Background and Aims: Associations between soy intake and risk of cancer have been evaluated in prospective observational studies with inconsistent results. Whether the potential anticancer effects offered by soy were attributed to soy isoflavones and soy protein still needs to be elucidated. This study aimed to comprehensively quantify the association of soy, soy isoflavones and soy protein intake with risk of cancer incidence and cancer mortality by conducting a meta-analysis of all available studies. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to 16 September 2021. Prospective cohort studies that examined the effect of soy, soy isoflavones and soy protein on cancer incidence and cancer mortality were identified. Random-effects models were used to pool the multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The potential dose-response relations were explored by using generalized least-squares trend estimation. Results: Eighty one prospective cohort studies were included in the meta-analysis. A higher intake of soy was significantly associated with a 10% reduced risk of cancer incidence (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83–0.96). Each additional 25 g/d soy intake decreased the risk of cancer incidence by 4%. Intake of soy isoflavones was inversely associated with risk of cancer incidence (RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89–0.99), whereas no significant association was observed for soy protein. The risk of cancer incidence was reduced by 4% with each 10 mg/d increment of soy isoflavones intake. Similar inverse associations were also found for soy in relation to site-specific cancers, particularly lung cancer (RR, 0.67; 95%CI, 0.52–0.86) and prostate cancer (RR, 0.88; 95%CI, 0.78–0.99). However, high intake of soy, soy isoflavones and soy protein were not associated with cancer mortality. Conclusions: Higher intake of soy and soy isoflavones were inversely associated with risk of cancer incidence, which suggested that the beneficial role of soy against cancer might be primarily attributed to soy isoflavones. These findings support recommendations to include soy as part of a healthy dietary pattern for the prevention of cancer.

Background: The correlation between dietary vitamin B1 intake and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the all-cause and cardiovascular-associated mortality, is not well known. A large-scale data pool was used to examine the aforementioned correlations of Vitamin B1.Methods: This paper analyzed the dietary data from the survey conducted by National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES; 1999–2018). The correlation of vitamin B1 intake in each quartile with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. The hazard ratios for dietary vitamin B1 intake in each quartile, along with all-cause and cardiovascular-associated mortality, were performed using multivariate cox regression analysis, setting the lowest quartile (Q1) as a reference. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) method was used to study the nonlinear relationship. Subgroup stratification and sensitivity analyses were used to further investigate the association between them.Results: The study enrolled 27,958 subjects (with a mean follow-up time of 9.11 years). After multivariate adjustment, dietary vitamin B1 intake was significantly associated with hypertension, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality, with the most significant association in quartile 4 (Q4) of vitamin B1 intake. The results of the restricted cubic spline showed that vitamin B1 intake was nonlinearly associated with hypertension, whereas it was linearly associated with heart failure and cardiovascular mortality. Meanwhile, a dose–response correlation was observed, indicating that increased vitamin B1 intake leads to reduced risk of both cardiovascular prevalence and mortality. The stratified analysis showed that the correlation between age ≥ 50 years, overweight, smoking history, drinking history and dyslipidemia were more significant in male patients. The associations remained similar in the sensitivity analyses.Conclusion: The large NHANES-based studies indicate a gradual trend toward decreasing the risk of hypertension and heart failure prevalence and cardiovascular mortality with increasing dietary vitamin B1 intake. This association is especially significant in elderly-aged men, overweight individuals, smokers, drinkers, and dyslipidemia patients.

Quality of life (QoL) is an important measure of overall well-being linked to physical, mental, social, and environmental aspects of health. This study aimed to assess the QoL among healthcare workers (HCWs) in hospitals and primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Gaza Strip, Palestine. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1850 HCWs in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Data were collected by using self-administered questionnaires in the paper-based format containing a sociodemographic profile and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief questionnaire. Factors associated with QoL were examined using an independent t-test, Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression models. The study included HCWs with a mean age of 38.62 years old, of whom 61.9% were male. The mean QoL score was 55.98 (standard deviation: 11.50), with 55.5% reporting a good QoL. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, smoking status, workplace, and work shifts were associated with the overall QoL score (p < 0.05). Older age (≥ 35 years), working in a hospital, and working the morning shifts were identified as protective factors for QoL, while smoking and working the evening-night shifts were inversely associated with QoL. This study found that HCWs in Gaza Strip exhibited moderate levels of QoL. Age, smoking status, workplace, and work shifts were associated with overall QoL. Strategies to improve HCWs’ QoL, such as lifestyle interventions, additional support through training or educational programs, and reducing work schedules, could be considered under high-pressure situations.

