Review
Food Science & Technology
Andreas Eisenreich, Mario E. Goetz, Benjamin Sachse, Bernhard H. Monien, Kristin Herrmann, Bernd Schaefer
Summary: Alkenylbenzenes are natural secondary plant metabolites primarily found in herbs and spices; compounds like safrole and methyleugenol have genotoxic and carcinogenic effects, while the toxicological relevance of other alkenylbenzenes remains uncertain. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential adverse effects of alkenylbenzenes on human health.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Meghan O'Hearn, Brianna N. Lauren, John B. Wong, David D. Kim, Dariush Mozaffarian
Summary: This study investigated the trends in optimal cardiometabolic health in the United States from 1999 to 2018. The results showed that the proportion of U.S. adults with optimal cardiometabolic health was low and declining, with only 6.8% of adults in optimal health.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Meghan O'Hearn, Brianna N. Lauren, John B. Wong, David D. Kim, Dariush Mozaffarian
Summary: According to the study, cardiometabolic health trends in the United States have been poor and worsening between 1999 and 2018, with only 6.8% of adults having optimal cardiometabolic health. Disparities in health outcomes by age, sex, education, and race/ethnicity were evident and generally worsened over time. This highlights the need for nationwide clinical and public health interventions to improve cardiometabolic health and health equity.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nicholas A. Koemel, Alistair M. Senior, Tarik Benmarhnia, Andrew Holmes, Mirei Okada, Youssef Oulhote, Helen M. Parker, Sanam Shah, Stephen J. Simpson, David Raubenheimer, Timothy P. Gill, Nasser Laouali, Michael R. Skilton
Summary: This study examined the role of gut microbiome metabolites in the relationship between diet quality and cardiometabolic health. The analysis of cross-sectional data from 4685 US adults revealed significant interactive associations between microbial lignan metabolites and several cardiometabolic health markers. These findings suggest that the gut microbiome may modulate the overall association of diet quality with cardiometabolic health.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mengxi Du, Dariush Mozaffarian, John B. Wong, Jennifer L. Pomeranz, Parke Wilde, Fang Fang Zhang
Summary: This study compares the estimated whole-grain food intake among US adults using different definitions and finds that the definitions used greatly influence the estimated intake and trends of whole-grain food consumption. To promote whole-grain intake in the US, it is necessary to establish a standardized definition for whole-grain foods.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Badreya Al-Lahou, Lynne M. Ausman, Jose L. Penalvo, Gordon S. Huggins, Fang Fang Zhang
Summary: A significant proportion of cardiometabolic deaths among Kuwaiti adults is attributed to poor dietary intake, with young adults and men experiencing the highest proportion. Low intake of nuts/seeds and high intake of sodium are the main risk factors.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Amanda A. Harb, Ari Shechter, Pamela A. Koch, Marie-Pierre St-Onge
Summary: This review evaluates the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and adult obesity. The analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggests a positive association between high UPF consumption and obesity, with potential causal influence. The potential mechanisms by which UPF increase obesity risk include increased sugar consumption, decreased fiber consumption, and decreased protein density. Further research is needed to establish causality and elucidate the mechanisms.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Majd Jauhary-Nayfeh, Samara Joy Friend
Summary: Elevated sodium levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies highlight the importance of the sodium/potassium ratio in relation to blood pressure. In the US population, sodium consumption exceeds the recommended levels, while potassium intake falls below the recommendations. A simulated reduction in sodium intake in certain food categories resulted in a significant decrease in sodium consumption and changes in the sodium/potassium ratio across all age groups.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Valerie K. Sullivan, Emily A. Johnston, Melanie J. Firestone, Stella S. Yi, Jeannette M. Beasley
Summary: This study found that self-rated diet quality is closely associated with the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and cardiometabolic risk factors. While there were variations in the assessment of diet quality among different racial/ethnic groups, individuals with higher self-ratings were consistently associated with better diet quality scores.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Junxiu Liu, Euridice Martinez Steele, Yan Li, Stella S. Yi, Carlos A. Monteiro, Dariush Mozaffarian
Summary: This study examined the association between ultraprocessed food consumption and body fat distribution in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The study found that higher intake of ultraprocessed food was associated with greater body fat, particularly android fat, and this relationship was most prominent in certain population subgroups. The findings call for further research to assess the impact of ultraprocessed food on body composition.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yutang Wang
Summary: This study found that higher levels of fasting triglyceride were associated with higher levels of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, and insulin resistance. An increase in triglyceride levels was significantly associated with an elevated risk of diabetes diagnosis and mortality, indicating a positive association between triglyceride and diabetes mortality.
