Association of the low-carbohydrate dietary pattern with postpartum weight retention in women.

Low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) have been considered a popular dietary strategy for weight loss. However, the association of the low-carbohydrate dietary pattern with postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in women remains unknown. The present study involved 426 women from a prospective mother-infant cohort study. Overall, animal or plant LCD scores, which represent adherence to different low-carbohydrate dietary patterns, were calculated using diet intake information assessed by three consecutive 24 h dietary surveys. PPWR was assessed by the difference of weight at 1 year postpartum minus the pre-pregnancy weight. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, women in higher quartiles of total and animal-based LCD scores had a significantly lower body weight and weight retention at 1 year postpartum (P < 0.05). The multivariable-adjusted ORs of substantial PPWR (≥5 kg), comparing the highest with the lowest quartile, were 0.47 (95% confidence interval 0.23-0.96) for the total LCD score (P = 0.021 for trend) and 0.38 (95% confidence interval 0.19-0.77) for the animal-based LCD score (P = 0.019 for trend), while this association was significantly attenuated by rice, glycemic load, fish, poultry, animal fat and animal protein (P for trend <0.05). A high score for plant-based LCD was not significantly associated with the risk of PPWR (P > 0.05). The findings suggested that a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern, particularly with high protein and fat intake from animal-source foods, is associated with a decreased risk of weight retention at 1 year postpartum. This association was mainly due to low intake of glycemic load and high intake of fish and poultry.

Associations of dietary inflammatory potential with postpartum weight change and retention: Results from a cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the associations of Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) with weight outcomes within 1 year post partum. METHODS: This analysis included women who participated in a cohort study in South China (n = 468). The assessments included maternal height, weight, and dietary intake. The latter variable was based on three consecutive 24-hour food records collected at 2 weeks and 1 year after childbirth and was used to calculate the energy-adjusted DII (EDII) scores during and after puerperium, respectively. A general linear regression was performed to examine the relationships between the EDII scores and postpartum weight outcomes after adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: In an analysis adjusted for confounders, the EDII during puerperium was positively associated with the weight change from 3 to 42 days (ß: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.11-0.70). The EDII after puerperium was positively correlated with the weight changes from 42 days to 1 year (ß: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.02-1.02) and from 3 days to 1 year (ß: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.13-1.14), as well as with the postpartum weight retention at 1 year after childbirth (ß: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.29-1.22). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a diet with a high EDII score might minimize postpartum weight loss and promote higher postpartum weight retention.

"Zuòyuèzi" dietary and behavioural associations with maternal health among puerperal women in South China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the associations of postpartum dietary quality and behavioral practices with maternal health in Guangzhou China. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study among puerperal women in urban and suburban areas in Guangzhou, China (n=2013). Data for postpartum dietary and behavioral practices and health conditions were collected by a standardized questionnaire. Dietary balance index (DBI) was calculated to assess an individual's dietary quality. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to women's health. RESULTS: 75.5% of women reported at least one postpartum disease, and the most common problems were prolonged duration of lochia (70.0%) and backache (43.0%), followed by constipation (23.6%), insufficient milk secretion (19.2%), breast swelling (18.5%) and hemorrhoids (13.8%). Average postpartum weight retention was 3.5 kg. Logistic regression analysis revealed that 12-18 h/d of bed rest time, breastfeeding, doing postpartum exercise, basking, getting out of bed within 2 days after delivery, higher intake of fish and shrimp, fruits, vegetable, milk were protective factors for at least one out of these health problems or weight retention (p<0.05). Bed rest time for more than 18 h/d or less than 12 h/d, ginger vinegar intake, doing housework, cesarean section, and excessive and inadequate intake of cereals had an adverse association (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Some features of a traditional Chinese postpartum diet and behaviour are related to maternal morbidity during the puerperium. Further studies are needed to assess whether postpartum diet and behavioral intervention improve maternal health during the postpartum period.

Low skeletal muscle mass is associated with arterial stiffness in community-dwelling Chinese aged 45 years and older.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that body composition has impact on arterial stiffness. However, evidence in Chinese are limited, and results remain controversial. The aim of our study is to investigate whether skeletal muscle mass is associated with arterial stiffness in Chinese community-dwelling men and women aged 45 years and older. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 20,477 participants (age range: 45-80 years, 68.8% women) were included in the analysis. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an indicator of arterial stiffness was measured using a waveform device. Total muscle mass and muscle mass of arm, leg and trunk were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Height and weight were measured and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was calculated as appendicular skeletal muscle mass (sum of arm and leg muscle mass) divided by height square. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, body fat percentage, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, ASMI was negatively associated with baPWV [ß (SE) for men: - 0.208 (0.016), p < 0.0001; for women: - 0.245 (0.012), p < 0.0001]. High ASMI was a protective factor for the presence of arterial stiffness (defined as baPWV) [OR (95%CI) for men: 0.730 (0.682, 0.782), p < 0.0001; women: 0.634 (0.593, 0.677), p < 0.0001]. Similar associations were found between quantity of muscle mass (total and appendicular muscle mass, muscle mass of arm, leg and trunk) and arterial stiffness in men and women after further adjustment for height (all p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Low skeletal muscle mass is associated with increased risk of arterial stiffness in Chinese community-dwelling adults aged 45 years and older.

