra 1.4 portions of fruit and vegetables per day and 0.8 fewer energy dense items, such as high-calorie snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks, per day. This is a substantial improvement compared to previous educational and social media-based interventions attempting to improve diets.

    Dr Thomas and the team believe affiliation is a key component of the change in eating behavior. For example, the effect was more pronounced amongst participants who felt affiliated with other Instagram users.

    The 2018 NHS Health Survey for England study showed that only 28% of the UK population consumed the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Low consumption of such food is linked to heart disease, cancer and stroke, so identifying ways to encourage higher consumption is vital. Exposing people to positive social norms, using posters in canteens encouraging vegetable consumption, or in bars to discourage dangerous levels of drinking, have been shown to work. Social media is so prevalent now that the researchers believe it could be an ideal way to spread positive social norms around high fruit and vegetable consumption, particularly amongst younger people.

    This is only a pilot intervention study at the moment, but it’s quite an exciting suite of findings, as it suggests that even some minor tweaks to our social media accounts might lead to substantial improvements in diet, at zero cost! Our future work will examine whether such interventions actually do change our perceptions of what others are consuming, and also, whether these interventions produce effects that are sustained over time.”


    Dr. Jason Thomas, School of Psychology

    Dr Hawkins, who is now at the University of Exeter, said:

    “Our previous research has demonstrated that social norms on social media may nudge food consumption, but this pilot demonstrates that this translates to the real world. Of course, we would like to now understand whether this can be replicated in a larger, community sample.”

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Hawkins, L., et al. (2024) Can social media be used to increase fruit and vegetable consumption? A pilot intervention study. Digital Health. doi.org/10.1177/20552076241241262.

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  • Mitochondrial depletion in axons linked to protein accumulation in neurodegenerative diseases

    Mitochondrial depletion in axons linked to protein accumulation in neurodegenerative diseases

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    Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have identified how proteins collect abnormally in neurons, a feature of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. They used fruit flies to show that depletion of mitochondria in axons can directly lead to protein accumulation. At the same time, significantly high amounts of a protein called eIF2β were found. Restoring the levels to normal led to a recovery in protein recycling. Such findings promise new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

    Every cell in our bodies is a busy factory, where proteins are constantly being produced and disassembled. Any changes or lapses in either the production or recycling phases can lead to serious illnesses. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), for example, are known to be accompanied by an abnormal build-up of proteins in neurons. However, the trigger behind this accumulation remains unknown.

    A team led by Associate Professor Kanae Ando of Tokyo Metropolitan University have been trying to determine the causes of abnormal protein build-up by studying Drosophila fruit flies, a commonly studied model organism that has many key similarities with human physiology. They focused on the presence of mitochondria in axons, the long tendril-like appendages that stretch out of neurons and form the necessary connections that allow signals to be transmitted inside our brains. It is known that the levels of mitochondria in axons can drop with age, and during the progress of neurodegenerative diseases.

    Now, the team have discovered that the depletion of mitochondria in axons has a direct bearing on protein build-up. They used genetic modification to suppress the production of milton, a key protein in the transport of mitochondria along axons. It was found that this led to abnormal levels of protein building up in fruit fly neurons, a result of the breakdown of autophagy, the recycling of proteins in cells. Through proteomic analysis, they were able to identify a significant upregulation in eIF2β, a key subunit of the eIF2 protein complex responsible for the initiation of protein production (or translation). The eIF2α subunit was also found to be chemically modified. Both of these issues hamper the healthy action of eIF2.

    Importantly, by artificially suppressing levels of eIF2β, the team discovered that they could restore the autophagy that was lost and regain some of the neuron function that was impaired due to axonal mitochondria loss. This not only shows that depletion of mitochondria in axons can cause abnormal protein accumulation, but that this happens via upregulation of eIF2β.

    As populations age and the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions continues to increase, the team’s findings present a vital step in developing therapies to combat these serious illnesses.

    This work was supported by a Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant (2021-4087), the Takeda Science Foundation, a Hoansha Foundation Grant, a research award from the Japan Foundation for Aging and Health and the Novartis Foundation (Japan) for the Promotion of Science, a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Challenging Research (Exploratory) [JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 19K21593], NIG-JOINT (National Institute of Genetics, 71A2018, 25A2019), and the TMU Strategic Research Fund for Social Engagement.

    Source:

    Tokyo Metropolitan University

    Journal reference:

    Shinno, K., et al. (2024). Axonal distribution of mitochondria maintains neuronal autophagy during aging via eIF2β. eLife. doi.org/10.7554/elife.95576.1.

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  • Sugary beverages linked to higher risk of atrial fibrillation

    Sugary beverages linked to higher risk of atrial fibrillation

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    In a recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers used Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the associations between the intake of pure fruit juices (PFJ) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

    Study: Association between sugar-sweetened beverages and pure fruit juice with risk of six cardiovascular diseases: a Mendelian randomization study. Image Credit: Andrii Zastrozhnov/Shutterstock.comStudy: Association between sugar-sweetened beverages and pure fruit juice with risk of six cardiovascular diseases: a Mendelian randomization study. Image Credit: Andrii Zastrozhnov/Shutterstock.com

    Background

    Cardiovascular illnesses are a major worldwide health problem, with risk factors including high body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, and smoking habits.

