Mediterranean Diet Reduces Social Isolation and Anxiety in Adult Female Nonhuman Primates.

Dietary composition is associated with the differential prevalence of psychiatric disorders; the Western diet confers increased risk, while the Mediterranean diet appears to reduce risk. In nonhuman primates, anxiety-like behaviors and social isolation have been linked to both Western diet consumption and increased inflammatory disease risk, and recent evidence suggests that diet composition may affect immune system function in part through its effects on behavior. This is particularly important in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic in which social isolation has been associated with disease. Here, we examined the effects of Western- and Mediterranean-like diets on social behavior in a randomized, 34-month preclinical trial in middle-aged female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Diet induced rapid and persistent changes in a suite of behaviors. After just three months of experimental diet consumption, a composite measure of diet-altered behavior (DAB) significantly differed between the two diets (p = 0.014) and remained different throughout the 24-month experimental observation period (p = 2.2 × 10-8). Monkeys fed the Western diet spent more time alone (FDR = 4.4 × 10-5) and displayed more anxiety behavior (FDR = 0.048), whereas monkeys fed the Mediterranean diet spent more time resting (FDR = 0.0013), attentive (FDR = 0.017), and in body contact with groupmates (FDR = 4.1 × 10-8). These differences were largely due to changes in behavior of animals fed the Mediterranean diet, while Western-diet-fed-animals exhibited similar behaviors compared to the eight-month baseline period, during which all monkeys consumed a common laboratory diet. These observations provide experimental support in a nonhuman primate model, demonstrating a potential therapeutic benefit of the Mediterranean diet consumption to reduce social isolation and anxiety and thus mitigate social isolation-associated disorders that often accompany illness and disability.

Dietary Habits by Income Level during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: Results from the IndoNutriLifeCOVID-19 Online Survey

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused many lifestyle changes, especially in the diet. Policies such as physical distancing and quarantine orders aimed to mitigate to spread of COVID-19 have affected the economy and, therefore, the dietary habits of the people. AIM: The purpose of this study was to analyze the associations between income levels and dietary habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 697 Indonesian adults from various regions in Indonesia. The study was conducted from June to August 2020. Data were obtained through a self-administered online questionnaire including dietary habits, lifestyles, and quality of life data adapted from MyNutriLifeCOVID-19 online survey. To analyze the associations between income levels and dietary habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Chi-square test was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Respondents had mean age of 27.56 ± 8.58 years and the majority were women (83.6%). The percentage of people with large-scale social restrictions was 47.5%. Respondents reported that their dietary habits were healthier during the pandemic (46.2%), with the majority categorized as high-and very high-income status (59.1%). From self-reported of the people in Indonesia, there was association between high-income level and selfperceived healthier dietary habits. Higher-income level was also associated with higher frequency of online food/ drink delivery, consuming western diet foods, consuming dietary supplements, and probiotic consumption (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the dietary habits of people with a very high monthly income had eating healthier than before the pandemic. However, it is also related to higher energy, cholesterol, and saturated fat intakes due to consuming high western diet foods. Social inequalities in dietary intake should be considered through promoting a healthy balanced diet with affordable price and healthy food processing in the community.

Preventive measures for obesity pandemic during COVID-19 quarantine;choosing the right diet

Until recently, obesity was one of the greatest public health issues. At the moment, the world is counting deaths from COVID-19, and raging obesity pandemic is not in the focus. While the quarantine is the mainstay of COVID-19 prevention, it also opposes obesity prevention. Obesity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. Treatment of obesity during quarantine is challenging;trying to lose weight without the opportunity for outdoor activity or access to fresh and healthy foods may lead to frustration, depression and overeating. Therefore, we propose that patients should focus on preventing new weight gain instead of losing weight. It can be achieved by practicing indoor physical exercise together with adequate diet. The diet should be opposite from, "Western diet pattern'' and include foods easily obtainable during quarantine;with longer shelf life, but also rich in anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory bioactive compounds. These characteristics of the diet make it simple to implement during quarantine, it helps in the process maintaing weight and supports immune system-all what is required to possibly reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 infection. The anti-inflammatory properties from given diet have beneficial role, especially in obese patients, as they have low grade chronic inflammation which additionally may worsen clinical course of COVID-19 infection.

