Association of adiposity and its changes over time with COVID-19 risk in older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome: a longitudinal evaluation in the PREDIMED-Plus cohort.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectionally, older age and obesity are associated with increased coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) risk. We assessed the longitudinal associations of baseline and changes in adiposity parameters with COVID-19 incidence in older adults at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS: This analysis included 6874 men and women (aged 55-75 years) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome in the PREDIMED-Plus lifestyle intervention trial for cardiovascular risk reduction. Body weight, body-mass-index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and a body shape index (ABSI) were measured at baseline and annual follow-up visits. COVID-19 was ascertained by an independent Event Committee until 31 December 2021. Cox regression models were fitted to evaluate the risk of COVID-19 incidence based on baseline adiposity parameters measured 5-6 years before the pandemic and their changes at the visit prior to censoring. RESULTS: At the time of censoring, 653 incident COVID-19 cases occurred. Higher baseline body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and WHtR were associated with increased COVID-19 risk. During the follow-up, every unit increase in body weight (HRadj (95%CI): 1.01 (1.00, 1.03)) and BMI (HRadj: 1.04 (1.003, 1.08)) was associated with increased COVID-19 risk. CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with overweight/obesity, clinically significant weight loss may protect against COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial (ISRCT; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89898870 ).

U-Shaped Association between Dietary Acid Load and Risk of Osteoporotic Fractures in 2 Populations at High Cardiovascular Risk.

BACKGROUND: Bone contributes to maintaining the acid-base balance as a buffering system for blood pH. Diet composition also affects acid-base balance. Several studies have linked an imbalance in the acid-base system to changes in the density and structure of bone mass, although some prospective studies and meta-analyses suggest that acid load has no deleterious effect on bone. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) and the risk of osteoporotic fractures and bone mineral density (BMD) in 2 middle-aged and elderly Mediterranean populations. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal analysis including 870 participants from the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterranea (PREDIMED) Study and a cross-sectional analysis including 1134 participants from the PREDIMED-Plus study. Participants were adults, aged 55-80 y, either at high cardiovascular risk (PREDIMED) or overweight/obese with metabolic syndrome (PREDIMED-Plus), as defined by the International Diabetes Federation, the American Heart Association, and the National Heart Association. PRAL and NEAP were calculated from validated food-frequency questionnaires. BMD was measured using DXA scans. Fracture information was obtained from medical records. The association between mean PRAL and NEAP and fracture risk was assessed using multivariable-adjusted Cox models. BMD differences between tertiles of baseline PRAL and NEAP were evaluated by means of ANCOVA. RESULTS: A total 114 new fracture events were documented in the PREDIMED study after a mean of 5.2 y of intervention and 8.9 y of total follow-up. Participants in the first and third PRAL and NEAP tertiles had a higher risk of osteoporotic fracture compared with the second tertile, showing a characteristically U-shaped association [HR (95% CI): 1.73 (1.03, 2.91) in tertile 1 and 1.91 (1.14, 3.19) in tertile 3 for PRAL, and 1.83 (1.08, 3.09) in tertile 1 and 1.87 (1.10, 3.17) in tertile 3 for NEAP]. Compared with the participants in tertile 1, the participants in the top PRAL and NEAP tertiles had lower BMD [PRAL: mean total femur BMD: 1.029 ± 0.007 and 1.007 ± 0.007 g/cm2; P = 0.006 (tertiles 1 and 3); NEAP: mean total femur BMD: 1.032 ± 0.007 and 1.009 ± 0.007 g/cm2; P = 0.017 (tertiles 1 and 3)]. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that both high and low dietary acid are associated with a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures, although only high dietary acid was found to have a negative relation to BMD in senior adults with existing chronic health conditions. This trial was registered at http://www.isrctn.com/ as ISRCTN3573963 (PREDIMED) and ISRCTN89898870 (PREDIMED-Plus).

Predictors of successful weight loss with relative maintenance of fat-free mass in individuals with overweight and obesity on an 8-week low-energy diet.

