BACKGROUND Gut microbes consume mucins in the absence of dietary fermentable fiber. People with non-secretor alpha-1-2-L-fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) genotypes produce gastrointestinal (GI) mucins that lack terminal fucose and have increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine whether associations between fiber intake and subclinical GI inflammation and/or microbiome function are modified by FUT2 genotype in healthy adults. METHODS We assessed interactions between fiber intake, FUT2 genotype, and GI inflammation markers in a cross-sectional observational study of healthy adults. Participants with 24-h dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires to characterize recent and habitual diet, respectively, and fecal samples, plasma samples and/or shotgun metagenomes (n=297) were included in this analysis. Differences in microbiome composition between secretors and non-secretors were analyzed using PERMANOVA and machine learning. A custom-designed TaqManTM probe was used to genotype a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs601338) to determine secretor status. ELISA was used to measure fecal calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, and neopterin, as well as plasma lipopolysaccharide binding protein. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured in fecal samples. Relationships between fiber intake, FUT2 genotype and outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed effect models. RESULTS Higher energy-adjusted total recent fiber, total habitual fiber, and soluble fiber intake was associated with lower calprotectin levels in secretors, but not in non-secretors. Overall microbiome composition did not differ by secretor status. However, the ratio of mucin-degrading to plant-degrading enzymes, Muc2Plant, in the gut microbiome was positively associated with increased fecal calprotectin in secretors, but not in non-secretors. There was no interaction between dietary fiber intake, the FUT2 genotype, and fecal SCFAs. CONCLUSION The association of higher dietary fiber intake with lower subclinical GI inflammation and lower mucin-degrading enzymes was observed in secretors, but not in non-secretors. Clinical trials in nutrition are needed to determine if non-secretors are less responsive to dietary fiber.
Background: Given the growing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among the aging population, there is a critical need for multifaceted lifestyle interventions that combine nutritional support with cognitive stimulation to prevent further decline. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a cognitive function improvement management diet (Diet), with or without a digital cognitive enhancement program (SUPERBRAIN for group, SG), on cognitive function in adults aged >= 65 y with MCI attending daycare centers. Methods: This 12-wk cluster-randomized controlled trial included 80 older adults. Participants were assigned to a dietary intervention group (Diet, n = 33), a combined dietary and program intervention group (Diet+SG, n = 28), or a control group (n = 19) in an open-label trial. The Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay-based diet was provided to the Diet and Diet+SG groups as meals and snacks 5 d/wk. Assessments included anthropometry, physical measurements, blood parameters, nutritional indices, quality of life, activities of daily living (ADL), and cognitive function. Cognitive outcomes were evaluated using the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination 2 (K-MMSE2) and the clinical dementia rating. Results: Compared with the control group, both Diet and Diet+SG groups showed significant improvements in nutritional status (Nutrition Quotient for the Elderly, P < 0.001), quality of life (EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), P < 0.001), ADL (Korean ADL, P < 0.001; Korean Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, P < 0.001), and cognitive function (K-MMSE2, P < 0.001). Improvements in maximum muscle strength (P < 0.001), an indicator of frailty, were observed only in the Diet+SG group compared with the control group.Conclusions: These findings suggest that adults with MCI may derive benefits from the combined application of a cognitive function improvement management diet and a digital cognitive enhancement program. This trial was registered at Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) as KCT0009528 (https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch. do?search_lang=E&focus=reset_12&search_page=L&pageSize=10&page=undefined&seq=27374&status=5&seq_group=27374).
Background: Food and nutrition literacy (FNLIT) is a set of skills and knowledge that empowers individuals to make informed food choices for better health. However, data on multiethnic Asian children are limited. Objectives: This study aims to characterize FNLIT among children aged 11 y and examine associations with maternal feeding practices during early childhood. Methods: FNLIT levels in 11-y-old children in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes cohort study were assessed using a self-administered modified FNLIT questionnaire. Scores ranging from 1 to 100 were categorized into tertiles. Maternal feeding practices at age 5 y and sociodemographic data were ascertained through interviews. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression examined associations with high, moderate, and low total FNLIT levels, along with cognitive and skill domains. Results: The healthy food environment {relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-2.40]} and teaching about nutrition [RRR = 2.07 (95% CI: 1.34-3.20)] practices were associated with a higher likelihood of total high FNLIT compared with total low FNLIT. "Giving child greater control" was associated with a lower likelihood of moderate [RRR = 0.58 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.90)] and high [RRR = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.73)] FNLIT. Restriction for weight control, restriction for health, and pressure to eat were not associated with total Conclusions: Positive feeding practices in early childhood, such as environment and teaching about nutrition, are associated with higher FNLIT. Promoting these practices may enhance FNLIT of older children and support healthier dietary behaviors into adulthood.
Background: Obesity significantly increases the risk of hypertension in postmenopausal females, presenting a major cardiovascular health challenge in this population. Conventional antihypertensive therapies exhibit diminished efficacy in these females compared with age-matched males, highlighting a critical gap in current treatment strategies. Curcumin, a bioactive compound with documented antihypertensive properties, represents a promising therapeutic candidate. However, its effectiveness and the underlying mechanisms in the context of obesity and estrogen deficiency remain poorly understood. Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether curcumin attenuates hypertension progression in an obese postmenopausal model by modulating glutamatergic signaling through suppression of NMDAR phosphorylation. Methods: Eight-week-old male and female C57/BL mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 24/group) and given ad libitum access to their respective diets [low-fat piperine (10% kcal from fat); high-fat piperine (60% kcal from fat); high-fat curcumin (60% kcal from fat)] for 17 wk. Piperine (200 mu L of a 10% solution of piperine) or curcumin (300mg of curcumin per 200 mu L + 10% piperine solution) was administered to animals daily, via gavage, during the last 4 wk of the study. The female mice were further divided into groups identified as sham-operated (SHAM; ovaries intact-estrogen replete) and ovariectomized (OVX; ovaries removed-estrogen depleted). Food and body weight were measured weekly. At the end of the study, glucose, retroperitoneal fat pads, and systolic blood pressure were measured. The hypothalamus was extracted from a subpopulation of mice to conduct Western blot analysis. The remaining animals in the study were transcardially perfused for histological analysis. Results: Curcumin treatment significantly attenuated the hypertension (P < 0.0162) and the weight gain (P < 0.0001) observed in OVX mice fed a high-fat diet. Western blot analysis of hypothalamic tissue revealed a marked reduction in NMDAR phosphorylation (pNMDAR) after curcumin administration (P = 0.001) compared with controls. Consistent with these findings, histological analysis demonstrated decreased pNMDAR expression within the PVN and the rostral ventrolateral medulla, mirroring the biochemical results. Notably, curcumin exerted no effect on NMDAR phosphorylation in lean or obese male mice (P = 0.3431) and SHAM females (P = 0.2804). Conclusions: Collectively, these findings highlight a potential mechanism in which curcumin targets to lower blood pressure specifically under conditions of obesity and estrogen deficiency. However, additional studies are warranted to determine whether this mechanism is a direct or indirect effect of curcumin.
