Replacing saturated fatty acids with polyunsaturated fatty acids increases the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and is associated with reduced total cholesterol levels-a randomized controlled trial in healthy individuals

Improving dietary fat quality strongly affects serum cholesterol levels and hence the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Recent studies have identified dietary fat as a potential modulator of the gut microbiota, a central regulator of host metabolism including lipid metabolism. We have previously shown a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels after replacing saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary fat quality on gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and bile acids in healthy individuals. In addition, to investigate how changes in gut microbiota correlate with blood lipids, bile acids, and fatty acids.publishedVersio

Vitamin B12 concentrations in milk from Norwegian women during the six first months of lactation

Background: Human milk vitamin B12 (B12) concentrations depend on maternal status and intake; only few data are available in high-income countries. Objective: We assessed human milk B12 concentrations during the first 6 months postpartum in Norwegian women and its association with maternal dietary B12 intake and maternal urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentration. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 175 mothers, exclusively (80%) or partially (20%) breastfeeding, were included. Milk B12 was measured by IMMULITE®/IMMULITE® 1000 B12 competitive protein binding assay and urinary MMA relative to creatinine (MMA/Cr) by liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry. Maternal habitual B12 intake and supplement use were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Mean human milk B12 concentration was 327 pmol/L (range 140-1089), with 402 pmol/L at 1 month (n = 21), 333 pmol/L at four months (n = 32), and 299 pmol/L at 6 months (n = 21). Maternal B12 intake was 5 µg/d, 89% met the Estimated Average Requirement, and supplement use did not affect milk B12 concentrations. MMA/Cr was low in all women compared with published data. In exclusively breastfeeding women, MMA/Cr (beta (95% CI) -42.5 (-82.5, -2.5) and time since birth (-4.9 (-9.6, -0.3)) were significant predictors of human milk B12 concentrations. There was no association between total B12 intake and milk B12 concentration or between total B12 intake and MMA/Cr. Conclusions: Maternal B12 status and human milk B12 concentrations are likely sufficient, based on adequate maternal B12 dietary intake combined with low urinary MMA concentrations. Nevertheless, milk B12 concentration fell during 6 months postpartum while maternal B12 status did not change.publishedVersio

Combining Dietary Sulfur Amino Acid Restriction with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake in Humans: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Dietary and plasma total cysteine (tCys) have been associated with adiposity, possibly through interaction with stearoyl–CoA desaturase (SCD), which is an enzyme that is involved in fatty acid and energy metabolism. We evaluated the effect of a dietary intervention with low cysteine and methionine and high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on plasma and urinary sulfur amino acids and SCD activity indices. Fourteen normal-weight healthy subjects were randomized to a seven-day diet low in cysteine and methionine and high in PUFAs (Cys/Metlow + PUFA), or high in saturated fatty acids (SFA), cysteine, and methionine (Cys/Methigh + SFA). Compared with the Cys/Methigh + SFA group, plasma methionine and cystathionine decreased (p-values < 0.05), whereas cystine tended to increase (p = 0.06) in the Cys/Metlow + PUFA group. Plasma total cysteine (tCys) was not significantly different between the groups. Urinary cysteine and taurine decreased in the Cys/Metlow + PUFA group compared with the Cys/Methigh + SFA group (p-values < 0.05). Plasma SCD-activity indices were not different between the groups, but the change in cystine correlated with the SCD-16 index in the Cys/Metlow + PUFA group. A diet low in methionine and cysteine decreased plasma methionine and urinary cysteine and taurine. Plasma tCys was unchanged, suggesting that compensatory mechanisms are activated during methionine and cysteine restriction to maintain plasma tCys

