-
1.
Flipping the Metabolic Switch: Understanding and Applying the Health Benefits of Fasting.
Anton, SD, Moehl, K, Donahoo, WT, Marosi, K, Lee, SA, Mainous, AG, Leeuwenburgh, C, Mattson, MP
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2018;(2):254-268
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intermittent fasting (IF) is a term used to describe a variety of eating patterns in which no or few calories are consumed for time periods that can range from 12 hours to several days, on a recurring basis. This review is focused on the physiological responses of major organ systems, including the musculoskeletal system, to the onset of the metabolic switch: the point of negative energy balance at which liver glycogen stores are depleted and fatty acids are mobilized (typically beyond 12 hours after cessation of food intake). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Emerging findings suggest that the metabolic switch from glucose to fatty acid-derived ketones represents an evolutionarily conserved trigger point that shifts metabolism from lipid/cholesterol synthesis and fat storage to mobilization of fat through fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid-derived ketones, which serve to preserve muscle mass and function. Thus, IF regimens that induce the metabolic switch have the potential to improve body composition in overweight individuals. Moreover, IF regimens also induce the coordinated activation of signaling pathways that optimize physiological function, enhance performance, and slow aging and disease processes. Future randomized controlled IF trials should use biomarkers of the metabolic switch (e.g., plasma ketone levels) as a measure of compliance and of the magnitude of negative energy balance during the fasting period.
-
2.
Interventions to promote healthy eating choices when dining out: A systematic review of reviews.
Wright, B, Bragge, P
British journal of health psychology. 2018;(2):278-295
Abstract
PURPOSE To synthesize review research pertaining to the effectiveness of interventions in dining-out settings to reduce food/calorie consumption. METHODS A rapid review methodology was employed to focus on synthesized research. A comprehensive search for peer-reviewed systematic reviews from 2010 to 2015 yielded 1,847 citations. Following screening, ten systematic reviews were included. RESULTS The 10 included systematic reviews identified 183 primary studies evaluating evidence in three behavioural intervention areas: social models/norms, manipulation of size, and provision of health information. Three systematic reviews evaluating the use of social models/norms found this was an effective intervention for influencing food intake. Five systematic reviews that assessed manipulation of portion/dishware/cutlery size found a small-to-moderate effect on food consumption. Three systematic reviews looked at the provision of health information, which was not effective alone; however, in combination with contextual or interpretive material such as traffic lights or exercise equivalence, this was shown to reduce calorie consumption. One systematic review covered two topic areas. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that policies or interventions that aim to improve healthy choices or consumption when dining out would benefit from harnessing social norms and positive positioning of social identity. Furthermore, provision of health information should always be accompanied by an interpretative guide, such as traffic lights. Manipulation of plate/portion/cutlery size may be effective; however, the effect size is small and further research is required to investigate whether this effect is retained in overweight or obese populations. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Eating behaviours (food choices, consumption) have played a role in the obesity epidemic. Behavioural 'nudges' have tried to increase healthier eating choices. What does this study add? Social norms and modelling have a strong influence in both directions on how much people consume. Provision of nutritional information needs to be paired with interpretative aids (e.g., traffic lights). Manipulation of portion size is less effective in overweight populations.
-
3.
Effect of sleep curtailment on dietary behavior and physical activity: A randomized crossover trial.