A low-energy diet (LED) is an effective approach to induce a rapid weight loss in individuals with overweight. However, reported disproportionally large losses of fat-free mass (FFM) after an LED trigger the question of adequate protein content. Additionally, not all individuals have the same degree of weight loss success. After an 8-week LED providing 5020 kJ/d for men and 4184 kJ/d for women (84/70 g protein/d) among overweight and obese adults, we aimed to investigate the relationship between protein intake relative to initial FFM and proportion of weight lost as FFM as well as the individual characteristics associated with weight loss success. We assessed all outcomes baseline and after the LED. A total of 286 participants (sixty-four men and 222 women) initiated the LED of which 82 % completed and 70 % achieved a substantial weight loss (defined as ≥8 %). Protein intake in the range 1·0-1·6 g protein/d per kg FFM at baseline for men and 1·1-2·2 g protein/d per kg FFM at baseline for women was not associated with loss of FFM (P = 0·632). Higher Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) hunger at baseline and reductions in TFEQ disinhibition and hunger during the LED were associated with larger weight loss (all P ≤ 0·020); whereas lower sleep quality at baseline predicted less successful weight loss using intention to treat analysis (P = 0·021), possibly driven by those dropping out (n 81, P = 0·067 v. completers: n 198, P = 0·659). Thus, the protein intakes relative to initial FFM were sufficient for maintenance of FFM and specific eating behaviour characteristics were associated with weight loss success.

Estimated Phytate Intake Is Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Mediterranean Postmenopausal Women.

The main objective of this work was to explore the association of dietary phytate intake with bone mineral density (BMD) in a Mediterranean population of postmenopausal women. For this purpose, a cross-sectional analysis of 561 women aged 55-75 years with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome from a Mediterranean area and with data on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans in femur and lumbar spine was performed. Estimated phytate intake was calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Our results indicated that phytate intake was associated with BMD [ß(95%CI) per each 25 mg/100 kcal] in femoral neck [0.023(0.060-0.040) g/cm2], femoral Ward's triangle [0.033(0.013-0.054) g/cm2], total femur [0.018(0.001-0.035) g/cm2], and all the analyzed lumbar spine sites [L1-L4: 0.033(0.007-0.059) g/cm2] after adjusting for potential confounders. The sensitivity analysis showed that phytate intake was directly associated with lumbar spine BMD in women younger than 66 years, with a body mass index higher than 32.6 kg/cm2 and without type 2 diabetes (all p-for interactions < 0.05). The overall results indicated that phytate, a substance present in food as cereals, legumes and nuts, was positively associated with BMD in Mediterranean postmenopausal women. Phytate may have a protective effect on bone resorption by adsorbing on the surfaces of HAP. Nevertheless, large, long-term, and randomized prospective clinical studies must be performed to assess the possible benefits of phytate consumption on BMD in postmenopausal women.

Loss of Visceral Fat is Associated with a Reduction in Inflammatory Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

SCOPE: Excessive visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with higher secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules, contributing to systemic inflammation and obesity-related metabolic disturbances. METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective analysis includes 117 overweight/obese adults (55-75 years) from the PREDIMED-Plus study. Fourteen inflammatory markers and adipokines are measured using a Bio-Plex assay with multiplex technology: insulin, glucagon, IL-6, visfatin, ghrelin, GLP-1, TNF-α, MCP-1, PAI-1, resistin, C-peptide, leptin, adipsin, and adiponectin. Participants are categorized into tertiles according to changes in VAT after 1-year of follow-up, determined by dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry. Participants allocate in tertile 3, which represent an increase of VAT content after 1-year of follow-up compared to tertile 1, show significant differences in insulin (T3 vs T1, fully adjusted model: p = 0.037, p for trend 0.042), PAI-1 (fully adjusted model: p = 0.05, p for trend 0.06), c-peptide (fully adjusted model: p = 0.037, p for trend 0.042), and TNF-α (fully adjusted model p = 0.037, p for trend 0.042). CONCLUSION: The results evidence that a reduction in VAT is associated with clinical improvements in several inflammatory and adiposity markers, mainly in insulin, c-peptide, and PAI-1 levels, and these improvements may contribute to a reduction in cardiometabolic disturbances observe in obesity.

