Papers by Bahram Arjmandi
Journal of The American College of Nutrition, 2001
Several systemic hormones and localized growth factors coordinate events of bone formation and re... more Several systemic hormones and localized growth factors coordinate events of bone formation and resorption to support bone growth in the young and maintain bone mineral content in the adult. Some of the more important factors produced in the bone microenvironment that impact skeletal biology include prostaglandins, cytokines, and insulin-like growth factors. Dietary fat sources that exert potent biological effects on the skeletal tissues belong to the omega-6 and omega-3 families of essential fatty acids. Specific long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) belonging to these families are substrates for prostanoids that influence the differentiation and activity of cells in bone and cartilage tissues. These PUFA appear to alter prostanoid formation, cell-to-cell signaling processes, and impact transcription factors in vivo. Hence, these biologically active PUFA can be called nutraceutical fatty acids. This review highlights the role of nutraceutical fatty acids on bone metabolism and joint disease. The recent discovery of transcription factors controlling osteoblast function, and soluble proteins directing osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis offer new research opportunities for studying nutraceutical fatty acids in skeletal biology.
Academia Nutrition and Dietetics, Nov 8, 2024
Nutrition and diet form the bedrock of human survival and well-being, influencing not only indivi... more Nutrition and diet form the bedrock of human survival and well-being, influencing not only individual health but also the socioeconomic stability and development of entire civilizations. Historically, the ability of societies to secure adequate food resources has often dictated their rise and fall. Despite modern advancements in agricultural productivity and food distribution, the paradox of global food security remains. While many enjoy unprecedented access to diverse food choices, approximately one in nine people globally still suffer from hunger or malnutrition. This dichotomy underscores the critical need to address both the availability and quality of food to enhance public health. Food insecurity is not limited to developing nations; it is a significant concern in affluent countries as well. Economic pressures force many individuals to make difficult choices between essential living expenses such as rent, transportation, and utilities, often at the expense of their nutritional needs. This economic strain leads to the consumption of inexpensive, calorie-dense, but nutrient-poor foods such as white bread and hotdogs. These dietary choices contribute to a range of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers. Beyond economic constraints, numerous factors influence food selection, including habits, taste preferences, and cultural traditions. These elements shape dietary choices even among the wealthy. Cultural and traditional food practices can either support or hinder healthy eating habits. For example, traditional diets often include nutrient-rich foods that can be promoted as part of a healthy eating plan. Public health campaigns that respect and incorporate cultural food practices are more likely to be successful in encouraging healthy eating behaviors. Behavioral interventions, such as educational programs, cooking classes, and community-based initiatives, can also effectively promote healthier eating habits. By addressing both cultural and behavioral factors, public health initiatives can create supportive environments that encourage healthy eating. Access to nutritious food is influenced by a variety of barriers that can differ significantly depending on the location. These barriers can be broadly categorized into geographic, economic, social, and policy-related factors:
Journal of The American College of Nutrition, 2001
Cocoa and chocolate products have been delicacies for hundreds of years. Only recently have they ... more Cocoa and chocolate products have been delicacies for hundreds of years. Only recently have they been recognized as significant sources of phytochemicals with healthful effects. These foods are among the most concentrated sources of the procyanidin flavonoids, catechin and epicatechin. Recent studies have shown that these polyphenols are absorbed from the intestine of animals and humans with epicatechin absorbed much more than catechin. These flavonoids have potent antioxidant and antiplatelet activities following consumption of cocoa or chocolate.
Journal of The American College of Nutrition, Aug 1, 2010
This investigation on a homogenous cohort of young adult Caucasian type 1 diabetic (IDDM) patient... more This investigation on a homogenous cohort of young adult Caucasian type 1 diabetic (IDDM) patients (1) aimed at studying the occurrence of low bone mineral density (BMD) at an early stage prior to menopause (i.e., during the first decade after peak bone mass) and (2) elucidating the possible mechanisms underlying IDDM-induced bone complication. Twenty-seven female patients with insulin-treated and well-controlled diabetes, without renal complications, and 32 well-matched healthy controls, aged between 30 and 40 years and fulfilling rigorous inclusion criteria to minimize bone-confounding factors, were enrolled. Areal BMD was evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at axial (lumbar spine) and appendicular (femur) sites, using diagnostic WHO reference (T-scores). Osteoblast functions, bone metabolism, related key minerals, and 2 osteoclast-stimulating calciotropic hormones regulating their serum levels were assessed biochemically. The number of cases with low BMD (T-score below -1.1 SD) was almost 2-fold greater (p < 0.01) in the IDDM group. BMD was significantly lower in this group for 3 lumbar sites (p < 0.01) and femur Ward's triangle (p < 0.05). Bone formation was reduced, as evidenced by the suppressions of osteocalcin (OC; p < 0.01) and IGF-I (p < 0.001). However, bone alkaline phosphatase (bALP) was induced (p < 0.01), in contrast to what is usually observed in cases of reduced bone formation. Correlated total ALP activity was also significantly increased. There was no change in the specific marker of bone resorption (urinary deoxypyridinoline). Serum calcium was significantly elevated, particularly after adjustment for albumin (p < 0.001), despite lower 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (p < 0.001) and no elevation of PTH. All significant bone-related biochemical changes were significantly correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin, a clinical indicator of long-term glycemic control, indicating a direct effect of the disease. Bone loss in the IDDM group results from a decrease in bone formation rather than an increase of bone resorption. The induction of bALP is indicative of impaired osteoblast differentiation and maturation, which delayed (down-regulated) later stages of matrix mineralization, as evidenced by lower OC and BMD.