Tajiri, E, Yoshimura, E, Hatamoto, Y, Tanaka, H, Shimoda, S
Physiology & behavior. 2018;:60-67
Abstract
Our objective was to clarify the effect of sleep curtailment on energy intake (EI) and physical activity under free-living conditions. Participants were 16 healthy women aged 21-22years. A randomized crossover trial design was used to compare a short sleep condition (SS): 4h/night (2:00-6:00) and a control sleep condition (CS): 7h/night (23:00-6:00). Each condition comprised 3 consecutive nights. Sleep duration was assessed using a wristwatch-type accelerometer at home. All living activities except sleeping were free-living. Physical activity was assessed using a tri-axial accelerometer, and was categorized by intensity level (sedentary; sedentary to light; moderate to vigorous). Participants were asked to purchase and consume meals with visible nutrient information. EI was evaluated by adding values from these food labels. Mean sleep duration in the two conditions was significantly different (4.3±0.3 vs. 7.1±0.4h, p<0.01). For the shared wakefulness period in the two conditions (6:00-23:00), step counts and physical activity were not significantly different. Sedentary time (878±61 vs. 727±40min, p<0.01), and sedentary to light-intensity activity time (1122±18 vs. 932±63min, p<0.01) were significantly increased in SS (waking time, 06:00-02:00) compared with CS (waking time, 06:00-23:00). However, these significant effects were clearly attenuated after adjustment for awake time (p>0.05). Total EI was not significantly different between conditions (8.64±0.82 vs. 8.46±1.28MJ, p>0.05), nor were leptin levels (p>0.05), but insulin and cortisol levels after SS were significantly higher than after CS (p<0.05). In this study, physical activity was increased in the SS condition and attributed to differences in awake time between conditions. However, there were no differences in EI. Further studies to investigate the effect of sleep curtailment on weight gain through stress and insulin resistance are necessary.
-
4.
The persuasive effect of advergames promoting unhealthy foods among children: A meta-analysis.
Folkvord, F, van 't Riet, J
Appetite. 2018;:245-251
Abstract
Multiple studies have examined the effects of advergames promoting unhealthy foods on eating behavior among children. Although the individual results of the existing studies suggest that advergames have a significant influence on (predictors of) eating behavior, a lack of clarity concerning the size of the effect may impede policy actions. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the strength of the effect of playing advergames that promote unhealthy foods on (predictors of) eating behavior among children. Five electronic databases were searched for relevant publications (Web of Science, PsychInfo, Pubmed, JSTOR, and SCOPUS). Fifteen articles were considered eligible for inclusion and analyzed in the meta-analysis. Employing a random-effects model to estimate the composite effect of advergames yielded a small-to-moderate and significant effect of g = 0.30. Results showed that advergames promoting unhealthy foods induced unhealthy eating behavior among children. Although only a limited number of studies were included, this meta-analysis supports public health policy action that seeks to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing. Stricter regulation to protect children against new forms of (online) marketing techniques that promote unhealthy foods should be developed and implemented.
-
5.
Got chocolate? Bilateral prefrontal cortex stimulation augments chocolate consumption.
To, C, Falcone, M, Loughead, J, Logue-Chamberlain, E, Hamilton, R, Kable, J, Lerman, C, Ashare, RL
Appetite. 2018;:28-35
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the mechanisms behind exerting self-control may reveal why health behaviors are resistant to change. Activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) plays a role in self-control processes and may be modulated using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). OBJECTIVE In this early phase behavioral research study, we investigated whether anodal stimulation over the rIFG with cathodal stimulation over the left IFG (versus sham) reduced chocolate consumption. METHODS Twenty-three healthy females (ages 18-35) completed two tDCS sessions (2.0 mA vs. sham; order counterbalanced) in a within-subject, double-blind, randomized design with a 4-week washout. Participants were self-reported "chocolate cravers" and restrained eaters. Self-report assessments on disinhibited eating were completed at intake. Delay discounting and inhibitory control were assessed at the remaining visits. During stimulation, participants completed an inhibitory control training task (chocolate go/no-go task) and were randomized to the chocolate no-go condition (inhibit all responses to chocolate cues) or the control condition (inhibit responses to chocolate cues on half the trials). Following stimulation, participants completed a 15-min chocolate "taste test" with chocolate rating forms. Afterwards, staff measured the remaining chocolate to determine total consumption. RESULTS Contrary to our hypotheses, active tDCS significantly increased chocolate consumption vs. sham (mean = 43.2 vs. 32.2, p=0.005) in both task conditions, but had no effect on chocolate ratings (ps > 0.05). Higher delay discounting and self-reported disinhibited eating predicted greater consumption (ps < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest widespread activation of the prefrontal cortex may reduce the ability to resist chocolate. Our data highlights important methodological considerations for conducting tDCS studies to target health behaviors.
