Darel Toh - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Darel Toh

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, 2020

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Upon consumption, carotenoids, which may attenuate cardiovascular disease (CV... more BACKGROUND AND AIMS Upon consumption, carotenoids, which may attenuate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, diffuse from the blood and accumulate in the skin. This study aimed to assess the associations between dietary, plasma, and skin carotenoids with CVD risk indicators and to examine the mediational role of plasma carotenoids in the relationship between skin carotenoids status (SCS) and CVD risk. METHODS AND RESULTS Dietary, plasma, and skin carotenoids were assessed in a cross-sectional study from a community in Singapore (n = 103) aged 50 to 75 y. Multiple linear regression and binary logistics regression models were used to examine the associations between the carotenoids status with classical CVD risk factors and composite CVD risk indicators. After controlling for covariates, SCS and plasma carotenoids were inversely associated with systolic blood pressure (skin: P < 0.001; plasma: P < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (skin: P < 0.001; plasma: P < 0.005). Additi...

Nutrients, 2021

Dietary counselling has been identified as one of the nutritional strategies to alleviate cardiom... more Dietary counselling has been identified as one of the nutritional strategies to alleviate cardiometabolic health conditions. Its effectiveness however may vary due to factors such as intensity level and provider while this has not been comprehensively studied. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of dietary counselling on the cardiometabolic health in middle-aged and older adults and the sub-group analyses with dietary counselling intensity and the provider were also assessed. Four databases including PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Library and EMBASE were systematically searched. Data from 22 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were compiled and those from 9 RCTs were utilised for meta-analysis. Dietary counselling lowered total cholesterol (TC) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) but had no impact on triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Sub-group analysis revealed significant lowering effect of high intensity dietary counsell...

Incorporating zeaxanthin-rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augm... more Incorporating zeaxanthin-rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augment its antioxidant potential. The present 16-week, parallel design randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of adhering to a healthy dietary pattern, either with or without whole dried wolfberry (15 g/d) on oxidative stress status (plasma malondialdehyde and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α) in middle-aged and older adults. Changes to carotenoids status (plasma and skin carotenoids) and body composition were further evaluated to explore potential mechanisms which underlie the antioxidant properties of wolfberry. Plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, plasma zeaxanthin and skin carotenoids status were significantly raised in the wolfberry consuming group (n = 22; p < 0.05) compared to the control group which showed no changes (n = 18). Likewise in the wolfberry group only, inverse association was observed between the change values of plasma zeaxanthin and plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin...

Food & Function

Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) have received growing attention in relation to the card... more Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) have received growing attention in relation to the cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the effect of diet intervention, a primary strategy for CVD prevention on BOECs...

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Background The consumption of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum), a rich source of carotenoids and bioac... more Background The consumption of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum), a rich source of carotenoids and bioactive polysaccharides, may serve as a potential dietary strategy for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management although limited studies examined its effects as whole fruits. Objectives To investigate the impact of wolfberry consumption as part of a healthy dietary pattern on vascular health-related outcomes and classical CVD risk factors in middle-aged and older adults in Singapore. Methods This is a 16-week, parallel design, randomized controlled trial. All participants (n = 40) received dietary counselling to follow healthy dietary pattern recommendations with the wolfberry group given additional instructions to cook and consume 15 g/d whole, dried wolfberry with their main meals. Biomarkers of vascular function (flow-mediated dilation, plasma total nitrate/nitrite, endothelin-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1), vascular structure (carotid intima-media thickness) and vascular ...

British Journal of Nutrition

Skin carotenoid status (SCS) measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) may serve as an emerg... more Skin carotenoid status (SCS) measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) may serve as an emerging alternative measurement for dietary carotenoid, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake although its application had not been assessed in a middle-aged and older population in Asia. This cross-sectional study aims to concurrently examine the use of SCS and plasma carotenoids to measure FV and carotenoid intake in a middle-aged and older population, taking into consideration potential socio-demographic and nutritional confounders. The study recruited 103 middle-aged and older adults (mean age: 58 years) in Singapore. Dietary carotenoids and FV, plasma carotenoid concentration and SCS were measured using 3-d food records, HPLC and a biophotonic scanner which utilised RRS, respectively. Adjusted for statistically defined socio-demographic covariates sex, age, BMI, prescription medication and cigarette smoking, plasma carotenoids and SCS showed positive associations with dietary total carotenoid...

