A Mediterranean diet is associated with improved total antioxidant content of human breast milk and infant urine

Background: The composition of breast milk (BM) is dynamic and can be influenced by maternal variables that include the diet and nutritional status. This study examined the association between maternal adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and total antioxidant content of BM and infant urine. Methods: We collected 350 BM samples from mothers and urine samples from their infants. The dietary intakes of the mothers were recorded using a validated 65 items-food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The total antioxidant status of the samples was assessed using the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and thiol quantification assays. Milk protein, calcium, and triglyceride (TG) were also determined using standard biochemical kits. Results: Subjects with the highest MedDiet scores were among the women in the highest tertile (T3) for consumption of dietary fiber, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and seeds, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and the lowest consumption of red meat, sweetened beverages, and sodium, compared to women in the first tertile (T1) with the lowest MedDiet scores. After adjustment for potential confounders, the individuals in the highest tertile for MedDiet score had a significantly higher level of milk DPPH, and infant urinary DPPH than the lowest tertile and had a significantly higher level of milk protein, FRAP and infant urinary FRAP compared to the T2 (P < 0.05). In addition, the mothers in the T3 for the MedDiet pattern had a significantly lower level of milk TG compared to those within the T1 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings show that a high maternal adherence to a MedDiet can affect BM composition and their infants' urine

A study of the association between cognitive abilities and dietary intake in young women

Background: Cognitive abilities comprise activities that relate to receiving and responding to information from the environment, internal processing, making complex decisions, and then responding to this in the context of behavior. Aim: The current study investigated the association between dietary intake and seven aspects of cognitive abilities among healthy young women. Methods: The study was carried out among 182 women aged 18–25 years. A valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire containing 65 food items was used to estimate dietary intake. Neuropsychological function and cognitive abilities of participants were determined using standard questionnaires. Results: Significant differences were found in depression, anxiety, stress, physical, and mental health-related quality of life as well as daytime sleepiness for the participants in different quartiles of cognitive abilities score (p<0.05). Participants in the fourth quartile of cognitive abilities score consumed significantly higher energy, carbohydrate, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin compared to those in the lowest quartile (p<0.05). There were strong correlations between total cognitive abilities score and dietary sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and thiamin (p<0.05). Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, iron and thiamin were statistically significant factors for the prediction of cognitive abilities. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that neurocognitive function is related to dietary macro and micronutrients including energy, carbohydrate, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin on cognitive performance among young women without memory deficit

A study of the association of cognitive abilities and emotional function with allergic disorders in young women

Background Allergic disorders may have a bidirectional causal relationship with mental disorders. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the associations between cognitive abilities and emotional function tests and quality of life with the presence of allergic disease in young women. Methods A diagnosis of allergic disorders, comprising allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD), was confirmed by a specialist in allergy. The presence and severity of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia and sleepiness were evaluated using validated questionnaires. Cognitive abilities and quality of life were assessed using standard instruments. Results Among 181 female young participants, the prevalence of AR, asthma and AD were 26.5%, 2.8%, and 14.9% respectively. The AR group had higher scores than the non-AR group for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and lower scores for physical and mental health-related quality of life. Moreover, the AD cases had higher scores on the depression and stress scale compared to those without it (p < 0.05). Asthmatic patients also had significantly higher insomnia severity and lower physical health-related quality of life than non-asthmatic. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of psychological/psychiatric disorders that included: anxiety, and sleep problems among allergic women, and a reduced quality of life that may be associated with it

Impact of a Nordic diet on psychological function in young students

Background: There has been a rapid increase in the prevalence of psychiatric and psychological disease, and this has attracted interest in identifying modifiable lifestyle factors that may affect an individual’s mood. Diet is one potential lifestyle factor that may affect psychological function. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence to the health-promoting Nordic diet (ND) with neuropsychological function in young women. Methods: The study comprised 181 female students aged between 18 and 25 years. Psychological function was evaluated using a series of standardized questionnaires, including the Cognitive Ability Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleep Scale and Quality of Life Questionnaire. A validated food frequency questionnaire, which included 65 types of foods, was used to evaluate the amount of different foods consumed. Results: Evaluation of the dietary composition of the participants showed that the rate of adherence to the ND was positively associated with total energy, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, folate, phosphorus, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, carotene, whole grain, legumes, cabbage/vegetables, vegetables and fruit (p<0.05). Linear regression showed cabbage/vegetable consumption was inversely related to scores of stress (β=–0.04; p=0.038) and anxiety (β=–0.02; p=0.049) and directly associated with the quality-of-life score (0.02; p=0.036). Conclusions: Adherence to a ND with a high intake of cabbage/vegetables was inversely associated with stress and anxiety scores and directly associated with health-related quality of life

Green synthesis of nanohydroxyapatite trough Elaeagnus angustifolia L. extract and evaluating its anti-tumor properties in MCF7 breast cancer cell line

