American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AM J CLIN NUTR)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Effect of acute and chronic red wine consumption on lipopolysaccharide concentrations.

  Clemente-Postigo M, Queipo-Ortuño MI, Boto-Ordoñez M, Coin-Aragüez L, Roca-Rodriguez MD, Delgado-Lista J, Cardona F, Andres-Lacueva C, Tinahones FJ
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 04/2013;
• Article: Urinary and plasma magnesium and risk of ischemic heart disease

  Joosten MM, Gansevoort RT, Mukamal KJ, van der Harst P, Geleijnse JM, Feskens EJ, Navis G, Bakker SJ
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  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Previous studies on dietary magnesium and risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) have yielded inconsistent results, in part because of a lack of direct measures of actual magnesium uptake. Urinary excretion of magnesium, an indicator of dietary magnesium uptake, might provide more consistent results. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate whether urinary magnesium excretion and plasma magnesium are associated with IHD risk. DESIGN: We examined 7664 adult participants free of known cardiovascular disease in the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease (PREVEND) study-a prospective population-based cohort study. Urinary magnesium excretion was measured in 2 baseline 24-h urine collections. RESULTS: Mean ± SD urinary magnesium excretion was 4.24 ± 1.65 mmol/24 h for men and 3.54 ± 1.40 mmol/24 h for women. During a median follow-up of 10.5 y (IQR: 9.9-10.8 y), 462 fatal and nonfatal IHD events occurred. After multivariable adjustment, urinary magnesium excretion had a nonlinear relation with IHD risk (P-curvature = 0.01). The lowest sex-specific quintile (men: <2.93 mmol/24 h; women: <2.45 mmol/24 h) had an increased risk of fatal and nonfatal IHD (multivariable HR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.28, 2.00) compared with the upper 4 quintiles of urinary magnesium excretion. A similar increase in risk of the lowest quintile was observed for mortality related to IHD (HR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.61). No associations were observed between circulating magnesium and risk of IHD. CONCLUSIONS: Low urinary magnesium excretion was independently associated with a higher risk of IHD incidence. An increased dietary intake of magnesium, particularly in those with the lowest urinary magnesium, could reduce the risk of IHD.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2013;
• Article: Ghrelin and peptide YY in postpartum lactating and nonlactating women

  Larson-Meyer DE, Ravussin E, Heilbronn L, de Jonge L
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 01/2010;
• Article: Wellman NS. Aging at home: More research on nutrition and independence, please. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:1151-52. (Refereed editorial)

  Wellman NS
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 01/2010;
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  Article: Is there a new component of the Mediterranean diet that reduces inflammation?

  Steven H Zeisel
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):277-8.
• Article: Chronic dietary fat intake modifies the postprandial response of hemostatic markers to a single fatty test meal.

  Javier Delgado-Lista, Jose Lopez-Miranda, Begoña Cortés, Pablo Perez-Martinez, Aquiles Lozano, Rafael Gomez-Luna, Purificacion Gomez, Maria Jose Gomez, Juan Criado, Francisco Fuentes, Francisco Perez-Jimenez
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  ABSTRACT: Hemostasis is the result of a complex equilibrium between coagulation and fibrinolysis, and the influence of different dietary models on this equilibrium is not entirely known. The objective was to compare the effects of the chronic intake of different dietary models on postprandial hemostasis. In a randomized crossover design, 20 healthy men consumed for 28 d each diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and carbohydrates plus n-3 fatty acids (CHO/N3). Fasting and postprandial hemostatic factors (factor VII coagulant activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, tissue-type plasminogen activator, d-dimer, and thromboxane B(2)) were measured; meal tests for the postprandial measures were based on butter, virgin olive oil, and walnuts for the SFA, MUFA, and CHO/N3 diets, respectively. There were no differences in the fasting variables after the dietary periods. After the 3 fatty meals were consumed, we observed an increase in thromboxane B(2) and d-dimer and a reduction in tissue plasminogen activator, irrespective of the dietary model. The MUFA or CHO/N3 meals lowered postprandial concentrations of factor VII coagulant activity, although the reduction was greater after the MUFA-enriched meal. The concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was greater after the SFA meal than after the other 2 meals. The administration of a fatty meal induces a postprandial procoagulant tendency, irrespective of the type of fat consumed. However, the use of a dietary model rich in SFA creates a more procoagulant environment than does a model that includes MUFA or CHO/N3 as the source of fatty acids.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):317-22.
• Article: Effect of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on plasma total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin concentrations in overweight to moderately obese men and women.

