Dietary fiber intake impacts gut bacterial and viral populations in a hypertensive mouse model.

The gut microbiome is an emerging factor in preventing hypertension, yet the influence of gut bacteriophages, viruses infecting bacteria, on this condition remains unclear. Bacteriophage-bacteria interactions, which impact the gut microbiome, are influenced differentially by temperate and virulent bacteriophages. However, the standard technique for studying viral populations, viral-like particles (VLPs)-metagenomes, often overlook prophages, the intracellular stage of temperate bacteriophages, creating a knowledge gap. To address this, we investigated alterations in extracellular and intracellular bacteriophages, alongside bacterial populations, in the angiotensin II-hypertension model. We sequenced VLPs and bulk DNA from cecal-colonic samples collected from male C57BL/6J mice implanted with minipumps containing saline or angiotensin II. We assembled 106 bacterial and 816 viral genomes and found that gut viral and bacterial populations remained stable between hypertensive and normotensive mice. A higher number of temperate viruses were observed across all treatments. Although temperate viruses outnumbered virulent viruses, sequencing of both VLPs and bulk revealed that virions from virulent viruses were more abundant in the murine gut. We then evaluated the impact of low- and high-fiber intake on gut microbiome composition in the angiotensin II model. Fiber intake significantly influenced the gut microbiome composition and hypertension development. Mice receiving high-fiber had lower blood pressure, a higher bacterial-encoded carbohydrate-associated enzyme, and a higher total relative abundance of temperate viruses than those receiving low-fiber. Our findings suggest that phages are not associated with hypertension development in the angiotensin II model. However, they support a complex diet-bacteria/phage interaction that may be involved in blood pressure regulation.

Assessing the impact of dietary choices on fiber deficiency: insights from the 2017-2020 Polish national adult nutrition survey.

Introduction: Dietary fiber is a key component of a healthy diet, associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, chronic inflammation, or depression. The aim of the study was to perform an in-depth analysis of dietary fiber intake in the Polish population, taking account of the consumption of groups of products that are fiber sources and identify any age-related differences in the dietary fiber intake of the subjects. Methods: We analyzed data obtained from two representative cross-sectional studies on the diet and nutritional status of adult Polish residents including the total of 4,000 individuals aged 19 years and more. Two 24-h recalls were used per individual to assess the diet using the computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) technique. Total fiber content and fiber contained in cereal products, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds were calculated. Fiber intake was compared to the recommendations: 25 g/d for adults up to 65 years of age and 20 g/d for those aged 66 years and older. All statistical analyses, including the Pearson's chi-squared test, the Student's t-test, and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), were conducted using STATISTICA™ version 13.3, with the results being adjusted for demographic distribution biases to enhance the representativeness. Results: The average daily fiber intake was 17.83 ± 0.14 g/day (78% of the recommended intake), with 20.5% of respondents meeting the requirement. More men than women (27.05% vs. 14.3%;) met the requirement and men were characterized by a higher average intake (19.34 ± 0.20 g/day) than women (16.43 ± 0.19 g/day). The main fiber sources were cereals (44.1%), vegetables (23.6%), and fruits (16.0%). As regards men, the sources included refined bread (25.8%), vegetables (23.1%), and fruits (10.2%) and for women, they were vegetables (24.0%), fruits (17.2%), and refined bread (16.3%). Although refined bread is not recommended as a primary fiber source due to its lower fiber content compared to whole grain bread, its high consumption significantly contributed to the total fiber intake. Conclusion: The prevalence of widespread dietary fiber deficiency calls for the intensification of educational efforts that address the health advantages and sources of dietary fiber, as well as methods for its inclusion in daily meals.

Association of dietary fiber intake with epileptic seizures in U.S. adults: A Population-base study of 13,277 participants.

