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Abstract Background Although higher-protein diets (HP) can assist with weight loss and glycemic control, their effect on psychological wellbeing has not been established. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a HP and a higher-carbohydrate diet (HC), combined with regular exercise, on psychological wellbeing both during weight loss (WL) and weight maintenance phases (WM). Methods In a parallel RCT, 61 adults with T2D (mean ± SD: BMI 34.3 ± 5.1 kg/m2, aged 55 ± 8 years) consumed a HP diet (29% protein, 34% carbohydrate, 31% fat) or an isocaloric HC diet (21%:48%:24%), with moderate intensity exercise, for 12 weeks of WL and 12 weeks of WM. Secondary data evaluating psychological wellbeing was assessed using: Problems Areas in Diabetes (PAID); Diabetes-39 Quality of Life (D-39); Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) and the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ) at Weeks 0, 12 and 24 and evaluated with mixed models analysis. Results Independent of diet, improvements for PAID; D-39 diabetes control; D-39 severity of diabetes; SF-36 physical functioning and SF-36 general health were found following WL (d = 0.30 to 0.69, P ≤ 0.04 for all) which remained after 12 weeks of WM. SF-36 vitality improved more in the HP group (group x time interaction P = 0.03). Associations were seen between HbA1c and D-39 severity of diabetes rating (r = 0.30, P = 0.01) and SF-36 mental health (r = − 0.32, P = 0.003) and between weight loss and PAID (r = 0.30, P = 0.01). Conclusion Several improvements in diabetes-related and general psychological wellbeing were seen similarly for both diets following weight loss and a reduction in HbA1c with most of these improvements remaining when weight loss was sustained for 12 weeks. A HP diet may provide additional increases in vitality. Trial registration The trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12613000008729) on 4 January 2013.

INTRODUCTION:Obesity is associated with reduced testosterone and worsened erectile and sexual function in men. Weight loss improves these outcomes. High protein diets potentially offer anthropometric and metabolic benefits, but their effects on reproductive and sexual outcomes is not known. AIM:To examine the long-term effects of weight loss with a higher protein or carbohydrate diet on testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, erectile dysfunction, lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual desire in overweight and obese men. METHODS:One-hundred and eighteen overweight or obese men (body mass index 27-40 kg/m2, age 20-65 years) were randomly assigned to an energy restricted higher protein low fat (35% protein, 40% carbohydrate, 25% fat; n = 57) or higher carbohydrate low fat diet (17% protein, 58% carbohydrate, 25% fat, n = 61) diet for 52 weeks (12 weeks weight loss, 40 weeks weight maintenance). Primary outcomes were serum total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and calculated free testosterone. Secondary outcomes were erectile function as assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) (total score and erectile function domain), lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual desire. RESULTS:Total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and free testosterone increased (P

There have been relatively few direct intervention trials of mushroom consumption in humans, although those that have been completed to date indicate that mushrooms and their extracts are generally well-tolerated with few, if any, side-effects. Immunomodulating and anti-tumor effects of mushrooms and their extracts appear to hold potential health benefits. These benefits are primarily due to their polysaccharide content, either in the form of beta-glucans or polysaccharide-protein complexes, which appear to exert their anti-tumorigenic effects by enhancement of cellular immunity via effects on the balance of T helper cell populations and induction of certain interleukins and interferon (IFN)-γ. This review summarizes the current knowledge on edible mushrooms and their components on health outcomes, with a focus on the evaluation of the evidence from human trials. Where information is available from such trials, the active compounds are identified and their proposed mechanisms are discussed.

The Asia-Pacific Conference on Clinical Nutrition is a biennial conference held within the Asia-Pacific region. The 2017 meeting was a joint meeting of the Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Nutrition, the Nutrition Society of Australia and the Nutrition Society of New Zealand. The meeting was hosted by CSIRO Health and Biosecurity in collaboration with the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. The theme of the meeting was Nutrition Solutions for a Changing World. Four hundred and thirty-eight registrants attended the conference and 432 papers were presented. This issue presents the proceedings of this meeting in the form of abstracts for each paper that was presented at the conference.

Agaritine is a naturally occurring phenylhydrazine derivative present in wild and cultivated Agaricus mushroom species, including the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Agaritine has been described in some studies as a potential carcinogen, however, the scientific validity of the experimental designs and models from which this conclusion has been drawn have been contradicted and challenged by other studies. Feeding studies using mushrooms and mushroom extracts have in general provided no evidence of toxicological effects of agaritine or mushroom consumption, in contrast to results of studies which have administered non-physiologically relevant concentrations of chemically synthesized hydrazine derivatives to mice. The available evidence to date suggests that agaritine from consumption of cultivated A. bisporus mushrooms poses no known toxicological risk to healthy humans.