  Mario Kratz, Michael M Swarbrick, Holly S Callahan, Colleen C Matthys, Peter J Havel, David S Weigle
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  ABSTRACT: Recent studies indicated that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) increase circulating adiponectin concentrations in rodents. We aimed to investigate whether a diet rich in n-3 PUFAs increased plasma concentrations of total or high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin in healthy overweight-to-moderately obese men and women. Sixteen women and 10 men with a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) between 28 and 33 were randomly assigned to consume a diet rich in n-3 PUFAs (3.5% of energy intake) from both plant and marine sources or a control diet (0.5% of energy intake from n-3 PUFAs). For the first 2 wk, these diets were consumed under isocaloric conditions; then followed a 12-wk period of ad libitum consumption that was associated with a moderate loss of approximately 3.5% of body weight in both groups. Total and HMW adiponectin plasma concentrations were measured before and after each diet phase. Plasma fasting adiponectin concentrations did not change during the isocaloric period, but they increased modestly ( approximately 10%) during the ad libitum period when subjects lost weight [P = 0.009 for time in repeated-measures analysis of variance] and to a similar extent in subjects consuming the control (x +/- SD: 0.42 +/- 0.69 microg/mL) and n-3 PUFA (0.45 +/- 0.85 microg/mL) diets (P = 0.920 for time x treatment interaction). Plasma concentrations of HMW adiponectin did not change significantly during the study. Dietary n-3 PUFAs consumed at levels of 3.5% of energy intake do not significantly increase plasma or HMW adiponectin concentrations in overweight-to-moderately obese healthy men and women over the course of 14 wk.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):347-53.
• Article: Evaluation of botanicals for improving human health.

  David M Ribnicky, Alexander Poulev, Barbara Schmidt, William T Cefalu, Ilya Raskin
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  ABSTRACT: Botanical preparations have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Many commercially available botanical products are being marketed in the United States with little or no publicly available scientific validation of efficacy or consistency. For botanicals to be reliable for research purposes and consumer products, they must be standardized with sufficient quality controls to ensure consistent composition, safety, and potency. This includes uniform cultivation of source plants with controls to monitor for contamination from other species, pesticides, and environmental toxins. The active components of botanicals must be identified by activity-guided fractionation with the use of in vitro assays that require little test material followed by validation in vivo. Concentrations of active compounds within the botanicals can then be accurately measured to ensure the delivery of a dependable dose in the final product. The use of bioenhancing agents may be considered for compounds with poor bioavailability. Standardization of botanical therapeutics can only be achieved when the active compounds are identified and biological activity is confirmed, thus ensuring a consistent product.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):472S-5S.
• Article: The University of Illinois at Chicago/National Institutes of Health Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research for Women's Health: from plant to clinical use.

  Norman R Farnsworth, Elizabeth C Krause, Judy L Bolton, Guido F Pauli, Richard B van Breemen, James G Graham
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  ABSTRACT: The University of Illinois at Chicago/National Institutes of Health Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research began in 1999 with an emphasis on botanical dietary supplements for women's health. We have concentrated on plants that may improve women's health, especially to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women, alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and reduce persistent urinary tract infections. The primary focus of this article is to describe the operation of our center, from acquiring and identifying botanicals to isolating and identifying active constituents, to elucidating their mechanisms of action, and to conducting phase I and phase II clinical studies. Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa; syn Cimicifuga racemosa) has been used as a model to illustrate the steps involved in taking this plant from the field to clinical trials. Bioassays are described that were necessary to elucidate the pertinent biological studies of plant extracts and their mechanisms of action. We conclude that this type of research can only be successful with the use of a multidisciplinary approach.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):504S-8S.
• Article: Introduction to the National Institutes of Health Botanical Research Centers program.

  Christine A Swanson, Qi-Ying Liu
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):471S.
• Article: Echinacea in infection.

