Prevention of non-communicable diseases through, among other factors, increasing vegetables and fruit (V&F) intake is a cost-effective strategy for risk reduction but requires behavioral change... Show morePrevention of non-communicable diseases through, among other factors, increasing vegetables and fruit (V&F) intake is a cost-effective strategy for risk reduction but requires behavioral change. Such changes in adolescents benefit from their active involvement. The Food Boost Challenge (FBC) was developed using a participatory action research approach to enhance healthy eating behaviors, namely V&F products among adolescents. The FBC is an innovation process, involving adolescents, (peer) researchers, and food system partners, like non-governmental and commercial organizations. In 2021–2022, 34 partners provided both cash and in-kind contributions to join the FBC community. Phase 1 involved 200 students identifying barriers and drivers for consumption of F&V products among 1000 pre-vocational adolescents, aged 12–20 years. In phase 2, student teams submitted innovative ideas, resulting in 25 concepts fitting into ≥1 of 4 routes: (I) innovative technology for a healthy diet, (II) new food products/concepts for adolescents, (III) hotspots improving the F&V product experience, and (IV) new routes to market. In phase 3, consortia of adolescents, students, and partners were formed to develop 10 selected concepts into prototypes, and phase 4 offered teams a national platform. Results show that the FBC resonates with all stakeholders, generating valuable insights to increase F&V intake. Prototypes in all four routes have been developed. Additionally, other regions in the Netherlands have adopted the FBC approach. Overall, the FBC is an approach that transforms ideas into actionable measures and shows potential to be adapted to promote various healthy eating behaviors among school students. Show less
Langhi, C.; Vallier, M.; Otero, Y.F.; Maura, M.; Joubioux, F. le; Groult, H.; ... ; Sirvent, P. 2023
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and hypercholesterolemia is a central risk factor for atherosclerosis. This study evaluated the effects of Totum... Show moreAtherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and hypercholesterolemia is a central risk factor for atherosclerosis. This study evaluated the effects of Totum-070, a plant-based polyphenol-rich supplement, in hamsters with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced dyslipidemia. The molecular mechanisms of action were explored using human Caco2 enterocytes. Totum-070 supplementation reduced the total cholesterol (-41%), non-HDL cholesterol (-47%), and triglycerides (-46%) in a dose-dependent manner, compared with HFD. HFD-induced hepatic steatosis was also significantly decreased by Totum-070, an effect associated with the reduction in various lipid and inflammatory gene expression. Upon challenging with olive oil gavage, the post-prandial triglyceride levels were strongly reduced. The sterol excretion in the feces was increased in the HFD-Totum-070 groups compared with the HFD group and associated with reduction of intestinal cholesterol absorption. These effects were confirmed in the Caco2 cells, where incubation with Totum-070 inhibited cholesterol uptake and apolipoprotein B secretion. Furthermore, a microbiota composition analysis revealed a strong effect of Totum-070 on the alpha and beta diversity of bacterial species and a significant decrease in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. Altogether, our findings indicate that Totum-070 lowers hypercholesterolemia by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption, suggesting that its use as dietary supplement may be explored as a new preventive strategy for cardiovascular diseases. Show less
Background: Studies exploring the possible protective effect of coffee and tea consumption on dementia have shown inconsistent results so far. We aimed to investigate whether consumption of tea and... Show moreBackground: Studies exploring the possible protective effect of coffee and tea consumption on dementia have shown inconsistent results so far. We aimed to investigate whether consumption of tea and different types of coffee at midlife are associated with dementia later in life and whether sex or ApoE4 influence such association. Methods: We included 7381 participants from the Norwegian HUNT Study. Self-reported questionnaires assessed daily consumption of coffee and tea at baseline. After 22 years, individuals 70 years or older were screened for cognitive impairment. Results: General coffee consumption and tea consumption was not associated with dementia risk. Compared to daily consumption of 0–1 cups of coffee, daily consumption of ≥8 cups of boiled coffee was associated with increased dementia risk in women (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.10–3.04, p-value for trend = 0.03) and daily consumption of 4–5 cups of other types of coffee was associated with a decrease in dementia risk in men (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32–0.72, p-value for trend = 0.05). Furthermore, the association between boiled coffee and increased dementia risk was only found in ApoE4 non-carriers. Differences by sex or ApoE4 carrier status were not supported by strong statistical evidence for interaction. Tea consumption was not associated with dementia risk. Conclusion: type of coffee may play a role in the direction of the association between coffee-drinking habits and dementia later in life. Show less
