Perspective: The Application of A Priori Diet Quality Scores to Cardiovascular Disease Risk-A Critical Evaluation of Current Scoring Systems.

Healthy dietary habits are the cornerstone of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Numerous researchers have developed diet quality indices to help evaluate and compare diet quality across and within various populations. The availability of these new indices raises questions regarding the best selection relevant to a given population. In this perspective, we critically evaluate a priori-defined dietary indices commonly applied in epidemiological studies of CVD risk and mortality. A systematic literature search identified 59 observational studies that applied a priori-defined diet quality indices to CVD risk factors and/or CVD incidence and/or CVD mortality. Among 31 different indices, these scores were categorized as follows: 1) those based on country-specific dietary patterns, 2) those adapted from distinct dietary guidelines, and 3) novel scores specific to key diet-related factors associated with CVD risk. The strengths and limitations of these indices are described according to index components, calculation methods, and the application of these indices to different population groups. Also, the importance of identifying methodological challenges faced by researchers when applying an index are considered, such as selection and weighting of food groups within a score, since food groups are not necessarily equivalent in their associations with CVD. The lack of absolute cutoff values, emphasis on increasing healthy food without limiting unhealthy food intake, and absence of validation of scores with biomarkers or other objective diet assessment methods further complicate decisions regarding the best indices to use. Future research should address these limitations, consider cross-cultural and other differences between population groups, and identify translational challenges inherent in attempting to apply a relevant diet quality index for use in CVD prevention at a population level

The Association between Non Soy Legume Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a main cause of mortality throughout the world. CVD is related to life style. Legumes are one of the dietary factors that have nutritional and functional factors and play an important role in attenuating CVD risk factors. Legume consumption (at least 4 times a week) is associated with 22% lower risk for CHD and 11% lower risk for CVD. In this paper, we reviewed the presented articles about non soy legumes and CVD risk factors. METHODS:We used PubMed search engine for this review and searched words including legume intake/consumption, bean/pea consumption, CVD/cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation in All Field. We achieved 346 papers. After limiting repeated articles and studies about soy and soy isoflavonoids, peanut, nuts, animal studies, children studies, cancer, renal disease and allergy, finally we reviewed 30 papers in this issue. FINDINGS:Legume consumption can improve blood lipid profile. In addition, legume ingestion has positive potential effect on blood glucose levels, blood pressure, inflammation status and anthropometric indices. It seems that legumes have more beneficial effects on lipid profile than other CVD risk factors. However, the effects of legumes on other risk factors are important and needs more investigations. CONCLUSION:Increasing non soy legume consumption is an appropriate approach for improving CVD risk factors and thus can reduce the incidence of CVD events among societies

Dietary intakes and leptin concentrations

BACKGROUND: Leptin, a peptide contained 146 amino-acids, is mostly secreted from adipose tissue and it has a critical role on regulation of body weight, body fat mass, appetite, and food intakes. We tried to review the previous evidence regarding the effects of dietary intakes, including consumption of carbohydrates, fats and protein on concentrations of leptin concentration. METHODS: We searched in PubMed search engine to January 2013 by using the following key words: dietary intake, diet, dietary fat, high-fat diet, dietary carbohydrate, high carbohydrate diet, dietary protein, high protein diet in combination with leptin, adipokine. Then, we recruited 35 articles to review in the present study. RESULTS: It seems that beside the amount of fats, type of fatty acids have the key roles on circulating leptin concentration. Energy intake also significantly associated with the hormone. Studies regarding the association between carbohydrate intake and concentration of lepton have been reached to contradictory results. It seems that protein intake can increase the lepton activity. CONCLUSION: Findings from several studies suggest that a diet display an important role on change the concentration of lepton. &nbsp; Keywords: Diet, Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat, Leptin&nbsp;</p

A positive effect of egg consumption on macular pigment and healthy vision: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

Increasing macular pigment optical density (MPOD) as a result of increased macular concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of the present study was to determine whether the consumption of eggs, a rich source of dietary lutein and zeaxanthin, influences MPOD and serum lutein. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we searched PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science up to July 2020, for relevant randomized clinical trials. Using a random-effects model, pooled weighted mean differences, and standard deviations (SDs) for each outcome were obtained. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. A meta-analysis of five trials (296 participants) revealed that egg consumption significantly increased MPOD (weighted mean differences (WMD): +0.037; 95 CI: 0.004, 0.069; P = 0.027) and serum lutein (WMD: +0.150 μmol L�-1; 95 CI: 0.037, 0.263; P = 0.009). Subgroup analyses showed that egg consumption: (a) had a larger effect on MPOD in studies with a parallel design; and (b) increased serum lutein to a greater extent in a healthy population. We did not detect any heterogeneity between studies. Daily egg consumption has beneficial effects on MPOD and serum lutein is inversely associated with reduced AMD progression. Further clinical trials are required to confirm the results of this study. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industr

