Advances in Understanding the Molecular Basis of the Mediterranean Diet Effect

Posted with permission from the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, Volume 9 by Annual Reviews, http://www.annualreviews.org.Increasingly, studies showing the protective effects of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on different diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, some cancers, and even total mortality and aging indicators) are being published. The scientific evidence level for each outcome is variable, and new studies are needed to better understand the molecular mechanisms whereby the MedDiet may exercise its effects. Here, we present recent advances in understanding the molecular basis of MedDiet effects, mainly focusing on cardiovascular diseases but also discussing other related diseases. There is heterogeneity in defining the MedDiet, and it can, owing to its complexity, be considered as an exposome with thousands of nutrients and phytochemicals. We review MedDiet composition and assessment as well as the latest advances in the genomic, epigenomic (DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNAs, and other emerging regulators), transcriptomic (selected genes and whole transcriptome), and metabolomic and metagenomic aspects of the MedDiet effects (as a whole and for its most typical food components). We also present a critical review of the limitations of the studies undertaken and propose new analyses and greater bioinformatic integration to better understand the most important molecular mechanisms whereby the MedDiet as a whole, or its main food components, may exercise their protective effects

Technological Applications for the Automation of Food Questionnaires in Medical Studies: a state-of-art-review and future prospective

Applications for automating the most commonly used dietary surveys in nutritional research, Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) and 24 h Dietary Recalls (24HDRs), are reviewed in this paper. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was carried out and findings were classified by a group of experts in nutrition and computer science into: (i) Computerized Questionnaires and Web-based Questionnaires; (ii) FFQs and 24HDRs and combinations of both; and (iii) interviewer-administered or self-administered questionnaires. A discussion on the classification made and the works reported is included. Finally, works that apply innovative technologies are outlined and the future trends for automating questionnaires in nutrition are identified

Metabolites, genomics, epigenomics, exposomics and health: Focus on serum bilirubin concentrations in subjects with metabolic syndrome from a Mediterranean population

Pòster presentat al congrés "Understanding Human Diseases Through Metabolomics: Interactions Among the Genome, Proteome, Gut Microbiome and Nutrition", Metabolomics and Human Health, Gordon Research Conference (February 3 - 8, 2019 Ventura, CA, United States)Although metabolomics aims at the measurement of small molecules (metabolites) in a biological sample, this knowledge requires additional information on the related genetic variants, epigenetic regulators and environmental factors (diet, smoking, physical activity, etc.) in order to translate the knowledge into actionable therapeutic or preventive evidence for complex disease outcomes. We focused on serum bilirubin, a metabolite generated when heme oxygenase catalyzes the degradation of heme (Figure 1). This produces biliverdin, which is converted into bilirubin by biliverdinreductase. Bilirubin is further processed in hepatocytes, where unconjugated bilirubin is conjugated by uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) to a water-soluble form for excretion. For decades, increased serum bilirubin concentrations were considered a threatening sign of underlying liver disease and had been associated with neonatal jaundice. However, data from recent years show that bilirubin is a powerful antioxidant and suggest that slightly increased serum bilirubin concentrations are protective against oxidative stress-related diseases

Genética y epigenética de la obesidad

Although obesity is the result of the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, we still have very little knowledge about their contribution. In recent years, genome-wide association studies (GWAs) have allowed us to identify many genes associated with common obesity, among them the following: FTO, MC4R, KCTD15, MTCH2, NEGR1, BDNF, FAIM2, TMEM18, etc. Moreover, several gene-environment interaction studies, have allowed us to know that the influence of genetic variants in these genes is not deterministic but is modulated by environmental factors among which diet and physical activity are the most relevant. In parallel, epigenetics has also developed, based on modifications and regulations that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence. Among the epigenetic regulators, the most important are methylation and microRNAs. Studies of genome-wide methylation have also allowed us to identify differentially methylated genes associated with obesity. In this review we will analyze the main genetic and epigenetic factors associated with obesity as well as its environmental modulation.Aunque la obesidad es el resultado de la interacción entre la predisposición genética y los factores ambientales, todavía tenemos un conocimiento muy escaso sobre su contribución. En los últimos años, los estudios de asociación de genoma completo, conocidos como GWAs, nos han permitido identificar muchos genes asociados con la obesidad común, entre ellos destacan los siguientes: FTO, MC4R, KCTD15, MTCH2, NEGR1, BDNF, FAIM2, TMEM18, etc. Varios estudios de interacción gen-ambiente, nos han permitido conocer que la influencia de las variantes genéticas en esto genes no es determinista sino que está modulada por factores ambientales entre los que destaca la dieta y la actividad física. Paralelamente, se ha desarrollado también la epigenética, basada en modificaciones y regulaciones en el ADN que no implican cambios de secuencia. Entre los reguladores epigenéticos, los más importantes son la metilación y los microRNAs. Los estudios de metilación de genoma completo nos han permitido también identificar genes diferencialmente metilados asociados con obesidad. En esta revisión analizaremos los principales factores genéticos y epigenéticos relevantes en obesidad así como su modulación ambiental