An inadequate selenium (Se) status can accelerate the aging process, increasing the vulnerability to age-related diseases. The study aimed to investigate plasma Se and Se species in a large... Show moreAn inadequate selenium (Se) status can accelerate the aging process, increasing the vulnerability to age-related diseases. The study aimed to investigate plasma Se and Se species in a large population, including 2200 older adults from the general population (RASIG), 514 nonagenarian offspring (GO), and 293 GO Spouses (SGO). Plasma Se levels in women exhibit an inverted U-shaped pattern, increasing with age until the post-menopausal period and then declining. Conversely, men exhibit a linear decline in plasma Se levels with age. Subjects from Finland had the highest plasma Se values, while those from Poland had the lowest ones. Plasma Se was influenced by fish and vitamin consumption, but there were no significant differences between RASIG, GO, and SGO. Plasma Se was positively associated with albumin, HDL, total cholesterol, fibrinogen, and triglycerides and negatively associated with homocysteine. Fractionation analysis showed that Se distribution among plasma selenoproteins is affected by age, glucometabolic and inflammatory factors, and being GO or SGO. These findings show that sex-specific, nutritional, and inflammatory factors play a crucial role in the regulation of Se plasma levels throughout the aging process and that the shared environment of GO and SGO plays a role in their distinctive Se fractionation. Show less
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has a strong genetic basis, but environmental factors such as smoking and a healthy diet can decrease the genetic fate by up to 50%. Current guidelines for... Show moreAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) has a strong genetic basis, but environmental factors such as smoking and a healthy diet can decrease the genetic fate by up to 50%. Current guidelines for clinical management include recommendations for a healthy lifestyle and antioxidant supplementation. However, many ophthalmologists do not inform their patients of this AMD-beneficial lifestyle. An important reason is the lack of trust that transition of lifestyle will be feasible in persons of advanced age and lack of methodology to measure lifestyle or its biological effects. To address these issues, we set up the lifestyle intervention study AMD-Life. It aims to investigate whether personalized risk-profiling (including genetic testing) and/or additional coaching can motivate patients to change their lifestyle. It also explores which biomarkers best reflect lifestyle change beneficial for AMD. The first year is a three-arm, self-contained open-label randomized clinical trial. A total of 150 AMD patients aged 55-85 years were randomized into three arms: (A) merely standard recommendations; (B) A conditions plus personalized risk profiling based on genetics and lifestyle, (C) B conditions plus coaching. The second year tests sustainability of lifestyle changes without active intervention. AMD-Life can provide further insight into the relevance of these interventions for the clinical management of AMD. Show less
Background: Current guidelines aim to limit the dietary glycemic index (GI) and intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA). Several studies have shown favorable effects of low-GI or low-SFA diets on... Show moreBackground: Current guidelines aim to limit the dietary glycemic index (GI) and intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA). Several studies have shown favorable effects of low-GI or low-SFA diets on intrahepatic lipid content (IHL), but these studies were performed under overfeeding conditions or extreme differences in GI or SFA to maximize the contrast between diets. By combining changes in GI and SFA, we can mimic how people can improve their diet in a realistic setting. Objectives: We investigated the effect on liver fat content and substrate metabolism of both reducing GI and replacing SFA with polyunsaturated fat in practically realistic amounts under isocaloric conditions. Design and Methods: In a randomized crossover study, thirteen overweight participants consumed two diets, one high in GI and SFA (high GI/SFA) and one low in GI and SFA (low GI/SFA) with identical macronutrient composition, for two weeks each. Diets were equal in caloric content, consisted of habitual food items, and had a macronutrient composition that can be easily achieved in daily life. At the end of each intervention, IHL content/composition and liver glycogen were measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, fasted and postprandial hepatic de novo lipogenesis and glycemic and metabolic responses were investigated. Results: IHL was significantly lower (-28%) after the two-week low-GI/SFA diet (2.4 +/- 0.5% 95% CI [1.4, 3.4]) than after the two-week high-GI/SFA diet (3.3 +/- 0.6% 95% CI [1.9, 4.7], p < 0.05). Although hepatic glycogen content, hepatic de novo lipogenesis, hepatic lipid composition, and substrate oxidation during the night were similar between the two diets, the glycemic response to the low-GI/SFA diet was reduced (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Changes in macronutrient quality can already have drastic effects on liver fat content and postprandial glycemia after two weeks and even when energy content and the percentage of total fat and carbohydrate remains unchanged. Show less
