Role of plant-based diets in the prevention and regression of metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases

doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2014.07.012

Trends in Food Science & Technology

Volume 40, Issue 1, November 2014, Pages 62-81

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2014.07.012 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
Diet represents a crucial factor for the prevention of chronic-degenerative diseases.
•
MetS and neurodegeneration are correlated to animal-derived product consumption.
•
Hyper-homocysteinemia and insulin resistance are features of MetS and neurodegeneration.
•
Plant nutrients can improve/ameliorate both MetS and neurodegeneration.
•
Plant nutrients can reduce chronic inflammation observed in MetS and neurodegeneration.

Plant-based diets are known to preserve body tissues from oxidative stress and inflammation, both hallmarks of chronic-degenerative diseases. In particular, plant-derived foods, such as legumes, represent a natural source of bioactive nutrients known to contribute to the prevention and amelioration of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension and impaired glucose metabolism, all factors implicated in metabolic syndrome (MetS), but also osteoporosis, neurodegeneration and some types of cancers. Here we revise recent literature on the role of plant-based diets, plant-foods and specific plant-nutrients in the prevention and regression of MetS and neurodegenerative diseases. We describe some of the molecular mechanisms underlying these protective effects, highlighting the role of diet in the control of hyper-homocysteinemia and insulin resistance, often implicated in the etiology of both metabolic and neurodegenerative syndromes.

Introduction

Diet is currently considered a crucial factor for controlling health, protecting against oxidative stress and chronic inflammation and preventing chronic-degenerative diseases. Virtually all the metabolic and physical dysfunctions related to the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), such as central (abdominal) obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia, namely high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, have been strongly correlated to animal product consumption, but also to a low level of physical activity due to a sedentary lifestyle (Loprinzi, Smit, & Mahoney, 2014), which has a special relevance for children and adolescents (Y. Pan & Pratt, 2008; Taylor et al., 2006). Nowadays, MetS represents a serious health concern in western countries and also in countries that have shifted toward “western” nutritional habits due to a sudden economical growth (Popkin, 2004). These aspects highlight the importance of acquiring appropriate nutritional habits from early childhood in order to preserve a state of health.

Furthermore, besides the known genetic predisposition to cognitive impairments and neurodegenerative diseases, such as the discovery of the genetic biomarker apolipoprotein E (apoE) ɛ4 for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis (Vanitallie, 2013), a growing number of studies have highlighted the role of diet composition for the prevention and regression of these ailments (Benton, 2010).

Amongst plant-derived foods, legumes, such as soybeans, represent a natural source of proteins and phytoestrogens, which are known to improve dyslipidemia (Zhan & Ho, 2005; Anthony, Clarkson, Bullock, & Wagner, 1997), contributing to prevention and recovery from atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease (Nagarajan, Burris, Stewart, Wilkerson, & Badger, 2008; Clair & Anthony, 2005), osteoporosis (Fernandes, Lawrence, & Sun, 2003; Christianson & Shen, 2013), neurodegeneration (H. Kim, Xia, Li, & Gewin, 2000) and some types of cancers (Sarkar & Li, 2003). On the contrary, animal-based foods, particularly rich in animal proteins and saturated fats, are positively correlated with the promotion of several tumors, tumor recurrence, atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cardiac failure and neurodegenerative diseases (Rohrmann et al., 2013, Sinha et al., 2009).

In this review we revised current literature on the role of plant-based diets, plant-derived foods and bioactive nutrients in the prevention and regression of: MetS (i) and neurodegenerative diseases (ii), highlighting some common aspects between these apparently unrelated pathologies (iii).

Section snippets

Role of diet in the control of metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related dysfunctions

The MetS affects approximately 25% of the world's population (Prasad, Ryan, Celzo, & Stapleton, 2012) and is characterized by the combination of several factors, such as impaired glucose metabolism, central obesity, elevated blood pressure and dyslipidemia. Amongst the principal risk factors, atherogenic diet, sedentary lifestyle and overweight/obesity play a crucial role in the induction and exacerbation of MetS-related dysfunctions (Stone & Saxon, 2005). Establishment of general criteria for

Role of diet in the regulation of brain function and in the prevention and reduction of neuroinflammation

Diet plays a crucial role in the control of brain functionality. Hormones and peptides, such as insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1, released after food ingestion into the blood circulation can reach brain regions, such as the hypothalamus and the hippocampus, activating signaling pathways that control synaptic activity, learning and memory. Additionally, well described neurotrophic factors, besides regulating synaptic plasticity, can also respond to peripheral signals, such as the ones induced

MetS and neurodegeneration are often associated

Several studies have demonstrated an association between metabolic disorders and decreased cognitivity. Gatto NM and colleagues described a correlation between MetS-related dysfunctions and lower cognition. They showed that MetS was weakly associated with lower verbal learning in healthy middle-aged and older adults affected by MetS, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria, but not affected by cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Moreover, in subjects meeting

Conclusions

The aim of this review was to highlight the role of plant-based diets, specific plant-derived foods and nutrients in the prevention of MetS and neurodegenerative pathologies. From the analysis of literature it appears that addressing the specific role of a single food or a specific dietary component in the prevention/regression of chronic diseases might not be so informative, possibly generating contradictory results. In this regard, nutritional interventions based on the introduction of a

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Luciana Baroni for the critical discussion.

The authors would like to thank Ms. Monica Glebocki for extensive editing of the manuscript.

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ReviewRole of plant-based diets in the prevention and regression of metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases

Highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Role of diet in the control of metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related dysfunctions

Role of diet in the regulation of brain function and in the prevention and reduction of neuroinflammation

MetS and neurodegeneration are often associated

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases

Nutrition

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids

Alzheimer's & Dementia

Mutation Research

American Journal of Pathology

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

Blood

Journal of Nutrition

Nutrition Research

Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Neuroscience

Journal of Nutrition

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development

Medical Hypotheses

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America

Neurotoxicology

Journal of Nutrition

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Journal of Nutrition

Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

Journal of Nutrition

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

Effect of fruit and vegetable concentrates on endothelial function in metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Nutrition Journal

Soy protein versus soy phytoestrogens in the prevention of diet-induced coronary artery atherosclerosis of male cynomolgus monkeys

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology

Elevated plasma vitamin B12 levels as a marker for cancer: a population-based cohort study

Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Vegetarian and vegan diets in type 2 diabetes management

Nutrition Reviews

Recent advances in the relationship between obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance

European Cytokine Network

Dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome – a review of epidemiologic evidence

Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration: are there critical stages for nutritional intervention?

Nutrition Reviews

Why is homocysteine toxic for the nervous and immune systems?

Current Aging Science

Effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: update on dietary requirements for brain. Part 1: micronutrients

Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging

Effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: update on dietary requirements for brain. Part 2: macronutrients

Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging

Mediterranean diet and oxidation: nuts and olive oil as important sources of fat and antioxidants

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry

Lowering homocysteine levels with folic acid and B-vitamins do not reduce early atherosclerosis, but could interfere with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis

Redox regulation of heat shock protein expression in aging and neurodegenerative disorders associated with oxidative stress: a nutritional approach

Amino Acids

Consumption of fruit and vegetables associated with the metabolic syndrome and its components in an adult population sample

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva

A bean-free diet increases the risk of all-cause mortality among Taiwanese women: the role of the metabolic syndrome

Public Health Nutrition

Reduced risk for metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance associated with ovo-lacto-vegetarian behavior in female Buddhists: a case-control study

PLoS One

Review
Role of plant-based diets in the prevention and regression of metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases