Nutritional Metabolomics in Cancer Epidemiology: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMetabolomics offers several opportunities for advancement in nutritional cancer epidemiology; however, numerous research gaps and challenges remain. This narrative review summarizes current research, challenges, and future directions for epidemiologic studies of nutritional metabolomics and cancer.Recent FindingsAlthough many studies have used metabolomics to investigate either dietary exposures or cancer, few studies have explicitly investigated diet-cancer relationships using metabolomics. Most studies have been relatively small ( ≤ ~ 250 cases) or have assessed a limited number of nutritio...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - May 24, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
The Obesity Paradox in Cancer: Epidemiologic Insights and Perspectives
AbstractPurpose of ReviewControversy exists whether excess body fatness (measured by body mass index (BMI)) is associated with better cancer survival ( “obesity paradox”). Here, we review the obesity paradox in cancer research and discuss potential explanations and future research directions.Recent FindingsOverweight and obese cancer patients have better survival for diverse cancers. This apparent obesity paradox may be largely explained by methodological limitations including reverse causation, selection bias, confounding, and reliance of BMI as a measure of adiposity in cancer patients. A growing number of studies sh...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - May 24, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Vitamin D 3 from Ultraviolet-B Exposure or Oral Intake in Relation to Cancer Incidence and Mortality
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes the understanding of vitamin D3’s role in reducing risk of cancer incidence and mortality.Recent FindingsRecent randomized clinical trials and observational studies of participants who took part in vitamin D3 supplementation studies provide increasing evidence that concentrations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] up to ~ 60 ng/ml are inversely correlated with all cancer and some specific cancers’ incidence and death, with a stronger effect on survival and death than on incidence. Mechanisms linking vitamin D3 to effects on cellular proliferation, anti-angiogene...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - May 3, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Determinants and Interventions to Promote Water Consumption Among Adolescents: a Review of the Recent Literature
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes the latest scientific evidence on determinants and interventions to promote water consumption among adolescents.Recent FindingsWe identified 15 studies on determinants of water consumption and 11 interventions to promote water consumption among adolescents. Determinants of adolescent ’s water consumption included individual (e.g., physiological, demographic, psychological, and behavioral variables), social (e.g., peer influence), and environmental (e.g., availability of water at school/home, warm weather) ones and school policies. Interventions with both educational/behavio...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 22, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Impact of Brain Insulin Signaling on Dopamine Function, Food Intake, Reward, and Emotional Behavior
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDietary obesity is primarily attributed to an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. Adherence to lifestyle interventions reducing weight is typically low. As a result, obesity becomes a chronic state with increased co-morbidities such as insulin resistance and diabetes. We review the effects of brain insulin action and dopaminergic signal transmission on food intake, reward, and mood as well as potential modulations of these systems to counteract the obesity epidemic.Recent FindingsCentral insulin and dopamine action are interlinked and impact on food intake, reward, and mood. Brain...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 17, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Drug-Nutrition Interactions and the Brain: It ’s Not All in Your Head
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe interactions between nutrition and medication can be numerous with potential impact on health outcomes. Several subtypes of drug-nutrition interactions exist. Each of these interaction subtypes may influence patients receiving medication for neurologic disorders. After defining drug-nutrition interactions, this review will describe the various types using a handful of widely used central nervous system agents as examples.Recent FindingsMedication may be the object of interactions perpetrated by a specific meal, a food component, a nutrient, or nutrition status thereby altering drug disposition ...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 10, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Coffee Drinking and Reduced Risk of Liver Cancer: Update on Epidemiological Findings and Potential Mechanisms
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe reviewed the available literature on observational studies, meta-analyses, expert reports, and umbrella reviews. Here, we summarize the latest findings on the association between coffee intake and liver cancer risk.Recent FindingsMost observational studies and meta-analyses show a protective effect of coffee intake on liver cancer risk, with dose-responsiveness and across different populations, and regardless of hepatitis virus infection status. Risk reduction by coffee consumption has also been observed for chronic liver diseases. Potential mechanisms include the effect of a number of bioactive...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 10, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Micronutrients and Brain Development
