Assessing the effect of anthocyanins through diet and supplementation on cognitive function in older adults at risk for dementia: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Promising evidence is emerging for the procognitive, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of dietary flavonoids, particularly anthocyanins that provide red, purple and blue plant pigments.

Methods And Analysis: The 'Food for Thought' study is a multicentre, 6-month randomised, parallel 3-arm clinical trial. Its primary aim is to investigate whether anthocyanin consumption, either through diet or supplementation, can prevent memory loss progression and improve inflammatory and cardiovascular health in older adults at risk for dementia.

Lifestyle Interventions, Kidney Disease Progression, and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Rationale & Objective: Poor dietary patterns and low physical activity levels are important lifestyle-related factors that contribute to negative health outcomes in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Previous systematic reviews have not explicitly focused on these lifestyle factors, nor undertaken meta-analyses of any effects. We aimed to evaluate the effect of lifestyle interventions (such as diet, exercise, and other lifestyle-related interventions) on the risk factors for and progression of CKD and the quality of life.

Anthocyanin intake is associated with improved memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Research on the role of dietary anthocyanins in preventing cognitive decline in older adults shows promise. This study investigated the association between usual anthocyanin intake and indices of memory and cognition in 40 older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment that were recruited to a randomized clinical trial. It was hypothesized that daily anthocyanin intake would be similar to healthy older adults and that higher anthocyanin intake would be associated with better cognitive performance.

Model of nutritional care in older adults: improving the identification and management of malnutrition using the Mini Nutritional Assessment–Short Form (MNA-SF) in general practice.

Despite clinical guidelines recommending routine nutrition screening, malnutrition in community-living older adults remains under-recognised. This study evaluated the uptake of a model of nutritional care in older adults designed to improve the identification and management of malnutrition. A pragmatic quasi-experimental study was conducted in eight general practices in regional New South Wales between January 2017 and June 2018.

Identifying trends over time in food affordability: The Illawarra Healthy Food Basket survey, 2011-2019.

Objective: To determine the affordability of a healthy food basket (HFB) for welfare recipients and average income earners in 2019 and to compare trends from 2011.

Methods: Fifty-seven food items' prices were collected from fifteen stores across five suburbs representing low, medium and high socio-economic status. Costs were compared with average weekly income and welfare payments to assess the baskets' affordability for a family of four and five.

Nutritional screening and intervention of older adults living in the community referred by the My Aged Care online portal.

Objective: To assess whether nutritional screening and intervention improve the nutritional status of older adults living in the community.

Methods: The Kiama MOW service performed nutrition screening, after being trained by the research team and maintained the dataset. De-identified data was provided to the research team for analysis.

Food anthocyanins decrease concentrations of TNF-α in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trial.

Background & Aims: Vascular function, blood pressure and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of major chronic diseases, including both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study investigated the effects of food anthocyanins on microvascular function, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and inflammatory biomarkers in older adults with MCI.

Methods And Results: Thirty-one participants with MCI [19 female, 12 male, mean age 75.

Association between flavonoid intake and risk of hypertension in two cohorts of Australian women: a longitudinal study.

Purpose: Epidemiological evidence suggests higher dietary flavonoid intake is associated with lower risk of several chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between intake of flavonoids and their subclasses, and incidence of hypertension among Australian women in two age cohorts.

Methods: This population-based study included 6599 middle-aged (52.

Anthocyanins attenuate vascular and inflammatory responses to a high fat high energy meal challenge in overweight older adults: A cross-over, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Background & Aims: Postprandial metabolic imbalances are important indicators of later developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study investigated the effects of food anthocyanins on vascular and microvascular function, and CVD associated biomarkers following a high fat high energy (HFHE) meal challenge in overweight older adults.

Methods: Sixteen subjects (13 female, 3 male, mean age 65.

Low anthocyanin plum nectar does not impact cognition, blood pressure and gut microbiota in healthy older adults: A randomized crossover trial.

Queen Garnet plum (QGP), known for its high levels of anthocyanins, is a hybrid of the Japanese plum developed in Queensland, Australia. Anthocyanins provide the red, blue, and purple pigments in plants with demonstrated beneficial health effects. This study hypothesized that low-dose anthocyanin QGP intake will have a significant positive effect on cognition, blood pressure, and gut microbiota in healthy older adults.

Audit of the national meal guidelines for home-delivered and centre-based meal programs.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the National Meal Guidelines on service providers and caterers involved in home-delivered and centre-based meal programs in Australia.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted to explore the uptake of the guidelines by participants and evaluate the impact on their practice. Closed questions were analysed using χ and Fisher's exact tests, while open-ended questions underwent thematic analysis to identify key themes.

The Postprandial Effect of Anthocyanins on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: a Systematic Literature Review of High-Fat Meal Challenge Studies.

Purpose Of Review: Recurrent post-prandial metabolic imbalances are important contributing factors to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study evaluated whether anthocyanin consumption attenuates the deleterious postprandial response of high-fat meals on CVD risk factors including blood pressure, vascular endothelial function, lipid profile and biomarkers related to oxidative stress, antioxidant status and immune response.

Recent Findings: Five electronic databases were searched up to the period of 1 February 2020, yielding 13 eligible studies, including randomised or cross-over clinical trials (18-59 years of age), using PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration: CRD42019126265).

Effects of inulin-type fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides and related synbiotics on inflammatory markers in adult patients with overweight or obesity: A systematic review.

Background & Aims: Studies in humans with overweight or obesity have reported that some prebiotics and synbiotics have beneficial effects on metabolic endotoxaemia and immune function. However, to date, no systematic review of controlled clinical trials assessed this topic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inulin-type fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides and related synbiotics on inflammatory markers in adults with overweight or obesity.

Vegetarian diets and gut microbiota: important shifts in markers of metabolism and cardiovascular disease.

Vegetarian diets have been associated with a lower incidence of several chronic diseases. The benefits of plant-based diets are related mainly to the improvement of metabolic parameters that can indicate risk for such diseases. Some metabolic factors, such as oxidative balance, lipid profile, and glucose homeostasis, can be improved directly by diet, but paradoxically, some characteristics of vegetarian diets may promote a negative scenario that increases the risk of certain chronic diseases.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prebiotics and synbiotics effects on glycaemia, insulin concentrations and lipid parameters in adult patients with overweight or obesity.

Background & Aims: Several studies have reported the effects of prebiotics and synbiotics supplementation in lipid profile and glucose homeostasis, however a pooled analysis of clinical trials that assessed these parameters has not been performed in overweight or obese individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prebiotics and synbiotics on plasma lipid profile, fasting insulin and fasting glucose in adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials were systematically searched before May 2014 in electronic databases and screening reference lists.