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Background Maternal intake of several nutrients during pregnancy is linked to offspring cognition. The relation between maternal dietary patterns and offspring cognition is less established. Objectives We aimed to examine associations of maternal diet quality during pregnancy with child cognition and behavior. Methods Among 1580 mother–child pairs in Project Viva, a prospective prebirth cohort, we assessed maternal diet during pregnancy using FFQs and evaluated diet quality using versions modified for pregnancy of the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS-P) and Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-P). Child cognitive and behavioral outcomes were assessed using standardized tests and questionnaires at infancy and in early and mid-childhood. We conducted multivariable linear regression analyses. Results Mothers were predominantly white, college-educated, and nonsmokers. After adjustment for child age and sex and maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, maternal high (6–9) compared with low (0–3) MDS-P during pregnancy was associated with higher child Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-II) nonverbal (mean difference for first trimester: 4.54; 95% CI: 1.53, 7.56) and verbal scores (3.78; 95% CI: 1.37, 6.19) and lower Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) Metacognition Index (−1.76; 95% CI: −3.25, −0.27), indicating better intelligence and fewer metacognition problems in mid-childhood. Maternal Q4 compared with Q1 AHEI-P during pregnancy was associated with higher Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities matching scores in early childhood (mean difference for first trimester: 2.79; 95% CI: 0.55, 5.04) and higher KBIT-II verbal scores (2.59; 95% CI: 0.13, 5.04) and lower BRIEF Global Executive Composite scores in mid-childhood (−1.61; 95% CI: −3.20, −0.01), indicating better visual spatial skills, verbal intelligence, and executive function. Conclusions Maternal intake of a better-quality diet during pregnancy was associated with better visual spatial skills in the offspring at early childhood and with better intelligence and executive function in the offspring at mid-childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrients in avocados are associated with cardiovascular benefits. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of avocado intake on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with the use of a systematic review and meta-analysis. Design: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, and Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau abstracts were searched from 1946 through September 2017 for publications on avocado intake and CVD risk. All designs except for cross-sectional studies that evaluated avocado intake were included. Two investigators independently screened citations and extracted data. Random-effects models meta-analysis was used when ≥3 studies reported the same outcome. Results: Of 18 eligible studies (481 subjects), 7 studies compared avocado intake with no intake, 3 studies compared avocado plus monounsaturated fat intake with a control, and 8 studies reported data for qualitative synthesis. In 7 studies, avocado intake significantly increased HDL cholesterol (summary net change: 2.84 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.18, 5.49 mg/dL), with significant heterogeneity. This remained consistent in sensitivity and subgroup analyses. There was no significant difference between avocado intake and the control for the outcomes of serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), ratios of TC to HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, and body weight. In qualitative synthesis, there was no significant difference between groups for blood glucose (2 studies), homeostasis model assessment (1 of 2 studies), oxidized LDL (2 studies), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (2 studies), or apolipoprotein B (2 studies) or, in 1 study each, for body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, arterial compliance, fibrinogen, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor a, and serum nitric oxide. No studies reported incident clinical outcomes of CVD, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and other clinical endpoints. Conclusions: Avocado intake resulted in no difference in serum TC, LDL-cholesterol, and TG concentrations, but it did increase serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations, with significant heterogeneity. The association between avocado intake and CVD risk should be confirmed by well-conducted prospective observational studies or long-term trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early menopause, defined as the cessation of ovarian function before the age of 45 y, affects ~10% of women and is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions. Few modifiable risk factors for early menopause have been identified, but emerging data suggest that high vitamin D intake may reduce risk. Objective: We evaluated how intakes of vitamin D and calcium are associated with the incidence of early menopause in the prospective Nurses' Health Study II (NHS2). Design: Intakes of vitamin D and calcium from foods and supplements were measured every 4 y with the use of a food-frequency questionnaire. Cases of incident early menopause were identified from all participants who were premenopausal at baseline in 1991; over 1.13 million person-years, 2041 women reported having natural menopause before the age of 45 y. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate relations between intakes of vitamin D and calcium and incident early menopause while accounting for potential confounding factors. Results: After adjustment for age, smoking, and other factors, women with the highest intake of dietary vitamin D (quintile median: 528 IU/d) had a significant 17% lower risk of early menopause than women with the lowest intake [quintile median: 148 IU/d; HR: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.95); P-trend = 0.03]. Dietary calcium intake in the highest quintile (median: 1246 mg/d) compared with the lowest (median: 556 mg/d) was associated with a borderline significantly lower risk of early menopause (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.76, 1.00; P-trend = 0.03). Associations were stronger for vitamin D and calcium from dairy sources than from nondairy dietary sources, whereas high supplement use was not associated with lower risk. Conclusions: Findings suggest that high intakes of dietary vitamin D and calcium may be modestly associated with a lower risk of early menopause. Further studies evaluating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, other dairy constituents, and early menopause are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a potential role of choline in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease through its involvement in lipid and one-carbon metabolism. Objective: We evaluated the associations of plasma choline and choline-related compounds with cardiometabolic risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular pathology. Design: A cross-sectional subset of the Nutrition, Aging, and Memory in Elders cohort who had undergone MRI of the brain (n = 296; mean ± SD age: 73 ± 8.1 y) was assessed. Plasma concentrations of free choline, betaine, and phosphatidylcholine were measured with the use of liquid-chromatography--stable-isotope dilution--multiple-reaction monitoring--mass spectrometry. A volumetric analysis of MRI was used to determine the cerebrovascular pathology (white-matter hyperintensities and small- and large-vessel infarcts). Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to examine relations of plasma measures with cardiometabolic risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease, and radiologic evidence of cerebrovascular pathology. Results: Higher concentrations of plasma choline were associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic risk-factor profile [lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, higher total homocysteine, and higher body mass index (BMI)] and greater odds of large-vessel cerebral vascular disease or history of cardiovascular disease but lower odds of small-vessel cerebral vascular disease. Conversely, higher concentrations of plasma betaine were associated with a favorable cardiometabolic risk-factor profile [lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides] and lower odds of diabetes. Higher concentrations of plasma phosphatidylcholine were associated with characteristics of both a favorable cardiometabolic risk-factor profile (higher HDL cholesterol, lower BMI, lower C-reactive protein, lower waist circumference, and lower odds of hypertension and diabetes) and an unfavorable profile (higher LDL cholesterol and triglycerides). Conclusion: Choline and its metabolites have differential associations with cardiometabolic risk factors and subtypes of vascular disease, thereby suggesting differing roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and cerebral large-vessel disease compared with that of small-vessel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinically significant premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 15-20% of premenopausal women, substantially reducing quality of life. Women with PMS often are counseled to minimize caffeine intake, although only limited evidence supports this recommendation. Objective: We evaluated the association between total caffeine, coffee, and tea intake and the development of PMS in a case-control study nested within the prospective Nurses' Health Study II. Design: All participants were free from PMS at baseline (1991). PMS cases reported a new clinician-made diagnosis of PMS on biennial questionnaires between 1993 and 2005, and then confirmed symptom timing and moderate-to-severe impact and severity of symptoms with the use of a retrospective questionnaire (n = 1234). Controls did not report PMS and confirmed experiencing no symptoms or few mild symptoms with limited personal impact (n = 2426). Caffeine, coffee, and tea intake was measured by food-frequency questionnaires every 4 y, and data on smoking, body weight, and other factors were updated every 2-4 y. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of total caffeine intake and frequency of coffee and tea consumption with PMS. Results: After adjustment for age, smoking, and other factors, total caffeine intake was not associated with PMS. The OR comparing women with the highest (quintile median = 543 mg/d) to the lowest (quintile median = 18 mg/d) caffeine intake was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.61, 1.04; P-trend = 0.31). High caffeinated coffee intake also was not associated with risk of PMS or specific symptoms, including breast tenderness (OR for ≥4 cups/d compared with,1/mo: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.12; P-trend = 0.44). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that caffeine intake is not associated with PMS, and that current recommendations for women to reduce caffeine intake may not help prevent the development of PMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary cholesterol has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which has led to US recommendations to reduce cholesterol intake. Objective: The authors examine the effects of dietary cholesterol on CVD risk in healthy adults by using systematic review and meta-analysis. Design: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, and Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau Abstracts databases were searched through December 2013 for prospective studies that quantified dietary cholesterol. Investigators independently screened citations and verified extracted data on study and participant characteristics, outcomes, and quality. Random-effect models meta-analysis was used when at least 3 studies reported the same CVD outcome. Results: Forty studies (17 cohorts in 19 publications with 361,923 subjects and 19 trials in 21 publications with 632 subjects) published between 1979 and 2013 were eligible for review. Dietary cholesterol was not statistically significantly associated with any coronary artery disease (4 cohorts; no summary RR), ischemic stroke (4 cohorts; summary RR: 1.13; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.28), or hemorrhagic stroke (3 cohorts; summary RR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.50). Dietary cholesterol statistically significantly increased both serum total cholesterol (17 trials; net change: 11.2 mg/dL; 95% CI: 6.4, 15.9) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (14 trials; net change: 6.7 mg/dL; 95% CI: 1.7, 11.7 mg/dL). Increases in LDL cholesterol were no longer statistically significant when intervention doses exceeded 900 mg/d. Dietary cholesterol also statistically significantly increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (13 trials; net change: 3.2 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.9, 9.7 mg/dL) and the LDL to high-density lipoprotein ratio (5 trials; net change: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.0, 0.3). Dietary cholesterol did not statistically significantly change serum triglycerides or very-low-density lipoprotein concentrations. Conclusion: Reviewed studies were heterogeneous and lacked the methodologic rigor to draw any conclusions regarding the effects of dietary cholesterol on CVD risk. Carefully adjusted and well-conducted cohort studies would be useful to identify the relative effects of dietary cholesterol on CVD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary lutein and zeaxanthin may be of benefit in maintaining cognitive health. Among the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin are the only two that cross the blood-retina barrier to form macular pigment (MP) in the eye. They also preferentially accumulate in the human brain. Lutein and zeaxanthin in macula from nonhuman primates were found to be significantly correlated with their concentrations in matched brain tissue. Therefore, MP can be used as a biomarker of lutein and zeaxanthin in primate brain tissue. This is of interest given that a significant correlation was found between MP density and global cognitive function in healthy older adults. An examination of a relation between cognition and lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in the brain tissue of decedents from a population-based study in centenarians found that zeaxanthin concentrations in brain tissue were significantly related to antemortem measures of global cognitive function, memory retention, verbal fluency, and dementia severity after adjustment for age, sex, education, hypertension, and diabetes. In univariate analyses, lutein was related to recall and verbal fluency, but the strength of the associations was attenuated with adjustment for covariates. However, lutein concentrations in the brain were significantly lower in individuals with mild cognitive impairment than in those with normal cognitive function. Last, in a 4-mo, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in older women that involved lutein supplementation (12 mg/d), alone or in combination with DHA (800 mg/d), verbal fluency scores improved significantly in the DHA, lutein, and combined-treatment groups. Memory scores and rate of learning improved significantly in the combined-treatment group, who also showed a trend toward more efficient learning. When all of these observations are taken into consideration, the idea that lutein and zeaxanthin can influence cognitive function in older adults warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D may plausibly reduce the occurrence of depression in postmenopausal women; however, epidemiologic evidence is limited, and few prospective studies have been conducted. Objective: We conducted a cross-sectional and prospective analysis of vitamin D intake from foods and supplements and risk of depressive symptoms. Design: Study participants were 81,189 members of the Women's Health Initiative (Wi-il) Observational Study who were aged 50-79 y at baseline. Vitamin D intake at baseline was measured by food- frequency and supplement-use questionnaires. Depressive symptoms at baseline and after 3 y were assessed by using the Burnam scale and current antidepressant medication use. Results: After age, physical activity, and other factors were con- trolled for, women who reported a total intake of ⩾800 IU vitamin Did had a prevalence OR for depressive symptoms of 0.79 (95% Cl: 0.71, 0.89; P-trend < 0.001) compared