Dietary Intake of Natural Sources of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Folate in Pregnant Women of Three European Cohorts

Background: Folic acid plays a fundamental role in cell division and differentiation. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been associated with infantile neurological and cognitive development. Thus, optimal intrauterine development and growth requires adequate supply of these nutrients during pregnancy. Methods: Healthy pregnant women, aged 18-41 years, were recruited in Granada (Spain; n = 62), Munich (Germany; n = 97) and Pecs (Hungary; n = 152). We estimated dietary DHA and folate intake in weeks 20 (w20) and 30 of gestation (w30) using a food frequency questionnaire with specific focus on the dietary sources of folate and DHA. Results: Both w20 and w30 Spanish participants had significantly higher daily DHA intakes (155 +/- 13 and 161 +/- 9 mg/1,000 kcal) than the German (119 +/- 9 and 124 +/- 12 mg/1,000 kcal; p = 0.002) and Hungarian participants (122 +/- 8 and 125 +/- 10 mg/1,000 kcal; p = 0.005). Hungarian women had higher folate intakes in w20 and w30 (149 +/- 5 and 147 +/- 6 mu g/1,000 kcal) than Spanish (112 +/- 2 and 110 +/- 2 mu g/1,000 kcal; p < 0.001) and German participants (126 +/- 4 and 120 +/- 6 mu g/1,000 kcal; p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Dietary DHA and folate intake of pregnant women differs significantly across the three European cohorts. Only 7% of the participants reached the recommended folate intake during pregnancy, whereas nearly 90% reached the DHA recommended intake of 200 mg per day. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base

Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and prevalence of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese children: The Ryukyus Child Health Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The recent increase in the prevalence of allergic disorders might be a consequence of increased intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and reduced intake of n-3 PUFAs. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between intake levels and the prevalence of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects were 23,388 schoolchildren aged 6-15 years residing in Okinawa. The presence of eczema and/or rhinoconjunctivitis was determined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. A brief diet history questionnaire for children and adolescents was administered to acquire information on dietary factors. Adjustment was made for age, sex, residential municipality, number of siblings, smoking in the household, body mass index, paternal and maternal history of allergic diseases, and paternal and maternal educational level.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalences of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in the previous 12 months were 7.0% and 8.0%, respectively. Consumption of PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs, α-linolenic acid, n-6 PUFAs, and linoleic acid was positively associated with the prevalence of eczema: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between extreme quintiles (95% confidence intervals [CIs], <it>P </it>for trend) were 1.26 (1.07-1.48, 0.04), 1.31 (1.11-1.54, 0.009), 1.31 (1.12-1.55, 0.003), 1.26 (1.07-1.48, 0.01), and 1.27 (1.08-1.49, 0.01), respectively. Arachidonic acid intake was independently inversely related to eczema: the adjusted OR between extreme quintiles was 0.81 (0.69-0.95, 0.0008). Eczema was not associated with eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acid intake, or with the ratio of n-3 to n-6 PUFA intake. Only arachidonic acid intake was statistically significantly related to the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis, showing a clear inverse linear trend: the adjusted OR between extreme quintiles was 0.86 (0.74-0.997, 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Consumption of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, especially α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, may be positively associated with eczema. Arachidonic acid intake may be inversely related to eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis.</p

Dietary meat and fat intake and prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in pregnant Japanese women: baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dietary fat exerts numerous complex effects on proinflammatory and immunologic pathways. Several epidemiological studies have examined the relationships between intake of fatty acids and/or foods high in fat and allergic rhinitis, but have provided conflicting findings. The current cross-sectional study investigated such relationships in Japan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Study subjects were 1745 pregnant women. The definition of rhinoconjunctivitis was based on criteria from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for age; gestation; region of residence; number of older siblings; number of children; smoking; secondhand smoke exposure at home and at work; family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis; household income; education; and body mass index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in the past 12 months was 25.9%. Higher meat intake was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis: the adjusted odds ratio between extreme quartiles was 1.71 (95% confidence interval: 1.25-2.35, <it>P </it>for trend = 0.002). No measurable association was found between fish intake and rhinoconjunctivitis. Intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and cholesterol and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake were not evidently related to the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The current results suggest that meat intake may be positively associated with the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in young adult Japanese women.</p

Effectiveness of the Nutritional App “MyNutriCart” on Food Choices Related to Purchase and Dietary Behavior: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To pilot test the effectiveness of &#8220;MyNutriCart&#8222;, a smartphone application (app) that generates healthy grocery lists, on diet and weight. Methods: A pilot randomized trial was conducted to test the efficacy of using the &#8220;MyNutriCart&#8222; app compared to one face-to-face counseling session (Traditional group) in Hispanic overweight and obese adults. Household food purchasing behavior, three 24-h food recalls, Tucker&#8217;s semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and weight were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. Statistical analyses included t tests, a Poisson regression model, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using STATA. Results: 24 participants in the Traditional group and 27 in the App group completed the study. Most participants were women (&gt;88%), with a mean age of 35.3 years, more than a high school education (&gt;80%), a family composition of at least three members, and a mean baseline body mass index (BMI) of 34.5 kg/m2. There were significant improvements in household purchasing of vegetables and whole grains, in individual intakes of refined grains, healthy proteins, whole-fat dairies, legumes, 100% fruit juices, and sweets and snacks; and in the individual frequency of intake of fruits and cold cuts/cured meats within the intervention group (p &lt; 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between groups. No changes were detected in weight. Conclusions: &#8220;MyNutriCart&#8222; app use led to significant improvements in food-related behaviors compared to baseline, with no significant differences when compared to the Traditional group. Cost and resource savings of using the app compared to face-to-face counseling may make it a good option for interventionists

