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Sue Duval, 1 Jeremy R Van’t Hof, 1 Lyn M Steffen, 2 Russell V Luepker 2 1Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USACorrespondence: Sue DuvalCardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 508, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USATel +1612 624 3392Fax +1612 626 4411Email sueduval@umn.eduBackground: Cost-effective primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) relies on accuracy of risk assessment. Current risk scores require clinical and laboratory measures, are expensive and are often difficult to apply in the population setting.Objective: This study sought to estimate CVD risk from individuals’ knowledge of their own CVD risk factors and compare it to the risk calculated from measured risk factors.Methods: Using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Risk Equations (PCE), we calculated 10-year CVD risk for 9856 primary prevention individuals aged 40– 79 in the Minnesota Heart Survey (MHS). Using log-linear regression models, we estimated PCE risk from the individual’s self-reported knowledge of four dichotomous risk factors: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and smoking. Age was included in all models, and models were developed separately in women and men. Model performance was assessed internally using leave-one-out cross-validation.Results: The median measured PCE CVD risk in women was 2.1% (IQR: 0.8– 5.6%), and in men was 6.3% (3.1– 13.0%). Using the newly developed equations, the median estimated risk was 2.2% (0.9– 5.8%) in women, and 6.9% (3.2– 13.1%) in men. Using a threshold of 7.5% to categorize low and high risk, the novel risk calculation gave an accuracy of 95% for women and 87% for men compared to the measured PCE risk. The negative predictive value was 97% for women and 91% in men.Conclusion: Self-reported knowledge of risk may be useful in the identification of individuals at low risk for CV events, however, should always be followed up with measurement of risk factors if symptoms or history suggest CVD.Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, epidemiology, risk assessment, risk factors, self-report, survey

BackgroundPreserving cognitive function is an important public health issue. We investigated whether dietary pattern associates with cognitive function in middle-age.MethodsWe studied 2435 participants in the community-based Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study of black and white men and women aged 18-30 in 1985-86 (year 0, Y0). We hypothesized that a higher A Priori Diet Quality Score, measured at Y0 and Y20, is associated with better cognitive function measured at Y25. The diet score incorporated 46 food groups (each in servings/day) as the sum of quintile ranks of food groups rated beneficial, 0 for food groups rated neutral, and reversed quintile ranks for food groups rated adverse; higher score indicated better diet quality. Y25 cognitive testing included verbal memory (Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)), psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST)) and executive function (Stroop).ResultsPer 10-unit higher diet score at Y20, the RAVLT was 0.32 words recalled higher, the DSST was 1.76 digits higher, and the Stroop was 1.00 seconds+errors lower (better performance) after adjusting for race, sex, age, clinic, and energy intake. Further adjustment for physical activity, smoking, education, and body mass index attenuated the association slightly. Diet score at Y0 and increase in diet score over 20 years were also positively associated with each cognitive test.ConclusionsA higher quality dietary pattern was associated with better cognitive function 5 years and even 25 years later in apparently healthy middle-aged adults.

Background and aimDietary patterns are associated cross-sectionally with cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs). We studied prospective associations of three dietary patterns with CAMs.Methods and resultsIn the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, diet was assessed at years 0 (1985-86) and 7 (1992-93) examinations. Four circulating CAMs (E-selectin, P-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), and vascular cellular adhesion molecule (VCAM)) were assayed at years 7 and 15 (2000-01). We created one index score "A Priori Diet Quality Score" and derived dietary patterns using principal components analysis (PCA). Multivariable linear regression models predicted year 15 CAMs from averaged (year 0/7) dietary patterns. The A Priori Diet Quality Score rated 46 food groups beneficial, neutral or adverse based on hypothesized health effects. We derived two PCA dietary patterns: "fruit and vegetables (FV)" (high intakes of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains) and "meat" (high intakes of red meat, refined grain, and butter). All dietary patterns were related to E-selectin and sICAM-1. P-selectin was not related to the FV dietary pattern. VCAM was only related to the A Priori Diet Quality Score. Strongest associations were for the meat dietary pattern with E-selectin (effect size 28% of an SD (+3.9/13.7 ng/mL)) and P-selectin (effect size 37% of an SD (+4.1/11.2 ng/mL)) and the A Priori Diet Quality Score with sICAM-1 (effect size 34% of an SD (-15.1/44.7 ng/mL)) and VCAM (effect size of 26% of an SD (-45.1/170.3 ng/mL)).ConclusionThis prospective analysis suggests that dietary patterns are associated with CAMs.

