Dietary methyl donor micronutrients intake in relation to psychological disorders in adults

Higher dietary methyl donor micronutrient consumption is associated with higher muscle strength in adults: a cross-sectional study

Methyl donor micronutrients might affect muscle strength via DNA methylation. We aimed to evaluate the combined relationship of dietary methyl donor micronutrients containing betaine, choline, methionine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate on muscle strength. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 267 subjects including 113 men and 154 women. Dietary intake of micronutrients was assessed utilising a validated 168-item semi-quantitative FFQ, and methyl donor micronutrient score (MDMS) was calculated. The muscle strength of the participants was measured using a digital handgrip dynamometer. The association was determined using linear regression analysis. The mean age of participants was 36·8 ± 13·2 years. After taking into account potential confounding variables, there was no significant association between dietary methyl donor micronutrient score (MDMS) and the mean left-hand muscle strength (β: 0·07, se: 0·05, P = 0·07); however, the changes were significant in the mean right-hand muscle strength (β: 0·09, se: 0·04, P = 0·03). There was also a significant positive relationship between mean muscle strength and methyl donors' intake after fully adjusting for potential confounders (β: 0·08, se: 0·04, P = 0·04). In conclusion, our findings revealed that higher dietary methyl donor micronutrient consumption is associated with enhanced muscle strength. As a result, advice on a higher intake of methyl donor-rich foods including grains, nuts, dairy products and seafood might be recommended by dietitians as a general guideline to adhere to. Additional prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients in relation to metabolic health status, serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and adropin

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is a lack of evidence on dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients with metabolic health status and related biomarkers. Thus, this study aimed to assess the relation between methyl donor nutrients intake and metabolic health status with regarding the interactive roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and adropin in Iranian adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 527 Iranian adults (45.7% female) selected by multistage cluster random-sampling method. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate participants' dietary intake. Metabolic unhealthy status was defined by Wildman criteria as having ≥ 2 of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertension, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Concentrations of metabolic parameters, BDNF and adropin were determined using fasting blood samples.

RESULTS

An inverse association was found between methyl donor nutrients intake and metabolically unhealthy status in multivariable-adjusted model (ORT3 vs. T1 = 0.30; 95%CI: 0.12-0.75). This association was especially significant among overweight/obese adults and was stronger in women. Additionally, consumption of vitamin B6 and choline was separately related to reduced odds of metabolically unhealthy status. Methyl donor intake was not significantly related to low BDNF (ORT3 vs. T1 = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.60-1.44) and adropin (ORT3 vs. T1 = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.44-1.15). However, the interaction between high methyl donor nutrients intake and high BDNF was related to lower odds of metabolically unhealthy status in multivariable-adjusted model (ORMDNS∗BDNF = 0.27; 95%CI: 0.11-0.67).

CONCLUSION

Higher intake of methyl donor nutrients, alone and in interaction with BDNF levels, was associated with decreased odds of metabolically unhealthy status in Iranian adults.

Associations of dietary methyl donor nutrients with common psychological conditions (depression, anxiety and stress) among reproductive-aged women in Kabul, Afghanistan

BACKGROUND

Higher levels of methyl donor nutrients may be associated with better psychological conditions. Little is known about the association of methyl donor nutrients with psychological conditions among women especially in Asian countries such as Afghanistan.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul, Afghanistan to assess the association of methyl donor nutrients with common psychological conditions (depression, anxiety and stress) among reproductive-aged women using multistage random sampling to choose one health center from each municipality out of four cardinal directions. Finally a sample of 421 reproductive-aged women with a mean BMI of 23.3 ± 5.0 kg/m2 and an age range of 15-45 years were collected. All women's dietary intakes were obtained using a 24-recall questionnaire. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) was used to assess psychological conditions. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs were performed to assess general characteristics. Residual model test while adjusting for energy intake was used to assess nutrient intake of methyl donor nutrients and food groups. We fitted logistic regression models to assess risk for Common mental health problems (CMHPs) based on methyl donor tertiles.

RESULT

We observed that there is no significant association between methyl donor nutrients and psychological disorders in both crude and adjusted models (depression, OR = 0.95, CI: 0.48; 1.88; anxiety, OR = 0.88, CI: 0.43, 1.79; stress, OR = 0.73, CI: 0.38, 1.40), (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Overall, we did not find any significant association between methyl donor nutrients and depression, anxiety and stress.

Association between methyl donor nutrients and metabolic health status in overweight and obese adolescents

Limited evidence is available regarding the association of methyl donor nutrients and adolescents' metabolic health. Therefore, we investigated the relation between a combination of methyl donor nutrients and metabolic health status of overweight and obese Iranian adolescents. In this cross-sectional study, 203 overweight/obese adolescents were included, using a multistage cluster random-sampling method. Dietary intakes were assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Methyl donor nutrient score (MDNS) was constructed based on deciles of vitamins B2, B6, B9, B12, methionine, choline and betaine. Glycemic profile, lipid profile, blood pressure and anthropometric indices were collected. Participants were classified as metabolically healthy obese or unhealthy obese (MUO) based on International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and IDF/Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) definitions. Mean age of adolescents was 13.98 [Formula: see text] 1.61 y and 50.2% of them was girls. After controlling all of the confounders, individuals in the top tertile of MDNS, had lower odds of MUO (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.13-0.95) according to IFD criteria. Considering IDF/HOMA-IR criteria, an inverse marginally significant association was observed between the highest tertile of MDNS and odds of MUO (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.12-1.02) in the fully-adjusted model. Furthermore, significant inverse association was found between each unit increase in MDNS and odds of MUO based on IDF criteria, but not for IDF/HOMA-IR definition. We found that overweight/obese adolescents with higher dietary intakes of methyl donor nutrients were less likely to be metabolically unhealthy. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Dietary choline is inversely associated with depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011 to 2018

BACKGROUND

Dietary choline has neuroprotective actions. However, the relationship between dietary choline and depression has been little studied.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the association between dietary choline and depressive symptoms in US adults, using data from the 2011 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). 12,906 individuals age ≥20 who had valid information on dietary choline and depressive symptoms were chosen. Depressive symptoms were defined as the score ≥10 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multivariable logistic regression and the restricted cubic splines were used in analyses.

RESULTS

In three models, compared with the bottom quintile, each quintile of dietary choline was significantly associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. After adjusted all selected confounding factors and covariates, the odds ratio with the 95% confidence interval of depressive symptoms was 0.57 (95% CI:0.38-0.85) for the highest quintile versus the lowest quintile of dietary choline intake. Statistical significance was also maintained in gender and age stratification studies. In the study of the dose-response relationship, an L-shaped relationship between dietary choline and depressive symptoms was found.

LIMITATIONS

Causality cannot be inferred in a cross-sectional study.

CONCLUSION

In this analysis of US adults, dietary choline intake is inversely associated with the risk of depressive symptoms. An L-shape dose-response relationship between those two was found. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.