Eggs, Dietary Choline, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Eggs are rich in bioactive compounds, including choline and carotenoids that may benefit cardiometabolic outcomes. However, little is known about their relationship with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Objectives: We investigated the association between intakes of eggs and selected egg-rich nutrients (choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin) and NAFLD risk and changes in liver fat over ∼6 y of follow-up in the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation cohorts.

Eggs and a Fiber-Rich Diet Are Beneficially Associated with Lipid Levels in Framingham Offspring Study Adults.

Background: For many years, United States' dietary policy recommended limiting egg intake to no more than 3/wk in the belief that restricting dietary cholesterol would lower plasma cholesterol levels and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The evidence supporting these recommendations is controversial.

Objectives: To examine the impact of eggs, a major contributor to dietary cholesterol intake, on lipid levels and to determine whether these egg effects are modified by other healthy dietary factors in adults.

Dietary fat intakes, lipid profiles, adiposity, inflammation, and glucose in women and men in the Framingham Offspring Cohort.

The role of dietary fat in the evolution of cardiometabolic disorders is highly controversial. As both dietary intake and the development of cardiometabolic risk differ by sex, we evaluated sex-specific differences in the associations between dietary fats (saturated and unsaturated) and four key cardiometabolic risk factors-lipid profiles, body fat, inflammation, and glucose regulation. We included 2391 women and men aged ≥30 years in the prospective Framingham Offspring Cohort.

Integrative Mendelian randomization reveals the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products as protective in relation to rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Given the critical roles of the immune system and inflammatory signals in the pathogenesis of CVD, we hypothesized that interrogation of CVD-related proteins using integrative genomics might provide new insights into the pathophysiology of RA. We utilized two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) for causal inference between circulating protein levels and RA by incorporating genetic variants, followed by colocalization to characterize the causal associations.

Indices of Mediterranean diet adherence and breast cancer risk in a community-based cohort.

Introduction: A Mediterranean-style dietary pattern is believed to have cancer-protective effects. We compared the prospective associations between adherence to four established Mediterranean diet indices and breast cancer risk (including total, postmenopausal, and hormone receptor positive cases) in women in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Methods: The four indices used two different approaches to measuring adherence to a Mediterranean diet: (a) scores based on the population-specific median intakes of Mediterranean diet-related foods in a given population (i.

Dairy Foods, Weight Change, and Risk of Obesity During the Menopausal Transition.

Background: Weight gain during the menopausal transition is common. Dairy consumption may impact weight change during this critical period, and different dairy foods may have different effects.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations of different types of dairy foods with weight gain and risk of obesity in perimenopausal women from the Nurses' Health Study II cohort.

Egg Intake Is Associated with Lower Risks of Impaired Fasting Glucose and High Blood Pressure in Framingham Offspring Study Adults.

The association between egg consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure (HBP) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) is still under debate. This study examines the association between egg consumption and these outcomes among 2349 30-64 year-old adults in the prospective Framingham Offspring Study. Diet was assessed using three-day dietary records.

Dairy Food Intakes, Postpartum Weight Retention, and Risk of Obesity.

Excessive postpartum weight retention puts women at risk for health problems. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dairy foods on weight retention and risk of obesity in postpartum women in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Weight was reported every 2 years.

Saturated fat from dairy sources is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Background: Current dietary guidance recommends limiting intakes of saturated fats, but most fails to consider that saturated fats from different food sources may have different health effects.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the associations of saturated fats from dairy and nondairy sources with measures of body fat, inflammatory biomarkers, lipid concentrations, and lipid particle sizes and concentrations.

Methods: The Framingham Offspring Study is a prospective cohort study.

Potato consumption is not associated with cardiometabolic health outcomes in Framingham Offspring Study adults.

Some consider potatoes to be unhealthy vegetables that may contribute to adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes. We evaluated the association between potato consumption (including fried and non-fried types) and three key cardiometabolic outcomes among middle-aged and older adults in the Framingham Offspring Study. We included 2523 subjects ≥30 years of age with available dietary data from 3-d food records.

Adherence to a Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern and Cancer Risk in a Prospective Cohort Study.

A Mediterranean-style diet is a healthy eating pattern that may benefit cancer risk, but evidence among Americans is scarce. We examined the prospective association between adherence to such a diet pattern and total cancer risk. A Mediterranean-style dietary pattern (MSDP) score was derived from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at exam 5 (1991-1995).

Potato consumption is not associated with elevated cardiometabolic risk in adolescent girls.

We examined the association between potato consumption in two different age periods during adolescence and risk of obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction in White and Black girls. We used data from the biracial prospective National Growth and Health Study. Average potato consumption was derived from multiple 3-d food records in two age periods, 9-11 and 9-17 years, and included white and sweet potatoes from all sources.

Yogurt Consumption Is Associated with Lower Levels of Chronic Inflammation in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Some studies suggest that dairy foods may be linked with less chronic inflammation. However, few studies have investigated the separate effects of different types of dairy on inflammation. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the separate prospective impacts of milk, yogurt and cheese on biomarkers of chronic inflammation in 1753 community-dwelling participants of the Framingham Offspring Study (FOS).

Higher Intakes of Potassium and Magnesium, but Not Lower Sodium, Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in the Framingham Offspring Study.

We explored the dose-response relations of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in the Framingham Offspring Study, as well as the combined effects of these minerals. Analyses included 2362 30-64 year-old men and women free of CVD at baseline. Cox proportional-hazards models were used estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mineral intakes and incident CVD.

Cardiovascular health decline in adolescent girls in the NGHS cohort, 1987-1997.

Adolescence is a critical time for the preservation or loss of cardiovascular health. We aimed to describe trajectories of cardiovascular health in adolescent girls and identify early adolescent factors associated with cardiovascular health in young adulthood. We used data from the National Growth and Health Study, a longitudinal cohort of 2,379 girls followed annually from ages 9-19 years.

Salt and cardiovascular disease: insufficient evidence to recommend low sodium intake.

Several blood pressure guidelines recommend low sodium intake (<2.3 g/day, 100 mmol, 5.8 g/day of salt) for the entire population, on the premise that reductions in sodium intake, irrespective of the levels, will lower blood pressure, and, in turn, reduce cardiovascular disease occurrence.

Dietary Patterns, Ceramide Ratios, and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: The Framingham Offspring Study.

Background: Prior evidence suggests that diet modifies the association of blood ceramides with the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). It remains unknown if diet quality modifies the association of very long-chain-to-long-chain ceramide ratios with mortality in the community.

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine how healthy dietary patterns associate with blood ceramide concentrations and to examine if healthy dietary patterns modify associations of ceramide ratios (C22:0/C16:0 and C24:0/C16:0) with all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Animal protein intake reduces risk of functional impairment and strength loss in older adults.

Background & Aims: Protein intake has been shown to lower risk of aging-related functional decline. The goal of this study was to assess long-term effects of weight-adjusted animal (AP) and plant protein (PP) intakes on aging-related change in functional status and grip strength.

Methods: Framingham Offspring Study participants (n = 1896, 891 men and 1005 women), ≥age 50, were followed for an average of 14.

Changes to dietary and health outcomes following implementation of the 2012 updated US Department of Agriculture school nutrition standards: analysis using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2016.

Objective: In 2012, the US government overhauled school nutrition standards, but few studies have evaluated the effects of these standards at the national level. The current study examines the impact of the updated school nutrition standards on dietary and health outcomes of schoolchildren in a nationally representative data set.

Design: Difference-in-differences.

A pragmatic approach to the comparison of wrist-based cutpoints of physical activity intensity for the MotionWatch8 accelerometer in children.

Background: A variety of wearable monitors are available for objectively assessing physical activity but there is a lack of established values for the activity intensity of MotionWatch8 (MW8) and a similar lack of studies on comparability across devices. Our study aimed to establish activity intensity cutpoints for the MW8 accelerometer in children, which are necessary to determine whether they are meeting physical activity guidelines.

Methods: Children (n = 39, ages 9-13 years) were asked to wear two different accelerometers (MW8 and ActiGraph) simultaneously on the same dominant wrist as they performed different activities designed to mimic activities of variable intensity that a child might perform in a free-living environment.

A longitudinal study of fruit juice consumption during preschool years and subsequent diet quality and BMI.

Background: The role of fruit juice in pediatric dietary guidelines continues to be controversial, particularly with respect to concerns about unhealthy dietary habits and the potential promotion of excessive weight gain. The objective of the current study was to determine the association between preschool fruit juice consumption and the following outcomes during childhood and adolescence: whole and total fruit intake, diet quality, likelihood of meeting current dietary recommendations, and BMI change.

Methods: The data were previously collected from 100 children enrolled in the Framingham Children's Study at 3-6 years of age and subsequently followed for 10 years.

Anthropometric measures of body fat and obesity-related cancer risk: sex-specific differences in Framingham Offspring Study adults.

Background/objective: Obesity has been associated with the risk of developing certain cancers. A limited number of studies have examined effects of various anthropometric measures of body composition on cancer risk. The aim of this study was to estimate the sex-specific effects of various anthropometric measures on risk of obesity-related cancers (ObCa).

Cumulative sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with higher concentrations of circulating ceramides in the Framingham Offspring Cohort.

Background: Ceramides have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Limited data exist on how habitual dietary intake of foods that can alter hepatic lipid metabolism may influence circulating ceramide concentrations.

Objectives: We investigated the cross-sectional association of cumulative sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption with concentrations of 3 circulating ceramides and ceramide ratios.

Egg Intake Has No Adverse Association With Blood Lipids Or Glucose In Adolescent Girls.

Objective: Longitudinal data on cardiometabolic effects of egg intake during adolescence are lacking. The current analyses aim to evaluate the impact of usual adolescent egg consumption on lipid levels, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance during late adolescence (age 17-20 years).

Methods: Data from 1392 girls, aged 9 to 10 at baseline and followed for 10 years, in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National Growth and Health Study were used to examine the association between usual egg intake alone and in combination with other healthy lifestyle factors and late adolescent lipid levels, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance, measured as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).