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Visceral obesity, skeletal muscle mass and resistin in metabolic syndrome development.
Rodríguez-López, CP, González-Torres, MC, Cruz-Bautista, I, Nájera-Medina, O
Nutricion hospitalaria. 2019;36(1):43-50
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Obesity is a growing public health problem at a national and global level. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is the most bioactive component that is related with the release of inflammatory mediators which gives rise to insulin resistance, mainly local, and subsequently in liver and skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of body components with the concentration of resistin as an inflammatory marker in patients with overweight and obesity. The study is an observational, cross-sectional clinical study which analysed 40 participants with an age range between 18 and 40 years. Results indicate that: - as body mass index and VAT increased, anthropometric measurements, body composition, and biochemical indicators were altered. - persons with obesity and increased VAT had the highest proportions of metabolic syndrome (MS). - an increase in skeletal muscle is related with increased BMI and with the presence of increased VAT. - there was a significant increase in resistin concentration in individuals without MS and increased VAT compared to those without MS and normal VAT. Authors conclude that resistin might be acting as an inflammatory adipocytokine [a bioactive product produced by adipose tissue], contributing to the increase in frequency of MS in those persons who present increased levels of this cytokine.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Background: obesity implies an increase in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT), which is a risk factor for various metabolic diseases. VAT releases proinflammatory mediators, like resistin. In addition, it has been noted that the skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is involved in the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). Objective: this study was designed to determine the relationship of body components (VAT and SMM) with MS and resistin in patients with obesity. Methods: body composition and anthropometric and biochemical measurements to assess MS, and ELISA tests for resistin were carried out in 40 patients aged 18-40 years. Results: overweight and obesity were observed in 72% of patients; visceral obesity was found in 53% and 35% had MS. A positive correlation between VAT and SMM in patients with MS was detected. In the entire population, an increase of 1 kg of SMM was found to be associated with an increase of 3 cm2 of VAT, and an increase of 4 cm2 of VAT was observed in individuals with MS. According to resistin, people with increased VAT had higher concentration than persons with normal VAT. Furthermore, an increase of 1 cm2 of VAT accounted for a person entertaining a 3.3 fold greater risk of MS for different values of SMM and resistin. Conclusion: the transcendence and significance of VAT as a main factor in triggering the chronic inflammatory process and MS, the SMM and resistin were also related. INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la obesidad implica un aumento del tejido adiposo visceral (TAV), el cual es un factor de riesgo para varias enfermedades metabólicas. El VAT se relaciona con mediadores proinflamatorios, como la resistina. Además, se ha observado que la masa musculoesquelética (MME) interviene en el desarrollo del síndrome metabólico (SM). Objetivo: este estudio fue diseñado para determinar la relación de la composición corporal (TAV y MME) con el SM y la resistina en pacientes con obesidad. Métodos: se realizaron medidas antropométricas, de composición corporal y bioquímica para determinar el SM y prueba de ELISA para resistina en 40 pacientes de 18 a 40 años de edad. Resultados: se observó sobrepeso y obesidad en el 72% de los participantes, obesidad visceral en el 53% y el 35% presentó SM. Se detectó una correlación positiva entre el TAV y la MME en pacientes con SM. En el grupo de estudio encontramos que un aumento de un 1 kg de MME se asociaba con un incremento de 3 cm2 de TAV y en individuos con SM, con un incremento de 4 cm2 de TAV. En relación con la resistina, las personas con TAV incrementado presentan concentraciones más altas que las personas con TAV normal. Además, se observó que un aumento de 1 cm2 de TAV representa un riesgo 3,3 veces mayor que para las personas de padecer SM para diferentes valores de MME y de resistina. Conclusión: además de la trascendencia y la importancia del TAV como factor principal para desencadenar el proceso inflamatorio crónico y el SM, se observó que la MME y la resistina también están relacionadas.
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Associations of Meal Timing and Frequency with Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome among Korean Adults.
