The attitudes and knowledge of family physicians regarding malnutrition in the elderly: a call for action.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in the elderly places a significant burden on healthcare, social, and aged-care systems, yet it often remains undiagnosed and untreated. This study aims to evaluate family physicians' knowledge and attitudes towards the diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition in the elderly. METHODS: Based on a literature review, an online questionnaire was developed, comprised of seven knowledge-related items and eight attitude-related questions regarding malnutrition in elderly populations. We also assessed the feasibility of including two malnutrition screening questions in regular clinic visits for individuals aged ≥ 70 years. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 126 physicians (35% response rate), mean age 47.2 ± 12.6 years; 15.6 ± 12.5 years of practice; 67% females; and 92% board-certified family physicians. Moreover, 77.6% agreed that diagnosing malnutrition is important in patients with decreased appetite. Most respondents demonstrated knowledge of nutritional screening principles (63.5%) and recognized that even obese elderly individuals could be malnourished (83.2%). There was partial agreement (60%) that normal BMI values in the elderly differ from those in younger populations. Almost complete agreement was seen for incorporating two nutritional status questions in medical visits (91%), with physicians expressing willingness to receive training in malnutrition identification and screening tools. Despite challenges such as time constraints and limited knowledge, participants were open to conducting biannual malnutrition risk screening for elderly patients. CONCLUSION: We recommend malnutrition screening in primary care followed by malnutrition diagnosis and referral of malnourished patients to the proper intervention.

Methodology and challenges for harmonization of nutritional data from seven historical studies.

BACKGROUND: Collection of detailed dietary data is labor intensive and expensive, harmonization of existing data sets has been proposed as an effective tool for research questions in which individual studies are underpowered. METHODS: In this paper, we describe the methodology used to retrospectively harmonize nutritional data from multiple sources, based on the individual participant data of all available studies, which collected nutritional data in Israel between 1963 and 2014. This collaboration was established in order to study the association of red and processed meat with colorectal cancer. Two types of nutritional questionnaires, the Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) and the 24-h dietary recall (24HR recall), and different food composition tables, were used by the participating studies. The main exposure of interest included type of meat (total meat, red meat, and poultry) and level of processing. RESULTS: A total of 29,560 Israeli men and women were enrolled. In studies using FFQ,the weighted mean intakes of total, red, processed meat, and poultry were 95, 27, 37 and 58 gr/day and 92, 25, 10, and 66 gr/day in studies using 24HR recall, respectively.. Despite several methodological challenges, we successfully harmonized nutritional data from the different studies. CONCLUSIONS: This paper emphasizes the significance and feasibility of harmonization of previously collected nutritional data, offering an opportunity to examine associations between a range of dietary exposures and the outcome of interest, while minimizing costs and time in epidemiological studies.

A historical cohort study with 27,754 individuals on the association between meat consumption and gastrointestinal tract and colorectal cancer incidence.

In order to explore the association between meat consumption and gastrointestinal/colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and to estimate the Israeli population attributable fraction (PAF), we conducted a collaborative historical cohort study using the individual participant data of seven nutritional studies from the past 6 decades. We included healthy adult men and women who underwent a nutritional interview. Dietary assessment data, using food-frequency or 24-h recall questionnaires, were harmonized. The study file was linked to the National Cancer and death registries. Among 27,754 participants, 1216 (4.4%) were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers and 839 (3.0%) with CRC by the end of 2016. Using meta-analysis methods applied to Cox proportional hazard models (adjusted for daily energy intake, sex, age, ethnic origin, education and smoking),100 g/day increments in beef, red meat and poultry consumption, and 50 g/day increment in processed meat consumption were associated with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals of 1.46 (1.06-2.02), 1.15 (0.87-1.52), 1.06 (0.89-1.26), and 0.93 (0.76-1.12), respectively, for CRC. Similar results were obtained for gastrointestinal cancer, although red meat consumption reached statistical significance (HR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.02-1.58). The PAFs associated with a reduction to a maximum of 50 g/day in the consumption of red meat were 2.7% (95%CI: -1.9 to 12.0) and 5.2% (0.3-13.9) for CRC and gastrointestinal cancers, respectively. Reduction of beef consumption to a maximum of 50 g/day will result in a CRC PAF reduction of 7.5% (0.7%-24.3%). While beef consumption was associated with gastrointestinal/CRC excess risk, poultry consumption was not. A substantial part of processed meat consumption in Israel is processed poultry, perhaps explaining the lack of association with CRC.

