High Intake Of Nuts Research Articles

Nut consumption, gut microbiota, and body fat distribution: results of a large, community-based population study.

We aimed to investigate the relationships among nut consumption, gut microbiota, and body fat distribution. We studied 2255 Chinese adults in the Lanxi Cohort living in urban areas in Lanxi City, China. Fat distribution was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and nut consumption was assessed using food frequency questionnaires. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing was performed on stool samples from 1724 participants. Linear regression and Spearman correlation were used in all analyses. A validation study was performed using 1274 participants in the Lanxi Cohort living in rural areas. Nut consumption was beneficially associated with regional fat accumulation. Gut microbial analysis suggested that a high intake of nuts was associated with greater microbial α diversity. Six genera were found to be associated with nut consumption, and the abundance of genera Anaerobutyricum, Anaerotaenia, and Fusobacterium was significantly associated with fat distribution. Favorable relationships between α diversity and fat distribution were also observed. Similar relationships between gut microbiota and fat distribution were obtained in the validation analysis. We have shown that nut consumption is beneficially associated with body fat distribution and gut microbiota diversity and taxonomy. Furthermore, the microbial features related to high nut intake are associated with a favorable pattern of fat distribution.

1327-P: The Association between Adherence to Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Nephropathy in Long-Duration Type 1 Diabetes

Vascular complications contribute to the high morbidity and mortality in type 1 diabetes (T1D), necessitating a search for new therapeutic measures. The Alternative Mediterranean diet score (aMED), high in vegetable, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and low in red and processed meat and uses olive oil as the main fat source, has been shown to improve glycemic control and reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in type 2 diabetes, but has not been examined for relationships to vascular complications in T1D. We examined the cross-sectional relationships between aMed adherence and vascular complications among 645 individuals of the Joslin 50-year Medalist study having T1D > 50 years and food frequency histories captured. In multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for age and sex, a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 17% reduced odds of diabetic nephropathy (DN, eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2) [OR 0.83, 95% Cl 0.72-0.95, p=0.008], and this remained significant (p<0.05) after further adjustments for HbA1c, diabetes duration, lipids and blood pressure. There were no significant associations between aMed and CVD, diabetic retinopathy or neuropathy. Among the specific aMED components, higher intake of nuts, higher ratio of monounsaturated fat to saturated fat and lower intake of red and processed meats were all associated with significantly (p<0.05) reduced odds of DN. Triglycerides, HDL and albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) were significant effect modifiers (p for interaction <0.05) such that, more DN-protective effects of aMed were observed among those with higher triglycerides, lower HDL, and higher ACR. To conclude, our findings suggest that greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet in individuals with long duration T1D is associated with lower risk of DN, independent of traditional risk factors. Further studies are warranted to validate its potential as an effective therapeutic approach against DN in people with T1D. Disclosure A.Hayes: None. G.L.King: Research Support; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. H.Shah: None. S.Jangolla: None. J.Gauthier: None. N.A.Ziemniak: None. I.Wu: None. K.Lau: None. A.Adam: None. F.Hu: None. F.K.Tabung: None. Funding Nunnally Foundation Inc.; Thomas J. Beatson, Jr. Foundation

Individual nutrients and serum klotho levels in adults aged 40-79 years.

Several dietary factors (including adherence to the Mediterranean diet or higher nut intake) seem to positively affect circulating antiaging Klotho protein levels; yet, a description of possible relationships between individual nutrients and Klotho activity has not been evaluated. We analyzed the association of dietary intake of individual macro- and micronutrients and nonnutritive food components with circulating Klotho levels in a sample of 40- to 79-year-old US adults. Data from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Nutrient/food component intakes were calculated in relation to total energy intake using the nutrient density method, and available pristine serum samples were analyzed for serum Klotho concentrations. The final study sample consisted of 2637 participants (mean age 59.0 ± 10.7 years; 52% women). Higher Klotho concentrations were found with higher intake of carbohydrates (p < .001), total sugars (p < .001), dietary fibers (p < .001), vitamin D (p=.05), total folates (p=.015), and copper (p=.018). The results of the regression analysis with a crude model showed significant associations among five nutrients/food components (carbohydrates, alcohol, total sugars, dietary fibers, and niacin) and soluble Klotho levels across the sample. After adjusting the models for age and gender, the nutrient/food component-Klotho association remained significant for carbohydrates, total sugars, and alcohol (p < .05). Dietary exposure to individual nutrients and nonnutritive food components appears to be associated with Klotho activity; however, additional research is needed to investigate the relationship between cause and effect in diet composition-Klotho interplay.