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy, a neurological disorder, is identified by the presence of recurrent seizures. We aimed to detect dietary fiber intake and its association with epilepsy prevalence in U.S. adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study obtained data from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to estimate the association between dietary fiber intake and epilepsy prevalence. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was also applied to investigate the dose-response relationships between dietary fiber intake and epileptic seizure events(ESEs). RESULTS: Our final sample included 13,277 NHANES participants, with the average prevalence of ESEs being 1.09 % (145/13277). After adjusting for all confounding factors, the third quartile of dietary fiber intake levels remained significantly associated with a decreased risk of ESEs[odds ratios (OR) 0.54,95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.88, P = 0.014)] compared to the first quartile. Higher fiber intake indicated a stable negative association with ESEs in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, weighted generalized additive model. A nonlinear dose-response relationship was observed between dietary fiber intake levels and decreased ESEs risk (P for overall=0.017, P for nonlinear=0.155). Interaction tests showed no significant effect of demographic and disease status on the association between dietary fiber intake and ESEs. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, people with a high dietary fiber intake were at a reduced risk of ESEs. However, further prospective studies are needed to investigate the effect of dietary fiber intake in epilepsy events and to determine causality.

Association between dietary fiber intake and peripheral artery disease in hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: At present, no studies explored whether dietary fiber intake was associated with the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in hypertensive patients. This study assessed the association between dietary fiber intake and PAD in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected the data of 4628 participants with the measurement of ankle-brachial pressure index in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys database. Univariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify variables associated with PAD as confounding factors. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between dietary fiber intake and PAD in hypertensive patients. Subgroup analysis was stratified by age, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, and physical activity. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, decreased risk of PAD was observed in hypertensive patients with dietary fiber intake > 21 g [odds ratio (OR) = 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.99]. Compared with people with dietary fiber intake ≤ 21 g, those with dietary fiber intake > 21 g were associated with decreased risk of PAD in hypertensive patients < 60 years (OR = 0.23, 95%CI 0.08-0.66). In hypertensive patients without dyslipidemia, dietary fiber intake > 21 g were associated with reduced risk of PAD (OR = 0.33, 95%CI 0.12-0.95). Decreased risk of PAD was also found in hypertensive patients without diabetes in dietary fiber intake > 21 g group (OR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.31-0.78). Dietary fiber intake > 21 g was linked with reduced risk of PAD in hypertensive patients in never smoke group (OR = 0.46, 95%CI 0.24-0.86). CONCLUSION: Higher dietary fiber intake was associated with reduced risk of PAD in hypertensive patients, suggesting the importance of increase the daily dietary quality especially fiber intake in hypertensive people.

Association between preconception dietary fiber intake and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate whether preconception dietary fiber intake is associated with new-onset HDP. STUDY DESIGN: We identified 84,873 (primipara, 33,712; multipara, 51,161) normotensive participants from the Japan Environmental Children's Study database who delivered between 2011 and 2014. The participants were subsequently categorized into five groups based on their preconception dietary fiber intake quintiles (Q1-Q5). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main obstetric outcome was HDP, and the secondary obstetric outcomes included early-onset (Eo, <34 weeks)-HDP, late-onset (Lo, ≥34 weeks)-HDP, small for gestational age (SGA) births, and HDP with/without SGA. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that in primiparas, the risks of HDP, Lo-HDP, and HDP without SGA were lower in the Q5 group compared with the Q3 group (HDP: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.73, 95 % confidence intervals [95 % CI] = 0.58-0.93; Lo-HDP: aOR = 0.72, 95 % CI = 0.55-0.94; and HDP without SGA: aOR = 0.68, 95 % CI = 0.53-0.88). However, the risks of Eo-HDP and HDP with SGA were higher in the Q1 group compared with the Q3 group (Eo-HDP: aOR = 1.66, 95 % CI = 1.02-2.70; and HDP with SGA: aOR = 1.81, 95 % CI = 1.04-3.17). In multiparas, the risks of Lo-HDP and SGA were higher in the Q1 group compared with the Q3 group (Lo-HDP: aOR = 1.47, 95 % CI = 1.10-1.97; SGA: aOR = 1.17, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: Preconception dietary fiber intake is beneficial in preventing HDP onset. Therefore, new recommendations should be considered to encourage higher dietary fiber intake as part of preconception care.