Development and validation of the MY-VEG-FFQ: A modular web-based food-frequency questionnaire for vegetarians and vegans.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The adoption of plant-based diets in recent years has increased the need for accurate assessments of dietary intake among vegans, vegetarians, semi-vegetarians, and omnivores. This study aimed at developing and validating a modular web-based food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the MY-VEG-FFQ. This FFQ was based on the original FFQ (O-FFQ) designed for the Israeli population and incorporates a skip algorithm tailored for different dietary patterns. METHODS: A convenience sample of 101 participants, recruited via social media, completed the MY-VEG FFQ, as well as a three-day food records, which served as the gold standard for this research. Relative validity of the new FFQ was evaluated by comparing nutrients with those in the three-day food records, using Pearson correlation coefficients, Bland-Altman plots, and cross-classification. The results were compared with 90 O-FFQs that previously had been completed by vegans. RESULTS: The validation analysis showed that nutrient-intake estimates were generally higher for the MY-VEG-FFQ than those of the three-day food records. Pearson correlation coefficients ranged between 0.25-0.63, indicating an acceptable agreement between the two tools. The proportion of participants with exact or adjacent quartile agreement was between 73%-82%. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed overestimation of nutrient intake via the MY-VEG-FFQ. Compared to the O-FFQ, vegans who completed the MY-VEG-FFQ reported consumption of more food items. Additionally, the MY-VEG-FFQ showed a significantly higher intake of most macro- and micronutrients. CONCLUSIONS: The My-VEG-FFQ demonstrated reasonable validity in assessing dietary intake among people who followed a plant-based diet. However, it tended to overestimate nutrient intake compared to the three-day food records. The development of a modular web-based FFQ with a skip algorithm tailored for specific dietary patterns, fills a crucial gap in accurately assessing the dietary intake of these populations. The MY-VEG-FFQ offers a practical and cost-effective tool for evaluating long-term dietary consumption among people who follow different dietary patterns.

Risk factors for long-term arm morbidities following breast cancer treatments: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: To examine the risk factors for arm morbidity following breast cancer treatments, taking a broad view of all types of physical morbidity, including prolonged pain, lymphedema, decreased range of motion, and functional limitations. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. Studies exploring the risk factors for prolonged arm morbidity following breast cancer surgery and treatments were included. The studies were assessed independently according to pre-eligibility criteria, following data extraction and methodological quality assessment. RESULTS: 1,242 articles were identified. After removing duplicates, the full texts of 1,153 articles were examined. Sixty-nine of these articles met the criteria and were included in the review. These 69 articles identified 29 risk factors for arm morbidity following treatments for breast cancer. The risk of bias was evaluated using NIH study quality assessment tools. The studies reviewed were published between 2001 and 2021 and included a total of 22,886 patients who were followed up for between three months and 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: The main risk factors for long-term morbidity are removal of lymph nodes from the axilla, body mass index >30, having undergone a mastectomy, the stage of the disease, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, infection and trauma to the affected arm after surgery. An understanding of the risk factors for prolonged arm morbidity after surgery can help doctors and therapists in making personalized decisions about the need and timing of rehabilitation treatments.

Effects of Nutritional Interventions in Older Adults with Malnutrition or at Risk of Malnutrition on Muscle Strength and Mortality: Results of Pooled Analyses of Individual Participant Data from Nine RCTs.