Differences in all-cause mortality risk associated with animal and plant dietary protein sources consumption

The relationship between protein intake and mortality is still controversial. We prospectively examined the associations of dietary protein sources with all-cause mortality risk in the Isfahan cohort study (ICS). A total of 5431 participants, aged ≥ 35 years, were enrolled in the ICS, in 2001 and followed through 2013. The frequency of protein intakes from different sources was estimated through a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Any new case of death was recorded over the follow-up duration. Hazard ratio (HR)s and 95% confidence interval (CI)s were estimated through Cox proportional hazards regression models. During a median follow-up of 11.3 years, 483 deaths were documented. Higher intakes of plant proteins (HR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.46, 0.91) and animal proteins (HR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.13, 2.05) were associated with a decreased and increased risk of mortality, respectively. Additional adjustment for some mediators did not considerably affect the associations for animal protein (HR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.15, 2.09), whereas led to a tendency towards lower risk for plant protein in the top quintile compared with the bottom one (HR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.48, 0.95; P trend = 0.06). Among specific major sources, higher intakes of nuts and fish were associated with a 27% (95% CI 0.58, 0.93) and 21% (95% CI 0.62, 1.01) lower risk of mortality, respectively. The inverse association between plant protein and mortality risk might be mediated by some metabolic disorders. However, our results suggest an independent positive association for animal protein and all-cause mortality.

Abstract 5955: Association of dietary patterns and liver steatosis and fibrosis among Mexican Americans in NHANES 2017-2018

Abstract Background: Mexican Americans (MAs) have the highest rates of liver steatosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver cancer compared to other Hispanic subpopulations, non-Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks. While some diet patterns have been identified to increase or decrease risk of liver steatosis and fibrosis, no research to our knowledge has identified diet patterns associated with these outcomes in MAs. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between dietary patterns derived from factor analysis and liver steatosis and fibrosis in a nationally representative sample of MAs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of participant data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018. Participants were adults who identified as MA who were not pregnant or breastfeeding and had no previous diagnosis of hepatitis A or B, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Dietary patterns were derived by exploratory factor analysis of 24-hr dietary recall data. Individuals who completed only one recall, had unreliable dietary data, or reported an average caloric intake &amp;lt; 500 kcals/day or &amp;gt; 4,000 kcals/day were excluded. Elastography measurements were obtained from eligible participants in a fasting state using the Fibroscan® which provided measures of liver steatosis as controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness, a validated proxy for fibrosis. The associations of each derived dietary pattern with liver steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated in multivariate linear regression models controlling for body mass index (BMI), sex, age, average total caloric intake, sedentary time, household income, diabetes status, and smoking status. Results: The final analytic sample consisted of 633 MA adults with a mean age of 37.7 ± 0.3 years and mean BMI of 31.0 ± 1.1 kg/m2. Five factors (i.e. diet patterns) were derived accounting for 86% of the variation prior to rotation. Factor 4, characterized by relatively high intake of nuts, seeds, and oils was significantly associated with decreased levels of liver steatosis in two of the three models but not the fully-adjusted model. Factor 4 was also significantly associated with decreased fibrosis in all three models, including the fully-adjusted model (p=0.05). Factor 2, characterized by relatively high intake of milk and dairy, was significantly associated with increased levels of liver steatosis in two of the three models, including the fully-adjusted model (p=0.03). Conclusion: In a large, nationally representative sample of MA adults, we identified diet patterns associated with levels of liver fibrosis and steatosis in an exploratory analysis. Future research should investigate the association of dietary patterns in larger samples to inform interventions to reduce liver disease risk in MAs. Citation Format: Kristin E. Morrill, Melissa Lopez-Pentecost, Joel Parker, David O. Garcia, Elizabeth T. Jacobs. Association of dietary patterns and liver steatosis and fibrosis among Mexican Americans in NHANES 2017-2018 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5955.

