Tag Archives: NHANES

World Diabetes Day 2019

Today is World Diabetes Day, and our post today is the third in our series of diabetes topics this week. Today’s post looks at research on the Dietary Inflammatory Index.

Statistics on diabetes from the World Health Organization are startling, the number of people with diabetes worldwide in 2014 was four times higher than the number of those with diabetes in 1980. It is projected that the number of those with diabetes will increase by 48% by 2045. It is estimated that there are 425 million people with diabetes worldwide. The Marshall Islands have the highest prevalence of diabetes. In the U.S., West Virginia has the highest prevalence of diabetes. Research indicates that obesity, physical inactivity, and poor dietary choices are closely associated with the development of diabetes type 2.

The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was developed in 2009, as a way to measure the role of inflammation induced by diet and nutrition. The DII was updated in 2014. The index was designed to measure a particular individual’s diet with regard to it’s inflammatory potential. The effect of 45 different food and nutrient parameters on inflammatory biomarkers such as IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and c-reactive protein was analyzed, with inflammatory scores assigned based on extensive research.

A research group from the West Virginia University Department of Family Medicine recently looked at the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and the presence of diabetes in a sample of adults from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES). In addition, they examined the relationship between DII and the severity of diabetes.

Over 4400 subjects from the NHANES (2013-2014) were included, 53.5% women and 46.5% men. The results were adjusted for age, alcohol use, BMI, gender, physical activity level, smoking status, and socioeconomic status.

The researchers discovered a significant association between the incidence of diabetes and Dietary Inflammatory Index scores, In addition, there was significant association between the severity of diabetes, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index scores.

High inflammatory diets have been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease and arthritis. It should probably not surprise anyone that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with a higher incidence of diabetes as well. The CDC estimates that nearly 1/4 of those with diabetes are not yet diagnosed. Perhaps future research will examine using the Dietary Inflammatory Index to identify those at higher risk for developing diabetes, so that a dietary intervention could be implemented.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of vision loss among those age 20 and older, and is also one of the leading causes of kidney failure. Perhaps the best way to recognize World Diabetes Day is to carefully consider what one’s daily diet is comprised of, and make some changes going forward to lower the inflammatory potential of the diet. If you are overweight, or have a family history of diabetes, take the step of getting tested for diabetes. 

“I think I can wipe out diabetes.”–  Robert Atkins

(Source- Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 2019;32:801-806)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

 

Vitamin D and Erectile Dysfunction

June 10-16 is designated Men’s Health Week, and so several posts this week will address men’s health concerns. Today’s post will examine vitamin D and it’s potential association with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Data from the CDC indicate that approximately 25% of Americans are at risk for vitamin D inadequacy, while 8% are at risk for deficiency. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES)  shows over 41% to be vitamin D deficient in their sample of nearly 4500 adults, with African-Americans and Hispanics generally having worse levels of vitamin D deficiency.

Original research from Italy shows a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a group of men with vascular ED, compared to men without vascular ED. 143 men were enrolled from a hormone clinic in Milan, Italy. The participants were divided into vascular ED, non-vascular ED, and borderline ED groups, based on penile doppler results. These groups were then compared based on various lab tests, including Vitamin D, lipids, and testosterone levels, among others.

The results showed a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the men with vascular ED, compared to men with non-vascular ED. Vitamin D levels were also lower in the men with more severe ED.

It is believed that normal vitamin D levels are important to healthy functioning of the endothelium, which lines the blood vessels. The results of this study indicate that low vitamin D levels are a potentially modifiable risk factor for ED of a vascular cause. If you are developing ED, you may want to get your vitamin D level checked.

“You take the healthiest diet in the world, if you gave those people vitamins, they would be twice as healthy. So vitamins are valuable”–  Robert Atkins MD

(Source- Journal of Sexual Medicine 2014;11)

This blog is a review of published and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone.

 

Adding Sugar Increases Cardiovascular Events

February is National Heart Health Month. In honor of heart health, and Valentine’s Day, this post is about cardiovascular disease

In this study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2014 researchers looked at the effect of added sugar in the American diet and its relationship to cardiovascular disease. Participants who consumed 17-21% of calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality, compared to those who only consumed 8% of calories from added sugar. For those who consumed 21% or more of calories from added sugar, the relative risk was doubled.

