Abstract P137: Association Of Equol Producing Capacity With Aortic Calcification In Middle-aged Japanese Men

Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Zhang ◽  
Akira Fujiyoshi ◽  
Aya Kadota ◽  
Vasudha Ahuja ◽  
Abhishek Vishnu ◽  
...  

Background: Soy isoflavones (ISFs) are regularly consumed in Japan and other Asian countries where some studies showed a significant inverse association of ISFs intake with incident coronary heart disease (CHD). However, a US randomized clinical trial did not find ISFs as anti-atherogenic. This discrepancy may be due to the higher capacity of people in Japan than in the US to produce equol, a metabolite of ISF by the gut microbiome. Equol may have greater anti-atherogenic properties than ISFs. It is unknown whether equol producers (EP), people who produce equol after consuming ISF, have lower aortic calcification (AC), a biomarker of atherosclerosis, as compared to non-EP. Aim: To determine the association between equol producing status and AC in Japanese men. Method: This cross-sectional, population-based study included 302 Japanese men aged 40-49, free of CHD. EP was defined as participants with serum levels of equol ≥20 nM. AC was measured in the entire aorta and quantified by the Agatston method. The presence of AC was defined as AC score ≥10. We analyzed the association between equol producing status and AC using the Tobit and the logistic regressions. Result: We observed 125 participants as EP. In multivariable analyses, EP had non-significantly lower AC score by 147 (95% confidence interval (CI): -386, 92) units and an odds ratio of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.40, 1.26) for the AC presence as compared to non-EP. As significant interaction of equol producing status with age was present, we stratified the analyses by the median age. In men aged 45-49 years, EP had non-significantly lower AC score by 246 units and a non-significant 0.62 times the odds of AC presence as compared to non-EP; the corresponding values in men aged 40-44 were 12 units and 0.91 times (Table). Such an association was not observed with serum ISFs (data not shown). Conclusion: Japanese middle-aged men who were EP had non-significantly lower AC than non-EP and such association was stronger in men aged 45-49 than 40-44 years. Further study with much larger sample size is warranted.

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasudha Ahuja ◽  
Katsuyuki Miura ◽  
Abhishek Vishnu ◽  
Akira Fujiyoshi ◽  
Rhobert Evans ◽  
...  

AbstractEquol, a metabolite of the dietary isoflavone daidzein, is produced by the action of gut bacteria in some individuals who are termed as equol-producers. It is proposed to have stronger atheroprotective properties than dietary isoflavones. We examined a cross-sectional association of dietary isoflavones and equol-producer status with coronary artery calcification (CAC), a biomarker of coronary atherosclerosis, among men in Japan. A population-based sample of 272 Japanese men aged 40–49 years recruited from 2004 to 2007 was examined for serum isoflavones, serum equol, CAC and other factors. Equol-producers were classified as individuals having a serum level of equol >83 nm. The presence of CAC was defined as a coronary Ca score ≥10 Agatston units. The associations of dietary isoflavones and equol-producers with CAC were analysed using multiple logistic regression. The median of dietary isoflavones, equol and CAC were 512·7 (interquartile range (IQR) 194·1, 1170·0), 9·1 (IQR 0·10, 33·1) and 0·0 (IQR 0·0, 1·0) nm, respectively. Prevalence of CAC and equol-producers was 9·6 and 16·0 %, respectively. Dietary isoflavones were not significantly associated with CAC. After multivariable adjustment, the OR for the presence of CAC in equol-producers compared with equol non-producers was 0·10 (95 % CI 0·01, 0·90, P<0·04). Equol-producers had significantly lower CAC than equol non-producers, but there was no significant association between dietary isoflavones and CAC, suggesting that equol may be a key factor for atheroprotective properties of isoflavones in Japanese men. This finding must be confirmed in larger studies or clinical trials of equol that is now available as a dietary supplement.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Sekikawa ◽  
Katsuyuki Miura ◽  
Abhishek Vishnu ◽  
Akira Fujiyoshi ◽  
Rhobert W Evans ◽  
...  

Objectives: Epidemiological studies in Asia where consumption of soy isoflavones (ISF) are regular and high implicated that isoflavones are protective against coronary heart disease (CHD), especially in post-menopausal women. There is a lack of data on the association of isoflavones with atherosclerosis, especially in men. We aim to determine a cross sectional association of serum ISF with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in men in Japan. Methods: A population-based sample of 299 men aged 40-49 years in Japan was examined for CAC and other risk factors in 2002-06. Electron-beam CT was used to evaluate CAC. Stored serum samples were analyzed for ISF (genistein and daidzein). We defined serum ISFs as the sum of genistein and daidzein. Presence of CAC was defined as coronary calcium score ≥ 10. Because the distribution of serum ISF is skewed, we evaluated quartile of serum ISF and analyzed the association of ISF with the presence of CAC using a general linear model. Findings: The median value (interquartile range) of ISF was 517 (195, 1,147) nM/l. Serum ISF had a significant inverse association with CAC in crude analysis. After adjusting for age, LDL-C, smoking, and BMI, each of which had a significant univariate association with CAC, the inverse association of ISF with CAC remained, with littel change in point estimates. After further adjusting for other risk factors as well as serum levels of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, the inverse association remained. Conclusions: Serum levels of ISF in Japanese men in Japan had an inverse association of CAC, suggesting that ISF at the levels Japanese in Japan regularly consume have anti-atherogenic properties in men.


