Lifestyle Factors and Energy Intakes with Risks of Breast Cancer among Pre- and Post- Menopausal Women in Taiwan.

Although the incidence of invasive breast cancer (BC) among women in Asian is generally lower than that in Western countries, the incidence of BC has been on the rise in the past three decades in Asian countries. This hospital-based case-control study aimed to explore the relationship between dietary and metabolic factors and BC risk in pre- and post-menopausal women. We enrolled 285 patients with newly diagnosed BC at the National Taiwan University Hospital and 297 controls from the local community and hospital staff. Before receiving anticancer therapy, all patients with BC and control participants completed a 57-question semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. For pre-menopausal women, plant-based factor scores rich in seeds and nuts, soy, fruits, and seaweeds correlated significantly with reduced BC risks, whereas menarche occurring at <12 years of age, reduced physical activity, and high-density lipoprotein <40 mg/dL were associated with increased BC risks. For post-menopausal women, plant-based dietary factor scores were also associated with reduced risks, whereas increased body mass index and energy intake levels correlated with increased BC risks. Diets rich in plant-based dietary patterns are protective against BC risk, regardless of menopausal status. Habitual physical activity is protective against BC risk among pre-menopausal Taiwanese women. Maintaining optimal weight and caloric intake is beneficial for reducing post-menopausal BC risk.

Effect of a novel telehealth device for dietary cognitive behavioral intervention in overweight or obesity care.

Obesity has become a major public health issue which relate to numerous physical problems and highly comorbid with depression and anxiety. Recently, some studies of technology-based interventions for weight reduction emerged to overcome the barriers from time, cost and distance. Mood component and eating behavior related to obesity are less discussed so far with technology-based intervention though. This pilot study was aimed to investigate the effect of telehealth assisted intervention on weight reduction, mood status, and eating behavior change under a smartphone application (app) with novel 3D food picture recognition and incorporated with cognitive behavioral training programs. Adult aged 30-60 years old with overweight were recruited and randomly assigned to control-first group and intervention-first group. In period 1, control-first group had regular life and intervention-first group underwent app intervention; in period 2, two groups went crossover. Body composition and psychological/behavioral questionnaires were collected at baseline, end of period 1, and end of period 2. Nonparametric statistics was performed for data analyzing. A total of 20 participants were enrolled. In control-first group, there were statistically significant reduction in body weight (- 0.55 kg, p = 0.02) and change of body weight percentage (- 0.6%, p = 0.02) after App use. In intervention-first group, the fat percentage decreased by 0.4% after App use in period 1, and increased by 0.05% in period 2. The integrated crossover data revealed that subjects of App group had significant improvements in mindful eating behavior. This pilot study showed the effectiveness in using CogniNU app for weight control and eating behavior. The difference of short-term and long-term effectiveness of technology-based weight control intervention deserves more investigation in the future.Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN16082909.

Interaction among dietary n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, fatty acid desaturase 2 genetic variants, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetes patients.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genetic polymorphisms are strongly correlated with the risk of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we examined the impact of FADS1 and FADS2 genetic variants on plasma lipid status, and assessed interactions between FADS genetic polymorphisms and plasma n-3/n-6 fatty acids regarding lipid status within a population of 816 Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Selected tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (FADS1 rs174546 [T/C]; FADS2 rs174602 [A/G] and rs2072114 [A/G]) were genotyped (n = 816). RESULTS: The distribution of genotypes were compared with reports publicly available in the Genome Aggregation Database for East Asian populations (https://gnomad.broadinstitute.org). In the subgroup of patients not taking lipid-lowering medications (n = 192), we observed that the G allele of FADS2 rs174602 was statistically significantly correlated with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations (P = 0.001), whereas the G allele of rs2072114 was marginally associated with LDL-C concentrations (P = 0.091). Using a general linear model adjusted for confounding factors, statistically significant interactions (P = 0.016) between single-nucleotide polymorphisms in rs2072114 and a low alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3)/linoleic acid (18:2n-6) ratio; the G allele correlated with lower LDL-C levels among individuals with a low alpha-linolenic acid/linoleic acid ratio. Interaction between rs174602 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and low alpha-linolenic acid/linoleic acid values on LDL-C was only marginally significant (P = 0.063). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show the role of n-3/n-6 dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids in modifying the effects of genetic susceptibility on lipoprotein concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes. Our findings highlight the potential of interventions with dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids regarding developing individualized prevention strategies for type 2 diabetes presenting with co-occurring dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Elevated intramuscular adipose tissue content with a high Ishak fibrosis stage (>3) had a negative effect on liver regeneration in cirrhotic patients undergoing portal vein embolization.

