Cereal Intake Research Articles

Nutritional Profiles and Factors Associated with the Intake of Certain Food Types in Patients Undergoing Maxillofacial Prosthetic Rehabilitation: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Malnutrition is a significant concern for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, as treatment often impairs mastication, causes dysphagia, and alters taste and smell, leading to reduced food intake and a diminished quality of life. Thus, this study aims to compare nutritional intake in HNC survivors using maxillofacial prostheses (MFPs) to healthy reference values and identify the factors influencing their dietary intake. Methods: The study included 56 patients treated for HNC undergoing rehabilitation with comfortable definitive dentures for over a month at the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Clinic of Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. Data were gathered on the demographics, clinical characteristics, malnutrition risk using a malnutrition universal screening tool, dietary intake consistency via a functional oral intake scale, swallowing difficulties with eating assessment tool-10, and nutrient intake through a Brief-type Self-administered Dietary History Questionnaire. Patients’ nutrient intakes were compared to the reference values from the BDHQ ad hoc computer algorithm based on the 2015 National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan. Factors such as maximum mouth opening and the number of functional teeth were also assessed together with the aforementioned factors. Results: There were significant differences between the patient values and reference values, with lower intakes of total dietary fiber, carbohydrates, and β-carotene, while higher intakes of calcium, fats, and certain vitamins were noted in the patients. Food intake consistency, swallowing difficulties, and mouth opening significantly influenced green vegetable intake, whereas sex and the number of functional teeth impacted cereal intake. Conclusions: The HNC survivors were rehabilitated with MFP; however, their nutritional intake differed from that of healthy subjects. The significance of swallowing rehabilitation, appropriate food preparation, exercises to enhance mouth opening, and the preservation of functional teeth has been emphasized as critical factors influencing diet in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. Additionally, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to nutritional care for these individuals is underscored.

Exploring Sociodemographic Characteristics, Sleep Quality, Food Group Consumption, and Body Weight Status among University Students during the COVID-19 Movement Restriction

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected lifestyles, including sleep quality, dietary habits, and body weight status. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, sleep quality, food group consumption with body weight status among university students during Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO). An online survey was conducted with 145 participants, aged 19-24 years old between June - Aug 2021. Data on socio-demographics, sleep quality, food group consumption, and self-reported anthropometric measures were collected. The findings showed 46.2% had normal weight, 37.2% were overweight or obese, and 16.6% were underweight. Majority being 22 years old (80%), female (91.7%), and of Malay ethnicity (93.1%). Sleep quality was reported as fairly good by 44.1% of respondents, and beverages were the most consumed food group (median: 5.42 servings/day). Age was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r=0.179, p<0.05), while dietary intake of cereals and cereal products showed a significant positive association with BMI (r=0.435, p<0.05). Conversely, fish and seafood consumption was inversely associated with BMI (r=-0.185, p<0.05). No significant association was observed between sleep quality and BMI. In conclusion, age and specific dietary patterns, particularly the consumption of cereals and fish, were significant factors associated with body weight status during the MCO period. These findings highlight the need for targeted nutritional education and interventions to promote balanced dietary habits, especially during periods of restricted mobility, to mitigate potential adverse effects on body weight and overall health. Keywords: COVID-19, sleep quality, dietary intake, body weight status, university students, nutritional status

Associations of Plant-Based Foods, Animal Products, and Selected Sociodemographic Factors with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Risk.

Diet influences the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Plant-based diets rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, and nuts may reduce inflammation and improve gut health, while high-fat foods may worsen symptoms. We examined the association between plant-based and animal-based foods, selected demographic characteristics, and the likelihood of GERD in Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using the GerdQ tool assessed the GERD likelihood among 303 adults. Dietary diversity scores were used to assess the quality of their diet. quality. The participants were predominantly women (68.6%) and had low education levels (88.4%). Cereals were the most consumed plant-based foods, while vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables were the least consumed. There was significant variation in the consumption of legumes, nuts, seeds, and milk and milk products among the GERD groups. The participants with a 50% GERD likelihood had the highest consumption (34.5%), followed by the 89% likelihood group (21.4%) and the 79% likelihood group (14.5%). The lowest consumption of milk and milk products was among those with an 89% GERD likelihood who also consumed more organ meat. In addition, GERD likelihood was inversely associated with age (r = -0.153; p = 0.008). The likelihood of GERD was negatively correlated with the intake of legumes, nuts, and seeds (r = -0.163; p = 0.005). Furthermore, the intake of cereals and tubers (r = 0.114; p = 0.047) and legumes, nuts, and seeds (r = 0.231; p = 0.0001) increased significantly with education. GERD prevention programs should target women, those with a low education level, and individuals consuming fewer plant-based foods and more organ meats.

