Plasma levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and multiple sclerosis susceptibility in a US case-control study

Plasma levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and multiple sclerosis susceptibility in a US case-control stud

IMPROVED CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS AND GLYCEMIC CONTROL WITH EXERCISE TRAINING IN NIDDM PATIENTS

IMPROVED CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS AND GLYCEMIC CONTROL WITH EXERCISE TRAINING IN NIDDM PATIENT

Short sleep is associated with working weeks longer than 38 hours in young Australian workers, but does not mediate the relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors

Long working hours are with poorer health and safety outcomes in middle-aged and older Australians, and this relationship can be mediated by shorter sleep, especially for obesity. However the relationships, particularly with cardiometabolic risk (CMR) are not well understood in younger workers

Low vitamin D levels are associated with symptoms of depression in young adult males

Objective: Results from studies examining associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and depressive symptoms are equivocal. We investigated the relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in a cross-sectional analysis of a population-based sample of young adults participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Methods: Participants provided a blood sample at the 20-year follow-up (March 2010-April 2012) for the measurement of serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Mental health symptoms were assessed using the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and total DASS-21 scores and subscale scores of depression, anxiety and stress were explored in males and females using negative binomial regression, adjusting for age, race, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity ( n=735). Models examining subscale scores were also adjusted for the other subscale scores. Results: After adjusting for confounders, an increase in serum 25(OH)D concentrations of 10 nmol/L decreased total DASS-21 scores in males by 9% (rate ratio (RR) 0.91; 95%CI 0.87,0.95; p<0.001) and depression subscale scores in males by 8% (RR 0.92; 95%CI 0.87,0.96; p=0.001). However, in adjusted models there were no significant associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and symptoms of anxiety and stress in males. There were no significant associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in females. Conclusions: We found an association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and symptoms of depression, but not anxiety and stress, in males. Randomised controlled trials are necessary to determine any benefit of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms in young adults

Working (longer than) 9 to 5: Are there cardiometabolic health risks for young Australian workers who report longer than 38-h working weeks?

Purpose: The average Australian working week in middle-aged and older workers exceeds government recommendations. Long working weeks are associated with poor health outcomes; however, the relationship between long working weeks and health in young Australian workers is unknown. Methods: Data were drawn from the 22-year follow-up of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study in Perth, Western Australia. Information was available from 873 young adults about working hours per week, shift work and sleep duration. Blood samples provided measures of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors. Results: Almost one-third (32.8%) of young workers reported > 38 h working weeks. This was commonly reported in mining and construction industries for males; health and social assistance, mining and retail trade industries for females. CMR factors including increased waist circumference, higher fasting plasma glucose and reduced HDL cholesterol were associated with > 38 h working weeks. These relationships were not moderated by gender or by BMI for glucose and HDL cholesterol. Total sleep time was significantly lower in both male and female workers reporting > 38 h working weeks, but did not mediate the relationships seen with CMR factors. Conclusions: These findings point to early associations between > 38 h working weeks and CMR risk, and highlight the potential benefit of making young employees aware of the health associations with working arrangements to reduce the longer-term relationships seen with working hours and poor cardiometabolic health in population studies. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents

Background: Observational studies suggest that dietary patterns may impact mental health outcomes, although biologically plausible pathways are yet to be tested. We aimed to elucidate the longitudinal relationship between dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental health including depressive symptoms in a population-based cohort of adolescents. Methods: Data were provided from 843 adolescents participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study at 14 and 17 years (y) of age. Structural equation modelling was applied to test our hypothesised models relating dietary patterns, energy intake and adiposity (body mass index) at 14 y to adiposity and the pro-inflammatory adipokine (leptin) and inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein – hs-CRP) at 17 y, and these inflammatory markers to depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) and Internalising and Externalising Behavioral Problems (Child Behavior Check List Youth Self- Report) at 17 y. We further tested a reverse hypothesis model, with depression at 14 y as a predictor of dietary patterns at the same time-point. Results: The tested models provided a good fit to the data. A ‘Western’ dietary pattern (high intake of red meat, takeaway, refined foods, and confectionary) at 14 y was associated with higher energy intake and BMI at 14 y, and with BMI and biomarkers of inflammation at 17 y (all p <.05). A ‘Healthy’ dietary pattern (high in fruit, vegetables, fish, whole-grains) was inversely associated with BMI and inflammation at 17 y (p <.05). Higher BMI at 14 y was associated with higher BMI (p <.01), leptin (p <.05), hs-CRP (p <.05), depressive symptoms (p <.05) and mental health problems (p <.05), all at 17 y. Conclusion: A ‘Western’ dietary pattern associates with an increased risk of mental health problems including depressive symptoms in adolescents, through biologically plausible pathways of adiposity and inflammation, whereas a ‘Healthy’ dietary pattern appears protective in these pathways. Longitudinal modelling into adulthood is indicated to confirm the complex associations of dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental health problems, including depressive symptoms

The western dietary pattern is prospectively associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescence

Objectives: Poor dietary habits have been implicated in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, little is known about the role of specific dietary patterns in the development of NAFLD. We examined prospective associations between dietary patterns and NAFLD in a population-based cohort of adolescents. Methods: Participants in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study completed a food frequency questionnaire at 14 years and had liver ultrasound at 17 years (n=995). Healthy and Western dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis and all participants received a z-score for these patterns. Prospective associations between the dietary pattern scores and risk of NAFLD were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: NAFLD was present in 15.2% of adolescents. A higher Western dietary pattern score at 14 years was associated with a greater risk of NAFLD at 17 years (odds ratio (OR) 1.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-2.14; P<0.005), although these associations were no longer significant after adjusting for body mass index at 14 years. However, a healthy dietary pattern at 14 years appeared protective against NAFLD at 17 years in centrally obese adolescents (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.41-0.96; P=0.033), whereas a Western dietary pattern was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. Conclusions: A Western dietary pattern at 14 years in a general population sample was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD at 17 years, particularly in obese adolescents. In centrally obese adolescents with NAFLD, a healthy dietary pattern may be protective, whereas a Western dietary pattern may increase the risk. © 2013 by the american College of Gastroenterology

Vitamin D status and predictors of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Western Australian adolescents

Despite the importance of skeletal growth during adolescence, there is limited research reporting vitamin D status and its predictors in adolescents. Using prospective data from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, we investigated vitamin D status and predictors of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in adolescents. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in the same participants at 14 and 17 years (n 1045 at both time points). The percentage of adolescents with serum 25(OH)D concentrations < 50, 50–74·9 and ≥ 75 nmol/l was reported year-round and by month of blood collection. We examined the predictors of serum 25(OH)D concentrations, including sex, race, month of blood collection, physical activity, BMI, family income, and Ca and vitamin D intakes (n 919 at 14 years; n 570 at 17 years), using a general linear mixed model. At 14 years, 31 % of adolescents had serum 25(OH)D concentrations between 50 and 74·9 nmol/l and a further 4 % had concentrations < 50 nmol/l. At 17 years, 40 % of adolescents had serum 25(OH)D concentrations between 50 and 74·9 nmol/l and 12 % had concentrations < 50 nmol/l. Caucasian ethnicity, being sampled at the end of summer, exercising more, having a lower BMI, a higher Ca intake and a higher family income were significantly associated with higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations. The proportion of adolescents with serum 25(OH)D concentrations < 50 nmol/l was low in this Western Australian cohort. There is a need for international consensus on defining adequate vitamin D status in order to determine whether strategies to increase vitamin D status in adolescents are warranted

Omega-3 Index, fish consumption, use of fish oil supplements and first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination

Higher intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3PUFAs) have been associated with lower MS risk. We aimed to test associations between the Omega-3 Index, blood levels of n3PUFAs, fish oil supplement use, and fish consumption with a first clinical diagnosis of CNS demyelination (FCD). Cases (n = 250) had a higher Omega-3 Index compared with a matched group of controls (n = 471) (average treatment effect (ATE)=0.31, p = 0.047, based on augmented inverse probability weighting). A higher percentage of cases than controls used fish oil supplements (cases=17% vs. controls=10%). We found that Omega-3 Index increased as time between FCD and study interview increased (e.g., at or below median (112 days), based on ATE, mean=5.30, 95% CI 5.08, 5.53; above median, mean=5.90, 95% CI 5.51, 6.30). Fish oil supplement use increased in a similar manner (at or below median (112 days), based on ATE, proportion=0.12, 95% CI 0.06, 0.18; above the median, proportion=0.21, 95% CI 0.14, 0.28). Our results suggest a behaviour change post FCD with increased use of fish oil supplements

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents and young adults

Evidence associating serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors is inconsistent and studies have largely been conducted in adult populations. We examined the prospective associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors from adolescence to young adulthood in the West Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations, BMI, homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TAG, HDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured at the 17-year (n 1015) and 20-year (n 1117) follow-ups. Hierarchical linear mixed models with maximum likelihood estimation were used to investigate associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors, accounting for potential confounders. In males and females, respectively, mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations were 73·6 (sd 28·2) and 75·4 (sd 25·9) nmol/l at 17 years and 70·0 (sd 24·2) and 74·3 (sd 26·2) nmol/l at 20 years. Deseasonalised serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were inversely associated with BMI (coefficient -0·01; 95 % CI -0·03, -0·003; P=0·014). No change over time was detected in the association for males; for females, the inverse association was stronger at 20 years compared with 17 years. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely associated with log-HOMA-IR (coefficient -0·002; 95 % CI -0·003, -0·001; P<0·001) and positively associated with log-TAG in females (coefficient 0·002; 95 % CI 0·0008, 0·004; P=0·003). These associations did not vary over time. There were no significant associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and HDL-cholesterol or SBP. Clinical trials in those with insufficient vitamin D status may be warranted to determine any beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on insulin resistance, while monitoring for any deleterious effect on TAG