This study investigated the relationship between body composition parameters and changes in future liver remnant volume (FLRV) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing portal vein embolization (PVE) in preparation for right hepatectomy. This retrospective study enrolled 21 patients between May 2013 and October 2020. Body composition parameters, including skeletal muscle attenuation (SMA), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC), and visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR), were measured by computed tomography (CT) prior to PVE. Liver volumetry was measured before and at least 5 weeks after PVE. The mean interval between two CT volumetries was 9.1 ± 4.9 weeks, the mean value of increase in FLRV (ΔFLRV) was 236.0 ± 118.3 cm3 , the ratio of increased FLRV (ΔFLRV%) was 55.7 ± 29.4%, and the rate of increased FLRV was 31.0 ± 18.8 (cm3 /week). Subjects with high IMAC showed significantly lower (p = 0.044) ΔFLRV% than those with normal IMAC. Furthermore, ΔFLRV% was linearly reduced (p for trend = 0.043) among those with low Ishak fibrosis stage (<3) + normal IMAC (76.1 ± 36.8%), those with low Ishak fibrosis stage (<3) + high IMAC or high Ishak fibrosis stage (>3) + normal IMAC (54.0 ± 24.1%), and those with high Ishak fibrosis stage (>3) + low IMAC (28.7 ± 1.6%) (p for trend = 0.043). Our data indicated that high IMAC with a high Ishak fibrosis stage (>3) had a significant negative effect on ΔFLRV%.

Abundance of Prevotella copri in gut microbiota is inversely related to a healthy diet in patients with type 2 diabetes.

While the gut microbiota is known to be influenced by habitual food intake, this relationship is seldom explored in type 2 diabetes patients. This study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and gut microbial species abundance in 113 type 2 diabetes patients (mean age, 58 years; body mass index, 29.1; glycohemoglobin [HbA1c], 8.1%). We analyzed the gut microbiota using 16S amplicon sequencing, and all patients were categorized into either the Bacteroides enterotype (57.5%, n = 65) or the Prevotella enterotype (42.5%, n = 48) using the partitioning around medoids clustering algorithm, based on the most representative genera. Patients with the Bacteroides enterotype showed better glycemic control with a 2.71 odds of HbA1c ≤ 7.0% compared to the Prevotella enterotype (95% confidence interval, 1.02-7.87; P, 0.034). Dietary habits and the nutrient composition of all patients were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. It was observed that the amounts of dietary fiber consumed were suboptimal, with an average intake of 16 g per day. Additionally, we extracted four dietary patterns through factor analysis: eating-out, high-sugar foods, fish-vegetable, and fermented foods patterns. Patients with the Bacteroides enterotype had higher scores for the fish-vegetable pattern compared to the Prevotella enterotype (0.17 ± 0.13 versus -0.23 ± 0.09; P, 0.010). We further investigated the relationship between the microbiota and the four dietary patterns and found that only the fish-vegetable dietary pattern scores were correlated with principal coordinate values. A lower pattern score was associated with the accumulated abundance of the 31 significant microbial features. Among these features, Prevotella copri was identified as the most significant by using a random forest model, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.98). To validate these results, we conducted a custom quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. This assay confirmed the presence of P. copri (sensitivity, 0.96; specificity, 0.97) in our cohort, with a prevalence of 47.8%, and a mean relative abundance of 21.0% in subjects harboring P. copri. In summary, type 2 diabetes patients with the Prevotella enterotype demonstrated poorer glycemic control and deviations from a healthy dietary pattern. The abundance of P. copri, as a major contributing microbial feature, was associated with the severity in the deficiency in dietary fish and vegetables. Emphasis should be placed on promoting a healthy dietary pattern and understanding the microbial correlations.

