Associations of dietary antioxidant micronutrients with the prevalence of obesity in adults

Exploring the application of dietary antioxidant index for disease risk assessment: a comprehensive review

Oxidative stress contributes to the development of cardiometabolic diseases and cancers. Numerous studies have highlighted the adverse effects of high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the progression of chronic noncommunicable diseases and also during infections. On the other hand, antioxidants play a crucial role in preventing oxidative stress or postponing cell damage via the direct scavenging of free radicals or indirectly via the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway, among others. Dietary antioxidants can be obtained from various sources, mainly through a plant-based diet, including fruits and vegetables. The dietary antioxidant index (DAI) has been developed to assess total antioxidant intake from diet. This review delineated the performance of DAI in the risk assessment of different diseases. It is suggested that a high DAI score prevents obesity-related diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, and metabolic (dysfunction)-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Additionally, DAI is negatively associated with Helicobacter pylori and Human papillomavirus infection, thus reducing the risk of gastric and cervical cancer. Also, a high intake of antioxidants prevents the development of osteoporosis, miscarriage, infertility, and mental illnesses. However, further prospective observations and clinical trials are warranted to confirm the application of DAI in preventing diseases that have been studied.

Association between serum cryptoxanthin levels and migraine in American adults: results from NHANES

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation play critical roles in the pathogenesis of migraine, a neurovascular disease. Cryptoxanthin is a carotenoid known for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the specific association between serum cryptoxanthin levels and migraine remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between migraine and serum cryptoxanthin levels.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional analysis, information was gathered from individuals ≥20 years who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2004. Details information was collected on migraines, serum cryptoxanthin levels and various crucial factors. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between serum cryptoxanthin and the occurrence of migraines.

RESULTS

The study included 8,645 participants, of whom 20.00%(1734/8645) experienced migraine. There was a nonlinear relationship (p < 0.001) between serum cryptoxanthin levels and migraine, which was depicted as an L-shaped curve. The occurrence rate of individuals with serum cryptoxanthin levels below 26.64 nmol/dL experiencing migraine was 0.976 (95% CI: 0.965∼0.987, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In adults among the United States, increased levels of serum cryptoxanthin were associated with decreased risk of migriane with a turning point at around 26.64 nmol/dL in American adults. Further studys are needed to confirm our findings.

Associations of Urinary Cadmium with Body Composition and Fat Distribution in US Adults: Findings from NHANES 2011-2018

The effects of cadmium (Cd) on metabolic physiology remain controversial. Given the varying metabolic impacts associated with different body compositions, investigating the relationship between Cd exposure and body composition may facilitate further research. Here, the associations of body composition and fat distribution with urine Cd (UCd) were evaluated. This analysis included 2979 adult participants from the 2011-2018 National Health and Demographic Survey (NHANES). UCd was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and adjusted for urinary creatinine. Body composition and fat distribution were estimated using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The study results show that UCd was negatively associated with fat mass index (FMI) and percent fat mass (p for trend < 0.001), and the negative correlation between UCd and FMI was stronger in males and smokers (all p for interaction < 0.05). In terms of abdominal fat distribution, UCd was negatively associated with abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) mass (p for trend < 0.001), but with abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass only in those with low percent fat mass (< 32.3%) (p for trend = 0.026 and p for interaction < 0.05). UCd was positively related to percent VAT (p for trend < 0.001) and visceral-to-subcutaneous (VAT/SAT) ratio (p for trend = 0.003). And there was a significant negative association between UCd and android-to-gynoid (A/G) ratio (p for trend = 0.001). Meanwhile, UCd was negatively correlated with fat-free mass index (FFMI) (p for trend < 0.001). And the negative correlation between UCd and FFMI was stronger in males, smokers, and individuals with < 32.3 percent fat mass (all p for interaction < 0.05). We found the association of UCd with body composition and fat distribution, with distinct patterns observed in different demographic groups. These findings underscore the importance of considering UCd exposure in the context of body composition and fat distribution.

The association of composite dietary antioxidant index with periodontitis in NHANES 2009-2014

Background

To date, evidence is rare regarding whether and how dietary antioxidants are associated with the risk of periodontitis. This study aimed to investigate the association of composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) with periodontitis and tooth loss, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2014).

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 10,067 adults aged ≥30 years who underwent assessments of periodontal health and the 1st day dietary recall. Based on a crude model and three adjusted models, multivariate regressions were used to examine the relationship between CDAI and periodontitis-related measurements including probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and tooth loss. Subgroup analyses and the restricted cubic splines plots were applied to examine the association between CDAI ingredients and periodontitis.

