Transitioning to sustainable dietary patterns: learnings from animal-based and plant-based dietary patterns in French Canadian adults.

Introduction: Many dietary guidelines promote the substitution of animal proteins with plant-based proteins for health benefits but also to help transitioning toward more sustainable dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to examine the food and nutrient characteristics as well as the overall quality and costs of dietary patterns consistent with lower intakes of animal-based protein foods and with higher intakes of plant-based protein foods among French Canadian adults. Methods: Dietary intake data, evaluated with 24 h recalls, from 1,147 French-speaking adults of the PRÉDicteurs Individuels, Sociaux et Environnementaux (PREDISE) study conducted between 2015 and 2017 in Québec were used. Usual dietary intakes and diet costs were estimated with the National Cancer Institute's multivariate method. Consumption of animal- and plant-based protein foods was classified into quarters (Q) and differences in food and nutrient intakes, Healthy Eating Food Index (HEFI)-2019 scores and diet costs across quarters were assessed using linear regression models adjusted for age and sex. Results: Participants with lower intakes of animal-based protein foods (Q1 vs. Q4) had a higher HEFI-2019 total score (+4.0 pts, 95% CI, 0.9 to 7.1) and lower daily diet costs (-1.9 $CAD, 95% CI, -2.6 to -1.2). Participants with higher intakes of plant-based protein foods (Q4 vs. Q1) had a higher HEFI-2019 total score (+14.6 pts, 95% CI, 12.4 to 16.9) but no difference in daily diet costs (0.0$CAD, 95% CI, -0.7 to 0.7). Discussion: In a perspective of diet sustainability, results from this study among French-speaking Canadian adults suggest that a shift toward a dietary pattern focused primarily on lower amounts of animal-based protein foods may be associated with a better diet quality at lower costs. On the other hand, transitioning to a dietary pattern focused primarily on higher amounts of plant-based protein foods may further improve the diet quality at no additional cost.

Adhering to Canada's Food Guide Recommendations on Healthy Food Choices Increases the Daily Diet Cost: Insights from the PREDISE Study.

The aim of this study was to assess the association between daily diet costs and the Healthy Eating Food Index (HEFI)-2019, an index that reflects the alignment of dietary patterns to recommendations on healthy food choices in the 2019 Canada's Food Guide (CFG). Dietary intake data from 24 h recalls, completed between 2015 and 2017, of 1147 French-speaking participants of the web-based multicenter cross-sectional PRÉDicteurs Individuels, Sociaux et Environnementaux (PREDISE) study in Quebec were used. Diet costs were calculated from dietary recall data using a Quebec-specific 2015-2016 Nielsen food price database. Usual dietary intakes and diet costs were estimated using the National Cancer Institute's multivariate method. Linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between diet costs and HEFI-2019 scores. When standardized for energy intake, a higher HEFI-2019 score (75th vs. 25th percentiles) was associated with a 1.09 $CAD higher daily diet cost (95% CI, 0.73 to 1.45). This positive association was consistent among different sociodemographic subgroups based on sex, age, education, household income, and administrative region of residence. A higher daily diet cost was associated with a higher HEFI-2019 score for the Vegetables and fruits, Beverage, Grain foods ratio, Fatty acids ratio, Saturated fats, and Free sugars components, but with a lower score for the Sodium component. These results suggest that for a given amount of calories, a greater adherence to the 2019 CFG recommendations on healthy food choices is associated with an increased daily diet cost. This highlights the challenge of conciliating affordability and healthfulness when developing national dietary guidelines in the context of diet sustainability.

Towards regulation of Endocrine Disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water resources using bioassays - A guide to developing a testing strategy.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are found in every environmental medium and are chemically diverse. Their presence in water resources can negatively impact the health of both human and wildlife. Currently, there are no mandatory screening mandates or regulations for EDC levels in complex water samples globally. Bioassays, which allow quantifying in vivo or in vitro biological effects of chemicals are used commonly to assess acute toxicity in water. The existing OECD framework to identify single-compound EDCs offers a set of bioassays that are validated for the Estrogen-, Androgen-, and Thyroid hormones, and for Steroidogenesis pathways (EATS). In this review, we discussed bioassays that could be potentially used to screen EDCs in water resources, including in vivo and in vitro bioassays using invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and/or mammalians species. Strengths and weaknesses of samples preparation for complex water samples are discussed. We also review how to calculate the Effect-Based Trigger values, which could serve as thresholds to determine if a given water sample poses a risk based on existing quality standards. This work aims to assist governments and regulatory agencies in developing a testing strategy towards regulation of EDCs in water resources worldwide. The main recommendations include 1) opting for internationally validated cell reporter in vitro bioassays to reduce animal use & cost; 2) testing for cell viability (a critical parameter) when using in vitro bioassays; and 3) evaluating the recovery of the water sample preparation method selected. This review also highlights future research avenues for the EDC screening revolution (e.g., 3D tissue culture, transgenic animals, OMICs, and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs)).

