Diet quality is inversely associated with obesity in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diet quality has been linked to obesity, but this relationship remains unclear in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this study is to examine the association between diet quality and obesity in Chinese adults with T2D. METHODS: Between April and November 2016, a total of 211 Chinese T2D adults who underwent assessment of diabetes-related treatment goals and metabolic control were recruited into two groups based on their body mass index (BMI): obese group (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and non-obese group (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). Diet quality indices including Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I), and Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, were derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Obese T2D patients had significantly lower AHEI-2010 (P < 0.001), DQI-I (P < 0.001), and DASH total scores (P = 0.044) than their non-obese counterparts, independent of age and sex. They also had higher total energy (P < 0.001), protein percentage of energy (P = 0.023), and meat, poultry and organ meat (P < 0.001), but lower vegetable (P = 0.014) intakes. Our multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the AHEI-2010, but not DQI-I and DASH, total score had an inverse association with obesity, independent of sociodemographics, anti-diabetic medication use, physical activity level and total energy intake (odds ratio [OR] per standard deviation (1-SD) increase: 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.99, P = 0.020). This association remained significant after further adjustment for glycemic control. Inverse associations were also found between obesity and multivariate-adjusted component scores, including AHEI-2010 red/processed meat (OR per 1-SD: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.99, P = 0.044), DQI-I variety (OR per 1-SD: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46-0.86, P = 0.004), and DASH red/processed meat (OR per 1-SD: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38-0.84, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Better diet quality, as characterized by higher AHEI-2010 scores, was associated with lower odds of obesity in Chinese adults with T2D. Dietary patterns reflecting high consumption of plant-based foods and low consumption of animal-based, high-fat, and processed foods may be imperative to optimize nutritional guidance for obesity management in this population.

Infertility, blood mercury concentrations and dietary seafood consumption: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare blood mercury concentrations of infertile couples with those of fertile couples in Hong Kong, and to examine the relationship between blood mercury concentrations and seafood consumption. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) Unit and Antenatal Unit of a university teaching hospital. Sample One hundred fifty-seven infertile couples attending IVF treatment and 26 fertile couples attending antenatal care without known occupational exposure to mercury. METHODS: Mercury concentrations in whole blood were measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A dietitian recorded the quantity of seafood consumption among infertile couples via a food-frequency questionnaire. Blood mercury concentrations and quantity of seafood consumption were compared between infertile and fertile couples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Whole blood mercury concentrations, quantity of seafood consumption. RESULTS: Infertile couples had higher blood mercury concentrations than fertile couples. 'Infertile males with abnormal semen' and 'infertile females with unexplained infertility' also had higher blood mercury concentrations than their fertile counterparts. Blood mercury concentrations were positively correlated with quantity of seafood consumption. Infertile subjects with elevated blood mercury concentrations consumed a larger amount of seafood. CONCLUSION: Higher blood mercury concentration is associated with male and female infertility. Higher seafood consumption is associated with elevated blood mercury concentrations in our infertile population.

A randomized, single-blind and crossover study of an amino acid-based milk formula in treating young children with atopic dermatitis.

Cow's milk and soy protein allergies are commonly associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) in young children. Amino acid (AA)-based elemental milk formula may improve AD control in these patients. This study investigates the efficacy of AA-based formula in treating young AD patients irrespective of their food allergy status. AD patients younger than 3 yr old were eligible. Sensitization to food allergens was ascertained by skin prick tests and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) assay. Patients were then randomly allocated to take either active treatment or pre-existing formulae (placebo) for 6 wk. They were allowed a 6-wk washout period before crossed over to the other intervention for another 6 wk. Fifteen AD patients, with median (interquartile range, IQR) age of 1.4 (0.6-2.6) yr, were recruited. Their median (IQR) SCORAD score was 23.9 (10.5-29.7). Seven of them were sensitized to cow's milk or soybean. Among 11 patients who completed the study, the median changes for all scores and urinary eosinophil protein X (EPX) concentration were not statistically significant. There was also no evidence of carry-over effects for SCORAD and its various components and global health score, except for urinary EPX concentration (p = 0.05). Our results do not support the use of AA-based elemental milk formula in treating young children with AD irrespective of their food allergy status.