1.
A randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Medium-Term Effects of Oat Fibers on Human Health: The Beta-Glucan Effects on Lipid Profile, Glycemia and inTestinal Health (BELT) Study.
Cicero, AFG, Fogacci, F, Veronesi, M, Strocchi, E, Grandi, E, Rizzoli, E, Poli, A, Marangoni, F, Borghi, C
Nutrients. 2020;(3)
Abstract
The Beta-glucan Effects on Lipid profile, glycemia and inTestinal health (BELT) Study investigated the effect of 3 g/day oat beta-glucans on plasma lipids, fasting glucose and self-perceived intestinal well-being. The Study was an 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over randomized clinical trial, enrolling a sample of 83 Italian free-living subjects, adherent to Mediterranean diet, with a moderate hypercholesterolemia and a low cardiovascular risk profile. Beta-glucans reduced mean LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) levels from baseline by 12.2% (95%CI: -15.4 to -3.8) after 4 weeks of supplementation and by 15.1% (95%CI: -17.8 to -5.9) after 8 weeks of supplementation (p < 0.01 for both comparison and versus placebo). Between baseline and 4 weeks Total Cholesterol (TC) levels showed an average reduction of 6.5% (95%CI: -10.9 to -1.9) in the beta-glucan sequence; while non-HDL-C plasma concentrations decreased by 11.8% (95%CI: -14.6 to -4.5). Moreover, after 8 weeks of beta-glucan supplementation TC was reduced by 8.9% (95%CI: -12.6 to -2.3) and non-HDL-C levels by 12.1% (95%CI: -15.6 to -5.3). Decreses in TC and non HDL-C were significant also versus placebo (respectively p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 to both follow-up visits). Fasting plasma glucose and self-perceived intestinal well-being were not affected by both beta-glucan and placebo supplementation.
2.
Acetate-free biofiltration reduces intradialytic hypotension: a European multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Tessitore, N, Santoro, A, Panzetta, GO, Wizemann, V, Perez-Garcia, R, Martinez Ara, J, Perrone, B, Mantovani, W, Poli, A
Blood purification. 2012;(3-4):354-63
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intradialytic hypotension (IH) is a common complication of bicarbonate hemodialysis (BD) and contributes to the intolerance of dialysis and the high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among dialysis patients, the risk of which can be contained by convective therapies. AIMS/METHODS To assess whether acetate-free biofiltration (AFB), a hemodiafiltration technique found to improve intradialytic cardiovascular stability in short-term studies, can influence long-term IH rates, predialysis systolic blood pressure (SBP), cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by comparison with BD, we analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial enrolling 371 new-to-dialysis patients, 194 on BD and 177 on AFB. RESULTS During a 3-year follow-up, AFB carried a significantly lower risk of IH (incidence rate ratio 0.60 (95% CI 0.53-0.68), p < 0.0001). SBP dropped on AFB (p = 0.01), while it did not change on BD. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were similar between AFB and BD. CONCLUSION AFB carries a lower long-term IH rate and reduces SBP by comparison with BD.
3.
Levels of the n-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid in addition to those of alpha linolenic acid are significantly raised in blood lipids by the intake of four walnuts a day in humans.
Marangoni, F, Colombo, C, Martiello, A, Poli, A, Paoletti, R, Galli, C
Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD. 2007;(6):457-61
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Ingestion of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), with the richest source among dry fruits such as walnuts, is associated with cardiovascular prevention. The aim of this study was to selectively evaluate the effects of moderate walnut consumption on the levels of ALA and its metabolic derivatives in human blood. METHODS AND RESULTS After a 2-week run-in period, 10 volunteers consumed 4 walnuts per day (in addition to their habitual diet) for 3 weeks. Fatty acid profiles, with special attention to levels of ALA and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), were assessed in blood drops collected from fingertips. The data indicate that the administration of a few walnuts a day for 3 weeks significantly increases blood levels, not only of ALA (from 0.23+/-0.07 SD to 0.47+/-0.13 SD), but also of its longer chain derivative eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) (from 0.23+/-0.37 to 0.82+/-0.41) with levels remaining elevated over basal values after washout. CONCLUSION The findings of this pilot study indicate that plant ALA in appropriate food items favourably affects the n-3 LC-PUFA status.
4.
Effect of protein leaking BK-F PMMA-based hemodialysis on plasma pentosidine levels.
Tessitore, N, Lapolla, A, Aricò, NC, Poli, A, Gammaro, L, Bassi, A, Bedogna, V, Corgnati, A, Reitano, R, Fedele, D, et al
Journal of nephrology. 2004;(5):707-14
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are now considered to contribute to the middle molecule toxicity of uremia and, because they are not cleared by conventional low-flux hemodialysis, alternative strategies are needed to improve their removal. METHODS In a prospective cross-over trial involving 18 adult chronic hemodialysis subjects, we evaluated the intradialytic removal and the long-term effect on predialysis levels of Protein-bound (PBPe) and Free (FPe) pentosidine by high-pore, protein-leaking BK-F Polymethylmethacrylate-based hemodialysis (BK-F-HD), by comparing it to hemodialysis using low-flux dialyzers (LF-HD). RESULTS A single BK-F-HD session removed more PBPe, but not FPe, than LF-HD. Long-term BK-F-HD was associated with a significant decrease in pre-dialysis PBPe, FPe, and albumin (17.7 +/- 20.8, 25.3 +/- 17.3 and 8.0 +/- 3.3%, p<0.01) and no change in body mass index and protein catabolic rate, compared to LF-HD. Multiple stepwise regression analysis identified C-reactive Protein (CRP) (standardized beta coefficient=-0.629), pre-dialysis levels in LF-HD (beta=0.452) and dialysis vintage (beta=0.428) as significant determinants of BK-F-induced changes in predialysis PBPe, and predialysis FPe and PBPe levels in LF-HD as significant determinants of BK-F-induced changes in predialysis FPe (beta=0.720 and 0.286, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that long-term standard diffusive hemodialysis with BK-F membrane reduces predialysis PBPe and FPe levels by comparison with LF-HD, largely due to a greater intradialytic clearance of PBPe. Serum albumin is also reduced without any associated changes in nutritional status markers. The study also suggests that the effect of BK-F-HD in lowering PBPe levels is modulated by the body burden of pentosidine and is blunted or even lost in the presence of elevated CRP levels.