A Nutrigenetic Strategy for Reducing Blood Lipids and Low-Grade Inflammation in Adults with Obesity and Overweight.

The pathogenesis of obesity and dyslipidemia involves genetic factors, such as polymorphisms related to lipid metabolism alterations predisposing their development. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a nutrigenetic intervention on the blood lipid levels, body composition, and inflammation markers of adults with obesity and overweight. Eleven genetic variants associated with dyslipidemias in Mexicans were selected, and specific nutrigenetic recommendations for these polymorphisms were found. One hundred and one adults were recruited and assigned to follow either a standard or nutrigenetic diet for eight weeks. Anthropometric, biochemical, body composition, and inflammation markers were evaluated through standardized methods. Weighted genetic risk scores (wGRSs) were computed using the study polymorphisms. After intervention, both diets significantly decreased the anthropometric parameters and body composition (p < 0.05). Only the nutrigenetic diet group showed significant reductions in VLDL-c (p = 0.001), triglycerides (p = 0.002), TG:HDL (p = 0.002), IL-6 (p = 0.002), and TNF-α (p = 0.04). wGRSs had a high impact on the ΔTGs and ΔVLDL-c of both groups (standard diet: ΔTGs: Adj R2 = 0.69, p = 0.03; ΔVLDL-c: Adj R2 = 0.71, p = 0.02; nutrigenetic diet: ΔTGs: Adj R2 = 0.49, p = 0.03 and ΔVLDL-c: R2 = 0.29, p = 0.04). This nutrigenetic intervention improved lipid abnormalities in patients with excessive body weight. Hence, nutrigenetic strategies could be coadjuvant tools and enhance the standard dietary treatment for cardiometabolic diseases.

[Mental and nutritional habits at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, perspectives and recommendations]. / Hábitos de salud mental y nutricional a inicios de la pandemia por COVID-19: impacto, perspectivas y recomendaciones.

Besides the severe impact on the mortality rate in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of having an optimal physical and mental health, since subjects with chronic diseases were the most affected. The aim of this review was to describe the consequences of nutritional and mental health during the beginning of the pandemic. In developing countries, such as Mexico, the prevalence of mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, stress, and suicide increased considerably. In addition, it was found an increase rate of sedentary lifestyles due to the confinement established as a preventive measure to avoid COVID-19 infections. Concerning eating habits, it was reported a decrease in fruits and vegetables consumption and an increase in energy-dense foods, as well as alcohol consumption or smoking, as compensatory measures for mental disorders of anxiety and depression. Based on the information we look up on the impact of COVID-19 on human health, we suggest as prevention measures multidisciplinary care strategies aimed at promoting mental health, diet, and physical activity habits in a comprehensive context. Likewise, information it is highlighted the importance of establishing care and monitoring programs for patients with chronic diseases, because this factor was decisive for mortality after COVID-19 infection.

Además de su impacto en la tasa de mortalidad en el mundo, la pandemia por COVID-19 demostró la importancia de un estado de salud física y mental óptimo, ya que los sujetos con enfermedades crónicas fueron los más afectados. El objetivo de esta revisión fue describir las consecuencias de la salud nutricional y mental durante los inicios de la pandemia. En los países en vías de desarrollo, como México, la prevalencia de enfermedades mentales como la depresión, la ansiedad, el estrés y los suicidios aumentaron. Además, incrementaron las cifras de sedentarismo debido al confinamiento. Con relación a los hábitos de alimentación, diversos autores reportaron una disminución en el consumo de frutas, verduras, y un aumento de alimentos densamente energéticos, así como el consumo de alcohol o tabaquismo como medidas compensatorias en relación con los trastornos mentales de ansiedad y depresión. A partir de la información consultada en torno al impacto de la COVID-19 en la salud humana, se sugieren como medidas de prevención estrategias de atención multidisciplinaria encaminadas a promover hábitos de salud mental, alimentación y actividad física en un contexto integral. De igual forma, destaca la importancia de establecer programas de atención y monitoreo de pacientes con enfermedades crónicas, debido a que este factor fue determinante para la mortalidad tras la infección por COVID-19.

A Balanced Dietary Ratio of n-6:n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Exerts an Effect on Total Fatty Acid Profile in RBCs and Inflammatory Markers in Subjects with Obesity.

The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can reduce inflammatory markers and may therefore be useful in obesity management. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of supplementation with n-3 PUFAs on total fatty acid profile in red blood cells (RBCs), as well as biochemical and inflammatory markers, in subjects with obesity. The study consisted in a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial involving 41 subjects with obesity during a 4-month follow-up. Individuals were randomly assigned to two groups: n-3 PUFA supplementation (1.5 g fish oil) and placebo (1.5 g sunflower oil). Anthropometric, biochemical, dietetic, cytokine and total fatty acid profiles in RBCs were measured. Both groups increased their PUFA intake and DHA incorporation in RBCs. However, the placebo group showed a reduction in serum IL-8 and MCP-1 at the end of the study. A multiple linear regression model adjusted by body fat mass and sex showed that an increase in DHA in RBCs decreased the serum IL-8 levels in both study groups at the end of the study. Our results highlight the role of dietary DHA and n-3 supplementation usefulness in exerting beneficial anti-inflammatory effects.

Lipid-Related Genetic Variants for Personalized Dietary Interventions: A Systematic Review.

Dyslipidemias are known risk factors for chronic diseases. Precision nutrition interventions are designed according to characteristics, such as diet, phenotype, and genotype. This systematic review aims to define a panel of genetic variants associated with lipid abnormalities that could be later used in nutrigenetic intervention studies. A systematic review is conducted following the PRISMA-P. Studies published from January 2010 to December 2020 in English language and humans are included from PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Articles that demonstrate a strong association between polymorphisms (single nucleotide variation) of genes involved in lipid metabolism and increased risk for dyslipidemia are included. A total of 3031 articles are screened, but only 51 articles fulfill the inclusion criteria. The genes included are FABP2, MTTP related to CM synthesis and secretion; LPL, LIPC involved in triglyceride hydrolysis; CETP, APOA1, LCAT, ABCA1, and APOA5 related to lipoprotein metabolism, and APOE, LDLR, SCARB1, APOC3 involved in lipid clearance. In this systematic review, genetic variants related to chylomicron synthesis, triglyceride hydrolysis, lipoprotein metabolism, and lipid clearance demonstrate a strong association with lipid abnormalities, which can be used to design precision nutrition interventions that may help to prevent and treat dyslipidemia effectively.

Personalized Dietary Recommendations Based on Lipid-Related Genetic Variants: A Systematic Review.

Background: Obesity and dyslipidemias are risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathogenesis of these diseases involves environmental factors, such as nutrition, but other aspects like genetic polymorphisms confer susceptibility to developing obesity and dyslipidemias. In this sense, nutrigenetics is being used to study the influence of genetic variations on the circulating lipid responses promoted by certain nutrients or foods to provide specific dietary strategies considering the genetic factors in personalized nutrition interventions. Objective: To identify throughout a systematic review the potential nutrigenetic recommendations that demonstrate a strong interaction between gene-diet and circulating lipid variations. Methods: This systematic review used the PRISMA-Protocol for manuscript research and preparation using PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Human studies published in English from January 2010 to December 2020 were included. The main results were outcomes related to gene-diet interactions and plasmatic lipids variation. Results: About 1,110 articles were identified, but only 38 were considered to fulfill the inclusion criteria established based on the reported data. The acquired information was organized based on gene-diet interaction with nutrients and components of the diet and dietary recommendation generated by each interaction: gene-diet interaction with dietary fats, carbohydrates or dietary fiber, gene-diet interaction with nutraceutical or dietary supplementation, and gene-diet interaction with proteins. Conclusion: Findings included in this systematic review indicated that a certain percentage of dietary macronutrients, the consumption of specific amounts of polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids, as well as the ingestion of nutraceuticals or dietary supplements could be considered as potential strategies for the development of a wide range of nutrigenetic interventions since they have a direct impact on the blood levels of lipids. In this way, specific recommendations were identified as potential tools in developing precision diets and highlighted the importance of personalized nutrition. These recommendations may serve as a possible strategy to implement as dietary tools for the preventive treatment and control alterations in lipid metabolism. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021248816, identifier [CRD42021248816].