Association of Mediterranean diet with peripheral artery disease: the PREDIMED randomized trial

Association of Mediterranean Diet With Peripheral Artery Disease: The PREDIMED Randomized Trial The role of nutrition in preventing peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains elusive. 1 Mediterranean diets reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. 2,3. They also may reduce the risk of PAD, but this hypothesis has never been tested in a randomized trial. We assessed the association of Mediterranean diets with the occurrence of symptomatic PAD in an exploratory, nonprespecified analysis of a randomized trial..

Influence of lipids and obesity on haemorheological parameters in patients with deep vein thrombosis

It is not well established whether haemorheological alterations constitute independent risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).We have determined in 149 DVT patients and in 185 control subjects the body mass index (BMI), the haemorheological profile: blood viscosity (BV), plasma viscosity (PV), fibrinogen (Fg), erythrocyte aggregation (EA), erythrocyte deformability (ED) and plasma lipids. In the crude analysis BMI, Fg, PV, EA, triglycerides (TG) and ApoB were statistically higher and HDL cholesterol (HDL-Chol) statistically lower in DVT patients than in controls. No differences in BV and ED were observed.After BMI adjustment, Fg, PV and EA remained statistically higher in DVT cases than in controls (P=0.013; P=0.012; P=0.013; P=0.028, respectively). When the risk of DVT associated with these variables (using cut-offs that corresponded to the mean plus one SD of the control group) was estimated, EA>8.2 and PV>1.28 mPa.s were significantly associated with DVT even further adjustment for lipids and obesity (OR=2.78, P=0.004; OR=1.91, P=0.024, respectively). However, PV did not remain statistically significant after additional adjustment for Fg.When we consider together all the analyzed variables in order to control every variable for each other,TG>175 mg/dl (OR=3,2,P=0.004) and BMI>30 kg/m2 (OR=3.5, P=0.003), were also independently associated with a greater risk of DVT. Our results suggest that increased EA constitute an independent risk factor for DVT. However, when associated to hyperlipidaemia and obesity it further increases thrombotic [email protected]

Nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics and Mediterranean diet: a new vision for gastronomy

Tanto la nutrigenética como la nutrigenómica son disciplinas dentro de la denominada genómica nutricional, que, en sentido amplio, proporciona el marco de integración de las distintas ómicas con las ciencias de la alimentación y nutrición. Tras décadas de estudios nutrigenéticos y nutrigenómicos, se dispone de una cantidad relevante de conocimientos para plantear su aplicación en la denominada nutrición de precisión. Esta nueva disciplina plantea que hay que tener en cuenta las características particulares de la persona para proporcionar la mejor dieta para prevenir o tratar la enfermedad. Los marcadores ómicos se consideran relevantes en dicha personalización. Existen muchos alimentos, nutrientes y patrones de dieta que se han investigado en nutrigenética y nutrigenómica; entre ellos, podemos mencionar el patrón de dieta mediterránea. A pesar de la heterogeneidad en la definición de dieta mediterránea, existen varios estudios que muestran que la dieta mediterránea puede interaccionar con el genoma, disminuyendo el riesgo de enfermedad en las personas genéticamente más susceptibles. Paralelamente, algunos estudios están mostrando los mecanismos por los que la dieta mediterránea puede ejercer este efecto protector. Conocer con más detalle la susceptibilidad genética, los mecanismos epigenéticos, la influencia del metaboloma y de otras ómicas puede ser relevante en gastronomía, entendida como la práctica del arte de elegir, cocinar y comer los alimentos. Esta influencia ómica no solo podemos encontrarla en los fenotipos de salud-enfermedad, sino también en la percepción del sabor y del olor de los alimentos (las preferencias por determinadas comidas). Todo ello, bien integrado, puede contribuir al incremento del disfrute a la vez que se sigue una alimentación saludable.Both nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics are disciplines that form part of what is known as Nutritional Genomics, which, in the widest sense, provides the framework for integrating different omics with food and nutrition sciences. After decades of nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic studies, there is a large enough amount of knowledge to consider its application in so-called precision nutrition. This new discipline seeks to take into account the particular characteristics of the individual in order to provide the best diet for preventing or treating a disease. Omic markers are considered to be of importance to that personalization. There are many foods, nutrients and dietary patterns that have been researched in nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, including the Mediterranean Diet pattern. Despite heterogeneity in defining the Mediterranean Diet, there are various studies that show that the Mediterranean Diet can interact with the genome, so reducing the risk of disease in the most genetically susceptible individuals. Likewise, several studies have recently been revealing the mechanisms through which the Mediterranean Diet may exercise this protective effect. Understanding genetic susceptibility, epigenetic mechanisms, the influence of the metabolome and other omics in more detail may be important in gastronomy, understood as the practice of selecting, cooking and eating food. This omic influence can not only be found in health-disease phenotypes, but also in food taste and smell perception and preferences for certain dishes. Considering all of these together may contribute to an increase in enjoying and at the same time pursuing healthy eating