Nutrients

Although animal protein is usually considered to be a more potent stimulator of muscle protein sy... more Although animal protein is usually considered to be a more potent stimulator of muscle protein synthesis than plant protein, the effect of protein source on lean mass and muscle strength needs to be systematically reviewed. This study aimed to examine potential differences in the effect of animal vs. plant protein on lean mass and muscle strength, and the possible influence of resistance exercise training (RET) and age. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Scopus and CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and 3081 articles were screened. A total of 18 articles were selected for systematic review, of which, 16 were used for meta-analysis. Total protein intakes were generally above the recommended dietary allowance at the baseline and end of intervention. Results from the meta-analyses demonstrated that protein source did not affect changes in absolute lean mass or muscle strength. However, there was a favoring effect of animal protein on percent lean mass. RET had no influence...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives Carotenoids which are rich in fruits and vegetables, are known for their health-promot... more Objectives Carotenoids which are rich in fruits and vegetables, are known for their health-promoting benefits. However, due to their hydrophobicity, carotenoids are poorly absorbed in human body and there is a need to improve their absorption. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the emulsification and the type of dietary fat on the bioaccessibility of carotenoids from vegetable salads. Methods Oil-in-water emulsions were formed using the high-pressure homogenizer with whey protein isolate as the emulsifier. A mixture of raw vegetable salads, including tomatoes, baby spinach, carrots, romaine lettuce and Chinese wolfberry, were co-digested with 4 different types of dietary fats: olive oil-in-water emulsion (OLE), olive oil-water mixture (OLN), coconut oil-in-water emulsion (COE) and coconut oil-water mixture (CON). The bioaccessibility of 5 main carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene) was evaluated via a simulated in-vitro gastrointestinal model ...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives The incorporation of zeaxanthin rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietar... more Objectives The incorporation of zeaxanthin rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augment its antioxidant effects although evidence evaluating whole fruits is lacking. The objectives of this study are to (1) investigate the impact of dietary counselling, either with or without whole dried wolfberry on oxidative stress status in middle-aged and older Singaporean adults and (2) delineate underlying mechanisms by examining associations with the corresponding changes in carotenoids status. Methods In this 16-week, parallel design randomized controlled trial, 40 subjects (29 F, 11 M; aged 50 to 64 y) received dietary counselling to follow a healthy dietary pattern. Compared to the control group (CG, n = 18), the wolfberry group (WG, n = 22) additionally cooked and consumed 15 g/d whole dried wolfberry with their main meals. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay and 8-isoprostanes by ELISA)...

International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition

Abstract Replacement of food rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with unsaturated fatty acids (U... more Abstract Replacement of food rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) is a well-known dietary strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease while its impact on postprandial blood lipids is less examined. This study assessed the effects of fatty acids composition on the postprandial triglycerides and cholesterol responses. Seventeen randomised controlled trials were identified and pooled analysis results revealed that consumption of a UFAs-rich or an SFAs-rich breakfast meal did not acutely affect postprandial triglycerides and cholesterol responses. However, subgroup analysis observed that triglycerides incremental area under the curve was lower with an SFAs-rich meal (SMD: −0.36; 95% CI: −0.57, −0.15) over a less than 8 h duration, while was higher (SMD: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.05, 1.23) over a longer postprandial duration. It suggests that the postprandial duration is of importance when evaluating the effects of fatty acids composition on blood lipid responses.

