Assessing the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods in People with Diabetes: Is a Specific NOVA Questionnaire Always Necessary?

Background/objectives: Despite the accumulating evidence on the detrimental impact of UPFs on health, a common limit of the available studies concerns the instruments used to collect information about the consumption of processed foods. Recently, a specific NOVA-FFQ was proposed for the evaluation of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, but it does not allow the simultaneous assessment of energy and nutrient intake. We evaluate the concordance between the NOVA-FFQ and a common questionnaire (EPIC-FFQ) when assessing (1) the intake of foods with different degrees of processing and (2) the relationship between diet composition and cardiometabolic profile.

Turning Wastes into Resources: Red Grape Pomace-Enriched Biscuits with Potential Health-Promoting Properties.

The life-long adherence to a dietary pattern able to provide a high amount of polyphenols demonstrating beneficial cardiometabolic effects is demanding for the general population. In this study, red grape pomace (GP) was used as an ingredient to increase the daily polyphenols' intake. The incorporation of crude crushed GP at 20 and 30% (/) in a control (CTR) biscuit formula improved the nutritional profile by increasing the fiber and reducing lipid and energy content while providing up to 540 mg of polyphenols per 100 g.

Clusters of adipose tissue dysfunction in adults with type 2 diabetes identify those with worse lipidomic profile despite similar glycaemic control.

Aims: To investigate clusters of adipose tissue dysfunction, that is, with adipose tissue insulin resistance (ADIPO-IR) and large waist circumference (WC), identify a worse lipidomic profile characterised by a high proportion of lipids rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA).

Materials And Methods: Hierarchical clustering based on WC and ADIPO-IR (calculated as fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acids times fasting plasma insulin, FFA×INS), was performed in 192 adults with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with metformin (HbA1c = 7.8%).

Feasibility of a Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Program at Nationwide Level in General Practice: A Pilot Study in Italy.

Background: Lifestyle interventions halt the progression of prediabetes to frank type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the feasibility of a diabetes prevention program promoting tailored interventions on a national scale and conducted by primary care physicians is unclear.

Methods: General practitioners located in ten different regions throughout Italy enrolled random subjects without known metabolic diseases to identify individuals with prediabetes and prescribe them an intervention based on physical activity.

MG53 does not mark cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality in subjects with type 2 diabetes: A prospective, observational study.

Aims: Subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are characterized by a high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. MG53, a marker of peripheral insulin resistance, has been linked with impaired β-cell function and decreased β-cell survival, and its circulating levels are increased in T2D. Its relationship with the cardiovascular risk profile and mortality in T2D is currently unknown.

Legume Consumption and Blood Pressure Control in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension: Cross-Sectional Findings from the TOSCA.IT Study.

Background: Our aims were to evaluate the relationship of habitual legume consumption with blood pressure (BP) control in a large cohort of people with T2D and hypertension, and to investigate whether specific nutritional components of legumes or other foods may contribute to regulate BP levels.

Methods: We studied 1897 participants with T2D and hypertension. Dietary habits were assessed through a validated food frequency questionnaire.

Association between Diet Quality and Index of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis in a Large Population of People with Type 2 Diabetes: Data from the TOSCA.IT Study.

Background: There are still open questions with respect to the optimal dietary treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coexisting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this study is to investigate, in patients with T2D, the association between NASH, dietary component intake, food groups and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 2026 people with T2D (1136 men and 890 women).

Good for the heart, good for the Earth: proposal of a dietary pattern able to optimize cardiovascular disease prevention and mitigate climate change.

Background And Aims: Human and planetary health are inextricably interconnected through food systems. Food choices account for 50% of all deaths for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) - the leading cause of death in Europe - and food systems generate up to 37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Methods And Results: Based on a systematic revision of meta-analyses of prospective studies exploring the association between individual foods/food groups and the incidence of CVD, we identified a dietary pattern able to optimize CVD prevention.

Consumption of different animal-based foods and risk of type 2 diabetes: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of prospective studies.

We performed an umbrella review of dose-response meta-analyses of prospective studies reporting the incidence of type 2 diabetes associated with the consumption of animal-based foods. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase according to PRISMA. Thirteen meta-analyses are included in the study providing 175 summary risk ratio estimates.

Performance of 2019 ESC risk classification and the Steno type 1 risk engine in predicting cardiovascular events in adults with type 1 diabetes: A retrospective study.

Aims: The study compares the performance of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) risk criteria and the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine (ST1RE) in the prediction of cardiovascular (CV) events.

Methods: 456 adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were retrospectively studied. During 8.

Consumption of Dairy Foods and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review.

