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Wild blueberry (poly)phenols can improve vascular function and cognitive performance in healthy older individuals: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
Wood, E, Hein, S, Mesnage, R, Fernandes, F, Abhayaratne, N, Xu, Y, Zhang, Z, Bell, L, Williams, C, Rodriguez-Mateos, A
The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2023;117(6):1306-1319
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The risk of developing both cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases increases with aging. Growing evidence from epidemiological and human intervention trials indicates that (poly)phenols may have cardioprotective properties as well as the ability to improve cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daily wild blueberry (WBB) (poly)phenol consumption on vascular function and cognitive performance in healthy older individuals. This study was a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel design study. A total of 61 healthy older individuals were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the two arms; placebo intervention or blueberry intervention group. Results showed that long-term consumption of a dietary achievable amount of WBB enhanced vascular and cognitive function in older adults. Authors conclude that gut microbiota and vascular blood flow may play important roles in mediating the cognitive benefits shown by the consumption of (poly)phenol-rich foods.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that the intake of blueberry (poly)phenols is associated with improvements in vascular function and cognitive performance. Whether these cognitive effects are linked to increases in cerebral and vascular blood flow or changes in the gut microbiota is currently unknown. METHODS A double-blind, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in 61 healthy older individuals aged 65-80 y. Participants received either 26 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry (WBB) powder (302 mg anthocyanins) or a matched placebo (0 mg anthocyanins). Endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), cognitive function, arterial stiffness, blood pressure (BP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), gut microbiome, and blood parameters were measured at baseline and 12 wk following daily consumption. Plasma and urinary (poly)phenol metabolites were analyzed using microelution solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS A significant increase in FMD and reduction in 24 h ambulatory systolic BP were found in the WBB group compared with the placebo group (0.86%; 95% CI: 0.56, 1.17, P < 0.001; -3.59 mmHg; 95% CI: -6.95, -0.23, P = 0.037; respectively). Enhanced immediate recall on the auditory verbal learning task, alongside better accuracy on a task-switch task was also found following WBB treatment compared with placebo (P < 0.05). Total 24 h urinary (poly)phenol excretion increased significantly in the WBB group compared with placebo. No changes in the CBF or gut microbiota composition were found. CONCLUSIONS Daily intake of WBB powder, equivalent to 178 g fresh weight, improves vascular and cognitive function and decreases 24 h ambulatory systolic BP in healthy older individuals. This suggests that WBB (poly)phenols may reduce future CVD risk in an older population and may improve episodic memory processes and executive functioning in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. Clinical Trial Registration number in clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04084457.
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Effect of A Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet on Food and Alcohol Cravings, Physical and Sexual Activity, Sleep Disturbances, and Quality of Life in Obese Patients.
Castro, AI, Gomez-Arbelaez, D, Crujeiras, AB, Granero, R, Aguera, Z, Jimenez-Murcia, S, Sajoux, I, Lopez-Jaramillo, P, Fernandez-Aranda, F, Casanueva, FF
Nutrients. 2018;10(10)
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Obesity is a multi-factorial disorder involving genetic, environmental, metabolic and behavioural factors. Few studies have examined the effect of weight-loss therapy on various psychobiological parameters associated with obesity. Therefore the aim of this 4-month nutritional intervention was to evaluate food and alcohol cravings, physical activity levels, sleep quality, sexual function and quality of life in patients with obesity after following a very low-calorie ketogenic (VLCK) diet. Twenty obese patients were enrolled and participated in psychological questionnaires and anthropometric measurements at four points throughout the intervention: at baseline, maximum ketosis, reduced ketosis and endpoint. A specialist physician and expert dietician closely monitored participants to ensure safety and duration of the ketosis state. This study found that rapid and sustained weight loss induced by a VLCK-diet is associated with better food control and improvements in quality of life in obese subjects. Based on these results, the authors conclude a VLCK-diet is a suitable and valuable treatment option for obese patients.