Is reduction in appetite beneficial for body weight management in the context of overweight and obesity? Yes, according to the SATIN (Satiety Innovation) study.

New dietary-based concepts are needed for treatment and effective prevention of overweight and obesity. The primary objective was to investigate if reduction in appetite is associated with improved weight loss maintenance. This cohort study was nested within the European Commission project Satiety Innovation (SATIN). Participants achieving ≥8% weight loss during an initial 8-week low-energy formula diet were included in a 12-week randomised double-blind parallel weight loss maintenance intervention. The intervention included food products designed to reduce appetite or matching controls along with instructions to follow national dietary guidelines. Appetite was assessed by ad libitum energy intake and self-reported appetite evaluations using visual analogue scales during standardised appetite probe days. These were evaluated at the first day of the maintenance period compared with baseline (acute effects after a single exposure of intervention products) and post-maintenance compared with baseline (sustained effects after repeated exposures of intervention products) regardless of randomisation. A total of 181 participants (forty-seven men and 134 women) completed the study. Sustained reduction in 24-h energy intake was associated with improved weight loss maintenance (R 0·37; P = 0·001), whereas the association was not found acutely (P = 0·91). Suppression in self-reported appetite was associated with improved weight loss maintenance both acutely (R -0·32; P = 0·033) and sustained (R -0·33; P = 0·042). Reduction in appetite seems to be associated with improved body weight management, making appetite-reducing food products an interesting strategy for dietary-based concepts.

Mediterranean Diet and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: What Do We Know?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality is increasing, representing an important public health issue worldwide. It is well-known that risk of CVD is substantially influenced by lifestyle, including poor diet, tobacco smoking and physical inactivity. In the last years, the so-called Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has been associated with broad healthy benefits on human health, including protection against CVD. The present narrative review aimed to summarize and discuss the evidence from meta-analyses of epidemiological and clinical trials analyzing MedDiet and CVD risk. The MedDiet is one of the best dietary patterns analyzed in relation to CVD risk and other health outcomes. Studies demonstrated that MedDiet has beneficial effects in the prevention of total and specific types of CVD, albeit a moderate-high degree of inconsistency has been reported and few studies have been included in most of the meta-analyses. As consequence, more high-quality prospective cohorts and randomized clinical trials are warranted in order to increase the confidence in the effect estimates.

Higher dietary glycemic index and glycemic load values increase the risk of osteoporotic fracture in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Reus trial.

Background: High glucose and insulin concentrations seem to have a negative impact on bone health. However, the relation between the dietary glycemic index (DGI) and the dietary glycemic load (DGL), which has proved to be effective at modulating blood glucose concentrations after carbohydrate consumption, has yet to be explored in relation to bone health. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the associations between the DGI or DGL and the risk of osteoporotic-related fractures in an elderly Mediterranean population. Design: The study was conducted in 870 subjects aged 55-80 y at high cardiovascular disease risk participating in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Reus study. The DGI and DGL were estimated from validated food-frequency questionnaires with the use of the international glycemic index and glycemic load values, with glucose as reference. Data on osteoporotic fractures were acquired from a systematic review of medical records. We used Cox proportional hazard models to assess the risk of osteoporotic fracture according to tertiles of average DGI and DGL. Results: A total of 114 new cases of osteoporotic-related fractures were documented after a mean follow-up of 8.9 y. Participants in the highest tertile of DGI and DGL had a significantly higher risk of osteoporotic fractures than those in the lowest tertile after adjusting for potential confounders (HR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.15 and HR: 3.20; 95% CI: 1.25, 8.18, respectively). Conclusions: A high DGI and DGL are associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis-related fractures in an elderly Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular disease risk. This trial was registered at isrctn.com as ISRCTN35739639.