Pathways and mechanisms linking dietary components to cardiometabolic disease: thinking beyond calories

Abstract

SummaryCalories from any food have the potential to increase risk for obesity and cardiometabolic disease because all calories can directly contribute to positive energy balance and fat gain. However, various dietary components or patterns may promote obesity and cardiometabolic disease by additional mechanisms that are not mediated solely by caloric content. Researchers explored this topic at the 2017 CrossFit Foundation Academic Conference 'Diet and Cardiometabolic HealthBeyond Calories', and this paper summarizes the presentations and follow-up discussions. Regarding the health effects of dietary fat, sugar and non-nutritive sweeteners, it is concluded that food-specific saturated fatty acids and sugarsweetened beverages promote cardiometabolic diseases by mechanisms that are additional to their contribution of calories to positive energy balance and that aspartame does not promote weight gain. The challenges involved in conducting and interpreting clinical nutritional research, which preclude more extensive conclusions, are detailed. Emerging research is presented exploring the possibility that responses to certain dietary components/patterns are influenced by the metabolic status, developmental period or genotype of the individual; by the responsiveness of brain regions associated with reward to food cues; or by the microbiome. More research regarding these potential 'beyond calories' mechanisms may lead to new strategies for attenuating the obesity crisis.

A biopsychosocial approach to processes and pathways in the development of overweight and obesity in childhood: Insights from developmental theory and research

“…However, although evidence of correlates or risk is suggestive of causes, it does not identify the contributing processes in the development of OW/OB. Similar reasoning was recently used by Stanhope et al 40 who argued that calories from any food have the potential to increase the risk for obesity, but that there is a need to identify the mechanisms or pathways associated with this risk, and this, they There is a diversity of intervention and prevention strategies. 20,21 They extend from community-based approaches 19 to a range of parent-focused strategies [42][43][44][45] and multifaceted interventions.…”

Metabolically healthy obese and metabolic syndrome of the lean: the importance of diet quality. Analysis of MAGNETIC cohort

“…It is well established that positive energy balance is the main cause of obesity, however recent hypothesis announced by Stanhope et al [44] raise the aspect that various dietary components or patterns may promote obesity and cardiometabolic diseases due to other mechanisms than increased energy intake. Some evidence suggests that high-sugar foods (closely related to the Western diet) stimulate the reward system located in the central nervous system leading to secondary overeating [45,46].…”

“…Some evidence suggests that high-sugar foods (closely related to the Western diet) stimulate the reward system located in the central nervous system leading to secondary overeating [45,46]. It has also been shown that sweetened beverages, especially fructose or sucrose-sweetened, increase the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases and type 2 diabetes [44,[47][48][49][50]. In our study sweetened drinks were components of both "Western" dietary pattern and nHDI and its consumption was significantly more frequent in MS than MH subjects (data not shown).…”

Applying Nutrient Profiling Systems to Packaged Foods and Drinks Sold in Jamaica

“…To date, other countries that have passed or implemented regulations based on nutrient criteria have not included total fats. This is likely due to the current scientific evidence that shows that it is the type of fat, not total fat, that matters for health [23]. Trans fat in food products might be a nutrient of concern in Jamaica that deserves attention and thus may be considered as a component of an NPS for Jamaica.…”