Much of the added sugar in the American diet is from soda, other sources include desserts, fruit juices and candy. Just one soda a day constitutes 7% of the total calories of a 2000 kcal/day diet.

The reason for increased cardiovascular risk with increasing sugar intake is probably due to several causes, such as obesity, increased blood pressure, worsening cholesterol, and higher inflammation in the body.

This is a robust study which looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) which is felt to be a nationally representative sample of US adults. It provides more solid evidence of the harms of sugar and simple carbs to cardiovascular health. Happy Valentine’s!

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”  Confucius

(Source- JAMA Internal Medicine, April 2014, Volume 174, Number 4)

Low Magnesium Associated with Depression in Younger Americans

April 7th has been designated as World Health Day by the World Heath Organization, and this year’s focus is on depression. In recognition of this day our posts will focus on depression and its treatment.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Vermont examined the relationship between magnesium intake and depression in adults. Using data from the National Health and Nutritional Survey (NHANES) researchers looked at subjects ages 20 and older, which included nearly 9,000 records. The NHANES is a population-based survey, which was designed to collect information on the nutrition and health habits of the U.S. population, using a random sampling method.

Magnesium intake was estimated from a 24-hour diet and supplement recall. The Patient Health Questionnaire was used as a tool to assess depression in adults. 

What the researchers found was a bit unexpected- in those subjects younger than age 65 low magnesium was associated with greater depression, while in those subjects 65 and older low magnesium seemed to be protective of depression. The reason for this is not clear.

In addition, the researchers also found that over half of the adults in the survey do not consume adequate daily amounts of magnesium.

More research on this topic is needed, particularly to determine why the effect of magnesium on depression is somehow moderated by age. However, it is clear from this study that low magnesium intake in the 20-64 age population in the U.S. is associated with higher rates of depression.

(Source- Journal of the Board of Family Medicine, 2015.02.140176)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Got ED? Get Checked for Diabetes

MHW_15

“I give you bitter pills in sugar-coating. The pills are harmless, the poison is in the sugar”
Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

 

In our continuing series of blogs in June dedicated to Men’s Health Month today’s post will examine the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and undiagnosed diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

A research group in Canada looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2001-2004. The NHANES is designed to be a retrospective survey of the U.S. population. Researchers studied more than 4500 men ages 20 and older.

Researchers examined the association of ED with undiagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed high blood pressure, and undiagnosed high cholesterol amongst the sample of 4500 men.

ED was found to be strongly associated with undiagnosed diabetes, and in particular in men ages 40-59 years old. In the 40-59 year old age group undiagnosed diabetes was present in 19.1% of men with ED, whereas diabetes was present in only 3.3% of men without ED. Interestingly there was no statistically significant relationship between undiagnosed high blood pressure and ED, or undiagnosed high cholesterol and ED.

Given this convincing data men who develop ED should strongly consider being tested for diabetes.

 

(Source- Annals of Family Medicine, Vol. 13, No. 4)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

Walnuts. Good for the Brain.

Walnuts3

“The brain is wider than the sky”.

Emily Dickinson

This is the third in a series of three blog posts detailing recent research on walnuts, in honor of National Walnut Day. This post will look at research from UCLA, which examined the association between walnut consumption and cognitive function in adults.

In particular, the researchers looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The NHANES was designed to be a representative sample of the U.S. population, ages 20 to 90.

A group of participants who ate walnuts and other nuts were compared to a group who did not eat nuts. Adults ages 20-59 completed the simple reaction time test, the simple digit learning test, and the symbol digit substitution test. Adults ages 60 and over were administered the story recall test or the digital symbol substitution test.

Results from the study showed that walnut consumption had a positive association with cognitive functions in both the 20-59 year old participants, as well as those ages 60 and older.

This interesting study adds to the growing  body of evidence in support of the health benefits of walnuts.

(Source- Journal of Nutrition and Health Aging, Volume 19, Number 3, 2015)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.