Nut Consumption Is Associated with Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Type 1 Diabetes

Although nut consumption has been associated with several health benefits, it has not been investigated in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, our aim was to assess nut consumption and its association with metabolic syndrome in adult individuals with type 1 diabetes taking part in the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study. The nut intake of the 1058 participants was assessed from 3-day food records that were completed twice, and the number of weekly servings, assuming a serving size of 28.4 g, was calculated. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the cardiovascular risk factors: central obesity, high blood pressure (≥130/85 mmHg or use of antihypertensive medication), high triglyceride concentration (≥1.70 mmol/L or use of lipid-lowering medication), low HDL-cholesterol concentration (<1.00 mmol/L in men and <1.30 mmol/L in women or use of lipid-lowering medication), and hyperglycaemia. Overweight/obesity was defined as a BMI ≥25 kg/m2. HbA1c > 59 mmol/mol (>7.5%) was used as a criterion for suboptimal glycaemic control. Of the 1058 (mean age 46 years, 41.6% men) participants, 689 (54.1%) reported no nut intake. In the remaining sample, the median weekly nut intake was 40.8 g. In the adjusted models, higher nut intake, as the continuous number of weekly servings and the comparison of those with <2 and ≥2 weekly servings, was associated with lower metabolic syndrome score, waist circumference, HbA1c, and BMI. Nut consumption as a continuous variable was negatively associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome, its blood pressure, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol components, and suboptimal glycaemic control. Consumption of ≥2 weekly servings was associated with lower odds of suboptimal glycaemic control (by 51.5%), overweight/obesity (by 33.4%), and metabolic syndrome (by 51.8%) and meeting the waist (by 37.3%), blood pressure (by 44.5%), triglyceride (by 37.7%), and HDL-cholesterol (by 36.2%) components of the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, a weekly nut intake of ≥2 servings was beneficially associated with all the components of the metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetes. The causality of this association will need to be investigated.

Plant-based polyphenol-rich foods and beverages influence metabolic health in a Mediterranean cohort

Abstract Background There is convincing evidence that a healthy diet may affect metabolic disorders and reduce the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. Plant-based dietary patterns have been the focus of major interest for their potential in improving metabolic status of the general population. Besides their content in fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidant vitamins, also phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, have been called out as potential compounds driving the aforementioned benefits. This study aimed to explore the association between a plant-based foods and beverages rich in polyphenols and metabolic outcomes irrespectively of the role of the whole diet. Methods Demographic and dietary characteristics of 2044 adults living in southern Italy were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the association between polyphenol-rich foods and beverage consumption and metabolic status, adjusted for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Results Individuals with a higher total polyphenol-rich beverage intake (including coffee, tea, and red wine) had higher polyphenols intake and were less likely to have hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia; however, when adjusted for potential confounding factors, only the association with hypertension remained significant (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94). Higher nut intake was inversely associated with occurrence of hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. However, the association did not remain significant for the latter after adjusting for the main background characteristics, while an inverse association was stably confirmed for hypertension (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.46-0.80 and OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26-0.74, respectively) even after adjusting for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Conclusions Plant-based polyphenol-rich foods and beverages are major driver of metabolic benefits irrespectively of the overall adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Key messages Higher intake of plant-based polyphenol-rich foods may contribute to better metabolic health. Plant-based polyphenol-rich foods not characteristics of the Mediterranean diet could be underrated among individuals living in the Mediterranean area.

Dietary Patterns Characterized by Fat Type in Association with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: A Longitudinal Study of UK Biobank Participants.

The fat type consumed is considered a risk factor for developing obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, these associations have not been investigated using a dietary patterns approach, which can capture combinations of foods and fat type consumed. This study aimed to investigate associations between dietary patterns with varying proportions of SFAs, MUFAs, or PUFAs and obesity, abdominal obesity, and self-reported T2D incidence. This study included UK Biobank participants with 2 or more 24-h dietary assessments, free from the outcome of interest at recruitment, and with outcome data at follow-up (n=16,523; mean follow-up: 6.3 y). Reduced rank regression was used to derive dietary patterns with SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs (% of energy intake) as response variables. Logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics, was used to investigate the associations between dietary patterns and obesity [BMI (kg/m2) ≥30], abdominal obesity (waist circumference; men: ≥102cm; women: ≥88cm) and T2D incidence. Two dietary patterns, DP1 and DP2, were identified: DP1 positively correlated with SFAs (r = 0.48), MUFAs (r = 0.67), and PUFAs (r = 0.56), characterized by higher intake of nuts, seeds, and butter and lower intake of fruit and low-fat yogurt; DP2 positively correlated with SFAs (r = 0.76) and negatively with PUFAs (r = -0.64) and MUFAs (r = -0.01), characterized by higher intake of butter and high-fat cheese and lower intake of nuts and seeds. Only DP2 was associated with higher obesity and abdominal obesity incidence (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.45; and OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.38, respectively). Neither of the dietary patterns was associated with T2D incidence. These findings provide evidence that a dietary pattern characterized by higher SFA and lower PUFA foods is associated with obesity and abdominal obesity incidence, but not T2D.

