scholarly journals The Use of Precision Nutrition Among African Americans With Chronic Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 993-993
Author(s):  
Linda Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
African Ancestry ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Counseling Session ◽  
Personalized Nutrition

Abstract Objectives To characterize the effects of precision nutrition on dietary behavior change, weight, and waist circumference. To examine perceptions of receiving a personalized nutrition plan. Methods Food as Medicine Phase II is a pilot study that measured the effectiveness of incorporating precision nutrition to improve chronic disease management in a cohort of 24 low income African Americans with either pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated blood cholesterol levels, obesity or a combination of these disorders. Anthropometric measures and a food questionnaire were collected pre/post study. DNA samples were obtained from each participant and analyzed at Howard University on SNPs related to nutrient metabolism. Results from the DNA tests were incorporated in a detailed personal nutrition plan developed for each participant. Plans were presented and discussed during an initial individual face-to-face counseling session. Due to COVID 19, a second counseling session was conducted via Zoom. For three months after the 2nd counseling session, participants received weekly text messages reinforcing the information received. Results Participants reported significant improvements in their intake of most recommended foods. Reductions in weight, waist circumference, and in the reported intake of non-recommended foods and beverages were not significant. Most participants either strongly agreed (14) or agreed (4) that the personalized nutrition plan provided useful information. The coronavirus pandemic was mentioned by 20% of participants as a barrier to following their personalized nutrition plan recommendations. Conclusions The results suggest that a personalized approach in providing dietary recommendations utilizing precision nutrition has the potential to increase self-efficacy and improve dietary intake among low income African Americans with chronic disease. It also demonstrated that it is feasible to recruit and retain individuals of African ancestry to participate in an investigation that assesses and discloses gene-associated disease risk. Funding Sources Ardmore Institute of Health

Differential DNA Methylation and Cardiometabolic Risk in African American Mother-Adolescent Dyads

2021 ◽  
pp. 109980042110390
Author(s):  
Amanda Elswick Gentry ◽  
Jo Robins ◽  
Mat Makowski ◽  
Wendy Kliewer
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Cardiometabolic Risk ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Background: Cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects African Americans as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Among African Americans, compared to other racial groups, cardiovascular disease onset occurs at an earlier age due to a higher prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that heritable epigenetic processes are related to increased cardiovascular disease risk, but this is largely unexplored in adolescents or across generations. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive pilot study in low-income African American mother-adolescent dyads, we examined associations between DNA methylation and the cardiometabolic indicators of body mass index, waist circumference, and insulin resistance. Results: Four adjacent cytosine and guanine nucleotides (CpG) sites were significantly differentially methylated and associated with C-reactive protein (CRP), 62 with waist circumference, and none to insulin resistance in models for both mothers and adolescents. Conclusion: Further study of the relations among psychological and environmental stressors, indicators of cardiovascular disease, risk, and epigenetic factors will improve understanding of cardiovascular disease risk so that preventive measures can be instituted earlier and more effectively. To our knowledge this work is the first to examine DNA methylation and cardiometabolic risk outcomes in mother-adolescent dyads.

scholarly journals A “Food as Medicine” Program and It's Effects on Healthy Eating and Cooking Confidence (P04-021-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
DeAnna Nara ◽  
Linda Thompson ◽  
Allan Johnson ◽  
Oyonumo Ntekim ◽  
Chimene Castor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Blood Cholesterol