Ha, K, Song, Y
Nutrients. 2019;11(10)
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The timing of food intake appears to affect the robustness of circadian rhythms in metabolic organs, and circadian rhythm disruption is emerging as a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease. As major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, obesity and metabolic syndrome are critical worldwide issues. In Korea, 3 in 10 adults have obesity or the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to explore meal timing and frequency using various variables, including nightly fasting duration and specific time periods such as morning and night, and to examine their associations with obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults using national survey data. The study used data from the 2013–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which is a continuous annual survey conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Results indicated that a greater number of eating episodes was associated with lower prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in men. Furthermore, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was inversely associated with morning eating in both men and women, whereas it was positively associated with night eating in men. Authors conclude that having desirable eating patterns, including eating in the morning and avoiding eating after 21:00, and an appropriate sleep schedule may be helpful for reducing the risks of obesity and metabolic syndrome, independently of fasting duration.
Abstract
Emerging studies indicate that meal timing is linked to cardiometabolic risks by deterioration of circadian rhythms, however limited evidence is available in humans. This large-scale cross-sectional study explored the associations of meal timing and frequency with obesity and metabolic syndrome among Korean adults. Meal timing was defined as nightly fasting duration and morning, evening, and night eating, and meal frequency was estimated as the number of daily eating episodes using a single-day 24-hour dietary recall method. Meal frequency was inversely associated with prevalence of abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, and elevated triglycerides in men only. Independent of the nightly fasting duration and eating episodes, morning eating was associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio (OR), 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.57-0.93 for men and OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.89 for women) than no morning eating, whereas night eating was associated with a 48% higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.15-1.90) than no night eating in men only. Longer fasting duration and less sleep were associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. These findings suggest that overall eating patterns, including energy distribution across the day, eating frequency, and sleep duration, rather than fasting duration alone, are related to cardiometabolic risks in free-living Korean adults.
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The Effect of a Multidisciplinary Lifestyle Intervention on Obesity Status, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Children and Adolescents with Obesity.
Seo, YG, Lim, H, Kim, Y, Ju, YS, Lee, HJ, Jang, HB, Park, SI, Park, KH
Nutrients. 2019;11(1)
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Children and adolescents with obesity are at a high risk of being obese in adulthood. The aim of this study was to develop a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention program targeted at children and adolescents with moderate to severe obesity. The study is based on the Intervention for Childhood and Adolescents Obesity via Activity and Nutrition (ICAAN) – quasi-experimental intervention trial - which recruited 103 participants aged between 6 and sixteen years (63 were boys and 40 girls). The study was based on 2 active treatment groups (usual care group vs exercise group) receiving a 16-week intervention program. Results indicate that children and adolescents with obesity can achieve positive effects on body composition, physical fitness, and cardiometabolic markers, particularly with the exercise intervention. Authors conclude that the moderate-intensity multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention program they developed, can be sustained in the real-world setting and it is applicable to both moderate and severe obesity.
Abstract
This study aimed to develop a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention program targeted at children and adolescents with moderate to severe obesity, and assess the additional effects of exercise intervention when compared to usual care. Overall, the 103 enrolled participants were ≥85th percentile of age and sex-specific body mass index (BMI). Participants were divided into groups that received 16 weeks of either usual care or exercise intervention. The BMI z-score of the overall completers decreased by about 0.05 after the 16-week intervention (p = 0.02). After the intervention, only the exercise group had a significantly lower BMI z-score than the baseline score by about 0.1 (p = 0.03), but no significant group by time interaction effects were observed. At the 16-week follow-up, significant group by time interaction effects were observed in percentage body fat (%BF) (β = -1.52, 95%CI = -2.58⁻-0.45), lean body mass (LM) (β = 1.20, 95%CI = 0.12⁻2.29), diastolic blood pressure (β = -5.24, 95%CI = -9.66⁻-0.83), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (β = -1.67, 95%CI = -2.77⁻-1.01), and wall sit test score (β = 50.74, 95%CI = 32.30⁻69.18). We developed a moderate-intensity intervention program that can be sustained in the real-world setting and is practically applicable to both moderate and severe obesity. After interventions, the exercise group had lower %BF and cardiometabolic risk markers, and higher LM and leg muscle strength compared to the usual care group.
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Gender Differences with Dose⁻Response Relationship between Serum Selenium Levels and Metabolic Syndrome-A Case-Control Study.