    SSBs and PFJ are associated with CVD; however, the causative relationship is uncertain. SSBs may be an elastic dietary target for lowering the CVD risk among females; however, PFJ may be a primary predictor.

    However, several investigations have found no direct link between SSBs and CVD. PFJ use can increase important nutrient intake; however, one should limit intake due to the high free sugar and energy content.

    The health consequences of PFJ consumption are inconsistent, and dietary advice differs among nations. The link between PFJ use and CVD mortality is unclear.

    About the study

    The present study researchers investigated whether SSB and PFJ consumption increased CVD risk.

    The researchers assessed genetically estimated causal relationships between sugar-sweetened beverages, pure fruit juices [obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of European individuals], and six CVDs [hypertension, angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary atherosclerosis (CA), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and heart failure (HF)] using mendelian randomization.

    The team obtained dietary intake data from the United Kingdom Biobank based on the Oxford WebQ 24-hour diet recall questionnaires filled out by 85,852 individuals. GWAS data on atrial fibrillation included 3,818 cases, with 333,381 control individuals. Angina data included 10,083 patients and 452,927 disease-free individuals.

    AMI data included 3,927 patients and 333,272 control individuals. Coronary atherosclerosis data included 14,334 patients with 346,860 controls. Heart failure GWAS data included 1,405 patients with 359,789 control individuals. GWAS data on hypertension included 54,358 patients with 408,652 controls.

    The researchers used the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach for analysis, supplemented by the Cochran Q test, weighted median, MR Egger regressions, MR pleiotropy, Bonferroni corrections, and funnel plots.

    To ensure that the primary analysis findings were robust, they calculated F-values as complementary tests to establish looser cut-offs for exposing the instrumental variables (IVs) and selected IVs by detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly associated with PFJ and SSBs.

    They determined odds ratios (OR) for the associations between SSB, PFJ intake, and CVD.

    Results and discussion

    The MR analysis showed genetically causal positive associations between sugar-sweetened beverages and atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.02) and negative associations between pure fruit juice and angina pectoris (OR, 0.97).

    However, there were no causal relationships between SSB and PFJ intake and other cardiovascular disease risks. Supplementary MR methods yielded similar results.

    The leave-one-out analysis showed that individual SNP removal did not alter the causal associations, indicating that the primary findings were reliable and robust.

    SSB and PFJ intakes have distinct substance compositions, which can raise the chance of developing AF while decreasing the risk of angina. SSBs contain dietary additives such as sodium citrate, which may increase the risk of AF over time.

    Excessive intake of SSBs can activate an inflammatory response, resulting in higher levels of circulating inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 (TNF-r1, r2). Higher IL-6 levels are associated with an increase in AF burden and mortality.

    PFJ, on the other hand, has high levels of polyphenols, some of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Pomegranate juice can lower inflammatory indicators such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and IL-6 due to its high concentration of hydrolyzable tannins.

    PFJ’s anti-inflammatory properties may lower angina incidence by blocking platelet aggregation and preventing coronary plaque development.

    Conclusions

    The study findings revealed a positive relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages and atrial fibrillation, whereas pure fruit juice had a negative link with angina.

    The findings should help us better understand the impact of long-term SSB/PFJ intake on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and recommend dietary choices for people who are at risk. Patients with AF should limit their SSB consumption to prevent potential pathogenic hazards, whereas individuals may incorporate PFJ into their diet as a protective factor against angina.

    However, further clinical and fundamental research is required to confirm these findings. Future research should concentrate on non-European ancestry groups and study data on various types of SSBs/PFJ and consumption rates to better understand their impact on CVD.

    Further research is needed to improve the understanding of their protective and pathogenic characteristics and assess their potential utility in clinical CVD prevention and therapy.

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  • Could dried fruits be the key to reducing osteoarthritis risk?

    Could dried fruits be the key to reducing osteoarthritis risk?

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    A Mendelian randomization study conducted by scientists at the Southern Medical University, China, suggests that dry fruit intake may be causally associated with a reduced risk of osteoarthritis.

    The study is published in the journal Medicine.

    Study: Causal association between dried fruit intake and risk of osteoarthritis: A Mendelian randomization study. Image Credit: vitals/Shutterstock.comStudy: Causal association between dried fruit intake and risk of osteoarthritis: A Mendelian randomization study. Image Credit: vitals/Shutterstock.com

    Background

    Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease affecting more than 240 million people globally. The disease is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, which collectively make body movements difficult.

    Recent evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies indicates that fruit intake may reduce the risk of arthritis because of the presence polyphenols and other bioactive compounds.

    Nuts and dry fruits also contain various macro- and micronutrients and health-promoting bioactive compounds and thus are effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases, including arthritis.