The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is associated with metabolic alterations in a sex-dependent manner in subjects from western Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The ACTN3 gene is primarily expressed in fast skeletal muscle fibres. A common nonsense polymorphism in this gene is ACTN3 R577X (rs1815739), which causes an absolute deficiency of α-actinin-3 protein and alterations in muscle metabolism. Considering metabolic alterations are influenced by nutrition and genetic factors, as well as lifestyle factors, we hypothesise a possible association of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism with metabolic alterations. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 397 adults met the inclusion criteria. Body composition was measured by electrical bioimpedance. Dietary data were analysed using Nutritionist Pro™ software. Biochemical variables were determined by dry chemistry. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes and genotyping of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was determined by allelic discrimination using TaqMan probes. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The ACTN3 577XX genotype was associated with high glucose, triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and a higher frequency of hypertriglyceridaemia and insulin resistance in women. In males, the genetic variant showed a trend towards significance for insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was associated with metabolic alterations in women and a tendency was observed in men variant carriers. Thus, this common genetic variant could be implicated in the development of chronic metabolic diseases.

Low-grade chronic inflammation is attenuated by exercise training in obese adults through down-regulation of ASC gene in peripheral blood: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation and an excess of adipose tissue. The ASC gene encodes a protein that is part of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a cytosolic multiprotein complex that is associated with inflammation and metabolic alterations. To our knowledge, there is no evidence regarding ASC gene activity in obese adults in response to lifestyle modifications. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of hypocaloric diet and moderate-intensity structured exercise intervention on ASC gene expression and inflammatory markers in obese adults. METHODS: Thirty-seven obese individuals aged 25 to 50 years were randomized to the hypocaloric diet exercise group or hypocaloric diet group. The participants underwent a 4-month follow-up. Electrical bioimpedance was used for body composition analysis. Biochemical data were analyzed by dry chemistry and insulin levels by ELISA. ASC gene expression from peripheral blood was performed using real-time PCR. Dietary data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the Nutritionist Pro™ software. Quantification of cytokines was conducted using Bio-Plex Pro™ Human cytokine. The Astrand-Ryhming test was used to estimate the maximum oxygen volume and design the moderate-intensity structured exercise program ~ 75% heart rate (HR) RESULTS: After the intervention, both study groups significantly improved body composition (decreased weight, fat mass, waist circumference and abdominal obesity, p < 0.05). Besides, the diet-exercise group significantly decreased ASC mRNA expression, MCP-1, and MIP-1ß inflammatory cytokines compared to the diet group (p < 0.05). While in the diet group, MCP-1 and IL-8 exhibited significantly decreased levels (p < 0.05). In the diet-exercise group, a positive correlation between the atherogenic index and waist circumference was found (r = 0.822, p = 0.011), and a negative correlation was observed between the delta of ASC mRNA expression and IL-10 levels at the end of the intervention (r = - 0.627, p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Low-grade chronic inflammation was attenuated through individualized exercise prescription and our findings highlight the role of the ASC gene in the inflammation of obese adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT04315376 . Registered 20 March 2020-retrospectively registered.

Epigenetic Modifications as Outcomes of Exercise Interventions Related to Specific Metabolic Alterations: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases arise as a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle primarily characterized by physical inactivity and unbalanced diets. Regular physical activity can improve health, and there is consistent evidence that these improvements may be the result of epigenetic modifications. OBJECTIVE: To identify epigenetic modificationsas outcomes of exercise interventions related to specific metabolic alterations. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) methodology for manuscript research and preparation was followed using PubMed and EBSCO databases for literature review. Out of 2,638 articles identified, only 34 articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The sections of the review were organized by metabolic alterations in which studies were grouped according to healthy, diseased, and trained individuals. Resistance exercise in humans induced epigenetic changes in pathways associated with energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity, contributing to healthy skeletal muscle. Endurance exercise also caused modifications in biomarkers associated to metabolic alterations through changes in DNA methylation and the expression of specific miRNAs. However, both resistance and endurance exercise are necessary to obtain a better physiological adaptation and a combination of both seems to be needed to properly tackle the increasing prevalence of non-communicable pathologies. CONCLUSION: Given the heterogeneity and complexity of the existing literature, it is currently not possible to propose a specific recommendation about the type, intensity, or duration of exercise that could be beneficial for different subsets of the population (healthy, diseased, and/or trained). Nevertheless, this review highlights the importance of exercise for health and shows the need to perform more research in this emerging area to identify epigenetic biomarkers that could serve as indicators of exercise adaptations.

