Background The evidence shows that all women with obesity do not develop metabolic complications thus, they may be metabolically healthy. The lifestyle factors in combination may influence obesity phenotypes including metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity. While previous studies examined associations between single lifestyle factors and obesity phenotype, no previous study has examined associations between lifestyle risk score (LRS) and obesity phenotypes. This study for the first time created the LRS which is a combination of lifestyle factors and investigated the LRS in relation to various obesity phenotypes among women with overweight and obesity. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed 278 women referred to health centers of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A multistage sampling method was used to recruit the participants. The LRS was created based on diet, physical activity (PA), sleep, obesity, and sociodemographic characteristics. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between obesity phenotypes and LRS. Results Women with higher LRS had higher body mass index (BMI) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) while had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), PA, education levels, sleep quality, vegetables, grains and legumes intake. Furthermore, women with higher LRS were more likely to experience metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). Conclusion This study found significant associations between higher LRS and an increased likelihood of MUO. Further prospective studies are needed to advance our understanding of the relationship between lifestyle and obesity.
Daily consumption of one large egg for 12 weeks improves fasting blood glucose, ATP-binding cassette protein family A1, and apolipoprotein A1 in overweight or obese individuals with pre- and type II diabetes.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of different metabolic abnormalities such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. About 34% of American adults have MetS which puts them at a greater risk for different chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus. Two of the most important underlying risk factors for MetS are poor diet and physical inactivity. Therefore, identifying foods which improve characteristics of MetS such as lipid profiles and fasting glucose levels is of importance. Eggs are nutrient‐dense foods which have been linked to a decreased risk of certain chronic diseases; however, they are often avoided by many people due to their high cholesterol content. The objective of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate whether lipid profiles and glucose levels correspond with the amount of weekly egg consumption. For this purpose, 50 men and women aged 45 to 65 years old with MetS were included. Seven day food frequency questionnaires were used to evaluate the number of eggs consumed per week. Participants’ egg intake was divided into three groups: 0 to 3 eggs/week (group A), 3 to 5 eggs/week (group B), and > 5eggs/week (group C). Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of lipid profile and glucose levels using the Cholestech LDX cassettes (Alere North America, LLC, FL, USA). One‐way analysis of variance was performed to assess differences in mean values between groups. Group C had 5% higher HDL‐cholesterol levels, albeit not significant (mean difference of 2.20 mg/dL for group C vs. A)and had 3%, 13% and 6% lower LDL‐cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels, respectively, compared with group A. The findings of this study suggest that in corporating eggs into the diet may improve lipid profiles and glucose levels in men and women with MetS. However, these findings are limited and confirmation is needed using a larger sample size.
The prevalence of sarcopenia in women increases following menopause. Although muscle mass and circulating estrogens are positively correlated, the underlying mechanisms by which estrogen deficiency causes muscle atrophy is poorly understood. The present study examined the role of systemic and local IGF‐I in muscle maintenance of estrogen deficient rats. Eighteen 10‐month old female SD rats (n=6/group) were divided into either a sham operated group (sham) or two ovariectomized (ovx) groups receiving 17β‐estradiol (ovx+E 2 ) or solvent vehicle (sham and ovx). All animals were pair‐fed for five months. Ovarian hormone deficiency did not cause atrophy in gastrocnemius (GAS) and soleus (SOL) muscle; however when muscle weight was normalized to body weight, the mean GAS value of ovx group was significantly lower than those of sham and E 2 groups. Similarly, ovx mean SOL value tended (P<0.094) to be lower compared with other two groups. E 2 treatment was able to prevent the ovx‐induced decreases in SOL, and GAS normalized values by 50% and 100%, respectively. Ovx significantly (P<0.05) increased systemic IGF‐I by 38% while local IGF‐I mRNA expressions were significantly decreased in both GAS (29%) and SOL (43%) samples of ovx rats. E 2 administration prevented these decreases in IGF‐I levels. Our findings suggest that ovx‐induced elevation of systemic IGF‐I may down‐regulate its local mRNA expressions which in part can explain the loss of muscle mass in ovarian hormone deficiency. Grant Funding Source : Internal Funding
Diet and nutrition have been shown to influence muscle mass and function. While certain dietary components, e.g. protein, are known to positively influence muscle mass and function, there is a paucity of studies examining the role that other dietary components, e.g. micronutrients and antioxidants, play in muscle health. The objective of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate the degree to which dietary components are associated with lean body mass and handgrip strength in 46 postmenopausal women. Lean mass and fat mass were measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Handgrip strength was evaluated using an isometric handgrip exercise. Diet was analyzed using the Food Processor SQL Nutrition and Fitness Program (ESHA Research, Salem, OR). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as kg/m2. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationship between variables of interest. Percent lean mass was negatively correlated with alcohol intake (r = − 0.38, P = 0.04). Handgrip strength tended to be negatively correlated with trans fatty acid intake (r = − 0.33, P = 0.08) and was negatively correlated with disaccharide intake (r = − 0.38, P = 0.04). All other dietary components were not correlated with percent lean mass or handgrip strength. Further studies are needed to look at the relationship between lifestyle factors, lean mass, and handgrip strength.
