Hypertension, termed as ‘essential’ in the literature, is increasing in prevalence and affecting more and more of younger population. Traditionally blamed on high consumption of slats, hypertension is increasingly being seen as a part of metabolic syndrome, associated with hyperuricemia, driven by modern day diet that is rich in sugars such as fructose.
DiNicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC.The wrong white crystals: not salt but sugar as aetiological in hypertension and cardiometabolic disease. Open Heart 2014;1:e000167. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2014-000167. Available at https://openheart.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000167
Rosset R, Surowska A, Tappy L. Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: Are Fructose-Containing Sugars More Involved Than Other Dietary Calories?. Curr Hypertens Rep 2016;18:44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-016-0652-7. Available at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11906-016-0652-7
High fructose intake in the form of added sugar is independently associated with higher blood pressure, according to the results of a cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [Diana I. Jalal, Gerard Smits, Richard J. Johnson and Michel Chonchol. Increased Fructose Associates with Elevated Blood Pressure. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. July 1, 2010. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2009111111] [Full text] | Report]
Malik VS, Hu FB. Fructose and Cardiometabolic Health. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2015;66(14):1615-1624. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025 Available at https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025
Hieronimus B, Medici V, Bremer AA. Synergistic effects of fructose and glucose on lipoprotein risk factors for cardiovascular disease in young adults.Metabolism. November 2020;112:154356. Available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0026049520302201
Zhang D-M, Jiao R-Q, Kong LD. High Dietary Fructose: Direct or Indirect Dangerous Factors Disturbing Tissue and Organ Functions.Nutrients 2017;9(4):335. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9040335 Available at https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/4/335/htm
Reduction of body fat more important than fitness in lowering blood pressure: Individuals who have a healthy body weight are more likely than those who are physically fit to have lower blood pressure, shows a new study [Chen J, Das S, Barlow CE, Grundy S, Lakoski SG. Fitness, fatness, and systolic blood pressure: data from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. Am Heart J. 2010 Jul;160(1):166-70.] [Abstract] | Report]
Cardiovascular disease, commonly manifesting as coronary artery disease and heart attacks, cerebrovascular disease and strokes, peripheral vascular disease etc., is considered as a component of metabolic syndrome. Several studies in recent years have shown a clear relationship between consumption of modern foods and development of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary restrictions, therefore, have a very important role to play in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases.
Rosset R, Surowska A, Tappy L. Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: Are Fructose-Containing Sugars More Involved Than Other Dietary Calories?. Curr Hypertens Rep 2016;18:44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-016-0652-7. Available at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11906-016-0652-7
DiNicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC.The wrong white crystals: not salt but sugar as aetiological in hypertension and cardiometabolic disease. Open Heart 2014;1:e000167. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2014-000167. Available at https://openheart.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000167
Hieronimus B, Medici V, Bremer AA. Synergistic effects of fructose and glucose on lipoprotein risk factors for cardiovascular disease in young adults.Metabolism. November 2020;112:154356. Available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0026049520302201
Malik VS, Hu FB. Fructose and Cardiometabolic Health. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2015;66(14):1615-1624. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025 Available at https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025
Sweetened Beverages Increase Coronary Heart Disease: de Koning L, Malik VS, Kellogg MD, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sweetened Beverage Consumption, Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Biomarkers of Risk in Men. CIRCULATIONAHA.111.067017 doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.067017. [Full Text]