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes the most recent evidence regarding the effects of micronutrients on brain development.Recent FindingsEmerging evidence indicates that nutrition in the early life can profoundly influence neurodevelopment, affecting later life health outcomes, neurocognitive performances, and disease risks. Inadequate early life nutrition has been associated with some neuropsychiatric disorders. Epigenetic mechanisms could play a crucial role, imprinting the genomes in early life making the individual more susceptible to develop diseases later in life.SummaryChildren adequately nourished are m...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 4, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Diet and Inflammation in Cognitive Ageing and Alzheimer ’s Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewNutrition is known to modulate the immune system and may alter neuroinflammatory processes implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer ’s disease (AD) and progression of neurodegeneration. Here, we review the evidence for healthy dietary patterns and age-related cognition and discuss potential neuroinflammatory actions of diet on cognitive function.Recent FindingsAnti-inflammatory dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet (MD) and dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) may be neuroprotective. Several dietary components consumed in the MD and DASH (omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants a...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 3, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Brain Imaging of Taste Perception in Obesity: a Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe summarize neuroimaging findings related to processing of taste (fat, salt, umami, bitter, and sour) in the brain and how they influence hedonic responses and eating behaviors and their role in obesity.Recent FindingsNeuroimaging studies in obese individuals have revealed alterations in reward/motivation, executive control/self-regulation, and limbic/affective circuits that are implicated in food and drug addiction. Psychophysical studies show that sensory properties of food ingredients may be associated with anthropometric and neurocognitive outcomes in obesity. However, few studies have examine...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 3, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Excessive Consumption of Sugar: an Insatiable Drive for Reward
AbstractPurpose of ReviewEating behavior provides energy to ensure proper functioning of the organism. Reward aids in seeking foods that bring energy and pleasant taste, whose consumption is safe. As evidenced by the obesity “epidemic” which largely stems from overeating, reward becomes a detriment when palatable tastants are available in unlimited quantities. This review presents recent evidence on mechanisms underlying palatability-driven excessive consumption of sugar.Recent FindingsAppetite for sugar is propelled by changes in the morphology and activity of the reward system reminiscent of addiction. Sugar intake a...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - April 2, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Brazilian Children ’s Dietary Intake in Relation to Brazil’s New Nutrition Guidelines: a Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis systematic review reports the latest scientific evidence, from cross-sectional and cohort studies, describing the dietary intake of children and adolescents from Brazil. The goal of the review was to describe intakes according to Brazil ’s new food classification system (NOVA) which classifies foods according to the degree of processing, i.e., unprocessed/minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed food, and ultra-processed food. Due to a paucity of data using the NOVA classification system, studies with other intake descriptors were included.Recent FindingsResults using t...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - March 29, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Carbohydrate Nutrition and the Risk of Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes a selection of epidemiologic research assessing the associations between carbohydrate intake and cancer incidence and survival. Evidence for plausible biological mechanisms is also considered.Recent FindingsThe mechanistic paradigm explaining the relationship between carbohydrates and cancer risk has been contested by numerous observational studies.SummaryCarbohydrates have conventionally been ascribed a deleterious role in the field of cancer research due to previous preclinical findings. A breadth of studies suggests that complex carbohydrate intake is inversely associated ...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - March 19, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Does Alcohol Use Affect Cancer Risk?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo provide an overview of the risk relationships between alcohol use and cancer and of the alcohol-attributable cancer burden; to highlight areas of controversy in the alcohol –cancer relationship; to examine the reasons why these risk relationships have not received greater public attention.Recent FindingsIn 2016, alcohol caused an estimated 376,200 cancer deaths, 10.0 million cancer years of life lost (YLLs), 236,600 cancer years lived with disability (YLDs), and 10.3 million cancer disability-adjusted years of life (DALYs), representing 4.2%, 4.2%, 4.6%, and 4.2% of all deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - March 19, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
Prebiotic Intake in Older Adults: Effects on Brain Function and Behavior
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis literature review summarizes the evidence for and against the impact of prebiotics on brain function and behavior in older adults.Recent FindingsCurrent evidence generally supports the intake of prebiotics to increase beneficial gut bacteria concentrations. These bacteria appear to impact endocrine, immunologic, and neuronal communication along the gut-brain axis to alter brain function and behavior.SummaryPreliminary evidence in human studies consistently support prebiotics doses of ~ 5–10 g/d as safe to improve brain function (i.e., learning and working memory) and behavior (i.e., anxi...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - March 18, 2019 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research