Background: Hypertension is common and treatable, but detection and control remain a major health challenge. This study sought to determine population trends in blood pressure and in the control of hypertension in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (2010 population, 2.85 million) from 1980 to 2009.Methods and Results: Surveys of risk factors were performed every 5 years among randomly selected adults aged 25 to 74 years. Data on hypertension knowledge and use of medications were collected by interview. Blood pressure was measured by standardized methods, with hypertension defined as blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg systolic and/or 90 mm Hg diastolic or controlled at <140 and/or 90 mm Hg with medications. Six surveys included 11 192 men and 12 795 women. Mean systolic blood pressure fell from 124.9 mm Hg in 1980 to 1982 to 121.1 mm Hg in 2007 to 2009 for men (P<0.0001) and from 120.1 to 114.7 mm Hg for women (P<0.0001). Similar trends for diastolic blood pressure were observed. The percentage of adults with uncontrolled blood pressure (≥140 and/or 90 mm Hg) with or without medication use fell from 20.3% to 5.8% (P<0.001) for men and from 13.1% to 2.7% (P<0.0001) for women. Antihypertensive medication use rose to >50% among all adults aged 55 to 74 years. Sixty-six percent of men and 72% of women with hypertension had their hypertension treated or controlled by 2007 to 2009. A majority of the decline in mean population blood pressure was the result of control with aggressive use of antihypertensive drugs. Stroke mortality in this population fell in parallel.Conclusions: The rate of hypertension detection and control in this community is among the highest observed in a US population and already exceeds Healthy People 2020 goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the role of diet in the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We explored the prospective relation of dietary patterns, food groups, and nutrients to incident VTE in older women.Methods: In 1986, Iowa women aged 55 to 69 years completed a mailed survey, including a 127-item food frequency questionnaire. These data were linked to Medicare data from 1986 to 2004, and International Classification of Diseases discharge codes were used to identify hospitalized VTE cases. Cox regression analyses evaluated relations of 2 principal components-derived dietary patterns, 11 food groups, and 6 nutrients to VTE, adjusted for age, education, smoking status, physical activity, and energy intake.Results: Over 19 years of follow-up, 1,950 of the 37,393 women developed VTE. Women consuming alcohol daily were at 26% (95% CI 11%-38%) lower risk of VTE as compared to nonconsumers. All alcoholic beverages types were in the direction of lower risk; however, only beer and liquor were statistically significant. After basic adjustments, coffee was inversely related to VTE, and diet soda and fish positively related. However, these associations were confounded and became nonsignificant after adjustment for body mass index and diabetes. No associations were observed with consumption of 'Western' or 'Prudent' dietary patterns, fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, refined grains, whole grains, regular soda, vitamins E, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, or saturated fat.Conclusions: In this cohort of older women, greater intake of alcohol was associated with a lower risk of incident VTE. No other independent associations were seen between diet and VTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common atherosclerotic disease affecting the quality of life of > 8 million Americans. PAD is characterized by atherosclerotic stenoses of arteries that supply the lower extremities and is associated with a marked increase in the short-term risk of heart attack, stroke, amputation, and death. Adherence to pharmacological therapies and modification of lifestyle factors, including increasing moderate physical activity along with supervised exercise, smoking cessation, and a healthy dietary intake, are central to the successful management of PAD. The improvement of an adverse cardiovascular risk profile is a proven and crucial strategy to lower the risk of major morbid and mortal events for individuals with PAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The association between diet and cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be mediated partly through inflammatory processes and reflected by markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether empirically derived dietary patterns are associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) and common and internal carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) and whether prior information about inflammatory processes would increase the strength of the associations. DESIGN: At baseline, dietary patterns were derived with the use of a food-frequency questionnaire, and inflammatory biomarkers, CAC, and IMT were measured in 5089 participants aged 45-84 y, who had no clinical CVD or diabetes, in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Dietary patterns based on variations in C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, homocysteine, and fibrinogen concentrations were created with reduced rank regression (RRR). Dietary patterns based on variations in food group intake were created with principal components analysis (PCA). RESULTS: The primary RRR (RRR 1) and PCA (PCA factor 1) dietary patterns were high in total and saturated fat and low in fiber and micronutrients. However, the food sources of these nutrients differed between the dietary patterns. RRR 1 was positively associated with CAC [Agatston score >0: OR (95% CI) for quartile 5 compared with quartile 1 = 1.34 (1.05, 1.71); ln(Agatston score = 1): P for trend = 0.023] and with common carotid IMT [>or=1.0 mm: OR (95% CI) for quartile 5 compared with quartile 1 = 1.33 (0.99, 1.79); ln(common carotid IMT): P for trend = 0.006]. PCA 1 was not associated with CAC or IMT. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that subtle differences in dietary pattern composition, realized by incorporating measures of inflammatory processes, affect associations with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Copyright © 2007 American Society for Nutrition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dietary patterns may influence cardiovascular disease risk through effects on inflammation and endothelial activation. OBJECTIVE: We examined relations between dietary patterns and markers of inflammation and endothelial activation. DESIGN: At baseline, diet (food-frequency questionnaire) and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), homocysteine, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble E selectin were assessed in 5089 nondiabetic participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were derived by using factor analysis. The fats and processed meats pattern (fats, oils, processed meats, fried potatoes, salty snacks, and desserts) was positively associated with CRP (P for trend < 0.001), IL-6 (P for trend < 0.001), and homocysteine (P for trend = 0.002). The beans, tomatoes, and refined grains pattern (beans, tomatoes, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) was positively related to sICAM-1 (P for trend = 0.007). In contrast, the whole grains and fruit pattern (whole grains, fruit, nuts, and green leafy vegetables) was inversely associated with CRP, IL-6, homocysteine (P for trend

