Sigma Nutrition Radio

Discussion on the controversy and criticisms of the PREDIMED Trial, a landmark clinical trial in nutrition science. The trial showed a 30% reduction in cardiovascular events associated with a Mediterranean diet. However, it faced methodological issues, leading to a retraction and re-analysis of the original paper. Despite the controversy, the PREDIMED trial remains a valuable source of data. The podcast explores the origins of the Mediterranean diet, differences in fat composition, and the concept of risk in relation to population and baseline diet.

This podcast explores the PROPEL trial, a weight loss intervention program in primary care in Louisiana. It discusses cultural appropriation in recipe modification, the importance of combining lifestyle interventions and weight loss drugs for type 2 diabetics, and current research projects on food waste and stress. The significance of physical activity, positive outlook, and a healthy diet is also emphasized.

The podcast discusses the reliability of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) in assessing dietary intake. Topics include the issues of measurement error, recall bias, and the validity and reproducibility of FFQs. The limitations and criticisms of using FFQs in nutritional epidemiology are explored, along with the reliability of FFQs and the use of correlation coefficients. The podcast also discusses the systematic errors and limitations of FFQs, and concludes with reflections on the episode and promotion of Sigma Nutrition Premium.

The hosts of Sigma Nutrition Radio discuss a seminal paper that introduced key concepts in public health and epidemiology. They explore the challenge of determining the impact of risk factors within populations, the distinction between individual-level and population-level risk, and the debate between whole population and targeted interventions. The chapter introduces the prevention paradox and emphasizes the need to modify exposures in the population to prevent health risks. They also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of population-wide approaches and the importance of combining them with targeted interventions for effective outcomes.

The podcast discusses the ATBC Cancer Prevention Study, a seminal research endeavor examining the potential protective effects of antioxidant nutrients against cancer. It covers the study's rigorous methodology, the unexpected finding of a higher risk of lung cancer in the beta-carotene supplementation group, and the challenges in designing clinical trials and drawing valid causal inferences.

Links:  Episode page with extra resources Subscribe to PREMIUM Receive our free weekly emails Learn more about Sigma Nutrition Radio About this Episode: The field of circadian biology has long been associated with regulating diurnal physiological processes, notably the sleep-wake cycle. However, recent advances have unveiled a broader role for circadian clocks across various tissues, including skeletal muscle. Within this context, the investigation of circadian clocks within the skeletal muscle milieu has emerged as a frontier of scientific inquiry. These intrinsic timekeeping mechanisms exhibit multifaceted regulatory capacities beyond mere temporal synchronization. This episode delves into the implications of “circadian clocks” operating within skeletal muscle tissue, with the esteemed Prof. Karyn Esser as this week’s guest. Her pioneering work has been instrumental in understanding the interplay between circadian rhythmicity and muscular physiology.

Links: Go to episode page (with study links & resources) Subscribe to PREMIUM Receive our weekly newsletter More episodes on cholesterol & heart disease About This Episode: The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) was a groundbreaking clinical trial conducted in the 1970s and 1980s. Its main objective was to investigate the relationship between various risk factors and the incidence of heart disease. The study aimed to determine whether modifying risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and smoking, could lead to a reduction in cardiovascular events. The trial spanned several years, with participants being followed up for a period of approximately six years to assess the incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality. The primary outcome measures included coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality and overall mortality. The MRFIT trial yielded several important findings that have significantly influenced our understanding of cardiovascular health and prevention strategies. In this episode we take a look at why this is such seminal research, as well as the contribution of one of the greatest researchers ever in the field, Jeramiah Stamler.

Explore the influential 1957 paper on dietary fats and blood cholesterol levels. Learn about the Keys Equation, which identifies the importance of the P:S ratio in the diet. Understand the impact of saturated and polyunsaturated fats on blood cholesterol levels. Discover the enduring nature of the Keys equation and the importance of reading published papers in nutrition science.

This is a Premium-exclusive episode, so here you'll only hear a preview. In order to listen to the full episode you’ll need to subscribe to Sigma Nutrition Premium. About This Episode: It has been clearly demonstrated that elevated LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), or perhaps more specifically pro-atherogenic lipoproteins, is causal in atherosclerosis development in humans. One crucial concept within this is that the risk relates not only to the magnitude of elevated LDL-C, but the duration of exposure. Thus, the role of LDL-C in driving atherosclerosis is referred to as a “cumulative, integrated exposure over the lifecourse”. But, what exactly does this mean? In this episode, Danny discusses the cumulative exposure model of LDL-C in atherosclerosis, the evidence supporting it, and the implications of this for the “debates” that get raised in relation to LDL-C (or apoB-containing lipoproteins) and heart disease. Links: Subscribe to PREMIUM See more episodes on heart disease and lipids Receive the free Sigma email newsletter

Links: Resources and info for this episode Subscribe to PREMIUM Receive Danny's weekly email newsletter About This Episode: Losing at least 5% of one’s initial body weight is associated with improvements in glycaemic control, blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and other positive outcomes. Due to these reasons, it is typically recommended that individuals classified as overweight or obese should engage in effective weight loss interventions. However, despite the potential for clinically significant weight loss through these interventions, weight regain is a common occurrence. This can be attributed to a combination of low adherence to weight control strategies and compensatory physiological mechanisms that influence weight regain. Consequently, this may result in a cycle of losing and regaining weight over the long term, which is commonly referred to as “weight cycling.” There are concerns regarding the potential harm to health and increased risk of chronic diseases associated with weight cycling. Some mechanisms have been proposed, such as the loss of lean mass during weight loss periods that is not regained when weight is regained. However, the evidence supporting the harmful effects of weight cycling on health is incomplete and many unanswered questions remain. In this episode, we will examine the evidence published to date and draw evidence-based conclusions regarding the impact of weight cycling on long-term health.