Associations of Intake of Free and Naturally Occurring Sugars from Solid Foods and Drinks with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in a Quebec Adult Population: The PREDISE (PRÉDicteurs Individuels, Sociaux et Environnementaux) Study.

BACKGROUND: Associations between sugar consumption and cardiometabolic health, taking into account the physical form of sugar-containing foods (liquid vs. solid) and the type of sugars consumed [free sugars (FSs) vs. naturally occurring sugars (NOSs)], remain to be thoroughly documented. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine whether FS and NOS intakes from drinks and solid foods are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in a sample of French-speaking adults from the province of Quebec, Canada. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the cross-sectional PREDISE (PRÉDicteurs Individuels, Sociaux et Environnementaux) study (n = 1019, 18-65 y old; 50% women). FS and NOS intakes were assessed by three 24-h dietary recalls using a self-administered, web-based application. Diet quality was assessed using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010. Participants underwent on-site clinical assessment of cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, and fasting blood sampling (glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, blood lipids). Multivariable linear regression models were performed to examine the associations between sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk factors with sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle variables, and diet quality entered as covariates. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, FS intake from drinks was associated with fasting insulin (1.06%; 95% CI: 0.30%, 1.84%; P = 0.006) and with insulin resistance as estimated using the HOMA model (1.01%; 95% CI: 0.19%, 1.84%; P = 0.02). All metabolic variables that were significantly associated with NOS intake from solid foods in minimally adjusted models were no longer significant after entering sociodemographic and lifestyle variables (e.g., educational and income levels, smoking, physical activity, daily energy intake) and diet quality in the models. CONCLUSIONS: Our data from an adult sample showed that unfavorable and favorable associations with cardiometabolic risk factors observed, respectively, for FS intake from drinks and NOS intake from foods are mostly explained by sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, as well as by diet quality.

Consequences of steroid-5α-reductase deficiency and inhibition in vertebrates.

In 1974, a lack of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), the most potent androgen across species except for fish, was shown to be the origin of a type of pseudohermaphrodism in which boys have female-like external genitalia. This human intersex condition is linked to a mutation in the steroid-5α-reductase type 2 (SRD5α2) gene, which usually produces an important enzyme capable of reducing the Δ4-ene of steroid C-19 and C-21 into a 5α-stereoisomer. Seeing the potential of SRD5α2 as a target for androgen synthesis, pharmaceutical companies developed 5α-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs), such as finasteride (FIN) and dutasteride (DUT) to target SRD5α2 in benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenic alopecia. In addition to human treatment, the development of 5ARIs also enabled further research of SRD5α functions. Therefore, this review details the morphological, physiological, and molecular effects of the lack of SRD5α activity induced by both SRD5α mutations and inhibitor exposures across species. More specifically, data highlights 1) the role of 5α-DHT in the development of male secondary sexual organs in vertebrates and sex determination in non-mammalian vertebrates, 2) the role of SRD5α1 in the synthesis of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) and 5α-androstane-3α,17ß-diol (3α-diol), which are involved in anxiety and sexual behavior, respectively, and 3) the role of SRD5α3 in N-glycosylation. This review also features the lesser known functions of SRD5αs in steroid degradation in the uterus during pregnancy and glucocorticoid clearance in the liver. Additionally, the review describes the regulation of SRD5αs by the receptors of androgens, progesterone, estrogen, and thyroid hormones, as well as their differential DNA methylation. Factors known to be involved in their differential methylation are age, inflammation, and mental stimulation. Overall, this review helps shed light on the various essential functions of SRD5αs across species.

Association between lifestyle habits and adiposity values among children exposed and unexposed to gestational diabetes mellitus in utero.