Smoking is associated with low serum carotenoid concentrations. Prospective studies have found lower diabetes risk among persons with high-carotenoid diets. Whether diabetes risk is low in the rare smoker who has high serum carotenoid levels is unknown. The authors investigated the interaction of serum carotenoid concentrations and smoking with diabetes mellitus in 4,493 Black and White men and women aged 18-30 years in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. The authors assessed 15-year (1985-2001) incident diabetes (148 cases), insulin concentration, and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment) in smokers and nonsmokers according to baseline levels of serum alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene. Diabetes incidence was inversely associated with the sum of carotenoid concentrations in nonsmokers (per standard deviation (SD) increase, relative hazard = 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.55, 0.99) but not in current smokers (relative hazard = 1.13, 95% confidence interval: 0.83, 1.53) (p for interaction = 0.02). Similarly, year 15 insulin and insulin resistance values, adjusted for baseline levels, were inversely related to sum of carotenoids only in nonsmokers (per SD increase in insulin level, slope = -0.46 (p = 0.03); per SD increase in insulin resistance, slope = -0.14 (p = 0.01)). In CARDIA, higher serum carotenoid concentrations are associated with lower risk of diabetes and insulin resistance in nonsmokers but not in smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Diet may be involved in the strong dose-response relation of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) concentration with incident diabetes. OBJECTIVE: We examined dietary correlates of serum GGT activity. DESIGN: Study subjects were 3146 black and white men and women aged 17-35 y in 1985-1986. A diet history was taken at years 0 and 7. Food items were classified into alcohol; breaded, battered, or canned vegetables; fruit; fruit juice; refined grain; whole grain; dairy; legumes; meat; poultry; fish; fresh or frozen vegetables; nuts; and coffee. RESULTS: After adjustment for nondietary factors and other food groups, GGT was positively associated with alcohol consumption and meat intake. Geometric means of year 10 GGT across categories of alcohol consumption (0, 1-9, 10-19, 20-29, and > or = 30 g/d) were 17.7, 18.8, 20.4, 21.8, and 24.8 U/L (P for trend < 0.01); corresponding means across quintiles of meat intake were 19.2, 20.2, 20.5, 21.8, and 21.2 times/wk (P for trend < 0.01). GGT was inversely associated with fruit intake. Among possible meat constituents, dietary heme iron, but not saturated fat, was associated with GGT. Dietary constituents typical of plant foods showed an inverse association. In contrast, vitamin supplements were positively associated with GGT. CONCLUSIONS: Serum GGT activity increased in a dose-response manner as alcohol and meat consumption increased and fruit consumption decreased. Heme iron contained in meats and micronutrients contained in fruits may influence GGT metabolism. However, micronutrients taken as supplements had a positive association with GGT. Copyright © 2004 American Society for Clinical Nutrition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiologic study results showed that subjects who had high intakes of whole-grain foods had lower risks of death and heart disease than did subjects who had low intakes. However, the findings were inconsistent for fruit and vegetable intake. OBJECTIVE: The relations of whole-grain, refined-grain, and fruit and vegetable intakes with the risk of total mortality and the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke were studied in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort (baseline: age 45-64 y, n = 15,792). DESIGN: Proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the relations of whole-grain, refined-grain, and fruit and vegetable intakes with the risk of death and the incidence of CAD and ischemic stroke, with adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, energy intake, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Dietary intakes were assessed by using a food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Over an 11-y follow-up period, whole-grain intake was inversely associated with total mortality and incident CAD. The relative hazards of death for quintiles 2-5 of fruit and vegetable intake were 1.08 (95% CI: 0.88, 1.33), 0.94 (0.75, 1.17), 0.87 (0.68, 1.10), and 0.78 (0.61, 1.01), respectively; P for trend = 0.02. An inverse association between fruit and vegetable intake and CAD was observed among African Americans but not among whites (P for interaction = 0.01). The risk of ischemic stroke was not significantly related to whole-grain, refined-grain, or fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSION: These observational findings suggest a beneficial effect of whole-grain and fruit and vegetable consumption on the risks of total mortality and incident CAD but not on the risk of ischemic stroke. Copyright © 2003 American Society for Clinical Nutrition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemic of type 2 diabetes among children, adolescents and adults is increasing along with the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Overweight is the most powerful modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Intake of wholegrain foods may reduce diabetes risk. Three prospective studies in 160000 men and women examined the relationship of whole-grain or cereal-fibre intake with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Each study used a mailed Willett food-frequency questionnaire and similar methods of quantifying wholegrain foods and cereal fibre. The self-reported incident diabetes outcome was more reliably determined in the two studies of health-care professionals than in the study of Iowa women. Risk for incident type 2 diabetes was 21-27% lower for those in the highest quintile of whole-grain intake, and 30-36% lower in the highest quintile of cereal-fibre intake, each compared with the lowest quintile. Risk reduction persisted after adjustment for the healthier lifestyle found among habitual whole-grain consumers. Observations in non-diabetic individuals support an inverse relationship between whole-grain consumption and fasting insulin levels. In feeding studies in non-diabetic individuals insulin resistance was reduced using whole grains or diets rich in whole grains. Glucose control improved with diets rich in whole grains in feeding studies of subjects with type 2 diabetes. There is accumulating evidence to support the hypothesis that whole-grain consumption is associated with a reduced risk of incident type 2 diabetes; it may also improve glucose control in diabetic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence is synthesized that foods and food patterns act synergistically to influence the risk of several chronic diseases. Whole-grain consumption and risk of disease are presented as a model of food synergy. Food synergy is defined as additive or more than additive influences of foods and food constituents on health. Risk appears to be lower with consumption of whole grain than of refined grain; that is, benefit accrues when all edible parts of the grain are included (bran, germ, and endosperm). It appears that phytochemicals that are located in the fiber matrix, in addition to or instead of the fiber itself, are responsible for the reduced risk. Risk is further reduced if whole-grain foods are consumed in a diet otherwise high in plant foods. To gain full understanding of the pathways by which food synergies work, it is desirable to use several 'top down' approaches, starting with the larger units, namely foods or food patterns, and working down to smaller units that provide protection from disease. Study of foods, food patterns, and individual nutrients or food components in reducing disease risk is seen as complementary. Epidemiologic, clinical trial, and in vitro approaches to such research are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The consumption of artificially sweetened beverages is on the rise. Use of artificial sweeteners has been associated with adverse health outcomes. There is a need to identify novel objective biomarkers of artificially sweetened beverages in order to improve dietary assessment and to provide insight into their metabolic impact., Objectives: We aimed to identify serum metabolites that are associated with artificially sweetened beverage consumption., Methods: In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, consumption of artificially sweetened beverages was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and fasting serum samples were collected during the first study visit (1987-1989). Participants were categorized as nonusers if they reported almost never consumption of artificially sweetened beverages, moderate