    In this study, scientists have conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationship between dry fruit intake and risk of osteoarthritis.

    Mendelian randomization utilizes genetic variation as an instrumental (predictive variable) variable to study the causal relationship between risk factors and outcomes.

    Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis estimates the causal impact of data on contacts and outcomes in different samples.   

    Study design

    The study used the MRBase database-derived single nucleotide polymorphism sites as an instrumental variable to investigate the causal relationship between dry fruit intake and risk of osteoarthritis. This database contains summary statistics from several genome-wide association studies (GWAS). 

    In this study, publicly available summary statistics of GWAS meta-analyses for dried fruit intake in individuals included in the UK Biobank were used as the exposure, and a publicly available GWAS for osteoarthritis was used as the outcome.

    A total of 41 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms from GWAS data were selected as instrumental variables to study the causal relationship between exposure and outcome. All single nucleotide polymorphisms were genome-wide associated with dry fruit intake.

    Important observations

    The Mendelian randomization analysis suggested a potential causal relationship between dry fruit intake and reduced risk of osteoarthritis.

    The sensitivity analysis conducted in the study showed the presence of low heterogeneity. Heterogeneity refers to the variability of the causal estimates across all single nucleotide polymorphisms.

    Further analysis revealed that the findings of Mendelian randomization analysis are reliable.

    Study significance

    The study finds a potential causal relationship between dry fruit intake and lower risk of osteoarthritis. This indicates that dietary interventions might be useful in preventing and managing complications associated with osteoarthritis.

    Existing evidence indicates that dietary interventions can reduce knee or hip osteoarthritis risk by reducing body weight, preventing inflammation, and increasing antioxidant capacity of the body.

    Bioactive compounds present in dry fruits, including phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, proanthocyanidins, stilbenes, chalcone or dihydrochalcone, and phytoestrogens, are known to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and prevent chondrocyte damage, indicating their usefulness in managing osteoarthritis.    

    Dry fruits contain 3 to 5-fold higher amounts of minerals and vitamins than fresh fruits. These nutrients can effectively reduce the risk of osteoarthritis by improving the body’s metabolism.

    Moreover, recent evidence indicates that dry fruits can mitigate osteoarthritis-related symptoms by beneficially modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolites.

    As mentioned by the scientists, the study used the GWAS data of only European ancestry people.

    This restricts the generalizability of the findings to other ethnicities and races. Moreover, the study has some heterogeneity in the Mendelian randomization analysis as no adjustments were made for potential confounders, including age, sex, and health status.

    To more accurately understand the effect of dry fruit intake on osteoarthritis risk, future studies are needed to analyze specific type, quality and quantity, and mode of action of dry fruits.

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  • Rare variants in the YKT6 gene cause new neurological disorder, study finds

    Rare variants in the YKT6 gene cause new neurological disorder, study finds

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    A recent collaborative study has discovered rare variants in the YKT6 gene as the cause of a new neurological disorder characterized by developmental delays along with severe progressive liver disease and a potential risk for liver cancer. The study, published in Genetics in Medicine, was led by Dr. Hugo Bellen, Distinguished Service Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Principal Investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Wendy Chung, the Chief of the Department of Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital. 

    “It is known that the YKT6 gene plays important roles in many intracellular vesicular trafficking events in the cells but this is the first time it has been linked to a genetically inherited disorder,” Dr. Bellen said. “This study, using patient samples and fruit flies, provides a solid experimental foundation for future studies to better understand this new disease and to develop therapies.”

    YKT6 gene variants disrupt brain development and sometimes, liver function

    In collaboration with Dr. Mythily Ganapathi at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Drs. Paula Hertel and Davut Pehlivan at Texas Children’s Hospital and Dr. James Lupski at Baylor College of Medicine, and by using the GeneMatcher tool and Baylor Genetics clinical diagnostics laboratory, this team of researchers and clinicians found three unrelated individuals with missense (analogous to misspellings in a word) variants in both copies of the YKT6 gene. 

    All three individuals had early onset of disease (four to six months of age) with failure to thrive. Two of them had an identical missense variant because of which the tyrosine amino acid at position 185 was changed to cysteine (Tyr185Cys). On the other hand, the third child carried a variant that caused the same amino acid change but in a different location (Tyr64Cys) of the YKT6 protein. Interestingly, in addition to developmental delays and neurological defects which were observed in all three children, only the two individuals with the Tyr185Cys variant had liver dysfunction and a potential risk for developing liver cancer.

    Interestingly, both individuals with the Tyr185Cys variant belong to the Syrian/Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, a group currently estimated to be comprised of about 5 million individuals worldwide. Our genetic lineage analysis suggests this variant likely originated from a common ancestor before the community split.”


    Dr. Mythily Ganapathi at Columbia University Irving Medical Center 

    YKT6 gene variants impair autophagy

    To assess how YKT6 variants result in the observed disease pathologies, the Bellen team studied the fruit fly version of this gene which is quite similar to its human counterpart.

