Higher Diet Quality Research Articles

A systematic review of observational studies on the association between diet quality patterns and visceral adipose tissue.

Beyond obesity, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has emerged as an important predictor of chronic disease, but the role of diet quality patterns (DQP) in VAT development is not well defined. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of how various DQP are associated with VAT via literature searches in PubMed and EMBASE. We included observational investigations in disease-free adults/adolescents that related DQP to VAT assessed by imaging methods. The studies were evaluated separately for a priori and a posteriori DQP and according to design differences. Study quality was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool. Of the 1807 screened articles, thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of a priori indices, for example, the Healthy Eating Index, showed significant inverse associations with VAT, while only a small proportion of a posteriori patterns were related to VAT. Results did not differ substantially by the method of exposure and outcome assessment or between studies with (n 20) or without (n 15) body-size adjustment, but significant findings were more common in younger v. older individuals, USA v. other populations and investigations with moderate v. serious risk of bias. The heterogeneity of the existing literature limited the ability to quantify the magnitude of the associations across studies. These findings suggest that a high-quality diet, as assessed by a priori DQP, is generally inversely associated with VAT, but results for a posteriori DQP are less consistent. As associations persisted after adjusting for body size, diet quality may beneficially influence VAT beyond its association with obesity.

Are food and beverage purchases reflective of dietary intake? Validity of supermarket purchases as indicator of diet quality in the Supreme Nudge Trial.

Dietary intake assessment is often complicated by intrinsic bias. This study investigated whether food purchase data could constitute a valid indication of dietary intake, by evaluating the extent to which diet quality as measured by supermarket food purchases is correlated with diet quality as measured by reported dietary intake. We used data from the Supreme Nudge cluster-randomised controlled supermarket trial (n=227). Data were collected at baseline from supermarket purchases (loyalty cards) and a dietary questionnaire (short 40-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)) to compute two scores reflecting diet quality from purchasing data (purchased diet quality) and FFQs (consumed diet quality). Both scores constituted of 13 food groups and could theoretically range between 0 (low diet quality) to 130 (high diet quality). The relationship between purchased diet quality and consumed diet quality was assessed using correlation coefficients, and the Bland-Altman limits-of-agreement method. Multiple linear regression was fitted between purchased diet quality and consumed diet quality, adjusted for age, sex, waist circumference, educational level, and household size. Consumed and purchased diet qualities were modestly positively correlated (Pearson's ρ = 0·31, 95% CI: 0·18 - 0·42). A positive association from linear regression was found after confouding adjustments (βbaseline = 0·22, 95%CI: 0·10 - 0·34). Purchased diet quality was systematically lower than the consumed diet quality. This study found that diet quality as measured by supermarket purchases provided a reasonable indication of diet quality as reported by short-FFQs, albeit modest.

The association between dietary quality index- international and metabolic risk factors in RaNCD cohort study

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death around the world. The Dietary Quality Index-International (DQI-I) is one of the indicators that shows changes in diet and its association with NCDs. The aim of this study is to measure the association between the DQI-I and major metabolic risk factors.MethodsThis study is a cross-sectional study based on data collected in the first phase of the prospective cohort study on Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD). To perform clinical and biochemical tests such as lipid profile, blood glucose and liver enzymes, blood samples were collected using standard vacutainer blood collection techniques. Information from the food frequency questionnaire containing 118 food items was used to score each person’s DQI-I. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between the DQI-I tertile and the metabolic risk factors. Linear regression was also used for the association between subgroups of DQI-I score and the metabolic risk factors.ResultsThe total number of subjects in this study was 7,115, with a mean age of 47.14 ± 8.29 years. Dietary quality was generally poor, with 37.03% in the lowest tertile. Men had better dietary quality than women. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, triglycerides and blood glucose were lower in the lowest tertile of dietary quality. A one-unit increase in the total DQI-I resulted in a 0.19 decrease in total cholesterol. Higher dietary quality was associated with a 22% increased risk of high triglycerides, a 19% increased risk of low high-density density lipoprotein, a 5% decreased risk of elevated low-density lipoprotein, a 42% increased risk of high blood pressure, and a 99% increased risk of high fasting blood glucose. Higher dietary quality was also associated with a 33% increased risk of overweight/obesity.ConclusionThe study found that participants had poor dietary quality, with some favorable metabolic outcomes in the lowest tertile, but concerning associations in the highest tertile, including increased risk for high triglycerides, blood pressure, and obesity. The complex associations suggest that balanced, multifaceted interventions are needed.

Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease across the Ages in the Era of Advanced Therapies.

The incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] has risen over the past decade to become a global issue. The objectives of this review were to describe the incidence and/or prevalence of IBD in the era of advanced therapies, and to describe the association between environmental risk factors and both pathogenesis and disease course across the ages. We performed a search of English language publications listed in PubMed regarding the epidemiology of IBD and key environmental factors implicated in IBD from January 2000 to December 2023. Annual incidence rates varied by geographical region with IBD estimates ranging from 10.5 to 46.14 per 100 000 in Europe, 1.37 to 1.5 per 100 000 in Asia and the Middle East, 23.67 to 39.8 per 100 000 in Oceania, 0.21 to 3.67 per 100 000 in South America, and 7.3 to 30.2 per 100 000 in North America. The burden of IBD among children and adolescents, and older people is rising globally. Key environmental factors implicated in IBD pathogenesis include exposure to tobacco smoking, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral contraceptives, infections, and ultra-high processed foods. Breastfeeding and a high-quality diet rich in fruit, vegetables, fish, and other fibre sources are important protective factors. Smoking has consistently been shown to negatively impact disease outcomes for Crohn's disease. The epidemiology of IBD has undergone considerable change in recent decades, with an increase in the burden of disease worldwide. Optimally studying and targeting environmental triggers in IBD may offer future opportunities for disease modification.

Dietary bisphenols exposure as an influencing factor of body mass index

BackgroundOver the past three decades, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity worldwide. The obesogen hypothesis suggests that certain external agents may affect pathways related to fat accumulation and energy balance by stimulating fat cell differentiation and proliferation. Previous research has indicated that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and some of its analogues may influence fat accumulation by promoting the transformation of preadipocytes into adipocytes. This study aimed to assess the possible contribution of dietary bisphenol exposure to the odds of developing overweight and obesity in a sample of Spanish children according to sex.MethodsDietary and anthropometric data were collected from 179 controls and 124 cases schoolchildren aged 3–12 years. Dietary exposure to BPA and bisphenol S (BPS) was assessed using a food consumption frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to assess the influence of dietary exposure to bisphenols on overweight and obesity stratified by sex.ResultsFor females, cases had significantly higher exposure to BPA from meat and eggs compared to controls (median = 319.55, interquartile range (IQR) = 176.39–381.01 vs 231.79 (IQR) = 162.11–350.19, p-value = 0.046). Diet quality was higher for controls (6.21 (2.14) vs 4.80 (2.24) p < 0.001) among males independently of a high or low exposure to bisphenols. However, higher diet quality was observed for female controls with an high exposure of total bisphenols (6.79 (2.04) vs 5.33 (2.02) p = 0.031). Females exposed to high levels of BPA from meat and eggs had higher likelihood of being overweight and obese (adjusted Odds Ratio = 2.70, 95% confidence interval = 1.00 – 7.32). However, no consistent associations were found in males.ConclusionsHigh BPA levels from meat and eggs were positively associated with overweight and obesity in females. The dietary intake of BPA in the schoolchildren in the present study was much higher than the acceptable daily intake established by EFSA for the last year.

High-quality dietary protein (essential amino acids matched to reproductive needs) partially breaks the lifespan and reproduction trade-off in lubber grasshoppers.

