Dietary Pattern Low in Fruits Explains Variations in Inflammation and in Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Latinos Diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes.

Aims: 1) To identify a dietary pattern associated with plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in Latinos diagnosed with T2D. 2) To examine whether the “pro-inflammation” dietary pattern obtained is associated with additional cardiovascular disease risk in this Latino population. Methodology: Reduced rank regression was used to determine the cross-sectional relationship between food patterns and plasma inflammatory biomarkers in Latinos (26 men/77 women, 32-76 y) diagnosed with type-2 diabetes (T2D). Reduced rank regression was used to create 3 dietary patterns from 33 food groups. We included IL-6, TNFα, and MCP-1 as response variables to derive 3 dietary patterns. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: University of Connecticut, Hartford Hospital, and the Hispanic Health Council, between January 2010 and May 2011. Results: The first dietary pattern characterized by low intake of fruits and yellow vegetables and high intake of refined grains and sugar-free beverages explained the largest proportion of variance in inflammation markers. After adjusting for confounding factors including energy intake, statin treatment, waist circumference, glycosylated hemoglobin and blood pressure, IL-6 (P< 0.0001) and TNFα (P =0.0004) were positively associated with the first dietary pattern. Food groups that were negatively associated with inflammation markers were fruits and dark yellow vegetables, explaining 10.2% and 4.6% of the variance, respectively. This dietary pattern was also significantly associated with higher number of large VLDL particles (P < 0.05) after adjusting for WC, statins use and systolic blood pressure as well as higher concentrations of apolipoprotein A-2 after adjusting for WC and energy (P< 0.05). Conclusion: This dietary pattern may increase heart disease risk in this already challenged population.

Factores que influencian el consumo de calcio en estudiantes de Nutrición de la Universidad de Buenos Aires / Calcium intake and its influencing factors in Nutrition

El objetivo de este estudio transversal fue evaluar el consumo de calcio alimentario y los factores que influyen en este consumo en estudiantes universitarias (178 mujeres, 19–30 años) de la Licenciatura en Nutrición de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. El consumo de calcio fue evaluado a través de un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo alimentario. Las barreras al consumo de calcio fueron evaluadas a través de un cuestionario semi-estructurado. El consumo de calcio fue de 977,25 mg +455,89 mg/día. El 40% presentó consumo menor que el Requerimiento Promedio Estimado de calcio (800 mg/día) y sólo el 2% refirieron el uso de suplementos. Las pruebas de Mann-Whitney, ANOVA, y Rho de Spearman fueron utilizadas para el análisis estadístico. Las barreras al consumo de calcio más frecuentemente reportadas fueron: la aversión a los lácteos (13%) y la preferencia por otras bebidas (11%), principalmente mate. Las principales variables en las que se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa con el consumo de calcio fueron la ingesta de leche en el desayuno (r=0,28; p<0,001) y en la merienda (r= 0,20; p=0,008) de manera positiva; y de manera negativa la ingesta de mate en el desayuno (r= -0,32; p<0,001) y en la merienda (r= -0,24; p=0,001), y la preferencia por otras bebidas (r= -0,17; p=0,026).El hábito de consumir infusiones, principalmente mate en reemplazo de las bebidas lácteas, fue la principal barrera al consumo de calcio. A la hora de elegir qué bebida consumir, tuvo más peso la costumbre alimentaria argentina de consumir mate que el conocimiento adquirido en la vida académica. Se deben considerar estrategias que enfaticen la importancia del consumo de alimentos fuentes de calcio, para lograr cambios en la conducta alimentaria de la población estudiada

A Mediterranean Low-Glycemic-Load Diet alone or in Combination with a Medical Food Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Reduces Inflammation in Women with Metabolic Syndrome.

Aim: To determine the effects of a Mediterranean-style low-glycemic load diet alone or in combination with a medical food (MF) on insulin resistance and inflammation in women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Study design: Two groups, Parallel study with control. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA. The study was carried out from September of 2009 to May 2010. Methodology: Eighty three women (20-75 y) with MetS. Participants were randomly allocated to consume diet alone (control group) or the diet plus the MF (MF group) for 12 wk. Body composition was measured at baseline, week 8 and week 12 by use of bioelectrical impedance in all participants while Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry was used for 37 of the subjects. Insulin resistance, plasma insulin, leptin, adiponectin and the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), adhesion molecules, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, were measured at the same time points. Results: Independent of group allocation, women had decreases in body mass index (p < 0.0001) and body and trunk fat (p < 0.0001). Plasma insulin, insulin resistance, and leptin were also significantly decreased over time (p < 0.0001), while plasma adiponectin levels did not change. Regarding inflammatory markers, significant reductions were found in TNF-α (p < 0.0001) and sICAM-1 levels (p < 0.001), but not in IL-6 or sVCAM-1. At 12 wk, sICAM was reduced only in the MF group (p<0.05 vs control). Conclusion: A Mediterranean-style diet, in combination with a MF, are a viable option to decrease factors associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.