with women who reported a total intake of <100 IU vitamin Did. In analyses limited to women without evidence of depression at baseline, an intake of ⩾400 com- pared with <100 IU vitamin D/d from food sources was associated with 20% lower risk of depressive symptoms at year 3 (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67, 095; P-trend = 0.001). The results for supplemental vitamin D were less consistent, as were the results from secondary analyses that included as cases women who were currently using antidepressant medications. Conclusions: Overall, our findings support a potential inverse as- sociation of vitamin D, primarily from food sources, and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. Additional prospective studies and randomized trials are essential in establishing whether the improvement of vitamin D status holds promise for the prevention of depression, the treatment of depression, or both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 are required to synthesize neurotransmitters that are potentially involved in the pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Objective: The objective was to evaluate whether B vitamin intake from food sources and supplements is associated with the initial development of PMS. Design: We conducted a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Participants were free of PMS at baseline (1991). After 10 y of follow up, 1057 women were confirmed as cases and 1968 were confirmed as controls. Dietary information was collected in 1991, 1995, and 1999 by using food-frequency questionnaires. Results: Intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources were each inversely associated with incident PMS. For example, women in the highest quintile of riboflavin intake 2-4 y before the diagnosis year had a 35% lower risk of developing PMS than did those in the lowest quintile (relative risk: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92; P for trend = 0.02). No significant associations between incident PMS and dietary intakes of niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 were observed. Intake of B vitamins from supplements was not associated with a lower risk of PMS. Conclusions: We observed a significantly lower risk of PMS in women with high intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources only. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of B vitamins in the development of premenstrual syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases related to aging such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Carotenoids could be a part of a protective strategy to minimize oxidative damage in vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. Objective: Our aim was to determine the protective effect of carotenoids against DNA damage. Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted. Thirty-seven healthy, nonsmoking postmenopausal women aged 50-70 y were randomly assigned to 1 of5 groups and were instructed to consume a daily dose of mixed carotenoids (β-carotene, lutein, and lycopene; 4 mg each), 12 mg of a single carotenoid (β-carotene, lutein, or lycopene), or placebo for 56 d. Plasma carotenoid concentrations were analyzed by using HPLC, and lymphocyte DNA damage was measured by using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. Results: At day 57, all carotenoid-supplemented groups showed significantly lower endogenous DNA damage than at baseline (P < 0.01), whereas the placebo group did not show any significant change. Significantly less (P < 0.05) endogenous DNA damage was found as early as day 15 in the mixed carotenoid (P < 0.01) and (β-carotene (P < 0.05) groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that carotenoid supplementation decreases DNA damage and that a combination of carotenoids (4 mg each of lutein, j3-carotene, and lycopene), an intake that can be achieved by diet, or a larger dose (12 mg) of individual carotenoids exerts protection against DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily dietary fiber intakes were determined for two groups of older adults with significantly different bowel habits: nursing-home (NH) residents who habitually took laxatives and independent-living (IL) adults who took laxatives occasionally. Fiber intakes were calculated from neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and Southgate total dietary fiber values. IL subjects (n = 7) consumed on average 9.0 ± 1.6 g NDF and 18.8 ± 4.6 g total fiber daily. The NH menu provided a similar amount of NDF but more total fiber. NH residents (n = 6) consumed ~70-85% of the fiber served. When fiber intakes were expressed as energy, NH and IL subjects consumed similar amounts of NDF but IL subjects consumed less total fiber. Grain products were major fiber sources for both groups; IL subjects consumed more fiber from fruits. Comparisons of fiber intakes, bowel function, lifestyles, and medications suggest that dietary fiber is only part of the basis for inadequate large bowel function experienced by some elderly populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to develop a simple method to estimate daily intakes of the insoluble fraction of dietary fiber, that portion most effective in increasing stool weight and defecation frequency and decreasing gastrointestinal transit time. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents of 53 foods were determined by analysis and used to calculate the NDF content of typical institutional menus; mean NDF content (n = 14 days) was 10.8 ± 1.4 g/day. Average NDF content of one serving of fruits and vegetables was ~1 g, of the refined grain products, ~0.5 g. Estimating daily NDF content of the menus was simplified without a loss of accuracy by substituting the mean NDF content of one serving of refined grains, vegetables, and fruits for the actual values, and by eliminating foods present at <1/4 of a serving. Crude fiber was a poor predictor of the NDF in a menu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the discrimination in absorption or transport of beta-carotene isomers after oral supplementation with either all-trans- or 9-cis-beta-carotene. Plasma concentrations of both isomers; Factors that affect the transport and absorption of beta-carotene.

