The participants in this study are postmenopausal women aged 40-65 and although living with diabetes was not a requirement of the study, the intervention is promising in reducing hot flashes while supportive of preventive health for women living with diabetes and/or insulin resistance.
Objective:
Dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) may act as endocrine disruptors, this study examined the potential association of modifications to the intake of dietary AGEs with the frequency and severity of postmenopausal hot flashes.
Highlights from the article:
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Postmenopausal hot flashes are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
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AGEs are continuously generated during metabolism, and enhanced during hyperglycemia and/or conditions characterized by increased oxidative stress.
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Excessive intake of dietary AGEs, has been linked to oxidative stress and inflammation, reduced innate immune defenses, and insulin resistance.
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Cooking with high heat under dry conditions, as in grilling, leads to significant formation of AGEs, especially in animal-derived foods, which are also rich in fats.
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In a recent 12-week randomized clinical trial, a low-fat plant-based diet greatly reduced vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.
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71 participants that completed the study were randomly assigned to 2 study groups.
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Dietary AGEs decreased 73% in the intervention group.
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About 44% of the reduction of the dietary AGEs in the intervention group was due to the reduction of meat intake, and 24% due to decreased dairy intake.
Conclusion:
The reduction in dietary AGEs with a low-fat plant-based diet was associated with a significant reduction in the frequency of severe and moderate-to-severe postmenopausal hot flashes, independent of changes in energy intake and weight loss.
“Since circulating AGEs are a modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease and reducing dietary AGEs is effective in reducing the circulating levels of AGEs and improving markers of cardiometabolic health, it is crucial to identify effective strategies that will improve cardiometabolic health, particularly in postmenopausal women with hot flashes, who are at an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
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#menopause#plantbasednutrition#womenshealth#prevention