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Background: The temporal relationship between adiposity and gut microbiota was unexplored. Whether some gut microbes lie in the pathways from adiposity to insulin resistance is less clear. Our study aims to reveal the temporal relationship between adiposity and gut microbiota and investigate whether gut microbiota may mediate the association of adiposity with insulin resistance in a longitudinal human cohort study.Methods: We obtained repeated-measured gut shotgun metagenomic and anthropometric data from 426 Chinese participants over ~3 years of follow-up. Cross-lagged path analysis was used to examine the temporal relationship between BMI and gut microbial features. The associations between the gut microbes and insulin resistance-related phenotypes were examined using a linear mixed-effect model. We examined the mediation effect of gut microbes on the association between adiposity and insulin resistance-related phenotypes. Replication was performed in the HMP cohort.Results: Baseline BMI was prospectively associated with levels of ten gut microbial species. Among them, results of four species (Adlercreutzia equolifaciens, Parabacteroides unclassified, Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3 1 57FAA CT1, Lachnospiraceae bacterium 7 1 58FAA) were replicated in the independent HMP cohort. Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3 1 57FAA CT1 was inversely associated with HOMA-IR and fasting insulin. Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3 1 57FAA CT1 mediated the association of overweight/obesity with HOMA-IR (FDR<0.05). Furthermore, Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3 1 57FAA CT1 was positively associated with the butyrate-producing pathway PWY-5022 (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Our study identified one potentially beneficial microbe Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3 1 57FAA CT1, which might mediate the effect of adiposity on insulin resistance. The identified microbes are helpful for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, as to mitigate the impact of adiposity on insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The associations between specific carotenoid intake and colorectal cancer risk remain inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the association between specific dietary carotenoid intake with colorectal cancer risk in Chinese adults. Method: From July 2010 to October 2013, 845 eligible colorectal cancer cases and 845 frequency-matched controls (age and sex) completed in-person interviews. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate dietary intake. Multivariate logistical regression models were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) of colorectal cancer risk after adjusting for various confounders. Results: A strong inverse association was found between β-cryptoxanthin intake and colorectal cancer risk. Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile intake showed a risk reduction of 77 % (OR 0.23, 95 % CI 0.17-0.33, P < 0.01) after adjustment for various confounding variables. The inverse associations were also observed for α-carotene (OR 0.50, 95 % CI 0.37-0.68, P < 0.01), β-carotene (OR 0.67, 95 % CI 0.49-0.91, P < 0.01), and lycopene (OR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.37-0.70, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant association between lutein/zeaxanthin intake and colorectal cancer risk. These findings were consistent across cancer site, sources of controls, and smoking status. The inverse associations between dietary α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene intake and colorectal cancer risk were found in both males and females, while inverse associations between β-carotene intake and colorectal cancer risk were only observed in males. Conclusions: Consumption of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk. No significant association was found between lutein/zeaxanthin intake and colorectal cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Calcium demand is increased during pregnancy. However, few randomized controlled trials examined the effects of calcium supplementation on bone mass during pregnancy. This study determined effects of calcium and milk supplementation on maternal bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover in pregnant Chinese women with habitual low calcium intake. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 36 Chinese pregnant women (24-31 years, 18 gestational weeks) were randomly assigned to the following three arms (12 each): I, usual diet; II, 'I' + 45 g milk powder (containing 350 mg calcium); or III, 'II' + 600 mg calcium/day from gestational age of 20 weeks to 6 weeks post-partum (PP). BMD was measured post-treatment using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intakes, 24-h urinary calcium, bone resorption (urinary hydroxyproline) and formation (serum osteocalcin) biomarkers were examined at the gestational age of 20 and 34 weeks, and 6 weeks PP. Results: A dose-dependent relationship was observed between calcium intake and BMDs. The BMD values were significantly higher in subjects with calcium and milk supplementation than those in the controls at the whole body and spine ( p < 0.05) but not at the hip sites. We found significant decreases in changes of urinary hydroxyproline, and significant increases in serum osteocalcin during the intervention period in the calcium/milk intervention groups than those in the control group (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Calcium/milk supplementation during pregnancy is associated with greater BMD at the spine and whole body and suppresses bone resorption in Chinese women with habitual low calcium intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic inflammation provides the substrate for various mechanisms involved in osteoporotic fracture. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) could shed light on the effect of the inflammatory potential of the diet on osteoporotic hip fracture. Objective This study tested the hypothesis that higher DII scores are associated with greater hip fracture risk in an elderly Chinese population. Methods A 1:1 age- (±3 years), sex- and region-matched case-control study of 1050 pairs (female/male: 781/269) of elderly (age range = 52–83 years) Chinese was conducted in Guangdong, China (2009–2015). Cases were newly diagnosed (within 2 weeks) hip fracture patients and controls were recruited from either communities (n = 835 controls) or the hospital (n = 215). DII scores were calculated from self-reports using a validated 79-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the risk of hip fracture for DII scores were estimated from conditional logistic regression. Results The multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for hip fracture across quartiles of DII scores were 1 (reference), 1.42 (1.01, 1.99), 1.63 (1.16, 2.28), and 2.44 (1.73, 3.45) ( P trend <.001). Comparing extreme quartiles, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for hip fractures were 2.08 (1.38, 3.12) for female and 4.30 (1.89, 9.80) for male participants, respectively ( P interaction = .26). When stratified by the source of controls, a dose-response positive relationship was observed between DII scores and hip fracture risk among community-based controls but not those from the hospital ( P interaction = .16). Conclusions A proinflammatory diet appears to be positively associated with hip fracture risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies suggested that magnesium (Mg) might protect against atherosclerosis, but data were scarce in an Asian population. We examined the association of Mg levels in serum and urine with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and serum lipids in Chinese adults. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study recruited 2,837 participants aged 40-75 years in Guangzhou, China. General information, lifestyle factors, serum and urinary concentrations of Mg and cardiometabolic factors were determined. The cIMTs of the common carotid artery (CCA) and the carotid bifurcation (BIF) were measured ultrasonographically. Results: The mean (SD) concentration of serum Mg was 0.85 (0.07) mmol/L and median (IQR) for urinary Mg excretion was 2.29 (1.56-3.51) mmol/L. After adjustment for potential covariates, both serum and the urinary concentrations of Mg were inversely associated with CCA-IMT, but not with BIF-IMT. The regression coefficients (standard errors) were −100 (29) µm (total), −86 (34) µm (women) and −117 (52) µm (men) CCA-IMT per 1 mmol/L of serum Mg, and −41 (8) µm (total), −41 (10) µm (women) and −44 (15) µm (men) CCA-IMT per 1 unit of urinary Mg/creatinine (log mmol/mmol) (all p < 0.05), respectively. Higher serum Mg levels were associated with higher total cholesterol, HDLc, LDLc and triglyceride, but lower non-HDLc/HDLc in total population (all p < 0.05). Similar relationships of urinary Mg with lipoproteins were also found in total population (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher levels of serum and urinary Mg are associated with lower CCA-IMTs, and the role of Mg in lipid metabolism needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have examined the association of choline and betaine intake with colorectal cancer risk, although they might play an important role in colorectal cancer development because of their role as methyl donors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between consumption of choline and betaine and colorectal cancer risk in a Chinese population. Methodology/Principal Findings: A case-control study was conducted between July 2010 and December 2013 in Guangzhou, China. Eight hundred and ninety consecutively recruited colorectal cancer cases were frequency matched to 890 controls by age (5-year interval) and sex. Dietary information was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire by face-to-face interviews. The logistic regression model was used to estimate multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Total choline intake was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk after adjustment for various lifestyle and dietary factors. The multivariate-adjusted OR was 0.54 (95%CI = 0.37-0.80, Ptrend <0.01) comparing the highest with the lowest quartile. No significant associations were observed for betaine or total choline+betaine intakes. For choline-containing compounds, lower colorectal cancer risk was associated with higher intakes of choline from phosphatidylcholine, glycerophosphocholine and sphingomyelin but not for free choline and phosphocholine. The inverse association of total choline intake with colorectal cancer risk was observed in both men and women, colon and rectal cancer. These inverse associations were not modified by folate intake. Conclusions: These results indicate that high intake of total choline is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The discriminatory capability of different adiposity indices for atherosclerosis and lipid abnormalities remains uncertain. This study aimed to identify the best adiposity index for predicting early atherosclerosis and abnormal lipid profiles among anthropometric parameters and body fat measures in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Method: A total of 2,063 women and 814 men (57.6±5.2 y) were recruited for this community-based cross-sectional study. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed. Body fat mass and its percentage values for the whole body and trunk were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The intima-media thicknesses (IMTs) of the common carotid arteries (CCA), internal carotid arteries (ICA) and bifurcation (BIF) were determined via B-mode ultrasound. The fasting lipid profiles were assessed. Results: With per SD increase of adiposity indices, the magnitude of the changes of IMT values and lipid profiles was more substantial for WC, WHR and WHtR in both genders. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that WC, WHR and WHtR were more sensitive in predicting the presence of intima-media thickening at the three segments as well as the lipids disturbances in women and men. In general, BIA-derived measures have no added predictive value for IMT-thickening as opposed to those three traditional abdominal measures. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that abdominal anthropometric measures including WC, WHR and WHtR are sensitive for discriminating carotid atherosclerosis and lipids abnormalities. WC is the best index because of its simplicity in routine use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Accumulating data suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general population, but the relationship remains unclear in hypertensive patients. We examined the association of total homocysteine (tHcy) with IS and CHD in hypertensive patients. Methods: A total of 5935 Chinese hypertensive patients were recruited in a community-based cross-sectional study from 60 communities in Shenzhen, China. Plasma tHcy was quantitatively measured using the enzyme cycle method. Conventional risk factors for IS and CHD were obtained through questionnaire interviews and physical examinations. We included cerebral infarction, embolism and small-vessel disease as IS; and myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary revascularization, and cardiac arrest as CHD. IS and CHD were retrospectively adjudicated by specialists via interviews, hospital records or relevant tests. Results: Significantly higher values of tHcy were observed in IS patients than in non-IS controls among both men and women. Greater tHcy level was dose dependently associated with an increased risk of IS presence in women, men and them combined (p-trend: 0.002, 3.8×10−4 and 0.001). The odds ratios (95% CI) of IS for tHcy ≥30 (vs. <15) μmol/L were 2.84 (1.73–4.34) in men, 4.41 (1.62–9.15) in women, and 2.86 (1.72–4.75) in their combination after adjusting for other main risk factors of IS. We did not find any significant association between tHcy and presence of CHD after the adjustment for covariates. Conclusions: Plasma homocysteine level is positively associated with the presence of IS, but not CHD, in Chinese hypertensive patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Metabolic disturbances are well-known risk factors for atherosclerosis, but it remains unclear which cardiometabolic components are the predominant determinants. This study aimed to compare and identify the key determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in asymptomatic middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study including 3,162 apparently healthy residents aged 37–75 years was performed from July 2008 to June 2010 in Guangzhou, China. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by B-mode ultrasound, and increased IMT was defined as IMT>1.00 mm. Obesity indices, blood pressure, fasting blood lipids, glucose and uric acid levels were determined. Principal components factor analysis was used to extract common factors underlying 11 metabolic factors. Results: Four common factors, defined as “adiposity,” “blood lipids,” “triglycerides/uric acid (TG/UA)” (in men) or “triglycerides/uric acid/glucose (TG/UA/Glu)” (in women), and “blood pressure,” were retained for both sexes. After adjustment for potential covariates, the “adiposity” factor showed the strongest positive association with increased IMT in men. Comparing the extreme quartiles, ORs (95% CI) of increased IMT were 4.64 (2.04–10.59) at the CCA and 2.37 (1.54–3.64) at the BIF), followed by “blood pressure”, the corresponding OR (95% CI) was 2.85 (1.37–5.90) at the CCA. Whereas, the four common factors showed comparable and weak relationship with increased IMTs, the ORs for quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 varied from 0.89 to 3.59 in women. Conclusions: Among the metabolic factors, “adiposity” and “blood pressure” play predominant roles in the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in