Current developments in nutrition, Jul 1, 2023
Current developments in nutrition, Jul 1, 2023
Aging and Disease, 2023
In recent decades, gut microbiome research has experienced significant growth, driven by technolo... more In recent decades, gut microbiome research has experienced significant growth, driven by technological advances that enable quantifying bacterial taxa with greater precision. Age, diet, and living environment have emerged as three key factors influencing gut microbes. Dysbiosis, resulting from alterations in these factors, may lead to changes in bacterial metabolites that regulate pro-and anti-inflammatory processes and consequently impact bone health. Restoration of a healthy microbiome signature could mitigate inflammation and potentially reduce bone loss associated with osteoporosis or experienced by astronauts during spaceflight. However, current research is hindered by contradictory findings, insufficient sample sizes, and inconsistency in experimental conditions and controls. Despite progress in sequencing technology, defining a healthy gut microbiome across global populations remains elusive. Challenges persist in identifying accurate gut bacterial metabolics, specific taxa, and their effects on host physiology. We suggest greater attention be directed towards this issue in Western countries as the cost of treating osteoporosis in the United States reaches billions of dollars annually, with expenses projected to continue rising.
Scientific Reports, Jun 29, 2023
Emerging evidence suggests that plant-based fiber-rich diets improve ageing-associated health by ... more Emerging evidence suggests that plant-based fiber-rich diets improve ageing-associated health by fostering a healthier gut microbiome and microbial metabolites. However, such effects and mechanisms of resistant starches from dietary pulses remain underexplored. Herein, we examine the prebiotic effects of dietary pulses-derived resistant starch (RS) on gut metabolome in older (60week old) mice carrying a human microbiome. Gut metabolome and its association with microbiome are examined after 20-weeks feeding of a western-style diet (control; CTL) fortified (5% w/w) with RS from pinto beans (PTB), black-eyed-peas (BEP), lentils (LEN), chickpeas (CKP), or inulin (INU; reference control). NMR spectroscopy-based untargeted metabolomic analysis yield differential abundance linking phenotypic differences in specific metabolites among different RS groups. LEN and CKP increase butyrate, while INU promotes propionate. Conversely, bile acids and cholesterol are reduced in prebiotic groups along with suppressed choline-to-trimethylamine conversion by LEN and CKP, whereas amino acid metabolism is positively altered. Multi-omics microbiomemetabolome interactions reveal an association of beneficial metabolites with the Lactobacilli group, Bacteroides, Dubosiella, Parasutterella, and Parabacteroides, while harmful metabolites correlate with Butyricimonas, Faecalibaculum, Colidextribacter, Enterococcus, Akkermansia, Odoribacter, and Bilophila. These findings demonstrate the functional effects of pulses-derived RS on gut microbial metabolism and their beneficial physiologic responses in an aged host. The proportion of world's population aged 60 years and above is expected to double by the year 2050 1. This underscores the need for preventive strategies aimed at reducing risk of chronic cardiometabolic and neurocognitive disorders among the elderly due to their senesced immunity and increased vulnerability to nutritional risk. Promoting healthspan in elderly will not only reduce their susceptibility to diseases but also curtail the rising cost of medical treatments 2. Emerging evidence highlights the fundamental role of the gut microbiome in host immune and metabolic health, conferring resilience to various intestinal and cardiometabolic diseases throughout the lifespan 3,4. Gut dysbiosis, characterized by decreased abundance of beneficial microbes such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria, overgrowth of pathobionts, and accumulation of detrimental metabolites in the gut environment, leads to impaired resilience against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) 5. Although there are several hallmarks of ageing process, research in past decade focusing on biology of ageing has proposed microbiome disturbance as one of the crucial contributory factors behind ageing-related health loss 6. The ageing process is associated with the age-dependent depletion of beneficial genera (e.g., Bifidobacteria) and an increased population of opportunistic/pathogenic bacteria (e.g., members of phylum Proteobacteria) in the human gut 7. Diet is one of the strongest regulators and modulators of gut microbiome. While a western-style diet can induce gut dysbiosis, a fiber-rich diet can reverse at least partly, these impairments 8. Thus, regulating
Applied Cancer Research, Jun 8, 2017
Background: Cancer cachexia is a debilitating paraneoplastic syndrome featuring unintended weight... more Background: Cancer cachexia is a debilitating paraneoplastic syndrome featuring unintended weight loss and skeletal muscle atrophy. Evidence suggests that bone health may also be compromised, further limiting mobility and quality of life. Aerobic and resistance training was recently reported to differentially affect skeletal muscle adaptations in cancer cachectic mice. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of aerobic and resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) in mice with colon-26 (C26) tumor-induced cachexia. Methods: Twelve-month old Balb/c mice were aerobic-trained (wheel running 5 days/week) or resistance-trained (weighted ladder climbing 3days/week) for 8 weeks prior to C26 cell injection, followed by an additional three weeks of exercise. BMD and BMC were assessed pre-and post-training by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results: Resistance-trained C26 mice lost total BMD by 7% (p = 0.06), which did not occur in aerobic-trained C26 mice. In terms of pelvic bone, both resistance-and aerobic-trained C26 mice had significantly lower BMD values (−12%, p = 0.01 and −6%, p = 0.04, respectively), albeit to a lesser degree in aerobic-trained C26 mice. Furthermore, resistance-trained C26 mice tended to lose total BMC (−12%), whereas aerobic-trained C26 mice maintained total BMC. In mice without C26 tumors, resistance training significantly increased total BMD (+13%, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Aerobic and resistance training may differentially affect bone status in C26 cancer cachexia, with high resistance loading possibly being detrimental to total and pelvis BMD, a region expected to bear significant loading stress and contribute substantially to overall mobility. Because resistance training improved BMD in tumor-free mice, the C26 tumor burden appeared to impair the beneficial effect of resistance training on bone mass.