Evaluación de un tutorial multimedia de introducción a la metodología OMT en el desarrollo de software orientado a objetos

El objetivo de este trabajo es la Evaluación de un tutorial multimedia, aplicado al aprendizaje de la metodología Object Modeling Techniques, como complemento docente en los estudios de Ingeniería del Software. El estudio consta de varias etapas: diseño y construcción de un prototipo del tutorial multimedia (conceptos fundamentales, un ejemplo práctico de OMT y un test de conocimientos interno); aplicación del prototipo en el inicio y el final del periodo de prácticas de la asignatura, pasando un cuestionario para la evaluación subjetiva en ambos casos; y un análisis estadístico de los resultados obtenidos en las dos encuestas. La evaluación del tutorial, tanto en general, como en cada uno de sus aspectos concretos, ha sido satisfactoria, si bien se observan diferencias entre los resultados del primer cuestionario y los del segundo. Además, se ha visto que las expectativas iniciales que los alumnos tenían de la tecnología multimedia en general y de su aplicación a la enseñanza, han descendido con sus experiencias a lo largo del curso académico. Paralelamente desciende también la puntuación que dan al tutorial antes y después del curso, si bien, este descenso es mucho más pequeño que la disminución de las expectativas en multimedia

Association between a SLC23A2 gene variation, plasma vitamin C levels, and risk of glaucoma in a Mediterranean population

PurposeSeveral dietary factors have been associated with glaucoma. Among them, dietary antioxidant intake (i.e., vitamin C and vitamin A) in association with glaucoma has been analyzed, but with mixed results. Genetic factors may play a role in modulating the effect of dietary antioxidant intake on glaucoma; however, nutrigenetic studies in this field are scarce. Our aim was to study the association between selected polymorphisms in key proteins related to vitamin C and vitamin A concentrations and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).MethodsWe performed a case-control study matched for age, sex, and bodyweight. We recruited 300 subjects (150 POAG cases and 150 controls) from a Mediterranean population and determined the plasma concentrations of vitamin C and vitamin A for each subject. We selected the following single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to vitamin A and vitamin C concentrations: rs176990 and rs190910 in the retinol-binding protein 1 (RBP1) gene; and rs10063949 and rs1279683 in the Na+-dependent L-ascorbic acid transporters 1 and 2, respectively (encoded by the SLC23A1 and SLC23A2 genes).ResultsWe found a statistically significant association between the rs1279386 (A>G) SNP in SLC23A2 and POAG risk. In the crude analysis, homozygous subjects for the G allele (GG subjects) had higher risk of POAG than other genotypes (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.03–2.71). This association remained statistically significant (p=0.010) after multivariate adjustment for potential confounders. We also found that POAG patients had lower plasma vitamin C concentrations than control subjects (9.9±1.7 µg/ml versus 11.7±1.8 µg/ml, p<0.001). Moreover, we consistently detected a significant association between the rs1279386 SNP in SLC23A2 and plasma vitamin C concentrations: GG subjects had significantly lower plasma vitamin C concentrations than the other genotypes (9.0±1.4 µg/ml versus 10.5±1.6 µg/ml, p<0.001 in POAG cases and 10.9±1.6 µg/ml versus 12.1±1.8 µg/ml, p<0.001 in controls). The rs10063949 SNP in SLC23A1 was not associated with either plasma vitamin C concentrations or POAG risk. Similarly, SNPs in RBP1 were not associated with vitamin A concentrations or POAG risk.ConclusionsThe rs1279683 SNP in SLC23A2 was significantly associated with lower plasma concentrations of vitamin C and with higher risk of POAG in GG subjects