Increasing the ratio of beans to white rice, or limiting the intake of white rice by substituting beans, may lower cardiometabolic risk factors: A new study from Costa Rica, which involved monitoring the diet of almost 2,000 people in an investigation of risk factors for heart disease between 1994 and 2004, has shown that those who regularly traded a helping of white rice for one of beans experienced a 35 per cent reduction in the risk of symptoms that usually lead to diabetes. [Mattei J, Hu FB, Campos H. A higher ratio of beans to white rice is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk factors in Costa Rican adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Sep;94(3):869-76. Epub 2011 Aug 3. Abstract | Report]
Increased Sodium Increases Cardiovascular Risk: A new, 15-year follow-up study has shown that people with the highest ratio of sodium to potassium in their diet had a significantly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared with those who had the lowest ratio of sodium to potassium intake [Yang Q et al. Sodium and Potassium Intake and Mortality Among US Adults Prospective Data From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(13):1183-1191. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.257 Abstract | Commentary | Report]
Projected Effect of Dietary Salt Reductions on Future Cardiovascular Disease: Modest reductions in dietary salt could substantially reduce cardiovascular events and medical costs and should be a public health target. Reducing dietary salt by 3 g per day is projected to reduce the annual number of new cases of CHD by 60,000 to 120,000, stroke by 32,000 to 66,000, and myocardial infarction by 54,000 to 99,000 and to reduce the annual number of deaths from any cause by 44,000 to 92,000 and would save 194,000 to 392,000 quality-adjusted life-years and $10 billion to $24 billion in health care costs annually. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo et al., Published in N Engl J Med on Jan 20, 2010 [Full Text]
High calcium intake as supplements may increase cardiovascular mortality [Mark J Bolland et al. Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis. BMJ. 29 July 2010;341:c3691. doi:10.1136/bmj.c3691 Full text | Mark J Bolland et al. Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 15 January 2008. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39440.525752.BE Full Text]
Chronic exposures to Bisphenol A, widely used in epoxy resins lining food and beverage containers, may lead to diabetes and cardiovascular events. See Full Text Article in JAMA | Report
Diet Soda and Salt Increase the Risk of Stroke: In a new study from the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine (Northern Manhattan Study), those who drink diet soda were found to have more than a 60% increase in stroke than those who abstain and those who used more than 4g of sodiun per day had double the risk than those who had less than 1.5g per day. Report | Report | Report]
Childhood Obesity Alone May Increase Risk of Later Cardiovascular Disease: Being obese by as early as 7 years of age may raise a child’s risk of future heart disease and stroke, even in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Abstract | Report in Science Daily | Report in Modern Medicine
Improved outcomes associated with metformin therapy in patients with diabetes and heart failure: A two year follow-up study has found that metformin use in ambulatory patients with diabetes and heart failure improves outcome, contrary to what was believed. [David Aguilar et al. Metformin Use and Mortality in Ambulatory Patients with Diabetes and Heart Failure CIRCHEARTFAILURE.110.952556 October 15, 2010. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.110.952556 Abstract | Report]
Almonds may help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease: Studyshows that consuming an almond-enriched diet may help improve insulin sensitivity and decrease LDL-cholesterol levels in those with prediabetes. [Michelle Wien et al. Almond Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adults with Prediabetes. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2010;29(3):189-197. Abstract | Report]
Eating whole grains, compared to refined grain products, could lower heart disease risk A large cross sectional study among the Framingham Heart Study participants has shown that increasing whole-grain intake is associated with lower visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in adults, whereas higher intakes of refined grains are associated with higher VAT.[See Abstract AJCN, Report]
Obesity is now not only more common, but also affecting kids more often. It’s linked to all other problems of metabolic syndrome. In recent years, evidence has been mounting to link the consumption of sugar and sweetened foods with increasing prevalence of obesity, across the ages. Although several therapeutic approaches are being tried, including surgical interventions, the root cause of the obesity epidemic being the modern diet, the most important, most effective, most healthy and least invasive intervention is dietary intervention itself.