The objective of this study was to measure the effects on serum lipids and plasma phytosterols of 6.6 g/day phytosterols from three foods (bread, breakfast cereal, and spread) consumed for 12 weeks compared with a diet that was not enriched with phytosterols. Thirty-five subjects undertook a nonrandomized, single-blind study consisting of a 2 week baseline period, 6 weeks on high-phytosterol intake, 6 weeks on high-phytosterol intake plus increased fruit and vegetable intake, and a final 2 week washout period. Serum total cholesterol decreased by 8.3% from 6.59 to 6.04 mmol/l, and LDL cholesterol decreased by 12.6% from 4.44 to 3.88 mmol/l. Plasma phytosterol levels increased by 45% (sitosterol) and 105% (campesterol). Cholesterol-adjusted plasma α- and β-carotene levels decreased by 19–23%, lutein by 14%, and lycopene by 11%. Levels of α-carotene and lutein increased with extra fruit and vegetables. Only lycopene failed to increase during the washout phase. There were no significant changes in biochemical parameters.Serum LDL cholesterol lowering with 6.6 g/day ingested phytosterols was in the range seen with 1.6–3.2 g/day phytosterols. Lowering of plasma carotenoids was greater than that seen with lower phytosterol intake and was partially reversed by increased fruit and vegetable intake.

We have conducted a dietary trial in 54 men and 51 women with a wide range of fasting cholesterol values to examine the use of low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size to predict the lipoprotein response to dietary fat and cholesterol. After a 2-week low fat period, subjects were given two liquid supplements in addition to their low fat diet for 3 weeks each, one containing 31–40 g of fat and 650–845 mg of cholesterol, the other fat free. LDL particle type was determined by 3–15% gradient gel electrophoresis. On multiple regression, LDL type was independently related to plasma triglyceride (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.01), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.001) accounting for 56% of the variance in LDL type in the whole group. Change in LDL cholesterol with dietary fat and cholesterol was unrelated to LDL particle size in either men or women. However, change in HDL cholesterol in men was strongly related to LDL particle type (r = –0.52, P = 0.001) and change in HDL2 cholesterol in women was related to LDL particle type (r = –0.40, P < 0.01). In conclusion, we are unable to confirm the finding that LDL particle type can predict changes in LDL cholesterol following changes in dietary fat intake. However, LDL particle type can independently predict changes in HDL cholesterol in men and accounts for 27% of the variance.—Clifton, P. M., M. Noakes, and P. J. Nestel. LDL particle size and LDL and HDL cholesterol changes with dietary fat and cholesterol in healthy subjects.

As nations seek to address obesity and diet-related chronic disease, understanding shifts in food intake over time is an imperative. However, quantifying intake of basic foods is not straightforward because of the diversity of raw and cooked wholefoods, processed foods and mixed dishes actually consumed. In this study, data from the Australian national nutrition surveys of 1995 and 2011, each involving more than 12,000 individuals and covering more than 4500 separate foods, were coherently disaggregated into basic foods, with cooking and processing factors applied where necessary. Although Australians are generally not eating in a manner consistent with national dietary guidelines, there have been several positive changes. Australians are eating more whole fruit, a greater diversity of vegetables, more beans, peas and pulses, less refined sugar, and they have increased their preference for brown and wholegrain cereals. Adult Australians have also increased their intake of nuts and seeds. Fruit juice consumption markedly declined, especially for younger Australians. Cocoa consumption increased and shifts in dairy product intake were mixed, reflecting one of several important differences between age and gender cohorts. This study sets the context for more detailed research at the level of specific foods to understand individual and household differences.

