scholarly journals Important considerations when assessing the effect of essential fatty acids on cognitive performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aayush Visaria ◽  
David Lo ◽  
Pranay Maniar
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Mental Comorbidities ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies ◽  
Methodological Considerations

Abstract Over the past decade, there have been many studies determining the effect of dietary ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids intake on cognitive performance; however, they have largely been inconsistent in their conclusions. In this letter, we provide context to the article by Dong et al., titled “Association of dietary ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids intake with cognitive performance in older adults: National Health and nutrition examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014” and provide methodological considerations with regards to covariate measurement and inclusion that can be generalized to future cross-sectional studies. In particular, delineating 1) the type and source of fatty acid, in context of an individual’s overall dietary patterns, 2) sociobehavioral risk factors and physical & mental comorbidities, 3) and daily cognitive activity are important to adequately control for covariates.

scholarly journals Response to important considerations when assessing the effect of essential fatty acids on cognitive performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Dong ◽  
Dongfeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Nutrition Examination Survey ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
And Control ◽  
Different Sources

Abstract In this letter, we respond to the comments raised by Visaria et al. in their letter to the editor about the publication “Association of dietary ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids intake with cognitive performance in older adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014”. We have further adjusted for some key covariates as the authors mentioned in the letter and performed sensitivity analysis by excluding vegetarians considering the bioavailability of fatty acids from different sources. In conclusion, the results were basically consistent with our previous results, which showed that the results were stable and reliable. We hope that our study could be helpful in further studies delineating the various intricacies of fatty acid nutrition and metabolism and control for covariates.

scholarly journals Obesity, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Dietary Habits of Saudi Adolescents Living in Riyadh (ATLS-2 Project): Revisited after a Ten-Year Period

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1078
Author(s):  
Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa ◽  
Nada M. Albawardi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Moderate Intensity Physical Activity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies

Objective: Undesirable lifestyle behaviors are associated with many adverse health outcomes. This study revisited the lifestyle behaviors, dietary habits, and overweight/obesity status of Saudi adolescents from Riyadh during the year 2019/2020. We report on the rationale, design, and methodology of the current study and provide preliminary findings of the changes that occurred between the two cross-sectional studies within the span of a ten-year period. Methods: A comparison was made between two cross-sectional studies, one conducted in 2009/2010 and the other in 2019/2020, using the same design, methods, and instruments. A multistage stratified cluster random sampling technique was used to select adolescents attending public and private secondary schools. Measurements included demographics, weight, height, waist circumference, physical activity (using valid questionnaire and accelerometer), sedentary time, sleep duration, and dietary habits. Results: The total number of participants was 1262 adolescents, of which 52.4% were male, with a mean (SD) age of 16.4 ± 0.95 years. About 41% of paternal and 39.1% of maternal education levels were university degrees. Over 37% of the families earned more than SAR 20,000/month. Body mass index and waist circumference of males was larger than that of females and the overall prevalence of overweight/obesity was 40.5% with significance (p < 0.001) difference between males (47.3%) and females (32.8%). Between 2009/2010 and 2019/2020 datasets, there were significant changes in age (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), screen time (p < 0.001), moderate-intensity physical activity (p < 0.001), vigorous-intensity physical activity (p < 0.001), total physical activity (p < 0.001), and consumption of breakfast (p = 0.015) and fruits (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The most notable change between the two studies was a significant reduction in the prevalence of physical inactivity among Saudi adolescents, which was due to increased levels of moderate-intensity physical activity among Saudi females, as a result of recent positive sociopolitical changes occurring in the country over the past four years. The findings provided rich information that can be used to explore trends in overweight/obesity, lifestyle behaviors, and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents over the past ten-year period.