Lu, CW, Chang, HH, Yang, KC, Chiang, CH, Yao, CA, Huang, KC
Nutrients. 2019;11(2)
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Selenium (Se) is an antioxidative micronutrient that activates Se-containing proteins known as selenoproteins. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum Se level and metabolic syndrome including each metabolic factor. A secondary aim was to find a correlation between obesity, insulin resistance, and gender. The study is a case control study based on the comparison of Se levels between patients with and without metabolic syndrome. The study enrolled a total of 1165 ambulatory males or females, aged more than 40 years. Results showed a positive association between serum Se level and the risk of metabolic syndrome. Also, the serum Se concentration was positively associated with a number of metabolic factors following a dose–response relationship. Authors conclude that gender stratification analyses clearly highlighted the gender differences in insulin resistance, adiposity, and lipid metabolism.
Abstract
Few studies have investigated the association between selenium and metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to explore the associations between the serum selenium level and metabolic syndrome as well as examining each metabolic factor. In this case-control study, the participants were 1165 adults aged ≥40 (65.8 ± 10.0) years. Serum selenium was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The associations between serum selenium and metabolic syndrome were examined by multivariate logistic regression analyses. The least square means were computed by general linear models to compare the serum selenium levels in relation to the number of metabolic factors. The mean serum selenium concentration was 96.34 ± 25.90 μg/L, and it was positively correlated with waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in women, but it was only correlated with fasting glucose and HOMA-IR in men. After adjustment, the odds ratios (ORs) of having metabolic syndrome increased with the selenium quartile groups (p for trend: <0.05), especially in women. The study demonstrated that the serum selenium levels were positively associated with metabolic syndrome following a non-linear dose⁻response trend. Selenium concentration was positively associated with insulin resistance in men and women, but it was associated with adiposity and lipid metabolism in women. The mechanism behind this warrants further confirmation.
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Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Computerised Decision-Support Tool for Health Professionals for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity. Results from a Randomised Controlled Trial.
Moschonis, G, Michalopoulou, M, Tsoutsoulopoulou, K, Vlachopapadopoulou, E, Michalacos, S, Charmandari, E, Chrousos, GP, Manios, Y
Nutrients. 2019;11(3)
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Obesity is related to the increased risk for chronic diseases and to nutrient insufficiencies, a paradox that has been characterised as the “double burden of malnutrition”. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a computerised decision-support tool as a means of childhood obesity management. The effectiveness of the decision-support tool was assessed through a pilot randomised controlled intervention trial. The study recruited a total sample of 80 children (obese or overweight) with an age range between 6 and 12 years. The participants were allocated to two study groups – intervention group and control group. Results indicate that a computerised decision-support tool, designed to assist paediatric healthcare professionals in providing personalised nutrition and lifestyle optimisation recommendations to overweight or obese children and their parents, can result in favourable changes to certain dietary intake and anthropometric indices in the children that received the intervention. Authors conclude that the computerised decision-support tool resulted in improvement of the children’s dietary intake and body mass index. Hence, the tool can support clinicians to improve the effectiveness of care.
Abstract
We examined the effectiveness of a computerised decision-support tool (DST), designed for paediatric healthcare professionals, as a means to tackle childhood obesity. A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 65 families of 6⁻12-year old overweight or obese children. Paediatricians, paediatric endocrinologists and a dietitian in two children's hospitals implemented the intervention. The intervention group (IG) received personalised meal plans and lifestyle optimisation recommendations via the DST, while families in the control group (CG) received general recommendations. After three months of intervention, the IG had a significant change in dietary fibre and sucrose intake by 4.1 and -4.6 g/day, respectively. In addition, the IG significantly reduced consumption of sweets (i.e., chocolates and cakes) and salty snacks (i.e., potato chips) by -0.1 and -0.3 portions/day, respectively. Furthermore, the CG had a significant increase of body weight and waist circumference by 1.4 kg and 2.1 cm, respectively, while Body Mass Index (BMI) decreased only in the IG by -0.4 kg/m². However, the aforementioned findings did not differ significantly between study groups. In conclusion, these findings indicate the dynamics of the DST in supporting paediatric healthcare professionals to improve the effectiveness of care in modifying obesity-related behaviours. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
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The Effect of Electrolytes on Blood Pressure: A Brief Summary of Meta-Analyses.
