Macan, T.P., M.L. Magenis, A.P. Damiani, I.O. Monteiro, G.B. Silveira, R.P. Zaccaron, P.C.L. Silveira, J.P.F. Teixeira, G. Gajski, V.M. Andrade, 2024. Brazil nut consumption reduces DNA damage in overweight type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen. 895:503739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2024.503739
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a metabolic disease, which occurs largely due to unhealthy lifestyle. As oxidative stress is believed to promote T2D, by inducing damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA, appropriate dietary interventions seem critical to prevent, manage, and even reverse this condition. Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa, H.B.K.) are nature’s richest source of selenium, a mineral that has shown several health benefits. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effects of selenium consumption, through Brazil nuts, on biochemical and oxidative stress parameters, and genomic instability in T2D patients. We recruited 133 patients with T2D, registered in the Integrated Clinics of the University of Southern Santa Catarina (Brazil). Participants consumed one Brazil nut a day for six months. Blood samples and exfoliated buccal cells were collected at the beginning and the end of the intervention. The glycemic profile, lipid profile, renal profile and hepatic profile, DNA damage and selenium content were evaluated. A total of 74 participants completed the intervention. Brazil nut consumption increased selenium and GSH levels, GPx, and CAT activity while DCF and nitrites levels decreased. Total thiols increased, and protein carbonyl and MDA levels decreased. Levels of baseline and oxidative DNA damage in T2D patients were significantly decreased, as well as the frequency of micronuclei and nuclear buds. The fasting glucose levels, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and GGT levels that increased significantly in patients with type 2 diabetes were significantly reduced with nut consumption. Our results show an increase in antioxidant activity, along with reductions of protein and lipid oxidation as well as DNA damage, suggesting that Brazil nut consumption could be an ally in reducing oxidative stress and modulating the genomic instability in T2D patients.
Fadnes, L.T., E. Javadi Arjmand, J.M. Økland, C. Celis-Morales, K.M. Livingstone, R. Balakrishna, J.C. Mathers, K.A. Johansson, Ø.A. Haaland, 2024. Life expectancy gains from dietary modifications: a comparative modeling study in 7 countries. Am J Clin Nutr. 120(1):170-177.
Background: Eating healthier is associated with a range of favorable health outcomes. Our previous model estimated the impact of dietary changes on life expectancy gains but did not consider height, weight, or physical activity. Objectives: We aimed to estimate the increase in life expectancy resulting from the transition from typical national dietary patterns to longevity optimizing dietary changes, more feasible dietary modifications, and optimized vegan dietary changes in China, France, Germany, Iran, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Methods: Our modeling study used data from meta-analyses presenting dose-response relationships between intake of 15 food groups and mortality. Background mortality data were from the Global Burden of Disease Study. We used national food intake data and adjusted for height, weight, and physical activity level. Results: For 40-y-olds, estimated life expectancy gains ranged from 6.2 y (with uncertainty interval [UI]: 5.7, 7.5 y) for Chinese females to 9.7 y (UI: 8.1, 11.3 y) for United States males following sustained changes from typical country-specific dietary patterns to longevity-optimized dietary changes, and from 5.2 y (UI: 4.0, 6.5 y) for Chinese females to 8.7 y (UI: 7.1, 10.3 y) for United States males following changes to optimized vegan dietary changes. Conclusions: A sustained change from country-specific typical dietary pattern patterns to longevity-optimized dietary changes, more feasible dietary changes, or optimized vegan dietary changes are all projected to result in substantial life expectancy gains across ages and countries. These changes included more whole grains, legumes, and nuts and less red/processed meats and sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages. The largest gains from dietary changes would be in the United States.
Shi Y, Kan J, Wang W, Cao Y, Wu Y, Chen X, Zheng W, Yang F, Du J, He W, Zhu S., 2024. Nut consumption, gut microbiota, and body fat distribution: results of a large, community-based population study. Obesity (Silver Spring). 32(9):1778-1788.
Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationships among nut consumption, gut microbiota, and body fat distribution. Methods: We studied 2255 Chinese adults in the Lanxi Cohort living in urban areas in Lanxi City, China. Fat distribution was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and nut consumption was assessed using food frequency questionnaires. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing was performed on stool samples from 1724 participants. Linear regression and Spearman correlation were used in all analyses. A validation study was performed using 1274 participants in the Lanxi Cohort living in rural areas. Results: Nut consumption was beneficially associated with regional fat accumulation. Gut microbial analysis suggested that a high intake of nuts was associated with greater microbial α diversity. Six genera were found to be associated with nut consumption, and the abundance of genera Anaerobutyricum, Anaerotaenia, and Fusobacterium was significantly associated with fat distribution. Favorable relationships between α diversity and fat distribution were also observed. Similar relationships between gut microbiota and fat distribution were obtained in the validation analysis. Conclusions: We have shown that nut consumption is beneficially associated with body fat distribution and gut microbiota diversity and taxonomy. Furthermore, the microbial features related to high nut intake are associated with a favorable pattern of fat distribution.
Wild, H., M. Nurgozhina, D. Gasevic, A.M. Coates, R.L. Woods, J. Ryan, L. Beilin, T. Govindaraju, J.J. McNeil, A.J. Owen, 2024. Nut consumption and disability-free survival in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study. Age Ageing. 53(11):afae239. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae239.
Objectives: The relationship between nut intake and disability-free survival (healthy lifespan) in later life is unclear. The objective was to evaluate the association between nut intake and disability-free survival in a cohort of adults aged ≥70 years, and whether this varied according to overall diet quality. Methods: This prospective cohort study involved 9916 participants from the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons. Participants completed a 49-item Food Frequency questionnaire from which frequency of nut intake was obtained and were asked to categories usual intake as no/infrequent [never/rarely, 1–2 times/month], weekly [1–2 times/week, often 3–6 times/week] or daily [every day or several times a day]. The outcome measured was a composite of first-event mortality, onset of dementia, or persistent physical disability. Cox proportional hazards regression models, adjusted for socio-demographic factors, health-related and clinical covariates and overall dietary quality were conducted to examine the association between varying levels of nut intake and disability-free survival. Results: Over a mean of 3.9 years of follow-up, the risk of reaching the DFS endpoint were 23% lower (HR 0.77 [0.61– 0.98]) for those who consumed nuts daily, when compared to those with no/infrequent nut consumption. Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant association between daily nut consumption and healthy lifespan among individuals in the second dietary quality tertile (HR 0.71[0.51–0.98]). Conclusion: For community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and over with sub-optimal diets, daily nut consumption is associated with the promotion of healthy lifespan (disability-free survival).