Plasma and lipoprotein concentrations of β-carotene (BC) were measured in men for 10 d after an oral dose of BC (120 mg) (experimental subjects, n= 11) or no BC (control subjects, n = 5). Lipoproteins were separated by sequential ultracentrifugation and BC was measured by HPLC. Plasma and lipoprotein BC concentrations in control subjects were steady. In experimental subjects, plasma BC content increased by 6 h postdosing (P < 0.015), peaked at 24 h (P < 0.05), and returned to baseline by 7 d. Maintenance of plasma BC concentrations suggests homeostatic control. Of the 11 experimental subjects, only 4 had a plasma response. Early increases in the BC content of chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, and intermediate-density lipoproteins were associated with decreases in the BC content of low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins. Intestinal input accounts for early rises in circulating BC concentrations whereas hepatic secretion is the source of later increases. Among all of the lipoproteins, transfer of BC may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer in observational studies, but evidence for benefits with vitamin D supplementation is limited., Objectives: To investigate the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on CVD and cancer incidences., Methods: The study was a 5-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among 2495 male participants ≥60 years and post-menopausal female participants ≥65 years from a general Finnish population who were free of prior CVD or cancer. The study had 3 arms: placebo, 1600 IU/day, or 3200 IU/day vitamin D3. Follow-up was by annual study questionnaires and national registry data. A representative subcohort of 551 participants had more detailed in-person investigations. The primary endpoints were incident major CVD and invasive cancer. Secondary endpoints included the individual components of the primary CVD endpoint (myocardial infarction, stroke, and CVD mortality), site-specific cancers, and cancer death., Results: During the follow-up, there were 41 (4.9%), 42 (5.0%), and 36 (4.3%) major CVD events in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (compared with placebo: HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.63-1.49; P = 0.89), and 3200 IU/d (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.54-1.31; P = 0.44) arms, respectively. Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 41 (4.9%), 48 (5.8%), and 40 (4.8%) participants in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.75-1.72; P = 0.55), and 3200 IU/d (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.61-1.47; P = 0.81) arms, respectively. There were no significant differences in the secondary endpoints or total mortality. In the subcohort, the mean baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 75 nmol/L (SD, 18 nmol/L). After 12 months, the concentrations were 73 nmol/L (SD, 18 nmol/L), 100 nmol/L (SD, 21 nmol/L), and 120 nmol/L (SD, 22 nmol/L) in the placebo, 1600 IU/d, and 3200 IU/d arms, respectively., Conclusions: Vitamin D3 supplementation did not lower the incidences of major CVD events or invasive cancer among older adults, possibly due to sufficient vitamin D status in most participants at baseline., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Background: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 are required to synthesize neurotransmitters that are potentially involved in the pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)., Objective: The objective was to evaluate whether B vitamin intake from food sources and supplements is associated with the initial development of PMS., Design: We conducted a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Participants were free of PMS at baseline (1991). After 10 y of follow up, 1057 women were confirmed as cases and 1968 were confirmed as controls. Dietary information was collected in 1991, 1995, and 1999 by using food-frequency questionnaires., Results: Intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources were each inversely associated with incident PMS. For example, women in the highest quintile of riboflavin intake 2-4 y before the diagnosis year had a 35% lower risk of developing PMS than did those in the lowest quintile (relative risk: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92; P for trend = 0.02). No significant associations between incident PMS and dietary intakes of niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 were observed. Intake of B vitamins from supplements was not associated with a lower risk of PMS., Conclusions: We observed a significantly lower risk of PMS in women with high intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources only. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of B vitamins in the development of premenstrual syndrome.