Iqbal, S, Klammer, N, Ekmekcioglu, C
Nutrients. 2019;11(6)
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Hypertension is the major leading risk factor for atherosclerosis and several diseases, especially renal and cardiovascular disorders, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure. The aim of this study was to summarize meta-analyses studying the effect and associations of electrolytes as supplements or diets on human blood pressure or risk for hypertension throughout the last years. The study is a review that summarizes meta-analyses of publications studying the effect or association between electrolytes and blood pressure. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials or observational studies were included in this review. The major findings of this review indicate that: 1. Sodium (salt) reduction and a higher intake of potassium have convincing blood pressure lowering effects, 2. Higher magnesium intake is suggested to possibly reduce blood pressure, especially in patients with hypertension, and 3. Sufficient calcium intake confers a protective effect regarding the risk for gestational hypertension. Authors conclude that lowering sodium and increasing potassium intake would exert convincing blood pressure lowering effects, especially in hypertensive patients.
Abstract
Nutrition is known to exert an undeniable impact on blood pressure with especially salt (sodium chloride), but also potassium, playing a prominent role. The aim of this review was to summarize meta-analyses studying the effect of different electrolytes on blood pressure or risk for hypertension, respectively. Overall, 32 meta-analyses evaluating the effect of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium on human blood pressure or hypertension risk were included after literature search. Most of the meta-analyses showed beneficial blood pressure lowering effects with the extent of systolic blood pressure reduction ranging between -0.7 (95% confidence interval: -2.6 to 1.2) to -8.9 (-14.1 to -3.7) mmHg for sodium/salt reduction, -3.5 (-5.2 to -1.8) to -9.5 (-10.8 to -8.1) mmHg for potassium, and -0.2 (-0.4 to -0.03) to -18.7 (-22.5 to -15.0) mmHg for magnesium. The range for diastolic blood pressure reduction was 0.03 (-0.4 to 0.4) to -5.9 (-9.7 to -2.1) mmHg for sodium/salt reduction, -2 (-3.1 to -0.9) to -6.4 (-7.3 to -5.6) mmHg for potassium, and -0.3 (-0.5 to -0.03) to -10.9 (-13.1 to -8.7) mmHg for magnesium. Moreover, sufficient calcium intake was found to reduce the risk of gestational hypertension.
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Dietary intake of antioxidants and fats in the context of coronary heart disease prevention among elderly people.
Kolarzyk, E, Skop-Lewandowska, A, Jaworska, J, Ostachowska-Gąsior, A, Krzeszowska-Rosiek, T
Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM. 2018;25(1):131-136
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Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of mortality in developed countries and is rapidly becoming a dominant cause of all deaths worldwide. The most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease is diet. A diet which includes non-hydrogenated unsaturated fats as the predominant form of dietary fat, whole grains as the main form of carbohydrates, an abundance of fruits and vegetables and adequate omega-3 fatty acids, can offer significant protection against CHD. The primary aim of the study was to estimate a diet's antioxidant capacity and assess the hierarchy of contribution of particular food products to a Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI). The study included 143 men and women aged 65-80 who were independent and without any physical or mental disability. On average, the DAI of study participants was low, with fruit having the largest contribution. In comparison to results obtained in a previous report by the same authors, the study showed that the participants consumed too little antioxidant food, as well as grains and cereal-based products, fresh herbs and beverages. This study recommends that the elderly population should be advised to consume a well-balanced diet rich in antioxidants originating from fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrains to reduce the risk of CHD.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Some literature data indicate that the proper intake of exogenic antioxidants from food and the proper intake of fats can offer significant protection against coronary heart disease. OBJECTIVES The estimation of total antioxidant capacity of food intake on the basis of Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI), together with an assessment of the contribution of particular food products in DAI, and the evaluation of consumption of all dietary fats and frequency of consumption of products that are a source of fats among elderly people in Krakow, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS 143 persons (73 women and 70 men) aged 65-80 were studied. None of them was under specialist medical control, including cardiological control. DAI was investigated on the basis of the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) which included 145 food items. DAI was measured using the method by Benzi and expressed as FRAP (the ability to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, measured in mMol/l). The daily intake of fats was estimated using the 24-h nutritional recall. The frequency of fats consumption was estimated with the usage of FFQ. For statistical analysis, χ2 test was used. RESULTS The mean value of DAI of all studied persons was 34.27 + 11.72 mMol/l. The largest percentage of those studied had FRAP values in the range 25-35 mMol/l. The highest contribution in the total DAI value was found in fruit (36.2%), grains and cereal-based products (23.6%), and beverages (24.0%). The consumption of vegetables was on the fourth position (7.1%). The contribution of the remaining food products was low. The consumption of total fats (about 70g/24h) and saturated fatty acids (14% of energetic value) exceeded the recommendations. The participation of mono-and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diets was not in accordance with recommendations. The most frequently consumed fats were animal fats (sausages, butter) and cakes, but the consumption of vegetable oils, fish, nuts and seeds of oil plants was too low. CONCLUSIONS The majority of elderly people made mistakes in their nutrition. The enrichment in natural antioxidants of the diets of elderly people and the normalization of their fats consumption should become an important element of primary and secondary prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases.