users for 1 glass/mo to 6 glasses/wk, and heavy users for ≥1 glasses/d. Untargeted metabolomic profiling was conducted in 2 subgroups (subgroup 1: n = 1866, profiled in 2010; subgroup 2 profiled in 2014: n = 2072), and 360 metabolites were analyzed. In this secondary data analysis, multivariable linear regression models were used, adjusting for demographics, health behaviors, health status, and dietary factors. Analyses were conducted in each subgroup and results meta-analyzed., Results: In a meta-analysis of 3938 generally healthy participants (mean age, 54 y; 60% women; 62% Black participants) from ARIC study visit 1, 11 serum metabolites were significantly associated with artificially sweetened beverage consumption. Heavier consumption of artificially sweetened beverages was associated with higher concentrations of 10 metabolites (saccharin, threonate, erythronate, glycerate, gluconate, mannitol, glucose, tryptophan betaine, trehalose, and N6-acetyllysine) and lower concentrations of glycocholenate sulfate., Conclusions: Eleven serum metabolites are related to artificially sweetened beverage intake, which consist of known sugar substitutes, processed food additives, glucose-related compounds, and gut microbiome-related metabolites. These findings enhance our knowledge of the metabolic activity of artificial sweeteners and suggests new biomarkers for monitoring intake., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest CMR was funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The other authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Mandatory folic acid fortification of enriched grains has reduced neural tube defect prevalence in several countries. We examined salt as an additional vehicle for folic acid fortification. The primary objective was to examine the change in serum folate concentration after 1 month of consumption of fortified iodised salt with folic acid (FISFA) among women of reproductive age. The secondary objectives were to examine (1) the feasibility of implementing FISFA intervention and (2) the acceptability of FISFA., Design: We conducted a pre–post intervention study (January–April 2023). Participants received a FISFA saltshaker with the study salt (1 g of sodium chloride salt fortified with 100 mcg of folic acid) to use instead of regular table salt for 1 month. Serum folate was measured using the Elecsys Folate-III immunoassay method at baseline and 1-month endpoint. Change in serum folate was assessed using a two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples., Setting: Metropolitan city, Southern USA., Participants: Non-pregnant, 18–40-year-old women who lived alone/with a partner., Results: Thirty-two eligible women consented to participate, including eleven non-Hispanic-White, eleven non-Hispanic-Black and ten Hispanic. Post-intervention, there was a significant increase in median serum folate concentration of 1·40 nmol/l (IQR 0·74–2·05; P < 0·001) from 24·08 nmol/l to 25·96 nmol/l in an analytical sample of n 29. An increase was seen in 28/29 (93 %) participants. Feasibility: 100 % study consent and compliance. FISFA acceptability: 25 d average use; 1·28 g average daily intake; 96·7 % and 90 % reported taste and colour of FISFA as highly acceptable, respectively., Conclusions: FISFA is an effective approach to increasing serum folate concentrations among women of reproductive age. Findings should be replicated in a larger study.

Introduction: There is a lack of biomarkers of clinically important diets, such as the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet., Objectives: Our study explored serum metabolites associated with adherence to the MIND diet., Methods: In 3,908 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants, we calculated a modified MIND diet score based on a 66-item self-reported food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The modified score did not include berries and olive oil, as these items were not assessed in the FFQ. We used multivariable linear regression models in 2 subgroups of ARIC study participants and meta-analyzed results using fixed effects regression to identify significant metabolites after Bonferroni correction. We also examined associations between these metabolites and food components of the modified MIND diet. C-statistics evaluated the prediction of high modified MIND diet adherence using significant metabolites beyond participant characteristics., Results: Of 360 metabolites analyzed, 27 metabolites (15 positive, 12 negative) were significantly associated with the modified MIND diet score (lipids, n = 13; amino acids, n = 5; xenobiotics, n = 3; cofactors and vitamins, n = 3; carbohydrates n = 2; nucleotide n = 1). The top 4 metabolites that improved the prediction of high dietary adherence to the modified MIND diet were 7-methylxanthine, theobromine, docosahexaenoate (DHA), and 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoate (CMPF)., Conclusion: Twenty-seven metabolomic markers were correlated with the modified MIND diet. The biomarkers, if further validated, could be useful to objectively assess adherence to the MIND diet., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Data on the relation of potato consumption with risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) are limited and inconsistent. It is unclear whether the plant-based diet index (PDI), which is a novel and comprehensive tool to assess overall dietary pattern, modifies the association of potato intake with T2D., Objectives: We examined the association of total, combined baked, boiled, and mashed potatoes and fried potatoes with risk of T2D and test the interaction between PDI score and potato consumption on T2D risk., Methods: We conducted a de novo, harmonized, individual-level data from 7 United States cohorts (N = 105,531). Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) separately in each cohort adjusting for anthropometric, demographic, and lifestyle factors and cohort-specific results were pooled using an inverse-variance weighted method., Results: Mean age ranged from 25 to 72 y, 65% women, and mean consumption of total potatoes ranged from 1.9 to 4.3 times per week. In the primary analysis, total potato intake was not associated with T2D risk: multivariable adjusted HR of 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95, 1.08) for consumption of 1-2 servings/wk; 1.01 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.10) for >2-3 servings/wk; 1.05 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.12) for >3 to <5 servings/wk; and 1.07 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.16) for 5+ servings/wk compared with no potato intake. In secondary analyses, consumption of combined baked, boiled, and mashed potatoes was not associated with T2D risk, whereas fried potato consumption was positively associated with T2D risk: HR were 1 (ref), 1.07 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.12), and 1.12 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.22) for intake frequency of 0/wk, >0 to 1/wk, and >1/wk, respectively (P-trend = 0.04). There was no significant interaction between PDI score and potato consumption on T2D risk., Conclusions: Although consumption of total potato is not associated with T2D risk, a modest elevated risk of T2D is observed with fried potato consumption., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Numerous studies have shown inverse associations between serum magnesium (Mg) and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but studies of dietary Mg have not been consistent., Aim: To examine the association of a Mg-rich diet score with risks of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischemic stroke in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study., Methods: There were 15,022 Black and White adults without prevalent CVD at baseline (1987-89) included in this analysis. Diet was assessed at two visits 6 years apart using an interviewer-administered 66-item food frequency questionnaire. A Mg-rich diet score was created that included servings of whole grain products, nuts, vegetables, fruit, legumes, coffee, and tea. Cox proportional hazard regression evaluated associations of incident CVD, CHD and stroke