Dynamics of society, food availability and consumption: Underlying evidence from selected smallholders in South Africa

The study examined the dynamics of society, food availability and consumption, a call for the promotion of health of community dwellers in South Africa. Food availability and dietary intake were discussed in terms of food groups available in society. The study group was selected through random sampling and before data collection, a pre-test of the questionnaire was carried out with the help of 15 enumerators who were trained for the purpose of this study. Structured questionnaires employed were divided into sections as follows: i) the socio-economic, demographic information and farm-level characteristics of respondents, ii) various food items and sources, iii) dietary and food consumption patterns. The food consumption frequency was captured through 7-day recall pattern suggested by World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations, commonly referred to as Food Consumption Score (FCS). Findings indicate that there was a high intake of cereals and tubers amongst men in the two villages (Mzinti and Kabokweni). Fulfilling the WFP principles, FCS was re-grouped into two clusters: poor, borderline as ‘Acceptable’ (1) and ‘Unacceptable’ (0). The outcome variable, FCS, was grouped as a dichotomous variable, categorized as ‘Acceptable’ with assigned value of 1 and ‘Unacceptable’ assigned 0. The determinants of food consumption were specified, using logistic regression. Overall, males (24%) had more energy intake (cereals and tuber) in Mzinti as compared to females (21%). However, results reveal that fruits and pulses were the least commonly consumed food groups over a 7-day recall period for Kabokweni and Mzinti. The findings also reveal that 60.97% of respondents in Kabokweni and 64.96% in Mzinti were within the acceptable food consumption score. The following variables: age (p < 0.022), level of education (p < 0.006 and p < 0.039), household size, (p < 0.007), extension services (p < 0.001 and p < 0.028), and farm experience (p <.018**) were positively and significantly associated with FCS. Food insecurity impacts directly on physical, economic and mental health of people and understanding the food security status of communities is vital for planning. Additionally, the study underscores the relevance of obtaining necessary statistics for dietary diversity of households to support government policy making. An evolving and innovative policy direction is proposed for exploring the dynamics of integrating food security into government health programmes. Key words: Smallholders, food insecurity, food consumption score, South Africa

The relationship between cereal intake and 3 common inflammatory joint diseases: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization study.

The association between cereal intake and inflammatory joint disease remains controversial. This study aims to use Mendelian randomization to comprehensively evaluate the causal relationship between cereal grain intake and Inflammatory joint diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. This investigation used publicly available data from genome-wide association studies to aggregate statistics on the association between cereal intake and inflammatory joint disease. Several methods were employed to estimate 2-sample causality. The results of the random-effects inverse variance-weighted method analysis indicated that higher cereal intake reduced the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.554; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.324-0. 948; P = .031) and psoriatic arthritis (OR = 0.336; 95% CI: 0.123-0.918; P = .033), and the results of the Mendelian randomization-Egger regression analysis showed no horizontal pleiotropy (P > .05) for the included single nucleotide polymorphisms. Using the leave-one-out method, no single nucleotide polymorphism was found to affect the overall effect estimate significantly, and there was no heterogeneity. Cereal intake had no causal effect on the risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis (OR = 0.636; 95% CI: 0.236-1.711; P = .370). There is genetic evidence that cereal consumption reduces the risk of developing Inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Dietary factors and rheumatoid arthritis: new perspectives from a Mendelian randomisation analysis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent autoimmune disease, and there is growing evidence suggesting a potential correlation between dietary factors and the pathogenesis of this condition. In order to investigate the causal relationship between diet and RA, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis to examine the causal associations between twenty-two dietary factors and RA. Summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of RA were obtained from large GWAS meta-analyses. GWAS summary data for twenty-two dietary factors were obtained from UK Biobank. Random-effects inverse variance weighted was used as the primary method for assessing causality, and analyses of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy were performed to ensure the accuracy of the results. Research indicates a negative genetic causal relationship between cereal intake (OR = 0·64, 95 % CI: 0·41, 0·99, P = 0·048) and oily fish intake (OR = 0·70, 95 % CI: 0·52, 0·95, P = 0·020) with the risk of RA. Other dietary factors were not causally related to RA. Sensitivity analysis shows that our results are reliable. This study provides genetic evidence suggesting that cereal intake and oily fish intake are protective factors for RA, indicating that RA patients and individuals at high risk should make appropriate dietary adjustments.

