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Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Evidence suggests that a ketogenic diet (KD) may help to alleviate psychiatric symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Positive changes have been reported such as...
BACKGROUND
Evidence suggests that a ketogenic diet (KD) may help to alleviate psychiatric symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Positive changes have been reported such as improvements in cognition, concentration, and sleep, a reduction in hunger, and an increase in well-being, energy, confidence, and resilience. This research aims to understand the impact of a non-calorie-restricted KD on depression and aspects of psychological well-being in those with varying degrees of depressive symptoms. Though there are a few studies directly exploring the experiences of those following a KD, this will be the first study to explore the narrative from a mental health and psychological well-being viewpoint.
METHOD
A sample of nine participants who had followed a non-calorie restricted KD intervention of 50 g of carbohydrates or less per day for at least 12 weeks were recruited. Participants were split into 'healthy adults' group who had no to low depressive symptoms and 'depressive symptoms' group who had mild to moderate depressive symptoms. A reflexive thematic analysis was considered suitable for this study.
FINDINGS
Five core themes and 24 subthemes were created. These were, (1) Poor health prior to program; (2) Hunger and cravings-the food and mood connection; (3) Psychological well-being improvements; (4) It becomes a lifestyle; and (5) Implementation difficulties. Participants experienced mental health improvements such as increased self-esteem, confidence, motivation, and achievement. Some experienced more control in life and a greater sense of reward. Those with depressive symptoms who initially reported low self-worth and hopelessness later reported increased self-esteem and renewed meaning and purpose in life. The findings from this study reflect the previous reports that the diet implementation can be difficult initially, but soon becomes easy to follow and turns into a lifestyle.
CONCLUSION
In the literature, there are very few qualitative studies that explore the accounts and lived experiences of those following a KD. From the participants' accounts in this study, it appears that the benefits and positive outcomes of this diet outweigh any negative side-effects experienced. This is encouraging for those who are looking for adjunctive therapies to address and improve their depressive symptoms and overall mental health.
PubMed: 38903620
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1397546 -
Journal of Health, Population, and... Jun 2024According to our knowledge, the relationship between dietary patterns such as pro-healthy, pro-vegetarian, and non-healthy dietary patterns and prostate cancer risk has...
INTRODUCTION
According to our knowledge, the relationship between dietary patterns such as pro-healthy, pro-vegetarian, and non-healthy dietary patterns and prostate cancer risk has not been clearly investigated in Iranian men. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence to a pro-healthy (PHDI), pro-vegetarian (PDP), and non-healthy dietary indices (NHDI) and the risk of prostate cancer.
METHOD
In this matched case-control study, 125 participants (62 cases and 63 hospital-based controls) were enrolled from April to September 2015. Participants' dietary intakes were evaluated using a valid and reliable 160-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary indices calculated based on previous studies. The relationship between dietary indices (PHDI, NHDI and PDP) and prostate cancer risk was assessed using binary regression models.
RESULTS
According to adjusted model, significant negative correlations were found between PHDI and PDP with prostate cancer (PHDI: OR = 0.31; 95% CI; 0.11-0.85; P = 0.023 - PDP: OR = 0.34; 95% CI; 0.15-0.75; P = 0.008). Also, a positive association was seen between NHDI and prostate cancer (OR = 3.01; 95% CI; 1.20-7.57; P = 0.019).
CONCLUSION
We found that adherence to healthy dietary indices which includes high amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains reduces the risk of prostate cancer. While adherence to a dietary pattern high in red and processed meat, refined grains, and sweetened beverages increases the risk of prostate cancer.
Topics: Humans; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms; Case-Control Studies; Iran; Middle Aged; Diet, Healthy; Risk Factors; Aged; Diet; Diet, Vegetarian; Feeding Behavior; Adult; Diet Surveys
PubMed: 38902815
DOI: 10.1186/s41043-024-00578-4 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Jun 2024Chylothorax is a postoperative complication in patients with lung cancer. Diet-control approaches have been the mainstay for managing this condition. However, a surgical...
BACKGROUND
Chylothorax is a postoperative complication in patients with lung cancer. Diet-control approaches have been the mainstay for managing this condition. However, a surgical intervention is needed for the patients if conservative treatment is ineffective. Because of the lack of accurate indicators to assess the prognosis of the postoperative complication at an early stage, the criteria of surgical treatment were not consistent.