Association of retinol-binding protein 4 with metabolic syndrome in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is known to regulate lipid and glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. The influences of RBP4 on metabolic syndrome (MS) are still unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between serum levels of RBP4 and MS components in first-degree relations of type 2 diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed within the framework of the diabetes prevention project in Isfahan. This study has been conducted during 2012–2013. Seventy-eight subjects participate, with an average age of 43.20 ± 5.29 years. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure (BP) of participants, fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and serum RBP4 were measured from fasting blood sample taken from each participant after an overnight fast (12–14 h). Results: Systolic and diastolic BP were significantly higher in people in top median of RBP4 (11.8 ± 1.5 vs. 11.0 ± 1.2, P = 0.01 and 7.8 ± 1.0 vs. 7.3 ± 0.9, P = 0.03). Moreover, TG in people with high levels of RBP4 was higher compared with those with low levels of RBP4 (177.7 ± 97.6 vs. 138.7 ± 56.9, P = 0.02). People with low levels of RBP4 had significant greater hip circumferences (107.9 ± 7.5 vs. 104.3 ± 8.0, P = 0.04). There was no correlation between RBP4 and MS in crude model (odds ratio [OR]: 1.00, 0.95–1.05, P = 0.97). This null correlation remained after adjustment for body mass index, age, and physical activity (OR: 0.93, 0.91–1.07, P = 0.31). Conclusion: Although RBP4 levels were positively association with some risk factors of MS including hip circumference, TG, and systolic and diastolic BP, it does not seem to be a valuable marker for identification of the MS in the first relative degree of diabetic patients

A meta‐analysis of the effect of probiotic administration on age‐related sarcopenia

Abstract Global increase in the prevalence of age‐related diseases, such as sarcopenia, highlights the need of recognizing agents that improve muscle health; however, the evidence synthesis on the impact of probiotic administration on sarcopenia is scarce. To summarize and evaluate findings regarding the effect of supplementation with probiotics on sarcopenia, this meta‐analysis was conducted. Using databases, including PubMed, SCOPUS, ISI–Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, interventional studies were included if they investigate the effect of probiotic administration on at least one of the components of sarcopenia up to 6 October 2022. Risk of bias evaluation was conducted using the Cochrane quality assessment tool. The random‐effects model which takes between‐study variations into account was used to obtain the overall effect sizes. The STATA version 14.0 was used for statistical analyses. Overall, 17 studies were included. There was high certainty of evidence that probiotic supplementation has a beneficial effect on muscle mass (kg) (WMD: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.05, 1.05; I2: 0.0%, p = .995), and muscle function (WMD: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.23; I2: 65.6%, p = .05). Moreover, administration of probiotics for more than 12 weeks significantly increased muscle strength (WMD: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.44; I2: 0.0%, p = .77). However, probiotic supplementation had no effect on anthropometric indices, including body mass index. Probiotic supplementation could improve muscle mass and muscle function in adults more than 55 years old. The beneficial effect of probiotics on muscle strength could appear after 12 weeks of supplementation

Healthy eating index and cardiovascular risk factors among Iranian elderly individuals

BACKGROUND: Concurrent with increase in life expectancy, the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has also increased. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between healthy eating index (HEI) score and CVD risk factors among Iranian elderly. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of elderly persons from Isfahan, Iran, in 2013. Totally, 107 retired subjects were entered in statistical analysis. A semi- quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the dietary intake of participants. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure of participants were determined. Fasting blood samples were taken for biochemical assessments. RESULTS: The results of linear regression determined a significant inverse association between HEI score and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR, &beta; = -0.238 (-0.426, -0.048)], fasting blood glucose [&beta; = -0.194 (-0.383, -0.004)], and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP, &beta; = -0.196, (-0.386, -0.005)]. In addition, a significant positive association was observed between HEI score and high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C, &beta; = 0.196 (0.006, 0.385)] levels. However, after adjusting for confounding variables, these significant associations were disappeared except for hs-CRP [&beta; = -0.074 (-0.145, -0.003)]. CONCLUSION: Healthy eating index was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular risk factors in old people. It seems that more adherence with healthy eating index could provide cardio-protective effects in elderly persons. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p

Association between sun exposure, Vitamin D intake, serum Vitamin D level, and immunoglobulin G level in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a central nervous system inflammatory disorder in which immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies possibly play a pathogenic role against the aquaporin-4 water channel protein. Vitamin D may modulate B-cell function and decrease the IgG synthesis and may play a role in NMOSD as a crucial factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between Vitamin D intakes from food, Vitamin D intake from sunlight exposure, blood Vitamin D levels, and IgG-neuromyelitis optica (NMO) level in serum of patients with NMOSD and NMO. Method: In this cross-sectional study, food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) and Sun Exposure Questionnaire (SEQ) were completed to evaluate of vitamin D intakes from food and sun light exposure. Moreover, serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D3 and IgG-NMO were assessed in patients with NMOSD and NMO. Results: We assessed IgG-NMO levels in 29 patients with NMOSD that nine patients (n = 31%) were positive and for the rest it was negative. Sunlight exposure scale (P = 0.01) and 25(OH) D3 (P = 0.04) in IgG-NMO-negative patients were significantly more than patients with positive IgG-NMO. Age, gender, and latitude were not confounder variables. A positive significant correlation was observed between the sun exposure scale and serum levels of 25(OH) D3 in all participants (r = 0.747, P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Physiological variation in Vitamin D may apply a significant effect on IgG-NMO synthesis in patients with NMO. Vitamin D may have significant role in pathogenesis of NMOSD and NMO