How are maternal dietary patterns and maternal/fetal cytokines associated with birth weight? A path analysis.

The aim of the study was to investigate how maternal dietary patterns and maternal/fetal cytokines are associated with birth weight and whether cytokines mediate the association. A total of 469 pregnant women and their children were recruited for this prospective study. Dietary patterns in pregnancy were identified using factor analysis of data from three consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. Maternal and umbilical blood serum cytokines (adiponectin (APN), IL-6 and interferon-γ) were measured via ELISA. Path analysis was used to explore the relationships between maternal diet, cytokines and birth weight. Four dietary patterns were identified: a mainly fruit, dairy products and poultry diet (FDP); a mainly vegetables, beans and pork diet (VBP); a mainly fish, shrimp and soup diet (FS) and a mainly tuber and egg diet (TE). Path analysis showed the order of effects of dietary patterns on birth weight was FS>FDP>TE>VBP (ß=0·130, 0·109, -0·094 and 0·046, respectively). Only the TE pattern's effect was negative. Maternal and fetal APN were positively associated with birth weight (ß=0·045 and 0·226, respectively), and they mediated the association between the TE pattern and birth weight (indirect effect was 5·3 %). Maternal IL-6 was negatively associated with birth weight (ß=-0·067) and mediated the association between maternal FDP and VBP patterns and birth weight (indirect effects were 10·1 and 100·0 %, respectively). All variables in the path explained 33·6 % of variation. These results suggested that maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy are associated with birth weight and mediated directly and indirectly through some maternal/fetal serum cytokines.

Serum Antioxidant Parameters are Significantly Increased in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus after Consumption of Chinese Propolis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Based on Fasting Serum Glucose Level.

INTRODUCTION: Propolis is a natural product with many biological activities. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Chinese propolis on glucose metabolism, antioxidant function, and inflammatory cytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: In the 18-week study, recruited T2DM patients were randomly divided into a Chinese propolis group (900 mg/day) (n = 31) and a control group (n = 30) according to fasting serum glucose levels at baseline. RESULTS: At the end of the study, no significant difference was found between the groups in serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, aldose reductase, or adiponectin. However, serum GSH, flavonoids, and polyphenols were significantly increased, and serum lactate dehydrogenase activity was significantly reduced in the Chinese propolis group. Meanwhile, serum IL-6 was significantly increased in the Chinese propolis group. CONCLUSION: Chinese propolis is effective at improving antioxidant function in T2DM patients, partly by increasing serum antioxidant parameters.

Maternal and cord blood adiponectin levels in relation to post-natal body size in infants in the first year of life: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone involved in energy homeostasis and metabolism. However, its role in early infancy is poorly understood. METHODS: We recruited a total of 443 pregnant women and their children in this prospective study. Cord blood samples were successfully obtained from 331 neonates. Maternal and umbilical blood serum adiponectin were measured. The weight-, height- and BMI-for-age Z scores of infants at birth and at 3, 6 and 12 months of age were assessed. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that cord blood but not maternal serum adiponectin was positively associated with all of the anthropometric measures at birth (P < 0.01). Using Generalized Estimating Equation model after adjustment for sex, time, maternal age, gestational age, prepregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, maternal education, parity, history of miscarriage and mode of delivery, for every 1-µg/ml increment of maternal serum adiponectin, the height-for-age Z score during the first year of life increased by 0.026 (P =0.013) on average, and the height-for-age Z score of infants in the highest quartile of maternal serum adiponectin was 0.270 (95 % CI: 0.013-0.527) higher than those in the lowest quartile. The changes in weight-for-age Z score from birth decreased by 0.67 × 10(-2) on average with every 1-µg/ml additional increase of cord blood adiponectin (P = 0.047). The infants in the highest quartile of cord blood adiponectin showed a -0.368 (95 % CI, -0.701--0.035) decrease in weight-for-age Z score change from birth compared with those in the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS: Cord blood adiponectin concentration is a determinant of infant birth size and weight gain in the first year of life. Circulating maternal adiponectin during pregnancy may predict postnatal height growth.