From ocean to emotion: a pilot study exploring acute mood effects following consumption of a DHA-rich powder compared with placebo in middle-aged Australian men.

While there is evidence that long-chain -3 PUFA supplementation benefits mood, the extent to which a single high dose of -3 PUFA can induce acute mood effects has not been examined. The present study investigated whether a single dose of a DHA-rich powder affects self-reported mood in middle-aged males during elevated cognitive demand. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a balanced crossover design, twenty-nine healthy males (age M = 52.

The association between selenium status and global and attention-specific cognition in very old adults in the Newcastle 85+ Study: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Background: Selenium has potential safeguarding properties against cognitive decline, because of its role in protecting DNA, proteins, and lipids in the brain from oxidative damage. However, acute and chronic overexposure to selenium can be neurotoxic.

Objective: The aim of this analysis was to explore the association between selenium status [serum selenium and selenoprotein P (SELENOP) concentrations and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) activity] and cognitive function in 85-y olds living in Northeast England at baseline and ≤5 y of follow-up.

APOE genotype, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation and n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) levels in patients with multiple colorectal polyps: A secondary analysis of the seAFOod polyp prevention trial.

Introduction: We examined the relationship between Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) levels in participants of the seAFOod trial, who were undergoing colonoscopy surveillance after removal of colorectal polyps.

Methods: Baseline and on-treatment (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] 2 g daily or placebo for 6 months) levels of n-3 HUFAs, and plasma 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE), were analysed according to APOE genotype (based on polymorphisms rs429358 and rs7412) in 584 participants.

Results: Before treatment, APOE2/2 individuals had lower levels, and APOE4/4 participants had higher levels, of n-3 HUFAs, including EPA, than APOE3/3 counterparts (P < 0.

Effects of the COVID-19 associated United Kingdom lockdown on physical activity in older adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease: a mixed methods perspective from the MedEx-UK multicenter trial.

Introduction: Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, infections and dementia, as well as placing a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. The implementation of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures aimed at reducing virus transmission posed challenges to the opportunity to be physically active. This study investigates how the first UK COVID-19 lockdown affected objectively measured physical activity in older adults at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Chronic and postprandial effect of blueberries on cognitive function, alertness, and mood in participants with metabolic syndrome - results from a six-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Anthocyanin and blueberry intakes positively associated with cognitive function in population-based studies and cognitive benefits in randomized controlled trials of adults with self-perceived or clinical cognitive dysfunction. To date, adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS) but without cognitive dysfunction are understudied.

Objectives: Cognitive function, mood, alertness, and sleep quality were assessed as secondary end points in MetS participants, postprandially (>24 h) and following 6-mo blueberry intake.

Investigating the synergistic effects of hormone replacement therapy, apolipoprotein E and age on brain health in the UK Biobank.

Global prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease has a strong sex bias, with women representing approximately two-thirds of the patients. Yet, the role of sex-specific risk factors during midlife, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and their interaction with other major risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease, such as apolipoprotein E (APOE)-e4 genotype and age, on brain health remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between HRT (i.

Adherence to the Eatwell Guide and population and planetary health: A Rank Prize Forum report.

This report summarises a Forum conducted in June 2023 to explore the current state of the knowledge around the Eatwell Guide, which is the UK government's healthy eating tool, in relation to population and planetary health. The 1.5-day Forum highlighted the limited, albeit promising evidence linking higher adherence to the Eatwell Guide with favourable health outcomes, including reduced overall mortality risk, lower abdominal obesity in post-menopausal women and improved cardiometabolic health markers.

Towards consistency in dietary pattern scoring: standardising scoring workflows for healthy dietary patterns using 24-h recall and two variations of a food frequency questionnair.

Healthy dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet (MeDi), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) have been evaluated for their potential association with health outcomes. However, the lack of standardisation in scoring methodologies can hinder reproducibility and meaningful cross-study comparisons. Here we provide a reproducible workflow for generating the MeDi, DASH and MIND dietary pattern scores from frequently used dietary assessment tools including the 24-h recall tool and two variations of FFQ.

Perspective: Peer Evaluation of Recommendations for CONSORT Guidelines for Randomized Controlled Trials in Nutrition.

Creating effective dietary guidance requires a rigorous evidence base that is predominantly developed from robust clinical trials or large-scale cohort studies, with the quality of the data available depending on the completeness and accuracy of their reporting. An international group of academics from 14 institutions in 12 different countries and on 5 continents, working on behalf of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies within its "Improving Standards in the Science of Nutrition" initiative, reviewed the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement checklist as it pertains to nutrition trials. This perspective piece documents the procedure followed to gain input and consensus on the checklist previously published by this group, including its presentation and interrogation at the International Union of Nutritional Sciences International Congress of Nutrition 2022 (IUNS-ICN 22), inputs from a survey of journal editors, and its piloting on 8 nutrition trials of diverse designs.