2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 129-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Heidari ◽  
Awat Feizi ◽  
Leila Azadbakht ◽  
Nizal Sarrafzadegan

Abstract. Background: Minerals are required for the body’s normal function. Aim: The current study assessed the intake distribution of minerals and estimated the prevalence of inadequacy and excess among a representative sample of healthy middle aged and elderly Iranian people. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the second follow up to the Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS), 1922 generally healthy people aged 40 and older were investigated. Dietary intakes were collected using 24 hour recalls and two or more consecutive food records. Distribution of minerals intake was estimated using traditional (averaging dietary intake days) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) methods, and the results obtained from the two methods, were compared. The prevalence of minerals intake inadequacy or excess was estimated using the estimated average requirement (EAR) cut-point method, the probability approach and the tolerable upper intake levels (UL). Results: There were remarkable differences between values obtained using traditional and NCI methods, particularly in the lower and upper percentiles of the estimated intake distributions. A high prevalence of inadequacy of magnesium (50 - 100 %), calcium (21 - 93 %) and zinc (30 - 55 % for males > 50 years) was observed. Significant gender differences were found regarding inadequate intakes of calcium (21 - 76 % for males vs. 45 - 93 % for females), magnesium (92 % vs. 100 %), iron (0 vs. 15 % for age group 40 - 50 years) and zinc (29 - 55 % vs. 0 %) (all; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Severely imbalanced intakes of magnesium, calcium and zinc were observed among the middle-aged and elderly Iranian population. Nutritional interventions and population-based education to improve healthy diets among the studied population at risk are needed.


Author(s):  
Katharina Kerschan-Schindl ◽  
Ursula Föger-Samwald ◽  
Andreas Gleiss ◽  
Stefan Kudlacek ◽  
Jacqueline Wallwitz ◽  
...  

Summary Background Circulating serum sclerostin levels are supposed to give a good estimation of the levels of this negative regulator of bone mass within bone. Most studies evaluating total serum sclerostin found different levels in males compared to females and in older compared to younger subjects. Besides an ELISA detecting total sclerostin an ELISA determining bioactive sclerostin has been developed. The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of bioactive sclerostin in an Austrian population-based cohort. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in 235 healthy subjects. Using the bioactive ELISA assay (Biomedica) bioactive sclerostin levels were evaluated. Results Serum levels of bioactive sclerostin were higher in men than in women (24%). The levels correlated positively with age (r = 0.47). A positive correlation could also be detected with body mass index and bone mineral density. Conclusion Using the ELISA detecting bioactive sclerostin our results are consistent with data in the literature obtained by different sclerostin assays. The determination of sclerostin concentrations in peripheral blood thus appears to be a robust parameter of bone metabolism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiki Watanabe ◽  
Tsukasa Yoshida ◽  
Takashi Nakagata ◽  
Naomi Sawada ◽  
Yosuke Yamada ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPrevious epidemiological studies have demonstrated the prevalence and relationship of various factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults; however, few have examined the status of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. In this study, we aimed to, 1) evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test, which is potentially a useful screening tool for sarcopenia, and 2) determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe conducted face-to-face surveys of 525 adults, who were aged 40–91 years and resided in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan to evaluate the validity of finger-circle test. The finger-circle test evaluated calf circumference by referring to an illustration printed on the survey form. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) was plotted to evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test for screening sarcopenia and compared to that evaluated by skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured using bioimpedance. We also conducted multisite population-based cross-sectional anonymous mail surveys of 9337 adults, who were aged 40–97 years and resided in Settsu and Hannan Cities, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling by sex and age in the elementary school zones of their respective cities. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to explore associations between characteristics and prevalence of sarcopenia.ResultsSarcopenia, defined by SMI, was moderately predicted by a finger-circle test response showing that the subject’s calf was smaller than their finger-circle (AUROC: 0.729, < 65 years; 0.653, ≥65 years); such subjects were considered to have sarcopenia. In mail surveys, prevalence of sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test was higher in older subjects (approximately 16%) than in middle-aged subjects (approximately 8–9%). In a multiple regression model, the factors associated with sarcopenia were age, body mass index, smoking status, self-reported health, and number of meals in all the participants.ConclusionsSarcopenia, screened by the finger-circle test, was present not only among older adults but also among middle-aged adults. These results may provide useful indications for developing public health programs, not only for the prevention, but especially for the management of sarcopenia.Trial registrationUMIN000036880, registered prospectively May 29, 2019, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000042027


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1639
Author(s):  
Zhongyao Li ◽  
Dongqing Wang ◽  
Edward A. Ruiz-Narváez ◽  
Karen E. Peterson ◽  
Hannia Campos ◽  
...  

