Circulating microRNAs from early childhood and adolescence are associated with pre-diabetes at 18 years of age in women from the PMNS cohort

A high (20%) prevalence of glucose intolerance at 18-years was seen in women from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) birth cohort. Here, we provide preliminary longitudinal analyses of circulating microRNAs in normal glucose tolerant (NGT@18y, N=10) and glucose intolerant (N=8) women (ADA criteria) at 6-, 12- and 17-years of their age using discovery analysis (OpenArray platform). Machine-learning workflows involving Lasso with bootstrapping/leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) identified microRNAs associated with glucose intolerance at 18-years of age. Several microRNAs, including miR-212-3p, miR-30e-3p and miR-638, stratified glucose-intolerant women from NGT at childhood. Our results suggest that circulating microRNAs in childhood could predict pre-diabetes at 18-years of age. Validation of these findings in males and remaining participants from the PMNS birth cohort will provide a unique opportunity to study novel epigenetic mechanisms in the life-course progression of glucose intolerance and enhance current clinical risk prediction of pre-diabetes and progression to type 2 diabetes.

Effects of Fertilization On The Growth Dominance of Inland Northwest Forests of The United States

Large trees have disproportionally large competitive advantage in access to light, which has been proposed to increase growth dominance of large trees (e.g., accounting for a larger proportion of growth than volume of a stand). Tree growth may also be limited by the availability of other resources besides light. Nutrient deficiency, especially of nitrogen, is considered common among temperate forests, including mixed-conifer forests of the Inland Northwest of the United States. Data from a long-term forest nutrition study across four Inland Northwest states were analyzed to evaluate nitrogen × potassium fertilization's effects on growth dominance over an eight-year period following treatment in a region of complex forest vegetation types and site conditions. Our results show that growth dominance varied substantially across similar plots in each fertilization treatment, and its mean values generally were at minuscule magnitudes, negative, and not significantly different from zero. We propose that this lack of a clear pattern in growth dominance was the result of the mixed-species composition where shade-tolerant species remained in lower crown positions, yet their relative growth kept pace with large trees. Limited moisture availability at dry sites may have hampered the development of growth dominance. Growth dominance also was lowered by mortality observed among relatively large trees. The largely negative growth dominance across fertilization treatments indicates that small trees maintained higher relative growth rates than large trees, even if absolute growth and size was concentrated in large trees. In the case fertilization does improve stand growth, a significant part of this improved growth will be lost in density-dependent mortality over time if not captured through biomass removals.

Urinary Concentrations of (+)-Catechin and (-)-Epicatechin as Biomarkers of Dietary Intake of Flavan-3-Ols in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study

This study examines the correlation of acute and habitual dietary intake of flavan-3-ol monomers, proanthocyanidins, theaflavins, and their main food sources with the urinary concentrations of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study (EPIC). Participants (N = 419, men and women) provided 24-h urine samples and completed a 24-h dietary recall (24-HDR) on the same day. Acute and habitual dietary data were collected using a standardized 24-HDR software and a validated dietary questionnaire, respectively. Intake of flavan-3-ols was estimated using the Phenol-Explorer database. Concentrations of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin in 24-h urine were analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry after enzymatic deconjugation. Simple and partial Spearman’s correlations showed that urinary concentrations of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and their sum were more strongly correlated with acute than with habitual intake of individual and total monomers (acute rpartial = 0.13–0.54, p < 0.05; and habitual rpartial = 0.14–0.28, p < 0.01), proanthocyanidins (acute rpartial = 0.24–0.49, p < 0.001; and habitual rpartial = 0.10–0.15, p < 0.05), theaflavins (acute rpartial = 0.22–0.31, p < 0.001; and habitual rpartial = 0.20–0.26, p < 0.01), and total flavan-3-ols (acute rpartial = 0.40–0.48, p < 0.001; and habitual rpartial = 0.23–0.33, p < 0.001). Similarly, urinary concentrations of flavan-3-ols were weakly correlated with both acute (rpartial = 0.12–0.30, p < 0.05) and habitual intake (rpartial = 0.10–0.27, p < 0.05) of apple and pear, stone fruits, berries, chocolate and chocolate products, cakes and pastries, tea, herbal tea, wine, red wine, and beer and cider. Moreover, all comparable correlations were stronger for urinary (-)-epicatechin than for (+)-catechin. In conclusion, our data support the use of urinary concentrations of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, especially as short-term nutritional biomarkers of dietary catechin, epicatechin and total flavan-3-ol monomers.