across quintiles of Mg-rich diet score, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors, and clinical characteristics., Results: Over >30 years of follow-up, there were 3,531 incident CVD events (2,562 CHD, 1,332 ischemic stroke). Participants who consumed more Mg-rich foods were older, female, White, had lower blood pressure, fewer were not current smokers, and more reported being physically active. A Mg-rich diet was inversely associated with incident CVD (HRQ5 vs Q1=0.87, 95%CI: 0.77-0.98, ptrend=0.02) CHD (HRQ5 vs Q1=0.82, 95%CI: 0.71-0.95, ptrend=0.01); however, the diet-stroke association was null (HRQ5 vs Q1=1.00, 95%CI: 0.82-1.22, ptrend=0.97)., Conclusions: Consuming a diet including Mg-rich foods, such as whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, legumes, coffee and tea, is associated with lower risk of CVD and CHD, but not ischemic stroke., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Aims: Numerous studies report positive associations between total carbohydrate (CHO) intake and incident metabolic syndrome (MetS), but few differentiate quality or type of CHO relative to MetS. We examined source of CHO intake, including added sugar (AS), AS-rich CHO foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) associated with incident MetS in adults enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study., Methods and Results: Among 3154 Black American and White American women and men aged 18-30 years at baseline, dietary intake was assessed by diet history three times over 20 years. Sources of AS-rich CHO foods and beverages include sugar-rich refined grain products, candy, sugar products, and SSBs. Incident MetS was created according to standard criteria. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression analysis evaluated the associations of incident MetS across quintiles of cumulative intakes of AS-rich CHO foods and beverages, AS, and SSBs adjusted for potential confounding factors over 30 years of follow-up. The associations of AS-rich CHO foods and beverages, AS, and SSB intakes with incident MetS were consistent. Compared with the lowest intake, the greatest intakes of AS-rich CHOs, AS, and SSBs were associated with 59% (Ptrend < 0.001), 44% (Ptrend = 0.01), and 34% (Ptrend = 0.03) higher risk of developing MetS, respectively. As expected, diet quality was lower across increasing quintiles of AS-rich CHO foods and beverages, AS, and SSBs (all Ptrend < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our study findings are consistent with an elevated risk of developing MetS with greater consumption of AS, AS-rich CHO foods, and SSBs, which support consuming fewer AS-rich CHO foods and SSBs., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: none declared., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Objective: Plant-based dietary patterns emphasize plant foods and minimize animal-derived foods. We investigated the association between plant-based dietary patterns and diabetes in a community-based U.S. sample of Black and White adults., Research Design and Methods: We included middle-aged adults from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study without diabetes at baseline who completed a food-frequency questionnaire (n = 11,965). We scored plant-based diet adherence according to three indices: overall, healthy, and unhealthy plant-based diet indices. Higher overall plant-based diet index (PDI) scores represent greater intakes of all plant foods and lower intakes of animal-derived foods. Higher healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI) scores represent greater healthy plant food intake and lower intakes of animal-derived and unhealthy plant foods. Higher unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI) scores represent greater unhealthy plant food intake and lower intakes of animal-derived and healthy plant foods. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident diabetes (defined according to self-reported diagnosis, medication use, or elevated blood glucose) associated with each index., Results: Over a median follow-up of 22 years, we identified 4,208 cases of diabetes among subjects. Higher PDI scores were associated with a lower risk of diabetes (quintile 5 vs. 1 HR 0.89 [95% CI 0.80, 0.98]; Ptrend = 0.01). hPDI scores were also inversely associated with diabetes risk (quintile 5 vs. 1 HR 0.85 [95% CI 0.77, 0.94]; Ptrend < 0.001). uPDI scores were not associated with diabetes risk., Conclusions: A dietary pattern that minimizes animal-derived foods and emphasizes plant foods may reduce diabetes risk., (© 2024 by the American Diabetes Association.)

Objective: Research investigating calcium and magnesium intakes from the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) pattern and other sources in association with blood pressure is limited. We aimed to characterize sources/intake levels of calcium and magnesium in relation to overall diet quality (DASH-score) and determine modification effects with DASH score and blood pressure., Methods: Cross-sectional United States data (average dietary and supplement intake from four 24 h recalls and eight blood pressure measurements) from two separate visits, 2195 men and women (40-59 years) in the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure were analysed. Food-based adherence to the DASH diet was estimated. Linear models tested associations between each 1-point DASH score with blood pressure. Participants were stratified by adherence to sex-specific recommended allowance for magnesium and calcium intakes. Effect-modification was tested across DASH-score quintiles and median of urinary sodium., Results: DASH-score was inversely associated with SBP in fully adjusted models (-0.27; 95%CI: -0.38 to -0.15 mmHg). SBP was inversely associated with dietary calcium intake from DASH food groups: -1.54 (95% CI: -2.65 to -0.43) mmHg; calcium intake from other non-DASH food groups: -1.62 (95% CI: -2.94 to -0.29) mmHg. Dietary magnesium intake from DASH food groups (-1.59; 95% CI: -2.79, -0.40 mmHg) and from other non-DASH foods (-1.92; 95% CI: -3.31, -0.53 mmHg) was inversely associated with SBP., Conclusion: A higher DASH score showed a consistent association with lower BP suggesting a relationship between intakes of calcium and Mg with BP regardless of whether the source is part of the DASH diet or not, even when adjusted for supplement intakes.The INTERMAP is registered as NCT00005271 at www.clinicaltrials.gov ., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant public health concern and intercepting the development of emphysema is vital for COPD prevention. Smokers are a high-risk population for emphysema with limited prevention strategies. We aimed to determine if adherence to a nutritionally rich, plant-centered diet among young ever-smokers is associated with reduced risk of future radiographic emphysema., Methods: We studied participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Lung Prospective Cohort Study who were 18-30 years old at enrollment and followed for 30 years. We analyzed 1706 adults who reported current or former smoking by year 20. Repeated measures of diet history were used to calculate A Priori Diet Quality Scores (APDQSs), and categorized into quintiles, with higher quintiles representing higher nutritionally rich plant-centered food intake. Emphysema was assessed at year 25 (n=1351) by computed tomography (CT). Critical covariates were selected, acknowledging potential residual confounding., Results: Emphysema was observed in 13.0% of the cohort, with a mean age of 50.4 ± 3.5 years. The prevalence of emphysema was 4.5% in the highest APDQS quintile (nutritionally rich), compared with 25.4% in the lowest quintile. After adjustment for multiple covariates, including smoking, greater adherence to a plant-centered diet was inversely associated with emphysema (highest versus lowest quintile odds ratio: 0.44, 95% CI 0.19-0.99, p trend =0.008)., Conclusion: Longitudinal adherence to a nutritionally rich, plant-centered diet was associated with a decreased risk of emphysema development in middle adulthood, warranting further examination of diet as a strategy for emphysema prevention in a high-risk smoking population., (JCOPDF © 2024.)