Dose-Response Associations Between Diet and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

To provide a systematic and quantitative summary of dietary factors and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk. A systematic review and meta-analysis included prospective cohort studies from 2000 to 2024 reporting relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for RA incidence relating to 32 different dietary exposures. Linear and non-linear dose-response analyses were conducted. Thirty studies were included, involving 2,986,747 participants with 9,677 RA cases. Linear dose-response analysis suggested that each 2-unit per week increase in total alcohol intake was linked to 4% risk reduction (RR (95%-CI), heterogeneity (I2), NutriGrade score: 0.96 (0.94, 0.98), 58%, moderate certainty), and beer consumption was associated with a 10% reduction per 2 units/week increase (0.90 (0.84, 0.97), 0%, very low certainty). Each 2-unit/week increase in total alcohol intake was associated with a 3% decrease in seropositive RA risk (0.97 (0.96, 0.99), 28%, moderate certainty). Increased intakes of fruit (per 80 g/day) and cereals (per 30 g/day) were associated with 5% (0.95 (0.92, 0.99), 57%, moderate certainty) and 3% (0.97 (0.96, 0.99), 20%, moderate certainty) reduced risk, respectively. Conversely, tea consumption showed a 4% increased risk per additional cup/day (1.04 (1.02, 1.05), 0%, moderate certainty). Non-linear associations were observed for total coffee, vegetables, oily fish, and vitamin D supplementation. Data on dietary patterns and specific micronutrients were limited. The findings suggest that moderate alcohol consumption and a higher intake of fruits, oily fish, and cereals are associated with a reduced risk of RA, while tea and coffee may be linked to an increased risk. Optimising dietary intake of certain food components may reduce RA risk, despite moderate-quality evidence.

The Interplay Between Depression, Probiotics, Diet, Immunometabolic Health, the Gut, and the Liver-A Secondary Analysis of the Pro-Demet Randomized Clinical Trial.

(1) Background: Depression, metabolic alternations, and liver diseases are highly comorbid. Studies have shown that probiotics might be helpful in the treatment of the above-mentioned states. The aim of this secondary analysis was to search for possible predictors of probiotics' efficacy on liver-related outcome measures. (2) Methods: Data from 92 subjects from a randomized clinical trial on the effect of probiotics on depression were analyzed. The shift in liver steatosis and fibrosis indices was assessed in the context of baseline immunometabolic, psychometric, dietary, and intestinal permeability factors. Correlation analysis and linear regression models were used. (3) Results: A total of 30% of the variance of the improvement in the score of the aspartate transferase to platelet ratio index was explained by probiotic use, higher pre-intervention triglycerides, cholesterol, C-reactive protein levels, increased cereal intake, and a lower consumption of sweets. Then, the model of the change in alanine transferase indicated that probiotics were efficient when used by subjects with higher basal levels of intestinal permeability markers. (4) Conclusions: Probiotics being used along with a healthy diet may provide additional benefits, such as decreased cardiovascular risk, for patients with measures consistent with the immunometabolic form of depression. Probiotic augmentation may be useful for liver protection among subjects with a suspected "leaky gut" syndrome. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04756544.