men, but no key factor is identified in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background/purpose: The epidemiological evidence that the consumption of red meat, poultry or eggs may be associated with the risk of hip fractures is inconsistent and no studies have differentiated between types of red meat or poultry. We evaluated the association between the consumption of red meat, poultry or eggs and the risk of hip fracture. Methods: A 1:1 age- (±3years) and gender-matched case–control study of 646 pairs (female/male: 484/162) of elderly Chinese was conducted between June 2009 and January 2013 in Guangdong, China. Information on meat and egg consumption was collected using a 79-item food frequency questionnaire administered in face-to-face interviews. Conditional logistic regression was used to test the relationship between intake of red meat, poultry, and eggs and the risk of hip fracture. Multivariate ORs and their 95% CIs were estimated. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, risk of hip fracture was found to be positively associated with total red meat consumption (P for trend <0.001), but not with total poultry or egg consumption. The adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for hip fractures, comparing extreme quartiles, were 2.94 (1.82, 4.76) for total red meat, 1.11 (0.74, 1.66) for total poultry, and 0.99 (0.63, 1.56) for eggs. Subtype analyses indicated that the unfavorable effect of total red meat was primarily associated with the consumption of fatty pork and organ meat, whereas fatty and lean poultry had opposite effects. Men with higher fatty pork intake tended to have greater risk than women (P interaction=0.019). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that greater consumption of fatty, but not lean, red meat and poultry may increase the risk of hip fracture. These results provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility of a dietary program for the prevention of hip fractures, which should be confirmed by further studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Fish is rich in nutrients that are favorable to bone health, but limited data are available regarding the relationship between fish intake and hip fractures. Our study examined the association between habitual fish intake and risk of hip fractures. Methods: A case-control study was performed between June 2009 and June 2012 in Guangdong Province, China. Five hundred and eighty-one hip fracture incident cases, aged 55 to 80 years (mean: 71 years), were enrolled from four hospitals. 1∶1 matched controls by gender and age (±3 years) were also recruited from communities and hospitals. Face-to-face interviews were used to obtain habitual dietary intake and information on various covariates. Results: Univariate conditional logistic regression analyses showed significantly dose-dependent inverse correlations between the risk of hip fractures and the intake of fresh-water fish, sea fish, mollusca, shellfish, and total fish in all of the subjects (p-trend: <0.001–0.016). After adjusting for covariates, the associations were slightly attenuated but remained significant for all (p-trend: <0.001–0.017) except for fresh-water fish (p = 0.553). The ORs (95%CI) of hip fractures for the highest (vs. lowest) quartile were 0.80 (0.48–1.31) for fresh-water fish, 0.31 (0.18–0.52) for sea fish, 0.55 (0.34–0.88) for mollusca and shellfish, and 0.47 (0.28–0.79) for total fish, respectively. Stratified and interaction analyses showed that the association was more significant in males than in females (p-interaction = 0.052). Conclusion: Higher intake of seafood is independently associated with lower risk of hip fractures in elderly Chinese. Increasing consumption of sea fish may benefit the prevention of hip fractures in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis linkage to 4q28–32 (PSORS9) was initially identified by our genome-wide scan in 61 Chinese families and subsequently supported by a meta-analysis of five genome-wide linkage scans of European populations. In this study, we performed a follow-up analysis of PSORS9 using an additional 90 families and improved marker coverage. Joint analysis of all 151 families obtained significant linkage evidence (HLOD=4.53, nonparametric linkage (NPL)=4.03 (P=0.000003)) at the marker interval D4S2997–D4S3033, and the same was obtained for the analysis of the independent new families (HLOD=4.33, NPL=3.15 (P=0.00004)). The linkage evidences from the whole families and the new families exceeded the genome-wide criteria for significant linkage. Furthermore, by performing an ordered subset analysis using mean age at onset as a covariate, we demonstrated that evidence for linkage to PSORS9 is concentrated in the early-onset families and suggested that further study of PSORS9 should focus on early-onset patients. This finding is contradictory to what was found in the Icelandic population and, together with other linkage results, suggests that Chinese and European populations are genetically different for linkage to PSORS9, which may partially explain the influence of ethnic factors on the varying prevalence of psoriasis.Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2007) 127, 312–318. doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700506; published online 30 November 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]