Background: Buckwheat is a commonly cultivated crop with growing evidence that it is beneficial to gastrointestinal (GI) health. This systematic review summarizes the role of buckwheat in... Show moreBackground: Buckwheat is a commonly cultivated crop with growing evidence that it is beneficial to gastrointestinal (GI) health. This systematic review summarizes the role of buckwheat in modifying GI health outcomes and microbiomes. Methods: Four medical databases and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Clinical trials, observational studies, animal in vivo, and in vitro studies with human and animal GI-derived samples were included. Results: There were 32 studies (one randomized controlled trial [RCT], one non-randomized trial, 3 observational, 9 in vitro, and 18 animal in vivo studies) included. In preclinical studies, buckwheat extracts were observed to have cytotoxic potential against human-derived GI cancer cell lines. Animals fed with buckwheat had lower GI mucosal inflammation, higher alpha diversity in the GI microbiome, and higher levels of fecal short-chain fatty acids. Human evidence studies and clinical trials were limited and predominantly of moderate risk of bias. The majority of in vitro studies with GI-derived samples and in vivo studies were reliable without restrictions in study design. Conclusion: In vivo and in vitro studies show that buckwheat may have potential GI benefits due to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential; however, human evidence remains limited, and its impact on health in humans remains to be elucidated in future trials. Show less
Loh, N.Y.; Wang, W.Y.; Noordam, R.; Christodoulides, C. 2022
Obesity and upper-body fat distribution are independent, cardiometabolic risk factors but whether they also display comparable associations with cancer risk is unknown. We investigated the causal... Show moreObesity and upper-body fat distribution are independent, cardiometabolic risk factors but whether they also display comparable associations with cancer risk is unknown. We investigated the causal relationships between body mass index (BMI) and BMI-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio (WHRadjBMI) and cancer risk and searched for potential drivers linking these traits to carcinogenesis using two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomisation. In women, genetically instrumented higher BMI was associated with lower breast (OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.93) and higher endometrial (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.55-1.96) cancer risk whilst WHRadjBMI was associated with higher colon cancer risk (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.42). In men, elevated BMI was associated with lower prostate cancer risk (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.98). Mechanistically, testosterone and insulin mediated 21% and 35%, respectively of the total, genetically determined association of BMI with endometrial cancer risk whilst HDL cholesterol and IGF-1 mediated 40% and 22%, respectively of the association between BMI and breast cancer risk. In men, testosterone mediated 21% of the association between BMI and prostate cancer risk. Colon cancer aside, the total amount of body fat might be more important than its location in modulating cancer susceptibility due to differential effects of obesity and fat distribution on adiposity-associated cancer drivers. Show less
Pre-clinical studies suggest that circulating oxylipins, i.e., the oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), modulate gut microbiota composition in mice, but there is no... Show morePre-clinical studies suggest that circulating oxylipins, i.e., the oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), modulate gut microbiota composition in mice, but there is no information available in humans. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between omega-3 and omega-6 derived oxylipins plasma levels and fecal microbiota composition in a cohort of young adults. 80 young adults (74% women; 21.9 +/- 2.2 years old) were included in this cross-sectional study. Plasma levels of oxylipins were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fecal microbiota composition was analyzed by V3-V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We observed that plasma levels of omega-3 derived oxylipins were positively associated with the relative abundance of Clostridium cluster IV genus (Firmicutes phylum; rho >= 0.415, p <= 0.009) and negatively associated with the relative abundance of Sutterella genus (Proteobacteria phylum; rho >= -0.270, p <= 0.041), respectively. Moreover, plasma levels of omega-6 derived oxylipins were negatively associated with the relative abundance of Acidaminococcus and Phascolarctobacterium genera (Firmicutes phylum; all rho >= -0.263, p <= 0.024), as well as Sutterella, Succinivibrio, and Gemmiger genera (Proteobacteria phylum; all rho >= -0.263, p <= 0.024). Lastly, the ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins plasma levels was negatively associated with the relative abundance of Clostridium cluster IV genus (Firmicutes phylum; rho = -0.334, p = 0.004) and Butyricimonas genus (Bacteroidetes phylum; rho = -0.292, p = 0.014). In conclusion, our results show that the plasma levels of omega-3 and omega-6 derived oxylipins are associated with the relative abundance of specific fecal bacteria genera. Show less