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives Quality sleep is essential to health and poor sleep may increase the risk of obesity a... more Objectives Quality sleep is essential to health and poor sleep may increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have reported that macronutrient intakes, such as dietary protein, may be associated with sleep quality. However research, on this relationship in older adults who often exhibit poorer sleep quality is still limited. Therefore, the objective of this research is to assess the association between macronutrient intakes and sleep quality in middle-aged and older population in Singapore. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 104 men and women (59 ± 6 years) were recruited within Singapore. Their food intakes and sleep quality were assessed using 3-day food records and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, respectively. In addition, plasma amino acid concentration was measured from the collected blood samples. The relationship between diet, plasma amino acids and sleep quality were evaluated using multiple linear regression and adjusted for age, BMI...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a novel biomarker of cardiovascular disease, are ... more Objectives Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a novel biomarker of cardiovascular disease, are involved in the maintenance of endothelial homeostasis and vascular repair and the number of EPCs could be altered by dietary modification. Wolfberry is widely known for the potential cardiovascular benefits, however, its impact on EPC count and function is not reported. This study aims to investigate the effect of consuming wolfberry as part of a healthy dietary pattern (HDP) on the number and function of EPCs derived from blood (BOECs). Methods Twenty-four subjects from Singapore were randomized and consumed either HDP only (HDPO; n = 9; mean age 55 ± 3 years) or HDP supplemented with 15 g/day wolfberry (HDPW; n = 15; mean age 56 ± 4 years) for 16 weeks. At pre- and post-intervention, 27 mL peripheral blood was collected from subject for the isolation of BOECs. Immunofluorescence staining with von Willebrand factor (VWF) and flow cytometry analysis with cell surface markers including K...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives The study aimed to investigate the impact of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) consumption a... more Objectives The study aimed to investigate the impact of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) consumption as part of a healthy dietary pattern on cardiovascular health in Singaporean middle-aged and older adults. It was hypothesized that the consumption of wolfberry could further enhance the cardiovascular protective effects of a healthy dietary pattern. Methods This was a 16 week, parallel design, randomized controlled trial where 40 Singaporean men and women (aged 50 to 64 years) received dietary counselling to follow a healthy dietary pattern either with or without 15 g/day of dried whole wolfberry, cooked and consumed as part of their meals. Blood pressure, serum lipid-lipoprotein concentrations and dietary compliance using 3-day food records were monitored every 4 weeks. Further evaluation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers, broadly classified as serological (total nitrate/nitrite, endothelin-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and von-Willebrand ...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives The study aimed to examine the associations between skin carotenoid status and plasma ... more Objectives The study aimed to examine the associations between skin carotenoid status and plasma carotenoids with classical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among a middle-aged and older Singaporean population. It was hypothesized that skin carotenoid status and plasma carotenoids could be used as an indicator for CVD risk. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 45 men and 59 women, aged 50 to 75 years, from a community in Singapore (n = 104). Dietary information was obtained using 3-day food records, skin carotenoid status was measured using resonance Raman spectroscopy and plasma carotenoids were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. CVD risk was determined using classical risk factors including blood pressure (BP), serum lipid-lipoprotein concentrations, as well as overall CVD risk predictors such as the number of metabolic syndrome components and a 10-year CVD risk prediction using the Framingham Heart Study risk score calculator. Results Multiple ...

Nutrition Reviews

Context Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular... more Context Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Beyond increasing FV intake, the incorporation of other healthy dietary changes may help to further attenuate CVD risk. Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of increasing FV intake to > 3 servings daily as well as incorporating other healthy dietary changes on classical CVD risk factors through a systematic review, meta-regression, and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Data Sources The following databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Medline (ProQuest), and Cochrane Library. Data Extraction 82, 24, and 10 articles were selected for the systematic review, meta-regression, and meta-analysis, respectively. Data Analysis Meta-regression analysis showed a dose-dependent response between the number of FV servings consumed in each intervention group and the blood triglyceride change value. Poo...

International Journal of Food Science & Technology

Nutritional Neuroscience

ABSTRACT Essence of chicken (EC) is a dietary supplement with potential benefits on one’s cogniti... more ABSTRACT Essence of chicken (EC) is a dietary supplement with potential benefits on one’s cognitive performance. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of consuming EC on cognitive function, applying extensively represented domains. Six databases were systematically searched to yield 1760 articles. These articles were independently screened to obtain 8 eligible articles with a pooled population of 794 subjects which is more than twice the population size considered in the previous meta-analyses. Largely, favorable effects on cognitive function were observed following daily EC intake, specifically in the working memory domain (standardized mean difference: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.46), one of the core components in executive function which showed statistically significant results. Furthermore, the observed results were also robust to sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses. This suggests that when consumed daily, EC may improve the mental processing aspect of cognitive function amongst the healthy population.