Abstract Objectives The aims of this study were to develop and implement a “Food as Medicine” intervention using quantitative methods supported by health literacy and food choice and behavioral models to target chronic diseases under free-living conditions in adults diagnosed with chronic diseases. The hypothesis of this study is that “Food as Medicine” nutrition and lifestyle intervention sessions will result in significant improvements in food choices, as well as shopping and cooking behaviors. Methods The Food as Medicine (FAM) study is a community-based pilot study that measured the effectiveness of a nutrition intervention to improve chronic disease risk factors and outcomes among African Americans with either pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated total blood cholesterol levels, obesity or a combination of these disorders. The study enrolled patients who were attending both Howard University Family Medicine and Internal Medicine Practices, and were residents of wards seven or eight in the District of Columbia. Fifty-four participants were enrolled and assigned to five cohorts, which consisted of five group sessions over three months, and focused on improving diet and health literacy through nutritionist-led, culturally-tailored, nutrition education classes that included health literacy, mindfulness exercises, and cooking demonstrations. Results After program completion, FAM participants demonstrated significant improvements in all outcome measures of interest: healthy dietary patterns (P < .001), healthful eating (P = .002), positive changes in dietary choices (P < .001), cooking confidence (P < .001), reduction of cooking barriers (P < .001), and healthy food preparation (P < .001). Participants also increased the number of times in one week that they cooked dinner at home (P < .001). Conclusions This study demonstrated the positive impacts of including health literacy, mindfulness exercises, and cooking demonstrations in a nutrition education program. The outcomes of this study can be used to inform and improve future community intervention studies within the areas of chronic disease in low income and minority populations. Funding Sources Funding for this study was received from the Ardmore Institute of Health.

scholarly journals Variation inAPOL1Contributes to Ancestry-Level Differences in HDLc-Kidney Function Association

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Rebecca Bentley ◽  
Ayo P. Doumatey ◽  
Guanjie Chen ◽  
Hanxia Huang ◽  
Jie Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
African Ancestry ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Risk Variant ◽  
European Americans ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
High Density Cholesterol

Low levels of high-density cholesterol (HDLc) accompany chronic kidney disease, but the association between HDLc and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the general population is unclear. We investigated the HDLc-eGFR association in nondiabetic Han Chinese (HC,n=1100), West Africans (WA,n=1497), and African Americans (AA,n=1539). There were significant differences by ancestry: HDLc was positively associated with eGFR in HC (β=0.13,P<0.0001), but negatively associated among African ancestry populations (WA: −0.19,P<0.0001; AA: −0.09,P=0.02). These differences were also seen in nationally-representative NHANES data (among European Americans: 0.09,P=0.005; among African Americans −0.14,P=0.03). To further explore the findings in African ancestry populations, we investigated the role of an African ancestry-specific nephropathy risk variant, rs73885319, in the gene encoding HDL-associated APOL1. Among AA, an inverse HDLc-eGFR association was observed only with the risk genotype (−0.38 versus 0.001;P=0.03). This interaction was not seen in WA. In summary, counter to expectation, an inverse HDLc-eGFR association was observed among those of African ancestry. Given theAPOL1× HDLc interaction among AA, genetic factors may contribute to this paradoxical association. Notably, these findings suggest that the unexplained mechanism by whichAPOL1affects kidney-disease risk may involve HDLc.

scholarly journals Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Australian Adolescents

2008 ◽  
Vol 162 (6) ◽  
pp. 566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Denney-Wilson ◽  
Louise L. Hardy ◽  
Timothy Dobbins ◽  
Anthony D. Okely ◽  
Louise A. Baur
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Chronic Disease Risk

Evaluation of a rural community pharmacy-based Waist Management Project: bringing the program to the people

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Kellow
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Disease Development ◽  
Chronic Disease Risk

Time constraints and lack of awareness of risk factors for future chronic disease development prevent many young adults from accessing lifestyle programs offered by local health services. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a rural pharmacy-based multidisciplinary healthy lifestyle pilot program on reducing risk factors for chronic disease development among young adults. Individuals under the age of 50 with chronic disease risk factors were referred to the program. All subjects were provided with free after-hours nutritional counselling from a dietitian at the local community pharmacy, a comprehensive medication review conducted by the pharmacist, gym membership and access to cooking classes and supermarket tours. Selected participants also received bulk-billed GP appointments and assistance with establishing a home vegetable garden. Body weight, waist circumference, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity were assessed at baseline and after program conclusion. Forty participants regularly attended the program between March 2009 and March 2010. At program conclusion, mean body weight was reduced by 3.8 ± 6.7 kg (P < 0.001) and waist circumference reduced by 3.9 ± 6.5 cm (P < 0.001). Fruit consumption increased by 1.2 ± 0.2 serves/day (P < 0.001) and vegetable intake increased by 1.6 ± 1.0 serves/day (P < 0.001). Participants also spent an average of 88.0 ± 47.7 more min/week (P < 0.001) engaged in physical activity on completion of the program. The community pharmacy provided an accessible location for the delivery of a successful chronic disease risk reduction program targeting young adults in a rural area.