PEARLS randomized lifestyle trial in pregnant Hispanic women with overweight/obesity: gestational weight gain and offspring birthweight

Mar&iacute;a A Trak-Fellermeier,1,* Maribel Campos,1,* Marytere Mel&eacute;ndez,1,* Jeremy Pomeroy,2 Cristina Palacios,3 Juana Rivera-Vi&ntilde;as,4 Keimari M&eacute;ndez,4 Irma Febo,5 Walter Willett,6 Mathew W Gillman,7 Paul W Franks,6,8 Kaumudi Joshipura1,9 1Center for Clinical Research and Health Promotion, School of Dental Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA; 2Clinical Research Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Marshfield, WI, USA; 3Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Robert Stempel College of Public Health &amp; Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA; 5Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA; 6Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; 7Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Life Course, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA; 8Department of Clinical Sciences, Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Lund University, Sk&aring;ne University Hospital, Malm&ouml;, Sweden; 9Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan Public Health School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) has been associated with adverse perinatal events. High rates of GWG have been reported among Hispanic women. Observational studies indicate that dietary and physical activity interventions during the prenatal period may improve maternal and infant health, but very few randomized trials have been conducted among high-risk overweight/obese Hispanic women. Accordingly, we conducted a lifestyle intervention among high-risk pregnant women and evaluated its impact on achieving appropriate GWG and on improving birthweight.Methods: Eligible overweight/obese women presenting at the University Hospital in Puerto Rico with a singleton pregnancy before 16 gestational weeks were recruited and randomized to lifestyle intervention (n=15) or control group (n=16). The lifestyle intervention focused on improving physical activity and diet quality and optimizing caloric intake. We evaluated the impact of the lifestyle intervention on achieving appropriate GWG and on infant birthweight. Poisson and linear regression analyses were performed. Results: The primary intent to treat analysis showed no significant effect on achievement of appropriate GWG/week through 36 weeks in the intervention group (4/15 women) when compared with the control group (3/16 women) (adjusted incidence rate ratio =1.14; 95% CI: 0.20, 6.67). Although not statistically significant, women in the intervention group (6/15) were 1.7 times more likely to achieve appropriate weekly GWG until delivery when compared with controls (4/16 women) (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 1.67; 95% CI: 0.40, 6.94). We observed lower adjusted birthweight-for-length z-scores in the intervention compared with the control group among male newborns with z-score difference &minus;1.74 (&minus;3.04, &minus;0.43), but not among females &minus;0.83 (&minus;3.85, 2.19). These analyses were adjusted for age and baseline body mass index.Conclusion: Although larger studies are required to determine whether women with obesity may benefit from prenatal lifestyle interventions targeting GWG, our results are suggestive of the intervention improving adherence to established Institute of Medicine guidelines. Keywords: gestational weight gain, lifestyle modification, pregnancy, birthweight, neonatal, randomized controlled trial, overweight, obese, interventio

Delta-5 and delta-6 desaturases: crucial enzymes in polyunsaturated fatty acid-related pathways with pleiotropic influences in health and disease

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) play pleiotropic and crucial roles in biological systems. Both blood and tissue levels of PUFA are influenced not only by diet, but to a large extent also by genetic heritability. Delta-5 (D5D) and delta-6 desaturases (D6D), encoded respectively by FADS1 and FADS2 genes, are the rate-limiting enzymes for PUFA conversion and are recognized as main determinants of PUFA levels. Alterations of D5D/D6D activity have been associated with several diseases, from metabolic derangements to neuropsychiatric illnesses, from type 2 diabetes to cardiovascular disease, from inflammation to tumorigenesis. Similar results have been found by investigations on FADS1/FADS2 genotypes. Recent genome-wide association studies showed that FADS1/FADS2 genetic locus, beyond being the main determinant of PUFA, was strongly associated with plasma lipids and glucose metabolism. Other analyses suggested potential link between FADS1/FADS2 polymorphisms and cognitive development, immunological illnesses, and cardiovascular disease. Lessons from both animal models and rare disorders in humans further emphasized the key role of desaturases in health and disease. Remarkably, some of the above mentioned associations appear to be influenced by the environmental context/PUFA dietary intake, in particular the relative prevalence of \u3c9-3 and \u3c9-6 PUFA. In this narrative review we provide a summary of the evidences linking FADS1/FADS2 gene variants and D5D/D6D activities with various traits of human physiopathology. Moreover, we focus also on the potentially useful therapeutic application of D5D/D6D activity modulation, as suggested by anti-inflammatory and tumor-suppressing effects of D6D inhibition in mice models