Search

Abstract: Elevated levels of postprandial triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (ppTRLs) are atherogenic. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have exaggerated postprandial lipemia associated with elevation or prolonged residence of ppTRL remnants. We examined whether dietary fatty acid compositions (DFACs) decrease atherogenic lipid profiles in ppTRL subfractions in T2DM Chinese patients. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted among 28 T2DM patients. Patients consumed 1 of 3 standardized DFAC-specific fat meals: equidominant (1:1:1), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)–dominant (PUFA-D, 1:1.7:2.3), or monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)–dominant (MUFA-D, 1:1.7:1.2) meals. Numbers in parenthesis, respectively, represent the ratio of saturated fatty acids, MUFA, and PUFA to saturated fatty acids. The MUFA-D meal was the control. Triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels were measured in Svedberg flotation rate (S f) greater than 400, S f 60 to 400, S f 20 to 60, and S f 12 to 20 ppTRL subfractions at fasting (0 hour) and 2, 4, and 6 hours after the consumption of the fat meals. Effects of DFACs on mean concentrations of triacylglycerols and cholesterol averaged over 0, 2, 4, and 6 hours in ppTRL subfractions were assessed using linear mixed models. Stability and robustness were validated with 1000 bootstrap replicates. Contrasted to the control, equidominant meal reduced 6-hour average triacylglycerol levels in S f greater than 400 (P = .002, bootstrap P < .05) and S f 20 to 60 (P = .02, bootstrap P < .05) subfractions, and decreased average S f 20 to 60 cholesterol (P = .04, bootstrap P < .05); PUFA-D decreased S f greater than 400 average triacylglycerol levels (P = .09, bootstrap P < .05). Bootstrap samples suggested that PUFA-D decreased average S f 20 to 60 cholesterol levels (bootstrap P < .05). Therefore, modifying DFACs attenuates the atherogenic lipid profile of ppTRLs in T2DM patients; but increasing PUFA ratio may be more feasible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: A number of RCTs have examined the role of soy isoflavones on bone mineral density (BMD) and yielded inconsistent results. This meta-analyses aims to assess the overall effect of soy isoflavones on BMD. Methods: We searched for all articles published in English from January 1990 to March, 2008. We included RCTs of soy isoflavone supplementation in women of at least one year duration. The main outcomes were BMD changes from baseline at the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck. Results: We identified 10 eligible RCTs containing 896 women. A mean dose of 87 mg soy isoflavones for at least one year did not significantly affect BMD changes. The mean (95%CI) differences in BMD changes (in mg/cm2/year) were 4.1 (−1.6, 9.8) (0.4%) at the lumbar spine, −1.5 (−7.2, 4.3) (−0.3%) at the femoral neck under random-effects model, and 2.5 (−0.5, 5.4) (0.2%) at the total hip by fix-effects model, respectively. Similar results were obtained in subgroup analyses by isoflavone sources (soy protein vs. isoflavone extract), ethnic differences (Asian vs. Western). Larger dose (≥80 mg/d), but not lower dose (<80 mg/d), of isoflavone intervention tended to have a weak beneficial effect on spine BMD (p =0.08 vs. p =0.94). Conclusions: Soy isoflavone supplementation is unlikely to have significant favorable on BMD at the lumbar spine and hip in women. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background/objective: Adequate calcium intakes may enhance bone mineral accumulation during childhood. Little is known about the optimal calcium intake in Chinese adolescents. We examined the effects of three levels of calcium intake on bone mineral accretion in adolescents. Methods: This was a 2-year randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive 40g of milk powder containing 300mg of calcium and 200IU of vitamin D (Low-Ca group), or same milk powder additionally fortified with 300mg of calcium (Mid-Ca group) or 600mg of calcium (High-Ca group) for 2years. The subjects' bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at the total body, lumbar spine and left hip were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after the second year of treatment. Of the 111 girls and 109 boys (aged 12–14years) enrolled, 91 girls and 91 boys completed the trial. Results: The girls in the High-Ca group (1,110mg/d) had 2.3%, 2.7% and 2.6% greater BMD accretion at the total hip, femoral neck and shaft (P<0.05) but not at total body less head and spine than those in the Low-Ca group (655mg/d). A significant effect of higher calcium intake was also observed for percentage change of size-adjusted BMC at femur neck (P=0.047). Bonferroni tests indicated no significant differences in the percentage changes in BMD, BMC or size-adjusted BMC between the Mid- and Low-Ca groups and between the High- and Mid-Ca groups. Extra calcium had no observable additional effect in the boys (P>0.05). Conclusion: An intake of 1000mg/d or more might be helpful in maximizing bone mineral accretion in the hip for girls. But further large studies are required to identify its long-term effects and the optimal calcium intake for boys. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Prospective studies have supported the beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acid consumption on cardiac deaths, but limited data focused on atherosclerosis. We investigated the associations between n-3 fatty acids in erythrocytes and atherosclerosis in middle-aged and older Chinese. Methods: 847 subjects (285 men and 562 women), aged 40–65 years, from Guangzhou, China were included in this community-based cross-sectional study between December 2005 and January 2008. The levels of α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes were measured by gas chromatography. Carotid ultrasound examination was conducted to obtain intima–media thickness of the common carotid artery and the carotid bifurcation. Dietary data and other covariates were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, and other confounders, negative dose–response associations between the contents of individual n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the erythrocyte membrane and the prevalence of carotid artery wall thickening and plaque were observed. A comparison in the highest and lowest tertiles gave odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for thickening in the walls of the common carotid artery of 0.58 (0. 34–0.97; P-trend = 0. 037) for DHA, and 0.39 (0.23–0.67; P-trend < 0.001) for ALA. However, EPA was not significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Similar results were found for thickening at the carotid bifurcation and the occurrence of carotid artery plaque. Conclusions: Higher levels of DHA and ALA in the erythrocyte membrane were significantly associated with a lower burden of subclinical atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many clinical studies have shown high-dose supplemental soy protein has beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. We examined the association between habitual soyfood intake and carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) and plasma lipids in a cross-sectional study including 406 (M 134, F 272) middle-aged Chinese adults (40–65 years) without confirmed relevant diseases. We found significantly dose-respondent decreases in bifurcation IMT, total and LDL cholesterol associated with increased usual soyfood intake after adjusting for potential confounders (p for trend, all p <0.05). Covariate-adjusted mean bifurcation IMT, total and LDL cholesterol decreased by 9.4%, 6.2% and 10.4% in women (p =0.020, 0.035, 0.110), 16.0%, 12.3% and 19.6% in men (p =0.036, 0.005, 0.002), and 9.9%, 9.3% and 15.4% in total men and women combined (p =0.010, <0.001, <0.001) when the mean intake of soy protein increased from 0.87 (F) or 0.64 (M) g/day (1st tertile) to 8.35 (F) or 7.48 (M) g/day (3rd tertile), respectively. Significant interaction between sex and soy consumption on bifurcation IMT was observed (p = 0.008). In conclusion, higher habitual soyfood consumption is associated with decreased bifurcation IMT, plasma TC and LDL-c in middle-aged Chinese adults. The association is more apparent in men than in women. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]