Circulating microRNAs in Huntington's disease: Emerging mediators in metabolic impairment.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease, with peripheral consequences that negatively contribute to quality of life. Circulating microRNAs (cmiRNAs) are being explored for their roles in intercellular communication and gene expression regulation, which allows gaining insight into the regulation of crosstalk between neuronal and peripheral tissues. Here, we explore the cmiRNA profile of plasma samples from fifteen symptomatic patients, with 40-45 CAG repeats in the HTT gene, and seven healthy matched controls. Isolated miRNAs from plasma samples were run against human miRNome panels, which have sequences for 752 human mature miRNAs. We found that 168 cmiRNAs are altered in symptomatic patients. Considering Bonferroni's correction, miR-877-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-223-5p, miR-30d-5p, miR-128, miR-22-5p, miR-222-3p, miR-338-3p, miR-130b-3p, miR-425-5p, miR-628-3p, miR-361-5p, miR-942 are significantly increased in HD patients as compared with controls. Moreover, after patient's organization according to approved HD scales, miR-122-5p is significantly decreased in HD patients with Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale >24, whereas an increase in miR-100-5p levels and a decrease in miR-641 and miR-330-3p levels were recorded when patients were rearranged by Total Functional Capacity. These results suggest that cmiRNA profile could be further modified by disease progression, making cmiRNAs useful as monitoring biomarkers. Analysis of target genes indicated a general overexpression of cmiRNAs implicated in metabolism regulation. Profiling cmiRNA of HD subjects opens the possibility of personalized therapies for different groups of HD patients, based on disease modifiers: regulation of altered pathways might contribute to not only alleviate disease symptoms, but also influence HD progression.

Physical Activity as Healthy Intervention Against Severe Oxidative Stress in Elderly Population.

Severe oxidative stress is a relevant risk factor for major deleterious health-related events in older people and is thought to be an important contributor to age-related disease. Literature has suggested oxidative stress as a therapeutic target for mitigating the biological decline and attenuating the occurrence of adverse clinical events in aged individuals. However, definitive treatments are not known. Regular and moderate physical activity has been proposed as possible intervention for slowing age-related decline. This healthy strategy presents a wide range of beneficial aspects for elderly, from the reduction of morbidity, disability, frailty and mortality rates to treatment of many age-related disorders. Importantly, the global benefits on health are not shared by any other strategies. Nevertheless, the physiological basis by which exercise produces its benefits to the organism is not fully understood. This review summarizes the evidence for the role of physical activity as potential healthy intervention for mitigating the negative aspects of aging through the modulation of the oxidative mechanisms.

[Food habits and body composition of Spanish elite athletes in combat sports]. / Hábitos alimenticios y composición corporal de deportistas españoles de élite pertenecientes a disciplinas de combate.

INTRODUCTION: There is a scarcity of information about the dietary intake and food selection of combat sport people. Optimizing nutritional status, body weight, and body composition are key factors for their performance. AIM: The assessment of dietary intake, food habits, and body composition in elite combat sport people. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 22 sportsmen were recruited from the Spanish National Teams of Tae kwon do, Judo, and Boxing. Food intake (FFQ), food habits and body composition (DXA and Bioimpedance) were analyzed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Weight and body composition of the individuals assessed were similar to that previously described, although almost half of them were moderately over their desired competition weight. A lower than the recommended intake of vegetables (77% of individuals), cereals, bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta (73%), while red meat and derivatives intake exceeded the recommendations. Their main preferences were pasta, meat, and cereals. Legumes, vegetables, and fish were their main dislikes. A statistically significant relationship between food preferences and intakes was only observed for legumes, yogurt, and nuts. The athletes reported that reducing the intake of biscuits and confectionery (68% of individuals), high-fat foods (36%), and/or bread (27%) would be a good dietetic strategy for losing weight. None of them reported that voluntary dehydration would be a good strategy for this purpose. CONCLUSIONS: food offer to which this sport people have access and their choices are adequate, although the intake of some food groups (vegetables, red meat and derivatives) does not follow the recommendations. Their body weight slightly exceeds their competition weight, what it is frequently found in these sports. Nevertheless, their knowledge about nutrition and dietetics applied to exercise are acceptable.

Hábitos alimenticios y composición corporal de deportistas españoles de élite pertenecientes a disciplinas de combate / Food habits and body composition of Spanish elite athletes in combat sports

Introducción: La información disponible acerca de las prácticas dietéticas habituales y los factores que influyen en la selección de alimentos en deportistas de combate es escasa a pesar de su importancia para optimizar el estado nutricional. Objetivo: Evaluar la ingesta dietética, los hábitos alimenticios y la composición corporal de deportistas de combate de élite. Sujetos y métodos: Se analizaron el consumo de alimentos (CFCA), los hábitos alimenticios y la composición corporal (DXA y Bioimpedancia) de 22 deportistas varones pertenecientes a las Selecciones Nacionales Españolas de taekwondo, judo y boxeo. Resultados y discusión: El peso y la composición corporal fueron similares a los descritos previamente, aunque casi la mitad de los deportistas estaba moderadamente por encima de su peso de competición. Se observó un consumo bajo de verduras y hortalizas (77% de los individuos) y cereales, pan, arroz, patatas y pasta (73%) y elevado de carnes grasas, embutidos. Las principales preferencias fueron pasta, carne y cereales; las aversiones, legumbres, verduras y pescado. Las preferencias sólo se relacionaron estadísticamente con la ingesta de legumbres, yogur y frutos secos. Con respecto a las modificaciones dietéticas que consideraban más adecuadas para perder peso, el 68% indicó que habría que disminuir o eliminar los dulces y la bollería, el 36% los alimentos grasos y el 27% el pan. Ninguno declaróque utilizaría la deshidratación voluntaria con este fin. Conclusiones: la oferta alimentaria a la que tienen acceso estos deportistas y su selección dietética son adecuadas, aunque el consumo de algunos grupos de alimentos (verduras y hortalizas; carnes grasas, embutidos) no se ajusta a las recomendaciones. Presentan un peso ligeramente superior al de su categoría de competición, lo que es característico de este tipo de deportes. No obstante, muestran unos conocimientos aceptables sobre nutrición y dietética aplicada a su deporte (AU)