Limited consumption of dairy foods and use of low-fat products is recommended for cardiovascular (CV) prevention; however, other features besides fat content modulate their metabolic effects. We analyze updated evidence on the relationship of different dairy products (low/full-fat dairy, milk, cheese, yogurt) with CVD by reviewing meta-analyses of cohort studies and individual prospective cohort studies with CV hard endpoints (CVD/CHD incidence/mortality), together with meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials exploring the effect of dairy on major CV risk factors. The analyses provide evidence that moderate dairy consumption (up to 200 g/day, globally) has no detrimental effects on CV health and that their effect depends more on the food type (cheese, yogurt, milk) than on the fat content.

Relations between the Consumption of Fatty or Lean Fish and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Fish consumption is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) partly ascribed to the high content of long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFAs; however, not all fish types are equally rich in these components. To date, it is not clear whether the beneficial effects of fish consumption are shared by fatty and lean fish. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize knowledge regarding the relation between the intake of fatty fish or lean fish and the risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

Effectiveness on major cardiovascular risk factors of an educational program to promote a Mediterranean type of diet among the employees of the company FCA Italia S.p.A.

Aims: The educational program implemented at the Pratola Serra (Avellino, Italy) facility of the company FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), had as its goal to raise awareness among people to adopt behaviors inspired by the principles of a Mediterranean diet, physical activity and prevention of the main cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: The educational program was implemented in two different ways in order to compare, according to an intervention-control scheme, the performance of the subgroups and the effect of the types of intervention. On both groups measurements of the vital parameters were carried out and compared by means of statistical probabilistic tests.

Pioglitazone even at low dosage improves NAFLD in type 2 diabetes: clinical and pathophysiological insights from a subgroup of the TOSCA.IT randomised trial.

Aims: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) share pathophysiological mechanisms and possible therapeutic strategies. We evaluated the effects of 1-year treatment with pioglitazone or sulphonylureas on indirect indices of NAFLD in people with T2D and the role of insulin-resistance and glucotoxicity in determining these effects.

Methods: Patients with T2D (n = 195) aged 50-75 years, poorly controlled with metformin 2 g/day, were randomly allocated to add-on pioglitazone (n = 98) or sulphonylureas (n = 97) within the TOSCA.

Dietary recommendations for prevention of atherosclerosis.

This review aims at summarizing updated evidence on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk associated with consumption of specific food items to substantiate dietary strategies for atherosclerosis prevention. A systematic search on PubMed was performed to identify meta-analyses of cohort studies and RCTs with CVD outcomes. The evidence is highly concordant in showing that, for the healthy adult population, low consumption of salt and foods of animal origin, and increased intake of plant-based foods-whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts-are linked with reduced atherosclerosis risk.

Initial treatment of diabetes in Italy. A nationwide population-based study from of the ARNO Diabetes Observatory.

Background And Aims: To investigate diabetes treatment initiation and continuation in the next sixth months in newly diagnosed Italian subjects.

Methods And Results: We analyzed administrative claims of 11,300,750 Italian residents. Subjects with incident diabetes were identified by glucose lowering drug prescriptions, disease-specific co-payment exemptions and hospital discharge codes occurring in 2018 but not in 2017.

Incidence of diabetes mellitus in Italy in year 2018. A nationwide population-based study of the ARNO Diabetes Observatory.

Backgrounds And Aims: To assess incidence of diabetes in Italy in 2018 by the use of administrative claims from several million residents. Differences in rates in men and women across decades of age were investigated. Incident rates of insulin or noninsulin treated subjects were also examined.

Comorbidity in an Older Population with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: Identification of the Characteristics and Healthcare Utilization of High-Cost Patients.

Little is known about the specific comorbidities contributing to higher costs in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly in older cases. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence, type, and cost of comorbidities occurring in older T2DM patients versus older non-T2DM patients, and the factors associated with high cost (HC) T2DM patients. Retrospective cohort study using information from the Campania Region healthcare database.

White Meat Consumption, All-Cause Mortality, and Cardiovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

The association of meat consumption with mortality and morbidity for non-communicable diseases has been extensively studied. However, the relation of white meat consumption with health outcomes remains controversial. The present meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively analyze the available evidence on the consistency and strength of the association between the consumption of white meat, death from any cause and incidence of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular (CV) events.

Recent Trends in Dietary Habits of the Italian Population: Potential Impact on Health and the Environment.

Population growth, globalization, urbanization, and economic pressures are causing changes in food consumption all over the world. The study's aims are (1) to evaluate trends in food habits in Italy to highlight deviations from the traditional Mediterranean diet, (2) to analyze the features of the present Italian diet that should be modified to meet evidence-based global scientific targets for a healthy and sustainable diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission. Trends in food availability for human consumption during the period 2000-2017 were assessed using the food balance sheets (FBSs).

Dietary inflammatory index score, glucose control and cardiovascular risk factors profile in people with type 2 diabetes.

We examined the relationships between the dietary inflammatory index (DII), dietary habits and cardiovascular risk factor profiles in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII™) scores were calculated from a Food Frequency Questionnaire in 2568 T2DM patients from different parts of Italy. Analyses were conducted according to quartiles of sex-specific E-DII scores.