California Walnut Commission Published Health Research Abstracts of Publications April 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CALIFORNIA WALNUT COMMISSION PUBLISHED HEALTH RESEARCH ABSTRACTS OF PUBLICATIONS APRIL 2020 The California Walnut Commission (CWC) has supported health research on walnuts for more than 25 years. The CWC is committed to building a strong foundation of scientific evidence that reveals the health effects of walnut consumption. Current areas of study include heart health, cognitive health, cancer, diabetes, body weight and composition, gut health and reproductive health. The CWC provides funding and/or walnuts for peer-reviewed projects. These studies are conducted independently by the researchers who design, analyze, interpret and prepare manuscripts. California Walnut Commission Supported Publications Key Area Summary: 175 publications Heart Health: 51 Diabetes: 11 Reproductive Health: 4 Cancer: 32 Nutrient & Bioactive Composition: 6 Gut Health: 3 Body Weight and Composition: 32 Research Methodology: 5 Bone Health: 1 Cognitive Health: 25 Metabolic Syndrome: 5 Number of Publications Per Year 2020: 8 2019: 20 2014: 19 2009: 10 2004: 3 2018: 21 2013: 7 2008: 3 2002: 2 2017: 20 2012: 11 2007: 3 2001: 3 2016: 16 2011: 5 2006: 2 2000: 1 2015: 8 2010: 8 2005: 4 1993: 1 All abstracts from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed 2020 Al Abdrabalnabi A, Rajaram S, Bitok E, Oda K, Beeson WL, Kaur A, Cofán M, Serra-Mir M, Roth I, Ros E, Sabaté J. Effects of Supplementing the Usual Diet with a Daily Dose of Walnuts for Two Years on Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in an Elderly Cohort. Nutrients. 2020 Feb 11;12(2). pii: E451. doi: 10.3390/nu12020451. Abstract: Accumulating evidence links nut consumption with an improved risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, long-term trials are lacking. We examined the effects of a daily dose of walnuts for two years on MetS in a large elderly cohort. A total of 698 healthy elderly participants were randomly assigned to either a walnut supplemented or a control diet. The participants in the walnut group were provided with packaged walnuts (1, 1.5, or 2 oz. or ~15% of energy) and asked to incorporate them into their daily habitual diet. The participants in the control group were asked to continue with their habitual diet and abstain from eating walnuts and other tree nuts. Intake of n-3 fatty acid supplements was not permitted in either group. Fasting blood chemistries, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were obtained at baseline and at the end of intervention. A total of 625 participants (67% women, mean age 69.1 y) completed this two-year study (90% retention rate). Triglycerides decreased in both walnut (-0.94 mg/dl) and control (-0.96 mg/dl) groups, with no significant between-group differences. There was a non-significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the walnut group (-1.30 and -0.71 mm Hg, respectively) and no change in the control group. Fasting blood glucose decreased by ~1 point in both the walnut and control groups. There were no significant between-group differences in the development or reversion of MetS. In conclusion, supplementing the diet of older adults with a daily dose of walnuts had no effect on MetS status or any of its components, although the walnut group tended to have lower blood pressure. Key Area: Metabolic Syndrome Carey AN, Fisher DR, Bielinski DF, Cahoon DS, Shukitt-Hale B. Walnut-associated fatty acids inhibit LPS-induced activation of BV-2 microglia. Inflammation. 2020 Feb;43(1):241-250. doi: 10.1007/s10753-019-01113-y. Abstract: Walnuts have high levels of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3, ALA) and the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, LA). Previous research has demonstrated that pre-treatment of BV-2 microglia with walnut extract inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of microglia. As an extension of that study, the effects of walnut-associated fatty acids on BV-2 microglia were assessed. BV-2 murine microglia cells were treated with LA, ALA, or a combination of LA+ALA prior to or after exposure to LPS. Nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in cell- conditioned media. Cyclooxeganse-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were assessed in BV-2 microglia. Both LA and ALA protected against LPS-induced increases in NO, iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-alpha when used before LPS exposure. When BV-2 microglia were treated with fatty acids after LPS, only COX-2 and TNF-alpha were significantly attenuated by the fatty acids. There was no synergism of LA+ALA, as the LA+ALA combination was no more effective than LA or ALA alone. Fatty acids, like those found in walnuts, may protect against production of cytotoxic intermediates and cell-signaling molecules from microglia and may prove beneficial for preventing age- or disease-related neurodegeneration. Key Area: Cognitive Health Chen Y, Nakanishi M, Bautista EJ, Qendro V, Sodergren E, Rosenberg DW, Weinstock GM. Colon cancer prevention with walnuts: a longitudinal study in mice from the perspective of a gut enterotype-like cluster. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2020 Jan;13(1):15-24. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0273. Epub 2019 Dec 9. Abstract: There is limited understanding of how walnut consumption inhibits the development of colorectal cancer. A possible mechanism may involve alterations to the gut microbiota. In this study, the effects of walnut on gut microbiota were tested in a mouse tumor bioassay using the colonotropic carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM) added to the total Western diet (TWD). 16S rRNA pyrosequencing identified three enterotype-like clusters (E1, E2, and E3) in this murine model. E1, E2, and E3 are associated with AOM exposure, walnut consumption, and TWD diet, respectively. E2 and E3 showed distinct taxonomic and functional characteristics, while E1 represented an intermediate state. At the family level, E1 and E3 were both enriched with Bacteroidaceae, but driven by two different operational taxonomic units (OTU; OTU-2 for E1, OTU-4 for E3). E2 was overrepresented with Porphyromonadaceae and Lachnospiraceae, with OTU-3 (family Porphyromonadaceae) as the "driver" OTU for this cluster. Functionally, E3 is overrepresented with genes of glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, xenobiotic metabolism, and lipid metabolism. E2 is enriched with genes associated with cell motility, replication and repair, and amino acid metabolism. 1 Longitudinally, E2 represents the gut microbial status of early life in these mice. In comparison with E1 and E3, E2 is associated with a moderate lower tumor burden (P = 0.12). Our results suggest that walnuts may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer within a Western diet by altering the gut microbiota. Our findings provide further evidence that colorectal cancer risk is potentially modifiable by diet via alterations to the microbiota. Key Area: Cancer Freitas-Simoes TM, Wagner M, Samieri C, Sala-Vila A, Grodstein F. Consumption of Nuts at Midlife and Healthy Aging in Women J Aging Res. 2020 Jan 7 s https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5651737 Abstract: Background. Nut consumption may reduce age-related diseases and lead to better health and well-being in aging. Many conditions of aging develop over decades, and thus earlier lifestyle factors may particularly influence later health. Methods. In 1998 and 2002, we administered food frequency questionnaires to assess nut consumption (peanuts, walnuts, and other nuts and peanut butter) in women in the Nurses’ Health Study in their 50 s/early 60 s. In 2012, those who survived beyond 65 years with no chronic diseases, no reported memory impairment, no physical disabilities, and intact mental health were considered “healthy agers.” We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for healthy versus usual aging, controlled for sociodemographic, behavioral, dietary, and other potential confounding factors. Results. Of 33,931 participants at midlife, 16% became “healthy agers.” After age adjustment, we observed a significant association between total nut consumption at midlife and higher odds of healthy aging, with strongest associations observed excluding peanut butter (odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–1.62, ≥3 servings/week versus none). Findings were attenuated after further control for covariates, including overall diet quality (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.28, P trend = 0.05). For nut types, we found statistically significantly higher odds of healthy aging across peanuts, walnuts, and other nuts after age adjustment. After full control for confounders, only walnut consumption remained associated with healthy aging (P trend = 0.0001); for example, the OR was 1.20 (95% CI 1.00–1.44) for ≥2 servings/week versus none. Conclusions. Women consuming nuts at midlife have a greater likelihood of overall health and well-being at older ages. Nut consumption may represent a simple intervention to explore and promote healthy aging. Key Area: Cognitive Health Liu X, Guasch-Ferré M, Drouin-Chartier JP, Tobias DK, Bhupathiraju SN, Rexrode KM, Willett WC, Sun Q, Li Y. Changes in Nut Consumption and Subsequent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among US Men and Women: 3 Large Prospective Cohort Studies. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Apr 7;9(7):e013877. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.013877. Epub 2020 Apr 1. Abstract: Background we aim to evaluate the association of within-individual changes in consumption of total and specific types of nuts and the subsequent risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in US men and women. Methods and Results We included 34 103 men from the HPFS (Health Professionals Follow-Up Study) (1986-2012), 77 815 women from the NHS (Nurses' Health Study) (1986-2012), and 80 737 women from the NHS II (1991-2013). We assessed nut consumption every 4 years using validated food frequency questionnaires. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine the association between 4-year changes in nut consumption and risk of confirmed CVD end points in the subsequent 4 years.