METHODS
We reviewed 2942 patients who underwent pulmonary resection and lymph node dissection for primary lung cancer at our hospital between March 2021 and December 2022. The prognostic implications of clinical indicators were assessed in patients with postoperative chylothorax who were managed with a low-fat diet. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the predictive value of these indicators for patient prognosis.
RESULTS
Postoperative chylothorax occurred in 108 patients and 79 patients were treated with a low-fat diet management while 29 patients were managed with TPN. In contrast to drainage volume, the pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet exhibited enhanced predictive efficacy in predicting patient prognosis. When the pleural fluid triglyceride level of 1.33 mmol/L was used as the diagnostic threshold for prognosis, the sensitivity and specificity reached 100% and 80.6%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet can serve as a valuable prognostic indicator in patients undergoing lung surgery and experiencing chylothorax. This predictive approach will help thoracic surgeons to identify patients with poor prognosis in a timely manner and make decision to perform necessary surgical interventions.
Topics: Humans; Chylothorax; Male; Female; Diet, Fat-Restricted; Prognosis; Pneumonectomy; Middle Aged; Lung Neoplasms; Postoperative Complications; Triglycerides; Aged; Retrospective Studies; Pleural Effusion
PubMed: 38902767
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02850-4 -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics Jun 2024Food supplements are defined as foodstuffs the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with...
Food supplements are defined as foodstuffs the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, often referred to as nutraceuticals, may exert benefit to the human body. Their use is increasing worldwide, including Europe and in Italy. However, some doctors are skeptical about their effectiveness and safety. This reluctance may depend on poor knowledge of the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence in literature. The Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP) promoted the institution of an ad hoc Committee. The first initiative performed by this Committee was the administration of a questionnaire to the members of SIAIP.The results of this survey provided interesting results. Most pediatricians know the food supplement concept but frequently need help understanding the mechanisms of action. Most prescribe food supplements, mainly for preventing infections or enhancing immune defense. In addition, they prefer to use food supplements as cycles or add-on therapy. Finally, most participants like to attend events on this issue and contribute to new evidence through trials.In conclusion, this survey underscores the relevance of food supplement issues and attests to interest in this topic. However, there is a need to provide information and promote studies on this matter.
Topics: Humans; Dietary Supplements; Italy; Societies, Medical; Surveys and Questionnaires; Attitude of Health Personnel; Child; Allergy and Immunology; Pediatrics; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Male; Pediatricians; Female
PubMed: 38902744
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01687-w -
Communications Biology Jun 2024Tissue specificity is a fundamental property of an organ that affects numerous biological processes, including aging and longevity, and is regulated by the circadian...
Tissue specificity is a fundamental property of an organ that affects numerous biological processes, including aging and longevity, and is regulated by the circadian clock. However, the distinction between circadian-affected tissue specificity and other tissue specificities remains poorly understood. Here, using multi-omics data on circadian rhythms in mice, we discovered that approximately 35% of tissue-specific genes are directly affected by circadian regulation. These circadian-affected tissue-specific genes have higher expression levels and are associated with metabolism in hepatocytes. They also exhibit specific features in long-reads sequencing data. Notably, these genes are associated with aging and longevity at both the gene level and at the network module level. The expression of these genes oscillates in response to caloric restricted feeding regimens, which have been demonstrated to promote longevity. In addition, aging and longevity genes are disrupted in various circadian disorders. Our study indicates that the modulation of circadian-affected tissue specificity is essential for understanding the circadian mechanisms that regulate aging and longevity at the genomic level.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Caloric Restriction; Circadian Rhythm; Organ Specificity; Longevity; Circadian Clocks; Aging; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Male; Gene Expression Regulation
PubMed: 38902439
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06421-0 -
Nutrition & Diabetes Jun 2024Dietary-resistant starch is emerging as a potential therapeutic tool to limit the negative effects of diabetes on the kidneys. However, its metabolic and...
BACKGROUND
Dietary-resistant starch is emerging as a potential therapeutic tool to limit the negative effects of diabetes on the kidneys. However, its metabolic and immunomodulatory effects have not yet been fully elucidated.
METHODS
Six-week-old db/db mice were fed a diet containing 12.5% resistant starch or a control diet matched for equivalent regular starch for 10 weeks. db/m mice receiving the control diet were utilised as non-diabetic controls. Freshly collected kidneys were digested for flow cytometry analysis of immune cell populations. Kidney injury was determined by measuring albuminuria, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Portal vein plasma was collected for targeted analysis of microbially-derived metabolites. Intestinal histology and tight junction protein expression were assessed.