Finding interventions to break the trade-off between reproduction and lifespan can provide insight into physiological limitations of animals. Effects of dietary protein quality on the trade-off are currently unclear, but clarity could lead to better designed diets that match animal needs. Dietary amino acid blends matching yolk proteins support reproduction and extend lifespan in fruit flies. To test if this is conserved across species, we matched dietary amino acids to vitellogenin to test reproduction and lifespan in adult females of the lubber grasshopper. Specifically, we compared varying degrees of protein quality by manipulating dietary essential amino acids. We identified a high-quality protein diet (amino acids matched to vitellogenin, or reproductive needs) that increased reproduction and matched lifespan in comparison to diets that differed only in the ratios of essential amino acids (i.e., were isocaloric and isonitrogenous). All these diets had longer lifespan but lower reproductive output than fully fed controls. In a separate experiment, full reproduction was possible on the high-quality artificial diet when offered at a 78% higher protein quantity and with a larger lettuce supplement (~ 17% of ad libitum). Additionally, we observed that as dietary protein quality was decreased (i.e., diets were less matched to vitellogenin), reproduction was reduced, and lifespan was extended in the more extreme scenarios. Taken together, these results indicate that the balance of dietary essential amino acids plays an important role in the lifespan and reproduction trade-off, while more work needs to be conducted to find the optimal diet mix for this species.

Diet quality trajectories from infancy to age 18 and their association with diet quality at age 26

Abstract Background and objectives Dietary habits during childhood and adolescence show strong stability. However, no studies have investigated dietary trajectories from infancy to adulthood. We therefore aimed to 1) identify diet quality trajectories from age 1 to 18 years and 2) explore how trajectories are associated with diet quality at age 26 years. Methods The study included 620 individuals from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP), started in infancy (n = 1062). Food and nutrient intake was assessed annually from age one to age 18, and again at age 26 using 4-day food records. A food-based diet score (range 0-33) was calculated to indicate diet quality. Group-based modelling was used to model trajectories of diet quality between the ages of 1 and 18 years. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate associations between the diet quality trajectory groups and diet quality at age 26 years. Results By the age of 18, we found five diet quality groups: 1) low (19% of participants) with a mean diet score of 12 points, 2) decreasing (25%) with a mean diet score of 15 points, 3) increasing (15%) with a mean diet score of 16 points, 4) intermediate (31%) with a mean diet score of 18 points, and 5) high (10%) with a mean diet score of 22 points. The diet quality trajectory groups were associated with 0.4 (decreasing), 2.5 (medium), 3.8 (increasing) and 4.1 (high) points higher diet scores at age 26 compared to the low diet quality trajectory group (p &amp;lt; 0.001 for all). Discussion Five distinct dietary trajectories were found from infancy to late adolescence, with a clear difference between the groups with the lowest and highest diet quality. However, the differences in diet quality levelled out by the age of 26 years. Our results suggest that diet quality established already in childhood moderately predicts diet quality into adulthood. Key messages • Diet quality established in childhood moderately predicts diet quality in young adulthood. • Five distinct dietary trajectories were found from infancy to late adolescence, with a clear difference between the groups with the lowest and highest diet quality.

Onset of cognitive impairment, diet quality and adherence to dietary guidelines over 12 years: the Personality and Total Health Cohort Study.

Around 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, and more are expected due to population ageing. We aimed to investigate associations between healthy diet and mild cognitive impairment and dementia in 1753 older adults aged 60-64 from the PATH (Personality and Total Health Through Life Cohort) study. Healthy diet was defined by the Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurological Delay (MIND) and two dietary guideline quality scores (Dietary Guideline Index (DGI) and Index Diet Quality (IDQ)), which were calculated from baseline FFQ. Higher dietary scores indicated higher diet quality. Incidence of Alzheimer's disease/vascular dementia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders criteria) and mild cognitive impairment (Winbald criteria) was assessed after 12 years of follow-up using validated questionnaires with nominated proxies. Logistic regression explored associations between dietary scores and cognitive function, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors and medical preconditions. Adjusted logistic regression comparing the per unit linear increase in diet scores showed MIND (OR = 0·82, 95 % CI = 0·68, 0·99), but not DGI (0·99 (0·97, 1·00)) or IDQ (1·12 (0·95, 1·32)), was significantly associated with lower odds of developing cognitive impairment. In conclusion, a healthier neuroprotective dietary pattern is associated with better cognitive function over time, whereas dietary patterns generated from general dietary guidelines did not show a significant association. Further research and well-designed clinical studies are needed to determine the effects of the MIND diet on cognitive impairment in older adults without a family history of dementia.