Potential mechanisms for fructose-induced insulin resistance. [See]Main pathways of fructose metabolism that lead to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and obesity [See]
Sugar is Toxic: The growing scientific evidence, both epidemiological and mechanistic, very clearly shows that excess sugar induces all of the diseases associated with the metabolic syndrome, Robert H. Lustig et al write in Nature.See Lustig RH, Schmidt LA, Brindis CD. Public health: The toxic truth about sugar. Nature. 02 February 2012;482:27–29. doi:10.1038/482027a[Link][Report | Report | Report | Report]
Modern day food causes all the ills: The highly processed, calorie-dense, nutrient-depleted diet frequently leads to exaggerated supraphysiological post-prandial spikes in blood glucose and lipids. This post-prandial dysmetabolism induces immediate oxidant stress, which increases in direct proportion to the increases in glucose and triglycerides after a meal. The transient increase in free radicals acutely triggers atherogenic changes including inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulability, and sympathetic hyperactivity. To attenuate the increase in glucose, triglycerides, and inflammation after a meal, a diet rich in minimally processed, high-fiber, plant-based foods, including vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts is recommended. Other dietary interventions that can significantly ameliorate postprandial dysmetabolism include intake of lean protein, vinegar, fish oil, tea, and cinnamon. Additional benefits may result from calorie restriction, weight loss and exercise.See O’Keefe JH, Gheewala NM, O’Keefe JO. Dietary Strategies for Improving Post-Prandial Glucose, Lipids, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Health. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 51:249-255 Abstract at http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/abstract/51/3/249 | Anti-Inflammatory” Diet May Improve Postprandial Glucose, Cardiovascular Health
Dietary fructose linked to metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus: In a new study from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, a diet with 30 percent of total energy from fructose was given to 29 adult male rhesus monkeys aged 12 to 20 years for a period of 12 months. Starting at six months and by the end of the 12-month feeding study, ALL (100%) the monkeys developed certain metabolic syndrome components including body adiposity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia and four monkeys (15%) developed type 2 diabetes mellitus. [Bremer AA et al. Fructose-Fed Rhesus Monkeys: A Nonhuman Primate Model of Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes. Clinical and Translational Science. August 2011;4(4):243–252. Full Text | Report]
Increased fructose consumption from fruits increases metabolic syndrome risk: A cross-sectional population based study on 2537 subjects (45% men) aged 19-70 y has shown that higher consumption of dietary fructose may have adverse metabolic effects and increase the risks for metabolic syndrome. [Firoozeh Hosseini-Esfahani et al. Dietary fructose and risk of metabolic syndrome in adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose study. Nutrition & Metabolism 2011, 8:50 doi:10.1186/1743-7075-8-50 Full text]
Mortera RR, Bains Y, Gugliucci A. Fructose at the crossroads of the metabolic syndrome and obesity epidemics. Frontiers In Bioscience, Landmark. Jan 1, 2019;24:186-211. Available at http://www.bioscience.org/2019/v24/af/4713/fulltext.htm
Malik VS, Hu FB. Fructose and Cardiometabolic Health. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2015;66(14):1615-1624. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025 Available at https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025
Zhang D-M, Jiao R-Q, Kong LD. High Dietary Fructose: Direct or Indirect Dangerous Factors Disturbing Tissue and Organ Functions.Nutrients 2017;9(4):335. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9040335 Available at https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/4/335/htm
Tappy L. Fructose-containing caloric sweeteners as a cause of obesity and metabolic disorders.Journal of Experimental Biology 2018 221: jeb164202 doi: 10.1242/jeb.164202 Published 7 March 2018. Available at https://jeb.biologists.org/content/221/Suppl_1/jeb164202
Fructose (Fruit Sugar) is a more important cause for metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, obesity
Fructose in fruits can increase obesity: A new study reports that when fructose was consumed, absolute lipogenesis was 2-fold greater and that an early stimulation of lipogenesis after fructose, consumed in a mixture of sugars, augments subsequent postprandial lipemia. Acute intake of fructose stimulates lipogenesis and may create a metabolic milieu that enhances subsequent esterification of fatty acids flowing to the liver to elevate TG synthesis postprandially. See Parks EJ, Skokan LE, Timlin MT, Dingfelder CS. Dietary Sugars Stimulate Fatty Acid Synthesis in Adults. J. Nutr. June 2008;138:1039-1046 Abstract
