9 research outputs found
Association between diet-quality scores, adiposity, total cholesterol and markers of nutritional status in European adults: findings from the Food4Me study
Diet-quality scores (DQS), which are developed across the globe, are used to define adherence to specific eating patterns and have been associated with risk of coronary heart disease and type-II diabetes. We explored the association between five diet-quality scores (Healthy Eating Index, HEI; Alternate Healthy Eating Index, AHEI; MedDietScore, MDS; PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Score, P-MDS; Dutch Healthy Diet-Index, DHDI) and markers of metabolic health (anthropometry, objective physical activity levels (PAL), and dried blood spot total cholesterol (TC), total carotenoids, and omega-3 index) in the Food4Me cohort, using regression analysis. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Participants (n = 1480) were adults recruited from seven European Union (EU) countries. Overall, women had higher HEI and AHEI than men (p < 0.05), and scores varied significantly between countries. For all DQS, higher scores were associated with lower body mass index, lower waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference, and higher total carotenoids and omega-3-index (p trends < 0.05). Higher HEI, AHEI, DHDI, and P-MDS scores were associated with increased daily PAL, moderate and vigorous activity, and reduced sedentary behaviour (p trend < 0.05). We observed no association between DQS and TC. To conclude, higher DQS, which reflect better dietary patterns, were associated with markers of better nutritional status and metabolic health
Objectively measured physical activity in european adults: cross-sectional findings from the Food4Me study
Introduction
Physical inactivity has been estimated to be responsible for more than 5.3 million deaths worldwide
[1]. Moreover, among European men and women, approximately 7.3% of all deaths in
2008 might be attributable to inactivity compared with 3.7% to obesity [2] and there is strong
evidence to suggest that even small increases in physical activity (PA) would lower the risk for
many non-communicable diseases [1–3]. Yet, levels of PA across populations remain low [4].
To tackle this public health issue, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
American College of Sports Medicine produced standardized PA guidelines 20 years ago [5].
Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union, and most countries
around the world, have included PA guidelines in their health policies. Guidelines for Americans
and Europeans have been updated to include recommendations for adolescents and for
older adults [6–9]. For adults aged 18–64 years old, the WHO recommends a minimum of 150
min of moderate intensity PA per week, 75 min of vigorous intensity PA or an equivalent
amount of moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) [9].
In 2008, 34.8% of adults 15 years or older were insufficiently active in Europe [4]. Regular
surveillance is needed to update these prevalence estimates and to evaluate the effectiveness of
PA policies and promotion programs in European countries. In this context, the objective
assessment of PA is a key issue. Prevalence of physical inactivity has been mainly derived from
self-reported measures such as the Baecke questionnaire [10] or the International Physical
Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [11]. These questionnaires have been, and still are, widely used
due to their simple administration and low cost [12]. However, PA is frequently misreported,
which leads to considerable measurement error [13–15]. Accelerometers offer a potential solution
because they measure PA objectively. Given that they are small and easy to wear, store
data up to several weeks and are acceptable in terms of reliability, these devices are now used
increasingly in large studies to assess PA in children, adolescents and adults [16]. Although
some European countries have reported adherence to PA guidelines using accelerometers in
large cohorts [17–19], comparisons between European countries measured according to the
same standardized protocols and concurrently are lacking.
Between 2012 and 2014, PA was assessed objectively by accelerometry in the participants of
the Food4Me Proof-of-Principle (PoP) study. The Food4Me Study was a web-based randomized
controlled trial on personalized nutrition, across seven European countries: Germany,
Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The aim of the current
paper is to describe and compare PA in adults from these countries, and evaluate adherence
to PA guidelines, using baseline data from the Food4Me PoP study
Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Genetic Background Roles within a Web-Based Nutritional Intervention: The Food4Me Study
Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) adherence has been proven to produce numerous health
benefits. In addition, nutrigenetic studies have explained some individual variations in the response to
specific dietary patterns. The present research aimed to explore associations and potential interactions
between MedDiet adherence and genetic background throughout the Food4Me web-based nutritional
intervention. Dietary, anthropometrical and biochemical data from volunteers of the Food4Me study were collected at baseline and after 6 months. Several genetic variants related to metabolic risk features
were also analysed. A Genetic Risk Score (GRS) was derived from risk alleles and a Mediterranean
Diet Score (MDS), based on validated food intake data, was estimated. At baseline, there were no
interactions between GRS and MDS categories for metabolic traits. Linear mixed model repeated
measures analyses showed a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol in participants with a
low GRS after a 6-month period, compared to those with a high GRS. Meanwhile, a high baseline
MDS was associated with greater decreases in Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and
glucose. There also was a significant interaction between GRS and the MedDiet after the follow-up
period. Among subjects with a high GRS, those with a high MDS evidenced a highly significant
reduction in total carotenoids, while among those with a low GRS, there was no difference associated
with MDS levels. These results suggest that a higher MedDiet adherence induces beneficial effects on
metabolic outcomes, which can be affected by the genetic background in some specific markers
Objectively measured physical activity in european adults: cross-sectional findings from the Food4Me study
Introduction
Physical inactivity has been estimated to be responsible for more than 5.3 million deaths worldwide
[1]. Moreover, among European men and women, approximately 7.3% of all deaths in
2008 might be attributable to inactivity compared with 3.7% to obesity [2] and there is strong
evidence to suggest that even small increases in physical activity (PA) would lower the risk for
many non-communicable diseases [1–3]. Yet, levels of PA across populations remain low [4].
To tackle this public health issue, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
American College of Sports Medicine produced standardized PA guidelines 20 years ago [5].
Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union, and most countries
around the world, have included PA guidelines in their health policies. Guidelines for Americans
and Europeans have been updated to include recommendations for adolescents and for
older adults [6–9]. For adults aged 18–64 years old, the WHO recommends a minimum of 150
min of moderate intensity PA per week, 75 min of vigorous intensity PA or an equivalent
amount of moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) [9].
In 2008, 34.8% of adults 15 years or older were insufficiently active in Europe [4]. Regular
surveillance is needed to update these prevalence estimates and to evaluate the effectiveness of
PA policies and promotion programs in European countries. In this context, the objective
assessment of PA is a key issue. Prevalence of physical inactivity has been mainly derived from
self-reported measures such as the Baecke questionnaire [10] or the International Physical
Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [11]. These questionnaires have been, and still are, widely used
due to their simple administration and low cost [12]. However, PA is frequently misreported,
which leads to considerable measurement error [13–15]. Accelerometers offer a potential solution
because they measure PA objectively. Given that they are small and easy to wear, store
data up to several weeks and are acceptable in terms of reliability, these devices are now used
increasingly in large studies to assess PA in children, adolescents and adults [16]. Although
some European countries have reported adherence to PA guidelines using accelerometers in
large cohorts [17–19], comparisons between European countries measured according to the
same standardized protocols and concurrently are lacking.
Between 2012 and 2014, PA was assessed objectively by accelerometry in the participants of
the Food4Me Proof-of-Principle (PoP) study. The Food4Me Study was a web-based randomized
controlled trial on personalized nutrition, across seven European countries: Germany,
Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The aim of the current
paper is to describe and compare PA in adults from these countries, and evaluate adherence
to PA guidelines, using baseline data from the Food4Me PoP study
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Proposed guidelines to evaluate scientific validity and evidence for genotype-based dietary advice
Nutrigenetic research examines the effects of inter-individual differences in genotype on responses to nutrients and other food components, in the context of health and of nutrient requirements. A practical application of nutrigenetics is the use of personal genetic information to guide recommendations for dietary choices that are more efficacious at the individual or genetic subgroup level relative to generic dietary advice. Nutrigenetics is unregulated, with no defined standards, beyond some commercially adopted codes of practice. Only a few official nutrition-related professional bodies have embraced the subject, and, consequently, there is a lack of educational resources or guidance for implementation of the outcomes of nutrigenetic research. To avoid misuse and to protect the public, personalised nutrigenetic advice and information should be based on clear evidence of validity grounded in a careful and defensible interpretation of outcomes from nutrigenetic research studies. Evidence requirements are clearly stated and assessed within the context of state-of-the-art 'evidence-based nutrition'. We have developed and present here a draft framework that can be used to assess the strength of the evidence for scientific validity of nutrigenetic knowledge and whether 'actionable'. In addition, we propose that this framework be used as the basis for developing transparent and scientifically sound advice to the public based on nutrigenetic tests. We feel that although this area is still in its infancy, minimal guidelines are required. Though these guidelines are based on semi-quantitative data, they should stimulate debate on their utility. This framework will be revised biennially, as knowledge on the subject increases. © 2017 The Author(s)
Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Genetic Background Roles within a Web-Based Nutritional Intervention: The Food4Me Study
Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) adherence has been proven to produce numerous health
benefits. In addition, nutrigenetic studies have explained some individual variations in the response to
specific dietary patterns. The present research aimed to explore associations and potential interactions
between MedDiet adherence and genetic background throughout the Food4Me web-based nutritional
intervention. Dietary, anthropometrical and biochemical data from volunteers of the Food4Me study were collected at baseline and after 6 months. Several genetic variants related to metabolic risk features
were also analysed. A Genetic Risk Score (GRS) was derived from risk alleles and a Mediterranean
Diet Score (MDS), based on validated food intake data, was estimated. At baseline, there were no
interactions between GRS and MDS categories for metabolic traits. Linear mixed model repeated
measures analyses showed a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol in participants with a
low GRS after a 6-month period, compared to those with a high GRS. Meanwhile, a high baseline
MDS was associated with greater decreases in Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and
glucose. There also was a significant interaction between GRS and the MedDiet after the follow-up
period. Among subjects with a high GRS, those with a high MDS evidenced a highly significant
reduction in total carotenoids, while among those with a low GRS, there was no difference associated
with MDS levels. These results suggest that a higher MedDiet adherence induces beneficial effects on
metabolic outcomes, which can be affected by the genetic background in some specific markers
Association between diet-quality scores, adiposity, total cholesterol and markers of nutritional status in European adults: findings from the Food4Me study
Diet-quality scores (DQS), which are developed across the globe, are used to define adherence to specific eating patterns and have been associated with risk of coronary heart disease and type-II diabetes. We explored the association between five diet-quality scores (Healthy Eating Index, HEI; Alternate Healthy Eating Index, AHEI; MedDietScore, MDS; PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Score, P-MDS; Dutch Healthy Diet-Index, DHDI) and markers of metabolic health (anthropometry, objective physical activity levels (PAL), and dried blood spot total cholesterol (TC), total carotenoids, and omega-3 index) in the Food4Me cohort, using regression analysis. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Participants (n = 1480) were adults recruited from seven European Union (EU) countries. Overall, women had higher HEI and AHEI than men (p < 0.05), and scores varied significantly between countries. For all DQS, higher scores were associated with lower body mass index, lower waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference, and higher total carotenoids and omega-3-index (p trends < 0.05). Higher HEI, AHEI, DHDI, and P-MDS scores were associated with increased daily PAL, moderate and vigorous activity, and reduced sedentary behaviour (p trend < 0.05). We observed no association between DQS and TC. To conclude, higher DQS, which reflect better dietary patterns, were associated with markers of better nutritional status and metabolic health