Modifiable risk factors and incident cardiovascular events in gout patients

Abstract Background Gout is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events. However, it remains uncertain whether achieving the control targets for risk factors can attenuate this risk. This study evaluated the association between the attainment of targeted seven risk factors and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACCE) among patients with gout. Methods From the UK Biobank database, we analyzed data from participants diagnosed with gout at baseline (2006-2010). These individuals were followed to monitor the incidence of MACCE. Gout patients were stratified based on the achievement of seven predefined risk factor targets at baseline: body mass index 18.5-24.9, adherence to a high-quality diet, engagement in regular exercise, non-smoking status, abstention from alcohol, hemoglobin A1c &amp;lt;48 mmol/mol, and serum urate &amp;lt; 360 μmol/L. The primary outcome was the incidence of MACCE, encompassing all-cause death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Cox model was used to identify independent predictors of MACCE. Results After a median follow-up of 14.1 years, 1,318 of 6,273 gout patients developed MACCE. Among individuals with gout, the risk of MACCE decreased stepwise with the number of optimally managed modifiable risk factors. For participants exhibiting 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 optimal modifiable factors, the hazard ratios (HRs) were 0.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.26-0.58), 0.30 (95%CI: 0.20-0.44), 0.28 (95%CI: 0.19-0.41), and 0.24 (95%CI: 0.16-0.36) respectively, showing a significant trend towards risk reduction (Ptrend &amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion Among individuals with gout, there is a stepwise decrease in the risk of MACCE with every additional risk factor that is optimally controlled.Study flowStratified analysis for adjusted HRs

Lifestyle and BMI Changes after the Release of COVID-19 Restrictions: Do Humans Go ‘Back to Normal’?

Humans adapt their life history strategy and lifestyle behavior to the environment. The social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the years 2020–2021 led to changes in diet and physical activity habits in large parts of populations worldwide. Additionally, many people reported an increase in body weight during the pandemic. We investigated how diet quality, physical activity, and BMI changed since the end of the COVID-19 restrictions in Switzerland (2019–2023). We assessed diet and physical activity using a standardized questionnaire. We measured anthropometry and BMI using a stadiometer and a balance of a medical bioimpedance analyzer. Our results show a stable BMI in men and women during the pandemic. In both sexes, diet quality and physical activity levels did not change significantly during this time. Among women, physical activity and age were associated with BMI, while in men, apart from physical activity, high diet quality and living in the agglomeration were associated with BMI. Overall, we did not find evidence for a transient “unhealthier” lifestyle immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we found constituent sex differences in BMI determinants. Our results could indicate a higher resilience in highly educated persons and might contribute to more personalized approaches to prevent obesity.

The association of overall dietary quality on stress, anxiety, depression, and academic performance in college students: a systematic review

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to examine current evidence regarding the associations between dietary quality and mental well-being indicators (stress, anxiety, and/or depression) in college students, with a secondary aim of characterizing the relationship between overall dietary quality and academic performance. Methods: Searches were performed, and the PRISMA guidelines were followed for reporting the methods and results. Results: Twelve observational studies were included and reviewed showing high dietary quality was associated with: low stress (four studies), high stress (one study), and no significant association (two studies); low depression (three studies) and no significant association (two studies) and low anxiety (two studies), high anxiety (one study), and no significant associations (two studies). Results showed weak positive associations between overall dietary quality and academic performance. Conclusions: These results are consistent with other studies of dietary quality and non-clinical mental health outcomes; more researched is needed to determine potential associations.