    “We found that the fly version of this protein is expressed in the fat body and brain which are analogous to the human liver and central nervous system respectively,” Dr. Mengqi Ma, one of the first authors and a postdoctoral fellow in the Bellen lab, said. “Moreover, fly strains with loss of function mutations in this gene were lethal.”

    Further, they observed that Ykt6 mutant flies expressing the normal fly version of the Ykt6 gene flies had an average lifespan. However, transgenic flies expressing the fly versions of the disease variants were less effective in restoring lifespan and other symptoms. While Ykt6 mutant flies expressing Tyr65Cys (equal to human Tyr64Cys) had normal lifespan and locomotion, those expressing Tyr186Cys (equal to human Tyr185Cys) had severely reduced lifespan and locomotor defects. “Our results showed that the fly Ykt6 Tyr186Cys cause more severe defects than Tyr65Cys,” Dr. Ma added, “suggesting that the corresponding human YKT6 Tyr185Cys is a more severe variant than Tyr64Cys.”

    To understand why these variants behaved differently, they delved deeper into their biology.

    YKT6 belongs to the SNARE family of proteins that regulate the flow of protein traffic to various compartments within the cell. In mammalian cells, YKT6 mediates the fusion of two cellular organelles – the autophagosomes and lysosomes to form autolysosomes – within which ‘used’ cellular proteins, lipids, and other molecules are degraded and recycled back for future use. This process called autophagy is critical for the proper function and health of the cells.

    The team found that the loss of fly Ykt6 led to an abnormal accumulation of proteins involved in autophagosome formation and autophagic cargo receptor, indicating a block in the autophagy pathway. Further studies revealed that just like lethality and other defects, fly Tyr186Cys (equal to human Tyr185Cys) was less efficient in reverting the symptoms compared to a normal copy of the Ykt6 gene. Furthermore, they observed that while autophagy initiation was normal, the steps involved in the breakdown of cellular waste were impaired in the absence of Ykt6.

    “Based on our findings, we recommend the YKT6 gene as a candidate for carrier screening in the Syrian/Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala,” Dr. Mythily Ganapathi said.

    “Our work suggests children diagnosed with YKT6 liver disease will also need to be screened for hepatocellular carcinoma,” Dr. Paula Hertel said.

    “In summary, we have discovered YKT6 variants as the cause of a novel developmental disorder affecting brain function and in certain cases, also liver function, providing us valuable insights into a new genetic disease. However, additional studies with more patients will be needed to precisely understand the pathogenesis and to identify potential therapeutic targets for this condition,” Dr. Bellen added.

    Source:

    Texas Children’s Hospital

    Journal reference:

    Ma, M., et al. (2024). Homozygous missense variants in YKT6 result in loss of function and are associated with developmental delay, with or without severe infantile liver disease and risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. Genetics in Medicine. doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2024.101125.

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  • Regular intake of sugary drinks, fruit juices tied to higher Type 2 diabetes risk in boys

    Regular intake of sugary drinks, fruit juices tied to higher Type 2 diabetes risk in boys

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    A small, long-term study of almost 500 children in Massachusetts has found that regularly drinking sugary drinks and 100% fruit juices during childhood and adolescence may be linked to a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes among boys than girls, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention│Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024, March 18- 21, in Chicago. The meeting offers the latest science on population-based health and wellness and implications for lifestyle.

    While these findings are preliminary, they support the existing evidence about the potential relationship between beverages with added sugar and long-term risk of Type 2 diabetes in children. Pediatricians and other health care professionals should caution young patients and their parents about sugary drinks and fruit juices when discussing healthy eating habits.”


    Soren Harnois-Leblanc, Ph.D., lead investigator, registered dietitian and postdoctoral researcher in the department of population medicine at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School

    According to a 2022 American Heart Association fact sheet about sugary drinks, nearly two-thirds of children and adolescents in the U.S. consume at least one sugary drink, such as soda, lemonade or an energy drink, each day. It also notes that in addition to weight gain, eating too many foods with added sugars, especially from sugary drinks, raises the risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and tooth decay.

    Using data from Project Viva, an ongoing long-term study of women and their children in eastern Massachusetts that began in 1999, researchers explored whether drinking sugary drinks, 100% fruit juices and eating fresh fruits were associated with markers for developing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers calculated the average consumption of sugary drinks, 100% fruit juices, and fresh fruits over childhood and adolescence based on dietary records and assessed their potential associations to three markers of Type 2 diabetes: insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose level and HbA1c levels. These markers were measured by a single blood test while fasting in late adolescence (approximately age 17).

    The analysis found:

    • Each daily serving of sugary drinks (approx. 8 ounces) during childhood and adolescence among boys was associated with a 34% increase in insulin resistance; a 5.6 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) increase in fasting glucose levels; and a 0.12% increase in HbA1c levels in late adolescence.

    • Drinking 100% fruit juice throughout childhood and adolescence was linked to a 0.07% increase in HbA1c levels in late adolescence per daily serving of 100% fruit juice among the boys in the study, with only a slight increase in girls of 0.02%.