Exploring the association between dietary fiber intake and hepatic steatosis: insights from NHANES.

PURPOSE: The link between dietary fiber intake and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is under exploration, yielding inconsistent findings. Considering the limitations of previous research and the significance of dietary fiber in hepatic steatosis, this study investigates the association between dietary fiber intake and Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) among 5935 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the association between dietary fiber intake and CAP. Smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analysis techniques were applied to illustrate non-linear relationships. RESULTS: After adjusting for other variables, a negative correlation emerged between dietary fiber intake and CAP. Subgroup analysis by gender and race/ethnicity revealed a sustained negative association between dietary fiber intake and CAP among females and Whites. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between dietary fiber intake and CAP among women and other race, with inflection points at 13.80 g/day and 33.45 g/day, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our research indicates that in the majority of Americans, there is an inverse relationship between dietary fiber intake and hepatic steatosis. This relationship exhibits an inverted U-shaped curve in women and other race, with a threshold effect. The findings of this study hold potential significance for clinical nutrition interventions, personalized dietary guidance, and advancing research into the diet-disease mechanism relationship.

Physical activity and fiber intake beneficial for muscle mass and strength preservation during aging: A comprehensive cross-sectional study in the UK biobank cohort.

BACKGROUND: Aging triggers intricate physiological changes, particularly in whole-body fat-free mass (FFM) and handgrip strength, affecting overall health and independence. Despite existing research, the broader significance of how muscle health is affected by the intricate interplay of lifestyle factors simultaneously during aging needs more exploration. This study aims to examine how nutrition, physical activity, and sleep impact on FFM and handgrip strength in middle-aged men and women, facilitating future personalized recommendations for preserving muscle health. METHODS: The cross-sectional analysis of the UK Biobank involved 45,984 individuals (54 % women) aged 40-70 years with a complete dataset. Multiple linear regression explored determinants of FFM and handgrip strength, considering traditional, socio-demographics, medication use and smoking as covariates, with sex and age (younger and older than 55 years) stratifications. RESULTS: In older men and women, higher physical activity beneficially affect both FFM (respectively Β = 3.36 × 10-3, p-value = 1.66 × 10-3; Β = 2.52 × 10-3, p-value = 3.57 × 10-4) and handgrip strength (Β = 6.05 × 10-3, p-value = 7.99 × 10-5, Β = 8.98 × 10-3, p-value = 2.95 × 10-15). Similar results were found in fiber intake for FFM in older men and women (respectively B = 3.00 × 10-2, p-value = 2.76 × 10-5; B = 2.68 × 10-2, p-value = 1.78 × 10-9) and handgrip strength (Β = 3.27 × 10-2, p-value = 1.40 × 10-3; Β = 3.12 × 10-2, p-value = 1.34 × 10-5). Other lifestyle factors influence FFM and handgrip strength differently. Key determinants influencing handgrip strength included higher protein intake, lower water intake, higher alcohol intake, and extended sleep duration whereas mainly higher water intake is associated with higher FFM. CONCLUSIONS: In both men and women, the main factors associated with FFM and handgrip strength are physical activity and fiber intake, which may underlie a connection between gut and muscle health. Given the observed complexity of muscle health in the age and sex strata, further longitudinal research is needed to provide personalized lifestyle recommendations.

Sex difference in the association of dietary fiber intake with visceral fat volume in Japanese adults.