High Dietary ω-6:ω-3 PUFA Ratio Is Positively Associated with Excessive Adiposity and Waist Circumference.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze dietary ω-6:ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio and its association with adiposity and serum adiponectin levels in a Mexican population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, individuals with a BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m2, were classified using four methods to measure adiposity. Parameters of body composition were measured by InBody 3.0. Diet intake was evaluated prospectively using a 3-day written food record. Serum high-molecular weight adiponectin isoform was measured using an ELISA assay. Biochemical and adiposity variables were analyzed by tertiles of dietary ω-6:ω-3 PUFA ratio. RESULTS: A total of 170 subjects were recruited with a mean age of 36.9 ± 11.8 years. The 73.5% of subjects were women. Subjects in the higher tertile of dietary ω-6:ω-3 PUFA ratio had more adiposity and higher levels of triglycerides, VLDL-c, glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR than those in the first tertile (p < 0.05). Adiponectin levels showed a trend according to dietary ω-6:ω-3 PUFA ratio (p = 0.06). A linear regression model showed that waist circumference, insulin, and HOMA-IR have positive associations with dietary ω-6:ω-3 PUFA ratio. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that high dietary ω-6:ω-3 PUFA ratio is positively associated with excessive adiposity and worse metabolic profile.

Waist Circumference Is an Anthropometric Parameter That Identifies Women with Metabolically Unhealthy Phenotypes.

Metabolically healthy (MH) and metabolically unhealthy (MUH) phenotypes can be present in any subject independently of their body mass index (BMI). However, factors related to the presence of these phenotypes are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study is to describe the prevalence and characteristics associated with the MH and MUH phenotypes in Mexican subjects with different BMI categories. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were evaluated after 12 h of fasting. HMW (High Molecular Weight) adiponectin and insulin levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). A total of 345 subjects were included, of which, 73.9% were women. The prevalence of the MH phenotype was 69.9%, 46.7%, and 19% in normal weight, overweight, and obesity, respectively. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis showed that the waist circumference demonstrated a statistical significance (p < 0.01) in detecting the MUH phenotype in each BMI group only in women. Furthermore, subjects with lower HMW adiponectin levels showed a 2.1 increased risk of presenting the MUH phenotype. In conclusion, in this Mexican population, waist circumference was an anthropometric parameter that identified women with the MUH phenotype in all BMI categories and hypoadiponectinemia was a risk factor for the presence of this phenotype.

Associations of the lipid genetic variants Thr54 ( FABP2) and -493T ( MTTP) with total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in Mexican subjects.

Objective Mexico has one of the world's highest rates of obesity, which is influenced by lipid-genetic and lifestyle factors. This study aimed to determine whether FABP2 (Ala54Thr) and MTTP (-493 G/T) genetic polymorphisms are associated with metabolic disorders in Mexican subjects. Methods A total of 523 subjects participated in a cross-sectional study. Genotyping for FABP2 and MTTP was performed using real-time RT-PCR. Biochemical and anthropometric data were evaluated. Results The genetically at-risk group (Thr54/-493T) was associated with significantly higher total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (difference between genetically at-risk group and wild-type group: 10.6 mg/dL and 8.94 mg/dL, respectively). Carriers within the genetically at-risk group had a significantly higher prevalence rate of hypercholesterolaemia (42.5% vs. 32.0%) and higher LDL-C levels (37.6% vs. 26.4%) than did non-carriers. Conclusions Subjects who are genetically at risk (Thr54/-493T) have higher total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and prevalence rate of hypercholesterolaemia. These findings highlight the importance of basing nutritional intervention strategies for preventing and treating chronic diseases on individual genetic characteristics.