An increase in dietary fat intake - at the expense of dietary carbohydrate intake - may play an important role in the accumulation of adipose tissue at different sites and liver fat accumulation. Thus, the present study investigated the isocaloric substitution of dietary carbohydrates with fat, and its cross-sectional association with visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and hepatic fat content as determined by MRI.

Data from 283 participants (mean age 56.1 ± 9.0 years) from the KORA FF4 study study who underwent whole-body MRI were included. VAT, SAT, and total body fat were quantified by a volume-interpolated VIBE-T1w-Dixon MR sequence. Hepatic fat content was determined as the proton density fat-fraction (PDFF) derived from multiecho-T1w MR sequence. Habitual dietary intake was estimated by combining the information provided by repeated 24-h food lists and a food frequency questionnaire. Cross-sectional associations were analyzed using linear regressions.

Carbohydrate intake (in % of total energy intake (E%)) correlated significantly inversely with VAT (r = -0.34) and hepatic fat (r = -0,30), while fat intake (E%) correlated positively with hepatic fat content (r = 0.16). Replacing total carbohydrates with an isocaloric amount of total fat was significantly positively associated with VAT and hepatic fat, while there was no significant association with SAT. The multivariable adjusted β-coefficient for replacing 5 E% carbohydrates with total fat was 0.39 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.76) for VAT. An increase in total fat intake by 5% of total energy was associated with an increase in liver fat content by 24%. Dietary fiber intake was significantly inversely associated with VAT and hepatic lipid content.

In middle-aged adults, substitution of carbohydrates with total fat was associated with a higher volume of VAT and an increase of hepatic fat, while whole-grain associated carbohydrates show inverse associations. If reproduced in prospective studies, such findings would strongly argue for limiting dietary fat intake.

The origin of malnutrition in older age is multifactorial and risk factors may vary according to health and living situation. The present study aimed to identify setting-specific risk profiles of malnutrition in older adults and to investigate the association of the number of individual risk factors with malnutrition.

Data of four cross-sectional studies were harmonized and uniformly analysed. Malnutrition was defined as BMI < 20 kg/m2 and/or weight loss of >3 kg in the previous 3–6 months. Associations between factors of six domains (demographics, health, mental function, physical function, dietary intake-related problems, dietary behaviour), the number of individual risk factors and malnutrition were analysed using logistic regression.

Community (CD), geriatric day hospital (GDH), home care (HC), nursing home (NH).

CD older adults (n 1073), GDH patients (n 180), HC receivers (n 335) and NH residents (n 197), all ≥65 years.

Malnutrition prevalence was lower in CD (11 %) than in the other settings (16–19 %). In the CD sample, poor appetite, difficulties with eating, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases were associated with malnutrition; in GDH patients, poor appetite and respiratory diseases; in HC receivers, younger age, poor appetite and nausea; and in NH residents, older age and mobility limitations. In all settings the likelihood of malnutrition increased with the number of potential individual risk factors.

The study indicates a varying relevance of certain risk factors of malnutrition in different settings. However, the relationship of the number of individual risk factors with malnutrition in all settings implies comprehensive approaches to identify persons at risk of malnutrition early.

To examine the interaction between waist circumference (WC) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level in their associations with serum lipids.

Cross-sectional study. The associations of serum 25(OH)D with total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), LDL-C:HDL-C and TAG were examined using multiple linear regression. Effect modification by WC was assessed through cross-product interaction terms between 25(OH)D and WC categories (abdominal overweight, 80–<88 cm in females/94–<102 cm in males; abdominal obesity, ≥88 cm in females/≥102 cm in males).

The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey waves 2001–2006.

Non-pregnant fasting participants (n 4342) aged ≥20 years.

Lower 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with lower HDL-C levels as well as with higher LDL-C:HDL-C and TAG levels in abdominally obese participants, but not in abdominally overweight or normal-waist participants. In contrast, lower 25(OH)D levels were associated with lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C in abdominally overweight and normal-waist participants only, but this association was only partly significant. However, a significant difference in the association between 25(OH)D and the lipids according to WC category was found only for LDL-C:HDL-C (P for interaction=0·02).

Our results from this large, cross-sectional sample suggest that the association between lower 25(OH)D levels and an unfavourable lipid profile is stronger in individuals with abdominal obesity than in those with abdominal overweight or a normal WC.

As ageing is associated with changes in body composition, BMI may not be the appropriate obesity measure for older adults. To date, little is known about associations between obesity measures and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Thus, we aimed to compare different obesity measures in their association with HRQoL and self-rated physical constitution (SRPC) in older adults.

Seven obesity measures (BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, fat mass percentage based on bioelectrical impedance analysis, hypertriglyceridaemic waist (HTGW) and sarcopenic obesity) were assessed at baseline in 2009. HRQoL, using the EQ-5D questionnaire, and SRPC, using one single question, were collected at baseline and at the 3-year follow-up in 2012. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between the obesity measures and both outcomes. Model comparisons were conducted by area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, R2, Akaike and Schwarz Bayesian information criteria.

KORA-Age study in Southern Germany (2009–2012).

Older adults (n 883; aged ≥65 years).

Nearly all obesity measures were significantly inversely associated with both outcomes in cross-sectional analyses. Concerning HRQoL, the WC model explained most of the variance and had the best model adaption, followed by the BMI model. Regarding SRPC, the HTGW and BMI models were best as rated by model quality criteria, followed closely by the WC model. Longitudinal analyses showed no significant associations.

These results suggest that, with regard to HRQoL/SRPC, simple anthropometric measures are sufficient to determine obesity in older adults in medical practice.

To determine the role of fruit and vegetable consumption and dietary intake of folic acid and related nutrients such as methionine, cysteine and alcohol in the aetiology of breast cancer.

Population based case-control study.

Part of the European Community Multicentre Study on Antioxidants, Myocardial Infarction, and Cancer of the Breast (EURAMIC) in Berlin, Germany.

As part of the EURAMIC study, dietary intake data were collected in 43 postmenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer between 191 and 1992 in Berlin, Germany, and compared to 106 population-based controls.

Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for major risk factors of breast cancer but not for total energy intake showed a non-significant inverse association between a high intake of vegetables (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.48–1.20) and fruits (OR=0.74, 95% CI=0.48–1.15) and breast cancer. Once results were adjusted for total energy intake the associations became much weaker (vegetables: OR=0.86, 95% CI=0.51–1.46; fruits: OR=0.82, 95% CI=0.51–1.32). For all nutrients, the effect of energy adjustment was more profound and the inverse associations disappeared when results were adjusted for energy intake (total folate—not energy adjusted: OR=0.79, 95% CI=O.51–1.21; energy adjusted: OR=1.14, 95% CI=0.73–1.79; folate equivalents-not energy adjusted: OR=0.81, 95% CI= 0.53–1.23; energy adjusted: OR=1.16, 95% CI=0.78–1.74; methionine—not energy adjusted: OR=0.60, 95% CI=0.35–1.03; energy adjusted: OR=1.29, 95% CI=0.76–2.19; cysteine—not energy adjusted: OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.29–0.94; energy adjusted: OR=1.22, 95% CI=0.75–1.97). Alcohol intake was inversely associated with breast cancer in a non-significant way, possibly due to the relatively low alcohol intake of the study population.

The results of this study do not provide firm evidence that a high intake of fruits and vegetables, folic acid, methionine or cysteine reduces the risk of getting breast cancer.