Nutrient patterns in relation to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction in Iranian women.

Prior studies have mainly focused on the association of one specific nutrient with insulin resistance (IR) and endothelial dysfunction and limited studies have assessed the association with different nutrient patterns (NPs). We examined the association between various NPs and IR and endothelial dysfunction among Iranian women. This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 368 female nurses. A 106-items food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was applied for dietary assessments. Using factor analysis, the relationships between NPs and markers of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, HOMA-ß, and QUICKY), and endothelial dysfunction (E-selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1) were assessed. Mean age and body mass index of participants were respectively 35.21 years and 24.04 kg/m2. Three major NPs were identified. NP1, named as "dairy, fruits, and vegetables" had high values of potassium, folate, vitamins A and C, magnesium, and beta carotene. No significant association was observed between this NP and insulin resistance or endothelial dysfunction indices. The second NP was full of chromium, selenium, copper, vitamin B6, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), thiamin, vitamin D, and iron. Adherence to NP2 (named "legumes, nuts, and protein foods") was associated with lower values of insulin (6.8 ± 1.1 versus 8.4 ± 1.1, P = 0.01), homeostasis model assessment-Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (1.3 ± 0.2 versus 1.7 ± 0.2, P = 0.02), and vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) (444.2 ± 27.9 versus 475.8 ± 28.4, P = 0.03). However, adherence to the third NP, rich in saturated fatty acid (SFA), cholesterol, sodium, zinc, vitamin E, and B12, described as "animal fat and meat + vitamin E", was associated with higher amounts of homeostasis model assessment-ß (HOMA-ß) (531.3 ± 176.2 versus 48.7 ± 179.8, P = 0.03). In conclusion, following the NP2, correlated with higher intakes of chromium, selenium, copper, vitamin B6, MUFA and thiamin was associated with lower values of insulin, HOMA-IR, and sVCAM-1. Adherence to NP3, rich in SFA, cholesterol, vitamin E, vitamin B12, and zinc was associated with higher levels of HOMA-ß.

Dietary intake of phytochemicals in association with irritable bowel syndrome in adults.

BACKGROUND & AIM: There is limited data regarding the association between phytochemical-rich diets and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The current study aimed to cross-sectionally evaluate the association of dietary phytochemical index (DPI) with the odds and severity of IBS. METHODS: In this study, which included 3362 Iranian healthcare staffs, a dish-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (DS-FFQ) was utilized to collect dietary information. The DPI was defined as the daily percentage of calories consumed from phytochemical-rich foods. The IBS assessment was performed using a revised Iranian version of the Rome III questionnaire. We applied the restricted cubic spline (RCS) to detect the possible non-linear dependency of the relationship between DPI and the odds of IBS. RESULTS: The mean age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and DPI scores of the participants were 36.29 ± 7.8 years, 24.90 ± 3.8 kg/m2, and 16.07 ± 9.01, respectively. After adjusting for possible confounders, no significant association was observed between DPI and odds of IBS in the whole study population or in gender- and BMI-stratified analyses. We found a significant inverse association between DPI and IBS severity in the study population (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.51-0.98). Concerning gender, such an association was only found in women (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.44-0.96). However, there was no significant relationship between DPI and IBS severity in BMI subgroups. In addition, we found no meaningful relationship between DPI and IBS subtypes. The RCS model showed that there is no non-linear relationship between DPI classification and IBS (non-linear test, χ2 = 1.14, Pnon-linearity = 0.513). CONCLUSIONS: Higher phytochemical intake was associated with reduced IBS severity, particularly in women. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

