Direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) provides a means for consumers to gain insights into their genetic background and how it relates to their health without the involvement of medical institutions. In Korea, DTC-GT was introduced in 2016 in accordance with the legislation on Paragraph (3) 2 of Article 50 of the Bioethics and Safety Act. Only 12 genetic test items involving 46 genes were approved at first, but the approved items were expanded to 70 in November 2020. However, the genetic test items of DTC-GT services in Korea are still restricted to the wellness area, and access to disease risk related information is only permitted to medical institutions. Further, studies revealing the relationship between genotype differences and responses to nutrients, food components, or nutritional status are increasing, and this association appears to be robust for some genes. This strong association between genetic variations and nutrition suggests that DTC-GT can be used as an important tool by clinical nutritionists to gain insights into an individual's genetic susceptibilities and provide guidance on nutritional counseling and meal planning based on the patient's genetic information. This review summarized the history and current status of DTC-GT and investigated the relationship between genetic variations with associated phenotypic traits to clarify further the importance of DTC-GT in the field of clinical nutrition.
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Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder experienced by the world's population. Mechanisms associated with depression-like behavior have not been fully investigated. Among the therapeutic solution for depression, exercise is considered an important regulator attenuating depressive neuropathology. Exercise has been reported to boost the secretion of myokines such as irisin and myostatin in skeletal muscles. Myokines secreted during exercise are involved in various cellular responses including the endocrine and autocrine systems. Especially, irisin as a cleaved version of fibronectin domain-containing protein 5 has multiple functions such as white fat-browning, energy expenditure increase, anti-inflammatory effects, and mitochondrial function improvement in both systemic circulation and central nervous system. Furthermore, irisin activates energy metabolism-related signaling peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-
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Calcium, one of the most important nutrients, determines the quality of life of the elderly. It has been reported that 7 out of 10 people over the age of 60 have insufficient calcium intake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium fortified beverage (CFB) intake on insulin sensitivity and antioxidant metabolism in healthy elderly. A crossover clinical trial was performed and antioxidant status of healthy elderly (age above 65 years, n = 8) was analyzed. Subjects did not take CFB for 0–3 weeks. They then took it for 3–6 weeks. CFB supplementation decreased insulin levels (Δ3–6 weeks: 1.19 ± 0.65 μ IU/mL → Δ0–3 weeks: −0.58 ± 0.38 μ IU/mL). Increasing degree of fasting blood glucose level was suppressed by intake of CFB, although the suppression was not statistically significant. Except for insulin, there were no significant differences in results of biochemical analysis between 0–3 weeks and 3–6 weeks. Catalase activity was significantly increased by CFB supplementation (Δ3–6 weeks: 3.50 ± 5.30 K g/Hb) compared to the no CFB supplementation period (Δ0–3 weeks: −12.48 ± 4.37 K g/Hb). However, the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione-peroxidase were not significantly different between 0–3 weeks and 3–6 weeks. H2O2-induced DNA oxidative damage was also decreased significantly by CFB supplementation. Taken together, these results indicate that CFB has beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity and some antioxidant enzymes in healthy elderly.
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The present trial aims to evaluate a supplementation of the olive leaf extract (OLE) in adjunct with a weight loss diet on anthropometric indices, glycemic indices, lipid profile, as well as the level of adipokines, and free fatty acid in obese women. We carried out an 8-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, clinical trial. The participants were randomly stratified according to age and they were assigned to one of the two study groups: Standard weight loss diet (estimated daily energy requirements minus 500 kcal) + OLE supplementation (n = 35) in intervention group or Standard weight loss diet (estimated daily energy requirements minus 500 kcal) + placebo (n = 35) in placebo group. The study groups were homogeneous regarding the baseline age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences, married status, and physical activity levels (p > 0.05). The results of analysis of covariance presented significant decreases in BMI, fat mass, and body weight in the OLE group compared to those in the placebo group (p < 0.05). At the end of the study, the serum levels of fasting blood sugar, insulin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, leptin, fatty free acid, and homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance significantly decreased, and serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin elevated in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Based on results it seems that the addition of OLE to a hypocaloric diet for 8-week compared with a hypocaloric diet alone may be more effective in modifying obesity and metabolic risk factors.
Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier:
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Despite mounting evidence that dietary polyphenols might have a protective role against the risk of breast cancer (BC), few studies have assessed the relationship between intake of polyphenol classes and subclasses with BC. Thus, we examined the relationship between dietary polyphenol classes and individual polyphenol subclasses and the risk of BC. Overall, 134 newly diagnosed BC patients and 267 healthy hospitalized controls were studied. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). To estimate dietary intake of polyphenols, polyphenol content (flavonoids, lignans, stilbenes and phenolic acids) of 80 food items were derived from an updated version of the phenol explorer database containing information on the effects of food processing on polyphenol content. The dietary polyphenol intake was calculated by matching the subjects' food consumption data with our polyphenol content database. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Controls had higher intake of total polyphenol (marginally significant; p = 0.07), hydroxycinnamic acid (marginally significant; p = 0.05) and lignan (p = 0.01). After adjusting for potential confounders, high consumption of lignans (highest vs. lowest tertile: OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.26–0.97; p for trend = 0.04) associated with decreased risk of BC. There was no significant relationship between intake of other polyphenols and risk of BC. Our findings suggest that high lignan intake is associated with a reduced risk of BC.
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Decreased food intake is an effective mechanism for gastric bypass surgery (GBS) for successful weight loss. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess dietary intake, micro-and macro-nutrients in the patients undergoing GBS and determine the possible associations with weight changes. We assessed anthropometric indices and food intake at 24 month-post gastric bypass surgery. Dietary data was evaluated using three-day food records. After the 24 months of surgery, among 35 patients (mean age: 43.5 ± 11.2 years; 82.85% females), with the mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.5 ± 4.5 kg/m2, 17 cases were < 50% of their excess weight. The average daily calorie intake was 1,733 ± 630 kcal, with 14.88% of calories from protein. Consumption amounts of protein (0.82 ± 0.27 g/kg of the current weight), as well as fiber, and some micro-nutrients (vitamin B9, E, K, B5, and D3) were lower than recommended amounts. Patients were classified into three groups based on their success in weight loss after surgery. Calorie intake was not significantly different between groups, but successful groups consumed considerably more protein and less carbohydrate than the unsuccessful group (p < 0.05). Based on our findings, the patients undergoing GBS had inadequate macro- and micro-nutrient intake after 24 months. However, protein intake can affect patients' success in achieving better weight loss. Long-term cohort and clinical studies need to be conducted to comprehend this process further.
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Antioxidant compounds can attenuate inflammation and delay degenerative processes especially in the cardiovascular system. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and serum biomarkers in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In this cross-sectional study, 146 patients who had referred to Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah were recruited and demographic, anthropometric, physical activity and dietary data were collected. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum levels of lipid profile, inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-17, intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules [ICAM, VCAM]), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were also measured. A regression model adjusted for confounding variables presented that the coefficients of ICAM and VCAM (ng/dL) in the third tertile of DTAC were lower than those in the first tertile (β = −417.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −509.9 to −324.5, p < 0.001; β = −293.2, 95% CI = −334.3, −252.1, p < 0.001, respectively). The β of serum TAC (ng/dL) in the third tertile was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.77, 0.95, p < 0.001) higher than that in the first tertile. DTAC had no statistically significant relationship with lipid profile, FBG, and IL-17 levels, and anthropometric indices. In this study DTAC was associated with increased serum TAC and decreased cell adhesion molecules. Therefore, diet antioxidants may be beneficial in attenuating of inflammation in coronary artery diseases.
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Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease in children worldwide but can affect individuals of all ages. Patients and parents of pediatric patients tend to restrict too much food because they think this aggravates or causes AD. However, there is a risk of nutrient deficiency owing to a lack of balanced diet. Herein, nutritional counseling was conducted to improve the eating habits of a patient with AD, promote nutritionally balanced meals, and consequently observe changes in the severity of AD. This report discusses the case of a 15-year-old male patient with AD who did not receive nutritional counseling previously but regularly ate breakfast and consumed fruits, beans, vegetables, and milk more frequently after counseling. His vegetable consumption increased from less than one plate a day before counseling to more than eight plates a day after counseling. This change was reflected in the nutritional quotient for adolescents (NQ-A) score. After consultation, eating habits improved, as indicated by a 1.2-, 2.4-, and 1.5-fold increase in NQ-A, diversity category, and balance category scores, respectively. The intake of protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin C, niacin, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and water was inadequate before consultation and improved after consultation. The eating habits and severity of AD also improved after nutritional counseling. However, this result was not tested in a tightly controlled environment. It was difficult to conclude that only the eating habits affected the severity. Therefore, further research is needed.
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