The impact of dietary intake on cognitive outcomes and dementia prevention is a topic of increasing interest. Meta-analyses of observational studies, mostly conducted within US and European populations, have reported benefits of healthy diet patterns on cognitive performance, but results from individual studies have been inconsistent. These inconsistencies are likely due to the diverse methodology used in studies, including different diet and cognitive function assessment instruments, follow-up periods, and analytical methods, which make drawing conclusions relevant to dietary guidance challenging. The objective of this project is to describe a protocol to conduct a retrospective harmonization study on dietary intake and cognitive health using data from European and US studies. The recommendations resulting from the project can be used to support evidence-based synthesis for future iterations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans or other population-based dietary guidance. Additionally, this study will serve as a harmonization guide for future research on the relationship between diet patterns and cognition. The approach outlined ultimately aims to optimize resources and expedite research efforts for dementia prevention., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ayala-Garcia, Soldevila-Domenech, Yi, de la Torre and Steffen.)

Rationale & Objective: While urine excretion of nitrogen estimates the total protein intake, biomarkers of specific dietary protein sources have been sparsely studied. Using untargeted metabolomics, this study aimed to identify serum metabolomic markers of 6 protein-rich foods and to examine whether dietary protein-related metabolites are associated with incident chronic kidney disease (CKD)., Study Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting & Participants: A total of 3,726 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study without CKD at baseline., Exposures: Dietary intake of 6 protein-rich foods (fish, nuts, legumes, red and processed meat, eggs, and poultry), serum metabolites., Outcomes: Incident CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 with ≥25% estimated glomerular filtration rate decline relative to visit 1, hospitalization or death related to CKD, or end-stage kidney disease)., Analytical Approach: Multivariable linear regression models estimated cross-sectional associations between protein-rich foods and serum metabolites. C statistics assessed the ability of the metabolites to improve the discrimination of highest versus lower 3 quartiles of intake of protein-rich foods beyond covariates (demographics, clinical factors, health behaviors, and the intake of nonprotein food groups). Cox regression models identified prospective associations between protein-related metabolites and incident CKD., Results: Thirty significant associations were identified between protein-rich foods and serum metabolites (fish, n = 8; nuts, n = 5; legumes, n = 0; red and processed meat, n = 5; eggs, n = 3; and poultry, n = 9). Metabolites collectively and significantly improved the discrimination of high intake of protein-rich foods compared with covariates alone (difference in C statistics = 0.033, 0.051, 0.003, 0.024, and 0.025 for fish, nuts, red and processed meat, eggs, and poultry-related metabolites, respectively; P  < 1.00 × 10 -16 for all). Dietary intake of fish was positively associated with 1-docosahexaenoylglycerophosphocholine (22:6n3), which was inversely associated with incident CKD (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75-0.89; P  = 7.81 × 10 -6 )., Limitations: Residual confounding and sample-storage duration., Conclusions: We identified candidate biomarkers of fish, nuts, red and processed meat, eggs, and poultry. A fish-related metabolite, 1-docosahexaenoylglycerophosphocholine (22:6n3), was associated with a lower risk of CKD., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background and Aims: Numerous prospective studies have examined sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake associated with weight gain or incident obesity. Because SSB accounts for only 33 % of added sugar (AS) intake, we investigated the associations of AS intake with change in weight and waist circumference and risk of developing obesity., Methods and Results: At baseline (1985-86) Black and White women and men, aged 18-30 years, enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study and were followed for 30 years (2015-16). A diet history assessed dietary intake 3 times over 20 years. Multivariable linear regression evaluated the associations of change in weight (n = 3306) and waist circumference (n = 3296) across quartiles of AS, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors, and anthropometrics. Proportional hazards regression analysis evaluated the associations of time-varying cumulative AS intake with risk of incident obesity (n = 4023) and abdominal obesity (n = 3449), adjusting for the same factors. Over 30 years of follow-up, greater AS intake was associated with gaining 2.3 kg more weight (p trend  = 0.01) and 2.2 cm greater change in waist circumference (p trend  = 0.005) as well as increased risk of incident obesity (HR 1.28; 95 % CI: 1.08-1.53) and incident abdominal obesity (HR 1.27; 95 % CI:1.02-1.60)., Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with recommendations from the 2020-2025 U S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans to limit daily AS intake., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aging is associated with changes in body composition, and preventing loss of muscle mass and accumulation of excess adipose tissue in middle-aged adults may reduce age-related conditions at older