A prospective observational study on maternal diet pre- and post-GDM diagnosis and pregnancy outcomes in individuals with/without GDM

AimsTo investigate (1) the association between maternal dietary choices during the first and second trimesters and the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), (2) the association between a GDM diagnosis and dietary choices during pregnancy, and (3) the differences in pregnancy outcomes between individuals with and without GDM.MethodsA prospective cohort study. Pregnant individuals with singleton pregnancy aged 19 ∼ 44 years, without severe pregnancy complications were enrolled in the study. Dietary data were collected at three time points during routine antenatal appointments: 8 ∼ 12 weeks gestation(n = 993), 20 ∼ 24 weeks gestation(n = 732), and 32 ∼ 36 weeks gestation(n = 536). GDM diagnosis and pregnancy outcomes were collected during follow-up from the electronic medical record (EMR).ResultsA total of 93 participants (12.9%) were diagnosed with GDM. Livestock and poultry meat intake during the second trimester were associated with an increased risk of developing GDM (aOR 1.371, 95%CI 1.070–1.756, P = 0.013), and a GDM diagnosis may lead to decreased intake of cereals and its products (P = 0.001), potatoes and its products (P < 0.001), and fruit (P = 0.002) and increased intake of fish, shrimp and shellfish (P = 0.001), eggs (P = 0.015), and milk and milk products (P = 0.011) in the third trimester. Individuals with GDM related to lower risk of excessive gestational weight gain (aOR 0.384, 95%CI 0.188–0.646, P = 0.001) but may increase the risk of fetal macrosomia (aOR 3.873, 95%CI 1.364–10.996, P = 0.011).ConclusionsUnderstanding maternal dietary choices around GDM diagnosis is crucial for accurate nutritional assessment and effective education programs. While our findings suggest dietary changes may occur post-diagnosis, further research is needed to confirm these patterns and the potential benefits of early dietary counseling for individuals with GDM.

Nutrition among nursing home residents: results from the NutriCare study.

Older adults living in nursing homes (NHs) are considered a vulnerable population in terms of nutrition. The aim of the present study was to explore the usual intake of energy, macronutrients, and specific food groups, along with offers in the NH menus on a nationally representative sample of Slovenian NH residents and compare dietary patterns with the established recommendations. The study was conducted as part of a cross-sectional NutriCare study on 317 residents (65-101 years) from 20 Slovenian NHs in 9 health regions. Relatively independent residents were selected using quota sampling by sex and age. Data collection involved interviews and anthropometric measurements. Usual dietary intake was assessed by a multiple-source method from two 24-h dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires. Adherence of dietary intake to the recommendations and dietary composition of NH menus were assessed. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to explore nutritional status. Notable variability in energy and macronutrient intakes was observed with some participants showing intakes below and others above the recommended values. A high prevalence of BMI > 30 kg/m2 was observed in 39% of participants, indicating potential discrepancies between total energy intake and expenditure. The usual intake of fat was 36% of total energy intake (TEI). The intake of foods of animal origin exceeded dietary guidelines. Intake of carbohydrates (46% TEI in men and 47% TEI in women) as well as dietary fibre (20 g/day for both sexes) was below recommendations. A scarce intake of fruits, vegetables, and cereals was observed. In total, 40% of men and 35% of women had usual daily protein intakes lower than 1 g/kg of body weight. The protein content of breakfast and dinner could be improved. NH residents consumed little food from outside NH. The usual nutrient and food group intakes of residents reflected the NH menu offers. The study results on the usual intake of energy, macronutrients, specific food groups, and offers in the NH menus indicate the potential for optimisation. According to the World Health Organisation, the prevalence of BMI > 30 kg/m2 is notable and warrants attention. Careful meal planning and regular monitoring of the nutritional status of NH residents should be considered.

