Nutrition
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Evaluation of adolescents' adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD) and the connection to anthropometric, demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle characteristics. ⋯ Several anthropometric, demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle characteristics were significantly associated with AMD. It is highly important that children and adolescents adhere at a very young age to the MD as the healthier dietary choice. Further researchers might explore whether the economic recession in Greece has any effects on adolescents' dietary habits.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of polymorphisms in endothelial nitric oxide synthase and folate metabolizing genes on the concentration of serum nitrate, folate, and plasma total homocysteine after folic acid supplementation: a double-blind crossover study.
A number of studies have explored the effects of dietary nitrate on human health. Nitrate in the blood can be recycled to nitric oxide, which is an essential mediator involved in many important biochemical mechanisms. Nitric oxide is also formed in the body from l-arginine by nitric oxide synthase. The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and genes involved in folate metabolism affect the concentration of serum nitrate, serum folate, and plasma total homocysteine in healthy individuals after folic acid supplementation. ⋯ Polymorphisms in eNOS and folate genes affect the concentration of serum folate and p-tHcy but do not have any effect on the concentration of NO3 in healthy individuals after folic acid supplementation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparative effectiveness of plant-based diets for weight loss: a randomized controlled trial of five different diets.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of plant-based diets on weight loss. ⋯ Vegan diets may result in greater weight loss than more modest recommendations.
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Telomeres are long hexamer (TTAGGG) repeats at the ends of chromosomes, and contribute to maintenance of chromosomal stability. Telomere shortening has been linked to cancers and other chronic diseases in adults, although evidence for causal associations is limited. The aim of this study was to determine whether nutritional factors are associated with telomere length (TL) in children. ⋯ To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the association between telomere length and micronutrients in healthy children. The reason for the inverse relationship of TL with zinc is unknown but could be the result of an increase in telomere sequence deletions caused by labile zinc induction of oxidative stress. These findings should be corroborated in other studies before nutritional recommendations might be considered.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal obesity on pancreas structure and carbohydrate metabolism in early adult life, focusing on the F1 and F2 generations after F0 maternal pregestational, gestation, and lactation high-fat diet (HF). ⋯ Maternal HF diet consumed during the preconception period and throughout the gestation and lactation periods in mice promotes metabolism and pancreatic programming in F1 and F2 male offspring, implying intergenerational effects.