  Diane F Birt, Mark P Widrlechner, Carlie A Lalone, Lankun Wu, Jaehoon Bae, Avery Ks Solco, George A Kraus, Patricia A Murphy, Eve S Wurtele, Qiang Leng, Steven C Hebert, Wendy J Maury, Jason P Price
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  ABSTRACT: Ongoing studies have developed strategies for identifying key bioactive compounds and chemical profiles in Echinacea with the goal of improving its human health benefits. Antiviral and antiinflammatory-antipain assays have targeted various classes of chemicals responsible for these activities. Analysis of polar fractions of E. purpurea extracts showed the presence of antiviral activity, with evidence suggesting that polyphenolic compounds other than the known HIV inhibitor, cichoric acid, may be involved. Antiinflammatory activity differed by species, with E. sanguinea having the greatest activity and E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. simulata having somewhat less. Fractionation and studies with pure compounds indicate that this activity is explained, at least in part, by the alkamide constituents. Ethanol extracts from Echinacea roots had potent activity as novel agonists of TRPV1, a mammalian pain receptor reported as an integrator of inflammatory pain and hyperalgesia and a prime therapeutic target for analgesic and antiinflammatory drugs. One fraction from E. purpurea ethanol extract was bioactive in this system. Interestingly, the antiinflammatory compounds identified to inhibit prostaglandin E(2) production differed from those involved in TRPV1 receptor activation.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):488S-92S.
• Article: Ensuring the safety of botanical dietary supplements.

  Richard B van Breemen, Harry Hs Fong, Norman R Farnsworth
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  ABSTRACT: Botanical dietary supplements with a history of safe human use may not require the same level of toxicity testing as synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. Most of the documented examples of acute toxicity caused by botanical dietary supplements have been caused by the substitution of toxic plants for the desired species, probably through misidentification or production errors, or by contamination with pharmaceutical agents, either as a result of poor manufacturing practices or adulteration. Although more difficult to document, chronic toxicities attributed to botanical dietary supplements may be caused by contamination by heavy metals, pesticides, or microbes or by inherent properties of constituents of the botanicals themselves. Like drug-drug interactions, botanical-drug interactions can also be a source of toxicity. Most of these toxicity problems may be prevented by implementing good agricultural practices and good manufacturing practices and applying existing toxicity testing similar to those used in drug development or new toxicity assays under development based on proteomics, genomics, or metabolomics.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):509S-13S.
• Article: Botanicals and the metabolic syndrome.

  William T Cefalu, Jianping Ye, Aamir Zuberi, David M Ribnicky, Ilya Raskin, Zhijun Liu, Zhong Q Wang, Phillip J Brantley, Luke Howard, Michael Lefevre
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  ABSTRACT: Metabolic syndrome describes the human condition characterized by the presence of coexisting traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and obesity, in addition to nontraditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as inflammatory processes and abnormalities of the blood coagulation system. Although the specific etiology for metabolic syndrome is not known, insulin resistance--a clinical state in which a normal or elevated insulin concentration reflects an impaired biological response--is present and is considered a key pathophysiologic abnormality. As such, metabolic syndrome can be considered to be a prediabetic state and contributes greatly to increased morbidity and mortality in humans. Given the public health significance of metabolic syndrome, successful strategies are direly needed to intervene in its development. As such, nutritional supplementation with botanicals that effectively address pathogenic mechanisms, combined with the acceptance and widespread use of botanical supplements by the general public, represents an attractive, novel, and potentially effective approach to the problem. Thus, the overall goal of our botanical research center is to comprehensively evaluate botanicals in addressing the pathophysiologic mechanisms that lead to the development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Currently, each of the 3 research projects evaluates a specific botanical [Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L), shilianhua (Sinocrassula indica), and grape (Vitus vinifera) anthocyanins] and assesses the effect on pathogenic mechanisms leading to the development of insulin resistance. With the completion of our research, we anticipate a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms by which insulin resistance develops and the role of botanicals in modulating the progression to metabolic syndrome.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):481S-7S.
• Article: Body mass index is increasing faster among taller persons.