Background: The storage of red blood cells (RBC) is associated with impairment of their properties that can induce a circulatory risk to recipients. In a preceding study (2009), we reported that post-storage rejuvenation (RJ) of stored RBC (St-RBC) efficiently reduced the storage-induced RBC/endothelial cell interaction, while only partially reversing the level of intracellular Ca(2+), reactive oxygen species, and surface phosphatidylserine. In the present study, we examined the RJ effectiveness in repairing St-RBC mechanical properties., Methods: RBC, stored in CPDA-1 without pre-storage leukoreduction, were subjected to post-storage RJ, and the deformability, osmotic fragility (OF), and mechanical fragility (MF) of the rejuvenated St-RBC (St-RBCRj) were compared to those of untreated St-RBC and of freshly-collected RBC (F-RBC)., Results: 5-week storage considerably increased OF and MF, and reduced the deformability of St-RBC. All alterations were only partially (40-70%) reversed by RJ, depending on the extent of the damage: the greater the damage, the lesser the relative effect of RJ., Conclusion: The findings of the present and preceding studies suggest that different St-RBC properties are differentially reversed by RJ, implying that some of the changes occur during storage and are irreversible.

Many psychological disorders comprise a seasonal component. For instance, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by depression during autumn and winter. Because hippocampal atrophy may underlie the symptoms of depression and depressive-like behaviors, one goal of this study was to determine whether short days also induce structural changes in the hippocampus using photoperiod responsive rodents--Siberian hamsters. Exposure to short days increases depressive-like responses (increased immobility in the forced swim test) in hamsters. Male hamsters were housed in either short (LD 8:16) or long days (LD 16:8) for 10 weeks and tested in the forced swim test. Brains were removed and processed for Golgi impregnation. HPA axis function may account for photoperiod-related changes in depressive-like responses. Thus, stress reactivity was assessed in another cohort of photoperiod-manipulated animals. Short days reduced soma size and dendritic complexity in the CA1 region. Photoperiod did not induce gross changes in stress reactivity, but an acute stressor disrupted the typical nocturnal peak in cortisol concentrations. These data reveal that immobility induced by exposure to short days is correlated with reduced CA1 cell complexity (and perhaps connectivity). This study is the first to investigate hippocampal changes in the context of short-day induced immobility and may be relevant for understanding psychological disorders with a seasonal component., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Red blood cell (RBC) flow properties (FPs), specifically their deformability, aggregability, and adherence to endothelial cells, play major roles in blood circulation. Their impairment, as occurs under various blood banking conditions, may contribute to circulatory impairment in recipients. Recent studies and meta-analyses show that the transfusion of stored RBCs (stRBCs) may be less beneficial than that of freshly collected units, which may thus adversely affect recipients, especially their circulatory function, thereby pointing to a potential role in the alteration of FPs of stRBCs. In this review, we present an up-to-date summary of the studies on the FP of stRBCs, clearly showing that they may be impaired at an early stage of storage, which may contribute considerably to transfusion-associated circulatory impairment in recipients. The alteration of the FPs of stRBC is attenuated by prestorage leukoreduction and/or poststorage "rejuvenation." However, because these procedures, especially rejuvenation, are costly and are associated with an increased risk of bacterial contamination, there is an urgent need to establish better methods of improving the hemodynamic function of stRBCs before their transfusion. It is therefore proposed that the FPs of stRBC may be important measures of the outcome of RBC transfusions. Monitoring such functions would thereby introduce necessary criteria and new tools for the quality control of stRBC units, making an important contribution to transfusion therapy., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Blood banking procedures are associated with elevated adherence of red blood cells (RBCs) to blood vessel wall endothelial cells (ECs), which can introduce a circulatory risk to recipients. This study was undertaken to examine the possibility of repairing this damage by a poststorage "rejuvenation" procedure before transfusion., Study Design and Methods: Stored RBCs were treated with rejuvenation solution (Rejuvesol, enCyte Systems, Inc.), and their adhesion to cultured human microvascular ECs was determined as a function of shear stress using a cell flow properties analyzer. The adherence of rejuvenation-treated stored RBCs (stRBCs) was compared to that of untreated stRBCs and of freshly donated RBCs., Results: Strong elevation of stRBC/EC adhesion was induced by cold storage and it correlated with translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) to the RBC surface, a known mediator of RBC/EC adhesion. The role of RBC surface PS in stRBC/EC interaction was confirmed by the suppression of adhesion after the blocking of the stRBC surface PS with annexin V. Concomitantly, RBC storage elevated intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca(2+), the latter known to facilitate PS externalization. Poststorage rejuvenation treatment of stRBCs reversed all the above changes (ROS, Ca(2+), PS), along with complete suppression of the enhanced RBC/EC adhesion, restoring it to that of normal, freshly collected RBCs., Conclusion: Poststorage RBC rejuvenation treatment is effective in reversing the storage-induced RBC/EC interaction. This provides further documentation for the potential clinical benefit of poststorage rejuvenation.