Are fatty nuts a weighty concern? A systematic review and meta-analysis and dose-response meta-regression of prospective cohorts and randomized controlled trials.

SummaryNuts are recommended for cardiovascular health, yet concerns remain that nuts may contribute to weight gain due to their high energy density. A systematic review and meta‐analysis of prospective cohorts and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to update the evidence, provide a dose–response analysis, and assess differences in nut type, comparator and more in subgroup analyses. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched, along with manual searches. Data from eligible studies were pooled using meta‐analysis methods. Interstudy heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q statistic) and quantified (I 2 statistic). Certainty of the evidence was assessed by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Six prospective cohort studies (7 unique cohorts, n = 569,910) and 86 RCTs (114 comparisons, n = 5873) met eligibility criteria. Nuts were associated with lower incidence of overweight/obesity (RR 0.93 [95% CI 0.88 to 0.98] P < 0.001, “moderate” certainty of evidence) in prospective cohorts. RCTs presented no adverse effect of nuts on body weight (MD 0.09 kg, [95% CI −0.09 to 0.27 kg] P < 0.001, “high” certainty of evidence). Meta‐regression showed that higher nut intake was associated with reductions in body weight and body fat. Current evidence demonstrates the concern that nut consumption contributes to increased adiposity appears unwarranted.

Associations between nut intake, cognitive function and non\u2010alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in older adults in the United States: NHANES 2011-14

BackgroundNuts are nutrient-rich and reported to provide some cognitive and cardiometabolic health benefits, but limited studies have focused on older adults. This study investigated the cross-sectional relationship between habitual nut intake, dietary pattern and quality, cognition and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in older adults.MethodsOlder adults (≥ 60 years) from the NHANES 2011-12 and 2013-14 cohorts, who had complete data on cognitive function (as CERAD total, delayed recall, animal fluency and digit-symbol substitution test) and variables to calculate the Fatty Liver Index (FLI), an indicator of NAFLD, were included (n = 1848). Nut intake and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index 2015) were determined using two 24-hour diet recalls. Participants were categorised into one of four groups based on their habitual nut intake: non-consumers (0 g/d), low intake (0.1–15.0 g/d), moderate intake (15.1–30.0 g/d) or met recommendation (> 30 g/d), with all outcomes compared between these nut intake groups.ResultsCognitive scores of older adults were the lowest in non-consumers and significantly highest in the moderate intake group, with no further increase in those who consumed nuts more than 30 g/d (p < 0.007). FLI was the lowest among older adults with moderate nut intake but the associations disappeared after adjusting for covariates (p = 0.329). Moderate nut intake was also associated with better immediate and delayed memory in older adults with high risk of NAFLD (FLI ≥ 60) (B = 1.84 and 1.11, p < 0.05 respectively). Higher nutrient intake and better diet quality (p < 0.001) were seen with higher nut intake but did not influence energy from saturated fat intake. Factor analysis revealed ‘Nuts and oils’ as one of the four major dietary patterns associated with better cognition and lower FLI scores.ConclusionsModerate nut intake (15.1–30.0 g/d) may be sufficient for better cognitive performance, but not NAFLD risk of older adults in the US.

Total Nut, Tree Nut, and Peanut Consumption and Metabolic Status in Southern Italian Adults.

Background: Nut consumption has been associated with cardio-metabolic health benefits. However, studies conducted in the Southern Italian population, where adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been reported being relatively high, are rather scarce. The aim of this study was to test the association between consumption of total and specific types of nuts and metabolic status among adults living in Sicily, Southern Italy. Methods: Demographic and dietary characteristics of 2044 adults living in Southern Italy were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the association between nut consumption and metabolic status adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: The energy-adjusted model revealed that higher nut intake was inversely associated with occurrence of hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. However, the association did not remain significant for the latter after adjusting for the main background characteristics, while an inverse association was stably confirmed for hypertension (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.46–0.80 and OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26–0.74, respectively) even after adjusting for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Among individual nut types, most of the associations were null except for higher almond intake, which was inversely associated with occurrence of hypertension (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.49–0.99). Conclusions: Higher nut consumption is associated with overall better metabolic status in individuals living in the Mediterranean area.