AIMS: The objectives of this study were to assess the profile of lifestyle habits among children exposed (GDM+) or unexposed (GDM-) to GDM and to assess whether a healthy lifestyle profile is associated with lower adiposity values among these children. METHODS: A total of 105 GDM+ and 38 GDM- children aged 2-14 years were included. Vegetables and fruit intakes were collected using two 24-h dietary recalls. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured with accelerometers. Screen and sleep time were assessed using questionnaires. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Body composition was assessed by absorptiometry. RESULTS: GDM+ children had lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity practice (p = 0.043) and fruit intake (p = 0.020) than GDM- children. Among children with an unhealthy lifestyle (meeting 0-2 lifestyle recommendations), GDM+ children had greater percentage of fat mass (p = 0.021) and android fat mass (p = 0.020) than GDM- children. Moreover, among GDM+ children, children with a healthy lifestyle (meeting 3-4 lifestyle recommendations) tended to have lower percentage of fat mass (p = 0.053) and android fat mass (p = 0.071) than those with an unhealthy lifestyle. CONCLUSION: Improving lifestyle habits among GDM+ children could represent a promising approach to prevent deteriorated adiposity values.

Examining the Advantages of Using Multiple Web-Based Dietary Assessment Instruments to Measure Population Dietary Intake: The PREDISE Study.

BACKGROUND: Combining traditional dietary assessment instruments has been suggested to improve precision of dietary intake estimates. However, this has not been investigated using web-based 24-h recall (R24W) or a web-based food-frequency questionnaire (wFFQ). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare different combinations of web-based instruments to assess population-level dietary intake estimates (means and percentiles) and their precision, either with or without statistical modeling of within-person day-to-day variations. METHODS: As part of the cross-sectional PREDISE study, 1025 French-speaking adults completed 3 randomly allocated R24W and 1 wFFQ within 21 d. Crude estimates of intake were generated from either 1 or 3 repeated R24W. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) method was used to account for within-person variation. Usual intakes were modeled from 1 R24W repeated in a subsample (40%) and from 3 R24W, with or without consideration of data from the wFFQ. RESULTS: Using crude data from 3 R24W increased precision of estimates and modified distribution of intakes compared with using data from only 1 R24W. Using NCI-modeled data from 3 repeated R24W had no impact on the precision around mean intakes but increased precision of low and high percentiles intake estimates compared with NCI-modeled data from a partially repeated R24W. Considering data from a wFFQ in combination with data derived from 3 R24W did not influence the precision of intake estimates of most foods and nutrients. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that relying on repeated measures of food and nutrient intake through R24W is preferable to single assessment when within-person variation is not considered. Data also suggest that when NCI modeling is applied, using 3 R24W only improves the precision of low and high percentiles intake estimates compared with using a partially repeated web-based recall.

A 12-Week Exercise Program for Pregnant Women with Obesity to Improve Physical Activity Levels: An Open Randomised Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a 12-week supervised exercise program promotes an active lifestyle throughout pregnancy in pregnant women with obesity. METHODS: In this preliminary randomised trial, pregnant women (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) were allocated to either standard care or supervised training, from 15 to 27 weeks of gestation. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry at 14, 28 and 36 weeks, while fitness (oxygen consumption (VO2) at the anaerobic threshold), nutrition (caloric intake and macronutrients percentage) and anthropometry were assessed at 14 and 28 weeks of gestation. Analyses were performed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: A total of fifty (50) women were randomised, 25 in each group. There was no time-group interaction for time spent at moderate and vigorous activity (pinteraction = 0.064), but the exercise group's levels were higher than controls' at all times (pgroup effect = 0.014). A significant time-group interaction was found for daily physical activity (p = 0.023); similar at baseline ((22.0 ± 6.7 vs 21.8 ± 7.3) x 10(4) counts/day) the exercise group had higher levels than the control group following the intervention ((22.8 ± 8.3 vs 19.2 ± 4.5) x 10(4) counts/day, p = 0.020) and at 36 weeks of gestation ((19.2 ± 1.5 vs 14.9 ± 1.5) x 10(4) counts/day, p = 0.034). Exercisers also gained less weight than controls during the intervention period despite similar nutritional intakes (difference in weight change = -0.1 kg/week, 95% CI -0.2; -0.02, p = 0.016) and improved cardiorespiratory fitness (difference in fitness change = 8.1%, 95% CI 0.7; 9.5, p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with standard care, a supervised exercise program allows pregnant women with obesity to maintain fitness, limit weight gain and attenuate the decrease in physical activity levels observed in late pregnancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01610323.

Accelerometry-measured physical activity and inflammation after gestational diabetes.

