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Effect of Lactobacillus casei on lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora in patients with alcoholic liver injury.
Li, X, Liu, Y, Guo, X, Ma, Y, Zhang, H, Liang, H
European journal of clinical nutrition. 2021;75(8):1227-1236
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Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a series of liver diseases caused by long-term heavy drinking. Lipid metabolism disorder often occurs in people with alcoholic liver injury. Treatment is mainly a combination of alcohol abstinence, improving nutrition, treating the liver injury, and preventing or reversing the progress of liver fibrosis or promoting liver regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus casei on lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora in patients with alcoholic liver injury. This study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 181 ALD patients were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the three groups; low-dose group, high-dose group and positive control group (+ there was another group of 20 healthy people which served as normal control group). Results showed disorder of lipid metabolism, intestinal flora imbalance and inflammation in patients with alcoholic liver injury. Furthermore, after supplementation of Lactobacillus casei, there was a significant increase in the amount of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Authors conclude that Lactobacillus casei supplementation can improve lipid metabolism and regulate intestinal flora disorders in patients with alcoholic liver injury.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aims to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus casei on lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora in patients with alcoholic liver injury. METHODS In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 158 recruited alcoholic liver injury patients were randomized to three treatments for 60 days: low-dose group (LP, n = 58, 100 ml of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS)), high-dose group (HP, n = 54, 200 ml of LcS), and positive control group (PC, n = 46, 100 ml of special drinks without active Lactobacillus casei). Another group of 20 healthy people was served as normal control group (NC). RESULTS The serum levels of TG and LDLC in the HP group were significantly decreased by 26.56% and 23.83%, respectively than those in the PC group (P < 0.05). After supplementation of Lactobacillus casei, there was a significant increase in the amount of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium when compared with the PC group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Supplementation of Lactobacillus casei can improve lipid metabolism and regulate intestinal flora disorders in patients with alcoholic liver injury.
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Fasting blood glucose at admission is an independent predictor for 28-day mortality in patients with COVID-19 without previous diagnosis of diabetes: a multi-centre retrospective study.
Wang, S, Ma, P, Zhang, S, Song, S, Wang, Z, Ma, Y, Xu, J, Wu, F, Duan, L, Yin, Z, et al
Diabetologia. 2020;63(10):2102-2111
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Hyperglycaemia was a risk factor for mortality from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and is an independent risk factor for lower respiratory tract infection and poor prognosis. The aim of this retrospective study of 605 patients without previously diagnosed diabetes was to examine the association between fasting blood glucose (FBG) on admission and the 28-day in hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients. Patients with a FBG level of 7.0mmol/l or over had more than double the risk of dying than those with a level of 6.0mmol/l or less. Other risk factors for mortality included age, being male, and severity of pneumonia at admission. Compared with patients whose FBG was 6.0mmol/l or lower at admission, patients with FBG of 7.0 mmol/l and above had a 3.99 times higher risk of in-hospital complications, whilst those with FBG of 6.1–6.9 mmol/l had a 2.61 times higher risk of complications. The authors conclude that glycaemic testing and control are important to all COVID-19 patients even where they have no pre-existing diabetes.
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Hyperglycaemia is associated with an elevated risk of mortality in community-acquired pneumonia, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, trauma and surgery, among other conditions. In this study, we examined the relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 28-day mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients not previously diagnosed as having diabetes. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study involving all consecutive COVID-19 patients with a definitive 28-day outcome and FBG measurement at admission from 24 January 2020 to 10 February 2020 in two hospitals based in Wuhan, China. Demographic and clinical data, 28-day outcomes, in-hospital complications and CRB-65 scores of COVID-19 patients in the two hospitals were analysed. CRB-65 is an effective measure for assessing the severity of pneumonia and is based on four indicators, i.e. confusion, respiratory rate (>30/min), systolic blood pressure (≤90 mmHg) or diastolic blood pressure (≤60 mmHg), and age (≥65 years). RESULTS Six hundred and five COVID-19 patients were enrolled, including 114 who died in hospital. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR 1.02 [95% CI 1.00, 1.04]), male sex (HR 1.75 [95% CI 1.17, 2.60]), CRB-65 score 1-2 (HR 2.68 [95% CI 1.56, 4.59]), CRB-65 score 3-4 (HR 5.25 [95% CI 2.05, 13.43]) and FBG ≥7.0 mmol/l (HR 2.30 [95% CI 1.49, 3.55]) were independent predictors for 28-day mortality. The OR for 28-day in-hospital complications in those with FBG ≥7.0 mmol/l and 6.1-6.9 mmol/l vs <6.1 mmol/l was 3.99 (95% CI 2.71, 5.88) or 2.61 (95% CI 1.64, 4.41), respectively. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION FBG ≥7.0 mmol/l at admission is an independent predictor for 28-day mortality in patients with COVID-19 without previous diagnosis of diabetes. Glycaemic testing and control are important to all COVID-19 patients even where they have no pre-existing diabetes, as most COVID-19 patients are prone to glucose metabolic disorders. Graphical abstract.