LWT

Abstract This work investigated the compatibility and performance of commercial strains of Saccha... more Abstract This work investigated the compatibility and performance of commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S-04) and Torulaspora delbrueckii (Biodiva) for simultaneous beer fermentation at inoculum ratios 1:2 and 1:20. Based on the fermentation kinetics, metabolic interactions between the strains were evident and dependent on the inoculum ratio. In particular, a marked retardation of strain S-04 was observed at 1:20 ratio while an early cell death of strain Biodiva was noted at 1:2 ratio. The rate of sugar attenuation positively correlated with strain S-04's inoculum size although degree of attenuation and ethanol production for all co-culture beers were comparable to the conventional S-04 monoculture beer. Generally, amino acid assimilation in co-culture beers was more extensive compared to that in both monoculture beers. As for the volatiles, mixed cultures yielded significantly higher amounts of ethyl decanoate and ethyl dodecanoate as well as citronellyl acetate (P

Nutrition

Low glycemic index (GI) diets are recommended to reduce the risk for chronic diseases by managing... more Low glycemic index (GI) diets are recommended to reduce the risk for chronic diseases by managing postprandial elevations in blood glucose and insulin. However, to our knowledge, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate this relationship and interpret its clinical relevance has yet to be performed. This review aims to assess the effect of low versus high GI breakfast meals on postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses in adults. Two researchers independently screened 1100 articles from PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, and Cochrane databases and extracted data from 11 qualified RCTs. Meta-analyses were performed to calculate overall effect sizes of postintervention blood glucose concentration change values at different time points (60, 90, and 120 min) using a random-effects model, reporting their weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Low GI breakfasts significantly reduced postprandial blood glucose concentrations at all time points: 60 min (WMD: -1.32 mmol/L; 95% CIs, -1.64 to -0.99), 90 min (WMD: -0.74 mmol/L; 95% CI, -0.92 to -0.56), and 120 min (WMD: -0.44 mmol/L; 95% CI, -0.63 to -0.26). Further analyses not only indicated similar trends following the stratification of studies according to the glycemic load, but also showed a more pronounced decline in glycemic response among individuals with metabolic impairments. These results highlight the benefits of lowering breakfast meal GI to provide clinically relevant reductions in acute glucose response.

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, 2020

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Upon consumption, carotenoids, which may attenuate cardiovascular disease (CV... more BACKGROUND AND AIMS Upon consumption, carotenoids, which may attenuate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, diffuse from the blood and accumulate in the skin. This study aimed to assess the associations between dietary, plasma, and skin carotenoids with CVD risk indicators and to examine the mediational role of plasma carotenoids in the relationship between skin carotenoids status (SCS) and CVD risk. METHODS AND RESULTS Dietary, plasma, and skin carotenoids were assessed in a cross-sectional study from a community in Singapore (n = 103) aged 50 to 75 y. Multiple linear regression and binary logistics regression models were used to examine the associations between the carotenoids status with classical CVD risk factors and composite CVD risk indicators. After controlling for covariates, SCS and plasma carotenoids were inversely associated with systolic blood pressure (skin: P < 0.001; plasma: P < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (skin: P < 0.001; plasma: P < 0.005). Additi...

Nutrients, 2021

Dietary counselling has been identified as one of the nutritional strategies to alleviate cardiom... more Dietary counselling has been identified as one of the nutritional strategies to alleviate cardiometabolic health conditions. Its effectiveness however may vary due to factors such as intensity level and provider while this has not been comprehensively studied. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of dietary counselling on the cardiometabolic health in middle-aged and older adults and the sub-group analyses with dietary counselling intensity and the provider were also assessed. Four databases including PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Library and EMBASE were systematically searched. Data from 22 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were compiled and those from 9 RCTs were utilised for meta-analysis. Dietary counselling lowered total cholesterol (TC) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) but had no impact on triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Sub-group analysis revealed significant lowering effect of high intensity dietary counsell...

Incorporating zeaxanthin-rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augm... more Incorporating zeaxanthin-rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augment its antioxidant potential. The present 16-week, parallel design randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of adhering to a healthy dietary pattern, either with or without whole dried wolfberry (15 g/d) on oxidative stress status (plasma malondialdehyde and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α) in middle-aged and older adults. Changes to carotenoids status (plasma and skin carotenoids) and body composition were further evaluated to explore potential mechanisms which underlie the antioxidant properties of wolfberry. Plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, plasma zeaxanthin and skin carotenoids status were significantly raised in the wolfberry consuming group (n = 22; p < 0.05) compared to the control group which showed no changes (n = 18). Likewise in the wolfberry group only, inverse association was observed between the change values of plasma zeaxanthin and plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin...

