Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) made direct comparisons between EPA/DHA versus ALA on improving cardiovascular risk factors and have reached inconsistent findings.

Reported breast milk lipid concentrations may vary with geographical region, postnatal age and year of sample collection. In this review, we summarized data on the concentrations of total fat, total phospholipids, cholesterol and fatty acids in human milk worldwide and their variation according to lactation stage, study area and sample collection year. A systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Medline databases for English language papers and Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for Chinese language papers. A total of 186 studies evaluating the human milk lipid profiles were included. According to random effects models based on worldwide data, the summarized means (95% confidence intervals) as percentages of total fat were 42.2% (41.1%, 43.3%) for saturated fatty acids (SFAs), 36.6% (35.6%, 37.5%) for monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and 21.0% (19.3%, 22.7%) for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). However, the study heterogeneity was high for most types of fatty acids (I2 > 99%). Human milk from western countries had higher concentrations of MUFAs and 18:1n-9, but lower concentrations of PUFAs, 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6, 18:3n-3, 20:5n-3, 22:6n-3 and total n-6PUFA in compared with those from non-western countries (P: <0.001–0.011). Significant lactation stage differences were observed for total fat and some individual fatty acids. The concentrations of SFAs and 16:0 were significantly negatively correlated with sampling year (P < 0.001–0.028). In contrast, a significant positive correlation between the concentrations of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 and sampling year was observed (P < 0.001–0.035). Our results suggest that the pooling of data on human milk lipid profiles in different studies should be done with caution due to the high between-study heterogeneity. The concentration of lipids, including total fat, cholesterol and specific fatty acids, differs in human milk according to lactation stage, geographical region and year of sample collection.

Background Telomere length serves as a marker of cellular senescence and appears to plateau between the age of 4 years and young adulthood after when gut microbiota is supposed to be established. However, scarce data is known about the correlation between gut microbiota composition and telomere length in pediatric population. Objectives We aimed to investigate whether the gut microbiota and the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces are associated with leukocyte telomere length in children. Methods Four hundred and one children aged 6–9 years from Guangzhou were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine relative telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes. The gut microbiota was characterized by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing and the fecal concentrations of total SCFAs and SCFA subtypes were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. The multivariate methods with unbiased variable selection algorithm (MUVR) and partial least square models were used to selected predictable operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Further correlation analyses were performed based on multiple linear regression models with adjustment for covariates and false discovery rate. Results By using MUVR, 35 all relevant and minimal-optimal OTUs were finally selected. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the abundance of several OTUs, including OTU334 (belonging to the genus Family_XIII_AD3001_group), OTU726 (belonging to the species Lachnoclostridium_phocaeense), OTU1441 (belonging to the genus [Ruminococcus]_torques_group), OTU2553 (belonging to the genus Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010) and OTU3375 (belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae) was negatively associated with leukocyte telomere length (β = –0.187 to –0.142; PFDR = 0.009–0.035). However, neither SCFA subtype nor total SCFA content in feces exhibited significant associations with telomere length (β = –0.032 to 0.048; PFDR = 0.915–0.968). Conclusions The gut microbiota, but not fecal SCFA concentration, was significantly associated with telomere length in this pediatric population.

Evidence suggests that plant-based diets are beneficial for alleviating metabolic diseases. Childhood is a crucial period for body growth and development. However, it is unknown whether adherence to a plant-based diet is related to a healthy body composition in children. We aimed to assess the relationship between a plant-based diet and body composition in children. A total of 452 Chinese children aged 6–9 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. Lean mass (LM), fat mass, and fat mass percentage (FMP) were assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. An age- and sex-specific abdominal FMP ≥85th percentile was defined as abdominal obesity. Handgrip strength was measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer. A validated 79-item food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary information. Overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI) scores were calculated. After adjusting for potential covariates, a higher hPDI score (per 10-score increment) was associated with a higher LM in the android area (0.038 kg, 3.2%), gynoid area (0.048 kg, 1.9%), and trunk (0.102 kg, 1.2%) and with a lower FMP (1.18%) in the android area. In contrast, a higher uPDI score (per 10-score increment) was associated with a lower LM in the trunk (0.091 kg, 1.1%) and android area (0.023 kg, 1.9%) and with a higher FMP (0.74%) in the android area. No significant associations were observed between the overall PDI and body composition or abdominal obesity. After stratifying by sex, higher (vs. lower) hPDI scores was associated with lower abdominal obesity risk in girls and higher handgrip strength in boys. In conclusion, in this cross-sectional study, we found that stronger adherence to a healthful plant-based diet, and less adherence to an unhealthful plant-based diet was associated with better body composition in Chinese omnivorous children aged 6–9 years old. Our results highlight the need to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy plant foods within investigating how to obtain a healthy body composition in children.

Background: Tamoxifen (TAM) is the eminent first-line drug for endocrine therapy of hormone receptor positive premenopausal breast cancer and reduces the risk of recurrence by ∼50%. However, many patients developed TAM resistance and their diseases recurred. Our previous study on transcriptome profile of TAM resistant breast cancer cells revealed that the TMEM47 is one of the most significantly differentially expressed genes. The mechanism of how TMEM47 is involved in TAM resistance was not known. Methods: We constructed a mammal breast cancer cell line, in which TMEM47 was stably overexpressed (TMEM47-OE/MCF-7), to further verify the role of TMEM47 in TAM resistance. siRNA targeting TMEM47 was transfected into TAMR / MCF-7 cells by Liposome. TMEM47 expression was validated on mRNA and protein level by qRT-PCR and western blotting. We tested the cytotoxicity of TAM in the cells. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Results: Compared to the MCF7 cells, TMEM47 mRNA was significantly up regulated more than 6 folds in the TAMR/MCF7 cells and so its protein. TMEM47 expression level in TMEM47-OE/MCF-7 was similar as in the TAMR/MCF-7 cells. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value (mean ± SD) of TAM in MCF-7, TAMR/MCF-7 and TMEM47-OE/MCF-7 cells was 1.58 ± 0.19, 2.74 ± 0.24 and 3.12 ± 0.32 µγ/mL, respectively. The apoptosis rates of TAMR/MCF-7 and TMEM47-OE/MCF-7 cell lines were significantly lower than that of MCF-7 cells. After 24 and 48 hours TAM treatments, cell viability was significantly inhibitied in TMEM47 knockdown TAMR/MCF7 cells (P < 0.01). Consistant with the decreased cell viability, the apoptosis rate in TMEM47 knockdown TAMR/MCF-7 cells was significantly increased. Conclusions: Our results suggest that overexpression of TMEM47 in MCF-7 cells acquired TAM resistance to those cells, and knockdown of TMEM47 in TAMR/MCF-7 cells reversed their resistance to TAM. TMEM47 might confer TAM resistance on MCF-7 cells through the inhibition of apoptosis.