Multiple Health Benefits and Minimal Risks Associated with Vegetarian Diets
AbstractPurpose of ReviewUnderstand the current prevalence, health benefits, and health risks of vegetarian diets.Recent FindingsSince the publishing of the Adventist Health Study 2 in 2013, there have been several prospective diet studies demonstrating and challenging the health benefits and risks of the vegetarian diet.SummaryThe definition of the vegetarian diet has become more specific over time and requires standardization for research purposes. Despite an uptrend in sales rates of plant-based foods per year, a 2018 Gallup poll showed overall stagnation of the percentage of self-reported vegetarians and vegans compare...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - November 7, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Ketogenic Diet: an Endocrinologist Perspective
AbstractPurpose of ReviewObesity and its related comorbidities make up a large part of healthcare expenditures. Despite a wide array of options for treatment of obesity, rates of sustained weight loss continue to be low, leading patients to seek alternative treatment options. Although the first medically utilized ketogenic diet was described nearly 100 years ago, it has made a resurgence as a treatment option for obesity. Despite increased popularity in the lay public and increased use of ketogenic dietary strategies for metabolic therapy, we are still beginning to unravel the metabolic impact of long-term dietary ketosis....
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - November 7, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Impact of Soluble Fiber in the Microbiome and Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo discuss the controversy over the effect of dietary fiber (DF) on (1) outcomes in critical illness, (2) microbiome and metabolic homeostasis, and (3) current evidence and guidelines regarding supplementation in critically ill patients.Recent FindingsIn healthy individuals, consumption of DF is widely known as a long-term protecting factor against colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease; in hospitalized patients, DF may have a beneficial effect in the incidence of diarrhea, infections, and length of stay. But, what ...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - November 6, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Premixed vs Compounded Parenteral Nutrition: Effects of Total Parenteral Nutrition Shortage on Clinical Practice
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDrug shortages continue to impact our patients with intestinal failure and their ability to receive nutrition. ASPEN guidelines address the management of certain shortages in compounded total parenteral nutrition (TPN); however, some institutions have utilized premixed total parenteral nutrition (pTPN) in place of TPN.Recent FindingsPremixed TPN appears to be as safe, if not safer, as compounded TPN when comparing the risk of bloodstream infection. However, there is an increased use of supplemental electrolytes to meet patient needs. Cost-effectiveness depends on multiple factors and should be eval...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - November 4, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Practices Involved in the Enteral Delivery of Drugs
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWhile the delivery of medications through enteral tubes is common in critically ill patients, there are complications and a lack of unified practices between institutions. The purpose of this review is to evaluate current practices and literature evidence regarding this administration route. The effect of this administration on the medication ’s efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics was examined, as well as other considerations to ensure that this route of delivery is both safe and effective for patients.Recent FindingsStudies have found crushed oral tablets are the most frequent c...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - October 11, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Under-Recognizing Malnutrition in Hospitalized Obese Populations: The Real Paradox
AbstractPurpose of ReviewObesity and malnutrition are frequently encountered in the hospitalized population. Although malnutrition associated with low or normal body mass index (BMI) is easily identified, malnutrition in obese patients goes frequently unrecognized as their fat mass masks underlying muscle mass deterioration. The purpose of this review is to explore if malnutrition has been studied in the obese hospitalized population and if that may be one of the reasons for the variable results in the obesity outcome data.Recent FindingsVarious studies have shown a conflicting association between obesity and outcomes in h...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - August 15, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Effect of Formulation, Labelling, and Taxation Policies on the Nutritional Quality of the Food Supply
ConclusionsThe effect of nutrition policies on food (re)formulation is insufficiently studied. The impact of such policies on (re)formulation is likely greater when they are mandatory, aligned with other regulations, and thoroughly monitored and evaluated. Policies targeting (re)formulation have important limitations and broader food system policies will additionally be needed to significantly improve diets. (Source: Current Nutrition Reports)
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - July 17, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Nutrition and Metabolic Profiles in the Natural History of Dementia: Recent Insights from Systems Biology and Life Course Epidemiology
