Flavan-3-ols and Cardiometabolic Health: First Ever Dietary Bioactive Guideline.

Guideline recommendation for a plant bioactive such as flavan-3-ols is a departure from previous recommendations because it is not based on deficiencies but rather improvement in health outcomes. Nevertheless, there is a rapidly growing body of clinical data reflecting benefits of flavan-3-ol intake that outweigh potential harms. Thus, the objective of the Expert Panel was to develop an intake recommendation for flavan-3-ols and cardiometabolic outcomes to inform multiple stakeholders including clinicians, policymakers, public health entities, and consumers. Guideline development followed the process set forth by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which includes use of the Evidence to Decision Framework. Studies informing this guideline (157 randomized controlled trials and 15 cohort studies) were previously reviewed in a recently published systematic review and meta-analysis. Quality and strength-of-evidence along with risk-of-bias in reporting was reviewed. In drafting the guideline, data assessments and opinions by authoritative scientific bodies providing guidance on the safety of flavan-3-ols were considered. Moderate evidence supporting cardiometabolic protection resulting from flavan-3-ol intake in the range of 400-600 mg/d was supported in the literature. Further, increasing consumption of dietary flavan-3-ols can help improve blood pressure, cholesterol concentrations, and blood sugar. Strength of evidence was strongest for some biomarkers (i.e., systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and insulin/glucose dynamics). It should be noted that this is a food-based guideline and not a recommendation for flavan-3-ol supplements. This guideline was based on beneficial effects observed across a range of disease biomarkers and endpoints. Although a comprehensive assessment of available data has been reviewed, evidence gaps identified herein can inform scientists in guiding future randomized clinical trials.

Direct Yet Opposite Effects of Stress-related and Mindful Eating on Diet Quality.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the relationships among dietary quality, mindful eating, and constructs of the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, women (n = 67) aged 25-50 years, with a body mass index of 25-40 kg/m2 completed 3 days of 24-hour recalls and a survey that included the Perceived Stress Scale, Eating and Appraisal Due to Emotions and Stress Questionnaire, and the Mindful Eating Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling assessed relationships among all constructs with the dependent variable, the Healthy Eating Index-2015. RESULTS: Mindful Eating Questionnaire (ß = 0.60, P = 0.001) and Emotion and Stress-related Eating scores from Eating and Appraisal Due to Emotions and Stress Questionnaire (ß = -0.69, P < 0.001) (r2 = 0.50) were directly associated with Healthy Eating Index-2015, but no indirect effects were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Overall dietary quality is associated with greater mindful eating but more emotion and stress-related eating scores among women who were overweight or obese. Future studies could assess model constructs using other diet quality scores and including additional coping mechanisms such as substance use, physical activity, and meditation.

Systemic and Adipose Tissue Redox Status in Sprague-Dawley Rats Fed Normal- and High-Fat Diets Supplemented with Lycopene.

Dietary patterns high in fat influence local and systemic oxidative stress through adipose tissue (AT) accrual and increased reactive oxygen species generation. Lycopene, a carotenoid with antioxidant functionality, may mitigate excess oxidative stress, yet the lipophilic nature of this compound may limit its functionality if sequestered by AT. Thus, it is critical to elucidate whether lycopene's efficacy is limited based on adiposity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of lycopene-supplemented normal- and high-fat diets on systemic and AT redox status. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 18) were fed a 30% normal-fat (NFD) or 60% high-fat (HFD) purified diet supplemented with 100 mg of lycopene/day. Body weight and visceral AT mass, as well as serum and AT lycopene, lipid peroxides, and antioxidant capacity (AC), were assessed after 3, 7, and 10 weeks of supplementation. At week 10, AT mass was significantly higher (P = .028) in the HFD group, yet there were no significant differences in serum or AT lycopene concentrations or lipid peroxides between groups. Additionally, AT in the HFD group exhibited significantly greater lipophilic AC (27.6% higher, P = .031). Results suggest that excess adiposity did not negatively influence circulating lycopene, nor did it limit its antioxidant functionality.

Vitamin A Supplementation during Suckling and Postweaning Periods Attenuates the Adverse Metabolic Effects of Maternal High-Fat Diet Consumption in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A (VA) has been demonstrated to be a regulator of adipose tissue (AT) development in adult obese models. However, little is known about the effect of VA on obesity-associated developmental and metabolic conditions in early life. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the effects of dietary VA supplementation during suckling and postweaning periods on the adiposity and metabolic health of neonatal and weanling rats from mothers consuming a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a normal-fat diet (NFD; 25% fat; n = 2) or an HFD (50% fat; n = 2), both with 2.6 mg VA/kg. Upon delivery, half of the rat mothers were switched to diets with supplemented VA at 129 mg/kg, whereas the other half remained at 2.6 mg VA/kg. Four groups of rat pups were designated as NFD, NFD + VA, HFD, and HFD + VA, respectively. At postnatal day (P)14, P25, and P35, pups (n = 4 or 3/group) were killed. Body weight (BW), visceral white AT (WAT) mass, brown AT (BAT) mass, uncoupling protein 1 mRNA expression in BAT, serum glucose, lipids, adipokines, and inflammatory biomarkers, as well as serum and AT redox status were assessed. RESULTS: Rat pups in the HFD group exhibited significantly higher BW, WAT mass, and serum glucose and leptin but reduced BAT mass compared with the NFD group. Without affecting the dietary intake, supplementing the HFD with VA significantly reduced the BW and WAT mass of pups but increased the BAT mass, significantly lowered the systemic and WAT oxidative stress, and modulated serum adipokines and lipids to some extent. CONCLUSIONS: VA supplementation during suckling and postweaning periods attenuated metabolic perturbations caused by excessive fat intake. Supplementing maternal or infant obesogenic diets with VA or establishing a higher RDA of VA for specific populations should be studied further for managing overweight/obesity in early life.