Parent-of-origin effects in the life-course evolution of cardio-metabolic traits

Objective: Human traits are heritable, and some of these including metabolic and lipid phenotypes show preferential parental transmissions, or parent-of-origin effects. These have been mostly studied in populations comprising adults. We aimed to investigate heritability and parent-of-origin effects on cardiometabolic and anthropometric traits in a birth-cohort with serial measurements to assess if these effects manifested at an early age. Research design and methods: We investigated heritability and parent-of-origin effects on cardiometabolic and anthropometric traits in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) wherein offspring and parents were studied from birth and followed-up for 18 years. Heritability was estimated by calculating association between mid-parental phenotypes and offspring. Maternal and paternal effects on offspring phenotype were modelled by regression after adjusting for age, sex and BMI. Parent-of-origin effects were calculated by the difference between maternal and paternal effects. Results: Anthropomorphic traits and cardiometabolic traits were robustly heritable. Parent-of-origin effects were observed for glycemic traits at both 6- and 12-years, with a paternal effect at 6-years which transitioned to a maternal effect at 12-years. For insulin and HOMA-S, a negative maternal effect transitioned to a positive one at 12-years. For HOMA-B, a paternal effect at 6- years transitioned to a maternal one at 12-years. Lipid traits consistently showed stronger maternal influence while anthropometric traits did not show any parental biases. Conclusions: Our study highlights that parental programming of cardiometabolic traits is evident from early childhood and can transition during puberty. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms of underlying such effects.

Poor In Utero Growth and Reduced β-Cell Compensation and High Fasting Glucose from Childhood Are Harbingers of Glucose Intolerance in Young Indians

<i>Objective</i> <p>India is a double world capital for early life undernutrition and type 2 diabetes. We aimed to characterise lifecourse growth and metabolic trajectories in those developing glucose intolerance as young adults, in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS). </p> <p><i>Research design and Methods</i></p> <p>PMNS is a community-based intergenerational birth cohort established in 1993, with serial information on parents and children through pregnancy, childhood and adolescence. We compared normal glucose tolerant and glucose intolerant participants for serial growth, estimates of insulin sensitivity and secretion (HOMA and dynamic indices) and beta cell compensation accounting for prevailing insulin sensitivity. <b><i></i></b></p> <p><i>Results</i></p> <p>At 18 years (N=619) 37% men and 20% women were glucose intolerant (184 prediabetes, 1 diabetes) despite 48% being underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m²). Glucose intolerant participants had higher fasting glucose from childhood. Mothers of glucose intolerant participants had higher glycemia in pregnancy. Glucose intolerant participants were shorter at birth. Insulin sensitivity decreased with age in all participants, and the glucose intolerant had consistently lower compensatory insulin secretion from childhood. Participants in the highest quintile of fasting glucose at 6 and 12 years had a 2.5- and 4.0-fold higher risk respectively of 18-year glucose intolerance; this finding was replicated in two other cohorts. <b><i></i></b></p> <p><i>Conclusion</i></p> Inadequate compensatory insulin secretory response to decreasing insulin sensitivity from early life is the major pathophysiology underlying glucose intolerance in thin rural Indians. Smaller birth size, maternal pregnancy hyperglycemia, and higher glycemia in childhood herald future glucose intolerance, mandating a strategy for diabetes prevention from early life, preferably intergenerationally.

Poor In Utero Growth and Reduced β-Cell Compensation and High Fasting Glucose from Childhood Are Harbingers of Glucose Intolerance in Young Indians

<i>Objective</i> <p>India is a double world capital for early life undernutrition and type 2 diabetes. We aimed to characterise lifecourse growth and metabolic trajectories in those developing glucose intolerance as young adults, in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS). </p> <p><i>Research design and Methods</i></p> <p>PMNS is a community-based intergenerational birth cohort established in 1993, with serial information on parents and children through pregnancy, childhood and adolescence. We compared normal glucose tolerant and glucose intolerant participants for serial growth, estimates of insulin sensitivity and secretion (HOMA and dynamic indices) and beta cell compensation accounting for prevailing insulin sensitivity. <b><i></i></b></p> <p><i>Results</i></p> <p>At 18 years (N=619) 37% men and 20% women were glucose intolerant (184 prediabetes, 1 diabetes) despite 48% being underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m²). Glucose intolerant participants had higher fasting glucose from childhood. Mothers of glucose intolerant participants had higher glycemia in pregnancy. Glucose intolerant participants were shorter at birth. Insulin sensitivity decreased with age in all participants, and the glucose intolerant had consistently lower compensatory insulin secretion from childhood. Participants in the highest quintile of fasting glucose at 6 and 12 years had a 2.5- and 4.0-fold higher risk respectively of 18-year glucose intolerance; this finding was replicated in two other cohorts. <b><i></i></b></p> <p><i>Conclusion</i></p> Inadequate compensatory insulin secretory response to decreasing insulin sensitivity from early life is the major pathophysiology underlying glucose intolerance in thin rural Indians. Smaller birth size, maternal pregnancy hyperglycemia, and higher glycemia in childhood herald future glucose intolerance, mandating a strategy for diabetes prevention from early life, preferably intergenerationally.

