Metabolomic Links between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Obesity

Association between healthy beverage index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the Ravansar noncommunicable disease cohort study

The quality of drinks affects the functioning of the liver. In recent decades, the variety of high-calorie and sweet drinks has increased. The objective of this study was to explore the association between Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among adults. We included 6,276 participants aged 35 to 65 from the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study at baseline. NAFLD is defined based on the fatty liver index (FLI), calculated using anthropometric measurements and non-invasive markers. The HBI was developed using a combination of water, low-fat milk, 100% fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages, met fluid requirement and % energy from beverages. Logistic and linear regression models were employed to investigate the associations of the HBI and high FLI. The average FLI was significantly lower in the first tertile of HBI compared to the third tertile (47.83 vs. 45.77; P = 0.001). After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds of high FLI decreased by 28% (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63, 0.82) in the second tertile of HBI and by 21% in the third tertile (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70, 0.91). There was no correlation between gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels with HBI. The study findings indicate an inverse association between high FLI and HBI. Therefore, it is recommended to consume healthy beverages and without added sugar. However, additional longitudinal studies are required to examine the association between beverage consumption and the development of NAFLD.

Global burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to high sugar-sweetened beverages intake from 1990 to 2019

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Excessive sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake is associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, global patterns and trends in the burden of IHD attributable to high SSBs intake have not been systematically assessed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrieved data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019. We obtained the numbers and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate (ASDR) of IHD attributable to high SSBs intake by sex, year, socio-demographic index (SDI), and country between 1990 and 2019. Furthermore, we used a validated decomposition algorithm to attribute changes to population growth, population aging, and epidemiologic changes in the 21 GBD regions. From 1990 to 2019, the global IHD mortality attributable to high SSBs intake, as quantified by ASMR and ASDR declined significantly, while the burden increased saliently in absolute numbers. Population decomposition suggested that changes in epidemiology in most GBD regions have reduced IHD mortality due to high SSBs intake, but this trend has been counteracted by population growth and aging.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the age-standardized rate of IHD deaths and DALYs attributable to high SSBs intake decreased overall from 1990 to 2019, the absolute IHD burden remains high in some countries, especially in some developing countries in Asia and Oceania. Action is needed to enhance the prevention of diseases associated with high SSBs intake.

Causal relationship of sugar-sweetened and sweet beverages with colorectal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Prospective cohort studies have suggested that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake is significantly associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, it remains unclear whether this observed association was susceptible to potential confounding factors due to the long-term development process of CRC, and the risk of CRC associated with sweet beverages has rarely been reported. We aimed to investigate the association between SSBs/sweet beverages and CRC risk.

METHODS

We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using independent genetic variants for SSBs and sweet beverages from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS). Summary statistics for instrument-outcome associations from two databases for malignant neoplasms of the colon and the rectum (FinnGen and UK Biobank). The inverse weighted method (IVW) meta-analysis was the main method used to estimate the relationship, and sensitivity analyses were performed with Cochran's Q test, leave-one-out analysis, MR-Egger regression, Steiger filtering, and the MR PRESSO test.

RESULTS

Genetically predicted SSBs intake was associated with a higher colonic malignant neoplasms risk (odds ratio (OR): 1.013; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.001, 1.026; P = 0.036) in a combined sample size of 579,986 individuals (4029 cases). Such a significant causal effect of SSBs on rectal malignant neoplasms or sweet beverages on CRC was not observed.

CONCLUSION

Our findings corroborated a causal association between SSBs and colonic malignant neoplasms risk but did not support such a relationship in the analysis of the rectal malignant neoplasms nor the sweet beverage intake, which might be interpreted with caution and further confirmed.

A Healthy Lifestyle Intervention for Hispanic Families: Moderating Effects of Education, Income, Nativity

OBJECTIVE

To explore the moderation effect of parental social determinant factors-educational attainment, income, and nativity-on intervention effects of a family-based lifestyle intervention, Familias Unidas for Health and Wellness (FUHW).

DESIGN

Longitudinal analysis across 6- and 24-months postbaseline of a randomized controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Two-hundred and eighty primary caregivers.

ANALYSIS

Moderation analysis was used to examine the interactive effects between intervention effects and social determinant factors.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Parental body mass index, added sugar intake, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, and fruits and vegetable intake.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that FUHW effects on added sugar intake were moderated by educational attainment (P = 0.006), income (P = 0.023), and nativity (P = 0.024). In addition, FUHW effects on sugar-sweetened beverage intake were moderated by parent education (P = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This study suggests that FUHW may be helpful in reducing added sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage intake for Hispanic parents who face social determinant factors-educational attainment, income, and foreign-born status-that may influence their dietary behaviors. By including demographic information in intervention development, effects may be enhanced by ensuring that considerations related to participants' socioeconomic and cultural status are incorporated into intervention components and help reduce overweight and obesity.

Metabolite patterns link diet, obesity, and type 2 diabetes in a Hispanic population

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a precursor of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to identify metabolic signatures of T2D and dietary factors unique to obesity.