The effect of diet quality and body mass index on depression in older adults: a growth curve analysis

BackgroundNutrition not only plays an important role in one’s physical health, but also mental health. The causal association between nutrition and mental health remains unclear. While a healthy dietary pattern may protect one against mental illness, it is also possible that poor mental health could lead to unhealthy eating habits or choices. Furthermore, emerging studies suggest that a higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms in older adults, contrasting the effect observed in other populations. With an ageing population, this study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of a healthy dietary pattern, BMI, and other covariates on depressive symptoms in older adults.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study between 2014 and 2017, with each follow-up assessment being one year apart. A total of 2081 participants above 65 years old (M = 79.65, SD = 7.94) completed the baseline assessment in 2014, which included basic demographics, self-reported eating habits, depressive symptoms, and the measurement of height and weight. Distance to supermarkets and fast food was calculated based on participants’ residential addresses. Two growth models were performed to assess the trajectory of change in depressive symptoms over time.ResultsOlder adults experienced a significant decrease in depressive symptoms over time (intercept = 2.68, p < .001; slope = -0.25, p < .001). At baseline, a higher diet quality (B = -0.95, p < .001), higher BMI (B = -0.09, p < .001), younger age (B = 0.40, p = .001), being a male (B = 0.76, p < .001), and having fewer chronic diseases (B = 0.39, p < .001) were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Over time, a higher diet quality (B = 0.14, p = .05), higher BMI (B = 0.02, p = .04), and fewer chronic diseases (B = -0.08, p < .001) predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms over time.ConclusionsA higher diet quality and higher BMI may serve as protective factors for depressive symptoms in older adults. Potential implications are being discussed.

Association of healthy eating index (HEI), alternative healthy eating index (AHEI) with antioxidant capacity of maternal breast milk and infant’s urine: a cross-sectional study

Maternal dietary quality may alter the nutrient content of breast milk. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the healthy eating index (HEI) and alternative healthy eating index (AHEI) of a breastfeeding mother’s diet with the antioxidant profile of her breast milk and her infant’s urine. This study included 300 healthy mother-infant pairs. The participants’ dietary intake was estimated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The diet quality of participants was assessed using the HEI and AHEI. The total antioxidant content of the breast milk and infant’s urine was evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2, 2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), and Thiol quantification assays. After adjusting for confounding factors, the odds of a low malondialdehyde (MDA) content of breast milk were significantly higher in the highest quartile of HEI than in the lowest quartile. The odds of low DPPH and FRAP in infant urine decreased in the highest quartile of HEI compared to the lowest quartile. No significant relationship was found between AHEI and antioxidant levels of breast milk and the infant’s urine. Our findings demonstrate that a high quality diet of breastfeeding mothers, identified by a higher HEI, can affect the oxidant-antioxidant balance of a mother’s breast milk and her infant’s urine.

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The article presents a combined, shared pedagogical practice implemented in two parts: a shared project-based practice “Curious and useful tips for food and drink” in grade VIII and an extracurricular school practice “Week of healthy foods and nutrition” for high school students. The practice is a way to inform, increase competences, build a model for a critical choice of food and drinks and for a balanced, complete, high-quality, regular and healthy diet of teenagers. Students learn to use digital health and energy calculator applications, calculate BMI (body mass index) and BEE (basal energy metabolism), determine their health status in relation to food and nutrition, combine foods correctly, create personal nutrition programs, select foods according to your blood type and their color. In “Healthy Foods and Nutrition Week”, students participate in various competitions, learn about the science of nutrition, carving techniques, design and presentation of healthy foods and traditional foods from European countries. The practice builds up the knowledge, skills and habits of the students of Professional School of Design “Elisaveta Vazova” for healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.

