Effects of low fat and babassu fat diets on nutritional status in obstructive cholestasis in young rats

PURPOSE: To test the effects of a low fat diet compared with a babassu fat diet on nutritional status in obstructive cholestasis in young rats. METHODS: We submitted 40 rats in 4 groups of 10 animals each from P21 (21st postnatal day) to P49 to two of the following treatments: bile duct ligation or sham operation and low fat diet (corn oil supplying 4.5 percent of the total amount of energy) or babassu fat diet (this fat supplying 32.7 percent and corn oil supplying 1.7 percent of the total amount of energy). Weight gain from P25 to P49 every 4 days was measured. The Verhulst's growth function was fitted to these values of weight gain. Growth velocity and acceleration at each moment were estimated using the same equation. Total food and energy intake from P21 to P49, energy utilization rate (EUR) from P25 to P49 and fat absorption rate (FAR) and nitrogen balance (NB) from P42 to P49 were measured. Two Way ANOVA and the S.N.K. test for multiple paired comparisons were employed to study the effects of cholestasis and those of the diets and their interaction (p<0.05) on those variables. RESULTS: In cholestatic animals, a higher growth velocity at P45, a higher growth acceleration at P41 and P45, a greater EUR, a greater FAR and a greater NB, were found with the low fat diet as compared with the babassu fat diet. CONCLUSION: A low fat diet lessens the growth restriction brought about by cholestasis and allows for an improved dietary energy utilization and a better protein balance than the babassu fat diet.

OBJETIVO: Testar os efeitos de uma dieta com baixo teor de gordura comparada a uma dieta com gordura de babaçu sobre o estado nutricional em ratos jovens com colestase obstrutiva. MÉTODOS: Submetemos 40 ratos divididos em quatro grupos de 10 animais a partir do P21 (21º dia pós-natal) até o P49 a dois dos seguintes tratamentos: ligadura e ressecção do ducto biliar comum ou operação simulada e dieta com baixo teor de gordura (óleo de milho fornecendo 4,5 por cento da quantidade total de calorias) ou dieta com gordura de babaçu (essa gordura fornecendo 32,7 por cento e óleo de milho fornecendo 1,7 por cento da quantidade total de calorias). Foi mensurado o ganho de peso a cada 4 dias do P25 ao P49. A função de crescimento de Verhulst foi ajustada aos valores de ganho de peso. A velocidade e a aceleração de crescimento nos mesmos momentos foram estimadas usando a mesma equação. Foram mensurados: quantidade de ração ingerida e ingestão energética total do P21 ao P49, utilização de energia do P25 ao P49, gordura absorvida e balanço de nitrogênio (BN) do P42 ao P49. A ANOVA com dois fatores e o método de S.N.K para comparações pareadas foram utilizados para estudar os efeitos, sobre as variáveis, da colestase e das dietas e sua interação (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: Em ratos com colestase e dieta com baixo teor de gordura, houve maior velocidade de crescimento no P45, maior aceleração de crescimento no P41 e P45, maior utilização de energia, maior percentual de gordura absorvida e maior BN do que em ratos com colestase e dieta com gordura de babaçu. CONCLUSÃO: A dieta com baixo teor de gordura atenua a restrição de crescimento provocada pela colestase e proporciona melhor aproveitamento da dieta e maior incorporação da proteína ingerida do que a dieta com gordura de babaçu.

[ effect of zinc supplementation on linear growth in short stature school-aged children in Qazvin]

Physical growth retardation is an early and prominent feature of zinc deficiency. To determine the effect of zinc supplementation on linear growth of school children with short stature in Qazvin during 2004-2005. The study was designed as a double-blind randomized clinical trial during a 5-month period. Anthropometric data were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 months. Measurements included plasma zinc concentration, height, weight, nutrition state. Subjects were 30 short stature female students [<3rd percentile] aged 10-11 years. Children were randomly divided into two groups, one with zinc supplementation [15mg/day ZnSo4] and the other with placebo. As control group, 15 healthy children with normal growth were included. The prevalence of short stature in children was 7.1% [52 from 725 children]. The mean age was 10.5 +/- 0.5 years. After supplementation, zinc group showed a higher serum zinc concentration [89.5 +/- 12.99 vs. 81.1 +/- 9.04 microg/dl, p=0.009] compared to the placebo group [72.66 +/- 7.82 vs. 86.13 +/- 17.8 microg/dl] with one child found to have serum zinc concentration of less than 70 microg/dl. The linear growth rose at 3, 4, and 5 months following supplementation. The height velocity was significantly increased in zinc group [3.22 +/- 0.9cm] comparing with placebo [2.33 +/- 0.7cm] and control [3.02 +/- 1.59cm] groups [p=0.004]. The weight increase was statistically significant only at the end of 5 months compared to the beginning of study. Zinc supplementation caused an increase in growth velocity and serum zinc concentration. Regarding the notable prevalence of zinc deficiency in female students during the adolescence growth spurt, zinc supplementation is recommended

Nutrición y patología pulmonar en el neonato de bajo peso al nacer / Bronchopulmonar dysplasia (BPD) and nutrition in the low birth weight neonate

La importancia de los factores nutricionales en la etiología de la displasia broncopulmonar (DBP) esta sustentada por la estrecha relación entre los factores que predisponen a esta entidad y el desarrollo de falla nutricional. El objetivo de este manuscrito es revisar las bases científicas en las cuales se fundamenta la interacción de la nutrición y el desarrollo de la función pulmonar en el recién nacido de bajo peso al nacer; discutir la evidencia proveniente de estudios clínicos y/o revisiones sistemáticas que evalúen el efecto de prácticas nutricionales tendientes a disminuir la incidencia y la gravedad de la DBP, y la evaluación y el manejo nutricional de pacientes ya afectados con esta enfermedad. Intervenciones nutricionales dirigidas a incrementar el aporte de calorías y principalmente de proteínas con restricción del aporte hídrico desde el primer día de vida, evitar déficit de antioxidantes como vitamina E y selenio, administrar altas dosis de Vitamina A por vía intramuscular, tendrían un rol en prevenir o disminuir la severidad de la DBP. El incrementar el aporte de calorías con aportes proteicos superiores a 3 gr/kg/día, limitar el uso de diuréticos y corticoides, mantener buena oxigenación, promover alimentación ad-libitum e implementar equipos de apoyo nutricional al alta, reducirían el déficit nutricional y la falla de crecimiento asociada.