Using a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire to Evaluate Macronutrients, Fiber, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Calcium in Adults with Stages 3-5 Chronic Kidney Disease.

The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be directly or indirectly accelerated by a poor diet and the diet's influence on risk factors for this disease. There have been no food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) developed for the assessment of diet in patients with CKD in Taiwan. This study analyzed the validity of a short FFQ (SFFQ) with 42 items for estimating patient intake of macronutrients, fiber, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium against 3-day dietary records (3-day DRs) in Taiwanese patients with stages 3-5 CKD. In an interview, 107 participants with the help of a dietician filled out an SFFQ and reviewed a 3-day DR the patients had filled out prior to the interview. Partial Pearson correlation coefficients between SFFQ and 3-day DR were 0.722, 0.619, 0.593, 0.572, 0.450, 0.611 and 0.410 for protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, respectively, after adjusting for energy intake. Cross-classification analysis revealed 63.5-83.2% similarity in cross-tool estimated intakes of macronutrients, fiber, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium in the same quartiles or adjacent ones. Bland-Altman plots revealed good agreement between the two tools along different intake levels. In conclusion, the newly developed SFFQ had moderate relative validity in estimating the usual intake of key nutrients related to nutrition management of patients with late-stage CKD, suggesting it can be used to assess dietary intakes in a population with CKD, especially in those residing in an Asian region.

Phytochemical-rich vegetable and fruit juice alleviates oral mucositis during concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT)-induced oral mucositis (OM) causes oral pain, malnutrition, and impaired quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Phytochemicals play a potential role in eliminating cancer therapy toxicity. Objective: To evaluate the effect of phytochemical-rich vegetable and fruit juice (VFJ) consumption in preventing CCRT-induced OM among patients with locally advanced HNC. Methods: Forty-nine patients with HNC undergoing CCRT were enrolled. All patients received nutritional counseling before CCRT and weekly follow-up. The VFJ group (25 patients) received 600 mL/day VFJ, 5 days/week for two weeks preceding CCRT and during CCRT, and the control group (24 patients) did not. The contents of total polyphenols and carotenoids in the VFJ were determined. Changes in anthropometric, dietary, and laboratory profiles were compared. Assessment of OM was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) scoring system. Results: Total polyphenols content was 64.6 mg gallic acid equivalents per 100 mL of the VFJ, and the main carotenoids were ß-carotene and lycopene. The mean daily consumption of the VFJ was 538 mL for VFJ group. Changes in body weight, albumin, and energy intake were not significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of ulcerative OM was significantly lower in VFJ (64.0%) than in control (95.8%) subjects at week 6 of CCRT. Multiple logistic regressions revealed that VFJ consumption correlated significantly with lower risks of ulcerative OM. Conclusion: Consumption of VFJ rich in phytochemicals including total polyphenols and carotenoids effectively alleviates the severity of CCRT-induced OM among patients with locally advanced HNC. Section: Preventive Medicine; Dietary Therapy/Nutrition Supplements. Taxonomy: (classification by EVISE)Preventive medicine, dietary therapy, nutrition supplements.

Adequacy of prescribed caloric and protein intake and reduction of mortality in critically ill patients with body mass indices <30 kg/m2.