Dietary Adjustments to Altitude Training in Elite Endurance Athletes; Impact of a Randomized Clinical Trial With Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Background: Altitude training stresses several physiological and metabolic processes and alters the dietary needs of the athletes. International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s Nutrition Expert Group suggests that athletes should increase intake of energy, carbohydrate, iron, fluid, and antioxidant-rich foods while training at altitude. Objective: We investigated whether athletes adjust their dietary intake according to the IOC's altitude-specific dietary recommendations, and whether an in-between meal intervention with antioxidant-rich foods altered the athletes' dietary composition and nutrition-related blood parameters (mineral, vitamin, carotenoid, and hormone concentrations). Design: The dietary adjustments to altitude training (3 weeks at 2,320 m) were determined for 31 elite endurance athletes (23 ± 5 years, 23 males, 8 females) by six interviewer-administered 24-h dietary recalls on non-consecutive days; three before and during the altitude camp. The additional effect of in -between meal intervention with eucaloric antioxidant-rich or control snacks (1,000 kcal/day) was tested in a randomized controlled trial with parallel design. Results: At altitude the athletes increased their energy intake by 35% (1,430 ± 630 kcal/day, p < 0.001), the provided snacks accounting for 70% of this increase. Carbohydrate intake increased from 6.5 ± 1.8 g/kg body weight (BW) (50 E%) to 9.3 ± 2.1 g/kg BW (53 E%) (p < 0.001), with no difference between the antioxidant and control group. Dietary iron, fluid, and antioxidant-rich food intake increased by 37, 38, and 104%, respectively, in the whole cohort. The intervention group had larger increases in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), ω3 PUFA (n-3 fatty acids), ω6 PUFA (n-6 fatty acids), fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and copper intake, while protein intake increased more among the controls, reflecting the nutritional content of the snacks. Changes in the measured blood minerals, vitamins, and hormones were not differentially affected by the intervention except for the carotenoid; zeaxanthin, which increased more in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Experienced elite endurance athletes increased their daily energy, carbohydrate, iron, fluid, and antioxidant-rich food intake during a 3-week training camp at moderate altitude meeting most of the altitude-specific dietary recommendations. The intervention with antioxidant-rich snacks improved the composition of the athletes' diets but had minimal impact on the measured nutrition-related blood parameters

Placental release of taurine to both the maternal and fetal circulations in human term pregnancies

Taurine is regarded as an essential amino acid in utero, and fetal taurine supply is believed to rely solely on placental transfer from maternal plasma. Despite its potential role in intrauterine growth restriction and other developmental disturbances, human in vivo studies of taurine transfer between the maternal, placental, and fetal compartments are scarce. We studied placental transfer of taurine in uncomplicated human term pregnancies in vivo in a cross-sectional study of 179 mother-fetus pairs. During cesarean section, we obtained placental tissue and plasma from incoming and outgoing vessels on the maternal and fetal sides of the placenta. Taurine was measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We calculated paired arteriovenous differences, and measured placental expression of the taurine biosynthetic enzyme cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD) with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. We observed a fetal uptake (p < 0.001), an uteroplacental release (p < 0.001), and a negative placental consumption of taurine (p = 0.001), demonstrating a bilateral placental release to the maternal and fetal compartments. Increasing umbilical vein concentrations and fetal uptake was associated with the uteroplacental release to the maternal circulation (rs = − 0.19, p = 0.01/rs = − 0.24, p = 0.003), but not with taurine concentrations in placental tissue. CSAD-mRNA was expressed in placental tissue, suggesting a potential for placental taurine synthesis. Our observations show that the placenta has the capacity to a bilateral taurine release, indicating a fundamental role of taurine in the human placental homeostasis beyond the supply to the fetus

Effects of antioxidant-rich foods on altitude-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in elite endurance athletes: A randomized controlled trial