Nutritional intervention studies in older adults with malnutrition aim to improve nutritional status. Although these studies show a significant gain in body weight, there is inconsistent evidence of clinical effectiveness on muscle strength and mortality. This study aimed to examine the effects of nutritional interventions on muscle strength and risk of mortality in older adults (malnourished or at risk) and explore whether these effects are influenced by participant characteristics. Individual participant data were used from nine RCTs (community setting, hospital and long-term care; duration 12-24 weeks and included oral nutritional supplements, dietary counseling, or both). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured in seven RCTs and six RCTs obtained mortality data. A ≥3 kg increase in HGS was considered clinically relevant. Logistic generalized estimating equations analyses (GEE) were used to test intervention effectiveness. GEE showed no overall treatment effect (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.78-1.59) on HGS. A greater, but not statistically significant, effect on HGS was observed for older (>80 years) versus younger participants. No significant treatment effect was observed for mortality (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.42-1.46). The treatment effect on mortality was greater but remained non-significant for women and those with higher baseline energy or protein intake. In conclusion, no effects of nutritional interventions were observed on HGS and mortality in older adults (malnourished or at risk). While the treatment effect was modified by some baseline participant characteristics, the treatment also lacked an effect in most subgroups.

Ultra-processed food (UPF) intake in pregnancy and maternal and neonatal outcomes.

PURPOSE: Ultra-processed food (UPF), as defined by the NOVA classification, is related to lower diet quality, which may adversely affect maternal health and neonatal outcomes. This study aims to describe nutrient intake of pregnant women by the share of UPF in the diet and to identify associations between UPF intake and maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, pregnant women (n = 206) were recruited upon arrival to the obstetrics ward for delivery, and asked to complete a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and questionnaires regarding environmental exposures, and socio-demographic characteristics. Neonatal measurements and clinical data were obtained following delivery. UPF energy intake was expressed as absolute and in terms of percent from total energy. Women with high intake of energy from UPF were compared to those with low intake. RESULTS: Among 206 pregnant women, dietary intake of UPF ranged from 15.6% to 43.4% of total energy in the first and fourth quartiles of UPF consumption, respectively. Women in the fourth quartile of energy from UPF had lower intakes of vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin B6, and potassium, which is indicative of inferior diet quality. Percent energy from UPF was associated with maternal obesity (BMI ≥ 30) (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.10, p = 0.008) and shorter male infant ano-genital distance (AGD) (B = -1.9, 95% CI: -3.5, -0.24, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: UPF intake during pregnancy is associated with undesirable maternal and neonatal outcomes and more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food and Cognitive Decline among Older Adults With Type-2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is related to increased morbidity and mortality. However, knowledge on its association with cognitive function is lacking. In this longitudinal study, we examined the associations between UPF intake and cognitive decline in older adults with type-2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: The sample included initially nondemented T2D older adults (≥65 years), from the Israel Diabetes and Cognitive Decline study, who had complete information on nutrition at baseline and at least 3 cognitive assessments (mean follow-up 5.3 ± 1.5 years). Nutritional intake was evaluated by a validated Food-Frequency Questionnaire, and foods were categorized as UPF based on NOVA classification. Percent of calories from UPF were calculated from total caloric consumption in total and specific food groups. Mixed effect models were used to examine the link between UPF intake (top vs bottom quartiles) and change in cognitive function overall and in specific domains, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Of the total sample (N = 568; mean age 71.3 ± 4.5 years, 60% men), 141 consumed >31% kcal from UPF (top quartile). Greater intake of ultra-processed meat was associated with a faster decline in executive functions and global cognition (ß = -0.041 ± 0.013; p = .002 and ß = -0.026 ± 0.010; p = .011, respectively). Additionally, consumption of ultra-processed oils/spreads was associated with faster decline in executive functions and global cognition (ß = -0.037 ± 0.014; p = .006 and ß = -0.028 ± 0.010; p = .009, respectively). Total UPF consumption and UPF-derived from dairy products and bread/pastries/starch were not associated with cognitive change. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a high intake of ultra-processed meat and oils/spreads may be associated with accelerated cognitive decline in older individuals with T2D.