    • Eating fresh fruit during childhood and adolescence did not appear to have a positive or negative effect on the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes among the boys or girls in the study, according to Harnois-Leblanc.

    The associations between regularly drinking sugar-sweetened beverage and insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose levels and elevated HbA1c levels among boys persisted when other health, family and social factors were considered. These factors included socioeconomic status; child’s and mother’s body mass index; mother’s age at time of child’s birth; maternal and paternal history of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes; overall diet quality and other lifestyle behaviors.

    “Although several aspects of biology and behaviors differ between boys and girls, I would have expected to also find an association between sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice intake and the increases in insulin resistance, glycemia and HbA1c levels in late-adolescent girls. I was also surprised that eating whole fruits did not reduce the levels of these markers of Type 2 diabetes,” Harnois-Leblanc said.

    “The next steps are to use more advanced statistical tools to enable us to better understand the potential causal role of sugary drinks and fruit juices, and to examine whether the relationships may also differ among children by race and/or ethnicity.”

    Study background and details:

    • Researchers analyzed data of children of the 2,128 pregnant women who had children while enrolled in Project Viva. 972 of the children met criteria for inclusion in this study (parent-completed questionnaires at the child’s age-3 examination and no personal or parental history of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, assessed separately from parental history of Type 2 diabetes). Of the 972 children, 455 had a fasting blood sample collected at a research visit in late adolescence, Harnois-Leblanc noted.

    • 240 of the children in the study were girls and 215 were boys.

    • Project Viva is a long-term study of women and their children in eastern Massachusetts that began enrollment in 1999. The study is focused on improving maternal and child health by examining the potential impact of various life and health factors during and after pregnancy on the mother’s health and their children’s health, including a review of diet and nutrition. Children were followed from birth to late adolescence, up to age 20 at most recent follow-up.

    • Researchers evaluated the frequency of drinking sugary drinks, fruit juices and eating fresh fruit (based on standard serving sizes) from questionnaires completed by the parent at the child’s age of approximately 3, 8 and 13 years old; and measured fasting blood glucose, insulin and HbA1c levels in late adolescence (average age of 17.4 years).

    The study had several limitations. Although it found an association between regularly drinking sugary drinks and fruit juices and the development of markers for Type 2 diabetes, it could not prove that the drinks caused Type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the relatively small number of study participants may have affected the strength of the association found between sugary drinks and fruit juices and the increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

    “Diet and cardiometabolic health are complex, with many factors varying over time and interacting in different ways, and this study represents one small piece of this puzzle,” Harnois-Leblanc said.

    American Heart Association nutrition committee member Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., FAHA, said, “This study has shown that greater sugar sweetened beverage intake, including fruit juice, throughout childhood and adolescents is associated with higher markers of diabetes risk in late adolescents in boys but not girls. It is striking that many measures of Type 2 diabetes risk were increased in boys at such an early age.”

    Kris-Etherton, an emeritus professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State University, was also a co-author of the Association’s 2018 science advisory on low-calorie sweetened beverages and cardiometabolic health.

    “Importantly, although fruit intake did not appear to be protective, it nonetheless was not associated with increased Type 2 diabetes risk,” she said. “These findings support the current dietary recommendations of the Association, and many organizations, to limit or eliminate drinking sugar sweetened beverages and instead consume whole fruits, which are high in so many nutrients especially the shortfall nutrients in the average American diet.” (Shortfall nutrients are the vitamins and nutrients that people are missing each day from the foods they eat; long-term deficiencies in some vitamins and nutrients have been linked to adverse health outcomes.)

    The health care resource called Know Diabetes by Heart, developed by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, provides information about preventing heart disease and stroke while living with Type 2 diabetes. The initiative aims to raise awareness and understanding of the link between Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, provide resources and support to help people better manage their risk for heart disease and stroke, support health care professionals by sharing the latest clinical guidelines and science and engage health systems to improve quality of care for people with Type 2 diabetes.

    Source:

    American Heart Association

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  • How sweet drinks in childhood fatten future

    How sweet drinks in childhood fatten future

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    In a recent article published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers assessed the relationship between sweet drink consumption in early life and adiposity in adulthood.

    Their results indicate that consumption of sweet beverages in early life is associated with greater adiposity and less healthy dietary patterns in adulthood, with implications for dietary interventions for young children.

    Study: Early exposure to sugar sweetened beverages or fruit juice differentially influences adult adiposity. Image Credit: Dundanim / ShutterstockStudy: Early exposure to sugar sweetened beverages or fruit juice differentially influences adult adiposity. Image Credit: Dundanim / Shutterstock

    Background

    Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption during childhood has been associated with higher risks of obesity. However, many studies treat carbonated drinks, fruit juices without additional sugar, and all other sweet drinks as similar.

    Considering SSBs and fruit juices separately to ascertain which are associated with adverse outcomes can improve dietary interventions to reduce adult obesity. SSB consumption may also be an indicator of a calorie-rich diet, in which case removing it from the diet would not significantly reduce energy intake.