METHODS

We examined a subsample of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS) population with a high prevalence of obesity and T2D at baseline (n = 806) and participants (without T2D at baseline) at 5-year follow-up (n = 412). We determined differences in metabolite profiles between T2D and non-T2D participants of the whole sample and according to abdominal obesity status. Enrichment analysis was performed to identify metabolic pathways that were over-represented by metabolites that differed between T2D and non-T2D participants. T2D-associated metabolites unique to obesity were examined for correlation with dietary food groups to understand metabolic links between dietary intake and T2D risk. False Discovery Rate method was used to correct for multiple testing.

RESULTS

Of 526 targeted metabolites, 179 differed between T2D and non-T2D in the whole sample, 64 in non-obese participants and 120 unique to participants with abdominal obesity. Twenty-four of 120 metabolites were replicated and were associated with T2D incidence at 5-year follow-up. Enrichment analysis pointed to three metabolic pathways that were overrepresented in obesity-associated T2D: phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), long-chain fatty acids, and glutamate metabolism. Elevated intakes of three food groups, energy-dense takeout food, dairy intake and sugar-sweetened beverages, associated with 13 metabolites represented by the three pathways.

CONCLUSION

Metabolic signatures of lipid and glutamate metabolism link obesity to T2D, in parallel with increased intake of dairy and sugar-sweetened beverages, thereby providing insight into the relationship between dietary habits and T2D risk.

Weight gain in Chinese youth during a 4-month COVID-19 lockdown: a retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

To observe the weight change in Chinese youth during a 4-month COVID-19 lockdown, and the association between weight change and mental health, physical activity and sedentary time changes, and dietary habits.

DESIGN

A retrospective observational study.

SETTINGS

Two universities located in Zhejiang and Hunan provinces, China.

PARTICIPANTS

This study enrolled 12 889 college students whose body weight was measured before the lockdown (1 December 2019-20 January 2020) at the two universities, and reported their weight measured at home or community after the end of the lockdown (1-23 May 2020) via an online follow-up questionnaire.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the weight change in Chinese youth during a 4-month lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary outcomes were the relationships of weight change to COVID-19-related stress, depression, anxiety, physical activity and sedentary time changes, and dietary habits.

RESULTS

Participants' ages ranged from 17 to 27 years (M=19, SD=1) with 80.2% identified as female. The average absolute and relative changes in body weight were 2.6 (95% CI 2.0 to 3.2)) kg and 4.2% (95% CI 4.0% to 4.3%) for men, and 2.1 (1.9 to 2.4) kg and 4.2% (95% CI 3.9% to 4.4%) for women. An increase in overweight and obese individuals according to Asian cut-off points as a demographic percentage by 4.5% and 2.7% and 4.8% and 3.4% in men and women, respectively (P<0.001), was observed. Weight gain was significantly associated with increased sedentary time and an increase in COVID-19-related stress and depression score.

CONCLUSION

The present study's results suggest that the risk of weight gain in Chinese youth during the lockdown increased and that strategies to decrease sedentary time and improve mental health may be warranted to mitigate weight gain during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Serum metabolic signature of binge-like palatable food consumption in female rats by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Maladaptive eating behavior is a growing public health problem and compulsively eating excessive food in a short time, or binge eating, is a key symptom of many eating disorders. In order to investigate the binge-like eating behavior in female rats, induced by intermittent food restrictions/refeeding and frustration stress, we analyzed for the first time the metabolic profile obtained from serum of rats, through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In this experimental protocol, rats were exposed to chow food restricting/refeeding and frustration stress manipulation. This stress procedure consists of 15 min exposure to the odor and sight of a familiar chocolate paste, without access to it, just before offering the palatable food. In this model, a "binge-eating episode" was considered the significantly higher palatable food consumption within 2 h in restricted and stressed rats (R + S) than in the other three experimental groups: rats with no food restriction and no stress (NR + NS), only stressed rats (NR + S) or only restricted rats (R + NS). Serum samples from these four different rat groups were collected. The statistical analysis of the ¹ H NMR spectral profiles of the four sets of samples pointed to O- and N-acetyl glycoproteins as the main biomarkers for the discrimination of restriction effects. Other metabolites, such as threonine, glycine, glutamine, acetate, pyruvate and lactate, showed trends that may be useful to understand metabolic pathways involved in eating disorders. This study suggested that NMR-based metabolomics is a suitable approach to detect biomarkers related to binge-eating behavior.

Obesity Genomics and Metabolomics: a Nexus of Cardiometabolic Risk

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Obesity is a significant international public health epidemic with major downstream consequences on morbidity and mortality. While lifestyle factors contribute, there is an evolving understanding of genomic and metabolomic pathways involved with obesity and its relationship with cardiometabolic risk. This review will provide an overview of some of these important findings from both a biologic and clinical perspective.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have identified polygenic risk scores and metabolomic biomarkers of obesity and related outcomes, which have also highlighted biological pathways, such as the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) pathway that is dysregulated in this disease. These biomarkers may help in personalizing obesity interventions and for mitigation of future cardiometabolic risk. A multifaceted approach is necessary to impact the growing epidemic of obesity and related diseases. This will likely include incorporating precision medicine approaches with genomic and metabolomic biomarkers to personalize interventions and improve risk prediction.