Energy Drinks Pose Serious Health Risks for Young People: According to a review of scientific literature and Internet sources, published in Pediatrics, energy drinks that contain caffeine, taurine, sugars and sweeteners, herbal supplements etc., are regularly consumed by 30% to 50% of children, adolescents, and young adults and and are associated with risks for serious adverse health effects such as liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory disorders, agitation, confusion, seizures, psychotic conditions, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rhabdomyolysis, tachycardia, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and death. [See Seifert SM, Schaechter JL, Hershorin ER, Lipshultz SE. Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Pediatrics. 2011;127:511-528. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-3592. Free Full Text | Report]
Sugar sweetened beverages increase the risk of weight gain, development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, meta analysis shows [See Malik VS et al. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes A meta-analysis. Diabetes Care November 2010;33(11):2477-2483 Free Full Text]
Sugar Sweetened Beverages Increase the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes and Obesity Vasanti S. Malik et al. Sugar Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-analysis Diabetes Care. August 2010;33(8) Full Text | Report]
Metabolic disorders striking the young: Should the stress be on ‘Stress’ or on Food? Many reports emerging from India reveal increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome disorders in young children and many things such as stress at school, sedentary life style, computers, TV, genes and junk food have been blamed. Some have even advised the kids to stop schooling and do yoga for relaxation! Is it not ironical that the so called experts who sought changes in our school education, so as to make it less stressful, now blame the changed methodology for increasing stress? In blaming many things, the strongest reason is bound to be missed: and that reason is the FOOD! See The Young Are Ageing. Outlook Sep 13, 2010 Full Text | Delhi kids suffer from adult ailments! Wonder Woman Sep 8, 2010 Full Text]
Apple Or Pear-Shaped Body Type Equally Dangerous: A study of 220,000 people suggests that being obese – having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more – is a major risk factor for heart disease, but found the distribution of fat on the body has no impact on that risk. [The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration Separate and combined associations of body-mass index and abdominal adiposity with cardiovascular disease: collaborative analysis of 58 prospective studies. The Lancet. 11 March 2011. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60105-0 Full Text | Report]
Metabolic Syndrome May be Due to Disease Causing Fat Cells: UC Davis Health System researchers have reported a novel observation that subcutaneous fat of MetS has increased macrophage recruitment with cardinal crown-like structure features and contributes to the increased cellular inflammation that produces increased levels of biomarkers that are correlated with both insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. [Bremer AA et al. Adipose Tissue Dysregulation in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism August 24, 2011 jc.2011-1577. Abstract | Report]
Diet and Obesity May be Linked to Alzheimer’s: A Swedish study that included 8,534 twins over the age of 65, has found that the risk of dementia was almost double in those who were overweight versus those of normal weight and those who were obese had almost a fourfold increase in risk. [Johansson K at al. Longer term effects of very low energy diet on obstructive sleep apnoea in cohort derived from randomised controlled trial: prospective observational follow-up study BMJ 2011; 342:d3017 Abstract | Report | Older Paper]
Childhood Obesity Alone May Increase Risk of Later Cardiovascular Disease Being obese by as early as 7 years of age may raise a child’s risk of future heart disease and stroke, even in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Abstract | Report in Science Daily | Report in Modern Medicine
Overweight Kids Risk Weak Bones, Diabetes: Abdominal Fat May Play a Role in Bone Strength Norman K Pollock et al. Lower bone mass in prepubertal overweight children with pre-diabetes Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Jul 2010 Abstract | Report]
Higher-Protein/Low-GI Diet Best for Maintaining Weight Loss [See Larsen TM et al. Diets with High or Low Protein Content and Glycemic Index for Weight-Loss Maintenance. N Engl J Med November 25, 2010; 363:2102-2113 Abstract | Report]
A Randomized Trial of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet vs Orlistat Plus a Low-Fat Diet for Weight Loss A new randomized trial comparing a low-carbohydrate diet with a low-fat diet in combination with the weight-loss drug orlistat has found that both strategies produced meaningful weight loss and the low-carb diet in addition produced significant improvements in blood pressure. William S. Yancy Jr, et al., Published in Arch Intern Med. on Jan 25, 2010 [Abstract] | Report]