    About the study

    In this study, researchers set out to test the hypothesis that all sugary drinks belong to the same category in terms of their effect on adiposity outcomes. They also tested whether their influence should be considered as part of an overall dietary pattern and whether gender-based responses to beverage choices are different.

    The study sample consisted of children born in Bristol, the United Kingdom, from April 1991 to December 1992. Their diet was assessed at six points when the children were two, three, four, seven, 11, and 13.

    When they were two years old, their carers were asked if they had consumed cola or other carbonated drinks and fruit juices, including apple juice and squash, between 15 months and two years. They defined early exposure to a drink as consumption before the age of two.

    During the following dietary assessment, their carers filled up a food frequency questionnaire to provide insights into dietary patterns, noting consumption of fatty foods, sweet-tasting foods, fruits and vegetables, and other foods such as fish, meat, and pizza.

    Carers completed three-day dietary diaries when the children were four and seven, while 11 and 13-year-olds filled the diaries themselves.

    Their height and weight were measured to calculate BMI. Android fat mass was measured as the abdominal fat present around the organs. The other primary outcome was their total fat mass at the age of 24.

    Data analysis included hierarchical regression equations, and models were adjusted for the mother’s prenatal weight, her age when the child was born, her partner’s education and BMI, the mother’s and her partner’s occupation, and deprivation in terms of income, health deprivation, disability, employment, housing, education, training, and skills. Male and female groups were analyzed separately.

    Findings

    For males, cola consumption was associated with higher adiposity; individuals who did not drink apple juice had a higher BMI, on average. Drinking fruit squash but not pure fruit juice was associated with higher adiposity in females.

    Researchers then explored whether the relationships they saw were due to the sweet drinks alone or the overall dietary pattern.

    Children who consumed fruit squash, fizzy drinks, or cola at the age of three consumed more carbohydrates, energy, protein, non-milk extrinsic sugars, and fats but lower levels of non-starch polysaccharides. Those who consumed apple juice consumed more proteins and healthy sugars but less fat.

    These associations indicate that overall dietary patterns must differ as SSBs do not contain fat or protein.

    Boys who consumed fruit squash, fizzy drinks, and cola also consumed more sausages, burgers, French fries, pizza, chocolate, sweets, and meat but ate less fruit. Those who drank apple juice ate more salad, green vegetables, fruits, and fish. Similar patterns were seen for girls.

    Another interesting finding was that boys who consumed cola before they turned two also consumed more energy when they were four to nine years old. Meanwhile, girls who consumed apple juice showed lower energy intake at the age of four.

    Regression results indicated that diet was a predictor of body fat for males at 24 years old; consumption of root vegetables, burgers and sausages, and French fries at the age of three had a significant effect. Similar results were seen for females; additionally, those who did not consume fresh fruit or biscuits had higher fat mass.

    More significant social deprivation was associated with a higher likelihood of children drinking cola and a lower likelihood of them drinking fruit juice.

    Conclusions

    These findings indicate that sweet beverage consumption in early life is significantly linked to health outcomes well into adulthood. The beverages children consume are affected by their family’s socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, with children from more deprived households being more likely to receive unhealthy beverages like cola and less likely to drink relatively healthier drinks such as pure fruit juice.

    The study adds to a growing body of evidence that dietary patterns during early childhood significantly affect obesity risk in adulthood. Nutritional interventions to control energy intake during infancy and early childhood may be effective in curbing the issue of adult obesity.

    Journal reference:

    • Early exposure to sugar sweetened beverages or fruit juice differentially influences adult adiposity. Benton, D., Young, H.A. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41430-024-01430-y, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-024-01430-y

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  • Newly discovered adhesion GPCR mayo controls midgut development in Drosophila

    Newly discovered adhesion GPCR mayo controls midgut development in Drosophila

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    Adhesion GPCRs belong to the large family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). There are about 700 variants in humans, which are responsible for sensory impressions, hormonal cycles, controlling the cardiovascular system and more. GPCRs translate stimuli that hit a cell from outside into an intracellular biochemical signal.

    The use of the fruit fly as a model animal allows researchers in this field to gain a deep understanding of human diseases, because the animals are genetically very similar to humans. Scientists estimate that around 75 per cent of the genes involved in human diseases are also found in fruit flies.

    The research team at the Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine has discovered three new adhesion GPCR genes in the genome of the fruit fly, or Drosophila. One of them is very old in evolutionary terms, and has been called mayo. In the current publication, the Leipzig scientists demonstrate the functions of this adhesion GPCR using the fruit fly as a living model. “We found that mayo affects the development of the midgut in Drosophila by promoting the growth of enterocytes, the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa,” says Dr Beatriz Blanco-Redondo, corresponding author of the study.