Diet and Lifestyle Guidelines for Immunomodulation with Reference to Corona Virus Pandemic: A Scientific Statement of the International College of Nutrition

The immune system is comprised of lymph glands, lymph nodes, thymus gland, spleen, bone marrow, lymphocytes, and molecules such as antibodies and cytokines. It has a vast array of functionally different cells such as T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils and mast cells. The ontogenesis of the immune system is comprised of the innate immune cells and the adaptive immune cells, where innate immune cells are the first defense mechanisms to respond to pathogenic environmental factors. There are multiple components of the adaptive immune cells, including immunoglobulins (Igs), T-cell receptors (TCR), and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) responsible for adaptive immunity. However, many elements of both the innate and adaptive immune systems are conserved in our bodies. The adaptive immunity is a type of immunity that develops when a person’s immune cells respond to a pathogen such as microorganism or vaccination. Environmental factors such as pathogenic bacteria or viruses, solar exposure, age, exercise, stress, diet, sleep quality and air pollutants can influence the immune system. There may be marked decline in the immune function due to attack of COVID-19. Most patients with mild COVID-19 develop an appropriate immune response that culminates with viral clearance. However, severe disease manifestations have been linked to lymphopenia and immune hyper-responsiveness leading to cytokine storm. It has been observed that in COVID-19, alveolar macrophages are epigenetically altered after inflammation, leading to long-term lung immune-paralysis. Western diets are known to have adverse effects on the immune function. However, Mediterranean-type diets rich in short-and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), vegetables, nuts and fruits, dairy products and fish and red wine, due to high content of vitamins, minerals and flavonoids may be useful in boosting immunity. Moderate physical activity may also cause an extensive increase in numerous and varied lipid super-pathway metabolites, including oxidized derivatives called oxylipins. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary supplements containing flavonoids, carotenoids, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), vitamins, minerals and antioxidants modulate gene and protein expression and thereby modify endogenous metabolic pathways, and consequently enhance the immunity. Mediterranean-type diet and multiple bioactive nutrients, fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals as well as moderate physical activity may be crucial for enhancing immunomodulation.

Tissue-Specific Differences in Myocardial and Coronary Vascular ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA Levels are Dependent Upon Sex, Comorbidities, PressureOverload, and Pig Species

