61 research outputs found
Can the Mediterranean diet lower HbA1c in type 2 diabetes? Results from a randomized cross-over study
No full textC. Itsiopoulos, L. Brazionis, M. Kaimakamis, M. Cameron, J.D. Best, K. O’Dea, K. Rowle
Plasma retinol: a novel marker for cardiovascular disease mortality in Australian adults
No full textL. Brazionis, K.Z. Walker, C. Itsiopoulos and K. O’De
Homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy
No full textObjective— Homocysteine is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular and nondiabetic ocular vaso-occlusive diseases. However, studies of the relationship between homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy have reported inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma total homocysteine concentration and diabetic retinopathy. Research Design And Methods— We assessed the homocysteine-retinopathy relationship in 168 men and women with type 2 diabetes in a community-based, cross-sectional study. We photodocumented diabetic retinopathy status and measured plasma total homocysteine concentration using a commercial fluorescence polarization immunoassay enzymatic kit. Data for selected clinical/demographic variables and established risk factors for diabetic retinopathy were obtained from fasting blood samples and an interviewer-assisted lifestyle questionnaire. Results— A higher mean plasma total homocysteine concentration was observed in diabetic individuals with retinopathy than in those without retinopathy (11.5 _mol/l [95% CI 10.4 –12.5] vs. 9.6 _mol/l [9.1–10.2], P _ 0.001). Furthermore, the relationship between homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy was not explained by renal dysfunction and was independent of the other major risk factors for diabetic retinopathy (duration of diabetes, A1C, and systolic blood pressure) and determinants of higher homocysteine concentrations (age, sex, and red cell folate) (odds ratio 1.20 [95% CI 1.023–1.41], P _ 0.024). Conclusions— Plasma total homocysteine concentration may be a useful biomarker and/or a novel risk factor for increased risk of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes.Laima Brazionis, Kevin Rowley, Catherine Itsiopoulos, Colin Alexander Harper and Kerin O’de
Characterizing whole diets of young children from developed countries and the association between diet and health: a systematic review
No full textLink to a related website: https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-pdf/69/8/449/24094433/nutritionreviews69-0449.pdf, Open Access via UnpaywallEarly childhood is an important nutritional period that involves the transition from a milk-based diet to ordinary foods. A systematic review was conducted of studies that applied whole-of-diet analysis of children aged 1−5 years to examine associations between diet and nutrition, health, and development. Literature searches identified 40 articles using dietary indices, principal component analysis, or cluster analysis. Reports that applied indices (n = 23, 18 indices) were cross-sectional, and most measured diet quality or variety. Articles reporting principal component or cluster analyses (n = 17) described between two and six dietary patterns, and most identified healthy, unhealthy, and traditional patterns. In cross-sectional analyses, mixed associations were found between index or pattern scores and nutrient intake (n = 10), nutritional biomarkers (n = 1), and anthropometry (n = 10). Five reports from two birth cohorts showed healthier dietary patterns were associated with better lean mass, cognition, and behavior, but not with bone mass or body mass index at later ages. Few studies have characterized the diets of children under 5 years of age and linked diet with health. Given the limited evidence, research establishing the predictive validity of whole-of-diet methods in childhood is needed.Lisa G Smithers, Rebecca K Golley, Laima Brazionis, and John W Lync
Is risk of diabetic retinopathy lower in Australia's Greek-born migrants?