Abstract
Psychological well-being and hunger and food control are two relevant factors involved in the success of weight-loss therapy in treating obesity. Thus, this study aims to evaluate food and alcohol cravings, physical and sexual activity, sleep, and life quality (QoL) in obese patients following a very low-calorie ketogenic (VLCK) diet, as well as the role of weight lost and ketosis on these parameters. A battery of psychological test was performed in twenty obese patients (12 females, 47.2 ± 10.2 year and BMI of 35.5 ± 4.4) through the course of a 4-month VLCK diet on four subsequent visits: baseline, maximum ketosis, reduced ketosis, and endpoint. Each subject acted as their own control. Relevantly, the dietary-induced changes in body composition (7.7 units of BMI lost, 18 kg of fat mass (1.2 kg of visceral fat mass)) were associated with a statistically significant improvement in food craving scores, physical activity, sleepiness, and female sexual function. Overall, these results also translated in a notable enhancement in QoL of the treated obese patients. Therefore, the rapid and sustained weight and fat mass (FM) loss induced by the VLCK diet is associated with good food control and improvements in the psychological well-being parameters in obese subjects, which could contribute to the long-term success of this therapy.
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Brain atrophy in cognitively impaired elderly: the importance of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids and B vitamin status in a randomized controlled trial.
Jernerén, F, Elshorbagy, AK, Oulhaj, A, Smith, SM, Refsum, H, Smith, AD
The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2015;102(1):215-21
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Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a characterised by a decline in cognitive function between normal aging and the development of dementia. While brain atrophy occurs in normal aging, patients with MCI or dementia exhibit much higher rates of atrophy. Results from a recent trial demonstrated that homocysteine-lowering B vitamins resulted in a significant reduction in brain atrophy rates, and links between omega-3 fatty acids and homocysteine have been suggested. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether plasma omega-3 fatty acid concentrations modify the treatment effect of B vitamins on brain atrophy rates among 168 elderly adults with MCI. Participants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or high-dose vitamin B supplementation and both brain scans and plasma concentrations were done at baseline and 2 years. The findings of this study demonstrated that, in patients with high omega-3 plasma concentrations, B vitamin supplementation slowed brain atrophy by 40% compared with those in the placebo group. This indicates that the effect of B vitamin supplementation on brain atrophy rates depend on plasma omega-3 fatty acid concentrations.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased brain atrophy rates are common in older people with cognitive impairment, particularly in those who eventually convert to Alzheimer disease. Plasma concentrations of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids and homocysteine are associated with the development of brain atrophy and dementia. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether plasma ω-3 fatty acid concentrations (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) modify the treatment effect of homocysteine-lowering B vitamins on brain atrophy rates in a placebo-controlled trial (VITACOG). DESIGN This retrospective analysis included 168 elderly people (≥70 y) with mild cognitive impairment, randomly assigned either to placebo (n = 83) or to daily high-dose B vitamin supplementation (folic acid, 0.8 mg; vitamin B-6, 20 mg; vitamin B-12, 0.5 mg) (n = 85). The subjects underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging scans at baseline and 2 y later. The effect of the intervention was analyzed according to tertiles of baseline ω-3 fatty acid concentrations. RESULTS There was a significant interaction (P = 0.024) between B vitamin treatment and plasma combined ω-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) on brain atrophy rates. In subjects with high baseline ω-3 fatty acids (>590 μmol/L), B vitamin treatment slowed the mean atrophy rate by 40.0% compared with placebo (P = 0.023). B vitamin treatment had no significant effect on the rate of atrophy among subjects with low baseline ω-3 fatty acids (<390 μmol/L). High baseline ω-3 fatty acids were associated with a slower rate of brain atrophy in the B vitamin group but not in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS The beneficial effect of B vitamin treatment on brain atrophy was observed only in subjects with high plasma ω-3 fatty acids. It is also suggested that the beneficial effect of ω-3 fatty acids on brain atrophy may be confined to subjects with good B vitamin status. The results highlight the importance of identifying subgroups likely to benefit in clinical trials. This trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN94410159.