Reproductive Management of the Male Goat: A Review

Objective: To describe the factors affecting male goat (buck) reproduction and the selection and management strategies to improve their reproductive efficiency. Design/Methodology/Approach: By reviewing published information, the main factors that affect the reproductive capacity of bucks and some management strategies for their reduction were described. Emphasis was on the evaluation of seminal quality, libido, and the selection of sires to be used in the herd. Results: Proper sire diet reduces age at puberty and improves testicular and seminal characteristics, as well as sexual behavior. The effect of seasonality can be improved by using melatonin implants and adequate nutrition. Study Limitations/Implications: In goat production systems, bucks are important for the production of quality livestock and the products and byproducts from this species. Understanding the impact of environmental factors such as nutrition, seasonality, and physiological processes on the reproductive capacity of bucks promotes the establishment of management strategies to better understand what is important when selecting sires as sperm donors to improve product quality and to obtain greater herd production. Findings/Conclusions: Adequate sire nutrition improves herd fertility. Seasonal reproduction affects the reproductive capacity of sires as sperm donors, yet there are management alternatives to reduce such seasonal effects on their reproductive performance.

Maternal vitamin B12, folate during pregnancy and neurocognitive outcomes in young adults of the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) prospective birth cohort: study protocol

IntroductionThe Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis proposes that intrauterine and early life exposures significantly influence fetal development and risk for disease in later life. Evidence from prospective birth cohorts suggests a role for maternal B12 and folate in influencing neurocognitive outcomes in the offspring. In the Indian setting, B12 deficiency is common during the pregnancy while rates of folate deficiency are lower. The long-term influences of maternal nutrition during the pregnancy on adult neurocognitive outcomes have not been examined. The Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) is a preconceptional birth cohort into its 24th year and is considered a unique resource to study the DOHaD hypothesis. We found an association between maternal B12 status in pregnancy and child’s neurocognitive status at 9 years of age. We now plan to assess neurocognitive function and MRI measurements of brain structural–functional connectivity at young adult age to study its association with maternal nutritional exposures during the pregnancy.Methods and analysisAs part of ongoing prospective follow-up in young adults of the PMNS at the Diabetes Unit, KEM Hospital Research Center, Pune India, the following measurements will be done: neurocognitive performance (Standardised Tests of Intelligence, Verbal and Visual Memory, Attention and Executive Functions), temperament (Adult Temperament Questionnaire), psychopathology (Brief Symptom Inventory and Clinical Interview on Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview 7.0). Brain MRI for structural T1, resting-state functional connectivity and diffusion tensor imaging will be performed on a subset of the cohort (selected based on exposure to a lower or higher maternal B12 status at 18 weeks of pregnancy).Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by Institutional ethics committee of KEM Hospital Research Center, Pune. The results will be shared at national and international scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration numberNCT03096028

Parental Reports on Early Autism Behaviors in Their Children with Fragile X Syndrome as a Function of Infant Feeding

This study evaluates the prevalence of autistic behaviors in fragile X syndrome as a function of infant diet. Retrospective survey data from the Fragile X Syndrome Nutrition Study, which included data on infant feeding and caregiver-reported developmental milestones for 190 children with fragile X syndrome enrolled in the Fragile X Online Registry with Accessible Database (FORWARD), were analyzed. Exploratory, sex-specific associations were found linking the use of soy-based infant formula with worse autistic behaviors related to language in females and self-injurious behavior in males. These findings prompt prospective evaluation of the effects of soy-based infant formula on disease comorbidities in fragile X syndrome, a rare disorder for which newborn screening could be implemented if there was an intervention. Gastrointestinal problems were the most common reason cited for switching to soy-based infant formula. Thus, these findings also support the study of early gastrointestinal problems in fragile X syndrome, which may underly the development and severity of disease comorbidities. In conjunction with comorbidity data from the previous analyses of the Fragile X Syndrome Nutrition Study, the findings indicate that premutation fragile X mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed.

Hubungan Konsumsi Protein dan Vitamin C dengan Status Kebugaran pada Mahasiswa Program Studi Gizi Fakultas Ilmu Kesehatan UPN Veteran Jakarta

Physical fitness is related to risk factors of various illness and death in current times. Fitness status is generally affected by two factors, internal and external factors. One of the external factors that affects fitness status is nutrient intake. Protein and vitamin C are nutrients that influence physical fitness status. This study aimed to observe the relationship between protein and vitamin C intake with physical fitness status among students of Nutrition Study Program in Health Sciences Faculty, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta. This is a cross-sectional study with a total of 80 students recruited randomly (stratified random sampling). Bivariate analysis showed a significant relationship between protein intake with physical fitness status (p=0.017). Similarly, vitamin C intake is significantly correlated with physical fitness status (p=0.009). Therefore, it can be concluded that protein and vitamin C intake are significantly correlated with physical fitness status among Nutrition Program Study students in Health Sciences Faculty in Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta. Protein and vitamin C intake that is not in accordance with daily need may cause poor physical fitness status.