OBJECTIVE: Although the provision of nutrition helps minimize adverse outcomes in most patients in intensive care units (ICUs), little is known about the relative effect of energy and protein delivered on mortality in ICU patients with different ranges of body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between adequacy of dietary energy and protein intakes separately and simultaneously, and short-term mortality in medical ICU patients across four BMI categories. METHODS: We enrolled 1693 patients admitted to a medical center ICU in Taiwan during the period of 2005 to 2011, subcategorizing them by BMI levels: <18.5(n = 418), 18.5-24.9 (n = 889), 25-29.9 (n = 289), and ≥30 kg/m2 (n = 97). Dietary energy and protein intake (DEI and DPI) were defined by the percent of prescribed dosages that each patient actually received: highly adequate (>80%), moderately adequate (60-80%), and inadequate (<60%), during the first 10 d in the ICU. RESULTS: Mean DEI was 1237 kcal/d and DPI 47 g protein/d. Analyzed separately in our multiple regression models, moderately and highly adequate DEI (Ptrends = 0.003-0.026) and DPI (Ptrends = 0.001-0.004) were both significantly correlated with reduced mortality in patients with BMI <18.5, 18.5-24.9, and 25-29.9 kg/m2 but not in those with BMI levels ≥30 kg/m2. With DEI and DPI analyzed simultaneously, only APACHE II scores and DPI levels remained significantly related to reduced mortality in patients with BMI <30 kg/m2. CONCLUSION: Although the adequacy of delivery of prescribed DEI or DPI dosages appeared to be important for reduced risks for mortality in ICU patients with BMI <30 kg/m2 when analyzed separately, DPI had a stronger effect on decreases in ICU mortality when the two were analyzed simultaneously. Further investigation may be needed to study the role of increased protein in improving clinical outcomes.

A Low-Protein Diet with a Renal-Specific Oral Nutrition Supplement Helps Maintain Nutritional Status in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease.

A low-protein diet (LPD) is recommended to patients with non-dialysis advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) for delaying renal function decline. However, this approach potentially prevents an adequate calorie and micronutrient intake. We examined the influence of an LPD including a renal-specific oral nutrition supplement (RONS) on the nutrition status of patients with stage 3b-5 CKD. This multicenter, open-label study prospectively enrolled patients over 18 years of age, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 10 and 45 mL/min/1.73 m2, serum albumin ≥3.0 g/dL, and body mass index ≤30 kg/m2. All participants implemented the LPD with one serving of RONS daily for 6 months. Daily energy intake, nutrition status, renal function, and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention. Of 53 enrolled patients, 35 (66.0%) completed the study. We found that RONS use increased patients' energy intake and maintained their serum albumin, nutritional status, and quality of life. Body weight and handgrip strength increased significantly at 6 months after enrollment (p = 0.0357); eGFR slightly decreased at 3 and 6 months after enrollment, suggesting that patients' residual renal function was preserved. Our findings support the conclusion that patients with non-dialysis advanced CKD may benefit from additional RONS besides their regular diet. Patients with advanced CKD receiving RONS might achieve better nutrition and delay renal function decline.

The correlation between professional quality of life and mental health outcomes among hospital personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic in Taiwan.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the association between professional quality of life, working context, and mental health outcomes among hospital personnel in Taiwan during the worldwide upsurge in COVID-19 cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited 503 hospital personnel to whom we administered online questionnaires containing items from the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) scale, which covers compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO) and compassion fatigue (CF), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and questions on work-related variables. Data were collected from 13 July to 19 August 2020. RESULTS: The participants generally reported moderate CS and BO and low CF. Overall prevalence of mild-to-extremely-severe stress, anxiety and depression was 24.5%, 39.6% and 31.2%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression revealed that moderate-to-high BO and CF correlated with increased risks of mild-to-extremely-severe stress (OR = 4.17 and 2.23, respectively), anxiety (OR = 4.86 and 2.81, respectively) and depression (OR = 5.83 and 3.01, respectively), while moderate-to-high CS correlated with reduced risks of stress (OR = 0.53) and depression (OR = 0.45) only. There were CS and BO differences in groups categorized by marital status and profession. Anxiety increased linearly by seniority <10, 10-19 and ≥20 years (p for trend <0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the subscales of ProQOL, BO and CF appeared to be associated with increased risks of stress, anxiety and depression among hospital personnel during the COVID-19 epidemic. A long-term contingency program may be needed to adjust work context variables and support emotional well-being of these workers.