A Mediterranean Diet and Walking Intervention to Reduce Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk in Independently Living Older Australians: The MedWalk Randomized Controlled Trial Experimental Protocol, Including COVID-19 Related Modifications and Baseline Characteristics.

Background: Several clinical trials have examined diet and physical activity lifestyle changes as mitigation strategies for risk factors linked to cognitive decline and dementias such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the ability to modify these behaviors longer term, to impact cognitive health has remained elusive.

Objective: The MedWalk trial's primary aim is to investigate whether longer-term adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet and regular walking, delivered through motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy (MI-CBT), can reduce age-associated cognitive decline and other dementia risk factors in older, independently living individuals without cognitive impairment.

Polymorphisms in Cyclooxygenase, Lipoxygenase, and TP53 Genes Predict Colorectal Polyp Risk Reduction by Aspirin in the seAFOod Polyp Prevention Trial.

Unlabelled: Aspirin and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduce colorectal adenomatous polyp risk and affect synthesis of oxylipins including prostaglandin E2. We investigated whether 35 SNPs in oxylipin metabolism genes such as cyclooxygenase (PTGS) and lipoxygenase (ALOX), as well as 7 SNPs already associated with colorectal cancer risk reduction by aspirin (e.g.

"Taking from Peter to pay Paul": The experience of people in receipt of fuel and food vouchers from a UK foodbank.

For people on very low incomes, household fuel and food environments are increasingly uncertain. Many live in precarious situations with little control over their lives. In addition to food parcels, many foodbanks also supply emergency fuel payments.

Post-Prandial Cognitive and Blood Pressure Effects of a DHA-Rich Omega-3 Powder in Middle-Aged Males: A Pilot Study.

The use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplements is increasingly common among middle-aged and older adults. Users of ω-3 PUFA supplements often report using such supplements to support cognitive health, despite mixed findings reported within the ω-3 PUFA literature. To date, very few studies have explored cognitive effects in distinctly middle-aged (40 to 60 years) adults, and none have examined the acute effects (in the hours following a single dose) on cognitive performance.

The Influence of Genotype, DHA, and Flavanol Intervention on Brain DHA and Lipidomics Profile in Aged Transgenic Mice.

The apolipoprotein E4 () genotype is predictive of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The brain is highly enriched with the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n3-PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA's metabolism is defective in carriers.

A combined DHA-rich fish oil and cocoa flavanols intervention does not improve cognition or brain structure in older adults with memory complaints: results from the CANN randomized, controlled parallel-design study.

Background: There is evidence that both omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and cocoa flavanols can improve cognitive performance in both healthy individuals and in those with memory complaints. However, their combined effect is unknown.

Objectives: To investigate the combined effect of EPA/DHA and cocoa flavanols (OM3FLAV) on cognitive performance and brain structures in older adults with memory complaints.

Perspectives on the application of CONSORT guidelines to randomised controlled trials in nutrition.

Purpose: Reporting guidelines facilitate quality and completeness in research reporting. The CONsolidated Standards Of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement is widely applied to dietary and nutrition trials but has no extension specific to nutrition. Evidence suggests poor reporting in nutrition research.

Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with lower dementia risk, independent of genetic predisposition: findings from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study.

Background: The identification of effective dementia prevention strategies is a major public health priority, due to the enormous and growing societal cost of this condition. Consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been proposed to reduce dementia risk. However, current evidence is inconclusive and is typically derived from small cohorts with limited dementia cases.

Hormone replacement therapy is associated with improved cognition and larger brain volumes in at-risk APOE4 women: results from the European Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease (EPAD) cohort.

Background: The risk of dementia is higher in women than men. The metabolic consequences of estrogen decline during menopause accelerate neuropathology in women. The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the prevention of cognitive decline has shown conflicting results.

Nutrition state of science and dementia prevention: recommendations of the Nutrition for Dementia Prevention Working Group.

Observational studies suggest that nutritional factors have a potential cognitive benefit. However, systematic reviews of randomised trials of dietary and nutritional supplements have reported largely null effects on cognitive outcomes and have highlighted study inconsistencies and other limitations. In this Personal View, the Nutrition for Dementia Prevention Working Group presents what we consider to be limitations in the existing nutrition clinical trials for dementia prevention.

DHA-Enriched Fish Oil Ameliorates Deficits in Cognition Associated with Menopause and the Genotype in Rodents.

Female APOE4 carriers have a greater predisposition to developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared to their male counterparts, which may partly be attributed to menopause. We previously reported that a combination of menopause and APOE4 led to an exacerbation of cognitive and neurological deficits, which were associated with reduced brain DHA and DHA:AA ratio. Here, we explored whether DHA-enriched fish oil (FO) supplementation mitigated the detrimental impact of these risk factors.