  Deborah A Cohen, Roland Sturm
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  ABSTRACT: During the past 40 y, there has been a trend toward more eating away from home, increased food availability, the opportunity to order extra-large portion sizes, and general weight gain. Because shorter people need fewer calories than taller people to maintain their weight, our goal was to determine whether the body mass index (BMI)-height relation has changed over time. Data are from 3581 nonpregnant women and 3091 men examined in the 1959-1962 National Health Examination Survey and 4651 nonpregnant women and 4691 men examined in the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We tested whether the relation between BMI and height has changed for men and women, after adjustment for other demographic changes. In the past, on average, shorter American men and women had significantly higher BMIs than taller people. However, taller people have been increasing their BMI during the past 40 y at a faster rate than shorter people. This study documents that the obesity epidemic has changed the height-BMI relation. The data cannot identify causal pathways, and there are numerous explanations. A plausible hypothesis is that changes in the food environment may have eliminated constraints on weight gain for taller people that existed in a more calorie-constrained environment.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):445-8.
• Article: Mechanisms by which botanical lipids affect inflammatory disorders.

  Floyd H Chilton, Lawrence L Rudel, John S Parks, Jonathan P Arm, Michael C Seeds
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  ABSTRACT: Changes in diet over the past century have markedly altered the consumption of fatty acids. The dramatic increase in the ingestion of saturated and n-6 fatty acids and concomitant decrease in n-3 fatty acids are thought to be a major driver of the increase in the incidence of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergy, and atherosclerosis. The central objective of the Center for Botanical Lipids at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Brigham and Women's Hospital is to delineate the mechanisms by which fatty acid-based dietary supplements inhibit inflammation leading to chronic human diseases such as cardiovascular disease and asthma. The key question that this center addresses is whether botanical n-6 and n-3 fatty acids directly block recognized biochemical pathways or the expression of critical genes that lead to asthma and atherosclerosis. Dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil, borage oil, and echium oil affects the biochemistry of fatty acid metabolism and thus the balance of proinflammatory mediators and atherogenic lipids. Supplementation studies have begun to identify key molecular and genetic mechanisms that regulate the production of lipid mediators involved in inflammatory and hyperlipidemic diseases. Echium oil and other oils containing stearidonic acid as well as botanical oil combinations (such as echium and borage oils) hold great promise for modulating inflammatory diseases.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):498S-503S.
• Article: Favorable effects of berry consumption on platelet function, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol.

  Iris Erlund, Raika Koli, Georg Alfthan, Jukka Marniemi, Pauli Puukka, Pirjo Mustonen, Pirjo Mattila, Antti Jula
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  ABSTRACT: Berries are a particularly rich source of polyphenols. They also contain other bioactive substances, such as vitamin C. Previous studies indicated that the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods (eg, cocoa, tea, and red wine) may induce beneficial changes in pathways related to cardiovascular health. Whether the consumption of berries has similar effects is unknown. We aimed to investigate the effects of berry consumption on hemostatic function, serum lipids, and blood pressure (BP). Middle-aged unmedicated subjects (n = 72) with cardiovascular risk factors consumed moderate amounts of berry or control products for 8 wk in a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial. Berry consumption inhibited platelet function as measured with a platelet function analyzer (using collagen and ADP as platelet activator) [changes: 11% and -1.4% in the berry and control groups, respectively; P = 0.018, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. Plasma biomarkers of platelet activation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis did not change during the intervention. Serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations increased significantly more (P = 0.006, ANCOVA) in the berry than in the control group (5.2% and 0.6%, respectively), but total cholesterol and triacylglycerol remained unchanged. Systolic BP decreased significantly (P = 0.050, ANCOVA); the decrease mostly occurred in subjects with high baseline BP (7.3 mm Hg in highest tertile; P = 0.024, ANCOVA). Polyphenol and vitamin C concentrations in plasma increased, whereas other nutritional biomarkers (ie, folate, tocopherols, sodium, and potassium) were unaffected. The consumption of moderate amounts of berries resulted in favorable changes in platelet function, HDL cholesterol, and BP. The results indicate that regular consumption of berries may play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):323-31.
• Article: The choice of cutoffs for obesity and the effect of those values on risk factor estimation.

  André M Toschke, Bärbel M Kurth, Rüdiger von Kries
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  ABSTRACT: Several studies have examined risk factors for overweight and obesity. However, inconsistent results have been observed for estimations of some risk factors, such as the infant feeding method, and for their link to childhood obesity. These studies originated from different countries and used different body mass index cutoffs to define overweight and obesity. Using a theoretical approach and data obtained in preschoolers, we show that the identification of genuine risk factors for overweight or obesity does not depend on the choice of the reference system. However, for meaningful international comparisons, in particular for those of prevalence, studies should also report estimates by using a widely accepted international reference system.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 03/2008; 87(2):292-4.