The association of plant-based dietary pattern with general and abdominal obesity: a large cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Only a few studies have studied the association between plant-based dietary index (PDI) and the prevalence of obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between PDI and the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity in a large sample of Iranian adults. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was performed from 2010 to 2012 in Isfahan, Iran. This study comprised 6,724 adults between the ages of 18 and 55. We analyzed data from 6,724 participants who were classified as having general obesity and 5,203 individuals who were classified as having abdominal obesity. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We determined the PDI by assigning plant foods positive scores and animal foods negative values using the method of Satija et al. General obesity was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2, whereas abdominal obesity was classified as having a waist circumference (WC) greater than 88 cm for women and 102 cm for men. Data was examined using Chi-squared test and the analysis of variance (ANOVA and ANCOVA). Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between PDI and risk of general as well as abdominal obesity. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 36.8 ± 8.08 years, and 57% of them were female. General obesity prevalence was 9.6%, while abdominal obesity was 26.8%. In all the unadjusted and multivariable adjusted models of the total population, there was no significant association between highest vs. lowest adherence to the PDI and general obesity or abdominal obesity. No significant association was found when men and women were analyzed separately as well. Conclusion: In the present study, no association was observed between PDI and general and abdominal obesity in the Iranian adult population.

Face-to-face interviews versus Internet surveys: Comparison of two data collection methods in the Rome foundation global epidemiology study: Implications for population-based research.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study (RFGES) assessed the prevalence, burden, and associated factors of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) in 33 countries around the world. Achieving worldwide sampling necessitated use of two different surveying methods: In-person household interviews (9 countries) and Internet surveys (26 countries). Two countries, China and Turkey, were surveyed with both methods. This paper examines the differences in the survey results with the two methods, as well as likely reasons for those differences. METHODS: The two RFGES survey methods are described in detail, and differences in DGBI findings summarized for household versus Internet surveys globally, and in more detail for China and Turkey. Logistic regression analysis was used to elucidate factors contributing to these differences. RESULTS: Overall, DGBI were only half as prevalent when assessed with household vs Internet surveys. Similar patterns of methodology-related DGBI differences were seen within both China and Turkey, but prevalence differences between the survey methods were dramatically larger in Turkey. No clear reasons for outcome differences by survey method were identified, although greater relative reduction in bowel and anorectal versus upper gastrointestinal disorders when household versus Internet surveying was used suggests an inhibiting influence of social sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings strongly indicate that besides affecting data quality, manpower needs and data collection time and costs, the choice of survey method is a substantial determinant of symptom reporting and DGBI prevalence outcomes. This has important implications for future DGBI research and epidemiological research more broadly.

Dietary riboflavin intake in relation to psychological disorders in Iranian adults: an observational study.

Findings of earlier investigations on association between dietary riboflavin intake and psychological disorders are contradictory. Therefore, the relation between dietary riboflavin intake and depression, anxiety, and psychological distress was assessed in Iranian adults. In this cross-sectional study, dietary intakes of 3362 middle-aged adults were collected using a validated dish-based food frequency questionnaire. Daily intake of riboflavin for each participant was calculated by summing up the amount of riboflavin contents of all foods and dishes. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), as validated questionnaires among Iranians, have been applied to assess depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. After considering potential confounders, adults in the top energy-adjusted quartile of riboflavin intake, compared to the bottom quartile, had decreased odds of depression (OR = 0.66; 95%CI 0.49, 0.88), anxiety (OR = 0.64; 95%CI 0.44, 0.94) and high psychological distress (OR = 0.65; 95%CI 0.48, 0.89). Stratified analysis by sex revealed that men in the forth quartile of riboflavin intake, compared with those in the first quartile, had respectively 51 and 55% lower odds of depression (OR = 0.49; 95%CI 0.29, 0.83) and anxiety (OR = 0.45; 95%CI 0.21, 0.95). In women, riboflavin intake was significantly associated with lower odds of psychological distress (OR = 0.67; 95%CI 0.46, 0.98). An inverse relation was observed between dietary riboflavin intake and chance of psychological disorders in Iranian adults. High intake of riboflavin decreased the chance of depression and anxiety in men and high psychological distress in women. More prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Association of combined healthy lifestyle with general and abdominal obesity.