Gut Microbial Signatures for Glycemic Responses of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Pilot Study.

Backgrounds: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) is probably one of more effective antidiabetic agents in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, the heterogenicity in responses to GLP-1 RA may be potentially related to gut microbiota, although no human evidence has been published. This pilot study aims to identify microbial signatures associated with glycemic responses to GLP-1 RA. Materials and Methods: Microbial compositions of 52 patients with T2D receiving GLP-1 RA were determined by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Bacterial biodiversity was compared between responders versus non-responders. Pearson's correlation and random forest tree algorithm were used to identify microbial features of glycemic responses in T2D patients and multivariable linear regression models were used to validate clinical relevance. Results: Beta diversity significantly differed between GLP-1 RA responders (n = 34) and non-responders (n = 18) (ADONIS, P = 0.004). The top 17 features associated with glycohemoglobin reduction had a 0.96 diagnostic ability, based on area under the ROC curve: Bacteroides dorei and Roseburia inulinivorans, the two microbes having immunomodulation effects, along with Lachnoclostridium sp. and Butyricicoccus sp., were positively correlated with glycemic reduction; Prevotella copri, the microbe related to insulin resistance, together with Ruminococcaceae sp., Bacteroidales sp., Eubacterium coprostanoligenes sp., Dialister succinatiphilus, Alistipes obesi, Mitsuokella spp., Butyricimonas virosa, Moryella sp., and Lactobacillus mucosae had negative correlation. Furthermore, Bacteroides dorei, Lachnoclostridium sp. and Mitsuokella multacida were significant after adjusting for baseline glycohemoglobin and C-peptide concentrations, two clinical confounders. Conclusions: Unique gut microbial signatures are associated with glycemic responses to GLP-RA treatment and reflect degrees of dysbiosis in T2D patients.

Taiwan Society of Colon and Rectum Surgeons (TSCRS) Consensus for Anti-Inflammatory Nutritional Intervention in Colorectal Cancer.

Malnutrition and systemic inflammatory response (SIR) frequently occur in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and are associated with poor prognosis. Anti-inflammatory nutritional intervention is not only a way to restore the malnourished status but also modulate SIR. Nine experts, including colorectal surgeons, physicians and dieticians from 5 hospitals geographically distributed in Taiwan, attended the consensus meeting in Taiwan Society of Colon and Rectum Surgeons for a 3-round discussion and achieved the consensus based on a systematic literature review of clinical studies and published guidelines. The consensus recommends that assessment of nutritional risk and SIR should be performed before and after CRC treatment and appropriate nutritional and/or anti-inflammatory intervention should be adapted and provided accordingly.