PURPOSE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse metabolic outcomes after delivery. Physical activity practice improves the inflammatory profile; however, whether this association exists in women with prior GDM remains unknown. Our objective was to examine the cardiometabolic and inflammatory risk factors associated with accelerometer-based measures of physical activity in women with prior GDM. METHODS: Ninety-six women who had GDM between 2003 and 2010 were tested 2.9 ± 2.2 yr after delivery. The physical activity practice was measured with ActiGraph GT3X (ActiGraph™, Pensacola, FL) accelerometers worn ≥ 5 d, and the time spent weekly in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was derived. The waist circumference was measured and the inflammatory marker or cytokine concentrations were measured in fasting plasma by the xMAP technology using the Bio-Plex 200 system. The lipid profile was also measured from fasting blood samples. RESULTS: Only 31% of women accumulated at least 150 min of MVPA per week. No association was observed between the MVPA practice and any of the metabolic measurements in the whole group of women. The MVPA did not differ in groups stratified by waist circumference <88 or ≥ 88 cm. In women with waist circumference <88 cm, the MVPA was negatively correlated with circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (r = -0.51, P = 0.006), leptin (r = -0.40, P = 0.008), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (r = -0.32, P = 0.04), and triglycerides (r = -0.44, P = 0.003). No association was seen with plasma interleukin-6; tumor necrosis factor-α; and total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol concentrations. CONCLUSION: These analyses suggest that in the years after delivery, longer time spent in MVPA practice is associated with a lower cardiometabolic risk only in women with prior GDM who do not have abdominal obesity.

Androgens in the maternal and fetal circulation: association with insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE: To examine maternal insulin resistance in relationship with maternal and fetal androgen levels as well as with term placenta mRNA and protein abundance of steroidogenic enzymes implicated in androgen dynamics. METHODS: The study included 20 women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 27 controls tested using a 120 min., 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of total testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were measured by high-performance gas chromatography and chemical ionization mass spectrometry at 26.1 ± 3.7 weeks of pregnancy. RESULTS: Glycemic response to oral glucose over 120 min. as well as Matsuda insulin sensitivity and HOMA insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices were significantly associated with maternal testosterone levels (r = 0.31, r = -0.37 and r = 0.35 respectively, p ≤ 0.05 for all). Among male offspring, a positive association between maternal and fetal testosterone levels was observed (r = 0.43, p ≤ 0.05). Testosterone levels were higher in the cord blood of newborns from insulin-resistant mothers compared to newborns from insulin-sensitive mothers (0.48 ± 0.36 nmol/L vs. 0.29 ± 0.18 nmol/L p ≤ 0.05). No difference was observed in mRNA abundance or protein expression of placental steroidogenic enzymes according to the degree of maternal insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a possible association between fetal and maternal androgen concentrations in relationship with insulin resistance.

Circulating interleukin-6 concentrations during and after gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that high interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion may aggravate insulin resistance in pregnancy and participate in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of GDM is associated with elevated IL-6 concentrations and whether this association remains after delivery, independent of body mass index. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: Hospital-based. SAMPLE: Forty-seven women were screened for GDM with a 75g oral glucose tolerance test at 26.1±3.7 weeks of pregnancy following the Canadian Diabetes Association guidelines (20 GDM, 27 control subjects). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Interleukin-6 levels were measured by ELISA at the time of GDM screening and two months post-partum. RESULTS: Interleukin-6 concentrations were significantly higher in women with GDM compared with control women at the time of GDM screening (1.47±0.72 vs. 0.90±0.32pg/mL, p≤0.01). Similar results were obtained two months post-partum, where IL-6 levels remained significantly higher in women with GDM compared with control women (1.88±0.85 vs. 1.41±0.87pg/mL, p≤0.05). Interleukin-6 concentrations were significantly correlated with the Matsuda insulin sensitivity index, measured at the two time points (r=-0.60, p≤0.01 and r=-0.34, p≤0.05). The Matsuda insulin sensitivity index was an independent and significant predictor of IL-6 concentrations at the time of GDM screening, explaining 35.6% of the variance (p≤0.0001) in this variable. IL-6 concentration measured at GDM screening was identified as an independent and significant predictor of post-partum IL-6 concentrations, explaining 28.6% of the variance (p≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that GDM is associated with elevated IL-6 levels independent of obesity levels, both during pregnancy and after delivery.

Molecular screening of the 11beta-HSD1 gene in men characterized by the metabolic syndrome.

Adipose tissue type 1 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD1), which generates hormonally active cortisol from inactive cortisone, has been shown to play a central role in adipocyte differentiation and abdominal obesity-related metabolic complications. The objective was to investigate whether genetic variations in the human 11beta-HSD1 gene are associated with the metabolic syndrome among French-Canadian men. We sequenced all exons, the exon-intron splicing boundaries, and 5' and 3' regions of the human 11beta-HSD1 gene in 36 men with the metabolic syndrome, as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III, and two controls. Three intronic sequence variants were identified: two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in intron 3 (g.4478T>G) and intron 4 (g.10733G>C) and one insertion in intron 3 (g.4437-4438insA). The relative allele frequency was 19.6%, 22.1%, and 19.6% for the g.4478G, g.10733C, and g.4438insA alleles, respectively. One single-nucleotide polymorphism was identified in exon 6 (c.744G>C or G248G). The frequency of the c.744C allele was only 0.46% in a sample of 217 men. Variants were not associated with components of the metabolic syndrome except for plasma apolipoprotein B levels. In conclusion, molecular screening of the 11beta-HSD1 gene did not reveal any sequence variations that can significantly contribute to the etiology of the metabolic syndrome among French-Canadians.

