Daily Archives: 21 June 2024

Regular Consumption of Kimchi Linked to Reduced Obesity Risk

Kimchi, a beloved staple of Korean cuisine, is not just a dish, but a cultural icon. Its unique preparation involves the fermentation of vegetables like cabbage and radish, combined with seasonings such as onion, garlic, and fish sauce. This fermentation process not only preserves the vegetables but also enhances their nutritional value, making kimchi a low-calorie, high-fibre, and vitamin-rich food. The presence of microbiome-friendly lactic acid bacteria and beneficial polyphenols further contribute to its health benefits.

Recent experimental studies have spotlighted certain strains of bacteria found in kimchi, such as Lactobacillus brevis and L. plantarum, which exhibit potential anti-obesity effects. To explore this further, researchers investigated whether regular kimchi consumption might correlate with reduced risks of overall and abdominal obesity, both significant health concerns.

The data for this study were meticulously collected from the Health Examinees (HEXA) study, a robust research initiative involving a substantial sample size of 115,726 participants (36,756 men and 78,970 women, average age 51). This community-based, longitudinal study is part of the larger Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, which aims to identify environmental and genetic factors influencing chronic conditions among Korean adults over 40. The comprehensive nature of this study ensures the reliability of the findings.

Participants’ dietary habits were assessed using a 106-item food frequency questionnaire, which captured their consumption patterns over the previous year. Various types of kimchi, including baechu (cabbage), kkakdugi (radish), Babak, dongchimi, and others, were quantified based on typical portion sizes.

Anthropometric measurements such as height, weight (used to calculate BMI), and waist circumference were recorded. Obesity was defined by a BMI exceeding 25, while abdominal obesity was indicated by waist circumferences of at least 90 cm for men and 85 cm for women. Notably, 36% of men and 25% of women in the study were classified as obese.

The study’s findings revealed a unique ‘J-shaped’ association between kimchi consumption and obesity. While higher kimchi consumption was associated with increased intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein, fat, sodium, and rice, moderate consumption showed significant benefits. Participants who consumed up to three daily servings of kimchi demonstrated an 11% lower prevalence of obesity compared to those consuming less than one serving daily. This ‘J-shaped’ association underscores the importance of moderation in kimchi consumption for health benefits.

Among men, consuming three or more daily servings of baechu kimchi was associated with a 10% lower prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity. In women, consuming two to three daily baechu kimchi was linked to an 8% lower prevalence of obesity, while one to two servings correlated with a 6% lower prevalence of abdominal obesity.

Lower-than-average consumption of kkakdugi kimchi showed around a 9% lower prevalence of obesity in both sexes. Daily intake of 25 grams among men and 11 grams among women was associated with an 8% to 11% reduction in abdominal obesity risk compared to non-consumers.

The study’s observational nature precludes establishing causation, and limitations include potential inaccuracies in self-reported dietary intake and the study’s applicability primarily to Korean populations. Concerns over kimchi’s sodium content were noted, although the potassium content in fermented vegetables may mitigate these effects.

Researchers caution against excessive kimchi consumption due to its potential to increase obesity prevalence, particularly highlighting its role as a significant source of dietary sodium. They recommend moderate consumption to maximise the health benefits associated with its nutritional components.

More information: Hyein Jung et al, Association between kimchi consumption and obesity based on BMI and abdominal obesity in Korean adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the Health Examinees study, BMJ Open. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076650

Journal information: BMJ Open Provided by BMJ Group

Orienteering: A Powerful Ally Against Dementia, Enhancing Both Brain and Physical Health for Speedy Participants

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The sport of orienteering, a unique blend of physical exercise and challenging navigation tasks, has the potential to offer more than just physical benefits, as recent research by kinesiologists at McMaster University suggests. This study indicates that the more intense the orienteering activity, the greater the cognitive benefits, potentially serving as a powerful tool in the fight against cognitive decline, dementia, and serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This research, a continuation of a 2023 study, delves into the mental effects of orienteering at various levels of intensity, offering a glimmer of hope for the future of cognitive health.