Whole Grain Intake in the United Kingdom Remains Unchanged from 2008/9 to 2018/19 and Well Below Recommended Levels

Whole grain (WG) consumption has been associated with many health benefits(1–4). However, in the UK, there is a lack of WG intake data with the most recent analysis available spanning the years 2008-2011(5–7). In this study, our aim is to assess the consumption of whole grains among the UK population using data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme covering the years 2008 to 2019.WG intake trends and sociodemographic patterns from the UK NDNS Rolling Programme, 2008/09 to 2018/19, of 15,655 individuals aged ≥1.5 years who completed a four-day food diary were analysed. WG consumption was assessed by examining the WG content of foods in grams based on product ingredient information. Survey-weighted mean consumption of whole grains overall and by socio-demographic group and health status variables. Survey-weighted Wald tests (for categorical variables such as ethnicity) and trend tests (for ordered variables such as age group) will be used to determine whether intakes of whole grains differ within category.No statistically significant trend was observed in total WG intake when comparing the intakes from 2008-2012 to 2016-2019, with mean intakes of 29.2g/day (95% CI: 27.8, 30.5) and 28.2g/day(95% CI: 26.8, 29.6), respectively. In 2016-2019 older adults (65y+) had the highest consumption (33.6 g/day [95% CI: 30.5, 36.8]), followed by 19-64y, with an intake of 29.1 g/day (95% CI: 27.1, 31.2). High-fibre cereals, bread, and other cereals including pasta and rice were the primary sources of WG. Between 2008-2012 and 2016-2019, the mean daily intake of high-fibre cereals and bread significantly declined from 11.1g (10.3, 11.9) to 9.3g (8.5, 10.1) and 12.4g (11.6, 13.1) to 10.0g (9.2, 10.8) respectively. Conversely, consumption of other cereals increased from 4.0g (3.3, 4.7) to 6.9g (6.1, 7.6) per day. Individuals with higher incomes, levels of education and healthy weights showed higher mean WG consumption.Our study showed no statistically significant change in mean whole grain consumption in the UK from 2008/09 and 2018/19. Although, there is absence of dietary WG recommendations in the UK, whole grain intakes are below the recommended levels proposed by many countries.

Association of dietary patterns with serum uric acid and hyperuricemia in Chinese adults

Objective: To analyze the dietary patterns of Chinese adults and explore the relationship with serum uric acid (SUA) and hyperuricemia (HUA). Methods: A total of 9 358 adults were selected in the 2018 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary intake data were collected by three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls and weighing method. The social demographic information of the survey subjects was obtained through questionnaire surveys. The dietary patterns were extracted using factor analysis, and the relationship between dietary patterns and SUA was analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The correlation between HUA and dietary patterns was analyzed using logistic regression analysis models. Results: Four dietary patterns were identified: northern (high intakes of wheat, other cereals,and tubers); modern (high intakes of fruit, dairy, eggs, and nuts); southern (high intakes of rice and vegetables);animal food-wine (high intake of organ meats, seafood, and wine). The multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the northern pattern was negatively correlated with SUA (β=-0.438, 95%CI: -0.500--0.376); the modern pattern was negatively correlated with SUA (β=-0.134, 95%CI: -0.219--0.049); the southern model was significantly correlated with higher SUA (β=0.146, 95%CI: 0.079-0.214); the animal food-wine pattern was positively correlated with SUA (β=0.188, 95%CI: 0.123-0.252). Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the northern model score Q1 group, the risk of developing HUA was reduced in Q3 and Q4 groups, with ORs values of 0.777 (95%CI: 0.650-0.929) and 0.509 (95%CI: 0.423-0.613), respectively; and compared with the modern model score Q1 group, the higher the scores in Q3 and Q4 groups, the HUA was lower, with ORs of 0.793 (95%CI: 0.660-0.953) and 0.768 (95%CI: 0.631-0.934), respectively. Compared with the animal food-wine pattern score Q1 group, the risk of developing HUA was increased in both Q3 and Q4 groups (Q3 group: OR=1.224, 95%CI: 1.012-1.480; Q4 group: OR=1.312, 95%CI: 1.086-1.584). Conclusions: Dietary patterns are associated with HUA. The northern and modern patterns are related to lower SUA levels and reduced risk of HUA, while the animal food-wine pattern increases the risk of HUA.