Plant foods, dietary fibre and risk of ischaemic heart disease in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

BackgroundEpidemiological evidence indicates that diets rich in plant foods are associated with a lower risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), but there is sparse information on fruit and vegetable subtypes and sources of dietary fibre. This study examined the associations of major plant foods, their subtypes and dietary fibre with risk of IHD in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).MethodsWe conducted a prospective analysis of 490 311 men and women without a history of myocardial infarction or stroke at recruitment (12.6 years of follow-up, n cases = 8504), in 10 European countries. Dietary intake was assessed using validated questionnaires, calibrated with 24-h recalls. Multivariable Cox regressions were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) of IHD.ResultsThere was a lower risk of IHD with a higher intake of fruit and vegetables combined [HR per 200 g/day higher intake 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90–0.99, P-trend = 0.009], and with total fruits (per 100 g/day 0.97, 0.95–1.00, P-trend = 0.021). There was no evidence for a reduced risk for fruit subtypes, except for bananas. Risk was lower with higher intakes of nuts and seeds (per 10 g/day 0.90, 0.82–0.98, P-trend = 0.020), total fibre (per 10 g/day 0.91, 0.85–0.98, P-trend = 0.015), fruit and vegetable fibre (per 4 g/day 0.95, 0.91–0.99, P-trend = 0.022) and fruit fibre (per 2 g/day 0.97, 0.95–1.00, P-trend = 0.045). No associations were observed between vegetables, vegetables subtypes, legumes, cereals and IHD risk.ConclusionsIn this large prospective study, we found some small inverse associations between plant foods and IHD risk, with fruit and vegetables combined being the most strongly inversely associated with risk. Whether these small associations are causal remains unclear.

Association of nut intake with risk factors, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 16 countries from 5 continents: analysis from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study

The association of nuts with cardiovascular disease and deaths has been investigated mostly in Europe, the USA, and East Asia, with few data available from other regions of the world or from low- and middle-income countries. To assess the association of nuts with mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study is a large multinational prospective cohort study of adults aged 35-70 y from 16 low-, middle-, and high-income countries on 5 continents. Nut intake (tree nuts and ground nuts) was measured at the baseline visit, using country-specific validated FFQs. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality or major cardiovascular event [nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, or heart failure]. We followed 124,329 participants (age=50.7 y, SD=10.2; 41.5% male) for a median of 9.5 y. We recorded 10,928 composite events [deaths (n=8,662) or major cardiovascular events (n=5,979)]. Higher nut intake (>120 g per wk compared with <30 g per mo) was associated with a lower risk of the primary composite outcome of mortality or major cardiovascular event [multivariate HR (mvHR): 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.96; P-trend=0.0048]. Significant reductions in total (mvHR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.87; P-trend<0.0001), cardiovascular (mvHR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.92; P-trend=0.048), and noncardiovascular mortality (mvHR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.96; P-trend=0.0046) with a trend to reduced cancer mortality (mvHR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.65, 1.00; P-trend=0.081) were observed. No significant associations of nuts were seen with major CVD (mvHR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.02; P-trend=0.14), stroke (mvHR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.14; P-trend=0.76), or MI (mvHR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.04; P-trend=0.29). Higher nut intake was associated with lower mortality risk from both cardiovascular and noncardiovascular causes in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

Food groups and the likelihood of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dietary habits have been implicated in the development and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Several epidemiological studies attempted to assess the relationship between food groups and the likelihood of NAFLD, but these results were conflicting. The present meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between food groups and the likelihood of NAFLD. Published literature was retrieved and screened from MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science. Out of 7892 retrieved articles, twenty-four observational studies (fifteen cross-sectional studies and nine case–control studies) met our eligibility criteria and were finally included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Consumption of both red meat and soft drinks contributed to a positive association with NAFLD. Inversely, nut consumption was negatively associated with NAFLD. There were no significant influences on the likelihood of NAFLD about consuming whole grains, refined grains, fish, fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products and legumes. This meta-analysis suggests that individuals who consumed more red meat and soft drinks may have a significantly increased likelihood of NAFLD, whereas higher nut intake may be negatively associated with NAFLD. Further prospective studies are required to assess the association between food patterns and NAFLD.