Blood biomarkers of various dietary patterns correlated with metabolic indicators in Taiwanese type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic alterations correlate with adverse outcomes in type 2 diabetes. Dietary modification serves as an integral part in its treatment. OBJECTIVE: We examined the relationships among dietary patterns, dietary biomarkers, and metabolic indicators in type 2 diabetes (n = 871). DESIGN: Diabetic patients (n = 871) who provided complete clinical and dietary data in both 2008 and 2009 were selected from a cohort participating in a diabetic control study in Taiwan. Dietary data were obtained using a short, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires, and dietary pattern identified by factor analysis. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the association between dietary biomarkers (ferritin, folate, and erythrocyte n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [n-3 PUFAs]) and metabolic control upon adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns (high-fat meat, traditional Chinese food-snack, and fish-vegetable) were identified. Ferritin correlated positively with high-fat meat factor scores (P for trend <0.001). Erythrocyte n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] + docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio) correlated positively with fish-vegetable factor scores (all P for trends <0.001). Multiple linear regressions revealed a positive relationship between ferritin concentrations and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and triglycerides, but a negative relationship with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Erythrocyte n-3 PUFA, EPA+DHA, and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio were negatively linked to FPG, HbA1c, and triglycerides (all P < 0.05) and positively with HDL-C (though n-3/n-6 ratio marginally correlated). CONCLUSIONS: Ferritin and n-3 PUFA can serve as valid biomarkers for high-fat meat and fish-vegetable dietary patterns. Unlike ferritin, erythrocyte n-3 PUFA status was related to better glycemic and blood lipid profiles. Our results suggest that habitual consumption of diet pattern rich in fish and vegetables may contribute in part to a healthier metabolic profile in type 2 diabetes.

Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire Assessing Macronutrient and Fiber Intakes in Patients of Han Chinese Descent with Type 2 Diabetes.

Few food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have been developed to assess diet in diabetes patients. This cross-sectional study examined the validity of a 45-item FFQ assessing the intake of macronutrients against three 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) in Taiwan, and compared vegetable and fruit intakes with carotenoid biomarkers. We recruited 126 adults with type 2 diabetes who completed the FFQ and three 24-HDRs administered by a registered dietitian. We measured plasma carotenoids (α-carotene, ß-carotene and lutein) in 71 subjects. Partial Pearson correlation coefficients derived from the FFQs and three 24-HDRs and adjusted for energy were of 0.651, 0.587, 0.639 and 0.664 for protein, fat, carbohydrate and fiber, respectively. Cross-classification analysis revealed that 71.5⁻81% of the macronutrients and fiber were categorized into the same or adjacent quartiles by the FFQ and 24-HDRs. Bland⁻Altman plots revealed good agreement for energy/macronutrients/fiber across the range of intakes. Multiple linear regression of backward elimination revealed that tertile levels of dark- or light-colored vegetables obtained by the FFQ were significantly associated with plasma α-carotene and ß-carotene, but not lutein. Fruit consumption did not correlate with carotenoid biomarkers. In conclusion, this short FFQ provided a valid assessment of macronutrients and fiber intake in type 2 diabetes patients. Vegetable consumption estimated by the FFQ corresponded to plasma α-carotene and ß-carotene concentrations.

Dietary patterns, dietary biomarkers, and kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: a repeated-measure study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Western dietary patterns have been linked with kidney disease. This study investigated the association between Chinese dietary patterns and kidney disease in a Taiwanese population with type 2 diabetes and evaluated dietary fatty acid patterns, a kidney-related dietary biomarker. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: We recruited 838 patients with type 2 diabetes and used their dietary and renal data obtained from three repeated measures in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Diet was assessed using food-frequency questionnaires, and factor analysis was performed to identify dietary patterns. Albuminuria was defined by having an albumin-to-creatinine ratio >=30 mg/g and kidney dysfunction by estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73m2. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate ORs (95% CIs) of kidney disease adjusted for covariates. Erythrocyte fatty acids were only measured in blood samples collected in 2008. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were identified: high fat-meat, traditional Chinese food-snack, and fish-vegetable. In the adjusted model, the high fat-meat and traditional Chinese food-snack diets were not associated with any kidney outcomes. The fishvegetable diet was inversely associated with kidney dysfunction (quartile 4 vs 1, OR: 0.75, 0.58-0.97), but not associated with albuminuria. A higher fish-vegetable diet factor score was associated with higher n-3 fatty acid levels. CONCLUSION: In patients with diabetes, we found greater adherence to a fish-vegetable diet to be associated with better kidney function and greater n-3 fatty acid profiles. The inclusion of repeated dietary assessments and dietary biomarker measurements in future diet-disease research, especially in patient populations, may provide more definitive risk evaluation.

