Correlations among vitamin K intake, body fat, lipid profile and glucose homeostasis in adults and the elderly.

Objective Recent research has investigated the possible inverse relationship between vitamin K intake and body fat. In addition, an increasing number of studies are supporting a key role for this vitamin in improving lipid profile and insulin sensitivity and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, but little is known about what mechanisms would be involved. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin K intake (in the form of phylloquinone - PK), body fat, lipid profile and markers of glucose homeostasis in adults and the elderly. Subjects and methods A cross-sectional study with 298 participants (46% men) in the São Paulo Health Survey 2014-2015. Spearman correlations were performed to evaluate the associations between vitamin K intake and the biochemical and body composition measures. Results Among normal-weight male adults (n = 15), PK intake presented a positive correlation with the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (r = 0.525; p = 0.045). Among men with high fat mass index (FMI) (n = 101), PK intake had a negative correlation with homeostasis model assessment estimate for ß-cell function (HOMA-ß) (r = -0.227; p = 0.022). In women with high FMI (n = 122), PK intake had a negative correlation with HOMA-ß (r = -0.199, p = 0.032) and insulin (r = -0.207, p = 0.026). No correlations were found between PK intake and lipid profile. Conclusions Our findings support a potential relationship among PK intake, body fat and markers of glucose homeostasis in adults and the elderly.

Relationships between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D, food consumption, and nutritional status among adolescents.

We have hypothesized that higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake is associated with better lipid profile, higher 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum concentrations, and healthy food consumption and nutritional status. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the relationships between n-3 PUFA intake, serum 25(OH)D, lipid profile, nutritional status, and food consumption among adolescents. A total of 198 Brazilian adolescents (51% male), with mean age of 16.3 ± 1.4 years, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Blood was collected for 25(OH)D and lipid profile serum measurement. Weight and height were measured, and food consumption was accessed by a 24-hour food record (n = 69). Analysis of variance, the Student t test, and Pearson correlation were performed using SPSS software (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy (25(OH)D, <30 ng/mL) was 71.7%. Serum 25(OH)D negatively correlated with body mass index (r = -0.294; P < .0001) and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.323; P < .0001). N-3 PUFA intake negatively correlated with body mass index (r = -0.286; P = .017), total cholesterol (r = -0.292; P = .015), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.333; P = .005) and positively correlated with the intake of fat meats and eggs (r = 0.391; P = .006), vegetable proteins (r = 0.297; P = .048), fats/oils (r = 0.574; P < .001), and refined cereals (r = 0.351; P = .006). Vitamin D status and n-3 PUFA intake were related with better nutritional status and favorable lipid profile. Food groups usually found in Brazilian traditional meals (characterized by rice, beans, meat, and vegetables) were associated with higher n-3 PUFA intake, which may contribute to prevent the development of noncommunicable diseases in adolescence and adulthood.