Greater intake of the MEDI diet is associated with better cognitive trajectory in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: To determine associations of three dietary patterns (Mediterranean (MEDI) diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and the Mediterranean- DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet) with cognitive decline in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). METHODS: This is a longitudinal observational study. Participants (N = 960) from the Israel Diabetes and Cognitive Decline (IDCD) study were included in this study. A multivariable-adjusted model including all three dietary patterns concurrently was developed to investigate their independent effect on cognitive decline. RESULTS: The mean follow up was 4.1 ± 2.1 years. While high adherence to both the MIND and the MEDI diet was associated with a slower decline, in the multivariable model only the associations of higher MEDI diet intake with greater decline in global cognition and in executive functions remained significant (ß = 0.013, SE = 0.006; P = 0.042; ß = 0.001, SE = 0.008, Pv = 0.023 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with T2D, adherence to the MEDI is related to better cognitive trajectory. Diet is a meaningful factor in the path linking T2D and cognition.

The Environmental Footprint Associated With the Mediterranean Diet, EAT-Lancet Diet, and the Sustainable Healthy Diet Index: A Population-Based Study.

Providing a growing global population with healthy and sustainable diets is an immediate challenge. In the current study, estimates were obtained for the environmental footprints (land, water, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions) in association with the Mediterranean diet (MED) and the EAT-Lancet reference diet, which represents a healthy diet derived from sustainable food systems. We used a newly developed Sustainable Healthy Diet (SHED) index that was validated for the Israeli population by Tepper et al. in 2020. Methods: A group of 525 participants were recruited via social media, email, and phone. Demographic characteristics, quality of life, and answers to the SHED-index questionnaire were obtained. Dietary assessment was performed using the 116-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), which was developed for the Israeli population. Adherence to the MED was calculated using a 9-point score. Adherence to the EAT-Lancet reference diet was assessed through the consumption of 14 food components. The environmental pressure of these dietary patterns was determined based on the "footprint family indicators," which include land, water, and carbon footprints per unit of agricultural and food products. We assigned values for each food comprising the FFQ and calculated the environmental load for each dietary pattern. Statistical analyses were performed using the R package version 4.1.1 to compare environmental footprint values according to tertiles of the MED score, EAT-Lancet score, and SHED score. Results: The participants (n = 525) were 49% women, educated (82% had academic education), and physically active, and only 13% were smokers. The highest tertiles of adherence to the MED, adherence to the EAT-Lancet reference diet, and the SHED index were associated with the lowest GHG emissions and land use, as well as higher water use. Meat consumption contributed the most to land use, while dairy contributed the most to GHG emissions, and fruits contributed the most to water use. Conclusions: Our analysis reveals that animal protein is the highest contributor to GHG emissions and land use, while fruits and vegetables contribute the most to water consumption. Nevertheless, most of the fruits and vegetables are grown using treated wastewater, which reduces environmental pressure. Given these findings, we suggest that MED and EAT-Lancet dietary patterns should be included in national dietary guidelines.

Incremental Costs and Diners' Satisfaction Associated with Improvement in Nutritional Value of Catering Dishes.

Eating in catering systems has been identified as a driver of poor diet quality. Interventions within catering systems increase the nutrient density of dishes. Little is known about the incremental costs associated with this strategy. One part of the NEKST (Nutrition Environmental Kibbutzim Study) intervention was nutritional improvement of recipes (decreasing the amount of energy, sodium, and saturated fat). We evaluated the nutritional content of dishes per 100 g and the incremental costs associated with these changes from the catering system's perspective, as well as diners' satisfaction with the catering system before and after the intervention. Our results revealed that as energy and saturated fat decreased, the associated incremental cost increased (rs = −0.593, p = 0.010 and rs = −0.748, p < 0.001, respectively). However, the decrease in sodium was not associated with increased costs (rs = 0.099, p = 0.696). While diners' satisfaction decreased in the control group, it did not change in the intervention group following the intervention (p = 0.018). We concluded that recipe modification improved the nutritional value of dishes without increasing cost. This intervention was not associated with decreased diner satisfaction. This evidence encourages the implementation of policies to improve the nutritional quality of food served by caterers without jeopardizing sales and with the potential to improve public health.

Factors Involved in the Food Choices of Diners in a Kibbutz Communal Dining Room Buffet: A Qualitative Study.