Background: Data linking joint healthy lifestyle factors to general and abdominal obesity are scarce, in particular in the Middle East. The aim of this study was to examine the association of combined healthy lifestyle factors with general and abdominal obesity in a large population of Iranian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 3,172 Iranian adults aged ≥18 years. We constructed healthy lifestyle score using information on dietary intakes, physical activity, smoking status, and psychological distress. To evaluate components of healthy lifestyle, we applied a validated 106-item semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and other pre-tested questionnaires. General obesity was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity as a waist circumference (WC) of ≥102 cm in men and ≥88 cm in women. Results: Mean age of participants was 36.54 ± 7.97 years. General and abdominal obesity were prevalent among 8.7% and 21.5% of study participants, respectively. Linear analysis showed a significant positive relationship between healthy lifestyle score and BMI among men (ß: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.54). However, no significant association was found between healthy lifestyle and abdominal obesity in men. Among women, one score increase in healthy lifestyle score was associated with a reduction of 0.65 cm in WC. In terms of individual components of healthy lifestyle, we found that low-distressed women had lower odds of abdominal obesity compared with high-distressed women. Conclusion: We found a significant inverse association between healthy lifestyle and WC among women. However, healthy lifestyle was positively associated with BMI among men.

The association between dietary acid load and odds and severity of irritable bowel syndrome in adults.

No study has been conducted to investigate the association between dietary acid load and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So, this cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the association between dietary acid load and odds of IBS, its severity, and IBS subtypes. A sample of 3362 Iranian subjects was selected from health centers in Isfahan province. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (DS-FFQ) was applied to estimate dietary intakes. The dietary acid load was measured using net endogenous acid production (NEAP), dietary acid load (DAL), and potential renal acid load (PRAL) scores. In crude models, the highest compared with the lowest category of the PRAL score was significantly associated with increased odds of IBS severity in participants with BMI ≥ 25 (kg/m2) (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = (1.03-2.32). Also, the results indicated a significant positive association between the PARL and odds of mixed subtype of IBS (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = (1.11-2.74); P trend = 0.02). In propensity score-adjusted model with potential confounders, only a positive association was found between PRAL and odds of mixed subtype of IBS (OR = 1.78; 95% CI = (1.05-3.00); P trend = 0.03). The DAL and NEAP scores tended to show non-significant similar findings. This study indicates that dietary acid load might be associated with odds of mixed type of IBS. However, further research is warranted to infer these findings.

The association between dietary total antioxidant capacity and odds and severity of irritable bowel syndrome among Iranian adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Little evidence is available in terms of the role of dietary antioxidants in the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) disease. This study aimed to examine the association between dietary total antioxidant capacity (dTAC) and odds of IBS and its severity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 3,362 Iranian adults who were referred to health centers in Isfahan province, Iran. Participants' dietary intakes were collected using a semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire (DS-FFQ). The dTAC was measured by the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. Multivariable binary or ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate any associations between dTAC and odds of IBS, IBS severity, and IBS subtypes. RESULTS: The average age and BMI of the participants and dTAC score were 36.3 ± 7.87 year, 24.9 ± 3.82 kg/m2. The prevalence of IBS, IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D), mixed IBS (IBS-M), and un-subtyped IBS (IBS-U) were 22.2, 7.5, 4.6, 3.8, and 6.2%, respectively. In crude and adjusted models, the results did not show any significant association between dTAC and odds of IBS among whole and gender-age stratified populations. Being in the third compared with the first tertile of dTAC was not also significantly associated with odds of IBS severity. Besides, there were no significant associations between dTAC and odds of IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M, and IBS-U. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that dTAC may not be associated with the odds of IBS and its severity even after stratification for gender and body mass index.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet Prevents Subclinical Colonic Inflammation and Alters Metabolomic Profile of Ulcerative Colitis Patients in Clinical Remission.

A relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) and diet has been shown in epidemiological and experimental studies. In a 6-month, open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, adult UC patients in clinical remission were randomized to either an "Anti-inflammatory Diet (AID)" or "Canada's Food Guide (CFG)". Menu plans in the AID were designed to increase the dietary intake of dietary fiber, probiotics, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids and to decrease the intake of red meat, processed meat, and added sugar. Stool was collected for fecal calprotectin (FCP) and microbial analysis. Metabolomic analysis was performed on urine, serum, and stool samples at the baseline and study endpoint. In this study, 53 patients were randomized. Five (19.2%) patients in the AID and 8 (29.6%) patients in the CFG experienced a clinical relapse. The subclinical response to the intervention (defined as FCP < 150 µg/g at the endpoint) was significantly higher in the AID group (69.2 vs. 37.0%, p = 0.02). The patients in the AID group had an increased intake of zinc, phosphorus, selenium, yogurt, and seafood versus the control group. Adherence to the AID was associated with significant changes in the metabolome, with decreased fecal acetone and xanthine levels along with increased fecal taurine and urinary carnosine and p-hydroxybenzoic acid levels. The AID subjects also had increases in fecal Bifidobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae. In this study, we found thatdietary modifications involving the increased intake of anti-inflammatory foods combined with a decreased intake of pro-inflammatory foods were associated with metabolic and microbial changes in UC patients in clinical remission and were effective in preventing subclinical inflammation.

Relationship between Depression and Constipation: Results from a Large Cross-sectional Study in Adults.

Background/Aims: Accumulating evidence based on a few studies suggests a relationship between depression and functional constipation. This study examined whether depression is associated with a higher risk of functional constipation and whether it is gender specific. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 3,362 adults aged 18-55 years. In this study, functional gastrointestinal symptoms were determined using an Iranian reliable and valid version of the modified Rome III questionnaire. The Iranian validated version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to evaluate the psychological health. Scores of eight or more on the depression subscale in the questionnaire were considered the presence of depression. Simple and multiple binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: The mean±SD age of participants was 36.29±7.87 years, and 58.5% were female. The prevalence of depression and constipation in the study sample was 28.6% and 23.9%, respectively. In the full adjusted model, in the total sample, depressed people showed a significantly higher risk of constipation; adjusted OR (AOR), 1.69 (95% CI, 1.37-2.09). Although a significant association was observed between depression and constipation in both genders, the association was stronger in men than women (AOR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.50, 3.63 vs. AOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.21, 1.99). Conclusions: These study findings showed that depressed people are at a significantly higher risk of being affected by constipation. The current study findings justify the importance of mental health evaluations in all patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, particularly among constipated individuals.

Dietary Inflammatory Potential in relation to General and Abdominal Obesity.

Background/Aims: Limited data are available on the association of Dietary Inflammatory Potential (DIP) with general and abdominal obesity in developing countries. The aim of this study was to examine the association between DIP score with general and abdominal obesity among Iranian adults. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in Isfahan, Iran. Dietary intakes were assessed by using a validated, self-administrated, dish-based, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. DIP was calculated based on standard method. Data regarding height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. Overweight or obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, and abdominal obesity was defined as WC ≥ 80 cm for women and ≥94 cm for men. Results. Mean age of study participants was 36.8 ± 8.08 years. The prevalence of general and abdominal obesity was 46.5% and 52.9%, respectively. We observed that higher DIP scores were significantly associated with a lower odds of general obesity (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.58-0.74). Stratified by sex, this significant association was seen only for women (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.46-0.72). In addition, no significant association was found between DIP scores and abdominal obesity. Conclusions. We found a significant inverse association between consumption of a proinflammatory diet and general obesity. In the gender-stratified analysis, this was seen in women, but not in men. There was no significant association between the DIP scores and abdominal obesity.

The Relationship Between Linoleic Acid Intake and Psychological Disorders in Adults.

Background: The association between linoleic acid (LA) intake and mental disorders has not been extensively studied in Middle-Eastern populations. We investigated the association between LA intake and the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in a large group of Iranian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 3,362 middle-aged adults. LA intake was determined through a validated dish-based 106-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were used to define psychological disorders. Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress among the study population was 28.6, 13.6, and 22.6%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals in the top quartile of LA intake had 41% more likely to be depressed compared to those in the bottom quartile (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.02-1.95). Stratified analysis by sex revealed that men in the fourth quartile of LA intake, compared to the first quartile, had 80% higher odds of depression, after considering all potential confounders (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.01-3.19). More consumption of LA was also associated with higher odds of depression in older adults (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.46-4.10) and normal-weight individuals (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.13-2.72). Additionally, higher intake of LA was related to 90% higher odds of psychological distress in older participants (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.08-3.36). No significant relation was found between LA intake and anxiety. Conclusion: We found that higher intake of LA, as percentage of energy, was positively associated with depression, especially in men, older adults, and normal-weight subjects. Higher intake of LA was also related to higher odds of psychological distress in older individuals. More studies, particularly prospective cohorts, are needed to confirm these findings.

A population based case-control study of association between dietary calcium intake and ulcerative colitis in adults.

Limited data are available on the association of dietary calcium intake and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to investigate the relation between dietary calcium intake and UC prevalence in Iranian adults. In this population-based case-control study, diagnosed patients with UC by gastroenterologists that were registered in the Iranian inflammatory bowel disease registry were included as cases. Age and sex-matched healthy controls were selected from Study on the Epidemiology of Psychological, Alimentary Health and Nutrition (SEPAHAN) dataset. Dietary calcium intakes of participants were examined through a validated food frequency questionnaire. We included 327 middle-aged participants (109 cases and 218 controls) in the analysis; 52.1% of them were females. After adjustments for potential confounders, individuals in the third tertile of dietary calcium intake had 92% lower odds of UC, compared to those in the first tertile (OR = 0.08, 95% CI 0.02-0.27). Our analysis based on recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) intake showed that dietary Ca intake deficiency was related to increased odds of UC (OR = 9.5, 95% CI 2.98-30.91). Stratified analysis by gender revealed that these associations were significant in both genders; although the results were stronger in the male population. A Significant decreasing trend was observed for odds of UC in tertiles of dietary calcium intakes, in both males and females. Higher dietary calcium intake was associated with lower UC prevalence in Iranian adults. Inadequate dietary calcium intake was also linked to elevated odds of UC. Further prospective investigations are needed to affirm these findings.

Association Between Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Diet Quality in Adults.

Background: Diet quality is a major contributor to human health. In addition, antioxidants have a great contribution to several chronic conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) can be considered as a measure of diet quality in a Middle Eastern country. Methods: In this cross-sectional study on 6,724 Iranian adults, we used a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intakes. Data derived from the FFQ was used to calculate dietary TAC and well-known diet quality scores including alternate healthy eating index (AHEI) and dietary diversity score (DDS). Dietary TAC was calculated based on the ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) values reported in earlier publications. AHEI and DDS have also been constructed based on previous publications. Cross-classification was used to examine the agreement between these measures. Results: Mean age and BMI of study participants were 36.89 ± 8.08 y and 24.97 ± 3.87 kg/m2, respectively. We found that individuals in the highest tertile of dietary TAC had higher scores of AHEI (57.53 ± 0.20 vs. 52.03 ± 0.20, P < 0.001) and DDS (5.56 ± 0.03 vs. 4.15 ± 0.03, P < 0.001) compared with those in the lowest tertile. Participants' distribution on the basis of the cross-classification analysis indicated that the classifications were in exact agreement for 42.6%, within an adjacent tertile for 33.05%, and in gross misclassification for 20% of individuals. When this was examined between dietary TAC and DDS, we found that exact agreement in the classifications was for 59.2% of participants. Notably, a very low proportion of gross misclassification was seen in this regard such that only 6% of participants were classified in the opposing tertiles, indicating additional support for a good agreement. Conclusion: We found that dietary TAC might be considered as a proper measure for the assessment of diet quality because it was well correlated with well-known measures of diet quality including DDS and AHEI scores.

The relationship between meal regularity with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in adults.