PURPOSE: Dietary fiber is a possible nutritional component which aids in the prevention of visceral fat accumulation. We examined the association between dietary fiber intake and visceral fat volume (VFV) by sex, and further analysed the association by major food sources of dietary fiber. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we measured VFV in 2779 Japanese (1564 men and 1215 women) aged 40-89 who underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography for cancer screening between 2004 and 2005. Dietary fiber intake was calculated based on a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between dietary fiber intake and VFV was investigated using multivariate linear regression models after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Total, soluble, and insoluble fiber intakes were inversely associated with VFV in men (Q1: 3740 cm3, Q4: 3517 cm3, Ptrend: 0.0006 for total fiber), but not in women (Q1: 2207 cm3, Q4: 2193 cm3,Ptrend: 0.88 for total fiber). Statistically significant sex difference was observed (Pinteraction = 0.001 for total fiber). Subgroup analyses by major food sources revealed that dietary fiber intakes from beans, vegetables and fruits showed an inverse association with VFV in men, while cereal fiber intake showed a tendency toward a positive association in both sexes (Q1: 3520 cm3, Q4: 3671 cm3, Ptrend: 0.05 in men, Q1: 2147 cm3, Q4: 2227 cm3, Ptrend: 0.10 in women). CONCLUSION: We observed a sex-specific association between dietary fiber intake and VFV in Japanese adults. This study suggests that efforts against visceral fat accumulation should take account of the source of dietary fiber.

The association between dietary fiber intake and gastric cancer: a pooled analysis of 11 case-control studies.

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between dietary fiber intake and GC. METHODS: We pooled data from 11 population or hospital-based case-control studies included in the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project, for a total of 4865 histologically confirmed cases and 10,626 controls. Intake of dietary fibers and other dietary factors was collected using food frequency questionnaires. We calculated the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between dietary fiber intake and GC by using a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for study site, sex, age, caloric intake, smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, and socioeconomic status. We conducted stratified analyses by these factors, as well as GC anatomical site and histological type. RESULTS: The OR of GC for an increase of one quartile of fiber intake was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.97), that for the highest compared to the lowest quartile of dietary fiber intake was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.88). Results were similar irrespective of anatomical site and histological type. CONCLUSION: Our analysis supports the hypothesis that dietary fiber intake may exert a protective effect on GC.

Relationship between diabetes diet-related quality of life and dietary fiber intake among people with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Diet therapy is one of the most important treatments for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, dietary restrictions due to diet therapy may reduce quality of life (QOL). This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between diabetes diet-related QOL and dietary fiber intake in 238 people with T2D. The Diabetes Diet-related Quality of Life-Revised version (DDRQOL-9-R) and the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire were used to evaluate diabetes diet-related QOL and nutritional intake, respectively. Higher scores of each DDRQOL-9-R subscale means greater satisfaction with diet, perceived merits of diet therapy, and lower burden of diet therapy, which indicates good QOL. The median scores for perceived merits of diet therapy, satisfaction with diet, and burden of diet therapy were 58.3 [41.7-75.0], 75.0 [66.7-91.7], and 66.7 [50.0-75.0] points, respectively. HbA1c levels in people with high perceived merits of diet therapy (7.3 [6.7-7.8] vs. 7.5 [7.1-8.2] %, p = 0.007) and people with high satisfaction with diet (7.3 [6.8-7.8] vs. 7.5 [7.1-8.4] %, p = 0.010) were lower than those without. Dietary fiber intake was higher in people with high perceived merits of diet therapy (11.6 [8.8-16.7] vs. 10.0 [7.9-13.8] g/day, p = 0.010), high satisfaction with diet (11.4 [8.8-16.1] vs. 9.7 [7.8-13.2] g/day, p = 0.007), and low burden of diet therapy (11.8 [8.7-16.5] vs. 9.7 [7.8-12.6] g/day, p = 0.004) than in those without. Dietary fiber intake was related to perceived merits of diet therapy (Odds ratio [OR]1.07 [95%CI: 1.00-1.15], p = 0.049), burden of diet therapy (OR 0.90 [95%CI: 0.82-0.98], p = 0.022), and satisfaction with diet (OR 1.18 [95%CI: 1.09-1.27], p < 0.001) after adjusting for covariates. Dietary fiber intake is associated with diabetes diet-related QOL in people with T2D.