The researchers chose orienteering as their focus because it requires participants to rapidly navigate a series of checkpoints across unknown terrain using only a map and compass. Orienteering demands focused attention and quick decision-making based on spatial information, which engages the hippocampus—a part of the brain particularly vulnerable to age-related decline. Degeneration in the hippocampus can negatively impact learning, memory, and spatial cognition. “Remarkably, even a single session of orienteering improved spatial memory in our study participants,” says lead author Emma Waddington, a graduate student in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster, who conducted the study with colleagues from Western University. “This suggests that even occasional participation in orienteering could enhance spatial abilities and potentially delay their decline with age.”

For the study, recently published in the journal PLOS One, groups of active, healthy young adults with no prior orienteering experience navigated a course on the McMaster campus. Some participants walked the course, while others ran. A control group exercised vigorously without any navigation tasks. Researchers used blood samples to measure participants’ lactate levels, an indicator of exercise intensity, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes brain plasticity. They also tested memory performance before and after the sessions. The findings showed that running increased lactate, BDNF, and memory performance more than walking, with notable benefits for spatial memory in those running while orienteering.

Losing the ability to navigate and find one’s way is among the earliest and most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, affecting half of all individuals, even in the mildest stages. “With no known cure for dementia, preventative measures that can help stave off age-related cognitive decline are essential,” says Jennifer Heisz, Canada Research Chair in Brain Health and Aging at McMaster University, who supervised the research. Modern-day reliance on GPS-guided vehicles may mean that many people rarely use their natural wayfinding skills, potentially leading to deficits in spatial memory and a diminished sense of direction. Orienteering could help revive these skills, Heisz notes. Exploring the long-term effects of orienteering on human cognition and its impact across different age groups remains a vital area for future research.

More information: Emma E. Waddington et al, Orienteering combines vigorous-intensity exercise with navigation to improve human cognition and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor, PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303785

Journal information: PLoS ONE Provided by McMaster University

Early Life Heat and Cold Exposure: Effects on Brain White Matter Development

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A recent study involving over 2,000 preadolescents suggests that exposure to heat and cold during early life may significantly impact the microstructure of white matter in the brain, particularly for children residing in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Published in Nature Climate Change, the research underscores the vulnerability of foetuses and young children to extreme temperatures, highlighting implications for their long-term neurodevelopmental health. Led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and IDIBELL, in collaboration with Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (ERASMUS MC) and the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), the study examines associations between temperature exposure and brain structure, using data from the Generation R Study in Rotterdam.

In the current climate emergency context, the study illuminates the alarming vulnerability of children to temperature fluctuations. Their developing thermoregulatory systems, still maturing during early life stages, make them particularly susceptible to these variations.

Mònica Guxens, a researcher at ISGlobal, Erasmus MC, and CIBERESP, explains, “The developing brain of foetuses and children is highly susceptible to environmental exposures. While preliminary evidence suggests that exposure to heat and cold can affect mental well-being and cognitive performance, studies evaluating structural brain changes due to these exposures are limited.”

The study, led by Guxens, focused on the white matter structure in preadolescent brains to pinpoint vulnerable periods to temperature exposure during early life. The researchers used advanced MRI techniques to assess brain connectivity by analysing water diffusion patterns in white matter. Specifically, they measured mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy—markers of white matter maturation and integrity.

The findings reveal that exposure to cold during pregnancy and the first year of life and heat from birth to three years old correlated with higher mean diffusivity in preadolescents. This suggests slower maturation of white matter, which is crucial for efficient communication between brain regions. Laura Granés, IDIBELL and ISGlobal researcher and study first author, notes, “White matter fibres facilitate brain communication, and our study indicates that exposure to extreme temperatures may delay this process.”

The study highlights that the most significant changes in brain connectivity parameters occur during early childhood, underscoring the vulnerability of this developmental phase to environmental influences. Carles Soriano, co-author and researcher at IDIBELL, UB, and CIBERSAM, adds, “Our results suggest that temperature exposure during rapid brain development stages may have enduring effects on white matter microstructure.”