A survey of genes differentially expressed in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in men.

Adipose tissue located within the abdominal cavity has been suggested to be functionally and metabolically distinct from that of the subcutaneous compartment. These differences could play a role in obesity-related complications. The aim of this study was to compare gene expression profiles of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues of 10 nondiabetic, normolipidemic obese men. Affymetrix human U133A arrays (10 arrays for subcutaneous fat samples and 10 arrays for visceral fat samples) were used. Differential gene expression was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in a subset of genes. A total of 5894 transcripts were detected in both depots in all 10 subjects, and 409 transcripts representing 347 encoded genes were differentially expressed. Of these, 131 genes were expressed at higher levels in subcutaneous adipose tissue, and 216 were expressed more abundantly in visceral fat. Differentially expressed profiles included genes of the Wnt signaling pathway, as well as CEPBA and HOX genes. In addition, genes involved in lipolytic stimuli and cytokine secretion were differentially expressed. The identification of a consistent and rather uniform pattern of differentially expressed genes between the two fat depots using multiple array replicates (10 arrays per fat compartment) generated new perspectives for future research on regional differences in adipose tissue biology.

Association between the PPARalpha-L162V polymorphism and components of the metabolic syndrome.

Genetic factors, alone or in interaction with components of the diet, are thought to be involved in the development of the metabolic syndrome. The objective of our study was first to compare the frequency of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)alpha-L162V polymorphism in a sample of men with and without the metabolic syndrome as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) guidelines, and secondly, to evaluate gene-diet interaction effects on features of the metabolic syndrome. The PPARalpha-L162V genotype was determined in a sample of 632 men by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)-based method; fat as well as saturated fat intakes were evaluated by a dietitian-administered food frequency questionnaire. The frequency of the V162 allele was similar in men with ( n=281) and without ( n=351) the metabolic syndrome ( chi(2)=0.03, p=0.84) but was higher in subjects having simultaneously abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels ( chi(2)=3.73, p=0.05). Carriers of the V162 were characterized by higher plasma apolipoprotein B and triglyceride (TG) levels ( p=0.10, p=0.004). In a model including the PPARalpha-L162V polymorphism, fat or saturated fat, its interaction, and covariates (smoking habits, and energy and alcohol intake), the interaction explained a significant percentage of the variance observed in waist circumference ( p<0.05). In conclusion, the PPARalpha-L162V polymorphism alone or in interaction with dietary fat intake is associated with components of the metabolic syndrome.

Comparison of expression patterns and cell adhesion properties of the mouse biliary glycoproteins Bgp1 and Bgp2.

Biliary glycoproteins are members of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family and behave as cell adhesion molecules. The mouse genome contains two very similar Bgp genes, Bgp1 and Bgp2, whereas the human and rat genomes contain only one BGP gene. A Bgp2 isoform was previously identified as an alternative receptor for the mouse coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus. This isoform consists of two extracellular immunoglobulin domains, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail of five amino acids. In this report, we have examined whether the Bgp2 gene can express other isoforms in different mouse tissues. We found only one other isoform, which has a long cytoplasmic tail of 73 amino acids. The long cytodomain of the Bgp2 protein is highly similar to that of the Bgp1/4L isoform. The Bgp2 protein is expressed in low amounts in kidney and in a rectal carcinoma cell line. Antibodies specific to Bgp2 detected a 42-kDa protein, which is expressed at the cell surface of these samples. Bgp2 was found by immunocytochemistry in smooth muscle layers of the kidney, the uterus, in gut mononuclear cells and in the crypt epithelia of intestinal tissues. Transfection studies showed that, in contrast with Bgp1, the Bgp2 glycoprotein was not directly involved in intercellular adhesion. However, this protein is found in the proliferative compartment of the intestinal crypts and in cells involved in immune recognition. This suggests that the Bgp2 protein represents a distinctive member of the CEA family; its unusual expression patterns in mouse tissues and the unique functions it may be fulfilling may provide novel clues about the multiple functions mediated by a common BGP protein in humans and rats.