Physical Activity Is Associated with Attention Capacity in Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationships among physical activity, measured objectively, and attention capacity in European adolescents.

STUDY DESIGN

The study included 273 adolescents, aged 12.5-17.5 years, who participated in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Study. Participants wore a uniaxial accelerometer for 7 days to measure physical activity. The d2 Test of Attention was administered to assess attention capacity. Multivariate analyses were used to study the association of attention capacity with each measure of physical activity. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine thresholds that best discriminate between low and good attention capacity.

RESULTS

After controlling for potential confounding variables (age, sex, body mass index, parental educational level, fat mass, aerobic fitness, and center), adolescents' attention capacity test performances were significantly and positively associated with longer time spent in moderate or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in free-living conditions (P < .05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that the physical activity thresholds that best discriminated between low/good attention capacities were ≥41 min·day(-1) for moderate, ≥12 min·day(-1) for vigorous, and ≥58 min·day(-1) for MVPA.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that promoting MVPA may be have a beneficial effect on attention capacity, an important component of cognition, in adolescents.

Adipose tissue fatty acid composition in Greek patients with breast cancer versus those with benign breast tumors

BACKGROUND

Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue is a most reliable biomarker of long-term dietary fatty acid intake. Few studies have implemented biomarkers of fatty acid intake in relation to breast cancer. In this study the relation between adipose tissue composition and breast cancer was investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fatty acid composition in breast and buttock adipose tissue from 94 Greek women with breast cancer and 57 with benign breast tumors was determined. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the association between fatty acid groups and breast cancer risk.

RESULTS

In pre-menopausal women, elevated total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in breast adipose tissue and N-3 PUFA in buttock adipose tissue were associated with reduced odds of breast cancer (odds ratio, OR=0.19; 95% confidence interval, CI=0.05-0.76, p<0.02 and OR=0.02; 95% CI=0.0009-0.36, p<0.009).

CONCLUSION

Adipose total PUFA and N-3 PUFA were inversely-related to breast cancer risk in Greek pre-menopausal women. These results may have specific impact on habitual fat intake recommendations.

Gluteal adipose-tissue polyunsaturated fatty-acids profiles and depressive symptoms in obese adults with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Biomarkers of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) have been related to depressive symptoms in healthy adults. It is also known that depression is high prevalent in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) and obesity. The aim of our study was to examine a possible association between PUFAs of the n-6 and n-3 families and depressive symptoms in obese OSAHS patients. Sixty three patients with OSAHS based on overnight attended polysomnography were included. Gluteal adipose tissue biopsies were performed in all participants. Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale. The majority of participants had grade II obesity (BMI: 36.2±4.3 kg/m(2)) and moderate to severe OSAHS. Mild depressive symptoms were found to affect 27.8% of the studied patients. No link between symptoms of depression and individual n-6 and/or n-3 PUFAs of gluteal adipose tissue was detected. However, multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between depressive symptoms and 20:3n-6/18:3n-6 ratio, and a negative association with age and n-6/n-3 ratio. The possible influence of OSAHS and obesity in depression development and the quiescent nature of gluteal adipose tissue may account for the absence of any significant relations between n-6 and/or n-3 PUFAs and depressive symptoms in our sample. The positive relationship between symptoms of depression and the particular fatty acid ratio probably indicates an increase in prostaglandins family although this needs further research.

The effect of periodic vegetarianism on serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels

The Greek Orthodox Christian (GOC) diet is unique in that it regularly interchanges between an omnivorous to a vegetarian type of diet over the course of the ecclesiastical year, and no study to date has focused on its impact on antioxidant vitamins A (retinol) and E (alpha-tocopherol) status. Thirty-seven strict adherents of the GOC, mainly priests and nuns, (18 males, 19 females, mean age 43.0 + or - 13.1 years), and 48 age- and sex- matched controls (21 males, 27 females; mean age 38.6 + or - 9.6 years) were studied prior (pre) and at the end (end) of the Christmas fasting (CF) period (40 days), when meat and dairy products are prohibited. Fasters had been following all dietary recommendations of the GOC for a mean of 21.2 + or - 15.7 years. Compared to the control group, fasters had higher pre- retinol and pre- alpha-tocopherol levels. Fasters reduced their retinol (-0.8 + or - 0.6 micromol/l) and alpha-tocopherol levels (-8.0 + or - 6.6 micromol/L) during the CF period, whereas controls increased them (0.3 + or - 0.7 and 0.4 + or - 4.8 micromol/L, respectively, p<0.001). Nevertheless, values in both groups were well above the lowest cut-off points. All subjects had alpha-tocopherol:total cholesterol ratio >2.25, which is a cut-off value for the anti-atherogenic influence of alpha-tocopherol. Changes of serum alpha-tocopherol and retinol within the CF period correlated positively with changes in total cholesterol (p=0.013 and p=0.017, respectively), whereas the latter was also correlated with changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein (TC:HDL) ratio (p=0.021 and p=0.049, respectively). Dietary intakes of several nutrients did not correlate with concentrations of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in either study group. These results suggest that adherence to the GOC diet does not increase the risk of antioxidant vitamins A and E deficiency.

Adipose tissue fatty acids in breast cancer patients versus healthy control women from Crete

BACKGROUND

Few studies have implemented biomarkers of fatty acid intake in relation to breast cancer.

AIMS

To examine possible differences in adipose tissue fatty acid composition between breast cancer patients and healthy control women. The relationship between tumor promotion and adipose tissue fatty acid synthesis was also investigated.

METHODS

The study was conducted at the University of Crete. Subjects included 94 women with clinically diagnosed cancer of the breast and 131 healthy control women. Histological tumor grading and breast cancer staging were assessed. Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in gluteal adipose tissue.

RESULTS

Conditional logistic regression analysis controlling for potential confounders indicated that elevated adipose monounsaturated fatty acids and oleic acid are associated with reduced odds of breast cancer [OR (T2 vs. T1) 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.64, and OR (T2 vs. T1) 0.18; 95% CI 0.04-0.71, respectively]. Adipose myristic acid was associated with an increase in breast cancer risk [OR (T3 vs. T1) 5.66; 95% CI 1.3-23.9].

CONCLUSIONS

Adipose oleic acid is inversely related, whereas adipose myristic acid is positively related to breast cancer risk. These relations could be mediated by Her-2/neu and FAS oncogenes.

Depression and serum adiponectin and adipose omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in adolescents

The purpose of the present study was to investigate for a possible relationship between depression and serum adiponectin and adipose tissue omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA. The sample consisted of 90 healthy adolescent volunteers from the island of Crete. There were 54 girls and 36 boys, aged 13 to 18. The mean age was 15.2 years. Subjects were examined by the Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic of the University of Crete. Depression was assessed through the use of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in adipose tissue. CES-D correlated with dihomo-gamma linolenic acid (DGLA). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that BDI was negatively associated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), while CES-D was positively associated with DGLA in adipose tissue. Serum adiponectin was not significantly associated with depression. The negative relationship between adipose EPA and depression in adolescents, is in line with findings of previous studies involving adult and elderly subjects, demonstrating negative relations between depression and adipose omega-3 PUFA. This is the first literature report of a relationship between depression and an individual omega-3 fatty acid in adolescents. The inverse relationship between adipose EPA and depression indicates that a low long-term dietary intake of EPA is associated with an increased risk for depression in adolescents.

Depression and adipose and serum cholesteryl ester polyunsaturated fatty acids in the survivors of the seven countries study population of Crete

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that depression relates to biomarkers of both short- and long-term polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake. However, it is not known which of these two biomarkers has the closest relationship to depression.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship of depression with both adipose tissue and serum cholesteryl ester PUFA and to assess the importance of each of these two biomarkers in relating to depression.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of healthy elderly men from the island of Crete.

SETTING

The Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, University of Crete, Greece.

