Efficacy of an herbal compound in decreasing steatosis and transaminase activities in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Hepatoprotective effects of many herbal agents have been reported in animal studies and clinical trials. In this study, five hepatoprotective plants with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic effects were chosen to prepare a polyherbal compound for managing NAFLD. Sixty patients with NAFLD were randomly divided into treatment and control groups (2:1 ratio). Both group were advised to take healthy diet and exercise. The treatment group also received herbal capsules containing 400 mg of the mixture of Anethum graveolens, Citrus aurantium, Cynara scolymus, Portulaca oleracea, and Silybum marianum (2 capsules, thrice daily, for two months). The liver ultrasound and biochemical markers including the serum lipids, liver enzymes, and glucose were evaluated before starting the study and at the end of the treatment. Thirty patients in the treatment group and sixteen patients in the control group completed the study. The herbal compound significantly decreased the serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and total cholesterol. Treatment with the herbal compound significantly improved the grade of the fatty liver, but no significant change was found in the control group. In conclusion, the formulated herbal compound appeared to be effective in biochemical improvement and decreasing the grade of the fatty liver in the patients with NAFLD.

Recomendações de alimentação para pessoas idosas no Brasil durante a pandemia de Covid-19 / Feeding recommendations for elderly people in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic

Até o momento, existem poucas evidências ou recomendações sobre alimentação e COVID-19, no entanto, sabe-se que o adequado estado nutricional, consumo alimentar, hidratação e o bom funcionamento do sistema imunológico contribuem para a recuperação dos indivíduos em situação de doença. Além disso, é sabido que o isolamento, em função da pandemia, irá alterar a dinâmica das famílias no momento da compra, preparo e consumo de alimentos, exigindo maior planejamento das refeições. Em idosos, as atenções são redobradas em função dos prejuízos da má nutrição e da falta de atividade física à sua saúde e qualidade de vida. Então, neste período de quarentena, é necessária uma atenção especial à alimentação do idoso. Caso você seja idoso ou esteja cuidando de uma pessoa idosa, atenção à sua alimentação, que deve ser a mais adequada e saudável possível! A seguir, elaboramos alguns passos para ajudar na organização da alimentação de pessoas idosas.

Efficacy of the prescription of physical activity in the obese child population / Eficacia de la prescripción de actividad fisica en población infantil con obesidad

Objective To determine the effectiveness of prescribing physical activity to the population of overweight and obese children, in accordance with the levels of evidence. Methods To find literature pertaining to the intervention of physical activity in overweight and obese children. four electronic databases were used: Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane and Lilacs. The search was conducted with a cut-off date of June 2012. Randomized controlled clinical trials of intervention programs involving physical activity for both overweight and obese children were selected. Two independent researchers reviewed and evaluated the quality of the studies, and extracted intervention and result data. Results A total of 204 studies were identified. 19 randomized controlled studies which complied with inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. These studies evaluated the impact of physical activity among obese children and compared different types of intervention based on exercise and diet or both with the objective of reducing weight in obese children. Conclusions It is necessary to conduct studies on obese children with bigger sample sizes to determine the effects of the treatment, and more importantly, to devise comprehensive programs that include a structured exercise program complemented by a dietary program. Likewise, the development of public health policies that allow for the development of national programs for weight and obesity control in Colombian children and adults should be developed, taking into account that the causes of obesity are multiple, including social, familiar, metabolic, and dietary aspects.(AU)

Objetivo Determinar la eficacia de la prescripción de actividad física en población infantil con sobrepeso y obesidad de acuerdo a los niveles de evidencia. Métodos Para la búsqueda de la literatura de intervención en actividad física en niños con sobrepeso y obesidad se utilizaron 4 bases de datos electrónicas Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane y Lilacs la búsqueda se realizó con corte de junio de 2012. Se seleccionaron ensayos clínicos controlados aleatorizados de programas de intervención de actividad física en niños con sobrepeso y obesidad. Dos investigadores independientes revisaron y evaluaron la calidad de los estudios y extrajeron los datos de intervenciones y resultados. Resultados Un total de 204 estudios fueron identificados. Se incluyeron 19 estudios aleatorizados y controlados que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión; los estudios evaluaban en impacto de la actividad fisca en niños obesos en diferentes tipos de intervención basados en ejercicio y dieta o combinados con el objetivo de reducir el peso en niños obesos. Conclusiones Es necesario realizar investigaciones en niños obesos con tamaños de muestra más grandes para determinar el efecto del tratamiento, y lo más importante, tener programas integrales compuestos de un programa estructurado de ejercicios complementado con un programa dietario. Del mismo modo fomentar el desarrollo de políticas públicas que permitan el desarrollo de los programas nacionales para el control de peso y la obesidad en niños y adultos colombianos, teniendo en cuenta que los determinantes de la obesidad son múltiples, incluyendo una base socio-economica, familiar, metabólica, y la dieta.(AU)