Low-Carb and Mediterranean Diets Better than Low-Fat for Weight Loss, Lipid Changes at 2 Years: Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets may be effective alternatives to low-fat diets, offering more favorable effects on lipids (with the low-carbohydrate diet) and on glycemic control (with the Mediterranean diet). See Shai I, Schwarzfuchs D, Henkin Y, et al. Weight loss with a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or low-fat diet. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:229-241 Full text Article
Low carbohydrate and high monounsaturated fat diets help weight loss and offer metabolic benefits Brehm BJ, D’Alessio DA. Weight Loss and Metabolic Benefits With Diets of Varying Fat and Carbohydrate Content: Separating the Wheat From the Chaff Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism Available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569321
Rely on internal cues of meal cessation to keep off obesity Wansink B, Payne CR, Chandon P. Internal and External Cues of Meal Cessation: The French Paradox Redux? Obesity 2007;15:2920-2924. Available at http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/full/15/12/2920
Higher Fat at Breakfast May Be Healthier: University of Alabama research reveals that mice fed a meal higher in fat had normal metabolic profiles and in contrast, mice that ate a more carbohydrate-rich diet in the morning and consumed a high-fat meal at the end of the day saw increased weight gain, adiposity, glucose intolerance and other markers of the metabolic syndrome. [MS Bray, J-Y Tsai et al. Time-of-day-dependent dietary fat consumption influences multiple cardiometabolic syndrome parameters in mice. International Journal of Obesity. 30 March 2010.] doi:10.1038/ijo.2010.63 [Abstract] | UAB Report]
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is now clearly seen to be related to increasing consumption of modern sugar and cereal based diet. Often associated with other manifestations of metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver, type 2 diabetes is increasing in frequency and in younger population. Type 2 diabetes is today one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Management of type 2 diabetes has for long been done with oral antidiabetic drugs and/or insulin injections. Recent studies showing the role of dietary factors have opened up the possibilities of successfully controlling or even reversing type 2 diabetes with a strict dietary restriction.
The effects of dietary Fructose and its relationship to insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia and chronic diseases [See]
White rice and risk of type 2 diabetes: A Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies has revealed that Asian (Chinese and Japanese) populations had much higher white rice consumption levels than did Western populations and that higher consumption of white rice is associated with a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes in Asian populations.Hu EA, Pan A, Malik V, Sun Q. White rice consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: meta-analysis and systematic review. BMJ 2012;344:e2021 doi: 10.1136/bmj.e1454 [Full Text| Editorial| Report]
Sugar is Toxic: The growing scientific evidence, both epidemiological and mechanistic, very clearly shows that excess sugar induces all of the diseases associated with the metabolic syndrome, Robert H. Lustig et al write in Nature.See Lustig RH, Schmidt LA, Brindis CD. Public health: The toxic truth about sugar. Nature. February 2012;482:27–29. doi:10.1038/482027a [Link][Report | Report | Report | Report]
Dietary fructose linked to metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus: In a new study from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, a diet with 30 percent of total energy from fructose was given to 29 adult male rhesus monkeys aged 12 to 20 years for a period of 12 months. Starting at six months and by the end of the 12-month feeding study, ALL (100%) the monkeys developed certain metabolic syndrome components including body adiposity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia and four monkeys (15%) developed type 2 diabetes mellitus. [Bremer AA et al. Fructose-Fed Rhesus Monkeys: A Nonhuman Primate Model of Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes. Clinical and Translational Science. August 2011;4(4):243–252. Full Text | Report]
Kolderup A, Svihus B. Fructose Metabolism and Relation to Atherosclerosis, Type 2 Diabetes, and Obesity. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2015, Article ID 823081, 12 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/823081. Available at https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnme/2015/823081/
DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH, Lucan SC. Added Fructose – A Principal Driver of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Consequences.Mayo Clinic Proceedings. January 29, 2015. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.12.019. Available at https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(15)00040-3/fulltext
Increased fructose consumption from fruits increases metabolic syndrome risk: A cross-sectional population based study on 2537 subjects (45% men) aged 19-70 y has shown that higher consumption of dietary fructose may have adverse metabolic effects and increase the risks for metabolic syndrome. [Firoozeh Hosseini-Esfahani et al. Dietary fructose and risk of metabolic syndrome in adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose study. Nutrition & Metabolism 2011, 8:50 doi:10.1186/1743-7075-8-50 Full text]
