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Abstract Background A low-fat vegan diet, supplemented with soybeans, has been shown effective in reducing postmenopausal hot flashes. This secondary analysis assessed the association of a plant-based index (PDI), healthful (hPDI), and unhealthful (uPDI), with changes in hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Methods Participants (n = 84) were randomly assigned to a low-fat vegan diet supplemented with soybeans (n = 42) or a control group (n = 42) for 12 weeks. Three-day dietary records were analyzed and PDI indices were calculated. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis. Results All three scores increased in the vegan group, compared with no change in the control group; the effect sizes were: PDI + 9.8 (95% CI + 5.8 to + 13.8; p

ObjectiveEvidence suggests that changes in dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) may influence body weight, but the effects of different dietary patterns remain to be explored.The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a Mediterranean and a low-fat vegan diet on dietary AGEs and test their association with body weight.Materials and methodsIn this randomized cross-over trial, 62 overweight adults were assigned to a Mediterranean or a low-fat vegan diet for 16-week periods in random order, separated by a 4-week washout. Body weight was the primary outcome. Three-day diet records were analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research software and dietary AGEs were estimated, using an established database. Statistical approaches appropriate for crossover trials were implemented.ResultsDietary AGEs decreased by 73%, that is, by 9,413 kilounits AGE/day (95% −10,869 to −7,957); p < 0.001, compared with no change on the Mediterranean diet (treatment effect −10,303 kilounits AGE/day [95% CI −13,090 to −7,516]; p < 0.001). The participants lost 6.0 kg on average on the vegan diet, compared with no change on the Mediterranean diet (treatment effect −6.0 kg [95% CI −7.5 to −4.5]; p < 0.001). Changes in dietary AGEs correlated with changes in body weight (r = +0.47; p < 0.001) and remained significant after adjustment for total energy intake (r = +0.39; p = 0.003).ConclusionDietary AGEs did not change on the Mediterranean diet but decreased on a low-fat vegan diet, and this decrease was associated with changes in body weight, independent of energy intake.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT03698955

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that changes in advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) may influence body weight. Previous studies have focused on cooking methods as the primary way how to reduce the dietary AGEs but little is known about the effects of a change in diet composition. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a low‐fat plant‐based diet on dietary AGEs and test the association with body weight, body composition, and insulin sensitivity. Methods Participants who were overweight (n = 244) were randomly assigned to an intervention (low‐fat plant‐based) (n = 122) or control group (n = 122) for 16 weeks. Before and after the intervention period, body composition was measured by dual X‐ray absorptiometry. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with the predicted insulin sensitivity index (PREDIM). Three‐day diet records were analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research software and dietary AGEs were estimated, using a database. Repeated measure ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results Dietary AGEs decreased in the intervention group by 8768 ku/day on average (95% −9611 to −7925; p

Objective: This study examined the role of gut microbiome changes in mediating the effects of a dietary intervention on the frequency and severity of postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms Methods: Postmenopausal women (n = 84) reporting ≥2 moderate-to-severe hot flashes daily were randomly assigned, in 2 successive cohorts, to an intervention including a low-fat, vegan diet and cooked soybeans (½ cup [86 g] daily) or to stay on their usual diet. Over a 12-week period, frequency and severity of hot flashes were recorded with a mobile application. In a subset of 11 women, gut microbiome was analyzed at baseline and after 12 weeks of the dietary intervention (low-fat vegan diet with soybeans), using deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Differences in the microbiome between baseline and 12 weeks were assessed by comparing alpha diversity with Wilcoxon signed rank tests, beta diversity with permanovaFL, and taxon abundance with Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Pearson correlations were used to assess the association between changes in hot flashes and gut bacteria. Results: In the subset for which microbiome testing was done, total hot flashes decreased by 95 % during the dietary intervention (p = 0.007); severe hot flashes disappeared (from 0.6 to 0.0/day; p = 0.06); and moderate-to-severe hot flashes decreased by 96 % (p = 0.01). Daytime and nighttime hot flashes were reduced by 96 % (p = 0.01) and 94 % (p = 0.004), respectively. Alpha and beta diversity did not significantly differ in the intervention group between baseline and 12 weeks. Two families (Enterobacteriaceae and Veillonellaceae), 5 genera (Erysipelatoclostridium, Fusicatenibacter, Holdemanella, Intestinimonas, and Porphyromonas), and 6 species (Clostridium asparagiforme, Clostridium innocuum, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans, Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, Prevotella corporis, and Streptococcus sp.) were differentially abundant, but after correction for multiple comparisons, these differences were no longer significant. Changes in the relative abundance of Porphyromonas and Prevotella corporis were associated with the reduction in severe day hot flashes both unadjusted (r = 0.61; p = 0.047; and r = 0.69; p = 0.02), respectively), and after adjustment for changes in body mass index (r = 0.63; p = 0.049; and r = 0.73; p = 0.02), respectively). Changes in relative abundance of Clostridium asparagiforme were associated with the reduction in total severe hot flashes (r = 0.69; p = 0.019) and severe night hot flashes (r = 0.82; p = 0.002) and the latter association remained significant after adjustment for changes in body mass index (r = 0.75; p = 0.01). Conclusions: This exploratory analysis revealed potential associations between changes in vasomotor symptoms in response to a diet change and changes in the gut microbiome. Larger randomized clinical trials are needed to investigate these findings.

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissues outside the uterine lining, typically on the external surface of the uterus, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, abdominal wall, or intestines. The prevalence of endometriosis in North America, Australia, and Europe is ~1–5% in women of reproductive age. Treatment options for endometriosis are limited. While over-the-counter medications may be used to reduce acute pain, hormonal treatments are common and may interfere with fertility. In more severe cases, laparoscopic excision procedures and even hysterectomies are used to treat the pain associated with endometriosis. Nutritional interventions may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis and associated pain. Reducing dietary fat and increasing dietary fiber have been shown to reduce circulating estrogen concentrations, suggesting a potential benefit for individuals with endometriosis, as it is an estrogen-dependent disease. Meat consumption is associated with greater risk of developing endometriosis. Anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based diets may benefit women with endometriosis. Additionally, seaweed holds estrogen-modulating properties that have benefitted postmenopausal women and offers potential to reduce estradiol concentrations in pre-menopausal women. Furthermore, consumption of vitamin D has been shown to reduce endometrial pain via increased antioxidant capacity and supplementation with vitamins C and E significantly reduced endometriosis symptoms, compared with placebo. More randomized clinical trials are needed to elucidate the role of diet in endometriosis.