scholarly journals Changes in Health Behaviours in Adults At-Risk of Chronic Disease: Primary Outcomes From The My Health for Life Program

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charrlotte Seib ◽  
Stephanie Moriarty ◽  
Nicole McDonald ◽  
Debra Anderson ◽  
Joy Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable

Abstract Background Chronic disease is the leading cause of premature death globally, and many of these deaths are preventable by modifying some key behavioural and metabolic risk factors. This secondary data analysis examines changes in health behaviours among men and women at risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease (CVD) who participated in a 6-month lifestyle intervention called the My health for life program. Methods My health for life is a government-funded multi-component program designed to reduce chronic disease risk factors amongst at-risk adults. The intervention comprises six sessions over a 6-month period, delivered by a trained facilitator or telephone health coach. The analysis presented in this paper stems from 9,372 participants who participated in the program between July 2017 and December 2019. Primary outcomes included fruit and vegetable intake, consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and take-away, alcohol and tobacco smoking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). Variables were summed to form a single Healthy Lifestyle Index (HLI) ranging from 0 to 18, with higher scores denoting healthier behaviours. Longitudinal associations between lifestyle indices, assessed using Gaussian Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models with an identity link and robust standard errors. Results Improvements in HLI scores were noted between baseline (Md = 10.0; IQR = 8.3, 11.7] and 26-weeks (Md = 11.7; IQR = 10.0, 13.2] which corresponded with increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and decreases in takeaway frequency, and weight indices (p < .01 for all) but not risky alcohol intake. Modelling showed higher average HLI among those aged 45 or older (β = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.81, 1.13, p < .01) with vocational educational qualifications (certificate/diploma: β = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.76, p < .01; bachelor/post-graduate degree β = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.76, 1.34, p < .01) while being male, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, or not currently working conferred lower average HLI scores (p < .01 for all). Conclusions While participants showed improvements in many healthy lifestyle indices including BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, and dietary indicators, changes in alcohol consumption were less amenable to the program. There is a need for additional research to understand the multi-level barriers and facilitators of behaviour change in this context to tailor the intervention for more-difficult-to-treat groups.

Providing bariatric surgery with supportive services leads to reductions in chronic disease risk in a low-income community

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. S94-S95
Author(s):  
Lydia Best ◽  
Kati Szamos ◽  
Julie Grim ◽  
Heather Kitzman ◽  
Daniel Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Supportive Services ◽  
Chronic Disease Risk

scholarly journals Formative Evaluation of the Families SHARE Disease Risk Tool among Low-Income African Americans

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kayla de la Haye ◽  
Calandra Whitted ◽  
Laura M. Koehly
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Surgeon General ◽  
Critical Gap ◽  
Mixed Methods Evaluation ◽  
Risk Reducing

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Family Health Histories (FHH) have been endorsed by the surgeon general as a powerful yet underutilized tool for identifying individuals at risk for complex chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. FHH tools provide a mechanism for increasing communication about disease history and motivating behavior change to reduce disease risk. A critical gap in translation efforts includes a lack of research that adapts and evaluates tools for low-income, minority populations who experience disparities in chronic disease. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study is a formative mixed-methods evaluation of an evidence-based FHH intervention called “Families SHARE” among African Americans residing in low-income neighborhoods. Participants (<i>N</i> = 51) completed assessments before and 6 weeks after receiving the intervention, including surveys and focus groups. We evaluated (a) their use, understanding, and perceived value of the tool; (b) if the intervention led to increased intentions to adopt disease risk-reducing behaviors among those with heightened disease risk, given their FHH; and (c) acceptability of and recommendations for the tool. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The quantitative and qualitative data indicated that this population valued and used the tool, and it prompted communication about FHH with family, friends, and others. Receipt of the intervention resulted in mixed accuracy of their perceived disease risk, and it did not shift intentions to change health behaviors. Qualitative data provide insights for future iterations of the Families SHARE tool. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Families SHARE is an engaging FHH tool that can be further tailored to optimize its value and benefits for low-income African Americans.

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