No full textAim The standardized cardiovascular disease death rate for the Greek population inCrete has increased since the 1960s, unlike the all-cause and cardiovascular disease death rate for Australia's Greek migrant population, which has remained paradoxically low.Asmall window of opportunity remains inwhich the vascular profile of this interesting atypical migrant population can be characterized. This study assessed whether ethnicity modulates the risk of diabetic retinopathy in Greek-born migrants to Australia. Methods The study design was a community-based cross-sectional study of diabetic retinopathy in 107 Greek-born and Australian-bornmen with Type 2 diabetes, aged 44-83 years.Diabetic retinopathywas assessed bymydriatic three-field retinal photography. Results Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was lower in Greek-born than in Australian-born participants (22 and 37%, respectively). Despite having a higher mean systolic blood pressure level (148 vs. 137 mmHg), Greek-born men had a significantly lower risk of diabetic retinopathy than Australian-born men, after adjusting for age, duration of diabetes, glycated haemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, albumin to creatinine ratio, and total cholesterol and triglyceride levels [odds ratio 0.32 (0.10-0.99); r2 = 0.41, P = 0.047]. Conclusion Greek ethnicity may confer some protection against diabetic retinopathy to Australia's Greek-born migrants, an effect not explained by established risk factors for diabetic retinopathy. A small window of opportunity remains in which to elucidate the ethnicity-related exposures that modulate vascular risk in this older migrant population.L. Brazionis, K. Rowley, C. Itsiopoulos, and K. O'De
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity in type 2 diabetes: a different relationship with coronary heart disease and diabetic retinopathy
No full textBackground— Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, a key regulator of fibrinolysis, is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and is a potential therapeutic target for CHD. However, the relationship between PAI-1 and the most common diabetic microvascular complication, retinopathy, is unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between PAI-1 activity and both retinopathy and CHD in type 2 diabetes. Methods and Results— We determined PAI-1 activity and both retinopathy (assessed by masked grading of 3-field retinal photographs) and CHD status (assessed by ECG and standard questionnaires) in 147 men and women with type 2 diabetes, mean age (SD) 64 (7) years, in a cross-sectional setting. Plasma PAI-1 activity was inversely associated with prevalent retinopathy (P=0.006) and severity of retinopathy (P=0.022), and was associated with lower risk of diabetic retinopathy, independent of major retinopathy risk factors (duration of diabetes and HbA1c) and determinants of PAI-1 (obesity and triglyceride level) (OR 0.74 [0.60 to 0.92], P=0.006). Conversely, higher plasma PAI-1 activity was independently associated with greater risk of CHD, after adjusting for the major CHD risk factors and determinants of PAI-1 (OR 1.31 [1.06 to 1.62], P=0.001). Conclusion— These data support mounting evidence that a higher PAI-1 plasma level is independently associated with a lower risk of retinopathy but a higher risk of CHD in type 2 diabetes.Laima Brazionis, Kevin Rowley, Alicia Jenkins, Catherine Itsiopoulos, Kerin O’De
Plasma carotenoids and diabetic retinopathy
No full textDiabetic retinopathy increases with duration of diabetes and may be associated with carotenoid status. Carotenoids alter the pro-oxidation/antioxidation balance, and circulating levels depend largely on dietary intake. Lower levels have been reported in diabetes and age-related macular degeneration; however, little is known of the relationship between carotenoids and diabetic complications. Consequently, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma carotenoids and diabetic retinopathy. We assessed the carotenoid–retinopathy relationship in 111 individuals with type 2 diabetes in a community-based, cross-sectional study. We photodocumented retinal status and used HPLC to measure plasma carotenoid concentrations. Data for clinical and demographic variables and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy were obtained from 24 h urine and fasting blood samples, and an interviewer-assisted lifestyle questionnaire. We found that the combined lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin (non-pro-vitamin A (non-PVA) carotenoid) concentration when compared with the pro-vitamin A (PVA) carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) was significantly lower in the retinopathy than non-retinopathy group (OR 1•2 (95 % CI 1•0, 1•4) v. 1•6 (95 % CI 1•4, 1•7), respectively; P = 0•009). A higher non-PVA:PVA ratio also predicted a lower risk of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 0•33 (95 % CI 0•12, 0•95); P = 0•039). Finally, a higher concentration of PVA carotenoids was associated with greater odds of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for risk factors (P = 0•049). We suggest synergies between carotenoids are implicated in diabetic retinopathy, independent of established risk factors. Importantly, our observations indicate dietary modulation of retinopathy risk may be possible by increasing intakes of lutein- and lycopene-rich foods.Laima Brazionis, Kevin Rowley, Catherine Itsiopoulos and Kerin O'De