FADS Gene Polymorphisms, Fatty Acid Desaturase Activities, and HDL-C in Type 2 Diabetes.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) correlate with risk of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Fatty acid desaturase (FADS) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) modulate circulating PUFA concentrations. This study examined influence of FADS1 and FADS2 genetic variants on desaturase activities and blood lipid concentrations in type 2 diabetes patients, and further assessed their interrelationships. Selected SNPs (FADS1: rs174547, rs174548, rs174550; FADS2: rs174575, rs174576, rs174583, rs498793 and rs2727270) were genotyped in 820 type 2 diabetes patients and compared with those reported in the HapMap. Patient subgroups (n = 176) without taking lipid-lowering medicine were studied to assess influence of tag SNPs including rs174547, rs174575, rs498793 and rs2727270 on delta-5 desaturase (D5D: 20:4 (n-6)/20:3 (n-6)) and delta-6 desaturase (D6D:18:3 (n-6)/18:2 (n-6)) activities, and blood lipids. FADS1 rs174547 TT/TC/CC and FADS2 rs2727270 CC/CT/TT were significantly (p for trend < 0.05) associated with reduced HDL-C, D5D and D6D activities. Upon adjustment for confounders, D5D (p = 0.006) correlated significantly and D6D marginally (p = 0.07) correlated with increased HDL-C levels, whereas rs174547 and rs2727270 polymorphisms were not associated. D6D andD5D activities may play a role in modulating HDL-C levels in type 2 diabetes. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to investigate how FADS genetic variations interact with desaturase activities or PUFAs in the metabolism of lipoproteins in diabetic patients.

Correlations of dietary energy and protein intakes with renal function impairment in chronic kidney disease patients with or without diabetes.

Dietary energy and protein intake can affect progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD complicated with diabetes is often associated with a decline in renal function. We investigated the relative importance of dietary energy intake (DEI) and dietary protein intake (DPI) to renal function indicators in nondiabetic and diabetic CKD patients. A total of 539 Stage 3-5 CKD patients [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation] with or without diabetes were recruited from outpatient clinics of Nephrology and Nutrition in a medical center in Taiwan. Appropriateness of DEI and DPI was used to subcategorize CKD patients into four groups:(1) kidney diet (KD) A (KD-A), the most appropriate diet, was characterized by low DPI and adequate DEI; (2) KD-B, low DPI and inadequate DEI; (3) KD-C, excess DPI and adequate DEI; and (4) KD-D, the least appropriate diet, excess DPI and inadequate DEI. Inadequate DEI was defined as a ratio of actual intake/recommended intake less than 90% and adequate DEI as over 90%. Low DPI was defined as less than 110% of recommended intake and excessive when over 110%. Outcome measured was eGFR. In both groups of CKD patients, DEI was significantly lower (p<0.001) and DPI higher (p=0.002) than recommended levels. However, only in the nondiabetic CKD patients were KD-C and KD-D significantly correlated with reduced eGFR compared with KD-A at increments of -5.63 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.029) and -7.72 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p=0.015). In conclusion, inadequate energy and excessive protein intakes appear to correlate with poorer renal function in nondiabetic CKD patients. Patients with advanced CKD are in need of counseling by dietitians to improve adherence to diets.

