Potato consumption is not associated with cardiometabolic health outcomes in Framingham Offspring Study adults.

Some consider potatoes to be unhealthy vegetables that may contribute to adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes. We evaluated the association between potato consumption (including fried and non-fried types) and three key cardiometabolic outcomes among middle-aged and older adults in the Framingham Offspring Study. We included 2523 subjects ≥30 years of age with available dietary data from 3-d food records. Cox-proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for hypertension, type 2 diabetes or impaired fasting glucose (T2DM/IFG), and elevated triglycerides, adjusting for anthropometric, demographic and lifestyle factors. In the present study, 36 % of potatoes consumed were baked, 28 % fried, 14 % mashed, 9 % boiled and the rest cooked in other ways. Overall, higher total potato intake (≥4 v. <1 cup-equivalents/week) was not associated with risks of T2DM/IFG (HR 0⋅97, 95 % CI 0⋅81, 1⋅15), hypertension (HR 0⋅95; 95 % CI 0⋅80, 1⋅12) or elevated triglycerides (HR 0⋅99, 95 % CI 0⋅86, 1⋅13). Stratified analyses were used to evaluate effect modification by physical activity levels and red meat consumption, and in those analyses, there were no adverse effects of potato intake. However, when combined with higher levels of physical activity, greater consumption of fried potatoes was associated with a 24 % lower risk (95 % CI 0⋅60, 0⋅96) of T2DM/IFG, and in combination with lower red meat consumption, higher fried potato intake was associated with a 26 % lower risk (95 % CI 0⋅56, 0⋅99) of elevated triglycerides. In this prospective cohort, there was no adverse association between fried or non-fried potato consumption and risks of T2DM/IFG, hypertension or elevated triglycerides.

Potato consumption is not associated with elevated cardiometabolic risk in adolescent girls.

We examined the association between potato consumption in two different age periods during adolescence and risk of obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction in White and Black girls. We used data from the biracial prospective National Growth and Health Study. Average potato consumption was derived from multiple 3-d food records in two age periods, 9-11 and 9-17 years, and included white and sweet potatoes from all sources. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate OR for becoming overweight, developing prehypertension, elevated TAG levels or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) at 18-20 years of age according to the category of daily potato intake. We also stratified by cooking method (fried/non-fried) and race. ANCOVA was also used to estimate adjusted mean levels of BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, log-transformed TAG, the TAG:HDL ratio and fasting glucose levels associated with potato intake category. Higher potato consumption was associated with higher fruit and non-starchy vegetable intakes and higher Healthy Eating Index scores in Black girls. There were no statistically significant associations overall between moderate or higher (v. lower) intakes of potatoes and risks of overweight, prehypertension, elevated fasting TAG, high TAG:HDL ratio or IFG. Also, no adverse associations were found between fried or non-fried potato intake and cardiometabolic outcomes. Potato consumption has been the subject of much controversy in recent years. This study adds evidence that potato consumption among healthy girls during the critical period of adolescence was not associated with cardiometabolic risk.

Functional foods and cardiovascular disease risk: building the evidence base.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the concept of functional foods and to summarize recent evidence on functional foods and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have examined the use of antioxidant vitamins and found no support for a beneficial effect on CVD risk, lipid levels or blood pressure. The evolving data also provide little support for a cardioprotective effect of soy protein. The role of soluble fiber in cardiovascular health has been of interest for many years and new studies support important beneficial effects on lipids as well as total CVD risk. In addition, the benefits of fish intake and nut consumption have been recently affirmed. Two promising areas of investigation from a functional food perspective are studies of phytosterols and milk-derived tripeptides. Plant stanol esters have been shown to have strong lipid-lowering effects, whereas milk-derived tripeptides directly benefited blood pressure. SUMMARY: The functional food market has grown exponentially in recent years. Our understanding of the health benefits of foods and nutrients is continually evolving. Careful attention to the strength of the scientific evidence will help to ensure that it is used appropriately to guide the development of the next generation of health-promoting functional foods.

Folate intake and the risk of neural tube defects: an estimation of dose-response.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy markedly reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). Investigation of the relation between relative dose of supplemental folic acid or total folate intake and NTD risk is limited. METHODS: We used data from 23,228 women, predominantly from the northeastern United States, enrolled between October 1984 and June 1987 in a prospective study of early prenatal exposures and pregnancy outcomes. Diet and vitamin intake data were gathered in the early second trimester. NTDs were ascertained through prenatal testing and by report of the delivering physician. Data analyses included multiple logistic regression and restricted spline regression modeling. RESULTS: For each additional 500 dietary folate equivalents consumed per day, the prevalence of NTDs decreased by 0.78 cases (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47-1.09) per 1,000 pregnancies. Compared with women having the lowest total folate intakes (0-149 folate equivalents per day), the prevalence of NTDs declined by 34%, 30%, 56% and 77% among the offspring of those women consuming 150-399, 400-799, 800-1199 and > or = 1200 folate equivalents per day, respectively (P-value for linear trend = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NTD risk declines markedly with modest increases of total folate in early pregnancy. Total folate dose, rather than supplemental folate alone, should be considered in formulating public health guidelines for NTD prevention.