Experimental Gerontology, Oct 1, 2015
Wave reflection (augmentation pressure [AP] and index [AIx]) is greater in older women than men. ... more Wave reflection (augmentation pressure [AP] and index [AIx]) is greater in older women than men. Resting AP is a better wave reflection index than AIx in older adults. The negative relationship between wave reflection and lean mass (LM) has been inconsistent. We investigated the impact of age and LM on aortic hemodynamic responses to metaboreflex activation in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women, younger and older (n=20 per group) than 60years, performed 2-min isometric handgrip at 30% of maximal force followed by 3-min post-exercise muscle ischemia (PEMI). We measured carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and femoral-ankle PWV (faPWV) at rest, and aortic systolic blood pressure (aSBP), pulse pressure (aPP), AP, AIx, and AIx-adjusted for heart rate (AIx@75) at rest and during PEMI using tonometry. Arm and leg LM were measured by DEXA. Resting cfPWV, aSBP, and aPP were higher, while AIx@75 and leg LM were lower in older than younger women. aSBP and aPP increased similarly during PEMI in both groups. Increases in AP (P<0.05), AIx (P<0.05), and AIx@75 (P<0.01) during PEMI were greater in older than younger women. From these responses, only AP during PEMI was correlated (P<0.05) positively with aSBP and aPP responses, and negatively with leg LM. Resting faPWV, but not cfPWV, was correlated…
The FASEB Journal, Apr 1, 2013
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, May 1, 2014
PLOS ONE, Oct 25, 2018
The present study was designed to assess the extent to which vitamin E and aspirin individually o... more The present study was designed to assess the extent to which vitamin E and aspirin individually or in combination prevent and/or reverse bone loss and atherosclerotic lesion formation in orchidectomized aged rats. Forty-nine 12-month old male Sprague-Dawley rats were either sham-operated (Sham, one group) or orchidectomized (Orx, four groups) and fed a control diet for 120 days to establish bone loss and atherosclerotic lesions. Thereafter, rats were assigned to the various treatment groups (n = 9 to 10 per group): 1) Sham and 2) Orx groups received AIN93M, containing 75 IU vitamin E and served as control, and the other three Orx groups received either 3) 500 IU vitamin E, 4) 500 mg aspirin, or 5) 500 IU vitamin E + 500 mg aspirin per kg diet for 90 days. After 90 days of treatment, rats were sacrificed, necropsied, and tissues were collected for analyses. Results show that 500 IU vitamin E was able to reduce the development of atherosclerosis lesion formation and aortic streak area compared to Orx control. More importantly, 500 mg aspirin completely reversed the fatty streak area and made the atherosclerotic lesions disappear. Vitamin E and aspirin were not able to reverse bone loss as shown by whole body, lumbar and femoral bone mineral content and bone mineral density due to gonadal hormone deficiency. Instead, 500 mg aspirin somewhat increased the trabecular separation while decreased trabecular thickness compared to Orx control. Our findings suggest that both, vitamin E and aspirin exert anti-atherogenic effects and aspirin is more effective than vitamin E in preventing atherosclerosis lesions in Orx rats.
The FASEB Journal, Apr 1, 2017
It is estimated that ten million Americans suffer from osteoporosis which is a major health conce... more It is estimated that ten million Americans suffer from osteoporosis which is a major health concern, particularly in postmenopausal women, where one in two women over the age of 50 suffer from an o...
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, May 1, 2014
Food & Function, 2016
Blackberry, raspberry and black raspberry polyphenols reduce angiotensin II-induced oxidative str... more Blackberry, raspberry and black raspberry polyphenols reduce angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress and senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells.
The FASEB Journal, Apr 1, 2017
It is estimated that approximately 11–20 percent of older adults in the United States suffer from... more It is estimated that approximately 11–20 percent of older adults in the United States suffer from some form of mental disorder, such as anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that dietary facto...
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Papers by Bahram Arjmandi