Sodium found in processed cow milk and estimated intake by infants

Abstract Objective: To determine the sodium concentration in cow milk available for sale and to estimate its consumption by infants up to 6 months of age. Methods: Sodium level was determined by flame emission spectrophotometry in eight different lots of five brands of liquid ultra-high temperature milk and three brands of powdered milk. To estimate sodium consumption via cow milk, orientations for exceptional situations when neither breastfeeding nor infant formula is possible were considered. Inferential statistics were performed and results were compared with critical parameters at a 5% significance level. Results: The mean sodium content per portion found in liquid milk (162.5 ± 16.2) mg/200 mL was higher than that in powdered milk (116.8 ± 3.0) mg/26 g. Estimated sodium consumption by infants through powdered milk varied from 149.8 to 224.7% of adequate intake, and via liquid milk can be more than 500% of the adequate intake, reaching 812.4% of it if dilution is not applied. Seven of the eight brands of milk studied had declared, on their labels, that the sodium content was 13-30% lower than that found in chemical analysis. Conclusion: Liquid and powdered whole cow milk have high sodium content, and the content per portion is higher in liquid milk than in powdered milk. The estimated consumption of sodium through these products can far exceed the adequate intake for infants from 0 to 6 months old, even when the recommended dilution and maximum daily volumes are followed.

Serum Uric Acid Levels are Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Healthy Young and Middle-Aged Adults / Os Níveis Séricos de Ácido Úrico estão Associados a Fatores de Risco Cardiometabólico em Adultos Jovens e de Meia-Idade Saudáveis

Abstract Background: Observational studies have highlighted an association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular risk factors. Despite the growing body of evidences, several studies were conducted in older individuals or in carriers of diseases susceptible to affect SUA levels and cardiometabolic risk markers. Objective: To evaluate the relationship of SUA with body adiposity, metabolic profile, oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers, blood pressure and endothelial function in healthy young and middle-aged adults. Methods: 149 Brazilian adults aged 20-55 years, both sexes, underwent evaluation of body adiposity, SUA, fasting glucose and insulin, lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin, blood pressure and endothelial function. Endothelial function was assessed by the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) derived from peripheral arterial tonometry method. Participants were allocated in two groups according to SUA levels: control group (CG; n = 130; men ≤ 7 mg/dL, women ≤ 6 mg/dL) and hyperuricemia group (HG; n = 19; men > 7 mg/dL, women > 6 mg/dL). A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: After adjustment for confounders, participants in HG compared with those in CG displayed higher body mass index (BMI): 34.15(33.36-37.19) vs.31.80 (26.26-34.42) kg/m2,p = 0.008, higher MDA: 4.67(4.03-5.30) vs. 3.53(3.10-4.07) ng/mL, p < 0.0001 and lower RHI: 1.68 ± 0.30 vs. 2.05 ± 0.46, p = 0.03). In correlation analysis adjusted for confounders, SUA was positively associated (p < 0.05) with BMI, waist circumference, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and MDA, and negatively associated (p < 0.05) with HDL-cholesterol, adiponectin and RHI. Conclusions: This study suggests that in healthy young and middle-aged adults higher SUA levels are associated with higher body adiposity, unfavorable lipid and inflammatory phenotype, higher oxidative stress and impaired endothelial function.

Resumo Fundamento: Estudos observacionais têm destacado uma associação entre níveis de ácido úrico sérico (AUS) e fatores de risco cardiovascular. Apesar do crescente conjunto de evidências, vários estudos foram realizados em indivíduos mais velhos ou em portadores de doenças passíveis de influenciar os níveis de AUS e marcadores de risco cardiometabólico. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação do AUS com adiposidade corporal, perfil metabólico, estresse oxidativo, biomarcadores de inflamação, pressão arterial e função endotelial em adultos jovens e de meia-idade saudáveis. Métodos: 149 adultos, brasileiros, com idades entre 20 e 55 anos, de ambos os sexos, foram submetidos a avaliação de adiposidade corporal, AUS, glicose e insulina de jejum, perfil lipídico, malondialdeído (MDA), proteína C-reativa ultra-sensível (PCR-us), adiponectina, pressão arterial e função endotelial. A função endotelial foi avaliada pelo índice de hiperemia reativa (RHI) derivado do método de tonometria arterial periférica. Os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com os níveis de AUS: grupo de controle (GC; n = 130; homens ≤ 7 mg/dL, mulheres ≤ 6mg/dL) e grupo de hiperuricemia (GH; n = 19; homens > 7mg/dL, mulheres > 6mg/dL). Valor de p < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: Após ajuste para fatores de confundimento, os participantes do GH comparados aos do GC apresentaram índice de massa corporal (IMC) mais alto: 34,15 (33,36-37,19) vs. 31,80 (26,26-34,42) kg/m2, p = 0,008, MDA mais alto: 4,67(4,03-5,30) vs. 3,53(3,10-4,07) ng/mL, p < 0,0001 e RHI mais baixo: 1,68 ± 0,30 vs. 2,05 ± 0,46, p = 0,03. Na análise de correlação ajustada para fatores de confundimento, o AUS se associou positivamente (p < 0,05) com IMC, circunferência da cintura, LDL colesterol, triglicérides e MDA, e se associou negativamente (p < 0,05) com HDL colesterol, adiponectina e RHI. Conclusões: Este estudo sugere que, em adultos jovens e de meia-idade saudáveis, níveis mais altos de AUS estão associados a maior adiposidade corporal, fenótipo inflamatório e de lipídios desfavorável, maior estresse oxidativo e função endotelial comprometida.

Dietary counseling on long-term weight loss in overweight hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate long-term weight loss in overweight hypertensive patients receiving dietary counseling. METHODS: Longitudinal study included overweight hypertensive patients who had an initial individual consultation with a nutritionist between January 2002 and December 2005 and were followed for four years in a hypertension clinic. Patients who had at least four consultations during the follow-up period were included in the dietary counseling group. Those who scheduled their first consultation but missed that appointment or had fewer than four consultations during the follow-up period were allocated to the control group. Target Energy intake was calculated at 20-25 kcal/kg actual body weight/day. RESULTS: The study included 102 patients aged 55 + 1 years old (58 in the dietary counseling group). As compared with the control group, patients in the dietary counseling group showed a significantly greater reduction in body weight (-3.6 + 0.8 vs. 0.8 + 0.7 kg), which remained significant after controlling for age, gender, baseline body mass index, and the use of different antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs. Weight loss between 5.0 percent and 9.9 percent was observed in a significantly higher percentage of patients in the dietary counseling group (28 percent vs. 11 percent). A weight loss of at least 10 percent was only observed in dietary counseling group patients, who had a significantly lower odds ratio for increasing the number and/or dosage of antihypertensive agents, even after controlling for age, gender, and baseline body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary counseling may be associated with long-term weight loss in overweight hypertensive patients.