LIPIDS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meghan O'Hearn, Joshua Erndt-Marino, Suzannah Gerber, Brianna N. Lauren, Christina Economos, John B. Wong, Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Dariush Mozaffarian
Summary: The study used the Food Compass to assess the healthfulness of diverse foods and found a correlation between the Food Compass Score and health outcomes. The results suggest that the Food Compass can be a valuable tool in guiding public health and private sector strategies to promote healthier eating.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Helio Jose Coelho-Junior, R. Calvani, A. Picca, G. Savera, M. Tosato, F. Landi, E. Marzetti
Summary: This study examines the relationships between protein intake from different food sources and cardiometabolic risk markers in older Italian adults. The results suggest that the association between dietary protein and cardiometabolic risk factors depends on sex and the specific food sources.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION HEALTH & AGING
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xinyu Di, Borja Martinez-Tellez, Elke H. J. Krekels, Lucas Jurado-Fasoli, Francisco J. Osuna-Prieto, Lourdes Ortiz-Alvarez, Thomas Hankemeier, Patrick C. N. Rensen, Jonatan R. Ruiz, Isabelle Kohler
Summary: The plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues are associated with higher adiposity and worse cardiometabolic profile.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Junxiu Liu, Euridice Martinez Steele, Yan Li, Dimitra Karageorgou, Renata Micha, Carlos A. Monteiro, Dariush Mozaffarian
Summary: Consumption of ultraprocessed foods is associated with significantly lower diet quality among children and adults.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Siran He, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: Early-life nutrition interventions can have lifelong cardiometabolic benefits, with lower fasting glucose concentration observed in intervention groups compared to control groups. However, there are potential unintended consequences such as higher BMI. Initiating interventions earlier may confer greater benefits. Personalized dietary counseling has shown positive effects on glucose and cholesterol levels, endothelial function, and metabolic syndrome risk reduction.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Lisa K. Micklesfield, Sara K. Hanson, Felipe Lobelo, Solveig A. Cunningham, Terryl J. Hartman, Shane A. Norris, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: This study found that patterns of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep during adolescence are related to young-adult body composition in urban South Africa. These modifiable behaviors may serve as pathways for public health interventions to address overweight and obesity in low- or middle-income countries.
Article
Pediatrics
Alysse J. Kowalski, O. Yaw Addo, Michael R. Kramer, Reynaldo Martorell, Shane A. Norris, Rachel N. Waford, Linda M. Richter, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: Among urban dwelling Black South Africans, risk behavior engagement during adolescence was common and could be categorized into different patterns of initial engagement, which were unrelated to the assessed sociodemographic factors.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Whitney L. Do, Eric A. Whitsel, Ricardo Costeira, Olatz M. Masachs, Caroline Le Roy, Jordana T. Bell, Lisa R. Staimez, Aryeh D. Stein, Alicia K. Smith, Steve Horvath, Themistocles L. Assimes, Simin Liu, JoAnn E. Manson, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Yun Li, Lifang Hou, Parveen Bhatti, Kristina Jordahl, K. M. Venkat Narayan, Karen N. Conneely
Summary: Diet quality was significantly associated with differential DNA methylation at 428 CpG sites in the discovery cohort, with 24 CpG sites showing consistent replication in the TwinsUK cohort. These findings suggest potential pathways through which diet quality may influence chronic disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Sonia Tandon, Ines Gonzalez-Casanova, Albino Barraza-Villarreal, Isabelle Romieu, Hans Demmelmair, Dean P. Jones, Berthold Koletzko, Aryeh D. Stein, Usha Ramakrishnan
Summary: Prenatal DHA supplementation did not have significant effects on offspring metabolism, but differences were found in infants with interaction with maternal FADS gene SNP rs174602. Offspring of minor allele carriers showed enriched amino acid and aminosugars metabolism pathways with DHA supplementation, while noncarriers exhibited decreased metabolites in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and galactose metabolism pathways.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Elaine A. Yu, Ngoc-Anh Le, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: The research on postprandial metabolic flexibility involves measuring metabolic responses after meals, with recent advancements focusing on acute short-term nutrition challenges and utilizing diverse metabolic flexibility indicators. Studies have shown potential for novel dynamic indicators of metabolic diseases through nonclassical measurements and methodologies.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ann M. DiGirolamo, Jithin Sam Varghese, Maria F. Kroker-Lobos, Monica Mazariegos, Manuel Ramirez-Zea, Reynaldo Martorell, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: This study found that receiving protein-energy supplementation during the first 1000 days of life in Guatemala is associated with a lower prevalence of mental distress in adulthood. This effect appears to be direct and not mediated by life course variables.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Robert E. Black, Li Liu, Fernando P. Hartwig, Francisco Villavicencio, Andrea Rodriguez-Martinez, Luis P. Vidaletti, Jamie Perin, Maureen M. Black, Hannah Blencowe, Danzhen You, Lucia Hug, Bruno Masquelier, Simon Cousens, Amber Gove, Tyler Vaivada, Diana Yeung, Jere Behrman, Reynaldo Martorell, Clive Osmond, Aryeh D. Stein, Linda S. Adair, Caroline H. D. Fall, Bernardo Horta, Ana M. B. Menezes, Manuel Ramirez-Zea, Linda M. Richter, George C. Patton, Eran Bendavid, Majid Ezzati, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Joy E. Lawn, Cesar G. Victora