SUBJECTS

A total of 150 males, aged 80-96 years. The subjects were survivors of the Greek Seven Countries Study group.

METHODS

Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in adipose tissue and serum cholesteryl esters. Information about depression was obtained through the use of the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15).

RESULTS

Regression analysis showed that depression related positively to age and serum cholesteryl ester arachidonic/docosahexaenoic fatty acid ratio. The only significant unadjusted correlation between depression and serum cholesteryl ester and adipose fatty acids was with adipose alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (r = -0.31, P < 0.01). Depressed males (GDS-15 > 5) had lower adipose ALA and sum n-3 fatty acids than non-depressed ones. There were no significant differences between depressed and non-depressed males in serum cholesteryl ester fatty acids. When adipose tissue ALA was included as one of the independent measures in the regression model, the observed positive relation between GDS-15 depression and cholesteryl ester arachidonic/docosahexaenoic ratio failed to persist. Instead, there was a negative relationship between GDS-15 depression and adipose tissue ALA.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that the fatty acids of the adipose tissue are better predictors of depression than those of serum cholesteryl esters. This indicates that depression relates more strongly to long-term than to short-term fatty acid intake. The reason for this may be the reported slow rate of deposition of dietary PUFA to the brain.

Depression and adipose polyunsaturated fatty acids in an adolescent group

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids, an index of long-term or habitual fatty acid dietary intake and depression. The sample consisted of 90 adolescents from the island of Crete. There were 54 girls and 36 boys, aged 13-18. The mean age was 15.2 years. Subjects were examined by the Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic of the University of Crete. Depression was assessed through the use of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Unlike other studies, there were no significant relations between adipose tissue n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and depression. BDI correlated positively with adipose tissue C20:3n-6/C18:3n-6 ratio, while CES-D correlated positively with adipose tissue (C20:3n-6+C22:5n-3)/(C18:3n-6+C20:5n-3) ratio. Depressed subjects (BDI>16, CES-D>16) had significantly elevated adipose tissue C20:3n-6/C18:3n-6 and (C20:3n-6+C22:5n-3)/(C18:3n-6+C20:5n-3) ratios, than non-depressed subjects. The observed positive relation between depression and the particular fatty acid ratios, in the present study, appears to indicate increasing activity of elongases, the enzymes responsible for elongating polyunsaturated fatty acids into their longer-chain derivatives, with increasing depression. This is the first literature report of a possible relation between elongases and depression. The observed relation may stem from a possible over-expression of the HELO1 (ELOVL5) gene, the gene encoding a protein responsible for elongating long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, in the adipose tissue of depressed adolescents.

Depression and adipose polyunsaturated fatty acids in the survivors of the Seven Countries Study population of Crete

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids, an index of long-term or habitual fatty acid dietary intake and depression. The sample consisted of 150 elderly males from the island of Crete. The subjects were survivors of the Greek Seven Countries Study group. The mean age was 84 years. The number of subjects with complete data on all variables studied was 63. Subjects were examined by the Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic of the University of Crete. Depression was assessed through the use of the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Depression correlated negatively with adipose tissue alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3). Depressed subjects had significantly reduced (-10.5%) adipose tissue C18:3n-3 levels than non-depressed subjects. The observed negative relation between adipose tissue C18:3n-3 and depression, in the present study, appears to indicate increasing long-term dietary C18:3n-3 intakes with decreasing depression. This agrees with findings of other studies indicating an inverse relation between depression and consumption of fish and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This is the first literature report of a relation between adipose tissue C18:3n-3 and depression. Furthermore, this is the first report of a relation between adipose PUFA and depression in an elderly sample. Depression has been reported to be associated with elevated cytokines, such as, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, INF-gamma and INF-alpha. Fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids, on the other hand, have been reported to inhibit cytokine production. The observed negative relation between adipose C18:3n-3 and depression, therefore, may stem from the inhibiting effect of C18:3n-3 or its long-chain metabolites on cytokine synthesis.