SARS-COV-2, or COVID-19, is a respiratory virus infecting over 86 million people worldwide. In addition to respiratory infections, SARS-COV-2 has been shown to include cardiovascular (CV) complications, including myocarditis and acute coronary syndrome. Risk of severe complications from SARS-COV-2 in individuals with existing CV and metabolic disease has been shown to be increased. Evidence indicates SARS-COV-2 enters tissues via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and that the virus is primed and activated by transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2). The goal of this study was to determine ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA levels in pre-clinical swine models of heart failure (HF). We hypothesized sex, pressure-overload, and comorbidities would increase ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA levels. A retrospective analysis was conducted in previously completed studies in our lab including: 1) Female, intact Ossabaw swine that were either lean control or western diet-fed aortic-banded (N=4-5/group);2) Female Yucatan mini-swine subject to ovariectomy and/or aortic banding (N=5-8/group);and 3) Sedentary and exercise trained male, intact Yucatan mini-swine that were aortic banded. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA levels were evaluated in the left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV), and coronary vasculature using qRT-PCR. Linear regression analysis was used to determine differences between the following variables: pig species, sex hormones, aortic banding, comorbidities, exercise training, and tissue. Data was log-transformed to meet linear regression assumptions. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA levels were significantly influenced by sex, comorbidity, and tissue type. TMPRSS2 mRNA levels were also influenced by species and disease status. Specifically, ACE2 mRNA levels decreased 57.1% in the LV and increased 169.9% in the RV of males compared to coronary vessels in intact females. TMPRSS2 mRNA levels increased in the LV and RV of males (1,218.6% and 5,479.8%, respectively) compared to coronary vessels in intact females. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA levels increased 344% and 453.4%, respectively, in the LV of Ossabaw swine fed a Western Diet compared to coronary vessels from Yucatan and Ossabaw swine without comorbidities. Species differences indicated TMPRSS2 mRNA levels increased 449.2% in the RV and 498.6% in the LV in Yucatan mini-swine compared to coronary vessels in Ossabaw swine. A 107.3% increase in TMPRSS2 mRNA level was observed in male swine without HF compared to female intact swine with HF highlighting the importance of sex and disease state. Exercise training did not impact ACE2 or TMPRSS2 mRNA levels irrespective of tissue. In conclusion, these results suggest differences in RV, LV and coronary mRNA levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are dependent upon sex and comorbidities. TMPRSS2 levels are additionally influenced by pig species and pressureoverload. These results provide insight into how ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA levels may influence the cardiovascular involvement of SARS-COV-2 infection in an experimental setting of pre-clinical HF incorporating different swine species, sex, and comorbidities.

Proposed Anti-Inflammatory Diet Reduces Inflammation in Compliant, Weight-Stable Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear to what extent adjuvant dietary intervention can influence inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess the effects of dietary manipulation on inflammation in patients with RA. METHODS: In a crossover design, participants [n = 50, 78% females, median BMI (in kg/m2) 27, median age 63 y] were randomly assigned to begin with either a 10-wk portfolio diet of proposed anti-inflammatory foods (i.e., a high intake of fatty fish, whole grains, fruits, nuts, and berries) or a control diet resembling a Western diet with a 4-mo washout in between. This report evaluates the secondary outcome markers of inflammation among participants with stable medication. Analyses were performed using a linear mixed ANCOVA model. RESULTS: There were no significant effects on CRP or ESR in the group as a whole. In those with high compliance (n = 29), changes in ESR within the intervention diet period differed significantly compared with changes within the control diet period (mean: -5.490; 95% CI: -10.310, -0.669; P = 0.027). During the intervention diet period, there were lowered serum concentrations of C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) (mean: -0.268; 95% CI: -0.452, -0.084;P = 0.006), CXCL5 (mean: -0.278; 95% CI: -0.530, -0.026 P = 0.031), CXCL6 (mean: -0.251; 95% CI: -0.433, -0.069; P = 0.009), and tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14) (mean: -0.139; 95% CI: -0.275, -0.002; P = 0.047) compared with changes within the control diet period. CONCLUSION: A proposed anti-inflammatory diet likely reduced systemic inflammation, as indicated by a decreased ESR in those who completed the study with high compliance (n = 29). These findings warrant further studies to validate our results, and to evaluate the clinical relevance of changes in CXCL1, CXCL5, CXCL6, and TNFSF14 in patients with RA.

Ultra-processed diet, systemic oxidative stress, and breach of immunologic tolerance.

In recent years, consumption of ultra-processed food around the world has been increasing. The nutritional profile of an ultra-processed diet is associated with the development of cellular alterations that lead to oxidative stress. The chronic prooxidative state leads to an environment that influences the proliferation, apoptosis, and signaling pathways of immune cells. Likewise, the decrease in the transcription factor NRF2, owing to exacerbated production of reactive oxygen species, leads to changes in immune function and response to infections. This review aims to analyze the connection between an ultra-processed diet, systemic oxidative stress, and immune tolerance, as a contribution to the scientific evidence on the impact of oxidative stress on health and the possible risk of infections-an important consideration in the association of eating pattern and the immune response.