Eco-concern, the distress experienced relating to climate change, is associated with mental health, yet no study has examined disordered eating related to eco-concern. This study developed and... Show moreEco-concern, the distress experienced relating to climate change, is associated with mental health, yet no study has examined disordered eating related to eco-concern. This study developed and validated a 10-item scale assessing Eating-Related Eco-Concern (EREC). Participants (n = 224) completed the EREC, Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS), and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Construct validity, convergent validity, and internal consistency were evaluated. Sex differences in EREC were evaluated using t-tests. Associations among the EREC, CCWS, and EDE-Q were evaluated using linear regression models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in individuals below EDE-Q global score clinical cut-offs. Factor analysis suggested that all items loaded adequately onto one factor. Pearson's correlation and Bland-Altman analyses suggested strong correlation and acceptable agreement between the EREC and CCWS (r = 0.57), but weak correlation and low agreement with the EDE-Q global score (r = 0.14). The EREC had acceptable internal consistency (alpha = 0.88). No sex difference was observed in the EREC in the full sample; females had a significantly higher mean score than males in sensitivity analysis. The EREC was significantly positively associated with the CCWS and EDE-Q global and shape concern scores, but not in sensitivity analysis. The EREC is a brief, validated scale that can be useful to screen for eating-related eco-concern. Show less
Within the human population, considerable variability exists between individuals in their susceptibility to develop obesity and dyslipidemia. In humans, this is thought to be caused by both genetic... Show moreWithin the human population, considerable variability exists between individuals in their susceptibility to develop obesity and dyslipidemia. In humans, this is thought to be caused by both genetic and environmental variation. APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, as part of an inbred mouse model in which mice develop the metabolic syndrome upon being fed a high-fat high-cholesterol diet, show large inter-individual variation in the parameters of the metabolic syndrome, despite a lack of genetic and environmental variation. In the present study, we set out to resolve what mechanisms could underlie this variation. We used measurements of glucose and lipid metabolism from a six-month longitudinal study on the development of the metabolic syndrome. Mice were classified as mice with either high plasma triglyceride (responders) or low plasma triglyceride (non-responders) at the baseline. Subsequently, we fitted the data to a dynamic computational model of whole-body glucose and lipid metabolism (MINGLeD) by making use of a hybrid modelling method called Adaptations in Parameter Trajectories (ADAPT). ADAPT integrates longitudinal data, and predicts how the parameters of the model must change through time in order to comply with the data and model constraints. To explain the phenotypic variation in plasma triglycerides, the ADAPT analysis suggested a decreased cholesterol absorption, higher energy expenditure and increased fecal fatty acid excretion in non-responders. While decreased cholesterol absorption and higher energy expenditure could not be confirmed, the experimental validation demonstrated that the non-responders were indeed characterized by increased fecal fatty acid excretion. Furthermore, the amount of fatty acids excreted strongly correlated with bile acid excretion, in particular deoxycholate. Since bile acids play an important role in the solubilization of lipids in the intestine, these results suggest that variation in bile acid homeostasis may in part drive the phenotypic variation in the APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice. Show less
Hoogh, I.M. de; Winters, B.L.; Nieman, K.M.; Bijlsma, S.; Krone, T.; Broek, T.J. van den; ... ; Wopereis, S. 2022
Personalized nutrition may be more effective in changing lifestyle behaviors compared to population-based guidelines. This single-arm exploratory study evaluated the impact of a 10-week... Show morePersonalized nutrition may be more effective in changing lifestyle behaviors compared to population-based guidelines. This single-arm exploratory study evaluated the impact of a 10-week personalized systems nutrition (PSN) program on lifestyle behavior and health outcomes. Healthy men and women (n = 82) completed the trial. Individuals were grouped into seven diet types, for which phenotypic, genotypic and behavioral data were used to generate personalized recommendations. Behavior change guidance was also provided. The intervention reduced the intake of calories (−256.2 kcal; p < 0.0001), carbohydrates (−22.1 g; p < 0.0039), sugar (−13.0 g; p < 0.0001), total fat (−17.3 g; p < 0.0001), saturated fat (−5.9 g; p = 0.0003) and PUFA (−2.5 g; p = 0.0065). Additionally, BMI (−0.6 kg/m2; p < 0.0001), body fat (−1.2%; p = 0.0192) and hip circumference (−5.8 cm; p < 0.0001) were decreased after the intervention. In the subgroup with the lowest phenotypic flexibility, a measure of the body’s ability to adapt to environmental stressors, LDL (−0.44 mmol/L; p = 0.002) and total cholesterol (−0.49 mmol/L; p < 0.0001) were reduced after the intervention. This study shows that a PSN program in a workforce improves lifestyle habits and reduces body weight, BMI and other health-related outcomes. Health improvement was most pronounced in the compromised phenotypic flexibility subgroup, which indicates that a PSN program may be effective in targeting behavior change in health-compromised target groups. Show less