Habitual Nut Exposure, Assessed by Dietary and Multiple Urinary Metabolomic Markers, and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: The InCHIANTI Study.

The association between self-reported dietary intake and urinary metabolomic markers of habitual nut exposure with cognitive decline over a 3-year follow-up in an older Italian population is prospectively evaluated. A total of 119 older participants are selected, based on self-referred nut intake: the non-nut consumer (n = 72) and the regular consumer (≥2.9g d-1 , n = 47). Nut exposure is measured at baseline either with the use of a validated food frequency questionnaire or with an HPLC-Q-ToF-MS metabolomic approach. Three years after, 28 from the nonconsumers and 10 from the consumers experienced cognitive decline. Dietary nut exposure is characterized by urinary metabolites of polyphenols and fatty acids pathways. Nut consumption estimated either by the dietary marker or by the urinary marker model is in both cases associated with less cognitive decline (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61,0.99; p = 0.043 and OR: 0.995, 95% CI: 0.991,0.999; p = 0.016, respectively) with AUCs 73.2 (95% CI: 62.9, 83.6) and 73.1 (62.5, 83.7), respectively. A high intake of nuts may protect older adults from cognitive decline. Metabolomics provides accurate and complementary information of the nut exposure and reinforces the results obtained using dietary information.

Association between dietary patterns and dyslipidemia in adults from the Henan Rural Cohort Study.

The aim of the study was to explore the association between dietary patterns and lipid levels in Henan rural area. Fasting blood samples, information on dietary intakes (with food frequency questionnaires) and other data were collected from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. Principal component analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns. Binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression models were performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The study recruited 38,983 available participants aged from 18 to 79 from rural areas in Henan province. The study showed that, three patterns were identified by higher factor loadings: namely the "meat" (high intakes of red meat, white meat and fish), "grain-egg-nut complex" (high intakes of nuts, milk, eggs, grains and beans), and "vegetablesstaple food-fruits" pattern (high intakes of vegetables, staple food and fruits). "Grain-egg-nut complex" pattern was significantly positively related to the risk of dyslipidemia (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05-1.16, p<0.05). The multivariable- adjusted ORs across tertiles of each dietary pattern were significantly associated with each component of dyslipidemia indexes. Grain-egg-nut complex dietary pattern was positively associated with dyslipidemia. All three dietary patterns were associated with blood lipid profiles aberrations.

A prospective investigation of plant foods, dietary fibre and ischaemic heart disease in the EPIC cohort

AbstractIntroductionThere is evidence that plant-based diets might be associated with a lower risk of IHD; however, previous studies have not reported on intake of subtypes of fruit and vegetables and sources of dietary fibre. This study aims to assess the associations of major plant foods, their subtypes and dietary fibre with risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-CVD Consortium.Material and methodsWe conducted a prospective analysis of 490,311 men and women in ten European countries without a history of myocardial infarction or stroke at recruitment. Dietary intake was assessed using validated questionnaires and calibrated with 24-hour recall data. Cox regression models, adjusted for IHD risk factors, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsDuring a mean of 12.6 years follow-up, we documented 8504 myocardial infarction cases or deaths from IHD. Participants consuming at least eight portions (80 grams each) of fruits and vegetables a day had a 10% lower risk of IHD (HR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82–0.98) compared with those consuming fewer than three portions a day. The risk of IHD was 6% (95% CI 0.90–0.99; P-trend = 0.009) lower for a 200 g/day higher intake of fruit and vegetables combined, 3% (0.95–1.00; P-trend = 0.021) lower for a 100 g/ day higher fruit intake, and 8% (0.86–0.97; P-trend = 0.006) lower for a 50 g/ day higher intake of bananas. Moreover, risk of IHD was 9% (0.83–0.99; P-trend = 0.032) lower for a 10g/ day higher intake of nuts and seeds, and 10% (0.82–0.98; P-trend = 0.020) lower for a 10g/ day higher intake of total dietary fibre. No associations were observed between legumes, total vegetables and other subtypes of fruit and vegetables and IHD risk.DiscussionThe results from this large prospective study suggest that higher intakes of fruit and vegetables combined, total fruit, bananas, nuts and seeds, and total fibre are associated with a lower risk of IHD. Given the observational design of this study, causality and potential mechanisms should be further investigated.