Inverse Association Between the Mediterranean Diet and COVID-19 Risk in Lebanon: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Since 2019, the world is confronting the COVID-19 public health crisis that deeply impacted all aspects of life, from the health sector to economy. Despite the advancement of research targeting pandemic containment measures, more strategies are still needed to alleviate the burden caused by this novel disease. In particular, optimal nutrition was proposed as a possible mitigating factor in the context of COVID-19. Indeed, the light is shed on balanced diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, which present the finest nutritional quality to support the immune system and other physiologic functions. In contrast, less varied diets that lack the needed nutrients and favor inflammation have been correlated with adverse health effects, including a hindered immune response, such as the western diet. Methods: This observational case control study aimed at exploring the possible associations between the different dietary patterns present among a sample of the Lebanese population and the COVID-19 occurrence and outcomes. An online survey collected information about the sociodemographic characteristics, health status, lifestyle, and dietary habits through the Mediterranean diet questionnaire and a semi-quantitative fod frequency questionnaire, and the COVID-19 infection and its burden. The sample consisted of 399 respondents divided into the case and control groups (37.6 and 62.4%, respectively) on the basis of the presence or absence of a COVID-19 infection history. Results: The participants in the case and control groups had average adherence to the Mediterranean diet and their dietary intake was closer to the western diet. However, the cases had a lower mean of the MedDiet score (p = 0.009). Food groups consumption analysis showed that this significant difference within the overall similar dietary patterns was due to a higher consumption of poultry and a trend toward decreased consumption of olive oil and increased read meat and alcohol intake among the cases. Additionally, gender influenced the levels of different foods' consumption. Nonetheless, the dietary intake did not impact the COVID-19 burden. Conclusion: It is recommended to adopt healthy food choices within the different dietary patterns for a better protection against COVID-19. These findings should be validated in larger-scale studies.

Effects of early-life exposure to Western diet and voluntary exercise on adult activity levels, exercise physiology, and associated traits in selectively bred High Runner mice.

Exercise behavior is under partial genetic control, but it is also affected by numerous environmental factors, potentially including early-life experiences whose effects persist into adulthood. We studied genetic and early-life environmental effects on wheel-running behavior in a mouse model that includes four replicate high runner (HR) lines selectively bred for increased voluntary wheel running as young adults and four non-selected control (C) lines. In a full factorial design, mice from each line were granted wheel access or not and administered either standard or Western diet (WD) from weaning (3 weeks old) to 6 weeks of age (sexual maturity). In addition to acute effects, after a washout period of 8 weeks (∼6 human years) in which all mice had standard diet and no wheel access, we found both beneficial and detrimental effects of these early-life exposures. During the first week of treatments, WD increased distance run by 29% in C mice and 48% in HR mice (significant Diet × Linetype interaction), but diet effects disappeared by the third week. Across the three weeks of juvenile treatment, WD significantly increased fat mass (with lean mass as a covariate). Tested as adults, early-life exercise increased wheel running of C mice but not HR mice in the first week. Early-life exercise also reduced adult anxiety-like behavior and increased adult fasted blood glucose levels, triceps surae mass, subdermal fat pad mass, and brain mass, but decreased heart ventricle mass. Using fat mass as a covariate, early-life exercise treatment increased adult leptin concentration. In contrast, early-life WD increased adult wheel running of HR mice but not C mice. Early-life WD also increased adult lean mass and adult preference for Western diet in all groups. Surprisingly, early-life treatment had no significant effect on adult body fat or maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max). No previous study has tested for combined or interactive effects of early-life WD and exercise. Our results demonstrate that both factors can have long-lasting effects on adult voluntary exercise and related phenotypes, and that these effects are modulated by genetic background. Overall, the long-lasting effects of early-life exercise were more pervasive than those of WD, suggesting critical opportunities for health intervention in childhood habits, as well as possible threats from modern challenges. These results may be relevant for understanding potential effects of activity reductions and dietary changes associated with the obesity epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic.