Effect of a personalized intensive dietary intervention on base excision repair (BER) in colorectal cancer patients: Results from a randomized controlled trial.

DNA repair is essential to maintain genomic integrity and may affect colorectal cancer (CRC) patients' risk of secondary cancers, treatment efficiency, and susceptibility to various comorbidities. Bioactive compounds identified in plant foods have the potential to modulate DNA repair mechanisms, but there is limited evidence of how dietary factors may affect DNA repair activity in CRC patients in remission after surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 6-month personalized intensive dietary intervention on DNA repair activity in post-surgery CRC patients (stage I-III). The present study included patients from the randomized controlled trial CRC-NORDIET, enrolled 2-9 months after surgery. The intervention group received an intensive dietary intervention emphasizing a prudent diet with specific plant-based foods suggested to dampen inflammation and oxidative stress, while the control group received only standard care advice. The comet-based in vitro repair assay was applied to assess DNA repair activity, specifically base excision repair (BER), in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Statistical analyses were conducted using gamma generalized linear mixed models (Gamma GLMM). A total of 138 CRC patients were included, 72 from the intervention group and 66 from the control group. The BER activity in the intervention group did not change significantly compared to the control group. Our findings revealed a substantial range in both inter- and intra-individual levels of BER. In conclusion, the results do not support an effect of dietary intervention on BER activity in post-surgery CRC patients during a 6-month intervention period.

DNA base oxidation in relation to TNM stages and chemotherapy treatment in colorectal cancer patients 2-9 months post-surgery.

Accumulation of DNA damage is a critical feature of genomic instability, which is a hallmark of various cancers. The enzyme-modified comet assay is a recognized method to detect specific DNA lesions at the level of individual cells. In this cross-sectional investigation, we explore possible links between clinicopathological and treatment related factors, nutritional status, physical activity and function, and DNA damage in a cohort of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with non-metastatic disease. Levels of DNA damage in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) assessed 2-9 months post-surgery, were compared across tumour stage (localized (stage I-II) vs. regional (stage III) disease), localization (colon vs. rectosigmoid/rectum cancer), and adjuvant chemotherapy usage, with the last dosage administrated 2-191 days prior to sampling. Associations between DNA damage and indicators of nutritional status, physical activity and function were also explored. In PBMCs, DNA base oxidation was higher in patients diagnosed with regional compared with localized tumours (P = 0.03), but no difference was seen for DNA strand breaks (P > 0.05). Number of days since last chemotherapy dosage was negatively associated with DNA base oxidation (P < 0.01), and patients recently receiving chemotherapy (<15 days before blood collection) had higher levels of DNA base oxidation than those not receiving chemotherapy (P = 0.03). In the chemotherapy group, higher fat mass (in kg and %) as well as lower physical activity were associated with greater DNA base oxidation (P < 0.05). In conclusion, DNA base oxidation measured with the enzyme-modified comet assay varies according to tumour and lifestyle related factors in CRC patients treated for non-metastatic disease.

Feasibility of a Postpartum Web- and Phone-Based Lifestyle Program for Women with a History of Preeclampsia or Gestational Diabetes: A Pilot Intervention Study.

Background: Women with a history of preeclampsia (PE) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Increased awareness of pregnancy complications as early warning signs for CVD has called for postpartum primordial prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a postpartum web- and phone-based lifestyle program promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors to women after a pregnancy complicated by PE or GDM. Materials and Methods: Women with a validated history of PE or GDM were invited to participate in a nonrandomized pilot intervention study 3-12 months after delivery. The intervention was delivered over 6 months. All participants received tailored lifestyle counseling by a registered dietitian and access to information material on healthy lifestyle behaviors on the study's website. After inclusion, participants were invited to three study visits at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Feasibility outcomes included assessment of recruitment, retention, and acceptability. Secondary outcomes were changes in lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Of the 207 women invited, 44 were enrolled in the feasibility study and 40 women completed the intervention, corresponding to a recruitment rate of 21% and a retention rate of 91%. At the 3-month study visit, 94.6% of participants reported they had used the website. A total of 41.7% of the participants reported that they had achieved their personal goals during the intervention period. Conclusions: This study suggested the feasibility and potential acceptability of a web- and phone-based lifestyle intervention for mothers with recent PE or GDM. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, no. NCT03993145.

Availability of data assessing the prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among European adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To review recent data on objectively measured overweight/obesity in national representative samples of European adolescents (aged 10-18 years), as well as availability of studies assessing trends in overweight/obesity in this target group. Attention was paid to the ability of the data to describe the obesity epidemic, especially in sociodemographic subgroups. DESIGN/SETTING/SUBJECTS: Data on prevalence and trends in overweight/obesity among adolescents in the twenty-seven European Community member states, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, available as scientific publications as well as reports or unpublished data by the end of 2009, were retrieved. Reports on the most recent objectively measured data from national representative samples were selected and described with regard to the years of data collection, sample sizes, response rates, age ranges included, trends by age, type of measures of overweight/obesity, sociodemographic variables and the sources of information. RESULTS: Objectively measured data on national representative samples were identified for only half of the countries, and the trend studies were mainly conducted applying subnational samples. Most studies used the criteria from the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) to define overweight/obesity, but the age ranges studied and the years of data collection varied, and information on sample sizes and response rates were often not presented. Data on trends of overweight/obesity over time are increasing, and the most recent studies indicate that the prevalence rate of overweight/obesity has stabilized. Few studies reported data by sociodemographic subgroups other than gender and age. CONCLUSIONS: Objectively measured data on national representative samples of adolescents appear scattered, and there is a large heterogeneity with respect to the quality and comparability of available data. Increasing use of the IOTF criteria for overweight/obesity contributes to improved comparability across studies. Data by sociodemographic subgroups, and in particular by socio-economic status, are scarce.