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Using nutrition to modulate health effects of environmental pollutants

Using nutrition to modulate health effects of environmental pollutants. Michelle A. Mendez Dept of Nutrition UNC-Chapel Hill. NUTRITION MATTERS: Deaths attributed to 19 leading factors. 9 of top 19 global causes of death are nutritional --------------------------------------

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Using nutrition to modulate health effects of environmental pollutants

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  1. Using nutrition to modulate health effects of environmental pollutants Michelle A. Mendez Dept of Nutrition UNC-Chapel Hill

  2. NUTRITION MATTERS: Deaths attributed to 19 leading factors 9 of top 19 global causes of death are nutritional -------------------------------------- Source: WHO Global Burden of Disease http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/global_health_risks/en/index.html

  3. Top 10 causes of disability-adjusted life year’s lost in high-income countries

  4. Recent evidence: Diet may also interact with contaminants to affect health • Benefits: • Diet may help to reduce negative health effects of certain contaminants • Risks: • Diet can also be a source of contaminants, or may strengthen risk of contaminant exposure • Minimizing risks and maximizing benefits is essential

  5. Fruits, vegetables and related nutrients may reduce contaminant risks • Mechanisms may involve antioxidant vitamins (e.g. vitamins C & E) as well as other components of fruits and vegetables • A few examples - air pollution • Guxens et al 2012 in Spain - higher exposure to air pollution in pregnancy associated with lower infant mental development scores only if mothers had low F&V intakes • Raaschou-Nielsen et al 2012 in Denmark - residential air pollution associated with a 25% increase in cardiovascular mortality overall, 45% if consumed <200grams/day of F&V

  6. Fruits, vegetables and related nutrients may reduce contaminant risks (cont) • Folate • Gamble et al 2006 found folate supplements to increase metabolism/excretion of arsenic in a population with contaminated water in Bangladesh • Arsenic is a carcinogen recently found to increase risk of diabetes and perhaps hypertension, as well as impaired child neurodevelopment • Also influences epigenetics (DNA methylation) • Vitamin C • Duarte-Salles et al found higher intakes of vitamin C during pregnancy to eliminate a 100g reduction in birth weight associated with exposure to dietary PAHs in a Spanish population

  7. Other potentially beneficial dietary factors • Omega-3 fatty acids e.g. in fatty fish • May help to reduce risk of atherosclerosis associated with contaminants found in the environment such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

  8. Other potentially beneficial dietary factors • Breastfeeding • May reduce effects of prenatal exposure to chemicals such as tobacco • Mendez et al 2008 found a 4-fold increase in overweight among children whose mothers smoked in early pregnancy, but no increase among those breastfed for 6mo or more

  9. Potentially harmful dietary factors • Excessive dietary fat, energy density • May increase impact of “obesogenic” chemicals • May cause cardiovascular disease, cancers • Contaminants in the food chain • Packaging products, additives • e.g. bisphenol A, phthalates: may be obesogens, carcinogens, or affect neurodevelopment • Water pollutants, widely used chemicals • e.g. arsenic, mercury, pesticides, flame retardants: may be carcinogens, neurotoxins, diabetogens or obesogens • Air pollutants, cooking/combustion products • e.g. acrylamide, PAHs from high temp cooking, smoking, traffic: may be carcinogens, neurotoxic or affect growth

  10. High-fat diet may strengthen effects of and obesogenic chemicals • Similar dependence on a high-fat diet has been suggested for other chemical “obesogens” (e.g. discussed in Hennig article) • Wei et al 2012 found • Typical weight gain in mice fed a normal diet, slight increase if fed BPA • Excess weight gain with a high fat diet, significantly increased if also fed BPA

  11. High-fat diet may strengthen effects of and obesogenic chemicals Source: Valvi, Mendez et al, Environmental Health Perspectives 2012 • We found in a study from Spain that prenatal exposure to the pesticide DDT (which persists in the environment) was • Associated with a 2-fold increase in overweight at age 6y among children consuming a higher-fat diet • Not associated with overweight at age 6y among children who were consuming a lower-fat diet

  12. Balancing the risks and benefits • Potentially reducing health effects of contaminants provides one more reason for a healthy diet • Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids • Lower in saturated, trans and omega-6 fatty acids AND low dietary contaminants! • Important to start this diet as early as possible to maximize long-term health and development • Diet during pregnancy, sustained breastfeeding, and beyond

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