Variation of Serum Lycopene in Response to 100% Watermelon Juice: An Exploratory Analysis of Genetic Variants in a Randomized Controlled Crossover Study.

BACKGROUND: Watermelon, a rich source of lycopene, has garnered attention for cardioprotective effects including cholesterol reduction and promotion of redox balance. It is unknown whether 100% watermelon juice may represent a food-first approach to confer cardioprotective benefits of lycopene. OBJECTIVES: This study examined influences of 100% watermelon juice on serum lycopene, lipids, and antioxidant capacity. Secondly, the study explored genetic influences on lycopene metabolism and bioavailability. METHODS: A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover trial with postmenopausal women (n = 16, mean ± SD age: 60 ± 4.1 y) assessed effects of 100% watermelon juice on mechanistic and clinical outcomes influencing vascular function. Participants maintained low-lycopene diets for a 1-wk run-in period and throughout the study. Morning and evening consumption of 100% watermelon juice provided a daily dose of 14.4 ± 0.34 mg lycopene. Study arms of 4 wk were separated by a 2-wk washout period. Saliva was collected for genetic analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms, and fasting blood samples were taken pre- and post-study arms. Statistical analyses included mixed models, linear regression, and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Serum lycopene exhibited a significant treatment effect (P = 0.002) along with notable interindividual responses; however, significant improvements in serum lipids or antioxidant capacity were not observed. Genetic variant rs6564851 in the ß-carotene 15,15'-oxygenase-1 (BCO1) gene was associated with changes in lycopene such that TT homozygotes exhibited a significantly greater increase (ß ± SE: 13.4 ± 1.6, P = 1.4 × 10-06). CONCLUSIONS: Watermelon juice supplementation did not result in improvements in serum lipids or antioxidant capacity; however, results support findings in which watermelon juice significantly, yet differentially, increased circulating lycopene. Genetics appears to explain some of the variability. Given that dose has been shown to overcome individual responsiveness to lycopene interventions, future investigations with varying doses of lycopene-rich foods would be strengthened by genotyping so as to establish personalized nutrition recommendations.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03626168.

Vitamin A Status and Deposition in Neonatal and Weanling Rats Reared by Mothers Consuming Normal and High-Fat Diets with Adequate or Supplemented Vitamin A.

The circulating level of vitamin A (VA; retinol) was reported to be lower in obese adults. It is unknown if maternal obesity influences the VA status of offspring. The objective of the study was to determine the VA status and deposition of neonatal and weanling rats reared by mothers consuming a normal or high-fat diet (NFD or HFD) with or without supplemented VA. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to an NFD or HFD with 2.6 mg/kg VA. Upon delivery, half of the rat mothers in the NFD or HFD cohort were switched to an NFD or HFD with supplemented VA at 129 mg/kg (NFD+VA and HFD+VA group). The other half remained on their original diet (NFD and HFD group). At postnatal day 14 (P14), P25, and P35, pups (n = 4 or 3/group/time) were euthanized. The total retinol concentration in the serum, liver, visceral white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue (BAT) was measured. At P14, the HFD+VA group showed a significantly lower serum VA than the NFD+VA group. At P25, both the VA concentration and total mass in the liver, WAT, and BAT were significantly higher in the HFD+VA than the NFD+VA group. At P35, the HFD group exhibited a significantly higher VA concentration and mass in the liver and BAT compared with the NFD group. In conclusion, maternal HFD consumption resulted in more VA accumulation in storage organs in neonatal and/or weanling rats, which potentially compromised the availability of VA in circulation, especially under the VA-supplemented condition.

Lycopene and Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Cardiometabolic risk factors increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease development by 2-fold. Lycopene, a potent lipophilic antioxidant, may be able to mediate oxidative stress, a mechanism underpinning metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its risk factors. This is, to our knowledge, the first systematic review of the literature with the purpose of investigating the relation between circulating lycopene or dietary intake of lycopene and MetS as well as its risk factors. The review was conducted using PubMed and EBSCOhost databases with the search terms "lycopene" and "metabolic syndrome."  Inclusion criteria included human studies published in English in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal and evaluation of lycopene in relation to ≥3 of the 5 MetS risk factors as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) report. The process identified 11 studies, including 8 cross-sectional and 3 intervention studies. Cross-sectional studies were grouped into 3 categories, with several studies falling into >1 category, based on results reporting associations of lycopene with the prevalence and outcomes of MetS (5 studies), presence of ATP III risk factors (4 studies), and variables mediating lycopene's influence on MetS risk (3 studies). All studies in each category reported significant protective associations. Of the 3 intervention studies, all reported significant protective effects from a lycopene-rich beverage, despite varying doses and durations of intake. Although a protective relation between lycopene and MetS was generally supported, different MetS components appeared to be influenced by lycopene rather than demonstrating consistent improvement in a single component. Thus, additional research is needed to elucidate the mechanistic effects of lycopene on MetS, as well as to determine evidence-based recommendations concerning dose-durational effects of lycopene and MetS risk reduction. In conclusion, the evidence of lycopene's benefit exists such that lycopene status or lycopene consumption may be associated with favorable alterations to the components of MetS.