Radionuclides determination by alpha (210Po, 228,230,232Th) and gamma (226,228Ra, 137Cs, 40K) spectrometry in children's food in Croatia with assessment of cumulative ingestion dose for infants

This work presents comprehensive results of alpha (210Po, 228,230,232Th) and gamma (40K, 226,228Ra, 137Cs) radioactivity measurements in selected food typically consumed by infants (< 1 year) in Croatia. The samples of readily available infant’s food on Croatian market were categorized according to the growth of an infant, from their first nourishment: adapted powdered milk, to their first solid food. The aim was to estimate ingestion doses and the potential radiological risks for infants. In addition to anthropogenic radionuclides, the study focused on naturally occurring radionuclides often underrepresented in similar researches. 40K prevails in activity concentrations in all types of samples. 210Po was determined in all sample types reaching up to 502 mBq/kg. Maximum values of activity concentrations for 228Ra, 226Ra and Th isotopes were 230 mBq/kg, 1.29 Bq/kg and 52 mBq/kg, respectively. The most important contributors to the annual effective dose were 40K, 226Ra, 210Po and 228Ra contributing with 29 % 28 %, 24 % and 17 %, respectively. Th isotopes contributed with less than 2 %, while the contribution of anthropogenic radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr were negligible (less than 1 %). Cumulative effective ingestion dose for infants was calculated to be 0.69 mSv/y, which is below the recommended limiting dose of 1 mSv/y. Largest proportion comes from the intake of fruit (33 %), followed by the intake of vegetables 19 %) and cereals 19 %). Although national radioactivity monitoring programs usually focus on anthropogenic radionuclides, this study highlights that naturally occurring radionuclides are dominant contributors to the cumulative effective ingestion dose in infants. Overall, the estimated cumulative effective ingestion dose for infants from consuming food available in Croatia is below recommended dose limits and therefore does not present a radiological concern.

Nongenetic and Genetic Factors Associated with White Matter Brain Aging: Exposome-Wide and Genome-Wide Association Study.

Human brain aging is a complex process that affects various aspects of brain function and structure, increasing susceptibility to neurological and psychiatric disorders. A number of nongenetic (e.g., environmental and lifestyle) and genetic risk factors are found to contribute to the varying rates at which the brain ages among individuals. In this paper, we conducted both an exposome-wide association study (XWAS) and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on white matter brain aging in the UK Biobank, revealing the multifactorial nature of brain aging. We applied a machine learning algorithm and leveraged fractional anisotropy tract measurements from diffusion tensor imaging data to predict the white matter brain age gap (BAG) and treated it as the marker of brain aging. For XWAS, we included 107 variables encompassing five major categories of modifiable exposures that potentially impact brain aging and performed both univariate and multivariate analysis to select the final set of nongenetic risk factors. We found current tobacco smoking, dietary habits including oily fish, beef, lamb, cereal, and coffee intake, length of mobile phone use, use of UV protection, and frequency of solarium/sunlamp use were associated with the BAG. In genetic analysis, we identified several SNPs on chromosome 3 mapped to genes IP6K1, GMNC, OSTN, and SLC25A20 significantly associated with the BAG, showing the high heritability and polygenic architecture of human brain aging. The critical nongenetic and genetic risk factors identified in our study provide insights into the causal relationship between white matter brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Assessing the Hypertension Risk: A Deep Dive into Cereal Consumption and Cooking Methods-Insights from China.

Cereal grains are rich in carbohydrates and could trigger a hyperglycemic response which is closely linked to blood pressure status. We aim to examine the associations between the consumption of cereals with different cooking methods and hypertension risk. We conducted a prospective analysis utilizing the nationwide data of 11,080 adult participants who were free of hypertension at baseline. Cereal intake was assessed using 3-day 24 h dietary recalls with a weighing technique. Hypertension incidence was identified in adherence with the Seventh Joint National Commission guidelines during the follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to extrapolate hazard ratios associated with hypertension risk. Over an average follow-up span of 7 years (77,560 person-years), we identified 3643 new hypertension cases. The intake of total, fried, and baked cereals was associated with 15%, 20%, and 20% higher risk of hypertension, respectively. Whole grain consumers had an 8% lower risk of hypertension compared with non-consumers, while total refined grain consumers showed no significant association. Replacing one daily serving of fried or baked cereals with an equivalent serving of boiled cereals was related to a 28% or 14% lower risk, respectively. Total, fried, and baked cereal consumption was positively associated with hypertension risk, while consuming whole grains was related to a lower risk. Modifying cooking methods from frying or baking to boiling for cereals may be beneficial to lower risk. The current study underscores the significance of considering both the degree of processing and cooking methods applied to cereals in addressing hypertension prevention and management.