Background Various altitude training regimes, systematically used to improve oxygen carrying capacity and sports performance, have been associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. We investigated whether increased intake of common antioxidant-rich foods attenuates these processes. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, 31 elite endurance athletes (23 ± 5 years), ingested antioxidant-rich foods (n = 16), (> doubling their usual intake), or eucaloric control foods (n = 15) during a 3-week altitude training camp (2320 m). Fasting blood and urine samples were collected 7 days pre-altitude, after 5 and 18 days at altitude, and 7 days post-altitude. Change over time was compared between the groups using mixed models for antioxidant capacity [uric acid-free (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP)], oxidative stress (8-epi-PGF2α) and inflammatory biomarkers (IFNγ, IL1α, IL1RA, IL1β, IL2, IL5, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL12p70, IL13, IL17, TNFα, MCP-1 and micro-CRP). The cytokine response to a stress-test (VO2max ramp test or 100 m swimming) was assessed at pre- and post-altitude. Results FRAP increased more in the antioxidant compared to the control group (p = 0.034). IL13 decreased in the antioxidant group, while increasing in the controls (p = 0.006). A similar trend was seen for IL6 (p = 0.062). A larger decrease in micro-CRP was detected in the antioxidant group compared to controls (β: -0.62, p = 0.02). We found no group differences for the remaining cytokines. 8-epi-PGF2α increased significantly in the whole population (p = 0.033), regardless group allocation. The stress response was significantly larger post-altitude compared with pre-altitude for IL1β, IL6, IL7, IL13, IL12p70 and TNFα, but we found no group differences. Conclusions Increased intake of antioxidant-rich foods elevated the antioxidant capacity and attenuated some of the altitude-induced systemic inflammatory biomarkers in elite athletes. The antioxidant intervention had no impact on the altitude-induced oxidative stress or changes in acute cytokine responses to exercise stress-tests

Vitamin B12 concentrations in milk from Norwegian women during the six first months of lactation

Background: Human milk vitamin B12 (B12) concentrations depend on maternal status and intake; only few data are available in high-income countries. Objective: We assessed human milk B12 concentrations during the first 6 months postpartum in Norwegian women and its association with maternal dietary B12 intake and maternal urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentration. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 175 mothers, exclusively (80%) or partially (20%) breastfeeding, were included. Milk B12 was measured by IMMULITE®/IMMULITE® 1000 B12 competitive protein binding assay and urinary MMA relative to creatinine (MMA/Cr) by liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry. Maternal habitual B12 intake and supplement use were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Mean human milk B12 concentration was 327 pmol/L (range 140-1089), with 402 pmol/L at 1 month (n = 21), 333 pmol/L at four months (n = 32), and 299 pmol/L at 6 months (n = 21). Maternal B12 intake was 5 µg/d, 89% met the Estimated Average Requirement, and supplement use did not affect milk B12 concentrations. MMA/Cr was low in all women compared with published data. In exclusively breastfeeding women, MMA/Cr (beta (95% CI) -42.5 (-82.5, -2.5) and time since birth (-4.9 (-9.6, -0.3)) were significant predictors of human milk B12 concentrations. There was no association between total B12 intake and milk B12 concentration or between total B12 intake and MMA/Cr. Conclusions: Maternal B12 status and human milk B12 concentrations are likely sufficient, based on adequate maternal B12 dietary intake combined with low urinary MMA concentrations. Nevertheless, milk B12 concentration fell during 6 months postpartum while maternal B12 status did not change

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Vitamin B12 concentrations in milk from Norwegian women duringthe six first months of lactation

Background: Human milk vitamin B12 (B12) concentrations depend on maternal status and intake; only few data are available in high-income countries. Objective: We assessed human milk B12 concentrations during the first 6 months postpartum in Norwegian women and its association with maternal dietary B12 intake and maternal urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentration. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 175 mothers, exclusively (80%) or partially (20%) breastfeeding, were included. Milk B12 was measured by IMMULITE®/IMMULITE® 1000 B12 competitive protein binding assay and urinary MMA relative to creatinine (MMA/Cr) by liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry. Maternal habitual B12 intake and supplement use were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Mean human milk B12 concentration was 327 pmol/L (range 140-1089), with 402 pmol/L at 1 month (n = 21), 333 pmol/L at four months (n = 32), and 299 pmol/L at 6 months (n = 21). Maternal B12 intake was 5 µg/d, 89% met the Estimated Average Requirement, and supplement use did not affect milk B12 concentrations. MMA/Cr was low in all women compared with published data. In exclusively breastfeeding women, MMA/Cr (beta (95% CI) -42.5 (-82.5, -2.5) and time since birth (-4.9 (-9.6, -0.3)) were significant predictors of human milk B12 concentrations. There was no association between total B12 intake and milk B12 concentration or between total B12 intake and MMA/Cr. Conclusions: Maternal B12 status and human milk B12 concentrations are likely sufficient, based on adequate maternal B12 dietary intake combined with low urinary MMA concentrations. Nevertheless, milk B12 concentration fell during 6 months postpartum while maternal B12 status did not change