Interestingly, no association was found between early life temperature exposure and fractional anisotropy at ages 9-12. The researchers propose that mean diffusivity may provide a more reliable indicator of white matter development than fractional anisotropy.

Further analysis, stratified by socioeconomic status, revealed that children from poorer neighbourhoods exhibited heightened vulnerability to temperature exposure. These children showed similar susceptibility windows to cold and heat but starting earlier, possibly influenced by housing conditions and energy poverty.

Potential mechanisms linking temperature exposure to neurodevelopmental outcomes include disrupted sleep patterns, placental dysfunction, hormonal changes such as increased cortisol production, and inflammatory responses. Guxens underscores, “Our findings highlight the pressing need for robust public health strategies to protect vulnerable communities, particularly amidst ongoing climate challenges.”

The study’s findings underscore the critical impact of early life temperature exposure on brain development, emphasising the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy initiatives to safeguard children’s health in a changing climate landscape.

More information: Laura Granés et al, Early life cold and heat exposure impacts white matter development in children, Nature Climate Change. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02027-w

Journal information: Nature Climate Change Provided by Barcelona Institute for Global Health

Night-time Heat Heightens Stroke Risk

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A recent investigation by researchers from Helmholtz Munich and Augsburg University Hospital has revealed a significant link between nocturnal heat and increased stroke risk. The study, which drew upon extensive data and was led by Dr Alexandra Schneider, underscores the pressing need for preventive measures as climate change leads to more frequent and intense hot nights.

The study, which spanned 15 years and included approximately 11,000 stroke cases treated at Augsburg University Hospital, revealed a notable seven per cent rise in stroke risk following periods of extreme nocturnal heat. Dr Cheng He, the study’s lead author, highlighted that elderly individuals and women face heightened susceptibility, with clinics predominantly diagnosing strokes with mild symptoms post hot nights.

Moreover, the research team noted a concerning trend: from 2013 to 2020, the risk of stroke associated with elevated nocturnal temperatures saw a marked increase compared to the preceding period (2006-2012). Prof. Michael Ertl, overseeing the Stroke Unit at Augsburg University Hospital, noted a rise from two additional annual stroke cases in the earlier period to 33 extra cases annually in recent years.

The implications extend beyond epidemiology, prompting recommendations for adaptive strategies in urban planning. The researchers advocate for mitigating urban heat islands and enhancing healthcare preparedness. These initiatives are crucial for safeguarding public health against escalating nocturnal heat impacts.

Furthermore, the study’s findings are pivotal for hospitals, enabling better anticipation and allocation of resources in response to weather forecasts predicting hot nights. Prof. Markus Naumann, Director of the Neurological University Hospital in Augsburg, stressed the importance of proactive staffing to manage potential influxes of stroke patients during such periods.

The term “tropical nights,” defined by the Hot Night Excess Index (HNE), quantifies nocturnal temperature anomalies. It measures deviations above a threshold (14.6 °C in this study), which signifies temperatures surpassed during only the warmest five per cent of nights within the study period. The HNE index provides a metric to gauge the intensity of nocturnal heatwaves, aiding in understanding their impact on health outcomes.

Looking ahead, the research aims to translate these findings into practical applications, informing public health strategies and urban policies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of nocturnal heat. Dr. Schneider underscored the importance of early implementation of preventive measures, stressing their potential to mitigate future health risks associated with climate change-induced nocturnal temperature rises.

The study by Helmholtz Munich and Augsburg University Hospital not only illuminates a critical nexus between nocturnal heat and stroke risk but also underscores the need for proactive measures in urban planning and healthcare. These measures are crucial in countering the health impacts of climate change-driven temperature shifts.

More information: Cheng He et al, Nocturnal heat exposure and stroke risk, European Journal of Nutrition. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae277

Journal information: European Journal of Nutrition Provided by Helmholtz Munich