Malik VS, Hu FB. Fructose and Cardiometabolic Health. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2015;66(14):1615-1624. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025 Available at https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.025
Energy Drinks Pose Serious Health Risks for Young People: According to a review of scientific literature and Internet sources, published in Pediatrics, energy drinks that contain caffeine, taurine, sugars and sweeteners, herbal supplements etc., are regularly consumed by 30% to 50% of children, adolescents, and young adults and and are associated with risks for serious adverse health effects such as liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory disorders, agitation, confusion, seizures, psychotic conditions, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rhabdomyolysis, tachycardia, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and death. [See Seifert SM, Schaechter JL, Hershorin ER, Lipshultz SE. Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Pediatrics. 2011;127:511-528. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-3592. Free Full Text | Report]
Sugar sweetened beverages increase the risk of weight gain, development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, meta analysis shows [See Malik VS et al. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes A meta-analysis. Diabetes Care November 2010;33(11):2477-2483 Free Full Text]
Sugar Sweetened Beverages Increase the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes and Obesity Vasanti S. Malik et al. Sugar Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-analysis Diabetes Care. August 2010;33(8) Full Text | Report]
Fructose (Fruit Sugar) is a more important cause for metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, obesity
Overweight Kids Risk Weak Bones, Diabetes: Abdominal Fat May Play a Role in Bone Strength Norman K Pollock et al. Lower bone mass in prepubertal overweight children with pre-diabetes Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Jul 2010 Abstract | Report]
Modern day food causes all the ills: The highly processed, calorie-dense, nutrient-depleted diet frequently leads to exaggerated supraphysiological post-prandial spikes in blood glucose and lipids. This post-prandial dysmetabolism induces immediate oxidant stress, which increases in direct proportion to the increases in glucose and triglycerides after a meal. The transient increase in free radicals acutely triggers atherogenic changes including inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulability, and sympathetic hyperactivity. To attenuate the increase in glucose, triglycerides, and inflammation after a meal, a diet rich in minimally processed, high-fiber, plant-based foods, including vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts is recommended. Other dietary interventions that can significantly ameliorate postprandial dysmetabolism include intake of lean protein, vinegar, fish oil, tea, and cinnamon. Additional benefits may result from calorie restriction, weight loss and exercise. See O’Keefe JH, Gheewala NM, O’Keefe JO. Dietary Strategies for Improving Post-Prandial Glucose, Lipids, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Health. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 51:249-255 Abstract at http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/abstract/51/3/249| Anti-Inflammatory” Diet May Improve Postprandial Glucose, Cardiovascular Health
Certain Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) Increase the risk of Complications in Diabetes: New study at the Joslin Diabetes Center has revealed that patients of Type 1 diabetes with higher levels of carboxyethyl-lysine and pentosidine AGEs are 7.2-fold more likely to have any complication. Earlier studies had revealed that these AGEs are linked more to fructose. [Sun JK et al. Protection From Retinopathy and Other Complications in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes of Extreme Duration: The Joslin 50-Year Medalist Study. Diabetes Care 29 March, 2011;34(4):968-974. doi: 10.2337/dc10-1675 Full Text | Mikulíková K, Eckhardt A, Kunes J, Zicha J, Miksík I. Advanced glycation end-product pentosidine accumulates in various tissues of rats with high fructose intake. Physiol Res. 2008;57(1):89-94. Epub 2007 Feb 8. Full text | Krajčovičova-Kudlačkova M, Šebekova K, Schinzel R, Klvanova J. Advanced Glycation End Products and Nutrition. Physiol. Res. 2002;51:313-316. Full text]
Antibiotic Use May Fuel Modern Day Diseases: Increase in modern day diseases such as obesity, diabetes, allergies and asthma correlate with increasing use of antibiotics, that may be changing the gut milieu. [Blaser M. Antibiotic overuse: Stop the killing of beneficial bacteria. Nature 25 August 2011;476:393–394. Link | Report]
