Browsing by Author "Ryff, Carol"

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    Healthy Eating as Potential Mediator of Inverse Association between Purpose in Life and Waist Circumference: Emerging Evidence from US and Chilean Cohorts
    (2023) Berkowitz Fiebich, Loni; Mateo Hernández, Camila; Salazar Vilches, Cristian Javier; Samith Catalán, Bárbara Patricia; Sara Zaror, Daniela Alejandra; Pinto Manzo, Victoria Sabina; Martínez, Ximena; Calzada, Mariana Andrea; Von Schultzendorff Hoyl, Beatriz Andrea; Pedrals, Nuria; Bitrán Carreño, Marcela; Echeverría Errázuriz, Guadalupe; Ruini, Chiara; Ryff, Carol; Rigotti Rivera, Attilio
    High sense of purpose in life, a fundamental domain of eudaimonic well-being, has been consistently associated with lower risk for various obesity-related chronic diseases. Although this psychological feature correlates with some health behaviors as potential mediators, its association with healthy eating remains less explored. In addition, studies of these psycho-behavioral and health relationships in the South American population are lacking. This research sought to assess: (1) the cross-sectional association between self-reported purpose in life and overall healthy eating patterns, and (2) healthy food intake as a potential mediator of the inverse relationship between purpose in life and waist circumference. Data collected of 2060 US adults from the MIDUS study (5 ± 12 years, 55% women, mostly white people, and 42.5% obese) and 223 Chilean adults from the CHILEMED study (46.6 ± 9 years, 58.3% women, and 71.3% obese) were used. Anthropometric and sociodemographic variables were collected. Sense of purpose was assessed using the purpose in life subscale of the Ryff’s psychological well-being questionnaire. Diet quality was evaluated using healthy eating or low-fat diet indexes, according to extant food intake data in each cohort. The relationship between these variables was estimated by bivariate and multivariate linear regressions with appropriate adjustments. To establish whether a better diet quality could mediate a link of purpose in life and improved nutritional status (assessed by waist circumference), the association between these three variables was tested by bootstrapping-based mediation analysis. Our results show significant associations of sense of purpose with healthy eating and low-fat dietary patterns in both US and Chilean cohorts, respectively, even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. According to the mediation analysis, the relationship between sense of purpose and waist circumference, as an indicator of abdominal obesity, appears to be partially mediated by healthier food intake in both samples. In conclusion, our findings suggest a plausible mechanism underlying the favorable impact of this well-being dimension on physical health. Given its protective effects, interventions aimed at increasing purpose in life may facilitate adherence to better dietary patterns, which, in turn, will reduce the risk for obesity-related chronic diseases.
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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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    Mediterranean diet and psychological well-being intervention to reverse metabolic syndrome in Chile (CHILEMED trial)
    (2023) Echeverría Errázuriz, Guadalupe; Samith Catalán, Bárbara Patricia; Von Schultzendorff Hoyl, Beatriz Andrea; Pinto Manzo, Victoria Sabina; Martínez Cifuentes, Ximena; Sara Zaror, Daniela Alejandra; Calzada, Mariana; Pacheco Gutiérrez, Josefina; Plaza Paz, Gianella; Scott Escorza, Francesca Angelina; Romero Romero, Javiera Constanza; Mateo Hernández, Camila; Julio Gonzalez, Maria Verónica; Utreras Mendoza, Yildy; Binder Correa, María Victoria; Gutiérrez Medina, Florencia Antonia; Riquelme Stagnaro, María Emilia; Cuevas Guzmán, Margarita María; Willatt, Rosario; Sánchez González, Omayra Margarita De Jesús; Keilendt Astete, Aracelli Tiare; Butron, Patricia; Jarufe Calabrese, Alessandra Antonia; Huete Rubio, Isidora Sofia; Tobar Bavestrello, Josefina Isidora; Martin. Sofía; Alfaro, Valentina; Olivos Celedón, Matilde; Pedrals, Nuria; Bitrán Carreño, Marcela; Ávalos, Ivette; Ruini, Chiara; Ryff, Carol; Pérez Pons, Druso Diego; Berkowitz Fiebich, Loni; Rigotti Rivera, Attilio
    Psychosocial status and lifestyle are key risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which, in turn, are main drivers of healthcare costs and morbimortality worldwide, including Chile. Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is one of the healthiest dietary patterns under study. However, its impact on high-risk conditions, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), and NCDs outside the Mediterranean Basin remains mostly unexplored. Even though Central Chile has an environment, food production, and culinary traditions comparable to those present in Mediterranean countries, few studies -some with significant methodological limitations- have evaluated the effect of MedDiet on health and/or disease in Chilean subjects. Importantly, a Mediterranean lifestyle is a modus vivendi that integrates physical health with mental and social well-being. Psychological well-being (PWB) is associated with healthy behaviors, positive health outcomes, and longevity, thereby emerging as a novel healthcare goal. We report here an ongoing randomized controlled clinical trial in Chilean patients with MetS seeking to test whether (1) a PWB theory-based intervention facilitates induction to and increases long-term adherence to a locally adapted MedDiet, and (2) a MedDiet intervention -implemented alone or combined with well-being promotion- is more effective at reversing MetS compared to individuals following a low-fat diet without psychological support. The CHILEan MEDiterranean (CHILEMED) diet intervention study is a 1-year trial including patients with MetS living in Chile. Participants will be assigned randomly by a computer-generated random number sequence to one of the three intervention arms: a) low-fat diet as control group, b) MedDiet alone, and c) MedDiet plus well-being support. Patients will be followed-up by individual and/or group online nutritional sessions or phone cal as well as 6- and 12-month in-person re-assessment of medical history, medication use, food intake, PWB, anthropometrics/physical exam, and blood collection for laboratory analysis. The primary outcome of the trial will be the effect of the MedDiet -with or without PWB intervention- on overall reversal of MetS compared to low-fat diet alone. Based on a statistical superiority trial, expected impact, and patient loss, the estimated study sample is 339 subjects (113 individuals per arm in 3 equal-sized groups). Currently, we have enrolled 179 patients, predominantly women, evenly distributed by age (group means ranging from 45.7 to 48,9 years-old), 3/4 are obese with almost all of them showing abdominal obesity, 70% are hypertensive, whereas <10% exhibit diabetes. If findings turn out as expected (e.g., MedDiet -with or without PWB intervention- is better than the low-fat diet for reversion of MetS at 1-year follow-up), CHILEMED will provide further beneficial evidence of the MedDiet on NCD risk conditions beyond the Mediterranean region.