Food & Function

Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) have received growing attention in relation to the card... more Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) have received growing attention in relation to the cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the effect of diet intervention, a primary strategy for CVD prevention on BOECs...

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Background The consumption of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum), a rich source of carotenoids and bioac... more Background The consumption of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum), a rich source of carotenoids and bioactive polysaccharides, may serve as a potential dietary strategy for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management although limited studies examined its effects as whole fruits. Objectives To investigate the impact of wolfberry consumption as part of a healthy dietary pattern on vascular health-related outcomes and classical CVD risk factors in middle-aged and older adults in Singapore. Methods This is a 16-week, parallel design, randomized controlled trial. All participants (n = 40) received dietary counselling to follow healthy dietary pattern recommendations with the wolfberry group given additional instructions to cook and consume 15 g/d whole, dried wolfberry with their main meals. Biomarkers of vascular function (flow-mediated dilation, plasma total nitrate/nitrite, endothelin-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1), vascular structure (carotid intima-media thickness) and vascular ...

British Journal of Nutrition

Skin carotenoid status (SCS) measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) may serve as an emerg... more Skin carotenoid status (SCS) measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) may serve as an emerging alternative measurement for dietary carotenoid, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake although its application had not been assessed in a middle-aged and older population in Asia. This cross-sectional study aims to concurrently examine the use of SCS and plasma carotenoids to measure FV and carotenoid intake in a middle-aged and older population, taking into consideration potential socio-demographic and nutritional confounders. The study recruited 103 middle-aged and older adults (mean age: 58 years) in Singapore. Dietary carotenoids and FV, plasma carotenoid concentration and SCS were measured using 3-d food records, HPLC and a biophotonic scanner which utilised RRS, respectively. Adjusted for statistically defined socio-demographic covariates sex, age, BMI, prescription medication and cigarette smoking, plasma carotenoids and SCS showed positive associations with dietary total carotenoid...

Nutrients

Although animal protein is usually considered to be a more potent stimulator of muscle protein sy... more Although animal protein is usually considered to be a more potent stimulator of muscle protein synthesis than plant protein, the effect of protein source on lean mass and muscle strength needs to be systematically reviewed. This study aimed to examine potential differences in the effect of animal vs. plant protein on lean mass and muscle strength, and the possible influence of resistance exercise training (RET) and age. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Scopus and CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and 3081 articles were screened. A total of 18 articles were selected for systematic review, of which, 16 were used for meta-analysis. Total protein intakes were generally above the recommended dietary allowance at the baseline and end of intervention. Results from the meta-analyses demonstrated that protein source did not affect changes in absolute lean mass or muscle strength. However, there was a favoring effect of animal protein on percent lean mass. RET had no influence...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives Carotenoids which are rich in fruits and vegetables, are known for their health-promot... more Objectives Carotenoids which are rich in fruits and vegetables, are known for their health-promoting benefits. However, due to their hydrophobicity, carotenoids are poorly absorbed in human body and there is a need to improve their absorption. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the emulsification and the type of dietary fat on the bioaccessibility of carotenoids from vegetable salads. Methods Oil-in-water emulsions were formed using the high-pressure homogenizer with whey protein isolate as the emulsifier. A mixture of raw vegetable salads, including tomatoes, baby spinach, carrots, romaine lettuce and Chinese wolfberry, were co-digested with 4 different types of dietary fats: olive oil-in-water emulsion (OLE), olive oil-water mixture (OLN), coconut oil-in-water emulsion (COE) and coconut oil-water mixture (CON). The bioaccessibility of 5 main carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene) was evaluated via a simulated in-vitro gastrointestinal model ...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives The incorporation of zeaxanthin rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietar... more Objectives The incorporation of zeaxanthin rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augment its antioxidant effects although evidence evaluating whole fruits is lacking. The objectives of this study are to (1) investigate the impact of dietary counselling, either with or without whole dried wolfberry on oxidative stress status in middle-aged and older Singaporean adults and (2) delineate underlying mechanisms by examining associations with the corresponding changes in carotenoids status. Methods In this 16-week, parallel design randomized controlled trial, 40 subjects (29 F, 11 M; aged 50 to 64 y) received dietary counselling to follow a healthy dietary pattern. Compared to the control group (CG, n = 18), the wolfberry group (WG, n = 22) additionally cooked and consumed 15 g/d whole dried wolfberry with their main meals. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay and 8-isoprostanes by ELISA)...