Abstract P233: Plasma essential fatty acids and type 2 diabetes risk: the Hoorn Study

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Alssema ◽  
Mieke Cabout ◽  
Giel Nijpels ◽  
Coen D Stehouwer ◽  
Peter L Zock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Plasma Lipids ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Alpha Linolenic Acid ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prospective Analyses

Background: A high consumption of the polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) instead of saturated fatty acids is known to reduce CHD risk, but data on the relation between LA and ALA intake and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) risk are limited and inconsistent. Plasma levels of LA and ALA provide a relatively accurate reflection of the intake over several weeks or months, because of the essential nature of these fatty acids. Objective: To investigate the association of the percentage of LA and ALA in plasma lipids with fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post-load glucose (PLG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as markers of T2DM risk. Methods: The study population included 667 Dutch men and women, aged 50-75 years from the population-based Hoorn Study. Baseline data for the current study were collected between 2000 and 2001, with follow-up in 2008. Linear regression models were used in cross-sectional and prospective analyses. Results: In cross-sectional analyses, plasma LA (per %) was significantly and inversely associated with FPG ( B = -0.022 [-0.044, 0.000]) and PLG ( B = -0.096 [-0.155, -0.036]), but not with HbA1c ( B = 0.000 [-0.014, 0.014]), after adjustment for age, gender, total energy intake, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, physical activity, fiber, dietary saturated fat intake, alcohol intake and education level. In prospective analyses, plasma LA was not significantly associated with FPG, PLG or HbA1c after adjustments for baseline glucose. In addition, no significant associations were found between plasma ALA and markers of T2DM risk in cross-sectional or prospective analyses. Conclusion: Plasma LA, but not ALA, was inversely associated with fasting and post-load glucose levels in cross-sectional, but not in prospective analyses. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact role of plasma LA and ALA levels and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids in glucose metabolism.

scholarly journals Submicroscopic malaria infection is not associated with fever in cross-sectional studies in Malawi

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy Vareta ◽  
Andrea G Buchwald ◽  
Angelica Barrall ◽  
Lauren M. Cohee ◽  
Jenny A Walldorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rainy Season ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies ◽  
Submicroscopic Infection

Abstract Background: Submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections are widespread in many areas. However, the contribution of these infections to symptomatic malaria is not well understood. In this study we evaluated whether participants with submicroscopic P. falciparum infections have higher prevalence of fever than uninfected participants in southern Malawi.Methods: We enrolled a total of 16,650 children and adults in the course of six cross-sectional surveys during the dry season (October - November) and after the rainy season (April - May) between 2012 - 2014 in three districts in southern Malawi. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected in conjunction with data on clinical histories, use of malaria preventive measures, and antimalarial medication taken within two weeks of the survey. Axillary temperatures were measured, and blood samples were collected for P. falciparum detection by microscopy and PCR. Participants without malaria parasites detected on microscopy but with a positive PCR for P. falciparum were defined as having submicroscopic infection. Fever was defined as having any one of: reported fever in the past two weeks, reported fever in the past 48 hours, or a temperature of ≥37.5 °C measured at the time of interview.Results: Submicroscopic P. falciparum infections and fever were both detected in 9% of the study population. In the final analysis adjusted for clustering within household and enumeration area, having submicroscopic P. falciparum infection was associated with reduced odds of fever in the dry season (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.33 – 0.82); the association in the rainy season did not achieve statistical significance (odds ratio = 1.20; 95% CI: 0.91 – 1.59). The association between submicroscopic infection and fever was consistent across all age groups. When we limited the definition of fever to temperature of ≥37.5 °C measured at the time of interview, the association was not statistically significant in either the rainy or dry season.Conclusions: In this series of cross-sectional studies in southern Malawi, submicroscopic P. falciparum infection was not associated with increased risk of fever. Submicroscopic detection of the malaria parasite is important in efforts to decrease transmission but is not essential for the clinical recognition of malaria disease.

scholarly journals Comparison of Serum Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels in Premature Neonates with or without Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Roya Kelishadi ◽  
Behzad Barekatain ◽  
Atefeh Fatahi
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Serum Triglyceride ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Premature Neonates ◽  
Cholesterol Levels

