Precision Nutrition: How Combinatory Patterns of SNPs and Nutrition Interact with Mechanistic Elements of Lipid Metabolism

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Genetic differences have been shown to explain why blood LDL-cholesterol increases in many people fed dairy fat, but in others this results in a neutral or decreased response LDL response. Likewise, specific genetic modifiers have been shown to predict why cholesterol-lowering plant sterols are highly effective in many people, but not in others. Customizing dietary guidance to those likely to realize benefit is paramount to improving efficacy of dietary recommendations. The aim of this study is to develop a model that predicts the effects of lipid-modulating dietary components using genetic multi-SNP algorithms.

Institution: University of Manitoba
Principal Investigator: Peter Jones, PhD
Year Awarded: 2017

Read more: Common Genetic Variations Involved in the Inter-Individual Variability of Circulating Cholesterol Concentrations in Response to Diets: A Narrative Review of Recent Evidence

Read more: A Combination of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms is Associated with the Interindividual Variability in the Blood Lipid Response to Dietary Fatty Acid Consumption in a Randomized Clinical Trial

Learn more about the IAFNS Dietary Lipids Committee.

Best Practices for the Design, Laboratory Analysis, and Reporting of Trials Involving Fatty Acids

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Differences in how samples are collected, analyzed, and reported hamper research reproducibility and translation into dietary guidance. The goal of this project is to develop best practices for measuring and reporting circulating fatty acids in blood. The resulting best practices are intended to improve reproducibility in studies in which blood fatty acids are reported, by setting and communicating best practices for measurement and reporting factors that are directly controlled by study investigators.

Institutions: University of Texas at Austin, Université de Sherbrooke, University of Waterloo, University of Manitoba, NIAA National Institutes of Health
Principal Investigators: Expert writing group: J Thomas Brenna, PhD; Mélanie Plourde, PhD; Ken Stark, PhD; Peter Jones, PhD; Yu-Hong Lin, PhD
Year Awarded: 2017

Read More: Best practices for the design, laboratory analysis, and reporting of trials involving fatty acids

Learn more about the IAFNS Dietary Lipids Committee.

Research Priorities for Studies Linking Intake of Low Calorie Sweeteners and Potentially Related Health Outcomes

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Camp DASH Ancillary Studies

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The Camp DASH study trial will compare the effect of two dietary patterns and two levels of sodium intake on blood pressure and blood lipids in adolescents in the upper third of distribution for blood pressure. The two dietary patterns are based on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial in adults. Purdue University is leading the trial, with sponsors and collaborators from Johns Hopkins, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johns Hopkins University, Indiana University School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The IAFNS Sodium Committee is supporting 2 ancillary studies.

The ancillary studies will enhance the discoveries possible in the parent grant. The first ancillary study provides funding to allow 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) in all study subjects. As 24-hour ABPM is becoming more standard in the evaluation of children with hypertension, and it can provide valuable information re: risk for target organ damage and CVD risk. Being able to determine the effect of diet quality and sodium reduction on these measures will enhance the knowledge gleaned from Camp DASH. The data provided is anticipated to influence future hypertension and CVD guidelines in pediatrics. The objective of the second ancillary study is to develop the capacity for measuring body sodium distribution. Sodium metabolism and distribution determines whether it impacts water retention, and therefore hypertension. The location of salt accumulation is a subject of debate and it only has been studied in adults. The fate of sodium accumulation among skin, soft tissues, and bone and racial differences in sodium regulation will be determined. Understanding sodium regulation and distribution in Camp DASH will help to understand the impact potential of diet on controlling hypertension.

Institution: Purdue University
Principal Investigator: Connie Weaver, PhD
Year Awarded: 2017

This project was part of a larger study that was terminated by Purdue University.

Learn more about the IAFNS Sodium Committee.

Impact of Fortification/Enrichment on Total Nutrient Intakes from Foods within Specific Groups by Socioeconomic Status

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As part of its review every five years, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) estimates the nutrient intake of the American population and identifies those nutrients of national concern. The Scientific Report of the 2015 DGAC identified “shortfall nutrients” and “overconsumed nutrients” and assessed which of those nutrients posed “substantial” public health concern. The aims of this study are to define: 1) What is the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), (EAR, RDA, AI, UL) achievement among the 15 selected (fortifiable) nutrients by socioeconomic demographic as defined by the poverty index ratio for children and adults? 2) How does fortification/enrichment/supplementation contribute to DRI achievement? and 3) Which populations do and do not benefit from fortification and enrichment?

Institution: Medical University of South Carolina
Principal Investigator: Jill Newman, MS; Angela Malek, PhD
Year Awarded: 2017

Read more: Nutrients in the US Diet: Naturally Occurring or Enriched/Fortified Food and Beverage Sources, Plus Dietary Supplements: NHANES 2009–2012

Read more: Race/Ethnicity, Enrichment/Fortification, and Dietary Supplementation in the U.S. Population, NHANES 2009–2012

Learn more about the IAFNS Fortification Committee.