Association Between Dietary Fiber Intake and Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Middle-Aged and Elderly Population: a Study Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate dietary fiber (DF) intake with the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the middle-aged and elderly population through analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Methods: The study utilized data from 3 cycles of the NHANES database (2007-2012). The exposure variable was DF intake, and the outcome variable was COPD prevalence. Weighted logistic regression was utilized to construct relationship models between the 2 variables. Confounding factors were adjusted, and subgroup analysis was to explore the association of DF intake with COPD. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis investigated the nonlinear relationship between DF intake and COPD. Finally, mediation analysis was performed to determine whether the influence of DF intake on COPD prevalence is mediated through the alteration of white blood cell (WBC) counts. Results: This study included a total of 7301 eligible participants aged >40 years. The results of the study indicated that an increase in DF intake significantly reduced the prevalence of COPD (odds ratio: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.96-0.99, p<0.001), and DF intake was correlated with lung function indicators (e.g., forced expiratory volume in 1 second). Stratified analysis revealed that an increased DF intake significantly reduced the risk of COPD in male individuals, middle-aged individuals (aged 40-59 years), those with a body mass index ≤30 kg/m2, individuals with a history of smoking, and alcohol consumers (p<0.05). Through RCS analysis exploring the nonlinear association between DF intake and COPD prevalence, the critical threshold for the impact of DF intake on COPD prevalence was 15.10 gm. When DF intake was ≥15.10 g/d, it effectively reduced the prevalence of COPD. Mediation analysis results indicated that the WBC count partially mediated the association between DF intake and COPD, with a mediation proportion of 9.89% (p=0.006). Conclusion: Increased DF intake was linked to decreased prevalence of COPD, particularly in men and middle-aged people. WBC counts may be an important pathway linking DF intake and COPD.

Dietary intake of total vegetable, fruit, cereal, soluble and insoluble fiber and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to investigate the association between total, vegetable, fruit, cereal, soluble and insoluble fiber intake and risk of all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality and quantitatively assess the dose-response relation. Methods: Eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase and Web of science before August 2023. Random effects models were used to calculate summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and restricted cubic splines to model the linear/non-linear association. Results: The summary RR for all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality of dietary fiber was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.86,0.93), 0.87 (0.84,0.91), 0.91 (0.88,0.93), respectively. Significant association was observed for all-cause and CVD mortality with fruit, vegetable cereal and soluble fiber intake and cancer mortality with cereal fiber intake. No significant association was found for insoluble fiber, vegetable or fruit fiber intake and cancer mortality. Dose-response analysis showed a significant non-linear relation of dietary fiber intake with all-cause mortality, and linear relation for others. Conclusions: Higher dietary fiber including different type and food sources of fiber intake were associated with lower risk of mortality. Our findings provide more comprehensive evidence on dietary fiber intake with mortality. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier: CRD42022338837.

The Effects of Agave Fructans in a Functional Food Consumed by Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Irritable bowel syndrome displays three different subtypes: constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), and mixed (IBS-M). Treatment with dietary fiber is used, with consideration given both to the chemical composition of the fiber and to the different subtypes of IBS. The IBS-D subtype is usually treated with a low-FODMAPs diet, whereas the IBS-C subtype suggests prebiotics and probiotics to promote microbiota restoration. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of employing agave fructans as the soluble fiber of a jelly (Gelyfun®gastro) containing 8 g per serving in the IBS-C group (n = 50), using a randomized, double-blind, time-limited trial for four weeks. We evaluated changes in the frequency and types of bowel movements through the Bristol scale, and the improvement of the condition was evaluated using quality of life (IBS-QOL) and anxiety-depression (HADS) scales. The main results were that the number of bowel movements increased by more than 80%, with at least one stool per day from fifteen days onwards, without a laxative effect for the group treated. Finally, the quality of life with the prebiotic jelly was significantly improved compared to the placebo in all specific domains, in addition to significantly reducing anxiety and depression.