BACKGROUND: The irregular meal pattern and meal-skipping might be related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), however, findings of previous investigations are contradictory. We aimed to examine the relation of meal regularity with IBS in Iranian adult population. METHODS: Data on 4599 adults who worked in 50 different health centers were used in this cross-sectional study. Dietary habits were measured using a pretested questionnaire. IBS identification was performed through the use of a modified version of Rome III questionnaire. RESULTS: IBS was prevalent among 18.6% of men and 24.1% of women. After adjustment for potential confounders, those with regular meal pattern, in comparison to those with irregular meals, had 40% lower odds for IBS (OR:0.60, 95%CI: 0.41-0.87). Individuals with regular meals had also 82 lower risk for IBS-Mixed, in comparison to those who had irregular meals (OR:0.18, 0.95%CI: 0.08-0.43). Stratified analysis by gender revealed that women with regular meals, compared with those who did not, had 44% lower risk for IBS (OR: 0.56, 0.95%CI: 0.34-0.91). Normal-weight individuals who had regular meal pattern, compared to those who did not, had 63% lower risks for IBS (OR:0.37, 95%CI: 0.22-0.64). Furthermore, subjects who had regular meal pattern had 53% lower risk for severe symptoms of IBS (OR:0.47, 95%CI: 0.30-0.71). CONCLUSION: We found that participants with regular meal pattern had reduced odds of IBS, IBS-Mixed and the syndrome severity. Meal regularity was also linked to reduced IBS prevalence in women, and in normal-weight individuals. More prospective studies are needed to affirm these associations.

Depression, anxiety and stress, comorbidity evaluation among a large sample of general adults: results from SEPAHAN study

Depression, anxiety and stress are common psychological disorders (PDs).This study aimed to assess the odds of co-occurrence of mentioned PDs in total sample and different levels of socio-demographic characteristics, specifically among a large sample of general adults.Ina cross-sectional, community-based study conducted among 4763 Iranian adults, depression and anxiety were assessed with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and stress with General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The loglinear analysis was applied to investigate their comorbidities. Based on selected models with pair-comorbidity of anxiety with stress, depression with stress, and anxiety with depression, the results showed the odds of comorbidity between anxiety and depression (odds ratio (OR) =12.29, 95%CI: 9.58-15.80), depression and stress (OR = 7.80, 95%CI:6.55-10.18), and stress and anxiety (OR = 4.62, 95%CI:3.71-5.75). Also, ORs of pair-comorbidities were the same, except between stress and anxiety for men compared to women (adjusted-OR = 6.47, 95%CI: 4.44-9.49 versus 3.85, 95%CI:2.95-5.00) and comorbidity between stress and depression for the participants withlower than 40 years compared to others (adjusted-OR = 9.03, 95%CI: 7.17-11.36 versus 6.41, 95%CI: 4.90-8.41), p< 0.05. Stress comorbidity with depression was higher level than other pair-comorbidities. Obvious discrepancies were also observed in terms of ORs of pair-comorbidities between three mentioned disorders in different levels of SDCs.

Dietary methyl donor micronutrients intake in relation to psychological disorders in adults.

Previous investigations have mostly studied an individual methyl donor nutrient in relation to psychological disorders and the findings were inconsistent. We investigated the association of methyl donor micronutrients (folate, B6, B12, choline, betaine and methionine) with psychological disorders in Iranian adults. In this cross-sectional study, dietary intakes of 3299 adults were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Methyl donor micronutrient score (MDMS) was calculated based on energy-adjusted deciles of each nutrient. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), validated for Iranians, have been applied to assess depression, anxiety and psychological distress. Participants had a mean age of 36·3 ± 7·9 years, of whom 58·5 % were women. After considering potential confounders, adults in the top quartile of MDMS, compared to the bottom one, had decreased odds of anxiety (OR: 0·53, 95 % CI: 0·37, 0·75), depression (OR: 0·75, 95 % CI: 0·58, 0·97) and psychological distress (OR: 0·61, 95 % CI: 0·46, 0·80). Among women, the top quartile of MDMS was protectively associated with anxiety (OR: 0·60, 95 % CI: 0·40, 0·90), depression (OR: 0·68, 95 % CI: 0·50, 0·93) and psychological distress (OR: 0·53, 95 % CI: 0·38, 0·74). Overweight and obese subjects in the highest quartile of MDMS had a 67 %, 35 % and 53 % lower odds of anxiety (95 % CI: 0·20, 0·56), depression (95 % CI: 0·44, 0·94) and psychological distress (95 % CI: 0·31, 0·70), respectively. We found that high consumption of methyl donor micronutrients was related to a reduced odds of psychological disorders, especially in women and overweight or obese individuals.