Background. Deficiency or reduced transmission of long-chain fatty acids and essential fatty acids may inhibit lung growth and development. We aimed to evaluate and compare serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels in premature neonates with RDS. Methods. This study is a cross-sectional study performed on premature neonates born in Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan in 2018. Immediately after birth and after umbilical cord clumping, blood samples were taken from the umbilical artery and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were measured. Those patients with the diagnosis of RDS were transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Data regarding the laboratory results of the lipid profile in patients were compared to that in the other group. Results. A total number of 100 neonates entered the study and were divided into 2 groups. Analysis of gender and mean gestational ages among the two groups showed no significant differences between the groups ( P = 0.84 and P = 0.28 , respectively). Further analysis showed a significant decreased serum cholesterol in the group 1 of patients ( P = 0.01 ), but there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding triglyceride levels ( P = 0.43 ). There was a significant direct relationship between gestational age and serum triglyceride levels in patients with RDS ( r = 0.550 , P < 0.001 ). Conclusion. Here, we indicated significantly lower cholesterol levels in the cord serum of premature neonates with RDS compared to non-RDS premature neonates. Our data also showed a significant direct relationship between gestational age and serum triglyceride levels in patients with RDS. These data were in line with the previous studies.

scholarly journals Cognitive Activity as a Moderator of Educational Attainment and Work Status in Cognitive Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 290-291
Author(s):  
Mirjam Stieger ◽  
Margie Lachman
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Work Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Lower Education

Abstract Cross-sectional findings showed that education differences in memory performance were moderated by frequent cognitive activity (Lachman et al., 2010). The present study examined whether frequent cognitive activity could compensate for lower education when focusing on change in cognitive performance across nine years. The study also explored whether cognitive activity can slow down declines in retired adults as previous research suggested that retiring is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline (e.g., Wickrama et al., 2013). Longitudinal data from the MIDUS study included N = 3,325 middle-aged and older adults. Outcome variables were two factors of cognitive performance: Episodic Memory (EM) and Executive Functioning (EF). Independent variables were years of education, work status (working vs. retired), and frequency of cognitive activity. The results suggest that cognitive activity moderated the effect of educational attainment on change in EM. Individuals with both higher education and cognitive activity showed the smallest declines in EM. Individuals with lower educational attainment but high cognitive activity had less decline in EM compared to their low education counterparts. Those who increased their cognitive activity over time showed less decline in EF. In terms of work status, working adults had less decline in EM and EF compared to retired adults and retired adults who did not maintain their cognitive activity declined more in EF. The results emphasize the importance of frequent engagement in cognitive activity across the lifespan, which can attenuate cognitive declines especially among those who have lower education or have retired.

Epidemiology of chronic liver diseases in the USA in the past three decades

Gut ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 564-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zobair M Younossi ◽  
Maria Stepanova ◽  
Youssef Younossi ◽  
Pegah Golabi ◽  
Alita Mishra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Liver Diseases ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fatty Liver Index ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
The Usa

ObjectiveGiven significant advances in treatment of viral hepatitis and the growing epidemic of obesity, the burden of the different types of liver diseases in the USA may be changing. Our aim was to assess the shift in the prevalence of different liver disease aetiologies in the USA over the past three decades.DesignNational Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES; cross-sectional 1988–1994 and 1999–2016) were used.ResultsA total of 58 731 adults from NHANES (1988–2016) were included. Over the study period, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and alcoholic liver disease remained stable: 0.3%–0.4% and 0.8%–1.0%, respectively (p>0.05). The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C decreased nearly twofold: 1.6% in 1988–1994 to 0.9% in 2013–2016 (p=0.03). In contrast, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD; by US-Fatty Liver Index) increased from 20.0% (1988–1994) to 28.3% (1999–2004) to 33.2% (2009–2012) and 31.9% (2013–2016) (p<0.0001). Furthermore, steady increases were observed in the rates of obesity (22.2% in 1988–1994 to 31.0% in 1999–2004 to 38.9% in 2013–2016), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (from 7.2% to 8.2% to 13.5% same years), insulin resistance and hypertension (all p<0.0001). Yearly trend analyses showed that the only LD with consistently increasing prevalence was NAFLD (trend p=0.01). Multivariable regression analysis showed that obesity (OR 10.4; 95% CI 9.5 to 11.3) and T2DM (OR 3.7; 95% CI 3.2 to 4.2) were the major independent predictors of NAFLD.ConclusionsOver the past 30 years in the USA, NAFLD is the only liver disease with growing prevalence, synchronous with the increasing rates of obesity and T2DM.

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