Hypertension (HTN), arterial stiffness and osteoporosis have common etiologies and their occurrence increases dramatically after menopause. HTN and arterial stiffness have been shown to be inversely associated with bone mass. The objective of this cross‐sectional study was to examine the degree to which bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) and percent body fat (PBF) are influenced by high blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness in 38 postmenopausal women with pre‐ and stage 1‐HTN. Systolic and diastolic BP were evaluated using resting brachial BP and arterial stiffness was assessed using carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and right brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (RbaPWV). BMD, BMC and PBF were measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationship between variables of interest. Systolic BP, diastolic BP and cfPWV were not correlated with BMD ( P = 0.98, 0.55, and 0.63, respectively), BMC ( P = 0.77, 0.94, and 0.47, respectively) or PBF ( P = 0.44, 0.88, and 0.35, respectively). RbaPWV was not correlated with right leg BMD ( P = 0.79) or right leg BMC ( P = 0.39). There was a strong negative correlation between RbaPWV and PBF (r = − 0.45, P = 0.004). These findings do not suggest that there is a link between high BP, arterial stiffness and bone mass but do suggest a link between body fat and systemic arterial stiffness. Grant Funding Source : Internal Funding
Osteoporosis is a chronic condition characterized by low bone density and an increased risk of fracture. Although it affects both women and men, there is a much greater incidence in postmenopausal women. Certain lifestyle and nutritional factors are known to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and thereby the risk of fracture. In terms of nutrition, dried plum has been shown to be one of the most efficacious interventions in preventing and even reversing bone loss in postmenopausal women. In 2010, we finished a study in which we examined the effect of consuming 100 g dried plum versus a comparative control fruit (75 g dried apples) daily for one year in 160 postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Our published data indicated that women consuming dried plum had significantly higher bone mineral density (BMD) of the ulna and spine in comparison with those consuming dried apple. The purpose of the present study was to conduct a follow‐up evaluation on the extent to which individuals who received the dried plum intervention were able to retain BMD compared with those who received the dried apple intervention. A total of 20 participants were available for this follow‐up evaluation. BMD of the lumbar spine, forearm, hip, and whole body were assessed using DXA. Results showed that those who were in the dried plum group had significantly higher values of BMD of spine ( P =0.012; %6) and ulna ( P =0.002; %23) compared with those in the dried apple group. Importantly, participants in either group did not regularly consume dried plums as noted in their diet history. Our findings suggest that women in the dried plum group retained their BMD to a greater extent than those in the dried apple group, even after a 5‐year period in the absence of regular dried plum consumption. Our observations suggest a long‐lasting bone‐protective effect of dried plum; however, other dietary, lifestyle, and pharmaceutical factors need to be evaluated. Support or Funding Information California Dried Plum Board
Preclinical research findings suggest a role for blueberries in cancer prevention. The objective of this study was to indirectly evaluate the cancer‐preventive effects of blueberries in humans. Forty postmenopausal women with pre‐ and stage 1‐hypertension were randomly assigned to receive either 22 g freeze‐dried highbush blueberry powder or 22 g control powder per day for 8 weeks. Plasma 8‐hydroxy‐2'‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG) was measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. There was a significant ( P < 0.01) difference between groups at 4 weeks of treatment such that levels were lower in the blueberry group. Although not statistically significant, mean 8‐OHdG values were 12.5% lower than baseline at 4 weeks in the blueberry‐treated group (0.32 ± 0.01 ng/mL at baseline, 0.28 ± 0.01 ng/mL at 4 weeks) whereas there was a 12.9% increase in the control group (0.31 ± 0.01 ng/mL at baseline, 0.35 ± 0.02 ng/mL at 4 weeks). Mean 8‐OHdG values increased to that of baseline at 8 weeks in the blueberry‐treated group while there were no changes in the control group. These findings provide indirect evidence that blueberry consumption may exert cancer‐protective effects. Future studies are needed to determine the longer‐term outcomes with respect to cancer. Support: US Highbush Blueberry Council
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