Obesity, weight change, and chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A longitudinal study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity and weight changes in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: At baseline (2003-05), 1187 diabetic patients aged 30-70 years were recruited to the study, with follow-up surveys completed in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Chronic kidney disease was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 ; body mass index (BMI) was categorised as normal (18.5-22.9 kg/m2 ), overweight (23-27.4 kg/m2 ), or obese (≥27.5 kg/m2 ); waist circumference (WC) ≥80 cm for women and ≥90 cm for men was taken to indicate abdominal obesity. Changes in weight and WC were calculated from baseline to each follow-up survey. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CKD were estimated. To estimate the risk for incident CKD, associations were examined in patients without CKD at baseline (n = 881). RESULTS: Over 7 years of follow-up, obesity (RR 1.48; 95% CI 1.08-2.04; P = 0.015) and high WC (RR 1.23; 95% CI 1.00-1.52; P = 0.049) were associated with CKD after adjusting for covariates. Among participants without CKD at baseline, those who gained >10% weight (RR 1.43; 95% CI 1.07-1.90; P = 0.015) and in whom WC increased >15% (RR 1.37; 95% CI 1.01-1.85; P = 0.045) had a higher risk of incident CKD than those who remained stable (±5% changes in weight or WC). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients who are obese and those with excessive central fat were more likely to have CKD. Large weight gain (>10%) and increases in WC (>15%) independently predicted incident CKD.

Interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms correlate with the progression of nephropathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study.

AIMS: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory cytokine, is considered a candidate gene possibly involved in susceptibility to nephropathy in diabetes. This study aimed to examine whether IL-6 polymorphisms predict the progression of nephropathy in a prospective Chinese cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A total of 568 type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria at baseline were followed up for a mean of 5.3±1.5years. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) ⩾30mg/g in two consecutive urine tests were defined as progression to diabetic nephropathy (n=143). Five polymorphisms of IL-6 gene, rs1800795, rs1800796, rs1524107, rs2069837, and rs2069840, were genotyped. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI of progression to diabetic nephropathy under different genetic models. RESULTS: Almost all patients (99.6%) carried the rs1800795 GG homozygous genotypes. In the Cox proportional models adjusted for multiple covariates, the HR under recessive model was 2.02 for rs1800796 GG (vs. CC+CG, 95% CI: 1.08-3.75, p=0.027), 2.37 for rs2069837 GG (vs. AA+AG, 95% CI: 1.15-4.87, p=0.019), and 2.08 for rs1524107 CC (vs. TT+TC, 95% CI: 1.12-3.89, p=0.021). These associations remained significant for rs1800796 and rs1524107 after correction for multiple testing (α=0.017). Overall, our results suggest that rs1800796 GG and rs1524107 CC homozygous genotypes may confer a greater risk for development of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 gene polymorphisms rs1800796 and rs1524107 may serve as predictors of progression of nephropathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Suicide and Other-Cause Mortality after Early Exposure to Smoking and Second Hand Smoking: A 12-Year Population-Based Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: The association between smoking and suicide is still controversial, particular for early life cigarette smoking exposure. Few studies have investigated this association in adolescents using population-based cohorts, and the relationship with second hand smoking (SHS) exposure has not been addressed. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this study, we followed a large population-based sample of younger people to investigate the association between smoking, SHS exposure and suicide mortality. Between October 1995 and June 1996, 162,682 junior high school students ages 11 to 16 years old living in a geographic catchment area in Taiwan were enrolled and then followed till December 2007 (1,948,432 person-years) through linkage to the National Death Certification System. Participants who were currently smoking at baseline had a greater than six-fold higher suicide mortality than those who did not smoke (29.5 vs. 4.8 per 100,000 person-years, p<0.001) as well as higher natural mortality (33.7 vs. 10.3 per 100,000 person-years, p<0.001). After controlling for gender, age, parental education, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and alcohol consumption, the adjusted hazard ratios for suicide were 3.69 (95% CI 1.85-7.39) in current smokers, and 1.47 (95% CI 0.94-2.30) and 2.83 (95% CI 1.54-5.20) respectively in adolescents exposed to SHS of 1-20 cigarettes and >20 cigarettes/per day. The estimated depression-adjusted odds ratio did not change substantially. The population attributable fractions for suicide associated with smoking and heavy SHS exposure (>20 cigarettes/per day) were 9.6% and 10.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed evidence of excess suicide mortality among young adults exposed to active or passive early life cigarette smoking.