Nutrition and Healthy Aging - Volume 5, issue 1

Authors: Ying, Li | Tippetts, Trevor Stanley | Chaurasia, Bhagirath

Article Type: Systematic Review

Abstract: Sphingolipids, a major class of lipids in cell membranes, play diverse roles in biology. They are synthesized by a highly conserved biosynthetic pathway that leads to the production of ceramides, the major precursors of most complex sphingolipids. Almost all known stress stimuli including inflammatory agonists, chemotherapeutics, and saturated fatty acids induce the synthesis of ceramide and its metabolites. A panoply of recent studies has implicated ceramides in the development of the metabolic comorbidities of obesity such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In particular, inhibition of ceramide biosynthesis in rodents ameliorates insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, and steatohepatitis. These data implicate …ceramides as major contributors to the development of metabolic diseases. This review summarizes recent findings on this emerging class of bioactive lipids with an emphasis on studies using in vivo models to understand their role in metabolic disease. Show more

Keywords: Ceramides, insulin, metabolic diseases

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-170032

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1-12, 2019

Authors: Vinciguerra, Sergio | Vinciguerra, Manlio

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative disorders represent major global health problems to society, and their incidence and prevalence continue to increase. Chronic diseases share common risk factors, including socio-economic factors and co-morbidities and, importantly, their risk increases with age. The silent transition from health to disease with a late onset of symptoms can delay treatment and interventions. Healthcare-systems must thus evolve proactive rather than purely reactive approaches to care once symptoms appear. Many self-tracking technologies (based on wireless biosensors) are readily available to the general public that monitor and record personal …bio-related data. These biosensors may be wearable, implanted in the body or installed on a device. The aim of this review is to discuss the current market and proven utility of wrist-worn devices, in improving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Optimizing the technological opportunities for monitoring good health has the potential to empower people and help many enjoy a high quality of life. Show more

Keywords: Smart devices, health self-monitoring

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-170039

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 13-19, 2019

Authors: Glass, David J. | Lamming, Dudley W.

Article Type: Article Commentary

Abstract: David Glass and Dudley Lamming debate the question of “Is Rapamycin a Rapalog” while the world votes.

Keywords: Rapamycin, RAD0001, everolimus, mTORC1, mTORC2, aging

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-180045

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 21-22, 2019

Authors: Reynolds, Justin S. | Peng, Wei | Chu, Timothy | Mitchell, James R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dietary restriction (DR) improves lifespan, metabolic fitness and resilience in many organisms, but the role of dietary macronutrient composition and timing of food intake in specific benefits remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the effects of two isocaloric DR regimes differing in the timing of food intake - every other day (EOD) fasting/feeding vs. daily calorie restriction (CR) – at two different fat/carbohydrate ratios on two well-established DR benefits, improved glucose homeostasis and protection from renal ischemia reperfusion injury in mice. We hypothesized that both EOD fasting and isocaloric CR would result in similar improvements in …glucose homeostasis and stress resistance independent of macronutrient composition. METHODS: Six groups of mice were fed either semi-purified low-fat diet (LFD, 10% calories from fat) or high-fat diet (HFD, 60% calories from fat) and randomized into one of three dietary regimens: 1) ad libitum (AL), 2) EOD feeding/fasting, or 3) pair-fed daily to the average daily EOD intake within LFD or HFD feeding group resulting in daily CR. After 6 weeks, the following assessments were made: fasting blood glucose, glucose and insulin tolerance, and resistance to bilateral renal ischemia reperfusion injury using serum urea as a marker of renal function. Within the EOD group, the effects of prior day feeding (EODfed vs. EODfast ) were also assessed. RESULTS: EOD mice ate ∼20–25% less food over time than AL mice on the corresponding LFD or HFD. EOD and CR mice displayed changes in body weight, fasting blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance commensurate with total calorie intake. No significant differences were observed in circulating IGF-1 levels. Insulin sensitivity improved independent of fat/carbohydrate ratio on daily CR and EODfast regimens, but not EODfed . HFD increased susceptibility to renal ischemia reperfusion in AL mice, while CR and EOD regimens gave significant protection independent of dietary fat content or fed or fasted day in the EOD group. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced food intake protects mice against renal ischemia reperfusion injury within 6 weeks independent of timing of food intake (CR, EODfast , EODfed ) or fat content of diet (10% vs. 60%). Neither circulating IGF-1 levels (unchanged) nor whole-body insulin sensitivity (improved upon daily CR and EODfast but not EODfed ) correlated with protection, so are unlikely to be involved mechanistically. Show more

Keywords: Dietary restriction, calorie restriction, every-other-day fasting, renal ischemia reperfusion injury, dietary preconditioning, high-fat diet, glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, obesity, IGF-1