Summary: Optimal health and development throughout various stages from preconception to adulthood are crucial for human flourishing and the formation of human capital. The Nurturing Care Framework highlights the major influences that affect human capital during different periods of development, including preconception, childhood, and adolescence. Mortality rates in children and adolescents are important indicators to consider. While the global rate of deaths in individuals younger than 20 has decreased substantially since 2000, an estimated 8.6 million deaths occurred between 28 weeks of gestation and 20 years of age in 2019, with more than half occurring before 28 days of age. The first 1000 days from conception to 2 years of age have a significant impact on human capital development.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Cesar G. Victora, Fernando P. Hartwig, Luis P. Vidaletti, Reynaldo Martorell, Clive Osmond, Linda M. Richter, Aryeh D. Stein, Aluisio J. D. Barros, Linda S. Adair, Fernando C. Barros, Santosh K. Bhargava, Bernardo L. Horta, Maria F. Kroker-Lobos, Nanette R. Lee, Ana Maria B. Menezes, Joseph Murray, Shane A. Norris, Harshpal S. Sachdev, Alan Stein, Jithin S. Varghese, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Robert E. Black
Summary: The survival and nutrition of children and adolescents have significantly improved in the past two decades, but disparities still exist between and within countries. This study analyzes the relationship between the health, nutrition, and cognitive development of children and adolescents and early-life poverty using data from low-income and middle-income countries. Additionally, it shows the long-term impact of early-life poverty on health and human capital. Therefore, implementing comprehensive anti-poverty policies and programs is crucial, especially during the ongoing disruptions caused by COVID-19.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Monica Mazariegos, Jithin Sam Varghese, Maria F. Kroker-Lobos, Ann M. DiGirolamo, Manuel Ramirez-Zea, Usha Ramakrishnan, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: According to this study, women who give birth to three or more children during early adulthood tend to gain more weight. However, the association between childbirth and BMI may vary depending on the mother's age.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shweta Khandelwal, Dimple Kondal, Anindita Ray Chakravarti, Soumam Dutta, Bipsa Banerjee, Monica Chaudhry, Kamal Patil, Mallaiah Kenchaveeraiah Swamy, Usha Ramakrishnan, Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Nikhil Tandon, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: Poor infant young child feeding (IYCF) practices can lead to malnutrition, poor psychosocial development, poor school performance, and lower productivity in later life, perpetuating a vicious cycle. This study examined IYCF practices in a maternal-child birth cohort in Belagavi, Karnataka, India. The findings showed that only 77.9% of infants were breastfed within 1 hour of delivery, and 52.4% were exclusively breastfed at 6 months. At 12 months, while most infants were breastfed (90%), 39% also received formula. Although a majority of infants met the minimum meal frequency (94.4%), only 55% had a minimum acceptable diet. The mean dietary diversity score was 4.7 +/- 1.1. Furthermore, a large proportion of infants did not consume vegetables and/or fruits until 12 months of age (33.8%). The consumption of ultra-processed foods high in trans-fats, sugars, and salt was high (85.8%). Therefore, there is an urgent need for high-quality, sustainable, and scalable interventions to improve IYCF practices and enhance diet diversity and overall nutritional intake among young children in low- and middle-income group settings.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jithin Sam Varghese, Clive Osmond, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: Temporally harmonized asset indices allow the study of changes in relative wealth over time and its association with adult health and human capital. Using conditional measures, specific life stages during which changes in relative wealth are important for adult health in longitudinal studies can be identified.
BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Natalia E. Poveda, Linda S. Adair, Reynaldo. Martorell, Shivani A. Patel, Manuel Ramirez-Zea, Aryeh D. Stein
Summary: Rapid increases in adult obesity have been observed in Guatemala. Parental characteristics, early life factors, and a nutrition intervention were found to predict body composition trajectories from adolescence to mid-adulthood. Parents' age and schooling, as well as self's schooling attainment, were significant predictors of adult body composition.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Henry S. Kahn
Summary: BMI does not provide information about the relative size of adipose tissue depots, while SAD is associated with visceral fat accumulation, which may contribute to the estimation of cardiometabolic risk. SADHtR is more strongly associated with intermediary predictors of cardiometabolic disease.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ahlia Sekkarie, Jean A. Welsh, Kate Northstone, Aryeh D. Stein, Usha Ramakrishnan, Miriam B. Vos
Summary: This study found that maternal nutritional status during pregnancy is associated with the development of NAFLD in adult offspring, with the relationship being predominantly mediated by offspring BMI in adulthood.