RESULTS
Resistant starch limited the development of albuminuria in db/db mice. Diabetic db/db mice displayed a decline in portal vein plasma levels of acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which was increased with resistant starch supplementation. Diabetic db/db mice receiving resistant starch had a microbially-derived metabolite profile similar to that of non-diabetic db/m mice. The intestinal permeability markers lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide binding protein were increased in db/db mice consuming the control diet, which was not seen in db/db mice receiving resistant starch supplementation. Diabetes was associated with an increase in the kidney neutrophil population, neutrophil activation, number of C5aR1+ neutrophils, and urinary complement C5a excretion, all of which were reduced with resistant starch. These pro-inflammatory changes appear independent of fibrotic changes in the kidney.
CONCLUSIONS
Resistant starch supplementation in diabetes promotes beneficial circulating microbially-derived metabolites and improves intestinal permeability, accompanied by a modulation in the inflammatory profile of the kidney including neutrophil infiltration, complement activation, and albuminuria. These findings indicate that resistant starch can regulate immune and inflammatory responses in the kidney and support the therapeutic potential of resistant starch supplementation in diabetes on kidney health.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Kidney; Albuminuria; Male; Neutrophil Infiltration; Diabetic Nephropathies; Resistant Starch; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Starch; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38902253
DOI: 10.1038/s41387-024-00305-2 -
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN Aug 2024Limited benefit of pulmonary exercise rehabilitation has been associated with fulfilment of energy and protein requirements.
BACKGROUND
Limited benefit of pulmonary exercise rehabilitation has been associated with fulfilment of energy and protein requirements.
OBJECTIVES
The aim was to enhance dietary intake towards requirements and to maintain changes after a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
METHODS
This single arm intervention study included multidisciplinary focus on nutrition and three sessions of individual dietary counselling during a 10-week pulmonary exercise rehabilitation in five municipalities centers. Data were collected at baseline (P0), at the end of intervention (P1) and for two municipalities at three months post intervention (P2).
RESULTS
Of the 111 included participants, (mean age 70.8 (±9)) 99 (89%) completed the rehabilitation including the three individual dietary counselling's. A very large variation in body composition including body mass index and exercise abilities was found. Protein intake improved from 64 (±22 g) (P0) to 88 (±25 g) (P1) (p < 0.001) and energy intake from 1676 (±505 kcal) (P0) to 1941 (±553 kcal) (p < 0.001) (P1) and Muscle Mass Index increased from 10.6 (±3.2) (P0) to 10.9 (±3.2) (P1) (p = 0.007); number of 30 s chair stand test improved from 10.9 (±2.8) repetitions (P0) to 14.1 (±4.3) repetitions (P1) (p < 0.001), distance in six-minut walking test improved from 377.2 (±131.2 m) (P0) to 404.1 (±128.6 m) (P1) (p < 0.001). Two municipalities completed the three months follow-up. For those, dietary improvements remained stable, including protein intake.
CONCLUSION
Including three sessions of dietary counselling in a multi-professional effort was associated with improved individualized dietary intake, as well as physical function. Benefits remained almost unchanged after three months. Improvements in function could not be fully explained by improved intakes.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Aged; Energy Intake; Middle Aged; Cohort Studies; Body Mass Index; Counseling; Body Composition; Nutritional Status; Dietary Proteins; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Diet; Nutritional Requirements
PubMed: 38901947
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.04.020 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation Jun 2024Androgen has long been recognized for its pivotal role in the sexual dimorphism of cardiovascular diseases, including aortic aneurysms, a devastating vascular disease...
Androgen has long been recognized for its pivotal role in the sexual dimorphism of cardiovascular diseases, including aortic aneurysms, a devastating vascular disease with a higher prevalence and fatality rate in men than women. However, the mechanism by which androgen mediates aortic aneurysms is largely unknown. Herein, we found that male mice, not female mice, developed aortic aneurysms when exposed to aldosterone and high salt (Aldo-salt). We revealed that androgen and androgen receptors (AR) were crucial for this sexually dimorphic response to Aldo-salt. We identified programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), an immune checkpoint, as a key link between androgen and aortic aneurysms. We demonstrated that administration of anti-PD-1 Ab and adoptive PD-1 deficient T cell transfer reinstated Aldo-salt-induced aortic aneurysms in orchiectomized mice, and genetic deletion of PD-1 exacerbated aortic aneurysms induced by high-fat diet and angiotensin II (Ang II) in non-orchiectomized mice. Mechanistically, we discovered that AR bound to the PD-1 promoter to suppress its expression in the spleen. Thus, our study unveils a mechanism by which androgen aggravates aortic aneurysms by suppressing PD-1 expression in T cells. Moreover, our study suggests that some cancer patients might benefit from screenings for aortic aneurysms during immune checkpoint therapy.