Applications of Metabolomics to Precision Nutrition.

BACKGROUND: For thousands of years, disabilities due to nutrient deficiencies have plagued humanity. Rickets, scurvy, anemia, stunted growth, blindness, and mental handicaps due to nutrient deficiencies affected up to 1/10 of the world's population prior to 1900. The discovery of essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, in the early 1900s, led to a fundamental change in our understanding of food and a revolution in human health. Widespread vitamin and mineral supplementation, the development of recommended dietary allowances, and the implementation of food labeling and testing along with significant improvements in food production and food quality have meant that nutrient-related disorders have almost vanished in the developed world. The success of nutritional science in preventing disease at a population-wide level is one of the great scientific triumphs of the 20th century. The challenge for nutritional science in the 21st century is to understand how to use nutrients and other food constituents to enhance human health or prevent disease at a more personal level. This is the primary goal of precision nutrition. SUMMARY: Precision nutrition is an emerging branch of nutrition science that aims to use modern omics technologies (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) to assess an individual's response to specific foods or dietary patterns and thereby determine the most effective diet or lifestyle interventions to prevent or treat specific diseases in that individual. Metabolomics is vital to nearly every aspect of precision nutrition. It can be used to comprehensively characterize the thousands of chemicals in foods, to identify food byproducts in human biofluids or tissues, to characterize nutrient deficiencies or excesses, to monitor biochemical responses to dietary interventions, to track long-term or short-term dietary habits, and to guide the development of nutritional therapies. In this review, we will describe how metabolomics has been used to advance the field of precision nutrition by providing some notable examples or use cases. First, we will describe how metabolomics helped launch the field of precision nutrition through the diagnosis and dietary therapy of individuals with inborn errors of metabolism. Next, we will describe how metabolomics is being used to comprehensively characterize the full chemical complexity of many key foods, and how this is revealing much more about nutrients than ever imagined. Third, we will describe how metabolomics is being used to identify food consumption biomarkers and how this opens the door to a more objective and quantitative assessments of an individual's diet and their response to certain foods. Finally, we will describe how metabolomics is being coupled with other omics technologies to develop custom diets and lifestyle interventions that are leading to positive health benefits. Key Message: Metabolomics is vital to the advancement of nutritional science and in making the dream of precision nutrition a reality.

The Association between Adherence to the MIND Diet and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: No earlier study examined the association between adherence to the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet and odds of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study was conducted to examine the relationship between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS among Iranian adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, dietary intakes of 3,362 adults were examined using a validated Dish-Based 106-item Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (DS-FFQ). The MIND diet score was constructed based on participants' dietary intakes obtained from DS-FFQ. IBS was evaluated using a modified Persian version of the Rome III questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, 22.2% of the study population were affected by IBS (n = 748). We observed no significant relationship between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS in the whole population (OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.71-1.31). By gender and BMI status, no significant association between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS was seen. Also, no significant association was found between adherence to the MIND diet and IBS subtypes. CONCLUSION: No significant association was found between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of IBS. Further studies are needed to examine the association between dietary patterns and IBS.

The association between adherence to the MIND diet and stroke: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Although some components of MIND diet were associated with stroke, no information is available on the association between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of stroke. This study was conducted to investigate the association between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of stroke among Iranian adults. METHODS: This case-control study was done on 193 hospitalized stroke cases and 195 hospital-based controls in Al-Zahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Dietary intakes of study participants were assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The MIND diet score was computed based on participants' dietary intakes obtained from FFQ. Stroke was confirmed by a trained neurologist using standard imaging methods. RESULTS: After controlling for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and heart disease, there was no significant association between adherence to the MIND diet and stroke (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.26, 1.12). However, after further adjustment for BMI, we found that those with the greatest adherence to the MIND diet were less likely to have stroke compared with those with the lowest adherence; such that greater adherence to the MIND diet was associated with a 59% reduced odds of stroke (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.18-0.94). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found that adherence to the MIND diet was inversely associated with odds of stroke in a case-control study. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.