Improving nutrition improves health outcomes. Eating in a catering system may provide an environment for promoting healthy dietary choices. To map the factors that shape the food choices of diners who routinely eat in catering systems, we collected and analyzed qualitative data about diners' perceptions of their food choices in communal dining rooms in three kibbutzim in Israel. From May to July 2014, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 13 diners who ate at least three lunches per week in the kibbutz's dining room. Data analysis followed thematic analysis principles. Two categories of themes emerged from the interviews. In the personal context category, the themes identified were eating as a task and attempts to control one's eating. In the contextual aspects of eating in the catering system category, themes identified were eating in the dining room as a default, the characteristics of the food served, routine, and personal versus public aspects. The sub-theme of the diners' freedom of choice emerged in the two categories of themes. Diners' wishes of maintaining their freedom of choice may be an important contribution to the debate of whether catering systems should provide only healthy foods, which may jeopardize diners' freedom of choice.

The SHED Index: a tool for assessing a Sustainable HEalthy Diet.

PURPOSE: Promoting sustainable diets through sustainable food choices is essential for achieving the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. Establishing a practical tool that can measure and score sustainable and healthy eating is highly important. METHODS: We established a 30-item questionnaire to evaluate sustainable-dietary consumption. Based on the literature and a multidisciplinary advisory panel, the questionnaire was computed by principal component analysis, yielding the Sustainable-HEalthy-Diet (SHED) Index. A rigorous multi-stage process included validation in training-verification sets, across recycling efforts, as an indicator of environmental commitment; and validation across the proportion of animal-protein consumption, as an indicator of adherence to a sustainable and healthy dietary-pattern. The EAT-Lancet reference-diet and the Mediterranean-Diet-score were used to investigate the construct validity of the SHED Index score. Reliability was assessed with a test-retest sample. RESULTS: Three-hundred-forty-eight men and women, aged 20-45 years, completed both the SHED Index questionnaire and a validated Food-Frequency-Questionnaire. Increased dietary animal-protein intake was associated with a lower SHED Index total score (p < 0.001). Higher recycling efforts were associated with a higher total SHED Index score (p < 0.001). A linear correlation was found between the SHED Index score and food-groups of the Eat-Lancet-reference diet. A significant correlation was found between the Mediterranean-Diet-score and the SHED Index score (r = 0.575, p < 0.001). The SHED Index score revealed high reliability in test-retest, high validity in training and verification sets, and internal consistency. CONCLUSION: We developed the SHED Index score, a simple, practical tool, for measuring healthy and sustainable individual-diets. The score reflects the nutritional, environmental and sociocultural aspects of sustainable diets; and provides a tangible tool to be used in intervention studies and in daily practice.

Mapping Young Adults' Concerns and Attitudes toward Food-Related Sustainability Issues in Israel: Implications for Food Policy.

Identifying the concerns about and attitudes toward adopting a healthy, sustainable diet may facilitate the development of effective implementation policies targeted at changing an individual's dietary choices toward reducing the environmental burden of food systems. This cross-sectional online study was conducted in Israel among 348 adults aged 20-45 who responded to an advertisement posted on several social media platforms. Respondents received a link for the survey after signing informed consent forms. The questionnaire included three sections: concerns regarding food-related sustainability issues, willingness to act ("self"), and expectation that leaders would act upon these issues ("leaders"). Responses were recorded on a 1-4 Likert scale. Health-related issues-healthy food and drink, food prices, food safety, and the quality of health services-were scored the highest, both in the "self" and "leaders" sections. In all items, the expectation that leaders would act was higher than the willingness to act (composite mean ± SD: 3.04 ± 3.11 vs. 2.51 ± 2.47, respectively, p < 0.001). There were significant differences among dietary patterns in all three components. Mapping young adults' concerns about and attitudes toward food-related sustainability issues allows for the identification of leverages that can be further used as focus issues in messages and interventions such as communication, food labeling, and economic incentives.

Improvement in Healthy Meal Index, Lunch Quality, and Diversity Scores Following an Integrated Nutritional Intervention in a Communal Dining Room: The NEKST Study.