Five Lifestyle Changes Can Go a Long Way Toward Cutting the Odds of Type 2 Diabetes: A Population-based prospective cohort study that examined how combinations of lifestyle risk factors relate to the 11-year risk for incident diabetes (National Institutes of Health (NIH)–AARP Diet and Health Study) included 114 996 men and 92 483 women, aged 50 to 71 years in 1995 to 1996, without evidence of heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, with a follow-up survey in 2004 to 2006. Of these, 11 031 men (9.6%) and 6969 women (7.5%) developed new-onset diabetes. Normal weight (maintained a body mass index below 25), nonsmoking, physically active (at least 20 minutes of heart-pounding, sweat-inducing exercise three or more times per week), healthy diet [a diet with lots of fiber, little trans fat, few refined or sugary carbohydrates, and a high ratio of good (polyunsaturated) to bad (saturated) fats] and little to no drinking (two drinks or less a day for men, and one drink or less for women) were associated with least risk of developing diabetes mellitus. [Reis JP et al. Lifestyle Factors and Risk for New-Onset Diabetes. A Population-Based Cohort Study. Ann Int Med. September 6, 2011;155(5):292-299 Full Text | Report]
Nuts in Place of carbohydrates Helps Control Blood Sugar and Serum Lipids: Two ounces of nuts daily as a replacement for carbohydrate foods improves both glycemic control and serum lipids in type 2 diabetes.[Jenkins DJA. Nuts as a Replacement for Carbohydrates in the Diabetic Diet. Diabetes Care August 2011;34(8):1706-1711. Full text
Eating nuts every day helps control Type 2 diabetes and prevent its complications: New research from St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto has revealed that two ounces of nuts daily as a replacement for carbohydrate foods improved both glycemic control and serum lipids in type 2 diabetes. [Jenkins DJA. Nuts as a Replacement for Carbohydrates in the Diabetic Diet. Diabetes Care June 29, 2011 doi: 10.2337/dc11-0338 Full Text | Report]
Almonds may help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease: Study shows that consuming an almond-enriched diet may help improve insulin sensitivity and decrease LDL-cholesterol levels in those with prediabetes. [Michelle Wien et al. Almond Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adults with Prediabetes. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2010;29(3):189-197. Abstract | Report]
Low Carbohydrate Diet May Reverse Kidney Failure in People With Diabetes: Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have for the first time determined that a specialized high-fat, low carbohydrate diet may reverse impaired kidney function in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. [Poplawski MM, Mastaitis JW, Isoda F, Grosjean F, Zheng F, et al. Reversal of Diabetic Nephropathy by a Ketogenic Diet. PLoS ONE 2011;6(4):e18604. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0018604 Full Text | Older Study | Report | Report]
Increasing daily intake of green leafy vegetables could significantly reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Increasing consumption of green vegetables, and not fruits, helps to reduce the risk of diabetes, a meta analysis finds See Patrice Carter et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2010;341:c4229 Full Text | Editorial]
Low carbohydrate and high monounsaturated fat diets help weight loss and offer metabolic benefits Brehm BJ, D’Alessio DA. Weight Loss and Metabolic Benefits With Diets of Varying Fat and Carbohydrate Content: Separating the Wheat From the Chaff Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism Available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569321
Type 2 diabetes in newly diagnosed ‘can be reversed’: A small study from Newcastle University, reported in Diabetologia, has found that an extreme eight-week diet of 600 calories a day can reverse Type 2 diabetes in people newly diagnosed with the disease. Although larger studies are needed, these findings are important. [BBC Report]
Metabolic disorders striking the young: Should the stress be on ‘Stress’ or on Food? Many reports emerging from India reveal increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome disorders in young children and many things such as stress at school, sedentary life style, computers, TV, genes and junk food have been blamed. Some have even advised the kids to stop schooling and do yoga for relaxation! Is it not ironical that the so called experts who sought changes in our school education, so as to make it less stressful, now blame the changed methodology for increasing stress? In blaming many things, the strongest reason is bound to be missed: and that reason is the FOOD! See The Young Are Ageing. Outlook Sep 13, 2010 Full Text | Delhi kids suffer from adult ailments! Wonder Woman Sep 8, 2010 Full Text]
Survival as a function of HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study: Like the ACCORD Study, one more British study involving 47970 diabetics above the age of 50 years finds that low and high mean HbA1c values are associated with increased all-cause mortality and cardiac events, meaning that both uncontrolled disease as well as intensive treatment can kill. Craig J Currie et al., The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 27 January 2010
Pathophysiology of Insulin Resistance and Noninsulin Resistance Dependent Diabetes [See]