-
6.
Saturated Fat Is More Metabolically Harmful for the Human Liver Than Unsaturated Fat or Simple Sugars.
Luukkonen, PK, Sädevirta, S, Zhou, Y, Kayser, B, Ali, A, Ahonen, L, Lallukka, S, Pelloux, V, Gaggini, M, Jian, C, et al
Diabetes care. 2018;(8):1732-1739
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (i.e., increased intrahepatic triglyceride [IHTG] content), predisposes to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Adipose tissue lipolysis and hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) are the main pathways contributing to IHTG. We hypothesized that dietary macronutrient composition influences the pathways, mediators, and magnitude of weight gain-induced changes in IHTG. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We overfed 38 overweight subjects (age 48 ± 2 years, BMI 31 ± 1 kg/m2, liver fat 4.7 ± 0.9%) 1,000 extra kcal/day of saturated (SAT) or unsaturated (UNSAT) fat or simple sugars (CARB) for 3 weeks. We measured IHTG (1H-MRS), pathways contributing to IHTG (lipolysis ([2H5]glycerol) and DNL (2H2O) basally and during euglycemic hyperinsulinemia), insulin resistance, endotoxemia, plasma ceramides, and adipose tissue gene expression at 0 and 3 weeks. RESULTS Overfeeding SAT increased IHTG more (+55%) than UNSAT (+15%, P < 0.05). CARB increased IHTG (+33%) by stimulating DNL (+98%). SAT significantly increased while UNSAT decreased lipolysis. SAT induced insulin resistance and endotoxemia and significantly increased multiple plasma ceramides. The diets had distinct effects on adipose tissue gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Macronutrient composition of excess energy influences pathways of IHTG CARB increases DNL, while SAT increases and UNSAT decreases lipolysis. SAT induced the greatest increase in IHTG, insulin resistance, and harmful ceramides. Decreased intakes of SAT could be beneficial in reducing IHTG and the associated risk of diabetes.
-
7.
How highlighted utensils influence consumption in a dark setting.
Stok, FM, Junghans, AF, de Ridder, DTD, Renner, B, Evers, C
Psychology & health. 2018;(10):1302-1314
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous research has shown that people consume less food in the dark compared to normal vision conditions. While this effect is commonly attributed to increased attention to internal cues, it could also be caused by increased difficulty to maneuver in a dark setting. This study investigated this potential alternative explanation. DESIGN A 2 (dark versus normal vision setting) × 2 (highlighted versus non-highlighted utensils) between-subjects design was employed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Perceived difficulty of maneuvering and consumption of yoghurt were assessed as main outcome measures. RESULTS Participants consumed marginally less in dark compared to normal vision conditions, and experienced higher difficulty of maneuvering. Importantly, both effects were qualified by a significant interaction with highlighting, which increased consumption and reduced perceived difficulty compared to no highlights. Difficulty of maneuvering did not mediate the interactive effect of vision and highlighting on consumption. CONCLUSION Difficulty to maneuver should be considered when investigating eating behaviour under dark conditions. In line with an embodied cognition account, results also reveal the necessity of visual information for interaction with objects in the environment and imply that detail-deprived object information may be sufficient for activation of the motor system.
-
8.
The role of the gut microbiome in systemic inflammatory disease.