The objective of the NEKST (Nutrition Environmental Kibbutzim Study), a nonrandomized interventional study, was to evaluate the effect of an integrated intervention program on participants' lunch quality and diversity in two communal dining rooms (intervention n = 58 vs. control n = 54). The intervention included recipe modification, environmental changes, and an education program. The outcomes included simple healthy meal index (SHMI), lunch quality (LQS), and diversity scores (LDS) calculated based on photographs of lunch trays. A nutrition questionnaire assessed the changes in fruit and vegetable intake at baseline and 3 months following the intervention. The mean SHMI, LQS, and LDS increased in the intervention group (0.51, p < 0.001; 0.27, p = 0.045; 0.95, p < 0.001, respectively) but not in the control group (p = 0.865; p = 0.339; p = 0.354, respectively). Multivariable linear models demonstrate an increase in the SHMI (ß = 0.26, 95% CI [0.12-0.76], p = 0.015), LQS (ß = 0.23, 95% CI [0.06-0.83], p = 0.024), and LDS (ß = 0.34, 95% CI [0.41-1.39], p < 0.001) of the participants in the intervention group. More participants in the intervention group raised their daily fruit intake compared with the control. We conclude that this integrated intervention program was effective in improving lunch healthy meal index, quality, and diversity in a communal dining room, with a modest halo effect of the intervention throughout the day.

Vitamin E Intake Is Associated with Lower Brain Volume in Haptoglobin 1-1 Elderly with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUNDS: The efficacy of vitamin E in prevention of diabetes-related complications differs by Haptoglobin (Hp) genotype. OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of Hp genotype in the relationship of vitamin E intake with brain volume in cognitively normal elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Brain volumes for the superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri and for the middle temporal gyrus were generated from structural T1 MRI in 181 study participants (Hp 1-1: n = 24, Hp 2-1: n = 77, Hp 2-2: n = 80). Daily vitamin E intake was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Analyses of covariance, controlling for demographic and cardiovascular variables was used to evaluate whether the association of daily vitamin E intake with brain volume was modified by Hp genotype. RESULTS: Average age was 70.8 (SD = 4.2) with 40% females, and mean Mini-Mental State Examination score of 28.17 (SD = 1.90). A significant interaction was found between vitamin E intake and Hp genotype in inferior frontal gyrus' volume; p = 0.0108. For every 1 microgram increase in vitamin E intake, the volume of the inferior frontal gyrus decreased by 0.955% for Hp 1-1 (p = 0.0348), increased by 0.429% for Hp 2-1 (p = 0.0457), and by 0.077% for Hp 2-2 (p = 0.6318). There were no significant interactions between vitamin E intake and Hp genotype for the middle (p = 0.6011) and superior (p = 0.2025) frontal gyri or for the middle temporal gyrus (p = 0.503). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of dietary vitamin E on the brain may differ by Hp genotype. Studies examining the impact of vitamin E on brain-related outcomes should consider Hp genotype.

Distinct trajectories in HbA1c are associated with different all-cause mortality and morbidity in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: To identify trajectories of long-term HbA1c levels and examine associations with subsequent risk for morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal follow-up among 27,724 patients, newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, in a large healthcare organization. We identified trajectories of long-term HbA1c levels during the first 5 years post diabetes onset to examine associations with subsequent risk for morbidity and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: We identified two HbA1c trajectories; the "Steady-plateau HbA1c trajectory" in 93% of patients and a "Sharp-incline HbA1c trajectory" in 7% of patients. When compared to the steady-plateau group, patients in the sharp-incline group were younger, male, from a lower socio-economic background, and higher levels of HbA1c at baseline. Patients in the sharp-incline trajectory had a HR = 1.83 (95%CI: 1.58-2.12) for all-cause mortality, HR = 1.99 (95%CI: 1.74-2.27) for cardiovascular disease, and HR = 1.68 (95%CI: 1.51-1.86) for renal disease, compared to patients in the steady-plateau trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the sharp-incline trajectory had a higher risk for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and renal disease, compared to patients in the steady-plateau trajectory. Estimation of HbA1c variability in the first years of diagnosis may be a useful indicator of those patients at high risk for diabetes related complications.

