The association between dietary branched-chain amino acids and the risk of cardiovascular diseases in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: A hospital-based case-control study.

Background: Previous studies showed conflicting evidence on the association between the intake of dietary branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, this relationship has not been studied in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of total and individual dietary BCAA (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) intake on CVD risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes in China. Materials and methods: A total of 419 patients with type 2 diabetes who have been diagnosed with CVD (within 2 weeks) were recruited between March 2013 and September 2015 in China. Cases with CVD were 1:1 matched to controls with type 2 diabetes but without CVD by age (±5 years) and sex. A validated 79-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to assess the participants' dietary data. Total dietary BCAA per individual was the summation of the daily intake of isoleucine, leucine, and valine. OR and corresponding CIs were computed by conditional logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Median values of the daily intake of total BCAA were 11.87 g, with an interquartile range of 10.46-13.15 g for cases, and 12.47 g, with an interquartile range of 11.08-13.79 g for controls (P = 0.001). Dietary BCAA was inversely related to CVD risk after multivariable adjustment (OR Q4-Q1 = 0.23, 95%CI = 0.10, 0.51, P trend <0.001 for total BCAA; OR Q4-Q1 = 0.20, 95%CI = 0.07, 0.53, P trend = 0.001 for leucine). For each 1-S.D. increase in total dietary BCAA, leucine or valine intake was associated with 54% (95%CI = 29%, 70%, P = 0.001), 64% (95%CI = 29%, 82%, P = 0.003), or 54% (95%CI = 1%, 79%, P = 0.049) decrease in the risk of CVD, respectively. Whole grains, starchy vegetables, mushrooms, fruit, eggs, and dairy and dairy product-derived BCAA were found to attenuate CVD risk (P ranged: = 0.002-0.027). Conclusion: Higher BCAA intake, in particular leucine and valine, might be associated with a lower risk of CVD.

Vitamin D intake as well as circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and risk for the incidence and recurrence of colorectal cancer precursors: A meta-analysis.

Objective: Vitamin D consumption and circulating 25(OH)D level are associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal adenoma (CRA), but few studies have assessed their relationship with the incidence and recurrence of CRC precursors. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to further evaluate the association. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase databases in English until August 2021. Studies evaluating the association of vitamin D intake and circulating 25(OH)D level with risk of CRC precursors were included. A random-effects model was used to pool the risk estimates. Results: A total of 48 studies were selected for inclusion. The CRC precursors incidence was negatively correlated with total vitamin D intake (RR = 0.84 95%CI: 0.80-0.88) and circulating 25(OH)D level (RR = 0.79 95%CI: 0.67-0.92). However, vitamin D intake and circulating 25(OH)D level did not show significant effects on the risk of CRC precursors recurrence. For dose-response analysis, evidence of a linear association was found between CRC precursors incidence and circulating 25(OH)D level, and the risk decreased by 14% per 10 ng/ml increment of circulating 25(OH)D level (RR = 0.86 95% CI: 0.75-0.99). Conclusion: Vitamin D intake and circulating 25(OH)D level can play an effective role in reducing the risk of incidence of CRC precursors. However, they have not prevented the recurrence of CRC precursors.

Effects of daidzein and genistein on markers of cardiovascular disease risk among women with impaired glucose regulation: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: soy protein and soy isoflavones have been suggested to be associated with improved cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., lipid profiles and uric acid (UA)), but few studies have been conducted among women with impaired glucose regulation (IGR). This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of isolated daidzein and genistein on lipid profiles, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and uric acid (UA) among Chinese women with IGR. METHODS AND RESULTS: this randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 165 Chinese women aged 30-70 years with IGR. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: 0 mg of daidzein and genistein with 10 g soy protein (placebo group), 50 mg of daidzein with 10 g soy protein (daidzein group), or 50 mg of genistein with 10 g soy protein (genistein group) supplementation for 24 weeks. Fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), lipoprotein a (LP (a)), hs-CRP, and UA were assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks after intervention. The results showed no significant differences in the changes (%) of TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, LP (a), hs-CRP, and UA between the three treatment groups at weeks 12 or 24 (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: neither isolated daidzein nor genistein had a significant effect on cardiovascular health in Chinese women with IGR.

Dairy Consumption and Risk of Conventional and Serrated Precursors of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

OBJECTIVE: The consumption of dairy is associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but few studies have assessed the relationship between dairy consumption and precursors of CRC. Therefore, we performed the first meta-analysis to further evaluate this association. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched through July 2020 for observational studies. Study-specific risk estimates for the highest versus lowest category were pooled using the random-effects and fixed-effects model. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I Scale. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies were included (3 cohort studies and 9 case-control studies). Compared with the lowest level consumption, fermented dairy products had a decreased risk of precursors of CRC in both cohort (RR = 0.92 95% CI: 0.87-0.97) and case-control studies (RR = 0.98 95% CI: 0.96-0.99). Total dairy (RR = 0.80 95% CI: 0.68-0.96) and cheese (RR = 0.96 95% CI: 0.93-0.99) consumption was inversely associated with the risk in case-control studies whereas yogurt consumption was inversely associated with the risk in cohort studies (RR = 0.91 95%CI: 0.86-0.96). No significant associations were found for consumption of total milk and non/low-fat milk. For dose-response analyses, evidence of linear association was found in total dairy and yogurt consumption. The risk decreased by 12% for an increment of 200 g/d total dairy consumption (RR = 0.88 95% CI: 0.81-0.95) and decreased by 8% for an increment of 50 g/d yogurt consumption (RR = 0.92 95% CI: 0.85-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Fermented dairy products, specifically yogurt and cheese, were significantly associated with decreased risk of conventional and serrated precursors of colorectal cancer.

[Case-controlled study of entecavir treatment for chronic severe hepatitis B].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) treatment for chronic severe hepatitis B. METHODS: 78 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B and positive HBV DNA were divided into ETV group and control group, each group had 39 patients. ETV group was given the same conventional therapy as control group, and was treated with ETV. The change of liver function, PTA, HBV DNA level were observed, and adverse events were recorded. The effective rate of treatment between ETV group and control group, the baseline characteristics between the effective cases and non-responsive cases after ETV treatment were compared at week 12. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were well balanced between ETV group and control group. The effective rate of ETV group was 56.41% versus 33.33% of control group at week 12 (P = 0.0405). The effective rate of ETV group was higher than that of control group, in the early stage of chronic severe hepatitis B (P = 0.0275), but there was no statistically significant in the middle or late stage (P = 0.4687). The comparison result of baseline characteristics between the effective and non-responsive cases after ETV treatment showed: there were statistically different in age, bilirubin level, HBV DNA level and stage of the severe hepatitis, proportion of cirrhosis, but no statistically different in cholinesterase level, alpha-fetoprotein level and sex ratio, the proportion of ascites, positive HBeAg (P > 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: ETV improves the curative effect when used in the early stage of chronic severe hepatitis B, and may not in the middle and late stage. The curative effect of ETV may be affected by age, bilirubin level, HBV DNA level and stage of the severe hepatitis, cirrhosis. ETV has good security in the treatment for chronic severe hepatitis B.