Dietary quality and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in colon cancer.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and dose-limiting chemotoxicity caused by oxaliplatin. This study investigated the relationship between dietary quality and the development of moderate and/or severe CIPN in colon cancer survivors using data from the Focus on Reducing Dose-Limiting Toxicities in Colon Cancer with Resistance Exercise trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03291951). Diet quality was collected using a 127-item food-frequency questionnaire and was scored using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010). CIPN was assessed with the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events at each chemotherapy cycle. The association of dietary quality with time to the first moderate-to-severe (moderate-severe) or severe event of CIPN was estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Only participants who received oxaliplatin were included in this analysis (n=132). Seventy-four participants (56.1%) reported moderate-severe CIPN. Higher dietary quality was associated with a significantly decreased risk of moderate-severe CIPN (hazard ratio [HR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-0.99) and severe CIPN (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.98). Consumption of red and processed meat (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.83) and sugar-sweetened beverages (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10-1.59) was associated with an increased risk of moderate-severe CIPN. Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages also was associated with an increased risk of severe CIPN (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.14-2.18), whereas vegetable consumption was associated with a reduced risk of severe CIPN (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09-0.73). Among patients with colon cancer who received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, higher baseline dietary quality was associated with a reduced risk of moderate-severe CIPN.

Adding More Beans to the US Typical Dietary Pattern Can Lead to Improved Shortfall Nutrient Intakes and a Higher Diet Quality in American Adults

Adding More Beans to the US Typical Dietary Pattern Can Lead to Improved Shortfall Nutrient Intakes and a Higher Diet Quality in American Adults

Diet and Survival in Black Women With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer survival among Black women is the lowest across all racial and ethnic groups. Poor dietary quality also disproportionately affects Black populations, but its association with ovarian cancer survival in this population remains largely unknown. To examine associations between dietary patterns and survival among Black women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). This prospective cohort study was conducted among self-identified Black women aged 20 to 79 years newly diagnosed with histologically confirmed EOC in the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study (AACES) between December 2010 and December 2015, with follow-up until October 2022. AACES is a population-based study of ovarian cancer risk and survival among Black women in 11 US regions. Data were analyzed from March 2023 to June 2024. Dietary patterns were assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), with scores calculated based on dietary intake in the year prior to diagnosis and collected via the validated Block 2005 Food Frequency Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate better dietary quality. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated from multivariable Cox models for the association between adherence to dietary recommendations and overall mortality among all participants and those with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Among 483 Black women with EOC (mean [SD] age, 58.1 [10.5] years), 310 deaths were recorded during a median (IQR) follow-up of 4.3 (2.0-8.2) years. No association of dietary patterns with mortality was found among women with EOC overall. However, among 325 women with HGSOC, better adherence to HEI-2020 was associated with decreased mortality in later quartiles compared with the first quartile (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.92 for quartile 2; HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.46-0.97 for quartile 3; HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.91 for quartile 4 ). Similar results were observed with AHEI-2010 among women with HGSOC for the second (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43-0.89) and fourth (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-0.98) quartiles compared with quartile 1. In this study, women with moderate and high prediagnosis dietary quality had significantly lower mortality rates from HGSOC compared with women with the lowest prediagnosis dietary quality. These findings suggest that even moderate adherence to dietary guidelines prior to diagnosis may be associated with improved survival among Black women with HGSOC, the most lethal form of ovarian cancer.