New Insights Into Dietary Approaches to Potassium Management in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Potassium disorders are one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to poor clinical outcomes. Maintaining serum potassium levels within the physiologically normal range is critically important in these patients. Dietary potassium restriction has long been considered a core strategy for the management of chronic hyperkalemia in patients with CKD. However, this has been challenged by recent evidence suggesting a paradigm shift toward fostering more liberalized, plant-based dietary patterns. The advent of novel potassium binders and an improved understanding of gastrointestinal processes involved in potassium homeostasis (e.g., gastrointestinal potassium wasting) may facilitate a paradigm shift and incorporation of heart-healthy potassium-enriched food sources. Nevertheless, uncertainty regarding the risk-benefit of plant-based diets in the context of potassium management in CKD remains, requiring well-designed clinical trials to determine the efficacy of dietary potassium manipulation toward improvement of clinical outcomes in patients with CKD.

The Possible Effect of Dietary Fiber Intake on the Metabolic Patterns of Dyslipidemia Subjects: Cross-Sectional Research Using Nontargeted Metabolomics.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is important because of its association with various metabolic complications. Numerous studies have sought to obtain scientific evidence for managing dyslipidemia patients. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify differences in the nutritional traits of dyslipidemia subjects based on metabolite patterns. METHODS: Dyslipidemia (n = 73) and control (n = 80) subjects were included. Dyslipidemia was defined as triglycerides ≥200 mg/dL, total cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL, low density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥160 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL (men) or 50 mg/dL (women), or lipid-lowering medicine use. Nontargeted metabolomics based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified plasma metabolites, and K-means clustering was used to reconstitute groups based on the similarity of metabolomic patterns across all subjects. Then, with eXtreme Gradient Boosting, metabolites significantly contributing to the new grouping were selected. Statistical analysis was conducted to analyze traits demonstrating appreciable differences between the groups. RESULTS: Dyslipidemia subjects were divided into 2 groups based on whether they were (n = 24) or were not (n = 56) in a similar metabolic state as the controls by K-means clustering. The considerable contribution of 4 metabolites (3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine, 2-octenal, 1,3,5-heptatriene, and 5ß-cholanic acid) to this new subset of dyslipidemia was confirmed by eXtreme Gradient Boosting. Furthermore, fiber intake was significantly higher in dyslipidemia subjects whose metabolic state was similar to that of the control than in the dissimilar group (P = 0.002). Moreover, significant correlations were observed between the 4 metabolites and fiber intake. Regression analysis determined that the ideal cutoff for fiber intake was 17.28 g/d. CONCLUSIONS: Dyslipidemia patients who consume 17.28 g/d or more of dietary fiber may maintain similar metabolic patterns to healthy individuals, with substantial effects on the changes in the concentrations of 4 metabolites. Our findings could be applied to developing dietary guidelines for dyslipidemia patients.

Dietary Fiber Intake and Related Factors in Community-Based Iranian's Elderly.

Background: There are considerable documents suggesting that inadequate fiber intake (FI) is a key risk factor for various chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate Dietary FI in the Persian elderly. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed to investigate FI in a sample of the elderly who received free services from healthcare centers in Karaj, Iran. For sampling method: at first, the names of 36 centers were written on small pieces of paper and poured into a container, then another person was asked to randomly select the names of 10 centers, then referring to each of the centers and preparing a list of elderly people, the study subjects were selected, The study was conducted between September 2018, and April 2019Several questionnaires were used to collect data regarding DF: characteristics, daily FI , knowledge, SE (self-efficacy), perceived benefits, and barriers towards FI as well as stage of readiness of FI. t-test and ANOVA were used to compare independent mean values. Data were checked for normality before analysis by using Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test to check data normality. Results: Totally of 400 elderly individuals entered the study with the average amount of fiber per day. The data analysis indicated they did not know the recommended intake of at least 25 gr each day. feeling less hungry and fiber's price was the most frequent perceived benefits and barriers towards FI , respectively. Gastrointestinal diseases ( P < 0.001), smoking (P < 0.001), and perceived barriers (P < 0.001), were statistically significant independent positive predictors of FI. Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicated that FI among elderly people in Iran was very low and varied a great by gender, education, marital status, income level, employment status, smoking, stage of change, and gastrointestinal disease.