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-180044

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 23-32, 2019

Authors: Kim, Curie | Miquel, Sophie | Thuret, Sandrine

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Decreased mastication due to edentulism in both humans and animals have a negative impact on brain function and cognition. Human populations have shown a close association between masticatory function, cognitive status and age-related neurodegeneration in the elderly. Evidence shows that mastication during tasks may have an acute positive impact on normal cognitive function, such as sustained attention. However, there is a lack of evidence showing the long-term effects of changes in habitual masticatory behaviour on cognition. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of a 3-month mastication intervention on cognitive function in healthy older adults. METHODS: 53 …participants aged 45–70 years old were required to chew mint-flavoured sugar free chewing gum for 10 minutes, 3 times a day over 3 months. Pattern separation and recognition memory was measured using the Mnemonic Similarity Task. Questionnaires were administered to measure changes in mood, anxiety, and sleep quality. RESULTS: Extended periods of mastication gave rise to a significant improvement in recognition memory compared to a non-chewing control group. CONCLUSION: With an ageing population, non-medical interventions are imperative to delay age-related cognitive decline. Further work needs to be carried out in larger populations to validate the findings in this study and elucidate potential mechanisms. Show more

Keywords: Cognition, memory, aging, mastication

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-180047

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 33-42, 2019

Authors: Ribeiro, Rosilene V. | Simpson, Stephen J. | Le Couteur, David G. | Raubenheimer, David | Eberhard, Joerg | Ruiz, Kate | Macia, Laurence | Todorova, Yvanna | Gosby, Alison K.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Worldwide, populations are ageing with significant impact on health patterns. Studies have shown that low protein, high carbohydrate diets are associated with more favourable outcomes. Plant-based diets have also been shown to have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health, weight loss and prevention of all causes of mortality. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study is to assess the main and interactive effects of two macronutrient interventions in a 2×2 factorial dietary design to determine their effects on appetite and health outcomes in older individuals. METHODS: Individuals aged 65 to 75 with a BMI between …20 and 35 kg/m2 were recruited. Participants were provided with ad libitum access to one of four diets for four weeks, designed as a 2×2 factorial. Each dietary treatment provided 14% of energy as protein, which was either omnivorous or semi-vegetarian in origin. The remaining complement of macronutrient energy (80–82%) was either relatively high in fat (37–41% of energy) and low in carbohydrates (41–43%), or vice versa (28–29% fat with 53% carbohydrate). Study diets were provided via a meal delivery company. Self-completed questionnaires, biospecimen and clinical assessments were collected before and after intervention to assess cardio-metabolic, oral and gut health, body composition and physical performance. RESULTS: Trial status is currently ongoing (sample and data analyses). CONCLUSIONS: This study will help determine whether protein-source (plant vs animal) and fat to carbohydrate ratio have an impact on predictors of healthy ageing. These findings will also create a sound foundation on which to base nutritional interventions in older individuals to support healthy ageing. Show more

Keywords: Aged, health, microbiota, oral health, appetite, plant proteins, dietary fats, dietary carbohydrates, single-blind method

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-180055

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 43-51, 2019

Authors: Fiore, Valerio | Capraro, Michele | Ragusa, Rosalia | Godos, Justyna | Mistretta, Antonio | Marranzano, Marina

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Limited data are available regarding the association between dietary habits and metabolic outcomes in post-menopausal women living in Italy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and prevalence of overweight/obesity, type-2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemias in a sample of post-menopausal women. METHODS: Data on 499 women were extracted from a population-based representative sample collected in Sicily, southern Italy. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was defined as being in the highest quartile of a score used to calculate the level of adherence in the entire cohort. RESULTS: Only 15.8% …(n  = 83) of the study sample was found to have high adherence to the Mediterranean diet; these individuals were less likely to be overweight [odds ratio (OR) = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31–0.86] and obese (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.18–0.78) as well as having dyslipidemias (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30–0.84). Among individual components of the Mediterranean diet adherence score used, obesity was inversely associated with fruit component, type-2 diabetes with cereals and olive oil, hypertension with fruit and dairy products, dyslipidemias with legumes and dairy products. CONCLUSIONS: Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with better metabolic status in post-menopausal women. Show more

Keywords: Mediterranean diet, metabolic status, postmenopausal, diabetes

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-190062

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 53-60, 2019

Authors: Root, Martin M. | Nielsen, Mark T. | Smith, Timothy P. | Meaux, Katelyn M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Consuming a poor diet and being physically inactive may increase the risk of developing disabilities of old age. OBJECTIVE: To investigate correlations between Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores, physical activity levels, and disabilities of old age in a large biracial cohort. METHODS: The ARIC Study is a prospective cohort aged 45–64 years at baseline. Overall diet quality was assessed using the HEI-2010. A physical activity score was the sum of work, sports, and leisure. Activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and functional abilities were compared with HEI-2010 and physical activity …by logistic regression 9 years after the baseline examination. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest quartile, quartile 4 healthier HEI-2010 scores showed an odds ratios of 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.67–0.87) for functional disability, 0.89 (95% CI 0.75–1.07) for ADL disabilities, and 0.88 (95% CI 0.76–0.1.03) for IADL disabilities. Compared with the lowest tertile, tertile 3 of physical activity showed an odds ratios of 0.60 (95% CI 0.54–0.67) for functional disability, 0.68 (95% CI 0.60–0.78) for ADL disabilities, and 0.53 (95% CI 0.47–0.60) for IADL disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Healthier diet and higher physical activity were associated with lower levels of the disabilities of aging, particularly functional disability, at follow up. Show more

Keywords: Healthy diet, exercise, activities of daily living, aging

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-170040

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 61-69, 2019

Article Type: Other

DOI: 10.3233/NHA-189000

Citation: Nutrition and Healthy Aging, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 71-72, 2019