    In their publication, the Leipzig scientists also show that the loss of mayo in the intestine accelerates the heart rate of the animals and that they develop dangerous palpitations. The results indicate that the functions of the intestine and heart are linked through the role of mayo in the proliferation of enterocytes. These regulate and secondarily govern ion uptake, systemic potassium levels and heart rate.

    The researchers at Leipzig University studied animals in which the mayo gene had been switched off. They found that these “knockout animals” displayed elongated guts. A similar genetic picture was observed after overexpression of another adhesion GPCR in mouse intestinal cells, resulting in a mega-intestine. The study shows that adhesion GPCRs are also involved in the development of the gastrointestinal tract in other species and that these phenomena may be relevant in humans.

    We are only at the beginning of this research project. The main goal is to identify the signaling pathway in which the adhesion GPCR mayo is involved in order to find out how it controls intestinal development.” 


    Tobias Langenhan, Professor of General Biochemistry at the Rudolf Schönheimer Institute and corresponding author of the study

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Contreras, F. V., et al. (2024). The adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor mayo/CG11318 controls midgut development in Drosophila. Cell Reports. doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113640.

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  • Increased adherence to DASH diet related to decreased probabilities of metabolic disease conditions among adolescents, particularly overweight girls

    Increased adherence to DASH diet related to decreased probabilities of metabolic disease conditions among adolescents, particularly overweight girls

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    In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers evaluated the relationship between Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and metabolic health status among Iranian overweight and obese adolescents.

    Study: Association of priori-defined DASH dietary pattern with metabolic health status among Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity. Image Credit: monticello/Shutterstock.com
    Study: Association of priori-defined DASH dietary pattern with metabolic health status among Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity. Image Credit: monticello/Shutterstock.com

    Background

    Adolescent overweight and obesity are global health concerns associated with metabolic conditions such as hypertension, blood lipid abnormalities, impaired glucose metabolism, and insulin resistance. These diseases increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and early death—lifestyle variables such as food and physical exercise influence metabolic health.

     Recent studies report favorable relationships between high vegetable and fruit intake and low sugary beverages and fats, implying a link between healthy diets and metabolically healthy overweight or obesity. The DASH diet, which contains more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and low-fat-type dairy foods, has been researched in adolescents, but disputed findings call for more research.

    About the study

    In the present cross-sectional study, researchers explored the metabolic impact of DASH diets among overweight and obese adolescents.

    The team surveyed 203 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years with overweight or obesity status, as determined by body mass index (BMI) values using the Quetelet formula. Eligible students did not follow weight-loss diets, had no endocrinal or genetic disease, and did not use vitamin or mineral supplements or medications that could alter their metabolic profiles. 

    The researchers obtained dietary intake data using standardized food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They also collected data on anthropometric parameters such as circulating insulin, blood pressure, lipid profile, and fasting blood sugar. The team characterized DASH scores based on eight components, i.e., higher intake of low-fat dairy foods, whole grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, and lower consumption of sodium, sweetened beverages, and processed and red meats.

    The team obtained blood samples from all participants for biochemical analysis. They measured insulin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and ascertained metabolic health status based on insulin resistance, determined using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) criteria.

    The researchers assessed physical activity levels using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and total calorie intake using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food composition database. They used multivariate logistic regression to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for the association between DASH diets and metabolic health, adjusting for age, gender, physical activity, socioeconomic status, and total calorie intake.

    Results

    The mean values for age and BMI of the study participants were 14 years and 27 kg/m2, respectively. Among participants, 79 (42 girls and 37 boys, 39%) suffered from metabolically unhealthy overweight or obesity (MUO) by the IDF definition, and 62 (32 girls and 35 boys, 33%) were MUO following the IDF and HOMA-IR guidelines. Using the IDF definition, MUO prevalence in the DASH diet’s highest tertile was lower compared to the lowest statistical tertile (10 vs. 67%). Using HOMA-IR guidelines yielded similar findings (10 vs. 61%).

    Individuals in the uppermost tertile of the DASH diet were more physically active, with higher HDL-c levels and lower blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, insulin, triglyceride, and HOMA-IR levels, compared to those in the lowest tertile. Confounder adjustment showed that individuals in the highest vs. lowest DASH tertile had 91% and 92% lower MUO odds using the IDF/IR (OR, 0.09) and IDF definition (OR, 0.08), respectively.

    The highest vs. lowest DASH adherence was associated with decreased odds of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, and low HDL cholesterolemia, with odds ratios of 0.1, 0.3, 0.1, and 0.3, respectively. Subgroup analysis by BMI and sex indicated that the association was more robust among females (OR, 0.02) than males (OR, 0.09). The DASH diet likely improves metabolic health by lowering inflammation because of its high fiber, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and low salt content.

    Conclusions

    Overall, the study findings showed that increased adherence to the DASH diet was related to decreased probabilities of metabolic disease conditions among Iranian adolescents, particularly overweight girls. The study also found that adhering to the DASH diet reduced the risk of hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and low HDL cholesterol. Further research, including prospective surveys, could validate the study findings.