Introduction: There is a scarcity of information about the dietary intake and food selection of combat sport people. Optimizing nutritional status, body weight, and body composition are key factors for their performance. Aim: The assessment of dietary intake, food habits, and body composition in elite combat sport people. Subjects and methods: 22 sportmen were recruited from the Spanish National Teams of Taekwondo, Judo, and Boxing. Food intake (FFQ), food habits and bodycomposition (DXA and Bioimpedance) were analyzed. Results and discussion: Weight and body composition of the individuals assessed were similar to that previously described, although almost half of them were moderately over their desired competition weight. A lower than the recommended intake of vegetables (77% of individuals), cereals, bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta (73%), while red meat and derivatives intake exceeded the recommendations. Their main preferences were pasta, meat, and cereals. Legumes, vegetables, and fish were their main dislikes. A statistically significant relationship between food preferences and intakes was only observed for legumes, yogurt, and nuts. The athletes reported that reducing the intake of biscuits and confectionery (68% of individuals), high-fat foods (36%), and/or bread (27%) would be a good dietetic strategy for losing weight. None of them reported that voluntary dehydration would be a good strategy for this purpose. Conclusions: food offer to which this sport people have access and their choices are adequate, although the intake of some food groups (vegetables, red meat and derivatives) does not follow the recommendations. Their body weight slightly exceeds their competition weight, what it is frequently found in these sports. Nevertheless, their knowledge about nutrition and dietetics applied to exercise are acceptable (AU)

Efectos del yogur enriquecido con isómeros del ácido linoleico conjugado, sobre resistencia a la insulina en adolescentes obesos / The effects of yogurt with isomer enriched conjugated linoleico acid on insulina resistance in obese adolescents

El incremento en la incidencia de obesidad es uno de los problemas sanitarios más relevantes en los países en desarrollo. La resistencia a la insulina juega un papel clave en las alteraciones metabólicas asociadas a la obesidad. Son pocas las intervenciones que permitan, de forma eficaz, reducir el peso corporal y las alteraciones metabólicas como consecuencia de la misma. Objetivos. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron determinar si la administración de una mezcla de isómeros de ácido linoleico conjugado (CLA) reduce el peso corporal y mejora la resistencia a la insulina en adolescentes obesos. Diseño experimental. Se llevó a cabo un estudio doble ciego, caso-control, donde se estudiaron 39 pacientes adolescentes obesos, a los cuales de forma aleatoria se les administro diariamente 200 g de yogur líquido suplementado con 3 g de CLA o placebo, durante 16 semanas. Se determinó el peso, talla índice de mas corporal (IMC), colesterol total en plasma y el HDL, insulina, glucosa, adiponectina, así como el índice de resistencia a la insulina (HOMA), antes del inicio de la ingesta, al finalizar, y tras un periodo sin la suplementación. Resultados. No se observaron diferencias significativas en el peso, talla, IMC, colesterol total y en HDL, y adiponectina, entre el grupo suplementado con CLA y el grupo placebo, ni al inicio del estudio, durante y tras el tratamiento. Tras 16 semanas de suplementación con CLA, los nivels de glucosa plasmática y el índice de resistencia a la insulina (HOMA) se redujeron comparado con el grupo placebo (p<0.05). Conclusión. En adolescentes obesos, la administración de CLA disminuye el índice de resistencia a la insulina, independientemente de los cambios en el peso y en el IMC (AU)

Increase in the incidence of obesity is one of the most relevant health care problems in the developing countries. Insulin resistance plays a key role in obesity associated metabolic disorders. There are few interventions that make it possible to effectively reduce body weight and metabolic disorders that occur as a consequence of it. Objectives: This present study aimed to determine if the administration of a mixture of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers reduces body weight and improves insulin resistance in obese adolescents. Experimental design. A double blind, case – controlled, study was conducted in which 39 obese adolescent patients were studied. Daily, they were randomly administered 200 g of liquid yogurt supplemented with 3 g of CLA, or placebo, for 16 weeds. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol in plasma and in HDL, insulin, glucose, adiponectin and insulin resistance index (HOMA) were measured before the onset of intake, at completion, and after a period without supplementation. Results: No significant differences were observed in weight, height, BMI, total cholesterol and in HDL and adiponectin between the group supplemented with CLA and the placebo group at the onset of the study, during and after the treatment. After 16 weeks of supplementation with CLA, the plasma glucose levels and insulin resistance index (HOMA) were reduced compared with the placebo group (p<0.05). Conclusion. In obese adolescents, administration of CLA decreases the insulin resistance index, independently of weight changes and BMI changes (AU)