Clemente, JC, Manasson, J, Scher, JU
BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2018;:j5145
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
The role of the gut microbiome in models of inflammatory and autoimmune disease is now well characterized. Renewed interest in the human microbiome and its metabolites, as well as notable advances in host mucosal immunology, has opened multiple avenues of research to potentially modulate inflammatory responses. The complexity and interdependence of these diet-microbe-metabolite-host interactions are rapidly being unraveled. Importantly, most of the progress in the field comes from new knowledge about the functional properties of these microorganisms in physiology and their effect in mucosal immunity and distal inflammation. This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical evidence on how dietary, probiotic, prebiotic, and microbiome based therapeutics affect our understanding of wellness and disease, particularly in autoimmunity.
-
9.
Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease-an Update.
Bowen, KJ, Sullivan, VK, Kris-Etherton, PM, Petersen, KS
Current atherosclerosis reports. 2018;(2):8
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes recent developments in nutrition and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. RECENT FINDINGS Contemporary dietary guidance recommends healthy dietary patterns with emphasis on food-based recommendations because the totality of the diet (i.e., the combinations and quantities of foods and nutrients consumed) is an important determinant of health. In many guidelines, recommendations are still made for saturated fat, added sugar, sodium, and dietary cholesterol because these are over-consumed by many people and are related to chronic disease development. Epidemiological research illustrates the importance of considering the total diet and the interrelatedness of nutrients in a dietary pattern. Traditionally, epidemiological research focused on individual nutrients in isolation, which can result in erroneous conclusions. An example of this, which has led to substantial controversy, is the evidence from studies evaluating the association between saturated fat and CVD without considering the replacement nutrient. Another controversial topic is the relationship between dietary cholesterol and CVD, which is confounded by saturated fat intake. Finally, the totality of evidence shows that high sodium intake is associated with greater CVD risk; however, some epidemiological research has suggested that a low-sodium intake is detrimental, which has caused some controversy. Overall, this reductionist approach has led to a debate about recommendations for saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. However, if approaches that accounted for the interrelatedness of nutrients had been taken, it is likely that there would be less controversy about these nutrients. To encourage dietary pattern-based approaches and consideration of total intake, dietary guidelines should emphasize food-based recommendations that meet nutrient targets. Thus, nutrient targets should underpin food-based dietary guidelines, and recommended dietary patterns should comply with nutrient-based targets. The evidence reviewed shows that it is imperative to consider total dietary patterns for CVD prevention. Dietary guidance should be aligned with nutrient targets and recommendations should be food and dietary pattern based.
-
10.
Protein intake distribution pattern does not affect anabolic response, lean body mass, muscle strength or function over 8 weeks in older adults: A randomized-controlled trial.
Kim, IY, Schutzler, S, Schrader, AM, Spencer, HJ, Azhar, G, Wolfe, RR, Ferrando, AA
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2018;(2):488-493
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS In our recent acute metabolic study, we found no differences in the anabolic response to differing patterns of dietary protein intake. To confirm this in a chronic study, we investigated the effects of protein distribution pattern on functional outcomes and protein kinetics in older adults over 8 weeks. METHODS To determine chronic effects of protein intake pattern at 1.1 g protein/kg/day in mixed meals on lean body mass (LBM), functional outcomes, whole body protein kinetics and muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (MPS) over 8-week respective dietary intervention, fourteen older subjects were randomly divided into either EVEN or UNVEN group. The UNEVEN group (n = 7) consumed the majority of dietary protein with dinner (UNEVEN, 15/20/65%; breakfast, lunch, dinner), while the EVEN group (n = 7) consumed dietary protein evenly throughout the day (EVEN: 33/33/33%). RESULTS We found no significant differences in LBM, muscle strength, and other functional outcomes between EVEN and UNEVEN before and after 8-week intervention. Consistent with these functional outcomes, we did not find significant differences in the 20-h integrated whole body protein kinetics [net protein balance (NB), protein synthesis (PS), and breakdown (PB)] above basal states and MPS between EVEN and UNEVEN intake patterns. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that over an 8-week intervention period, the protein intake distribution pattern in mixed meals does not play an important role in determining anabolic response, muscle strength, or functional outcomes. This trial is registered at https://ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02787889.