Dietary patterns of infants and toddlers are associated with nutrient intakes
No full textDietary patterns are a useful summary measure of diet. Few studies have examined the nutrient profiles underpinning the dietary patterns of young children. The study aim is to determine whether dietary patterns at 6 and 15 months of age are associated with nutrient intakes at 8 and 18 months, respectively. Participants were children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children who had complete dietary pattern and nutrient intake data (n = 725 at 6–8 months, n = 535 at 15–18 months). The association between tertiles of dietary pattern scores and nutrient intake was examined using a non-parametric test for trend. Scores on the home-made traditional pattern (6–8 months) were positively associated with median energy intake. Each dietary pattern had different associations with energy-adjusted intakes of macro- and micro-nutrients. At both times, the discretionary pattern was positively and the ready-prepared baby foods pattern was negatively associated with sodium intake. At 6–8 months, calcium and iron intakes decreased across scores on the home-made traditional and breastfeeding patterns, but increased across the ready-prepared baby food patterns. These findings highlight that dietary patterns in infants and toddlers vary in their underlying energy and nutrient composition.Lisa G. Smithers, Rebecca K. Golley, Laima Brazionis, Pauline Emmett, Kate Northstone and John W. Lync
Associations between dietary patterns at 6 and 15 months of age and sociodemographic factors
No full textLink to a related website: https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2011219.pdf, Open Access via UnpaywallBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) have previously shown that dietary patterns are observable by 3 years. However, it is not clear when dietary patterns emerge. We aimed to describe dietary patterns in early life and their associations with maternal and infant sociodemographic characteristics. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Principal component analysis was applied to diet questionnaires of ALSPAC participants at 6 months (n¼7052) and 15 months (n¼5610) to extract dietary patterns. The sociodemographic factors associated with dietary patterns were investigated using regression analyses. RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were extracted at both 6 and 15 months. A traditional-style pattern characterized by home-prepared meats, vegetables and desserts, a second pattern characterized by ready-prepared baby foods and a third pattern characterized by discretionary foods such as biscuits, sweets and crisps were identified at both ages. At 6 months, the fourth pattern was characterized predominantly by breastfeeding and at 15 months, by contemporary-style foods including herbs, legumes, nuts, raw fruit and vegetables. Higher maternal age and education, number of siblings and lower body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher scores on the breastfeeding or meat, vegetables and desserts patterns, whereas higher discretionary food pattern scores were associated with younger maternal age, lower education, higher BMI and more siblings. Associations between sociodemographic factors and the ready-prepared baby food pattern scores were inconsistent across ages. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns emerge from infancy and are associated with sociodemographic characteristics.L.G. Smithers, L. Brazionis, R.K. Golley, M.N. Mittinty, K. Northstone, P. Emmett, S.A. McNaughton, K.J. Campbell and J.W. Lync
A preference based measure of complementary feeding quality: Application to the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
No full textThis paper presents the development of the Complementary Feeding Utility Index (CFUI), a composite index aimed to measure adherence to infant feeding guidelines. Through an axiomatic characterization this paper shows the advantages in using the CFUI are the following: it avoids the use of arbitrary cut-offs, and by converting observed diet preferences into utilities, summing the score is meaningful. In addition, as the CFUI is designed to be scored continuously, it allows the transition from intake of beneficial foods (in low quantities) and intake of detrimental foods (in high quantities) to be more subtle. The paper first describes the rationale being the development of the CFUI and then elaborates on the methodology used to develop the CFUI, including the process of selecting the components. The methodology is applied to data collected from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to show the advantages of the CFUI over traditional diet index approaches. Unlike traditional approaches, the distribution of the CFUI does not peak towards mean value but distributes evenly towards the tails of the distribution.Murthy N. Mittinty, Rebecca K. Golley, Lisa G. Smithers, Laima Brazionis, John W. Lync
- …
