The British journal of nutrition
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A growing number of studies suggest that diet and renal function are related. However, little is known about the link between both whole grain (WG) and refined grain (RG) consumption and kidney function parameters. Thus, we investigated the association of WG and RG with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) and prevalent chronic kidney disease (CKD). ⋯ Furthermore, serum uric acid levels and ACR significantly decreased across quartiles of WG (both P<0·001). In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, the likelihood of prevalent CKD was 21 % lower in the highest WG quartile compared with the lowest one. In conclusion, our results shed light on the beneficial impact of WG on kidney function and CKD, whereas RG is adversely associated with eGFR.
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Vitamin D deficiency is recognised as a public health problem globally, and a high prevalence of deficiency has previously been reported in Australia. This study details the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adults aged ≥25 years, using an internationally standardised method to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and identifies demographic and lifestyle factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. We used data from the 2011-2013 Australian Health Survey (n 5034 with complete information on potential predictors and serum 25(OH)D concentrations). ⋯ Overall, 20 % of participants (19 % men; 21 % women) were classified as vitamin D deficient, with a further 43 % classified as insufficient (45 % men; 42 % women). Independent predictors of vitamin D deficiency included being born in a country other than Australia or the main English-speaking countries, residing in southern (higher latitude) states of Australia, being assessed during winter or spring, being obese, smoking (women only), having low physical activity levels and not taking vitamin D or Ca supplements. Given our increasingly indoor lifestyles, there is a need to develop and promote strategies to maintain adequate vitamin D status through safe sun exposure and dietary approaches.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A single dose of beetroot juice improves endothelial function but not tissue oxygenation in pregnant women: a randomised clinical trial.
Beetroot juice (BJ) consumption has been associated with improved cardiovascular health owing to an increase in NO bioconversion. This study evaluates the effect of BJ consumption on macrovascular endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation (FMD)) and muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) parameters in pregnant women within a randomised, crossover, double-blind design in which twelve pregnant women consumed a single dose (140 ml) of BJ or placebo (PLA). Urinary nitrate was assessed before (T0) and 150 min after BJ/PLA consumption. ⋯ No significant difference between PLA and PRE in FMD (P=1·000) was observed. In StO2 parameters, a difference was not observed after BJ consumption compared with PRE and PLA intervention. The data demonstrate that a single dose of 140 ml of BJ consumption improves macrovascular endothelial function, but not StO2 parameters.
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The role that vitamin D plays in pulmonary function remains uncertain. Epidemiological studies reported mixed findings for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)-pulmonary function association. We conducted the largest cross-sectional meta-analysis of the 25(OH)D-pulmonary function association to date, based on nine European ancestry (EA) cohorts (n 22 838) and five African ancestry (AA) cohorts (n 4290) in the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Consortium. ⋯ Among EA, the 25(OH)D-FVC association was stronger in smokers: per 1 nmol/l higher 25(OH)D, FVC was higher by 1·7 ml (95 % CI 1·1, 2·3) for current smokers and 1·7 ml (95 % CI 1·2, 2·1) for former smokers, compared with 0·8 ml (95 % CI 0·4, 1·2) for never smokers. In summary, the 25(OH)D associations with FEV1 and FVC were positive in both ancestries. In EA, a stronger association was observed for smokers compared with never smokers, which supports the importance of vitamin D in vulnerable populations.
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Carbohydrate quantity and quality affect postprandial glucose response, glucose metabolism and risk of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the association of pre-pregnancy dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality with the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We used data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health that included 3607 women aged 25-30 years without diabetes who were followed up between 2003 and 2015. ⋯ Higher intakes of fruit (0·95 per 50 g/d; 95 % CI 0·90, 0·99) and fruit juice (0·89 per 100 g/d; 95 % CI 0·80, 1·00)) were inversely associated with GDM, whereas cereal intake was associated with a higher risk of GDM (RR 1·05 per 20 g/d; 95 % CI 1·01, 1·07)). Thus, a relatively low carbohydrate and high fat and protein intake may increase the risk of GDM, whereas higher fibre intake could decrease the risk of GDM. It is especially important to take the source of carbohydrates into account.