Identifying potential causal effects of Parkinson’s disease: A polygenic risk score-based phenome-wide association and mendelian randomization study in UK Biobank

There is considerable uncertainty regarding the associations between various risk factors and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This study systematically screened and validated a wide range of potential PD risk factors from 502,364 participants in the UK Biobank. Baseline data for 1851 factors across 11 categories were analyzed through a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS). Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for PD were used to diagnose Parkinson’s Disease and identify factors associated with PD diagnosis through PheWAS. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to assess causal relationships. PheWAS results revealed 267 risk factors significantly associated with PD-PRS among the 1851 factors, and of these, 27 factors showed causal evidence from MR analysis. Compelling evidence suggests that fluid intelligence score, age at first sexual intercourse, cereal intake, dried fruit intake, and average total household income before tax have emerged as newly identified risk factors for PD. Conversely, maternal smoking around birth, playing computer games, salt added to food, and time spent watching television have been identified as novel protective factors against PD. The integration of phenotypic and genomic data may help to identify risk factors and prevention targets for PD.

Overweight and vitamin D deficiency are common in patients with irritable bowel syndrome - a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease with unknown etiology. Poor dietary intake with nutritional deficiency and overweight have been described to increase the risk of IBS. The aim of the present study was to compare weight and circulating levels of micronutrients in IBS compared with healthy controls.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsPatients diagnosed with IBS and healthy volunteers were recruited. Participants had to complete a dietary diary book and the questionnaires Rome IV, IBS-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS), and visual analog scale for IBS (VAS-IBS). Weight and height were measured, and blood samples were drawn. C-reactive protein (CRP), cobalamin, folate, iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and 25-hydroxy (25-OH) vitamin D were analyzed. Differences were calculated between groups and generalized linear model for regressions was adjusted for false discovery rate (FDR).ResultsIBS patients (n = 260) were elder than controls (n = 50) (44.00 (33.25-56.00) vs. 37.85 (30.18–45.48) years; p = 0.012). After adjustment for age, both weight (β: 5.880; 95% CI: 1.433–10.327; p = 0.010, FDR = 0.020) and body mass index (BMI) (β: 2.02; 95% CI: 0.68–3.36; p = 0.003, FDR = 0.012) were higher in patients. Among IBS participants, 48.1% were overweight/obese compared with 26.0% in controls (p = 0.007). Diarrhea-predominated IBS had highest weight (p < 0.001) and BMI (p = 0.077). CRP and cobalamin were higher in patients than controls (p = 0.010 vs. p = 0.007), whereas folate was highest in controls (p = 0.001). IBS patients had lower intake of vegetables (p = 0.026), dairy products (p = 0.004), and cereals (p = 0.010) compared with controls. Despite 21.5% of IBS patients were taking vitamin D supplements, 23.65% of them had vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L, compared with 26.0% observed in the control group (p = 0.720). Vitamin D levels were lower in overweight than in normal weight IBS patients (60 (48–73) nmol/L vs. 65 (53–78) nmol/L, p = 0.022). Vitamin D correlated with cobalamin and folate but correlated inversely with TIBC and BMI. IBS patients had a high degree of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms, which were inversely associated with iron levels. Extraintestinal symptoms were associated with increased BMI.ConclusionIBS patients were often overweight or obese, with low vitamin D levels. High burden of extraintestinal symptoms were associated with overweight and lower iron levels.RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05192603 (Date of registration 11/29/2021) and NCT03306381 (Date of registration 09/18/2017), respectively.