International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition

Abstract Replacement of food rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with unsaturated fatty acids (U... more Abstract Replacement of food rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) is a well-known dietary strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease while its impact on postprandial blood lipids is less examined. This study assessed the effects of fatty acids composition on the postprandial triglycerides and cholesterol responses. Seventeen randomised controlled trials were identified and pooled analysis results revealed that consumption of a UFAs-rich or an SFAs-rich breakfast meal did not acutely affect postprandial triglycerides and cholesterol responses. However, subgroup analysis observed that triglycerides incremental area under the curve was lower with an SFAs-rich meal (SMD: −0.36; 95% CI: −0.57, −0.15) over a less than 8 h duration, while was higher (SMD: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.05, 1.23) over a longer postprandial duration. It suggests that the postprandial duration is of importance when evaluating the effects of fatty acids composition on blood lipid responses.

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives Quality sleep is essential to health and poor sleep may increase the risk of obesity a... more Objectives Quality sleep is essential to health and poor sleep may increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have reported that macronutrient intakes, such as dietary protein, may be associated with sleep quality. However research, on this relationship in older adults who often exhibit poorer sleep quality is still limited. Therefore, the objective of this research is to assess the association between macronutrient intakes and sleep quality in middle-aged and older population in Singapore. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 104 men and women (59 ± 6 years) were recruited within Singapore. Their food intakes and sleep quality were assessed using 3-day food records and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, respectively. In addition, plasma amino acid concentration was measured from the collected blood samples. The relationship between diet, plasma amino acids and sleep quality were evaluated using multiple linear regression and adjusted for age, BMI...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a novel biomarker of cardiovascular disease, are ... more Objectives Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a novel biomarker of cardiovascular disease, are involved in the maintenance of endothelial homeostasis and vascular repair and the number of EPCs could be altered by dietary modification. Wolfberry is widely known for the potential cardiovascular benefits, however, its impact on EPC count and function is not reported. This study aims to investigate the effect of consuming wolfberry as part of a healthy dietary pattern (HDP) on the number and function of EPCs derived from blood (BOECs). Methods Twenty-four subjects from Singapore were randomized and consumed either HDP only (HDPO; n = 9; mean age 55 ± 3 years) or HDP supplemented with 15 g/day wolfberry (HDPW; n = 15; mean age 56 ± 4 years) for 16 weeks. At pre- and post-intervention, 27 mL peripheral blood was collected from subject for the isolation of BOECs. Immunofluorescence staining with von Willebrand factor (VWF) and flow cytometry analysis with cell surface markers including K...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives The study aimed to investigate the impact of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) consumption a... more Objectives The study aimed to investigate the impact of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) consumption as part of a healthy dietary pattern on cardiovascular health in Singaporean middle-aged and older adults. It was hypothesized that the consumption of wolfberry could further enhance the cardiovascular protective effects of a healthy dietary pattern. Methods This was a 16 week, parallel design, randomized controlled trial where 40 Singaporean men and women (aged 50 to 64 years) received dietary counselling to follow a healthy dietary pattern either with or without 15 g/day of dried whole wolfberry, cooked and consumed as part of their meals. Blood pressure, serum lipid-lipoprotein concentrations and dietary compliance using 3-day food records were monitored every 4 weeks. Further evaluation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers, broadly classified as serological (total nitrate/nitrite, endothelin-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and von-Willebrand ...