Only a few studies primarily examined the associations between starchy vegetables (other than potatoes) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to evaluate the association between starchy vegetables consumption and MetS in a population-based sample of Costa Rican adults. We hypothesized that a higher overall intake of starchy vegetables would not be associated with higher MetS prevalence. In this cross-sectional study, log-binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) of MetS across quintiles of total, unhealthy, healthy starchy vegetables, and individual starchy vegetables (potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, etc.), among 1881 Costa Rican adults. Least square means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from linear regression models were estimated for each MetS component by categories of starchy vegetable variables. Higher intakes of starchy vegetables were associated with a higher prevalence of MetS in crude models, but no significant trends were observed after adjusting for confounders. A significant inverse association was observed between total starchy and healthy starchy vegetables consumption and fasting blood glucose. In this population, starchy vegetables might be part of a healthy dietary pattern.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1803
Author(s):  
Sharmin Hossain ◽  
May A. Beydoun ◽  
Michele K. Evans ◽  
Alan B. Zonderman ◽  
Marie F. Kuczmarski

Objective: We investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of diet quality with middle-aged caregiver status. Methods: Caregiving in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study (57.7% women, 62% African American (AA)) was measured at waves 3 (2009–2013) and 4 (2013–2017) (mean follow-up time 4.1 years). Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) derived from two separate 24 h diet recalls. Multivariable ordinary least square regression was performed for cross-sectional analyses of the association of wave 4 caregiving with wave 4 HEI-2010. Wave 3 caregiving was examined both cross-sectionally and with annual rate of change in HEI using mixed-effects linear regression Models. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, sex, and poverty status. Results: Cross-sectional analyses at wave 4 demonstrate an inverse association of frequent caregiving (“Daily or Weekly” vs. “Never”) for grandchildren with HEI-2010 total score (i.e., lower diet quality) among Whites (β = −2.83 ± 1.19, p = 0.03, Model 2) and AAs (β = −1.84 ± 0.79, p = 0.02,). The “cross-sectional” analysis pertaining to grandchildren caregiving frequency suggested that frequent caregiving (i.e., “Daily or Weekly” vs. “Never” (β = −2.90 ± 1.17, p = 0.04)) only among Whites was inversely related to HEI-2010 total score. Total HEI-2010 score was also related to caring (Model 1), for the elderly over “5 years vs. Never” among Whites (−7.31 ± 3.54, p = 0.04, Model 2). Longitudinally, we found slight potential improvement in diet quality over time (“Daily or Weekly” vs. Never by TIME interaction: +0.88 ± 0.38, p = 0.02) with frequent caregiving among Whites, but not so among AAs. Conclusions: Frequent caring for grandchildren had an inverse relationship with the diet quality of White and AA urban middle-aged caregivers, while caring for elderly was inversely linked to diet quality among Whites only. Longitudinal studies should address the paucity of research on caregivers’ nutritional quality.


2021 ◽  
pp. 109019812098294
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Kanellopoulou ◽  
Venetia Notara ◽  
George Antonogeorgos ◽  
Maria Chrissini ◽  
Andrea Paola Rojas-Gil ◽  
...  

Children’s health literacy is a crucial pillar of health. This study is aimed to examine the association between health literacy and weight status among Greek schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 years old. A population-based, cross-sectional observational study enrolling 1,728 students (795 boys), aged 10 to 12 years old, was conducted during school years 2014–2016. A health literacy index (range 0-100) was created through an item response theory hybrid model, by combining a variety of beliefs and perceptions of children about health. The mean health literacy score was 70.4 (±18.7). The majority of children (63.8%) had a “high” level (i.e., >67/100) of health literacy, 30.5% had a “medium” level (i.e., 34–66/100) of health literacy, while a small proportion of children (5.7%) had a “low” level (i.e., <33/100). Girls exhibited a higher level of health literacy than boys (71.7 ± 18.3 vs. 68.8 ± 19.1, p < .01). Regarding body weight status, 21.7% of children was overweight and 5.0% was obese. Linear regression models showed that the health literacy score was inversely associated with children’s body mass index (regression coefficient [95% CI]: −0.010 [−0.018, −0.001]), after adjusting for dietary habits, physical activity levels, and other potential confounders. Health literacy seems to be a dominant characteristic of children’s weight status; therefore, school planning, as well as public health policy actions should emphasize on the ability of children’s capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information.


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