    The inverse association observed between the DASH dietary pattern and the MUO category in the current study indicates that adolescents must increase the intake of health-associated DASH components, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, low-fat-type dairy foods, whole grains, seeds, and nuts while limiting the consumption of unhealthy foods such as processed and red meats, sweetened beverages, and salt to improve dietary quality and decrease the metabolic disease burden.

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  • The association between diet and colorectal cancer risk

    The association between diet and colorectal cancer risk

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    In a nested case-control study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from South Korea investigated the genetic variants that modify the association between diet and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk.

    They found that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the EPDR1 gene can modify the impact of fish intake on the risk of CRC.

    Further, they highlighted the potential pathways underlying the link between the consumption of tea, milk, cheese, and alcohol and the development of CRC.

    Study: Genome-Wide Interaction Study of Dietary Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk in the UK Biobank. Image Credit: BlurryMe/Shutterstock.comStudy: Genome-Wide Interaction Study of Dietary Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk in the UK Biobank. Image Credit: BlurryMe/Shutterstock.com

    Background

    CRC is the second most prevalent cancer in Europe (12.9%) and stands among the top three most-diagnosed cancers in both men and women in the United Kingdom (UK). Evidence suggests that the consumption of meat and alcohol is associated with an increased risk of CRC.

    On the other hand, the intake of fish, milk, fruits, and vegetables shows an inverse association with CRC-risk. Genetic factors, accounting for 3.5% to 10.5% of variations, may influence dietary habits and CRC-risk.

    For example, specific genes impact the metabolism of carcinogens in cooked meat and modify associations. Similarly, cruciferous vegetables are found to be inversely linked to CRC in individuals with certain enzyme deficiencies.

    Advances in technology have enabled genome-wide association studies that reveal genetic susceptibility loci and facilitate the assessment of gene-diet interactions across the genome.

    Dietary factors may influence CRC pathogenesis by modulating gene expression through metabolites or activating complex metabolic pathways.

    Previous studies explored the role of nutrition in various carcinogenesis pathways, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, epigenetic control via one-carbon metabolism, DNA damage, phase 1 and 2 enzymes, tumor promotion, and polynucleotide repair.

    Although potential mechanisms suggesting the association between dietary intake and CRC have been proposed, the specific genes and pathways involved in this association have not been extensively documented.

    Therefore, researchers in the present study conducted a gene-diet interaction analysis using genetic data and CRC cases to identify genetic variants that influence the association between diet and CRC-risk.

    About the study

    Data was obtained from the UK Biobank of participants enrolled between 2006 and 2010. Individuals with sex mismatches, putative sex chromosome aneuploidy, non-White racial background, and prevalent cancer at recruitment were excluded.

    A total of 4,686 participants (mean age 60.7 years) and 14,058 matched controls (mean age 60.4 years) were included in the study. In both the cohorts, 57.8% of participants were male.

    Dietary intake information, including milk, cheese, poultry, red meat, processed meat, fish, coffee, tea, alcohol, and total fruit and vegetables, was collected through a touchscreen food frequency questionnaire.

    Although the median follow-up was 12.4 years, only 10.2% of participants had data from more than one follow-up visit. Imputed genotyping data underwent quality control, resulting in 4,122,345 variants for the genome-wide interaction (GWI) analysis.

    CRC cases were identified based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (revision 10).

    Gene-based and gene-enrichment analyses were conducted. Statistical analysis involved the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel χ2 test, conditional logistic model, principal component analysis, and p-values for gene or gene-set levels interactions.

    Results and discussion

    As compared to controls, the cases had a higher proportion of smokers, higher frequency of alcohol consumption, and higher prevalence of obesity.

    Individuals consuming red meat ≥3 times per week and processed meat ≥2 times per week showed a higher CRC-risk (odds ratio 1.16) after adjusting for confounding factors.

    Additionally, those who consumed alcohol more than thrice a week showed an increased CRC-risk compared to those with alcohol intake less than once a week. Notably, a protective association against CRC was found for participants consuming ≥4 servings of fruit daily compared to those with ≤ 2 servings daily.

    324 SNPs were suggested to interact with dietary intake without statistical significance. Genes EPDR1 and ZNRF2 were identified in the gene-based analysis, with EPDR1 showing significance with fish consumption through multiple SNPs.

    Further, gene-set enrichment analysis revealed overrepresented pathways (OR, ART, KRT, PRM, and TNP) for genes interacting with cheese, milk, tea, and alcohol consumption, respectively.

    The study’s findings could contribute to personalized preventive strategies and interventions for CRC.

    However, the study is limited by the analysis of CRC-risk based on dietary information from a single time point, limited availability of dietary data at multiple follow-up visits, potential instability in certain nutritional factors, inability to confirm specific SNPs modifying diet-CRC associations, and a lack of validation in non-European populations.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, the study reveals several SNPs showing suggestive interactions with dietary intake, particularly significant interactions between EPDR1 and total fish consumption affecting CRC- risk.

    The findings point to various biological and functional pathways potentially underlying the association and highlight the need for further investigation through experimental studies.

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