ages. Dietary intake is one lifestyle factor shown to improve or maintain body composition. However, few studies have examined the Healthy Eating Index2015 (HEI2015), a measure of diet quality, and the association with body composition in adult men and women., Methods: Participant data (n = 3017) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study were used to examine the associations of the HEI2015 with body composition measures at Year 25 (Y25), including (1) 25 year-change in weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference and (2) a computed tomography (CT) scan at Y25 measured muscle mass, muscle quality (better quality = less lipid within the muscle), and adipose tissue depots visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and adipose within skeletal muscle (intermuscular adipose tissue; IMAT). Dietary intake was assessed by a diet history three times over 20 years, at years 0, 7, and 20. HEI2015, averaged over three exams, was created and categorized into quintiles. Multiple regression analysis evaluated the associations of body composition stratified across quintiles of HEI2015 adjusted for demographic characteristics, energy intake, lifestyle factors, and baseline anthropometric measures as appropriate. Race-sex interaction was tested (P interaction  > 0.30)., Results: Over 25 years of follow-up, averaged HEI2015 was significantly and inversely associated with weight gain (Quintile 1 (Q1) 37.3 lb vs. 32.9 in Q5; P trend  = 0.01), change in BMI (Q1 5.8 kg/m 2 vs. 5.0 in Q5; P trend  = 0.005), and change in waist circumference (Q1 17.5 cm vs. 15.2 cm in Q5; P trend  < 0.001). By Y25, HEI2015 was inversely associated with VAT Q1 136.8 cm 3 vs. 116.6 in Q5; P trend  < 0.001) and IMAT volumes (Q1 9.52 vs. 8.12 cm 3 in Q5; P trend  < 0.001). Although total muscle volume declined (P trend  = 0.03), lean muscle mass volume was similar across quintiles (P trend  = 0.55). The IMAT/total muscle mass ratio declined across HEI2015 quintiles (P trend  < 0.001). Finally, higher HEI2015 was associated with better muscle quality at Y25 (higher value = less lipid within the muscle; Q1 41.1 vs. 42.2 HU in Q5; P trend  = 0.002). HEI2015 was nonlinearly, but inversely, associated with SAT (nonlinear P = 0.011)., Conclusions: Improving diet quality in young to middle-aged adults is a recommended strategy to promote better measures of body composition. Our study findings suggest that healthier food choices may influence body composition., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Rationale: Inflammation contributes to lung function decline and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have antiinflammatory properties and may benefit lung health. Objectives: To investigate associations of omega-3 fatty acids with lung function decline and incident airway obstruction in a diverse sample of adults from general-population cohorts. Methods: Complementary study designs: 1 ) longitudinal study of plasma phospholipid omega-3 fatty acids and repeated FEV 1 and FVC measures in the NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study and 2 ) two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study of genetically predicted omega-3 fatty acids and lung function parameters. Measurements and Main Results: The longitudinal study found that higher omega-3 fatty acid levels were associated with attenuated lung function decline in 15,063 participants, with the largest effect sizes for the most metabolically downstream omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). An increase in DHA of 1% of total fatty acids was associated with attenuations of 1.4 ml/yr for FEV 1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.8) and 2.0 ml/yr for FVC (95% CI, 1.6-2.4) and a 7% lower incidence of spirometry-defined airway obstruction (95% CI, 0.89-0.97). DHA associations persisted across sexes and smoking histories and in Black, White, and Hispanic participants, with associations of the largest magnitude in former smokers and Hispanic participants. The MR study showed similar trends toward positive associations of genetically predicted downstream omega-3 fatty acids with FEV 1 and FVC. Conclusions: The longitudinal and MR studies provide evidence supporting beneficial effects of higher levels of downstream omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, on lung health.

The benefits of plant-based diets may depend on the type of plant. To determine the associations of healthy and unhealthy plant-based diet types on risk of hospitalization with respiratory infections or any infection, we used dietary intake data reported in a food frequency questionnaire from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study to calculate a plant-based diet index (PDI), a healthy PDI (HPDI), and an unhealthy PDI (UPDI). Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios for the associations of the three plant-based diet indices with the risk of hospitalization with respiratory infections and any infection-related hospitalization. Comparing the highest to lowest quintiles, HPDI was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization with respiratory infections (HR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.99), and a lower risk of hospitalization with any infections (HR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.97). The PDI was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization with any infections (HR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.96). Significant associations were not observed with the UPDI. Adults with a high PDI and HPDI had a lower risk of hospitalization with any infections, whereas adults with a high HPDI had lower risk of hospitalizations with respiratory infections.

