Brenda Bertrand

Nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is associated with central sensitization, and both diet quality and epigenetic aging are proposed modifiable, mechanistic contributors to this process. We examined how dietary profiles and epigenetic aging affect central sensitization in NSCLBP. Participants completed dietary, epigenetic aging (DunedinPACE, GrimAge), and central sensitization indicators, including conditioned pain modulation (CPM), heat and mechanical temporal summation (TS), and pain sensitivity questionnaire (PSQ). Dietary profiles were derived from latent profile analysis of dietary inflammatory index components. Nested regression models examined how dietary profiles and epigenetic aging predict central sensitization, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and race, followed by Benjamini-Hochberg’s false discovery rate correction. We included 200 adults with NSCLBP: mean age 44 years; 62% African American; 55% female; mean BMI 31.33 kg/m². Five tests remained significant after Benjamini-Hochberg correction. DunedinPACE acceleration increased PSQ (β = 2.936, raw p = .034, FDR p = .034), GrimAge acceleration decreased mechanical TS (β = -0.270, raw p = .008, FDR p = .016). Increased low pro-inflammatory diet increased CPM only after accounting for DunedinPACE (β = 49.788, SE = 15.433, raw p = .002, FDR p = .013) and GrimAge (β = 52.685, SE = 15.281, raw p = .001, FDR p = .013). Increased low pro-inflammatory diet decreased heat TS facilitation in the GrimAge-adjusted model (β = -22.028, SE = 8.270, raw p = .009, FDR p = .049). Diet and epigenetic aging jointly, rather than independently, shape central pain processing in NSCLBP, suggesting protective effects of healthier diets.

The present study assessed how the adaptation to American culture by United States (U.S.)-born and foreign-born Hispanics living in the U.S. may influence stress-related physiological aspects that may impair health. Data on 8,360 Hispanics living in the U.S. categorized as U.S.-born (n = 3347) and foreign-born (n = 5013) from NHANES 1999–2010 (ages 18–85) were used. Stress-related physiological impact was measured by the allostatic load index (ALoad). Adaptation to American culture was evaluated through three acculturation-related measures. The average age was 39.39 years in a sample where 51% were males. ALoad was classified as no load (15.41%), low load (55.33%), and high load (29.24%). The U.S.-born Hispanics showed higher ALoad compared to foreign-born Hispanics (p < 0.001). Among foreign-born Hispanics, length of residence (LOR) and age of arrival in the U.S. (AOA) were associated with higher ALoad scores (p < 0.05), and in U.S.-born Hispanics, age and sex were positively associated and education was negatively associated with ALoad scores (p < 0.05). Adaptation to American culture in foreign-born Hispanics living in the U.S. appears to influence levels of ALoad in this population.

Introduction Obesity and chronic diseases disproportionately affect African-American women in the rural South (US) and may be influenced by adherence to a typical Southern-style diet. There is a need to examine dietary patterns of this population and to determine if consumption of nutritionally rich foods like nuts is associated with consumption of other nutritious foods. The objectives of this study were to identify (1) dietary patterns of overweight/obese African-American women in the rural South; (2) the role that nuts play in the diet; (3) and adherence to federal food group recommendations across dietary patterns. Methods Secondary data analysis of two baseline 24-h dietary recalls was performed on 383 overweight/obese African-American women enrolled in a weight loss intervention in Alabama and Mississippi between 2011 and 2013. Cluster analysis identified dietary patterns. t tests and chi-square tests tested demographic and dietary differences across clusters. The proportion of women in each cluster who met federal recommendations for fruit, vegetable, nuts, added sugar, and sodium intake was calculated. Results Two dietary patterns were found. Nut intake frequency was higher in cluster 2 (P < .001), which was characterized by a higher intake frequency of fruits and vegetables, but high mean daily intake of added sugar (12.26 ± 7.67 tsp) and sodium (2800 ± 881 mg). Ninety-two percent of participants in this cluster consumed red/processed meats daily. Conclusion Even among women in this population who consume a more plant-based dietary pattern containing nuts, there is still a need to decrease intake of added sugar, sodium, and red meat.