David JA Jenkins, MD, Ph.D, D.Sc

BackgroundThe effects of plant-based milk consumption on the growth of children are unclear.ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the relationship between plant-based milk consumption and BMI in childhood. Secondary objectives were to examine the association with height and whether these relationships are mediated by dairy milk intake and modified by age or the type of plant-based milk consumed.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted in healthy children aged 1–10 y through the TARGet Kids! primary care research network in Toronto, Canada. Linear mixed-effect modeling and logistic generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between plant-based milk consumption (number of 250 mL cups/d) and BMI. A mediation analysis was conducted to examine whether dairy milk intake mediated these relationships. Effect modification by age and type of plant-based milk was …

BackgroundA significant aspect of the SARS-CoV-2 pathology involves oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between the production of harmful free radicals and the body's antioxidant defences. With the ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the investigation into non-virus-specific therapeutic options, such as antioxidant therapy, has gained importance.ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarize data from randomized control trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of antioxidant therapy in patients with SARS-CoV-2.MethodsWe searched the peer-reviewed indexed literature on MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Scopus, from inception to July 2023.ResultsThe search identified 3306 articles from which 25 were included for quantitative synthesis, with five studies …

Background: A cholesterol-lowering diet score was previously developed for epidemiological studies; its association with serum lipid profile was not confirmed yet. Methods: The score was developed as an adaptation of the dietary portfolio for cholesterol reduction, assigning one point for adherence to seven dietary indicators and ranging from 0 (null adherence) to 7 (highest adherence). The score was calculated for breast cancer patients enrolled in the DEDiCa study using a 7-day food record; serum lipid profile, including total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was evaluated in serum at baseline. Results: Patients with the highest adherence to the cholesterol-lowering diet (i.e., score ≥ 4) reported lower LDL-C level than women with score 0–1 (median: 107 mg/dL and 122 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.01). The proportion of women with LDL-C above the recommended limit of 116 mg/dL was 60.0% with score 0–1 and 42.6% with score ≥4. Although the score directly correlates with consumption of foods from vegetal sources, it was mildly associated with the healthful plant-based diet index (r-Spearman = 0.51) and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (r-Spearman = 0.30) Conclusions: These results provide experimental evidence that the cholesterol-lowering diet score is capable of detecting a specific plant-based dietary pattern that affects circulating cholesterol levels.

BackgroundDespite dietary recommendations to consume more plant foods for public and planetary health and the role that soy foods can play in plant-predominant diets, controversies around the effects of soy foods and their components, especially isoflavones, are a barrier to their intake. Given the cardioprotective effects and ability to alleviate menopausal symptoms, addressing this issue is particularly relevant to women. We therefore undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in postmenopausal women to determine the effect of soy isoflavones on measures of estrogenicity.MethodsMEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched through July 2023 for randomized controlled trials 3-months investigating soy isoflavones versus non-isoflavone controls in postmenopausal women. The four outcomes included endometrial thickness (ET), vaginal maturation index (VMI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol. Independent authors extracted data and assessed risk of bias. GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation) was used to assess certainty of evidence.ResultsWe included 40 trials (52 trial comparisons, n= 3285) assessing the effect of a median daily dose of 75 mg of soy isoflavones in substitution for non-isoflavone control over a median of 24 weeks. Isoflavones had no statistically significant effects on any of the measures of estrogenicity; ET (mean difference,-0.22 mm [95% confidence interval,-0.45 to 0.01 mm], P MD= 0.059), VMI (2.31 [-2.14 to 6.75], P MD= 0.310), FSH (-0.02 IU/L [-2.39 to 2.35 IU/L], P MD= 0.987), and estradiol (1.61 pmol/L [-1 …

BackgroundThere is debate over whether the glycaemic index of foods relates to chronic disease. We aimed to assess the associations between glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, diabetes-related cancers, and all-cause mortality.MethodsWe did a meta-analysis of large cohorts (≥100 000 participants) identified from the Richard Doll Consortium. We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for cohorts that prospectively examined associations between GI or GL and chronic disease outcomes published from database inception to Aug 4, 2023. Full-article review and extraction of summary estimates data were conducted by three independent reviewers. Primary outcomes were incident type 2 diabetes, total cardiovascular disease (including mortality), diabetes-related cancers (ie, bladder, breast, colorectal …

BackgroundInulin-type fructans (ITF) are the leading prebiotics in the market. Available evidence provides conflicting results regarding the beneficial effects of ITF on cardiovascular disease risk factors.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of ITF supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Emcare, AMED, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases from inception through May 15, 2022. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) administered ITF or placebo (for example, control, foods, diets) to adults for ≥2 weeks and reported one or more of the following: low, very-low, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, VLDL-C, HDL-C); total cholesterol; apolipoprotein A1 or B; triglycerides; fasting blood glucose; body mass index; body weight; waist circumference; waist-to-hip ratio; systolic or diastolic blood pressure; or hemoglobin A1c …

BackgroundGiven the urgency of transitioning towards sustainable nutrition, dietary shifts that provide co-benefits to human health and the environment are imperative. There is currently no database of the environmental impacts of foods that reflects Canada's unique geographical and agri-climatic context and regional inputs and emissions. To determine sustainable diets, harmonising nutritional considerations with environmental impacts is also essential for an equitable comparison of foods. We aimed to develop a Canadian Food Life Cycle Inventory database and a multidimensional index to enable a joint assessment of the health and environmental impacts of foods in Canada.MethodsThe Canadian Food Life Cycle Inventory database uses life cycle assessment methodology to evaluate environmental impacts. The datasets mirror Canada's food consumption patterns, averaging the spectrum of agricultural …

They have suggested that the National Academes of Sciences (NAS) has criticized the DGAC/DGA for a lack of sound science in recommending a low saturated fat and more plant based diet for Americans [1].We note that NAS stress that the findings of their report “should NOT be considered as judgments about the quality of prior DGA or DGAC reports”[1]. It is also worth noting that the submissions to the DGA were both for and against a shift to a more plant based diet but that on the issue of sustainability most submissions supported its inclusion in Guidelines [1].