Abstract Background One of the most common types of cancer in women is breast cancer. There are numerous natural plant-based products, which exert anti-tumoral effects including Elaeagnus Angustifolia (EA). It modulates cell-cycle process, heat-shock proteins expression, anti-proliferative properties, apoptosis induction, blocking of angiogenesis, and cell invasion inhibition. The current study aimed to synthesize and evaluate the anticancer effects of hydroalcoholic EA extract (HEAE), Nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp) and nHAp synthesized trough EA (nHA-EA) in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Methods In the present study, HEAE preparation and green synthesis of nHA-EA was done and phase composition, functional groups, and crystallin phase of nHA-EA and nHAp were determined using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The characteristics of synthesized nanoparticles including structural and morphological parameters were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Then, by using MTT-assay (Dimethylthiazoldiphenyltetrazolium), the in vitro cytotoxic and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of EA extract, nHAp, and nHA-EA in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was evaluated. Next, we assessed the expression of apoptosis-related genes Bax, Bcl2 and p53 using quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction (qRT-PCR) and migration of MCF-7 cells by scratch assay. Results The FTIR results demonstrated formation of nHAp and its interaction with HEAE during synthesis process. The XRD results of the synthesized nanoparticles showed similar XRD pattern of nHA-EA and nHAp and purity of synthesized nanomaterials. The average IC50 of HEAE, nHAp, and nHA-EA extract after treatment of cancer cells for 24 h was 400 µg/mL, 200 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL, respectively. Our results revealed that nHA-EA significantly reduced the migration and invasion of the MCF-7 cells, in comparison to the nHAp and EA extract. Moreover, level of Bax/Bcl2 and p53 was significantly higher in the nHA-EA extract group in comparison to the EA extract and nHAp group. Conclusion Taken together, our results demonstrated that bioactive constituents of EA medicinal plant in form of nHA-EA particles, can effectively exerts potential anticancer and chemo preventive effect against breast cancer growth and can be proposed as a promising beneficial candidate for BC therapy. However, further investigations are required to discover what bioactive compounds are responsible for the chemo preventive effect of this extract

Association between adherence to a low carbohydrate dietary (LCD) pattern with breast milk characteristics and oxidative markers in infants’ urine: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Breast milk (BM) is a dynamic fluid that varies over time and between women. The variations in BM components are most likely associated with maternal diet quality. This study aimed to assess adherence to a low carbohydrate dietary (LCD) pattern with oxidative stress markers of BM characteristics and infants’ urine. Materials and methods In this cross-sectional study 350 breastfeeding mothers and their infants were recruited. BM samples were collected from mothers, and urine specimens were obtained from each infant. To evaluate LCD scores, subjects were divided into 10 deciles according to the percent of energy obtained from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Determination of total antioxidant activity was conducted using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2, 2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), and Ellman’s assay. Biochemical assays of samples including calcium, total protein, and triglyceride level were also performed using commercial kits. Results Participants with the greatest LCD pattern adherence were placed into the last quartile (Q4), and those with the minimum LCD were in the first quartile (Q1). Individuals in the highest LCD quartile had significantly higher levels of milk FRAP, thiol, and protein, as well as infant urinary FRAP and lower milk MDA levels than those in the lowest quartile. Multivariate linear regression analyses indicated that higher score of the LCD pattern was associated with a higher level of milk thiol, protein, and lower level of milk MDA (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings show that adherence to a LCD, as defined by a low level of carbohydrates in daily food intake, is linked with improved BM quality and markers of oxidative stress in infant urine

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet style and psychological distress and quality of life in young women

Introduction: A Mediterranean diet (MD) meets several important criteria for a healthy diet. This dietary pattern may be beneficial for psychological function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the adherence to MD and psychological performance in young women. Material and methods: The study included 181 volunteers with an average age of 20.8 ± 1.7 years. Neuropsychological performance was assessed using a number of standard instruments, including Cognitive Ability Questionnaire (CAQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleep Scale (ESS) and Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ). A validated food frequency (FFQ) questionnaire, that included 65 types of foods, was used to evaluate the amount of different food types consumed. Results: The individuals in the lowest quartile for the MD pattern had a significantly higher prevalence of a high stress score, poorer quality of life, and higher degrees of insomnia and sleepiness during the day than the highest quartile. Linear regression showed an inverse relationship between fruit consumption and stress scores (β = 0.012; p = 0.022) and a direct relationship with quality of life (β = 0.005; p = 0.043). The monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)/Saturated fatty acids (SFA) ratio was negatively related to the insomnia score (β = 53.0; p = 0.043). Dairy products were significantly associated with stress scores (β = 0.011; p = 0.035). Dietary meat products were also directly related to stress and insomnia scores (β = 0.021; p = 0.049 and β = 0.015; p = 0.049, respectively) and reversely associated with a score of cognitive abilities (β = –0.034; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Adherence to a MD is associated with a lower degree of stress, insomnia and daytime sleepiness, as well as higher quality of life

The relationship between dietary patterns and insomnia in young women

Abstract Aim There is mounting evidence that eating habits affect sleeping patterns and their quality. The goal of this study was to evaluate the associations between major dietary patterns, identified using principal component analysis (PCA) and insomnia in young women. Methods The study subjects comprised 159 healthy young women aged 18–25 years. Neuropsychological assessment was performed using standard instruments, including a cognitive ability questionnaire (CAQ), depression and anxiety stress scales (DASS‐21), insomnia severity index (ISI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and quality of life questionnaire (QLQ). Dietary patterns were obtained from a 65‐item validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in this study, using PCA. Results Two major dietary patterns were identified that were termed: “Traditional” and “Western.” The Western pattern was characterized by a high intake of snacks, nuts, dairy products, tea, fast foods, chicken, and vegetable oils. Subjects with moderate/severe insomnia were found to have lower scores for total cognitive ability task, nocturnal sleep hours, and physical and mental health, but higher scores for depression, anxiety, stress, and daytime sleepiness compared to those without insomnia (p < 0.05). After adjustment for potential confounders, high adherence to the Western dietary pattern was associated with higher odds of insomnia (OR = 5.9; 95% confidence intervals: 1.9–18.7; p = 0.003). Conclusion Our findings indicated adherence to Western pattern may increase the odds of insomnia. Prospective research is required to determine the feasibility of targeting dietary patterns to decrease the odds of insomnia