Background: Artificial sweetener (ArtSw) intakes have been previously associated with higher BMI in observational studies and may promote visceral and skeletal muscle adipose tissue (AT) accumulation. This study aimed to determine whether habitual, long-term ArtSw or diet beverage intakes are related to greater AT depot volumes and anthropometry-related outcomes., Methods: A validated diet history questionnaire was administered at baseline, year 7, and year 20 examinations in 3088 men and women enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults cohort (CARDIA), mean age of 25.2 years and mean BMI of 24.5 kg/m 2 at baseline. Volumes of visceral (VAT), intermuscular (IMAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were assessed by computed tomography at year 25. Linear regression evaluated associations of aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, total ArtSw, and diet beverage intakes with AT volumes, anthropometric measures, and 25-year change in anthropometry. Cox regression estimated associations of ArtSw with obesity incidence. Adjustments were made for demographic and lifestyle factors, total energy intake, and the 2015 healthy eating index., Results: Total ArtSw, aspartame, saccharin, and diet beverage intakes were positively associated with VAT, SAT, and IMAT volumes (all p trend  ≤ 0.001), but no associations were observed for sucralose intake (all p trend  > 0.05). In addition, total ArtSw, saccharin, aspartame, and diet beverage intakes were associated with greater body mass index, body weight, waist circumference, and their increases over a 25-year period. Except for saccharin (p trend  = 0.13), ArtSw, including diet soda, was associated with greater risks of incident obesity over a median 17.5-year follow-up (all p trend  < 0.05)., Conclusions: Results suggest that long-term intakes of aspartame, saccharin, or diet soda may increase AT deposition and risk of incident obesity independent of diet quality or caloric intake. Coupled with previous evidence, alternatives to national recommendations to replace added sugar with ArtSw should be considered since both may have health consequences., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Dairy consumption is related to chronic disease risk; however, the measurement of dairy consumption has largely relied upon self-report. Untargeted metabolomics allows for the identification of objective markers of dietary intake., Objectives: We aimed to identify associations between dietary dairy intake (total dairy, low-fat dairy, and high-fat dairy) and serum metabolites in 2 independent study populations of United States adults., Methods: Dietary intake was assessed with food frequency questionnaires. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate cross-sectional associations between dietary intake of dairy and 360 serum metabolites analyzed in 2 subgroups of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC; n = 3776). Results from the 2 subgroups were meta-analyzed using fixed effects meta-analysis. Significant meta-analyzed associations in the ARIC study were then tested in the Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS; n = 785)., Results: In the ARIC study and BHS, the mean age was 54 and 48 years, 61% and 29% were Black, and the mean dairy intake was 1.7 and 1.3 servings/day, respectively. Twenty-nine significant associations between dietary intake of dairy and serum metabolites were identified in the ARIC study (total dairy, n = 14; low-fat dairy, n = 10; high-fat dairy, n = 5). Three associations were also significant in BHS: myristate (14:0) was associated with high-fat dairy, and pantothenate was associated with total dairy and low-fat dairy, but 23 of the 27 associations significant in the ARIC study and tested in BHS were not associated with dairy in BHS., Conclusions: We identified metabolomic associations with dietary intake of dairy, including 3 associations found in 2 independent cohort studies. These results suggest that myristate (14:0) and pantothenate (vitamin B5) are candidate biomarkers of dairy consumption., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play critical roles in human health. Prior genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs in European Americans from the CHARGE Consortium have documented strong genetic signals in/near the FADS locus on chromosome 11. We performed a GWAS of four n-3 and four n-6 PUFAs in Hispanic American (n = 1454) and African American (n = 2278) participants from three CHARGE cohorts. Applying a genome-wide significance threshold of P < 5 × 10 -8 , we confirmed association of the FADS signal and found evidence of two additional signals (in DAGLA and BEST1) within 200 kb of the originally reported FADS signal. Outside of the FADS region, we identified novel signals for arachidonic acid (AA) in Hispanic Americans located in/near genes including TMX2, SLC29A2, ANKRD13D and POLD4, and spanning a > 9 Mb region on chromosome 11 (57.5 Mb ~ 67.1 Mb). Among these novel signals, we found associations unique to Hispanic Americans, including rs28364240, a POLD4 missense variant for AA that is common in CHARGE Hispanic Americans but absent in other race/ancestry groups. Our study sheds light on the genetics of PUFAs and the value of investigating complex trait genetics across diverse ancestry populations., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been linked with better cognitive function and brain integrity., Objective: To examine the association of modified Mediterranean diet (mMedDiet) scores from early through middle adulthood in relation to volumetric and microstructural midlife MRI brain measures. Assess the association of mMedDiet and brain measures with four cognitive domains. If variables are correlated, determine if brain measures mediate the relationship between mMedDiet and cognition., Methods: 618 participants (mean age 25.4±3.5 at year 0) of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study were included. Cumulative average mMedDiet scores were calculated by averaging scores from years 0, 7, and 20. MRI scans were obtained at years 25 and 30. General linear models were used to examine the association between mMedDiet and brain measures., Results: Higher cumulative average mMedDiet scores were associated with better microstructural white matter (WM) integrity measured by fractional anisotropy (FA) at years 25 and 30 (all p trend <0.05). Higher mMedDiet scores at year 7 were associated with higher WM FA at year 25 (β= 0.003, p trend  = 0.03). Higher mMedDiet scores at year 20 associated with higher WM FA at years 25 (β= 0.0005, p trend  = 0.002) and 30 (β= 0.0003, p trend  = 0.02). mMedDiet scores were not associated with brain volumes. Higher mMedDiet scores and WM FA were both correlated with better executive function, processing speed, and global cognition (all p trend <0.05). WM FA did not mediate the association between mMedDiet scores and cognition., Conclusions: mMedDiet scores may be associated with microstructural WM integrity at midlife., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to report., (© 2023 – The authors. Published by IOS Press.)

Background: Dietary consumption has traditionally been studied through food intake questionnaires. Metabolomics can be used to identify blood markers of dietary protein that may complement existing dietary assessment tools., Objectives: We aimed to identify associations between 3 dietary protein sources (total protein, animal protein, and plant protein) and serum metabolites using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study., Methods: Participants' dietary protein intake was derived from a food frequency questionnaire administered by an interviewer, and fasting serum samples were collected at study visit 1 (1987-1989). Untargeted metabolomic profiling was performed in 2 subgroups (subgroup 1: n = 1842; subgroup 2: n = 2072). Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess associations between 3 dietary protein sources and 360 metabolites, adjusting for demographic factors and other participant characteristics. Analyses were performed separately within each subgroup and meta-analyzed with fixed-effects models., Results: In this study of 3914 middle-aged adults, the mean (SD) age was 54 (6) y, 60% were women, and 61% were Black. We identified 41 metabolites significantly associated with dietary protein intake. Twenty-six metabolite associations overlapped between total protein and animal protein, such as pyroglutamine, creatine, 3-methylhistidine, and 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoic acid. Plant protein was uniquely associated with 11 metabolites, such as tryptophan betaine, 4-vinylphenol sulfate, N -δ-acetylornithine, and pipecolate., Conclusions: The results of 17 of the 41 metabolites (41%) were consistent with those of previous nutritional metabolomic studies and specific protein-rich food items. We discovered 24 metabolites that had not been previously associated with dietary protein intake. These results enhance the validity of candidate markers of dietary protein intake and introduce novel metabolomic markers of dietary protein intake., (© 2023 The Author(s).)