Author: LisaMarie Tersigni

Fatty diets increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses in children, according to a study published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry. Researchers tracked dietary intake data and assessed relapse rates for 219 participants with pediatric relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) at 11 MS centers across the United States.

Higher fat intake increased the risk for relapse by 56 percent while every 10 percent increase in saturated fat intake tripled the risk of relapse. Vegetable intake showed a protective effect, with a 50 percent decreased risk for every one- cup of vegetables consumed. Saturated fat, notably from animal sources, often increases calorie intake and promotes inflammation linked to MS relapse. The authors suggest dietary interventions promote vegetable intake to decrease inflammation and promote healthy gut microbiota associated with lower relapse rates.

Steele CB, Thomas CC, Henley SJ, et al. Vital Signs: trends in incidence of cancers associated with overweight and obesity — United States, 2005–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Published online October 3, 2017.

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy affect children’s obesity risk, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Researchers followed 88,406 mother-child pairs and tracked blood pressure measurements. Mothers with higher blood pressure readings during the second and third trimesters increased overweight and obesity risk in their children by 49 percent and 14 percent, respectively. The authors suggest clinicians monitor blood pressure throughout pregnancy, as results also showed changes in blood pressure between the first and third trimesters affected children’s obesity risk.

Zheng JS, Liu H, Ong KK, et al. Maternal blood pressure rise during pregnancy and offspring obesity risk at 4-7 years old: the Jiaxing Birth Cohort. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published online September 27, 2017.

Children and adolescents with low intakes of phylloquinone, a form of vitamin K, may be at risk for enlarged heart valves, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers followed diet records for 766 participants aged 14-18 and monitored vascular structure and functionality. When compared to those with the highest intake of vitamin K from foods such as spinach, cabbage, and other leafy green vegetables, those with the lowest intake were more likely to experience vascular enlargement. This type of enlargement, normally observed in adults, typically results in elevated blood pressure and other cardiac complications. The authors suggest these findings may develop treatment and prevention initiatives aimed at improving cardiovascular function in children and adolescents.

Douthit MK, Fain ME, Nguyen JT, et al. Phylloquinone intake is associated with cardiac structure and function in adolescents. J Nutr. 2017;147:1960-1967.

Study in a Sentence: In a well-controlled clinical trial with 10 obese adult volunteers, researchers found that daily consumption of 48 grams of walnuts in a smoothie for five days led to a subjective decrease in appetite correlated with activation of the region in the brain regulating food cravings as shown on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Relative to patients drinking a similarly flavored smoothie without walnuts, patients consuming the walnuts felt fuller and more inclined to make healthier food choices.

Healthy for Humans: The study suggests that promoting walnut consumption can be a potential public health strategy to curb obesity. The study can be adopted to test other foods and compounds for reducing obesity.

Redefining Research: This study demonstrated a human-relevant method to test treatments for human diseases in a well-controlled manner that can rapidly be translated into public health strategies without the use of animal models.

Farr OM, Tuccinardi D, Upadhyay J, Oussaada SM, Mantzoros CS. Walnut consumption increases activation of the insula to highly desirable food cues: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over fMRI study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published online July 17, 2017. doi: 10.1111/dom.13060.

In a small clinical trial with 26 elderly adults, researchers found that patients who engage in a regular dancing routine for 18 months showed greater enlargement of the hippocampus—a brain area critical for memory—and better balance control than patients who are engaged in regular endurance exercise.

This study suggests that dancing may serve as an alternative intervention to exercise for limiting cognitive and physical declines associated with aging.

This study uses brain imaging modalities to study changes in human brain structures associated with lifestyle interventions. It demonstrates the use of a noninvasive strategy to characterize human-relevant effects of a readily implementable intervention.

Rehfeld K, Müller P, Aye N, et al. Dancing or fitness sport? The effects of two training programs on hippocampal plasticity and balance abilities in healthy seniors. Front Hum Neurosci. 2017;11:305. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00305.