Very preterm infants are at high risk for suboptimal nutrition in the first weeks of life leading to insufficient weight gain and complications arising from metabolic imbalances such as... Show moreVery preterm infants are at high risk for suboptimal nutrition in the first weeks of life leading to insufficient weight gain and complications arising from metabolic imbalances such as insufficient bone mineral accretion. We investigated the use of a novel set of standardized parenteral nutrition (PN; MUC PREPARE) solutions regarding improving nutritional intake, accelerating termination of parenteral feeding, and positively affecting growth in comparison to individually prescribed and compounded PN solutions. We studied the effect of MUC PREPARE on macro- and micronutrient intake, metabolism, and growth in 58 very preterm infants and compared results to a historic reference group of 58 very preterm infants matched for clinical characteristics. Infants receiving MUC PREPARE demonstrated improved macro- and micronutrient intake resulting in balanced electrolyte levels and stable metabolomic profiles. Subsequently, improved energy supply was associated with up to 1.5 weeks earlier termination of parenteral feeding, while simultaneously reaching up to 1.9 times higher weight gain at day 28 in extremely immature infants (<27 GA weeks) as well as overall improved growth at 2 years of age for all infants. The use of the new standardized PN solution MUC PREPARE improved nutritional supply and short- and long-term growth and reduced PN duration in very preterm infants and is considered a superior therapeutic strategy. Show less
The substantial increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Indonesia might be driven by rapid socio-economic development through urbanization. Here, we carried out a longitudinal 1... Show moreThe substantial increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Indonesia might be driven by rapid socio-economic development through urbanization. Here, we carried out a longitudinal 1-year follow-up study to evaluate the effect of urbanization, an important determinant of health, on metabolic profiles of young Indonesian adults. University freshmen/women in Jakarta, aged 16-25 years, who either had recently migrated from rural areas or originated from urban settings were studied. Anthropometry, dietary intake, and physical activity, as well as fasting blood glucose and insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were measured at baseline and repeated at one year follow-up. At baseline, 106 urban and 83 rural subjects were recruited, of which 81 urban and 66 rural were followed up. At baseline, rural subjects had better adiposity profiles, whole-body insulin resistance, and adipokine levels compared to their urban counterparts. After 1-year, rural subjects experienced an almost twice higher increase in BMI than urban subjects (estimate (95%CI): 1.23 (0.94; 1.52) and 0.69 (0.43; 0.95) for rural and urban subjects, respectively, P-int < 0.01). Fat intake served as the major dietary component, which partially mediates the differences in BMI between urban and rural group at baseline. It also contributed to the changes in BMI over time for both groups, although it does not explain the enhanced gain of BMI in rural subjects. A significantly higher increase of leptin/adiponectin ratio was also seen in rural subjects after 1-year of living in an urban area. In conclusion, urbanization was associated with less favorable changes in adiposity and adipokine profiles in a population of young Indonesian adults. Show less
Objective: To investigate the association of plasma levels of endocannabinoids with fecal microbiota. Methods: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG),... Show moreObjective: To investigate the association of plasma levels of endocannabinoids with fecal microbiota. Methods: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), as well as their eleven analogues, and arachidonic acid (AA), were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 92 young adults. DNA extracted from stool samples was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Lipopolysaccharide levels were measured in plasma samples. Results: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues were not related to beta or alpha diversity indexes. Plasma levels of AEA and related N-acylethanolamines correlated positively with the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium genus (all rho ≥ 0.26, p ≤ 0.012) and Akkermansia genus (all rho ≥ 0.22, p ≤ 0.036), and negatively with the relative abundance of Bilophila genus (all rho ≤ −0.23, p ≤ 0.031). Moreover, plasma levels of 2-AG and other acylglycerols correlated positively with the relative abundance of Parasutterella (all rho ≥ 0.24, p ≤ 0.020) and Odoribacter genera (all rho ≥ 0.27, p ≤ 0.011), and negatively with the relative abundance of Prevotella genus (all rho ≤ −0.24, p ≤ 0.023). In participants with high lipopolysaccharide values, the plasma levels of AEA and related N-acylethanolamines, as well as AA and 2-AG, were negatively correlated with plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (all rho ≤ −0.24, p ≤ 0.020). Conclusion: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues are correlated to specific fecal bacterial genera involved in maintaining gut barrier integrity in young adults. This suggests that plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues may play a role in the gut barrier integrity in young adults. Show less
Lingen, E. van; Marel, S. van der; Maljaars, J.; Keller, J.; Meulen-de Jong, A. van der 2022
Objective: To investigate the association of plasma levels of endocannabinoids with fecal microbiota. Methods: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG),... Show moreObjective: To investigate the association of plasma levels of endocannabinoids with fecal microbiota. Methods: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), as well as their eleven analogues, and arachidonic acid (AA), were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 92 young adults. DNA extracted from stool samples was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Lipopolysaccharide levels were measured in plasma samples. Results: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues were not related to beta or alpha diversity indexes. Plasma levels of AEA and related N-acylethanolamines correlated positively with the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium genus (all rho >= 0.26, p <= 0.012) and Akkermansia genus (all rho >= 0.22, p <= 0.036), and negatively with the relative abundance of Bilophila genus (all rho <= -0.23, p <= 0.031). Moreover, plasma levels of 2-AG and other acylglycerols correlated positively with the relative abundance of Parasutterella (all rho >= 0.24, p <= 0.020) and Odoribacter genera (all rho >= 0.27, p <= 0.011), and negatively with the relative abundance of Prevotella genus (all rho <= -0.24, p <= 0.023). In participants with high lipopolysaccharide values, the plasma levels of AEA and related N-acylethanolamines, as well as AA and 2-AG, were negatively correlated with plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (all rho <= -0.24, p <= 0.020). Conclusion: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues are correlated to specific fecal bacterial genera involved in maintaining gut barrier integrity in young adults. This suggests that plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues may play a role in the gut barrier integrity in young adults. Show less
Objective: To investigate the association of plasma levels of endocannabinoids with fecal microbiota. Methods: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)... Show moreObjective: To investigate the association of plasma levels of endocannabinoids with fecal microbiota. Methods: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), as well as their eleven analogues, and arachidonic acid (AA), were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 92 young adults. DNA extracted from stool samples was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Lipopolysaccharide levels were measured in plasma samples. Results: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues were not related to beta or alpha diversity indexes. Plasma levels of AEA and related N-acylethanolamines correlated positively with the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium genus (all rho ≥ 0.26, p ≤ 0.012) and Akkermansia genus (all rho ≥ 0.22, p ≤ 0.036), and negatively with the relative abundance of Bilophila genus (all rho ≤ −0.23, p ≤ 0.031). Moreover, plasma levels of 2-AG and other acylglycerols correlated positively with the relative abundance of Parasutterella (all rho ≥ 0.24, p ≤ 0.020) and Odoribacter genera (all rho ≥ 0.27, p ≤ 0.011), and negatively with the relative abundance of Prevotella genus (all rho ≤ −0.24, p ≤ 0.023). In participants with high lipopolysaccharide values, the plasma levels of AEA and related N-acylethanolamines, as well as AA and 2-AG, were negatively correlated with plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (all rho ≤ −0.24, p ≤ 0.020). Conclusion: Plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues are correlated to specific fecal bacterial genera involved in maintaining gut barrier integrity in young adults. This suggests that plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues may play a role in the gut barrier integrity in young adults. Show less
Uncertainty remains in regard to when, how, and in what form gluten should be introduced into the diet, particularly of infants genetically predisposed to developing celiac disease (CD). MEDLINE ... Show moreUncertainty remains in regard to when, how, and in what form gluten should be introduced into the diet, particularly of infants genetically predisposed to developing celiac disease (CD). MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases will be searched from inception. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies) investigating the association between early feeding practices and the risk of CD and/or CD autoimmunity will be included. In prospective studies, participants will be infants regardless of the risk of developing CD. For retrospective studies, participants will be children or adults with CD or presenting with positive serology indicative of CD. Interventions will be gluten-containing products of any type. Exposures will be breastfeeding and/or the introduction of gluten-containing products of any type. In control groups, there will be no exposure, different degrees of exposure (partial vs. exclusive breastfeeding, different amounts of gluten, etc.), or a placebo. The primary outcome measure will be CD or CD autoimmunity (i.e., anti-transglutaminase or anti-endomysial antibodies). At least two reviewers will independently assess the risk of bias using a validated risk assessment tool depending on study design. Disagreements will be resolved by discussion to achieve a consensus with the involvement of one or more additional reviewers if required. If appropriate, data will be pooled. If not, a narrative synthesis will be performed. The findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Show less
