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Hyperuricemia and its complications are severe risks to human health. Dietary intervention is considered an essential part of the management of hyperuricemia. Studies have reported that the intake of antioxidants has a positive effect on hyperuricemia. Here, we collected data from 8761 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for this analysis. Daily intakes of vitamins A, C, and E; manganese; selenium; and zinc were calculated as the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI). The participants were divided into four groups (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to the CDAI. Univariate analysis was used to assess the association of covariates with hyperuricemia. The association between the CDAI and hyperuricemia was evaluated using multinomial logistic regression, and its stability was determined by stratified analysis. Our results revealed that the CDAI has a significant negative association with hyperuricemia (Q2: 0.81 (0.69, 0.95); Q3: 0.75 (0.62, 0.90); Q4: 0.65 (0.51, 0.82); P < 0.01). The results of stratified analysis emphasize that this association between CDAI and hyperuricemia is stable. In conclusion, this study suggested a negative association between the CDAI and hyperuricemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The benefit of a Mediterranean-style diet in reducing frailty is not well established in older Americans. Objectives We sought to determine associations of a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern and related antioxidants with frailty onset and worsening of the Fried phenotype in adults. Methods This prospective study included 2384 nonfrail adults from the Framingham Offspring Study with a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern score (MSDPS) and data on antioxidant intakes (vitamin C, E, and total carotenoids) estimated from an FFQ at the index examination (1998–2001) and 1 prior examination (if available), as well as a frailty assessment at the index examination and at least 1 follow-up. Frailty onset was defined as ≥3 of 5 Fried frailty phenotype criteria at follow-up and the worsening of the Fried frailty phenotype was defined as an increased number of frailty criteria over follow-up (yes or no). Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations estimated ORs and 95% CIs, adjusting for confounders. Analyses were stratified by age (<60 and ≥60 years) for significant interactions. Results The mean ± SD age was 60 ± 9 years (range, 33–86 years) and 55% were female. In adjusted models, a 1-unit higher MSDPS reduced the odds of frailty by 3% (OR, 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96–0.99). Each 10-mg higher total carotenoid and vitamin E intake reduced the odds of frailty by 16% (OR, 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73–0.98) and 1% (OR, 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–1.00), respectively. No association with vitamin C (P = 0.36) was observed. The associations among participants aged <60 years of age were stronger for each 1-unit higher MSDPS (OR, 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89–0.96) and total carotenoid intake (OR, 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41–0.82) than those observed in older individuals [ORs, 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97–1.00) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.79–1.08), respectively]. Conclusions Our findings suggest that adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet and higher total carotenoid intake are associated with frailty prevention over time, particularly in adults <60 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'HoneySweet', a transgenic plum (Prunus domestica) resistant to plum pox virus through RNAi, was deregulated in the U.S. in 2011. The compositional study of 'HoneySweet' fruit was expanded to include locations outside of the US as well as utilizing a wide variety of comparators and different collection years to see the variability possible. The results revealed that plums have a wide variation in composition and that variation among locations was greater than variation among cultivars. This was also the case for different years at one location. The results supported the supposition that the transgene and insertion event had no significant effect on the composition of 'HoneySweet' fruit even under virus pressure, and that it fell in the normal range of composition of commercially grown plums. It also suggested that the effect of environment is as great as that of genetics on the fruit composition of plums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The protective effects of antioxidant vitamins on hearing loss are well established in animal studies but in few human studies. Recent animal studies suggest that magnesium intake along with antioxidants may act in synergy to prevent hearing loss. Objective: We examined associations between intake of antioxidant vitamins (daily b-carotene and vitamins C and E) and magnesium and hearing thresholds and explored their joint effects in US adults. Design: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 2592 participants aged 20-69 y from NHANES 2001-2004. Hearing thresholds as pure tone averages (PTAs) at speech (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) and high frequencies (3, 4, and 6 kHz) were computed. Results: When examined individually, modeled as quartiles, and after adjustment for potential confounders, higher intakes of b-carotene, vitamin C, and magnesium were associated with lower (better) PTAs at both speech and high frequencies. High intakes of β-carotene or vitamin C combined with high magnesium compared with low intakes of both nutrients were significantly associated with lower (better) PTAs at high frequencies (214.82%; 95% CI: 220.50% to 28.74% for b-carotene + magnesium and 210.72%; 95% CI: 216.57% to 24.45% for vitamin C + magnesium). The estimated joint effects were borderline significantly larger than the sums of the individual effects [high β-carotene/low magnesium (24.98%) and low β-carotene/high magnesium (20.80%), P-interaction = 0.08; high vitamin C/low magnesium (21.33%) and low vitamin C/high magnesium (2.13%), P-interaction = 0.09]. Conclusion: Dietary intakes of antioxidants and magnesium are associated with lower risks of hearing loss [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined long-term antioxidant intake in relation to cognitive decline among older women. Beginning in 1980, Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) participants completed dietary assessments every 4 years; in 1995–2001, 16,010 participants aged ≥70 years completed initial cognitive assessments, which were repeated 3 times at 2-year intervals. Long-term antioxidant intake was averaged from 1980 through the time of initial cognitive interviews. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression was used to estimate mean differences in rates of cognitive decline across categories of vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoid intake; statistical tests were 2-sided. No associations were evident for vitamin E or total carotenoid intake and cognitive decline (e.g., after multivariable adjustment, P-trend = 0.44 and P-trend = 0.51, respectively, for a global composite score averaging all 6 cognitive tests), although higher lycopene intake and lower vitamin C intake were related to slower cognitive decline. In alternative analyses of overall cognitive status at older ages (averaging all 4 cognitive assessments), results for vitamins E and C were generally null, but higher carotenoid intake was related to better cognition. Overall, long-term vitamin E and C intakes were not consistently related to cognition, although greater consumption of carotenoids may have cognitive benefits in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of antioxidant intakes from diet and supplements with elevated blood C-reactive protein (CRP) and homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations.DesignA cross-sectional study. The main exposures were vitamins C and E, carotene, flavonoid and Se intakes from diet and supplements. Elevated blood CRP and Hcy concentrations were the outcome measures.SettingThe US population and its subgroups.SubjectsWe included 8335 US adults aged ≥19 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002.ResultsIn this US population, the mean serum CRP concentration was 4·14 (95 % CI 3·91, 4·37) mg/l. Intakes of vitamins C and E and carotene were inversely associated with the probability of having serum CRP concentrations >3 mg/l in multivariate logistic regression models. Flavonoid and Se intakes were not associated with the odds of elevated serum CRP concentrations. The mean plasma Hcy concentration was 8·61 (95 % CI 8·48, 8·74) μmol/l. Intakes of vitamins C, E, carotenes and Se were inversely associated with the odds of plasma Hcy concentrations >13 μmol/l after adjusting for covariates. Flavonoid intake was not associated with the chance of elevated plasma Hcy concentrations.ConclusionsThese results suggest that high antioxidant intake is associated with lower blood concentrations of CRP and Hcy. These inverse associations may be among the potential mechanisms for the beneficial effect of antioxidant intake on CVD risk mediators in observational studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Given the importance of dietary antioxidants in reducing the risks of chronic diseases, the present study aimed to estimate the intake of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) from diet and dietary supplements of US adults. We utilised the US Department of Agriculture flavonoid and proanthocyanidin databases, dietary supplement data and food consumption data of 4391 US adults aged 19+ years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2. In order to convert the intake data of individual antioxidant compounds to TAC values, the vitamin C equivalent (VCE) of forty-three antioxidant nutrients measured previously was also applied. Daily TAC averaged 503·3 mg VCE/d (approximately 75 % from diet and 25 % from supplements). The energy-adjusted daily TAC level from diet and supplements was higher in women (except for carotenoids), older adults, Caucasian (except for carotenoids), non-alcohol consumers (for vitamin E and proanthocyanidins), subjects with higher income (except for carotenoids) and higher exercise levels than their counterparts (P < 0·05). TAC was positively associated with daily consumption of fruits and fruit juices, vegetables and vegetable products, beverages, wines and teas (P < 0·001). Teas, dietary supplements, and fruits and fruit juices were the major sources of dietary TAC of the US population (28, 25 and 17 %, respectively), while the contribution of vegetables and vegetable products to TAC was minimal ( < 2 %). The present study indicates that antioxidant intake from various diet and supplements contributes to TAC status. TAC levels are different in sociodemographic subgroups of the US population. The relationship between TAC intake and risks of chronic disease warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study on the effects of antioxidant supplementation particularly vitamin C and E supplementation to endurance athletes in the U.S. It says that vitamin supplementation for physical exercise is associated with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) production, which may cause cell damage. Even so, RONS are said to act as important signals for redox state and transcription factors, which may promote training adaptation. Meanwhile, it cites the use of double-blinded placebo-controlled design for the allocation of supplements to participants and a normal distribution for data analysis. Results showed that the ingestion of vitamin C and E to individuals does not alter endurance training adaptation.

Dietary intake, especially of antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, and the carotenoids, has been linked with the presence and severity of asthma. From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), conducted in the United States between 1988 and 1994, the authors selected 4,093 children (aged 6–17 years) for whom relevant medical, socioeconomic, and anthropometric data were complete. The children were 50.6% female, and 9.7% reported a diagnosis of asthma. Bivariate analyses showed that asthma diagnosis was associated with lower levels of serum vitamin C, α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin. However, antioxidant levels may be surrogate markers for socioeconomic variables such as race, poverty, tobacco exposure, or general nutritional status. In logistic models that included age, body mass index, socioeconomic variables, antioxidant levels, parental asthma, and household smoking, the only antioxidants significantly associated with asthma were vitamin C (odds ratio = 0.72 per mg/dl, 95% confidence interval = 0.55, 0.95) and α-carotene (odds ratio = 0.95 per µg/dl, 95% confidence interval = 0.90, 0.99). The odds ratio for asthma in the highest quintile of serum vitamin C relative to the lowest was 0.65 (p < 0.05), whereas it was 0.74 for α-carotene (p = 0.066). The authors concluded that low vitamin C and α-carotene intakes are associated with asthma risk in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a research on tropical fruits. Guava and pitaya are two of the several tropical fruits involved in the research. U.S. Citrus and Subtropical Products Research Laboratory horticulturist Liz Baldwin, U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists John Manthey, Gary Luzio, Anne Plotto, Jan Narciso and Kevin Goodner and research associate Kanjana Mahattanatawee were the authors of the research. The research found that Guava has the highest antioxidant potential, total phenolics, vitamin C and dietary fiber. INSET: U.S.-Thai Exchange Bolsters Coatings Research.