Background & aims: Recent studies, primarily in developed countries, suggest that higher dietary calcium intake is associated with lower odds of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, evidence on this association is lacking in China, where the population has unique dietary patterns and relatively low calcium intake. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of dietary calcium and its major sources with the likelihood of AMD in a Chinese population. Methods: A case-control study was performed within the frame of the Xi'an Eye Study. A total of 284 AMD cases and 284 matched controls who completed the eye examination and a detailed semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were included in the present analysis. Multivariable-adjusted conditional logistic regression models were applied to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of dietary calcium and its main sources. Results: In the multivariable adjusted model, an increasing amount of dietary calcium intake was associated with significantly lower odds of AMD, especially among participants with a dietary calcium intake of less than 800 mg per 2000 kcal per day. The OR for the comparison of the top with the bottom tertile of dietary calcium intake was 0.46 (95%CI: 0.23, 0.90; P_-trend = 0.02). Regarding major sources of calcium, a significant inverse association was only observed for dairy-based calcium intake, with an OR of 0.45 (95%CI: 0.23, 0.89; P_-trend = 0.02). Consumption of dairy products, particularly milk (OR: 0.45 from a comparison of ≥4 servings per week with never/rarely; 95%CI: 0.22, 0.90; P_-trend = 0.05) and yogurt (OR: 0.38 from a comparison of ≥2 servings per week with never/rarely; 95%CI: 0.19, 0.78; P_-trend = 0.01), was also associated with lower odds of AMD. No significant associations were found for milk powder or dietary intake of calcium from vegetables or legumes. Conclusions: Higher intake of calcium and its major food sources, such as milk and yogurt, was associated with a significantly decreased likelihood of AMD in a Chinese population with relatively low dietary calcium intake. These findings align with current public health recommendations for maintaining adequate calcium status and emphasize that the health implications of calcium may depend on its dietary sources.

Background: Age at menarche (AAM) is increasingly identified as essential factor of various perinatal complications. However, evidence on AAM with incident macrosomia remains to be determined, as does the potential modifying effect of behavioral factors. This study aimed to examine the prospective association between earlier AAM and development of macrosomia and to evaluate whether dietary patterns modify this association. Methods: This prospective cohort study comprised 2,554 Chinese women from Xi'an Birth Cohort. AAM was ascertained by self-report. Dietary intake was evaluated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and principal component analysis was used to derive three dietary patterns, named “meat, shrimp, and fish,” “vegetables, soybean and soybean products” and “animal offal, processed meat, and baked food.” Binary logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of macrosomia associated with AAM and dietary patterns. The non-linear relationships between AAM and macrosomia were explored by restricted cubic splines. Stratified analyses were conducted to examine the roles of dietary patterns. Results: Compared with women experienced menarche between 13 and 15 years, women with menarche before age 13 years had a higher risk of macrosomia (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.37–2.62, P for non-linear < 0.05). Adhering to the “meat, shrimp, and fish” dietary pattern exhibited a reduced risk of macrosomia (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46–0.89). Similarly, following the “vegetables, soybeans, and soybean products” dietary pattern demonstrated a 52% reduction in the risk of macrosomia (OR: 0.48, 95%CI: 0.33–0.70). But the processed food dietary pattern increased the risk by 1.23 times (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.42–3.50). Dietary may influence the odds of macrosomia in earlier AAM. Conclusions: Earlier AAM is associated with higher risk of macrosomia. This risk may be attenuated by following a vegetables and soy products diet model but exacerbated by adhered to a processed foods diet. These findings highlight the potential for dietary habits to modify for macrosomia, particularly among women with early menarche.