The Association between Nuts Intake and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Risk: a Case-Control Study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Nuts are nutrient- and calorie-dense foods with several health-promoting compounds. In this case-control study, we investigated the association between nut intake and NAFLD risk. Hundred ninety-six subjects with NAFLD and eight hundred three controls were recruited. The participants' dietary intakes were assessed by a valid and reliable semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Participants were categorized according to deciles of daily nuts intake. Multivariable logistic regression models were used with NAFLD as the dependent and deciles of daily nuts intake as an independent variables. Range of age was 18 to 75 years. Forty three percent of participants were male. Range of nuts intake was between 0 to 90.90 g/day. In model 3, after adjusting for potential confounding variables including, age, sex, BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes and physical activity, the relation between daily nuts intake and risk of NAFLD was positive and significant in the deciles 9 and 10 compared to the lowest decile (odds ratio [OR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–7.49; p = 0.039 and OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.03–8.90; p = 0.046, respectively). However, in the final model after additional adjusting for energy intake, no significant association was found. According to the findings, there is not any significant relationship between nuts intake and NAFLD risk; while higher intake of nuts is related to the higher risk of NAFLD mediated by energy intake.

Effect of fatty fish or nut consumption on concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in overweight or obese men and women: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background and aimsWhile excess energy intake and physical inactivity constitute the obvious causes of body fat accumulation, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are novel factors that have been linked to cardiometabolic disorders. Major sources of POPs are animal fats including fatty fish. Given the putative protective effects of fish on cardiovascular disease, we explored whether high consumption of fatty fish increased serum concentrations of POPs. Methods and resultsMen and women aged 35–70 years with body mass index between 25 and 38 kg/m2 and at least 1 cardiometabolic component were randomized to high intakes of fatty fish (mostly farmed salmon, ∼630 g/week; n = 45), high intakes of nuts (∼200 g/week; n = 42) or a control group following their usual diet but restricting fatty fish and nuts for 6 months (n = 44). Concentrations of 15 POPs (5 organochlorinated compounds, 2 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and 8 non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls) and cardiometabolic risk factors were measured at baseline and end of the study. Results showed that changes in concentrations of individual and classes of POPs did not differ between the dietary groups and controls (p > 0.05). Among cardiometabolic risk factors HDL-cholesterol increased in the fatty fish group compared to controls (+0.10 mmol/L, CI (0.05–0.20); p = 0.005) while no changes were observed in the group consuming nuts. ConclusionFatty fish consumption for 6 months did not increase the serum concentrations of POPs in individuals with overweight or obesity and metabolic risk. While this finding appears reassuring regarding short-term intakes of farmed salmon, long term variations in POPs in adipose stores require further study.

Association Between Dietary Patterns and Kidney Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the German Chronic Kidney Disease Study

In the general population, "healthy" dietary patterns are associated with improved health outcomes, but data on associations between observance of specific dietary patterns and kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are sparse. Dietary intake was evaluated using food frequency questionnaires in patients with moderately severe CKD under nephrology care enrolled into the observational multicenter German CKD study. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet score, Mediterranean diet score, and German Food Pyramid Index (GFPI) were calculated and their association with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria was assessed by multivariable linear regression analysis, adjusted for gender, age, body mass index, energy intake, smoking status, alcohol intake, education, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL- cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. A total of 2,813 patients (41% women; age 60.1±11.6years) were included in the analysis. High DASH diet score and GFPI were associated with lower systolic blood pressure and lower intake of antihypertensive medication, higher HDL, and lower uric acid levels. Mediterranean-style diet was associated with lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Higher DASH and Mediterranean diet scores were associated with higher eGFR (β-coefficient=1.226, P < .001; β-coefficient=0.932, P=.007, respectively). In contrast, GFPI was not associated with eGFR. For the individual components of the dietary patterns, higher intake of nuts and legumes, cereals, fish, and polyunsaturated fats was associated with higher eGFR and higher intake of dairy, composed of low- and whole-fat dairy, was associated with lower eGFR. No association was found between dietary patterns and albuminuria. Higher observance of the DASH or Mediterranean diet, but not German food pyramid recommendations, was associated with higher eGFR among patients with CKD. Improving dietary habits may offer an opportunity to better control comorbidities and kidney function decline in patients with CKD.