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWorldwide, approximately 50 million people have dementia (mostly Alzheimer ’s disease). Dementia results from a multicomponent pathophysiology that follows complex dynamics over many years before symptoms become apparent. Nutrition may represent a target of choice for the primary prevention of dementia; however, there is still no firm answer on how to prevent dementia ef ficiently.We provide a broad overview of recent studies leveraging system biology and life-long epidemiology to address the multidimensionality and dynamical patterns underlying dementia and improve knowledge on the link between ...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - July 15, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Food and Beverage Price Promotions: an Untapped Policy Target for Improving Population Diets and Health
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe price of foods and beverages is a critical driver of food choice, particularly among families and households with limited food budgets. Policies targeting unhealthy food and beverage price promotions represent an untapped policy target for improving population diets and health. Here we review policy options for reducing the frequency and influence of price promotions on unhealthy foods and beverages (high in one or more of salt, sugar and saturated fat), and demonstrate their potential to complement other food policies and improve population diets.Recent FindingsPrice promotions on unhealthy fo...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - July 11, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
The Endocrine Role of Bone in Cardiometabolic Health
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to discuss the current knowledge about major bone regulating hormones vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), estrogen and bone metabolism markers osteocalcin (OC), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), N-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen (P1NP), and c-terminal type 1 collagen (CTX) and their mechanistic effects on cardiometabolic health.Recent FindingsBone regulating hormones, nutrients, and turnover markers influence different aspects of cardiometabolic health including body composition, cardiovascular function, and glycemic control. While most observational r...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - July 10, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Metabolomic Insights into the Effects of Breast Milk Versus Formula Milk Feeding in Infants
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes the latest scientific evidence for the presence of metabolomic differences between infants fed breast milk (I-BM) and infants fed formula milk (I-FM).Recent FindingsAcross the studies included in this review, a total of 261 metabolites were analyzed, of which 151 metabolites were reported as significantly associated with infant feeding modality (BM versus FM). However, taken as a whole, the relevant literature was notable both for methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, and heterogeneity between the studies. This may be why many associations between infant met...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - June 14, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Correction to: Nutritional Metabolomics in Cancer Epidemiology: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
The original version of this article was revised: “The article was published with errors on text as the author's corrections were misinterpreted.” (Source: Current Nutrition Reports)
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - June 12, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Insights on the Influence of Sugar Taxes on Obesity Prevention Efforts
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review will present the latest evidence on the impacts of sugar taxes on obesity with a focus on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).Recent FindingsEvidence of direct impacts of SSB taxation policies on obesity prevalence continues to be limited. Natural experiments involving SSB taxation policies implemented in Mexico and Berkley, CA, indicate that this type of intervention alters beverage consumption patterns. Naturalistic evidence in combination with modeling studies suggests that SSB taxation is a viable anti-obesity policy. However, researchers and public health practitioners need to be vigil...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - June 7, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
The Impact of Diet on Breast Cancer Outcomes
AbstractPurpose of ReviewBreast cancer is the most common cancer in women, yet conclusive evidence of the effects of dietary modification in breast cancer survivors is lacking. Here, we summarize the literature and highlight important data regarding the association between dietary interventions and breast cancer outcomes.Recent FindingsLong-term follow-up and secondary analysis of the Women ’s Health Initiative study demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival for women who were randomized to the low-fat diet pattern compared with those in the usual-diet group. Dietary quality as measured by Healthy Eating...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - June 6, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Targeting Carbohydrates and Polyphenols for a Healthy Microbiome and Healthy Weight
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this review, we focus on microbiota modulation using non-digestible carbohydrate and polyphenols (i.e., prebiotics) that have the potential to modulate body weight.Recent FindingsPrebiotics derived from plants have gained the interest of public and scientific communities as they may prevent diseases and help maintain health.SummaryMaintaining a healthy body weight is key to reducing the risk of developing chronic metabolic complications. However, the prevalence of obesity has increased to pandemic proportions and is now ranked globally in the top five risk factors for death. While diet and behav...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - June 2, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