GutSelf: Interindividual Variability in the Processing of Dietary Compounds by the Human Gastrointestinal Tract.

Nutritional research is currently entering the field of personalized nutrition, to a large extent driven by major technological breakthroughs in analytical sciences and biocomputing. An efficient launching of the personalized approach depends on the ability of researchers to comprehensively monitor and characterize interindividual variability in the activity of the human gastrointestinal tract. This information is currently not available in such a form. This review therefore aims at identifying and discussing published data, providing evidence on interindividual variability in the processing of the major nutrients, i.e., protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, along the gastrointestinal tract, including oral processing, intestinal digestion, and absorption. Although interindividual variability is not a primary endpoint of most studies identified, a significant number of publications provides a wealth of information on this topic for each category of nutrients. This knowledge remains fragmented, however, and understanding the clinical relevance of most of the interindividual responses to food ingestion described in this review remains unclear. In that regard, this review has identified a gap and sets the base for future research addressing the issue of the interindividual variability in the response of the human organism to the ingestion of foods.

Adaptation and predictive utility of a Mediterranean diet screener score.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There is a substantial body of evidence supporting the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which has differing variations across the Mediterranean region. Abbreviated dietary screeners can be adapted and used to assess adherence to the local Mediterranean diet variant. We aimed to describe the process of adapting the Spanish Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) for use in Israel, and to test the predictive utility of the adapted score for mortality. METHODS: A professional committee of nutritional policy makers, dieticians and researchers adapted MEDAS to create an Israeli Mediterranean diet screener (I-MEDAS) that reflected the local Mediterranean diet and national dietary recommendations. The Hadera District Study (HDS) was a population-based, prospective cohort study of adults in Israel. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data from the HDS was used to calculate Mediterranean diet adherence according to the I-MEDAS score criteria and evaluate the score's predictive utility. Mortality status was obtained from the national population registry. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to test the predictive utility of the I-MEDAS score for all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The 14-item MEDAS was adapted to create a 17-item I-MEDAS. According to FFQ data from the HDS cohort (n = 1092 adults; median [IQR] follow-up time = 14 [12-15] years, 179 deaths), the median (IQR) I-MEDAS score was 8 (7-9). In multivariable analysis, every 1-point increase in the I-MEDAS score reduced the hazard of death by 12% (adjusted HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80-0.97). The original MEDAS score was less strongly associated with mortality, and lost significance after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: I-MEDAS reflects the local Mediterranean diet and national dietary recommendations in Israel. The I-MEDAS score, calculated from FFQ data, demonstrated predictive utility for mortality in a population-based cohort of adults.

Age Modulates the Association of Caffeine Intake With Cognition and With Gray Matter in Elderly Diabetics.

BACKGROUND: The association between caffeine and cognitive performance has not been tested in older individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Its association with brain volume in T2D has been tested only in animals. METHODS: We examined the association of caffeine with cognitive function and brain volume in a sample of elderly diabetics participating in the Israel Diabetes and Cognitive Decline Study (n = 638) and the moderating effect of age on this association. In a subsample (n = 185) with magnetic resonance imaging, we also examined these associations with gray and white matter volumes (GM/WM). RESULTS: Using linear regression adjusting for cognition-related covariates, we found that higher caffeine intake was associated with better function in overall cognition (p = .018), attention/working memory (p = .002), executive functioning (p = .047), and semantic categorization (p = .026). Interaction analyses of caffeine intake with age were significant for semantic categorization (p = .025), and approached significance for overall cognition (p = .066). This association was driven by the older group (above-median) for whom the association of caffeine intake with semantic categorization (p = .001), attention/working memory (p = .007), executive functioning (p = .005), and overall cognition (p = .002) were significant. In the magnetic resonance imaging subsample, there was an interaction (p = .034) of caffeine intake with age for GM volume; in the older group, higher caffeine intake was associated with greater GM volume (ß = .198, p = .033). CONCLUSIONS: Caffeine intake may have a beneficial role in cognitive functioning of elderly adults with T2D, which may be moderated by age. Greater GM volume may be a mechanism underlying the association of higher caffeine intake with better cognitive function.