Results

For the subjects with high CDAI scores, increased CDAI was associated with significant (P < 0.05) reduction of severe periodontitis (odd ratio = 0.663, 95% confidence interval: 0.491-0.896) and increased number of remaining teeth (weighted β[SE] = 1.167[0.211]). However, the protective effect of CDAI on periodontitis vanished (P > 0.05) in active smokers and former smokers. There were threshold levels for β-carotene, Vitamin A, C and E intakes where the risk of periodontitis significantly decreased (P < 0.05) above these levels.

Conclusion

Increased CDAI was associated with reduced risk of periodontitis and tooth loss for non-smokers. It was recommendable that proper dietary intakes of β-carotene, Vitamin A, C and E would be of benefit for preventive dental care and adjuvant therapies for periodontitis.

The Circulating Selenium Concentration Is Positively Related to the Lipid Accumulation Product: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

The lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a reliable marker of metabolic syndrome, which includes conditions like obesity. However, the correlation between the circulating selenium (CSe) concentration and the LAP is currently unclear. This study aimed to ascertain this correlation. Overall, 12,815 adults aged ≥20 years were enrolled in this study. After adjusting for all the confounding variables, CSe was positively correlated to the LAP (β = 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28, 0.54; p < 0.001). Compared with the lowest quartile of CSe, the highest quartile of CSe was positively related to the LAP (β = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.21; p < 0.001). Moreover, the correlation between CSe and the LAP revealed a positive non-linear trend. In the subgroup analysis, interaction effects were observed for age, sex, smoking, and stroke (p for interaction < 0.05). The effects were stronger for males (β = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.80; p < 0.001) and individuals who smoke at the time of the trial (β = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.91; p < 0.001). In conclusion, our results indicated that CSe was positively correlated with the LAP in a non-linear manner. Future research is warranted to explore their relationship and better understand the mechanisms underlying this association.

Association between heavy metal exposures and the prevalence of pelvic inflammatory disease: a cross-sectional study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2018

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common medical condition in women. However, the correlation between exposure to heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se), and PID, is unclear. Using a large sample size from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, these relationships were studied and verified. PID diagnosis was acquired through a self-reported questionnaire (2013-2018). Heavy metal exposure (Cd, Pb, Mn, Hg, and Se) was measured using mass spectrometry of blood samples. Covariate data were obtained through questionnaires and physical tests. Individuals with complete covariate data were included in the study. The relationship between heavy metal exposure (Cd, Pb, Mn, Hg, and Se) and PID was demonstrated using logistic regression analysis, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression analysis, and restricted cubic splines (RCS). Overall, 2743 participants were included. Of these, 183 were diagnosed with PID. Through weighted univariate and multivariate regression analyses, the heavy metals of Cd and Pb were positively correlated with the prevalence of PID. However, no significant relationship was observed in the heavy metals of Mn, Hg, and Se. The joint effect of heavy metals further confirmed the important role of Cd and Pb in WQS analysis. After visualizing the RCS, significant curved and linear relationships were observed for Cd and Pb, respectively. Most subgroup analyses confirmed these results. In conclusion, exposure to Cd was nonlinearly correlated with the risk of PID, whereas exposure to Pb showed a linear relationship. Our findings increase the awareness of the environmental effects of exposure to heavy metals in PID. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the causality and underlying mechanisms between heavy metal exposure and the prevalence of PID.

Yeast-Hydrolysate-Derived 1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic Acid Inhibits Fat Accumulation during Adipocyte Differentiation

This study aimed to investigate the impact of yeast hydrolysate (YH) on lipogenesis, elucidate its mechanistic action, and identify the active compounds responsible for its anti-adipogenic effects. YH (2 mg/mL) significantly reduced Oil Red O-stained lipids. YH (2 mg/mL) also downregulated C/EBPβ and upregulated KLF2, both of which are early adipogenic factors. Moreover, YH (2 mg/mL) decreased C/EBPα, PPARγ, FABP4, FAS, ACC, and HMGCR mRNA expression. Additionally, YH significantly downregulated SEBP1c and SREBP2 and their target genes, which govern fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism; however, 2 mg/mL YH had a greater suppressive effect on SREBP1c than on SREBP2. YH (2 mg/mL) also significantly reduced the mRNA level of G6PD and malic enzyme, which are enzymes that synthesize NADPH for lipid synthesis, compared with the control. Furthermore, 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) was identified as the active compound with anti-adipogenic effects using solvent fractionation and chromatographic analysis of YH, and 1.1 μg/mL MTCA significantly downregulated SREBP1c/SREBP2 mRNAs by 47.8% and 69.2%, respectively, along with the target genes FAS, ACC, and HMGCR by 79.0%, 77.0%, and 40.9%, respectively. Collectively, YH effectively suppressed adipogenic lipid storage by downregulating SREBP- and NADPH-synthesizing genes. These findings suggest that YH containing MTCA has the potential to act as an anti-obesity agent.