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Systematic review of palm oil consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Ismail, SR, Maarof, SK, Siedar Ali, S, Ali, A
PloS one. 2018;13(2):e0193533
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Palm oil, the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world, derives from the palm tree fruit with a balanced ratio of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Studies have shown an association between high contents of saturated fats in palm oil with the detrimental atherogenic profile. The review aims at synthesising the available evidence reporting the association of palm oil consumption with cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality, including specifically Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and stroke. The authors systematically searched three databases up to June 2017 without restriction on setting or language. Published interventional and observational studies that evaluated palm oil consumption with coronary heart disease or stroke in adults were searched. Separate searches were performed depending on the outcome. The study did not find a clear association between palm oil consumption and risk or mortality of cardiovascular disease, namely coronary heart disease and stroke. The health effects found between association of palm oil consumption and risk of coronary heart disease were not unique to just palm oil consumption as other food items were also included in the analysis. The review could not establish strong evidence for or against palm oil consumption relating to cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality. A healthy overall diet is suggested for good cardiometabolic health.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA) coupled with the rising availability and consumption of palm oil have lead to the assumption that palm oil contributes to the increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. We aimed at systematically synthesising the association of palm oil consumption with cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality. METHODS We systematically searched Central, Medline and Embase databases up to June 2017 without restriction on setting or language. We performed separate searches based on the outcomes: coronary heart disease and stroke, using keywords related to these outcomes and palm oil. We searched for published interventional and observational studies in adults (Age: >18 years old). Two investigators extracted data and a consensus was reached with involvement of a third. Only narrative synthesis was performed for all of the studies, as the data could not be pooled. RESULTS Our search retrieved 2,738 citations for stroke with one included study and 1,777 citations for coronary heart disease (CHD) with four included studies. Palmitic acid was reported to be associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI) (OR 2.76; 95%CI = 1.39-5.47). Total SFA intake was reported to be not significant for risk of MI. Varying intake of fried foods, highest contributor to total SFA with 36% of households using palm oil for frying, showed no significant associations to risk of MI. Odds of developing first non-fatal acute MI was higher in palm oil compared to soybean oil with 5% trans-fat (OR = 1.33; 95%CI = 1.09-1.62) than palm oil compared to soybean oil with 22% trans-fat (OR = 1.16; 95%CI = 0.86-1.56). Nevertheless, these risk estimates were non-significant and imprecise. The trend amongst those taking staple pattern diet (characterised by higher palm oil, red meat and added sugar consumption) was inconsistent across the factor score quintiles. During the years of 1980 and 1997, for every additional kilogram of palm oil consumed per-capita annually, CHD mortality risk was 68 deaths per 100,000 (95% CI = 21-115) in developing countries and 17 deaths per 100,000 (95%CI = 5.3-29) in high-income countries, whereas stroke was associated with 19 deaths per 100,000 (95%CI = -12-49) and 5.1 deaths per 100,000 (95% CI: -1.2-11) respectively. The evidence for the outcomes of this review were all graded as very low. The findings of this review should be interpreted with some caution, owing to the lack of a pooled effect estimate of the association, significant bias in selection criteria and confounding factors, inclusion of other food items together with palm oil, and the possible out-dated trend in the ecological study. CONCLUSION In view of the abundance of palm oil in the market, quantifying its true association with CVD outcomes is challenging. The present review could not establish strong evidence for or against palm oil consumption relating to cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality. Further studies are needed to establish the association of palm oil with CVD. A healthy overall diet should still be prioritised for good cardiometabolic health.
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The Association between Mediterranean Diet and the Risk of Falls and Physical Function Indices in Older Type 2 Diabetic People Varies by Age.
Tepper, S, Alter Sivashensky, A, Rivkah Shahar, D, Geva, D, Cukierman-Yaffe, T
Nutrients. 2018;10(6)
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Diabetes is associated with high risk for disability, and accelerated rate of decline in physical capacity. The aim of the study is to examine whether a higher adherence to a Mediterranean Diet in a Mediterranean country is associated with walking speed, better physical function and decreased risk for falls. This cross-sectional study includes data of 117 individuals, of which 40% were females, with Type 2 diabetes aged over 60 years. Results indicate that those individuals with a higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet were at lower risk for falls and had greater muscle strength. The relationship between physical performance measured by walking speed, walking distance and Mediterranean Diet differed by age. Authors conclude that there is an association between the balances indices, risk for falls, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and Mediterranean Diet among 60+ individuals with diabetes.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Diabetes and dysglycemia increase the risk of frailty and decreased physical abilities. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) may reduce this risk. We hypothesized that adherence to the MD is associated with physical function in older type-2 diabetic patients and that the association is stratified by age. METHODS AND RESULTS We recruited type-2 diabetes patients aged >60 years at the Center for Successful Aging with Diabetes at Sheba Medical Center. Health status and demographic data were obtained from medical records. Food Frequency Questionnaire was used for nutritional assessment and calculation of MD score. Physical function indices were determined by a physiotherapist and included: Berg Balance test, Timed Get-Up-and-Go, 6-min walk (6 MW), 10-m walk (10 MW), Four Square Step Test, 30-s chair stand and Grip strength, and activities and instrumental activities of daily living. Among 117 participants (age 70.6 ± 6.5), high adherence to MD was associated with better score on functional tests (low vs. high MD adherence: 9.7% vs. 25%, ANOVA p = 0.02). A significant age by MD interaction was found: a higher adherence to MD was associated with a better 6 MW (low vs. high: 387 ± 35 m vs. 483 ± 26 m; p = 0.001) and higher 10 MW (low vs. high: 1.8 ± 0.16 m/s vs. 2.0 ± 0.13 m/s; p = 0.02) in participants aged >75 years. These associations remained significant after controlling for gender, age, BMI, and physical activity. CONCLUSION In the current study, we showed relationships between strength, physical performance, and MD among older diabetic patients. Future studies are needed to confirm this association and establish temporal relationships.
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Spices and Atherosclerosis.
Tsui, PF, Lin, CS, Ho, LJ, Lai, JH
Nutrients. 2018;10(11)
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. Atherosclerosis, characterised by the accumulation of fat and inflammation in blood vessels, is the main feature of CVD. Common spices such as pepper, ginger, garlic, onion, cinnamon and chilli may have effects on the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. In this review, the authors focused on the potential protective effects of spices, in atherosclerosis and CVD. Most studies to date have been carried out either in cell culture or in animals. These have revealed various potential mechanisms by which spices exert their beneficial effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-atherogenic, anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties. There are some human studies evaluating the effects of spices on high blood pressure. Although saffron, turmeric, and chilli pepper had no effect on blood pressure, cinnamon demonstrated significant blood pressure lowering effects in patients with diabetes. Garlic has been shown to have the potential to reduce blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure. These studies provide information on the beneficial roles of spices in reducing cardiovascular risk factors. The types of spices consumed vary across cultures, and currently there are no available population studies showing that consumption of spices is associated with reduction of CVD nor any recommendations for the amounts of spices to be consumed. The authors conclude that the consumption of spices should be encouraged across countries to promote good health.
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. Atherosclerosis, characterized by lipid accumulation and chronic inflammation in the vessel wall, is the main feature of cardiovascular disease. Although the amounts of fruits and vegetables present in the diets vary by country, diets, worldwide, contain large amounts of spices; this may have positive or negative effects on the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. In this review, we focused on the potential protective effects of specific nutrients from spices, such as pepper, ginger, garlic, onion, cinnamon and chili, in atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms, epidemiological analysis, and clinical studies focusing on a variety of spices are covered in this review. Based on the integrated information, we aimed to raise specific recommendations for people with different dietary styles for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease through dietary habit adjustments.