Effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) consumption on the components of metabolic syndrome in elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the consumption of green tea on components of MS in the elderly. DESIGN: Intervention study. SETTING: The sample was selected from the Geriatric Service of Hospital São Lucas of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. PARTICIPANTS: 45 elderly with MS were enrolled and allocated into two groups: green tea group (GTG, n= 24), who drank green tea and control group (CG, n= 21) without intervention. INTERVENTION: The GTG received sachets of 1.0 g of green tea, and should drink three cups per day for 60 days and the CG was instructed not to make changes in their lifestyle. MEASUREMENTS: The diagnostic criteria for MS used were the International Diabetes Federation. The lipidic and glycemic profile, and anthropometric measurements were evaluated before and after intervention. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant weight loss only in GTG [71.5±12.6 kg to 70.3±12.6 kg (p<0.001)]. A statistically significant decrease in BMI [-0.5±0.4 kg/m2 in GTG and -0.2±0.6 kg/m2 in CG (P=0.032)] and waist circumference [-2.2±2.0 cm in GTG and - 0.3±1.8 cm in CG (P=0.002)] were observed. The intake of green tea did not change the biochemical parameters. CONCLUSION: The consumption of green tea was effective in inducing weight loss, reducing BMI and waist circumference in the elderly with MS.

Association between interleukin-1 beta polymorphism (+3953) and obesity.

It now appears that obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue resulting from chronic activation of the innate immune system as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1). Previous investigations have described a positive association between IL-1 beta +3953 (C>T) gene polymorphism (rs 1143634) and obesity, suggesting functional effects on fat mass, fat metabolism and body mass. However, it is necessary to determine if these results occur in other populations and if they are influenced by sex and age. Therefore, we performed a case-control study using 880 Caucasian subjects (59.7+/-11.9 years old) from the Brazilian Aging Research Program (non-overweight=283, overweight=334, obese=263) previously investigated in genetic studies, in whom we analyzed the IL-1 beta +3953C/T polymorphism. We observed higher T allele (CT/TT) frequency in non-overweight than overweight and obese groups. The odds ratio showed 1.340 (95% CI: 1.119-1.605) times more chance of the obese group being CC carriers compared to non-overweight group independent of sex and age. This study corroborates the idea that the IL-1 system is linked to the development of obesity.

Association among oxidized LDL levels, MnSOD, apolipoprotein E polymorphisms, and cardiovascular risk factors in a south Brazilian region population

Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) is involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Many factors can affect the LDL oxidation such as oxidative stress. The present study tested whether ox-LDL levels would be associated with apolipoprotein E (APOE), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Ala16Val polymorphisms, and classic cardiovascular risk factors. ox-LDL levels were measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and both polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism in a sample of 252 subjects (70 men, 182 women, mean age, 54-85 years). Subjects with ox-LDL >or=0.5 nmol/mg apoprotein were considered the high level group (HLG, N = 82) and subjects with ox-LDL <0.5 nmol/mg apoprotein were considered the expected level group (ELG, N = 170). Classic risk factors were also evaluated. The results showed that diabetes mellitus was more prevalent in HLG, whereas other cardiovascular risk factors were similar between groups. The APOE genotype frequencies did not differ between HLG and ELG subjects. However, AA genotype from MnSOD polymorphism was more frequent in ELG (chi(2) = 8.48; P = 0.014). AV and VV subjects from ELG present highest ox-LDL levels (OR = 3.61; CI95% = 1.42-9.17) than AA. Additional analysis did not find gene-gene interactions associated with ox-LDL levels. Multivariate analysis showed that diabetes and the MnSOD polymorphism were independent factors associated with higher ox-LDL levels in HLG. The results suggest that an important framework on modulation of the redox status influenced by genetic polymorphisms could affect the cardiovascular homeostasis.

Treatment INDs: research for hire?

KIE: Since June 1987 the Food and Drug Administration has permitted "desperately" ill patients (those with serious or immediately life-threatening illnesses) to purchase investigational new drugs (INDs) conditioned on an absense of comparable or satisfactory therapy and on an adequate enrollment in ongoing clinical trials. The authors question the assumption by large numbers of patients of the risks of new therapies, usually restricted to small numbers of research subjects, before there is any certainty of benefit. They predict that insurers will be exposed to litigation over reimbursement for these "treatment INDs," whose status in insurance contracts is ambiguous, as will physicians who because of their professional judgment fail to disclose experimental options. The authors suggest that since insurers and patients are becoming sponsors of research, insurers should be encouraged to develop new policies that will permit reimbursement for experimental therapies when appropriate.^ieng