Novel Estimation of Energy Balance through the Calibration of Consumer Devices in Free-Living, Rural US Children

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Children in rural areas are disproportionately affected by pediatric obesity. The American Heart Association has listed delivery of obesity treatment to rural families using mobile health (mHealth) as a major research priority. Improving the estimation of energy intake and balance is a priority for developing successful mHealth obesity treatment programs. The aims of this project are to: 1) Validate and calibrate consumer devices to estimate energy balance using gold-standard methods and a Bayesian semi-parametric approach, and 2) Estimate energy intake using the intake-balance technique using consumer monitors.

Institution: The Children's Mercy Hospital
Principal Investigator: Robin Shook, PhD
Year Awarded: 2017

Learn more about the IAFNS Balancing Food and Activity for Health Committee.

Modeling the Impact of High-Oleic Soybean, Sunflower, and Canola Oils on Fatty Acid Intakes

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Food production affords opportunities to select from a variety of commercially available fats/oils to achieve specific functional product characteristics. Widespread changes in the food supply, even if small for individuals, can shift population intakes and potentially modify cardiovascular risk. Modeling changes in advance of widespread commercial adoption can be used to predict the upper potential and lead to informed choices. The aim of this project is to model a scenario in which high oleic oils replace comparable vegetable oils at high levels in order to estimate potential changes to fatty acid intakes and cardiovascular risk in the US population.

Institution: Creme Global Ltd
Principal Investigator: Conor McGauran
Year Awarded: 2016

Project Poster

Learn more about the IAFNS Dietary Lipids Committee.

Flavan-3-ols and Cardiovascular Disease Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Dietary flavonoids integrate a diverse range of polyphenolic compounds that occur naturally in plant foods. To date, the sub-class flavan-3-ols has received the most research attention, with the majority of nutrition studies focused on two dietary sources: tea and chocolate. It is not clear if the metabolic and cardiovascular health benefits may be attributed flavan-3-ols or to other bioactive constituents in these foods. The aim of this project is to quantify the level of flavan-3-ols associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease outcomes grade the strength of evidence.

This project will be conducted in two phases: In Phase 1, an evidence map of flavan-3-ol intakes from all food sources as they relate to cardiovascular outcomes will be developed to determine whether or not evidence is sufficient to complete a quality systematic evidence review. Pending sufficient evidence, in Phase 2 a systematic evidence review of flavan-3-ols and cardiovascular health outcomes will be conducted and a quantified level of bioactive assessed.

Institution: Tufts Medical Center and University of East Anglia
Principal Investigator: Gowri Raman, MBBS, MS; Aedin Cassidy, PhD
Year Awarded: 2016

Read more:

Dietary Intakes of Flavan-3-ols and Cardiovascular Health: A Field Synopsis Using Evidence Mapping of Randomized Trials and Prospective Cohort Studies

Dietary Intakes of Flavan-3-ols and Cardio-metabolic Health: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials and Prospective Cohort Studies

Learn more about the IAFNS Bioactives Committee.

Lutein/Zeaxanthin and Eye Health Visual Function Evidence Map and Systematic Review

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Lutein/zeaxanthin, found in egg yolks and a variety of fruits and vegetables, is associated with healthy ocular tissue, but an amount recommended per day has not been established. The goal of this study is to determine the strength of evidence linking a specific quantity of lutein/zeaxanthin with normal healthy eye structure (including macular pigment density) and visual function among populations relevant to general population in North America. In Phase I, an evidence map will be developed to summarize the extent and distribution of evidence to provide investigators with information about the type and amount of research available, the characteristics of that research, and the topics where a sufficient amount of evidence has accumulated for synthesis. In Phase II, specific defined outcome(s) from the evidence map will be selected for systematic evidence review.

Institution: Jean Mayer USDA HNRCA at Tufts University
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Johnson, PhD
Year Awarded: 2015

Read more: Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake and Visual Outcomes in Adults with Healthy Eyes: Qualitative Gap Analysis

Read more: The Association Between Macular Pigment Optical Density and Visual Function Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Read more: The Effect of Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake on Human Macular Pigment Optical Density: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

 

Learn more about the IAFNS Bioactives Committee.

The Scientific Basis of Guideline Recommendations on Sugar Intake

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Several authoritative organizations have issued public health guidelines addressing dietary sugars. These organizations have conducted their own reviews of the available evidence, and have crafted different recommendations with regard to sugar consumption with various rationales for limiting intake. When respected organizations issue conflicting recommendations, it can result in confusion and raise concern about the quality of the guidelines and the underlying evidence. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic survey and critical appraisal of authoritative public health guidelines, including an assessment of the quality of evidence supporting recommendations for dietary sugar intake.

Institution: University of Minnesota
Principal Investigator: Joann Slavin, PhD, RD
Year Awarded: 2015

Read More: The Scientific Basis Of Guideline Recommendations On Sugar Intake: A Systematic Review

Learn more about the IAFNS Carbohydrates Committee.