Browsing by Author "Berkowitz, Loni"

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    Association between serum sphingolipids and eudaimonic well-being in white US adults
    (2021) Berkowitz, Loni; Henriquez, Marcela P.; Salazar, Cristian; Rojas, Eric; Echeverria, Guadalupe; Love, Gayle D.; Rigotti, Attilio; Coe, Christopher L.; Ryff, Carol D.
    Emerging research has linked psychological well-being with many physiological markers as well as morbidity and mortality. In this analysis, the relationship between components of eudaimonic well-being and serum sphingolipids levels was investigated using data from a large national survey of middle-aged American adults (Midlife in the United States). Health behaviors (i.e., diet, exercise, and sleep) were also examined as potential mediators of these relationships. Serum levels of total ceramides-the main molecular class of sphingolipids previously associated with several disease conditions-were inversely linked with environmental mastery. In addition, significant correlations were found between specific ceramide, dihydroceramide, and hexosylceramides species with environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Using hierarchical regression and mediation analyses, health behaviors appeared to mediate these associations. However, the link between ceramides and environmental mastery was partially independent of health behaviors, suggesting the role of additional mediating factors. These findings point to sphingolipid metabolism as a novel pathway of health benefits associated with psychological well-being. In particular, having a sense of environmental mastery may promote restorative behaviors and benefit health via improved blood sphingolipid profiles.
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    Limitations and opportunities for the appropriation of the Mediterranean diet in Chilean adults with diagnostic elements of metabolic syndrome
    (2024) Calderon, Maribel; Plaza, Gianella; Gomez, Marisol; Samith, Barbara; Pinto, Victoria; Martinez, Ximena; Sara, Daniela; Echeverria, Guadalupe; Calzada, Mariana; Berkowitz, Loni; von Schultzendorf, Andrea; Pedrals, Nuria; Bitran, Marcela; Rigotti, Attilio
    Background: a healthy food intake pattern, specifically the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), is a factor associated with reduced risk, lower prevalence, and better management of chronic diseases. However, there is limited information regarding how patients integrate proposals for adherence to this food pattern in their daily lives. Objective: to identify factors and conditions that influence adherence to the MedDiet in Chile. Methods: an exploratory qualitative study was applied in 35 to 65 -year -old patients of both sexes who presented at least one diagnostic criterion of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Through in-depth interviews and focal groups, knowledge, assessment, attitudes, and practices associated with changes and maintenance of healthy eating habits, with emphasis on the MedDiet, were investigated. Information analysis was carried out under the grounded theory approach using the ATLAS.ti software. Results: participants recognized the value of healthy eating, including the MedDiet, but declared low knowledge (identification of single foods items) together with facilitators (variety of ingredients) and limiting factors (taste, availability/cost of some items, family dynamics) for its routine adoption. In addition, change in eating habits generates a high initial cognitive and emotional load that requires not only individual but also relational effort as it implies modifications of family and collective practices. Conclusions: information obtained on barriers and opportunities to adhere to healthy eating such as the MedDiet is key to design and implement nutritional interventions based on this food pattern and that can be sustainable in time for chronic disease management in Chile.
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    Lipidomic Signature of Healthy Diet Adherence and Its Association with Cardiometabolic Risk in American Adults
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024) Berkowitz, Loni; Echeverría, Guadalupe; Salazar, Cristian; Faúndez, Cristian; Coe, Christopher L.; Ryff, Carol; Rigotti, Attilio
    The aim of this study was to identify the blood lipidomic profile associated with a healthy eating pattern in a middle-aged US population sample and to determine its relationship with metabolic disorders and cardiovascular risk (CVR). Self-reported information about diet and blood samples were obtained from 2114 adult participants in the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS). Food intake data were used to design a Healthy Diet Index (MIDUS-HEI) and to evaluate the predictive value by examining its association with health variables. The associated lipid signature (HEI-LS) was constructed using Lasso regression, from lipidomic data (LC/MS). Associations between HEI-LS, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and estimated CVR were assessed using multiple linear regression. MIDUS-HEI score was a robust indicator of dietary quality and inversely associated with body mass index (p < 0.001) and metabolic syndrome (p = 0.012). A lipidomic signature comprising 57 distinct lipid species was highly correlated with the MIDUS-HEI score (r = 0.39, p < 10⁻16). It was characterized by lower levels of saturated fatty acid and adrenic acid (n-6) and higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid (n-3). Healthier HEI-LS scores were strongly associated with better cardiometabolic indicators and lower estimated CVR (OR 0.89 CI 95% 0.87–0.91). The MIDUS-HEI effectively assessed dietary quality, confirming the link between poor diet quality and metabolic disorders in American population. Lipidomic profiling offered an objective assessment of dietary patterns and provided insights into the relationship between diet quality, metabolic responses, and CVR. This approach supports precision nutrition strategies for at-risk populations.
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    Serum sphingolipid profiling as a novel biomarker for metabolic syndrome characterization
    (2022) Berkowitz, Loni; Salazar, Cristian; Ryff, Carol D. D.; Coe, Christopher L. L.; Rigotti, Attilio
    BackgroundSphingolipids are components of cell membrane structure, but also circulate in serum and are essential mediators of many cellular functions. While ceramides have been proposed previously as a useful biomarker for cardiometabolic disease, the involvement of other sphingolipids is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between blood sphingolipidomic profiles and metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as other atherosclerotic risk factors in a large population-based study in the U.S. MethodsClinical data and serum sphingolipidomic profiling from 2,063 subjects who participated in the biomarker project of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study were used. ResultsConsistent with previous reports, we found a positive association between most ceramide levels and obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, impaired glucose metabolism, and MetS prevalence. In contrast, most simple beta-glycosphingolipids (i.e., hexosylceramides and lactosylceramides) were inversely associated with dysmetabolic biomarkers. However, this latter sphingolipid class showed a positive link with inflammatory and vascular damage-associated biomarkers in subjects with MetS. Through metabolic network analysis, we found that the relationship between ceramides and simple beta-glycosphingolipids differed significantly not only according to MetS status, but also with respect to the participants' C-reactive protein levels. ConclusionOur findings suggest that a comprehensive sphingolipid profile is more informative about MetS than ceramides alone, and it may reveal new insights into the pathophysiology and further diabetic vs. cardiovascular risk in patients with MetS.