PubMed: 38900572
DOI: 10.1172/JCI169085 -
JMIR Formative Research Jun 2024The Mediterranean diet has been linked to reduced risk for several cardiometabolic diseases. The lack of a clear definition of the Mediterranean diet in the scientific...
BACKGROUND
The Mediterranean diet has been linked to reduced risk for several cardiometabolic diseases. The lack of a clear definition of the Mediterranean diet in the scientific literature and the documented proliferation of nutrition misinformation on the internet suggest the potential for confusion among consumers seeking web-based Mediterranean diet information.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a social media content analysis of information about the Mediterranean diet on the influential social media platform, TikTok, to examine public discourse about the diet and identify potential areas of misinformation. We then analyzed these findings in the context of health promotion to identify potential challenges and opportunities for the use of TikTok in promoting the Mediterranean diet for healthy living.
METHODS
The first-appearing 202 TikTok posts that resulted from a search of the hashtag #mediterraneandiet were downloaded and qualitatively examined. Post features and characteristics, poster information, and engagement metrics were extracted and synthesized across posts. Posts were categorized as those created by health professionals and those created by nonhealth professionals based on poster-reported credentials. In addition to descriptive statistics of the entire sample, we compared posts created by professionals and nonprofessionals for content using chi-square tests.
RESULTS
TikTok posts varied in content, but posts that were developed by health professionals versus nonprofessionals were more likely to offer a definition of the Mediterranean diet (16/106, 15.1% vs 2/96, 2.1%; P=.001), use scientific citations to support claims (26/106, 24.5% vs 0/96, 0%; P<.001), and discuss specific nutrients (33/106, 31.1% vs 6/96, 6.3%; P<.001) and diseases related to the diet (27/106, 25.5% vs 5/96, 5.2%; P<.001) compared to posts created by nonhealth professionals.
CONCLUSIONS
Social media holds promise as a venue to promote the Mediterranean diet, but the variability in information found in this study highlights the need to create clear definitions about the diet and its components when developing Mediterranean diet interventions that use new media structures.
PubMed: 38896841
DOI: 10.2196/51094 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly common but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. The ability to assess genetic and pharmacologic...
UNLABELLED
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly common but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. The ability to assess genetic and pharmacologic interventions is hampered by the lack of robust preclinical mouse models of HFpEF. We have developed a novel "2-hit" model, which combines obesity and insulin resistance with chronic pressure overload to recapitulate clinical features of HFpEF. C57BL6/NJ mice fed a high fat diet for >10 weeks were administered an AAV8-driven vector resulting in constitutive overexpression of mouse . Control mice, HFD only, Renin only and HFD-Renin (aka "HFpEF") littermates underwent a battery of cardiac and extracardiac phenotyping. HFD-Renin mice demonstrated obesity and insulin resistance, a 2-3-fold increase in circulating renin levels that resulted in 30-40% increase in left ventricular hypertrophy, preserved systolic function, and diastolic dysfunction indicated by altered E/e', IVRT, and strain measurements; increased left atrial mass; elevated natriuretic peptides; and exercise intolerance. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of HFD-Renin myocardium demonstrated upregulation of pro-fibrotic pathways and downregulation of metabolic pathways, in particular branched chain amino acid catabolism, similar to findings in human HFpEF. Treatment of these mice with the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin, an effective but incompletely understood HFpEF therapy, improved exercise tolerance, left heart enlargement, and insulin homeostasis. The HFD-Renin mouse model recapitulates key features of human HFpEF and will enable studies dissecting the contribution of individual pathogenic drivers to this complex syndrome. Addition of HFD-Renin mice to the preclinical HFpEF model platform allows for orthogonal studies to increase validity in assessment of interventions.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex disease to study due to limited preclinical models. We rigorously characterize a new two-hit HFpEF mouse model, which allows for dissecting individual contributions and synergy of major pathogenic drivers, hypertension and diet-induced obesity. The results are consistent and reproducible in two independent laboratories. This high-fidelity pre-clinical model increases the available, orthogonal models needed to improve our understanding of the causes and assessment treatments for HFpEF.
PubMed: 38895483
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597821