Causal relationship between dietary intake and IgA nephropathy: a Mendelian randomization study.

Previous studies have reported that dietary intake is associated with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). However, the causal relationship remains unknown. Based on publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal association between 26 dietary exposures and IgAN. Five methods, including inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode, were applied in the MR analysis. To identify the presence of horizontal pleiotropy, we used the MR-Egger intercept test and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) global test. Cochran's Q statistics were used to assess instrument heterogeneity. We conducted sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out method. Finally, the results indicated alcohol intake frequency (odds ratio [OR] (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 1.267 (1.100-1.460), p = 0.0010295) was a risk factor of IgAN, while cheese intake (OR (95% CI) = 0.626 (0.492-0.798), p = 0.0001559), cereal intake (OR (95% CI) = 0.652 (0.439-0.967), p = 0.0334126), and sushi intake (OR (95% CI) = 0.145 (0.021-0.997), p = 0.0497) were protective factors of IgAN. No causal relationship was found between IgAN and the rest of the dietary exposures. Our study provided genetic evidence that alcohol intake frequency was associated with an increased risk of IgAN, while cheese, cereal, and sushi intake were associated with a decreased risk of IgAN. Further investigation is required to confirm these results.

Individual cereals intake is associated with progression of diabetes and diabetic chronic complications

Background and aimsThe relationship between cereals intake and diabetes is unclear. We aimed to explore associations between individual cereals intake and risks of incident and progression of diabetes. MethodsWe included 502,490 participants from UK Biobank at baseline. A single touchscreen food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate the intake of individual cereals (bran, biscuit, oat, muesli, and other cereals). Main outcomes included incident diabetes and diabetic complications of cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Polygenic risk score (PRS) of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was calculated for mediating effects analysis. ResultsAmong participants without diabetes, when compared to subjects who never had cereals, hazard ratios (95%CI) of developing diabetes in those who had ≥6 bowls/week were 0.72 (0.67–0.78) for bran, 0.86 (0.81–0.92) for biscuit, 0.75(0.66–0.84) for oat, and 0.57(0.53,0.61) for muesli. Among people with diabetes without CVD, a higher intake of aforementioned four individual cereals was associated with a 13%–32 % lower risk of developing CVD. Among people with diabetes without CKD, a higher intake of aforementioned four individual cereals was associated with a 9%–28 % lower risk of developing CKD. We observed a significant mediating effect of the PRS of HbA1c for the association between aforementioned four individual cereals and developing diabetes. ConclusionA higher consumption of cereals was significantly associated with lower risks of diabetes and diabetic complications. Polygenic of HbA1c mediates the effect of cereals on incident diabetes.

Mendelian randomization study to assess causality between diet and phenotype of aging.

Observational research findings have demonstrated correlations between diet and the process of aging. Nevertheless, there remains uncertainty regarding possible disruption caused by confounding variables. To elucidate the connections between diet and aging, we employed the Mendelian randomization analysis. The exposure factor was the daily diet, whereas accelerated aging was measured through telomere length, facial aging (FA), frailty index (FI), and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs), representing the outcome factors. The primary analysis employed IVW analysis, with additional MR-Egger and Weighted Median analyses conducted to assess the reliability of the findings. Furthermore, we analyzed the heterogeneity and pleiotropy of the results. The results revealed that the consumption of salad/raw vegetables and oily fish exhibited a negative correlation with FA, whereas coffee intake showed a positive correlation with FA. On the other hand, the intake of cheese, oily fish, dried fruit, and cereal showed negative associations with FI. Additionally, coffee, alcohol, and pork intake were positively associated with FI. Lastly, the intake of bread exhibited a positively correlated with SASPs, while the intake of cheese and coffee showed a negative correlation with SASPs. Our study revealed that the consumption of cheese, vegetables, oily fish, dried fruit, bread, coffee, and alcohol was associated with the aging process. Interestingly, our findings suggest that coffee intake may accelerate aging, whereas intake of oily fish may delay the aging process. However, it is important to note that further well-designed prospective studies are required to validate our findings in the future.