A Short Note on Dietary Components and Noncommunicable Diseases

Background: Dietary Intake and Onset of Diseases

Health properties of different nutrients within food items largely depend on the critical inter-relation between the ingested foods according to the dietary configurations which in turn impart a significant impact on the health improvement as well as hindering the onset of diseases. Such dietary strategies (diet models or the food guidance tools) aid to select foods for consumption in consideration of delivering the optimal nutrient intake with a concomitant possibility of lowering the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes [1, 2]. According to the nutritional epidemiologic investigations, nutrient deficiencies are very much likely to result from the insufficient intake or absorption of specific nutrients from different food groups, which ultimately accounts for the development of certain diseases like the cardiovascular disease (CVD), onset of cancer, and most commonly, protruding diabetes [1]. Unlike the nutrient deficiency, the carbohydrate rich diet (with added sugar) and even with a lower consumption of bad fat may instigate cardiometabolic disease risk accompanied with type 2 diabetes while the higher dietary saturated fat may lead to the CVD [1, 3]. Indeed, the least processed, bioactive-rich fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and whole grains have been reported to impart the protective effects against the NCDs, whereas the highly processed meats and the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have been noticed with the instigative potential to trigger the coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and diabetes [2, 4]. Lots of published literatures are available now which really heighten the general awareness about the appropriate dietary regulations. Indeed, physiological and metabolic uunderstanding of the role of carbohydrate, proteins, fats and sterols, vitamins and minerals in human nutrition is of great significance for the maintenance of health and prevention of disease.

Irregular Dietary Consumption Effect

Both synergistic and/or antagonistic interactions have been reported within the nutrients and the dietary patterns as can be exemplified by the increased absorption of nonheme iron in presence of vitamin C, while a competitive inhibition of zinc absorption has been noticed through iron [1, 5]. On the contrary, the high cholesterol rich eggs which are also plentiful in amino acids and several micronutrients, have been noticed to reduce the risk of CVD [1, 5]. Besides, it should be noted that fish and seafoods as well as the long- chain omega-3s has been reported to lower the risk of CHD; and yogurt, which consists of active probiotics, have been found to lower the risk of diabetes [2]. Another example antagonistic interaction is the development of undesirable effects on the disease state upon supplementation of specific amino acids or cofactors which are actually supposed to impart beneficial responses [6]. Glutamine supplementation in the diets of cancer patients with cancer may promote accelerated tumor growth although this amino acid is important as nutrient sources for many cells. The supplementation of arginine has been noticed to trigger nitric oxide synthesis as well [6]. Another risk factor is the overnutrition (due to the excessive accumulation of fat in the adipose tissue) during the childhood through the intake of high fats, sugars, energy-dense foods, which in turn results in the NCDs like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, coronary artery disease and cancer [7].

Indeed, the long-term increased consumption of a high fructose diet together with the dietary fats lead to the weight gain, and obesity; and besides, it is to be pondered that the increase of childhood obesity may trigger the onset of type 2 diabetes in the adult stage; and also, may instigate the risk of atherosclerosis [6]. To achieve the benefits from dietary intake, along with the planned dietary schedule, intake of adequate fiber may reduce the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, C-reactive protein levels, apolipoprotein levels, and blood pressure; and thereby lower the risk of CVD and coronary heart disease (CHD) [6]. Certain parameters like the body mass index (BMI), BAZ (BMI for age Z-score), double burden of malnutrition (DBM) need to be in consideration in order to monitor the probability of the occurrence of such diet induced NCDs.

Conclusion

In fine, the study of the relationship of dietary nutrition and the maintenance of health is required in order to prevent the non-communicable diseases. The impact of sufficient nutrition resulting from accurate dietary plan is thus significant in terms of weight control and the development of chronic disease as well as the expression of the important genes for the appropriate absorption and metabolism of the foods. In order to ensure the sound level of mass public health as well as to get rid of child malnutrition, the knowledge of human nutrition, nutrient metabolism and the associated implications of the earned knowledge is required for the improved clinical outcomes.