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The Association between Breakfast Skipping and Body Weight, Nutrient Intake, and Metabolic Measures among Participants with Metabolic Syndrome.
Zhang, L, Cordeiro, LS, Liu, J, Ma, Y
Nutrients. 2017;9(4)
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There is conflicting evidence on the benefits of either skipping breakfast versus the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This study examines the effects of skipping breakfast on weight loss in a group of 240 participants diagnosed as having Metabolic syndrome (MetS). The study looked at data from a diet trial looking at the effects of a high fibre diet or the American Heart Association diet on MetS, in which they all also monitored breakfast eating patterns, to see if there was any change to body weight, nutrient intakes, and selected metabolic measures. The study lasted one year, and dietary recalls were collected throughout. The results showed that at the start of the trial 32.9% of the participants self-reported regularly skipped breakfast and generally they had lower levels of vitamins B1, B3 and folate intake. They also had a higher fat intake compared to those who ate breakfast. However, at the end of the year there was no statistical differences between those who ate and those who skipped breakfast when it came to the other metabolic parameters of weight, BMI, weight circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, and fasting glucose. Interestingly at the end of the trial only 14% reported skipping breakfast suggesting that participants had the intention to change their eating patterns because of having participated in the trial. The study concluded that skipping breakfast alone was not enough to influence MetS.
Abstract
The effect of skipping breakfast on health, especially in adults, remains a controversial topic. A secondary data analysis was conducted to examine associations between breakfast eating patterns and weight loss, nutrient intake, and metabolic parameters among participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS) (n = 240). Three randomly selected 24-h dietary recalls were collected from each participant at baseline and at the one-year visit. Skipped breakfast was seen in 32.9% at baseline and in 17.4% at the one-year visit, respectively. At baseline, after adjustment for demographics and physical activity, participants who ate breakfast had a higher thiamin, niacin, and folate intake than did breakfast skippers (p < 0.05); other selected parameters including body weight, dietary quality scores, nutrient intake, and metabolic parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups (p ≥ 0.05). From baseline to one year, after adjustment for covariates, mean fat intake increased by 2.7% (95% confidence intervals (CI): -1.0, 6.5%) of total energy in breakfast skippers in comparison to the 1.2% decrease observed in breakfast eaters (95% CI: -3.4, 1.1%) (p = 0.02). Mean changes in other selected parameters showed no significant differences between breakfast skippers and eaters (p > 0.05). This study did not support the hypothesis that skipping breakfast has impact on body weight, nutrient intakes, and selected metabolic measures in participants with MetS.
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Vitamin D receptor gene FokI but not TaqI, ApaI, BsmI polymorphism is associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a meta-analysis.
Wang, X, Cheng, W, Ma, Y, Zhu, J
Scientific reports. 2017;7:41540
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Vitamin D is a vitamin that is involved in several immune processes within the body. It acts on immune cells through binding to vitamin D receptors (VDR) and modulating their activity. However genetic variations in VDRs is apparent amongst individuals, with the four most common being TaqI, ApaI, FokI and BsmI. The presence of any of these variations has been associated with the development of several different diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether any of these variations in the VDR was associated with the development of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), a disease whereby the immune system does not recognise and attacks the body’s own tissues. The results showed that only the FokI variation was associated with the development of HT and only in individuals with Asian heritage. It was concluded that the FokI variation of the VDR is associated with an increased risk of HT in Asians but not Caucasians, however how this occurs is not fully understood. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand that genetic variations on the VDR may be indicative of risk of developing HT in individuals from Asian descent.
Abstract
Four VD receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms (TaqI, ApaI, FokI and BsmI) have been reported to influence Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) risk. However, individual studies have produced inconsistent results. We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of eleven case-control studies to better understand roles of the four polymorphisms in HT development. The results showed only FokI polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of HT (F vs f: OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.09-1.91, P = 0.010; FF vs Ff + ff: OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.09-2.70, P = 0.019). Subgroup analyses demonstrated the significant effect was only present in Asian population (F vs f: OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.07-1.95, P = 0.016; FF vs ff: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.03-2.59, P = 0.036; FF + Ff vs ff: OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.00-1.80, P = 0.047; FF vs Ff + ff: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.03-2.64, P = 0.039), but not in Caucasian. For TaqI, ApaI and BsmI polymorphisms, no significant association was found in any model comparison. Based on the current literature, it appears that only VDR FokI polymorphism is associated with HT risk in Asian population, but not in Caucasians; and the TaqI, ApaI and BsmI polymorphisms have not positive association neither in the overall population, nor when stratified by ethnicity. Further well-designed studies with larger sample sizes and different ethnic population are needed to clarify the present findings.