Vitamin B12 and Age-Related Cognitive Decline-Dementia and "Alzheimer's Disease".

This article is a commentary on the role of vitamin B in age-related cognitive decline, with a meta-commentary on the misuse of the term "Alzheimer's Disease." The article describes the historical origins of the term "Alzheimer's Disease" and argues that the term should be restricted to a narrower segment of the age-related dementia spectrum. The article also outlines the role of vitamin B in age-related cognitive decline and outlines the rationale for the treatment of B deficiency to address a potentially reversible factor in cognitive decline.

Host Fecal mRNAs Predicted Environmental Enteric Dysfunction among Children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition in Sierra Leone.

Examining the role of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) in child growth requires noninvasive, field-appropriate biomarkers. Alternatives to the traditionally used lactulose:mannitol (L:M) test have been explored, but few studies have compared the L:M test to host fecal mRNA transcripts. The objectives of this study were to examine whether 1) host fecal mRNA transcripts could predict presence and severity of EED, measured using the L:M test, and 2) EED modifies the effect of specialized nutritious foods (SNFs) on recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 4 supplementary foods for treating moderate acute malnutrition: results from a cluster-randomized intervention trial in Sierra Leone.

Background: Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) affects 33 million children annually. Investments in formulations of corn-soy blended flours and lipid-based nutrient supplements have effectively improved MAM recovery rates. Information costs and cost-effectiveness differences are still needed.

Body Composition Changes in Children during Treatment for Moderate Acute Malnutrition: Findings from a 4-Arm Cluster-Randomized Trial in Sierra Leone.

Background: Measures that better describe "healthy" and sustainable recovery during nutritional treatment of children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) are needed.

Objectives: We compared changes to body composition among children receiving 1 of 4 specialized nutritious food (SNFs) during treatment of MAM and by recovery and relapse outcomes.

Methods: The study was nested within a prospective, cluster-randomized, community-based, cost-effectiveness trial assessing 4 SNFs to treat children aged 6-59 mo with MAM [midupper arm circumference (MUAC) ≥11.

Biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction are differently associated with recovery and growth among children with moderate acute malnutrition in Sierra Leone.

Background: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) may influence growth during and recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), however, biomarkers to assess these relations have yet to be identified.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop a score for EED based on host fecal mRNA transcripts, 2) compare biomarkers of EED with each other, and 3) examine associations between the EED biomarkers and recovery from MAM and growth outcomes.

Methods: In a cohort of 520 Sierra Leonean MAM children, biomarkers of EED included the lactulose: mannitol (L: M) test, 15 host fecal mRNA transcripts, and host fecal proteins [α-1-antitrypsin (AAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), neopterin (NEO)].

Cost-Effectiveness of 4 Specialized Nutritious Foods in the Prevention of Stunting and Wasting in Children Aged 6-23 Months in Burkina Faso: A Geographically Randomized Trial.

Background: There is a variety of specialized nutritious foods available for use in programs targeting undernutrition, but evidence supporting the choice of product is limited.

Objectives: We compared the cost-effectiveness of 4 specialized nutritious foods to prevent stunting and wasting in children aged 6-23 mo in Burkina Faso.

Methods: Four geographic regions were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 intervention arms: Corn-Soy Blend Plus (CSB+) programmed with separate fortified vegetable oil (the reference food), Corn-Soy-Whey Blend (CSWB; a new formulation) with oil, SuperCereal Plus (SC+), and ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF).

Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND): Vitamin B-12 Review.

This report on vitamin B-12 (B12) is part of the Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND) Project, which provides state-of-the art information and advice on the selection, use, and interpretation of biomarkers of nutrient exposure, status, and function. As with the other 5 reports in this series, which focused on iodine, folate, zinc, iron, and vitamin A, this B12 report was developed with the assistance of an expert panel (BOND B12 EP) and other experts who provided information during a consultation. The experts reviewed the existing literature in depth in order to consolidate existing relevant information on the biology of B12, including known and possible effects of insufficiency, and available and potential biomarkers of status.

Small Vessel Cerebrovascular Pathology Identified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Prevalent in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Potential Target for Intervention.

Background: There is evidence that Alzheimer's disease (AD) has significant cerebrovascular etiopathogenesis. Understanding potentially modifiable risk factors for vascular disease can help design long-term intervention strategies for controlling or preventing cognitive dysfunction attributable to cerebrovascular disease.

Objective: To evaluate the presence and severity of markers of cerebrovascular pathology, its relationship to diagnostic categories of dementia, including AD, and association with the metabolic biomarker homocysteine.

History of modern nutrition science-implications for current research, dietary guidelines, and food policy.

describe how the history of modern nutrition science has shaped current thinking

Children with Poor Linear Growth Are at Risk for Repeated Relapse to Wasting after Recovery from Moderate Acute Malnutrition.

Background: Nutrition programs frequently approach wasting and stunting as 2 separate conditions with distinct causes and effects. Although several cross-sectional studies have identified an association between the 2 conditions, longitudinal studies are useful to quantify the risk of acute malnutrition based on the trajectory of linear growth.

Objective: We analyzed data from a longitudinal study to explore associations between linear growth and relapse to acute malnutrition in high-risk children during the year after recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).

Household-level factors associated with relapse following discharge from treatment for moderate acute malnutrition.

Factors associated with relapse among children who are discharged after reaching a threshold denoted 'recovered' from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) are not well understood. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with sustained recovery, defined as maintaining a mid-upper-arm circumference≥12·5 cm for 1 year after release from treatment. On the basis of an observational study design, we analysed data from an in-depth household (HH) survey on a sub-sample of participants within a larger cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) that followed up children for 1 year after recovery from MAM.

Homocysteine and Dementia: An International Consensus Statement.

Identification of modifiable risk factors provides a crucial approach to the prevention of dementia. Nutritional or nutrient-dependent risk factors are especially important because dietary modifications or use of dietary supplements may lower the risk factor level. One such risk factor is a raised concentration of the biomarker plasma total homocysteine, which reflects the functional status of three B vitamins (folate, vitamins B12, B6).

Choline and its metabolites are differently associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease, and MRI-documented cerebrovascular disease in older adults.

There is a potential role of choline in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease through its involvement in lipid and one-carbon metabolism. We evaluated the associations of plasma choline and choline-related compounds with cardiometabolic risk factors, history of cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular pathology. A cross-sectional subset of the Nutrition, Aging, and Memory in Elders cohort who had undergone MRI of the brain ( = 296; mean ± SD age: 73 ± 8.

Excessive folic acid intake and relation to adverse health outcome.

The recent increase in the intake of folic acid by the general public through fortified foods and supplements, has raised safety concern based on early reports of adverse health outcome in elderly with low B12 status who took high doses of folic acid. These safety concerns are contrary to the 2015 WHO statement that "high folic acid intake has not reliably been shown to be associated with negative healeffects". In the folic acid post-fortification era, we have shown that in elderly participants in NHANES 1999-2002, high plasma folate level is associated with exacerbation of both clinical (anemia and cognitive impairment) and biochemical (high MMA and high Hcy plasma levels) signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.

The Role of Dairy in Effectiveness and Cost of Treatment of Children With Moderate Acute Malnutrition: A Narrative Review.

Background: Dairy is recommended in specially formulated supplementary foods to treat children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) but with limited evidence and added cost.

Objective: Review studies of ready-to-use foods (RUFs) versus fortified blended foods (FBFs) to determine whether inclusion of dairy modifies the comparative effectiveness and cost.

Methods: We reviewed literature comparing FBF and RUF in treatment of MAM among children younger than 5 years in developing countries.