Omnivore, vegan and vegetarian diet quality associations with depressive symptoms: A comparative cross-sectional analysis of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

BackgroundDepressive symptoms are experienced by >350 million people globally. Research suggests that a diet rich in plant foods could be protective against depressive symptoms, but vegans and vegetarians who eat a predominant plant-based diet are known to have higher depressive symptoms than omnivores. MethodsThis study aims to explore a secondary analysis of the association between diet quality and depressive symptoms in women born between 1973 and 1978 who follow vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore diets from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health at baseline (1996) and at three time points (2000, 2003 and 2009). ResultsAfter controlling for covarying factors, there was a significant association between diet quality and depressive symptoms in both the plant-based and omnivore groups at both time points F(9, 4851) = 106.90, p < .001. There was no significant difference between diet quality and depressive symptoms between diet type. ConclusionsDespite diet type (plant-based or omnivore), adhering to a high-quality diet may decrease depressive symptoms and a low-quality diet may increase depressive symptoms in Australian women. LimitationsCaution should be exercised when interpreting these results due to the small sample sizes and small resulting coefficients, there is uncertainty that coefficients this small can be associated with any meaningful change in an individual being treated for depressive symptoms in a clinical setting.

Canadian Dietary Intakes Assessed by Nutrient Profiling Models and Association with Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease.

Purpose: Nutrient profiling (NP) ranks foods according to nutritional composition and underpins policies (e.g.,front-of-package (FOP) labelling). This study aimed to evaluate Canadian adults' dietary intakes using proposed Canadian FOP "high-in" labelling thresholds and international NP models (i.e.,Ofcom, FSANZ, and Nutri-Score) and examine the association between intakes using international NP models and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD).Methods: Intakes from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition (CCHS-Nutrition) 2004 and 2015 were given NP scores and assessed against FOP thresholds. CCHS-Nutrition 2004 was linked with death records (Canadian Vital Statistics Database, n = 6767) and CVD incidence and mortality (hospital Discharge Abstract Database, n = 6420) until December 2017.Results: Foods that would require FOP labels, should there be such regulation in Canada, contributed 38% of calories. Association between NP scores and mortality was significant for Ofcom, FSANZ, and Nutri-Score (hazard ratio (HR) in highest quintile (lowest quality): 1.73, 95%CI [1.20-2.49], 1.59[1.15-2.21], and 1.75[1.18-2.59], respectively), and for CVD incidence, among males (HR in highest quintile: 2.11[1.15-3.89], 1.74[1.07-2.84], and 2.29[1.24-4.24], respectively).Conclusions: Canadians had moderately healthy intakes. NP systems could discriminate between low and high dietary quality such that adults with the lowest diet quality were more likely to experience all-cause mortality and CVD events (for males).

Correlation of mediterranean diet pattern and lifestyle factors with semen quality of men attending fertility clinics: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundWhile numerous studies have examined the impact of individual or combined nutrients on semen quality, research on the correlation between overall dietary patterns and semen quality remains limited. This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between adherence to the alternative Mediterranean diet (aMED) and semen quality. MethodsA total of 274 men, presenting with both normal and abnormal semen parameters, participated in this study. Dietary data were collected using a 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Participants were divided into three groups based on their adherence to the Mediterranean diet (T1, T2, and T3). Statistical analyses, including ANOVA for numerical data and Chi-square tests for categorical data, were conducted. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to estimate the association between aMED scores and abnormal semen parameters. ResultsParticipants in the highest adherence group (T3) were younger and had lower BMI compared to those in the other tertiles. Significant differences in sperm parameters were observed across the tertiles. T3 recorded the highest levels of sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, progressive motility, and normal morphology (57.53 ± 36.16, 213.8 ± 158.9, 73.4 ± 25.9, 61.2 ± 24.6, and 6.42 ± 1.51, respectively), whereas T1 had the lowest values (11.92 ± 22.29, 43.3 ± 73.8, 36.7 ± 33.8, 4.6 ± 5.7, respectively). No significant differences were found in semen volume and viscosity. The regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between aMED scores and sperm concentration (B = 1.32, P = 0.001), total sperm count (B = 1.12, P = 0.001), and total motility (B = 0.71, P = 0.001). ConclusionAdherence to a high-quality Mediterranean diet is positively associated with improved semen quality and increased male fertility potential. Promoting healthy dietary patterns may be an effective strategy to enhance sperm motility and overall male reproductive health.