High-fat diets reduce inflammation compared to low fat diets

This study was published in Lipids 2008 Jan;43(1):65-77

 

Study title and authors:

Comparison of low fat and low carbohydrate diets on circulating fatty acid composition and markers of inflammation.

Forsythe CE, Phinney SD, Fernandez ML, Quann EE, Wood RJ, Bibus DM, Kraemer WJ, Feinman RD, Volek JS.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Road, Unit 1110, Storrs, CT, 06269-1110, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18046594

Inflammation is an important risk factor in metabolic syndrome, diabetes and heart disease. This study tested the effects of low-fat and high-fat diets on markers of inflammation. This was a 12 week randomised, controlled, dietary intervention trial and included 40 overweight men and women, aged 18-55 years.

The subjects consumed diets of either:
(i) 12% carbohydrate, 59% fat, 28% protein. (High-fat diet).
(ii) 56% carbohydrate, 24% fat, 20% protein. (Low-fat diet).

The study found there was an overall greater anti-inflammatory effect associated with the high-fat diet, as evidenced by greater decreases in inflammatory markers such as: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecules, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.

The results of the study reveal that a high-fat diet reduces inflammation compared to a low fat diet.

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Women with higher cholesterol levels have significantly higher bone mineral density

This study was published in the Journal of Womens Health 2006 Apr;15(3):261-70

 

Study title and authors:

Lipid profile and bone paradox: higher serum lipids are associated with higher bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

Brownbill RA, Ilich JZ.

University of Connecticut, School of Allied Health, Storrs, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16620185

The study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and bone mineral density. The study included 136 healthy, postmenopausal women.  

The study found that women with cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L) had significantly higher bone mineral density than women with cholesterol levels below 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L).

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Breast feeding is associated with a decreased risk of been overweight in later life

This study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology 2005 Sep 1;162(5):397-403

 

Study title and authors:

Duration of breastfeeding and risk of overweight: a meta-analysis.

Harder T, Bergmann R, Kallischnigg G, Plagemann A.

Clinic of Obstetrics, Division of Experimental Obstetrics, Charité-University Medicine, Berlin, Germany. thomas.harder@charite.de

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16076830

This paper is an analysis of 17 studies that investigated the connection between breastfeeding and the risk of been overweight in later life.

The study found:
(a) Compared to those who were exclusively formula-fed, those who were breastfed for 1-3 months had a 19% decreased risk of been overweight in later life.
(b) Compared to those who were exclusively formula-fed, those who were breastfed for 4-6 months had a 24% decreased risk of been overweight in later life.
(c) Compared to those who were exclusively formula-fed, those who were breastfed for 7-9 months had a 33% decreased risk of been overweight in later life.
(d) Compared to those who were exclusively formula-fed, those who were breastfed for more than 9 months had a 32% decreased risk of been overweight in later life.

The data from the study reveals that a longer duration of breast feeding (up to nine months) is associated with a decreased risk of been overweight in later life.

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High soy consumption associated with an 18% increased risk of diabetes

This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2011 Feb;65(2):279-82

Study title and authors:
Soy consumption is not protective against diabetes in Hawaii: the Multiethnic Cohort.

Morimoto Y, Steinbrecher A, Kolonel LN, Maskarinec G.
Department of Epidemiology, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, 1236 Lauhala Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. morimoto@crch.hawaii.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20924394

The study examined the association of soy intake with the risk of diabetes. The study included 75,344 men and women, aged 45-75 years, who were followed for 14 years.

The study found that those who had the highest soy consumption had a 18% increased risk of diabetes compared to those who consumed the least soy.

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In patients undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, statins are significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor progression

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine 2006 Dec 21;355(25):2705-7

 

Study title and authors:

Use of statins and outcome of BCG treatment for bladder cancer.

Hoffmann P, Roumeguère T, Schulman C, van Velthoven R.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17183004

This study investigated the association between statins and bladder cancer. The study, which lasted for 46 months, analyzed the clinical outcomes of 84 patients who had received the bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine for the treatment of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The study found:
(a) In 53% of the patients who took statins, the tumor became more aggressive, whereas this change occurred in only 18% of the patients who did not take statins.
(b) 42% of the patients in the statin group had to undergo radical cystectomy, (radical cystectomy is the removal of the entire bladder, nearby lymph nodes, part of the urethra, and nearby organs that may contain cancer cells), as compared with only 14% of the patients who did not take statins.

In patients undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, the use of statins was significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor progression and a subsequent need for radical cystectomy.

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Red meat is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012 Mar;95(3):752-8

Study title and authors:
Associations of processed meat and unprocessed red meat intake with incident diabetes: the Strong Heart Family Study.

Fretts AM, Howard BV, McKnight B, Duncan GE, Beresford SA, Mete M, Eilat-Adar S, Zhang Y, Siscovick DS.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22277554

The study investigated the relationship between meat consumption and diabetes. The study included 243 participants with diabetes.

The study found:
(a) Those who consumed the most unprocessed red meat had a 10% reduced risk of diabetes compared to those who consumed the least unprocessed red meat.
(b) Those who consumed the most processed meat had a 63% increased risk of diabetes compared to those who consumed the least unprocessed red meat.

The data from the study reveals unprocessed red meat is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes whereas processed meat is associated with a higher risk of diabetes.

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Low cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour

This study was published in Psychiatria Polska 1996 Sep-Oct;30(5):699-712

Study title and authors:
The study of the relationship between cholesterol and lipid concentration and suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia affective illness
Rybakowski J, Ainiyet J, Szajnerman Z, Zakrzewska M.
Kliniki Psychiatrii Dorosłych AM w Poznaniu.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8984512

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with suicidal behaviour in patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Cholesterol levels were recorded in 143 patients with either schizophrenia, depression, or mania.

The study found:
(a)  Patients with suicidal behaviours had significantly lower levels of cholesterol compared with patients without such behaviours.
(b) Patients with suicidal behaviours had significantly lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol compared with patients without such behaviours.

The finding of the study reveal that low cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in patients with psychiatric disorders.

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