Current Developments in Nutrition

Objectives The study aimed to examine the associations between skin carotenoid status and plasma ... more Objectives The study aimed to examine the associations between skin carotenoid status and plasma carotenoids with classical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among a middle-aged and older Singaporean population. It was hypothesized that skin carotenoid status and plasma carotenoids could be used as an indicator for CVD risk. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 45 men and 59 women, aged 50 to 75 years, from a community in Singapore (n = 104). Dietary information was obtained using 3-day food records, skin carotenoid status was measured using resonance Raman spectroscopy and plasma carotenoids were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. CVD risk was determined using classical risk factors including blood pressure (BP), serum lipid-lipoprotein concentrations, as well as overall CVD risk predictors such as the number of metabolic syndrome components and a 10-year CVD risk prediction using the Framingham Heart Study risk score calculator. Results Multiple ...

Nutrition Reviews

Context Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular... more Context Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Beyond increasing FV intake, the incorporation of other healthy dietary changes may help to further attenuate CVD risk. Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of increasing FV intake to > 3 servings daily as well as incorporating other healthy dietary changes on classical CVD risk factors through a systematic review, meta-regression, and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Data Sources The following databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Medline (ProQuest), and Cochrane Library. Data Extraction 82, 24, and 10 articles were selected for the systematic review, meta-regression, and meta-analysis, respectively. Data Analysis Meta-regression analysis showed a dose-dependent response between the number of FV servings consumed in each intervention group and the blood triglyceride change value. Poo...

International Journal of Food Science & Technology

Nutritional Neuroscience

ABSTRACT Essence of chicken (EC) is a dietary supplement with potential benefits on one’s cogniti... more ABSTRACT Essence of chicken (EC) is a dietary supplement with potential benefits on one’s cognitive performance. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of consuming EC on cognitive function, applying extensively represented domains. Six databases were systematically searched to yield 1760 articles. These articles were independently screened to obtain 8 eligible articles with a pooled population of 794 subjects which is more than twice the population size considered in the previous meta-analyses. Largely, favorable effects on cognitive function were observed following daily EC intake, specifically in the working memory domain (standardized mean difference: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.46), one of the core components in executive function which showed statistically significant results. Furthermore, the observed results were also robust to sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses. This suggests that when consumed daily, EC may improve the mental processing aspect of cognitive function amongst the healthy population.

LWT

Abstract This work investigated the compatibility and performance of commercial strains of Saccha... more Abstract This work investigated the compatibility and performance of commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S-04) and Torulaspora delbrueckii (Biodiva) for simultaneous beer fermentation at inoculum ratios 1:2 and 1:20. Based on the fermentation kinetics, metabolic interactions between the strains were evident and dependent on the inoculum ratio. In particular, a marked retardation of strain S-04 was observed at 1:20 ratio while an early cell death of strain Biodiva was noted at 1:2 ratio. The rate of sugar attenuation positively correlated with strain S-04's inoculum size although degree of attenuation and ethanol production for all co-culture beers were comparable to the conventional S-04 monoculture beer. Generally, amino acid assimilation in co-culture beers was more extensive compared to that in both monoculture beers. As for the volatiles, mixed cultures yielded significantly higher amounts of ethyl decanoate and ethyl dodecanoate as well as citronellyl acetate (P

Nutrition

Low glycemic index (GI) diets are recommended to reduce the risk for chronic diseases by managing... more Low glycemic index (GI) diets are recommended to reduce the risk for chronic diseases by managing postprandial elevations in blood glucose and insulin. However, to our knowledge, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate this relationship and interpret its clinical relevance has yet to be performed. This review aims to assess the effect of low versus high GI breakfast meals on postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses in adults. Two researchers independently screened 1100 articles from PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, and Cochrane databases and extracted data from 11 qualified RCTs. Meta-analyses were performed to calculate overall effect sizes of postintervention blood glucose concentration change values at different time points (60, 90, and 120 min) using a random-effects model, reporting their weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Low GI breakfasts significantly reduced postprandial blood glucose concentrations at all time points: 60 min (WMD: -1.32 mmol/L; 95% CIs, -1.64 to -0.99), 90 min (WMD: -0.74 mmol/L; 95% CI, -0.92 to -0.56), and 120 min (WMD: -0.44 mmol/L; 95% CI, -0.63 to -0.26). Further analyses not only indicated similar trends following the stratification of studies according to the glycemic load, but also showed a more pronounced decline in glycemic response among individuals with metabolic impairments. These results highlight the benefits of lowering breakfast meal GI to provide clinically relevant reductions in acute glucose response.