Dietary fiber intake is positively associated with health-related quality of life in patients with hypertension: The mediating role of anxiety in mental component summary.

Few studies have focused on the exploration of the relationship between dietary fiber intake (DFI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its mediators in hypertensive patients. This study is a cross-sectional survey and the data were obtained from hypertensive patients from Suzhou, China. The DFI, office systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, anxiety and depression, and HRQoL were investigated. We hypothesized that blood pressure, anxiety, and depression mediated the association between DFI and HRQoL, and used Pearson correlations, linear regression, and bootstrap tests to validate this relationship. A total of 211 hypertensive patients aged 20 to 64 years were included in this study. The average DFI was 12.4 ± 5.2 g/d, and the scores of physical component summary and mental component summary (MCS) were 46.5 ± 6.1 and 46.4 ± 6.4, respectively. DFI was positively correlated with physical component summary (r = 0.17, p = 0.014) and MCS (r = 0.27, P < .001). After controlling for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, neither systolic blood pressure nor diastolic blood pressure showed mediating effects in the mediated model of DFI on MCS, whereas anxiety (b = -0.30; 95% confidence interval, -0.41 to -0.18) fully mediated the improvement in MCS by DFI (F = 11.14, P < .001). Because the MCS of HRQoL encompassed the assessment of depression, we did not analyze the mediating effect of depression in this model in order to avoid variable duplication. The decreased DFI is a risk factor for lower HRQoL, and anxiety mediated the relationship between DFI and MCS. Further research should focus on increasing DFI and reducing anxiety levels in hypertensive patients to improve their quality of life.

Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Increased intestinal permeability and inflammation, both fueled by dysbiosis, appear to contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. This single-center pilot study aimed to investigate zonulin, a marker of intestinal permeability, and calprotectin, a marker of intestinal inflammation, measured in serum and fecal samples of RA patients using commercially available kits. We also analyzed plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, a marker of intestinal permeability and inflammation. Furthermore, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were carried out to determine whether or not there were associations of zonulin and calprotectin with LPS, BMI, gender, age, RA-specific parameters, fiber intake, and short-chain fatty acids in the gut. Serum zonulin levels were more likely to be abnormal with a longer disease duration and fecal zonulin levels were inversely associated with age. A strong association between fecal and serum calprotectin and between fecal calprotectin and LPS were found in males, but not in females, independent of other biomarkers, suggesting that fecal calprotectin may be a more specific biomarker than serum calprotectin is of intestinal inflammation in RA. Since this was a proof-of-principle study without a healthy control group, further research is needed to validate fecal and serum zonulin as valid biomarkers of RA in comparison with other promising biomarkers.

Associations between Oxidant/Antioxidant Status and Circulating Adipokines in Non-Obese Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), but there are no data on these disorders in non-obese children with PWS. Therefore, the presented study examined total oxidant capacity (TOC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the oxidative stress index (OSI), and adipokine levels in 22 non-obese children with PWS during dietary intervention and growth hormone treatment compared with 25 non-obese healthy children. Serum concentrations of TOC, TAC, nesfatin-1, leptin, hepcidin, ferroportin, and ferritin were determined using immunoenzymatic methods. We found that TOC concentrations were higher by 50% (p = 0.006) in patients with PWS than in healthy children, but no significant differences in TAC concentrations were observed between these groups. The OSI was higher in children with PWS than in the controls (p = 0.002). We found positive associations between TOC values and the percentage of the Estimated Energy Requirement, body mass index (BMI) Z-score, percentage of fat mass, and leptin, nesfatin-1, and hepcidin concentrations in patients with PWS. A positive association was also found between the OSI and nesfatin-1 levels. These observations suggest that higher daily energy intake and weight gain may be accompanied by an increasing prooxidant state in these patients. Adipokines such as leptin, nesfatin-1, or hepcidin may also play a role in the prooxidant state in non-obese children with PWS.