Effect of Red Orange Juice Consumption on Body Composition and Nutritional Status in Overweight/Obese Female: A Pilot Study.

The main objective of this research was to determine whether a commercial orange juice rich in anthocyanins could have an effect on body weight and on clinical parameters related to obesity including antioxidant status, lipid profile, and metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers. 11 women with an average BMI of 34.4 ± 4.8 kg/m2 were enrolled in a pilot study. Over a period of 12 weeks they received 500 mL daily dose into two doses (250 mL) of commercial red orange juice (COJ). The biochemical parameters were measured at baseline and at the end of the study (12 weeks). One month later upon free diet, a follow-up was performed measuring the same variables. The daily consumption of 500 mL of COJ had no significant effects on body weight, while there was a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The grade of obesity implies different changes in inflammation biomarkers. In obese women, our data do not seem to support evidence that commercial red orange juice consumption acts as functional food preventing obesity and metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and/or inflammatory status.

Antioxidant effect of zinc supplementation on both plasma and cellular red-ox status markers in a group of elderly Italian population.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of long term supplementation with two moderate dose of Zn on plasma and cellular red-ox status markers in elderly volunteers. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: In a double blind study 108 healthy volunteers, aged 70-85 years, were enrolled. They were randomly divided in 3 groups of treatment, receiving placebo, 15 mg/day and 30 mg/day of Zn for 6 months. Red-ox status markers were assessed at baseline and after 6 months evaluating carotenoids, vitamin A and E in plasma; glutathione (GSH), thiol groups (RSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), percentage of haemolysis and methemoglobin in erythrocytes. RESULTS: Zn supplementation had no significant effects on red-ox status markers except for vitamin A levels (from 1.94±0.44 to 2.18±0.48 µM in volunteers receiving 15 mg of Zn and from 1.95±0.46 to 2.26±0.56 µM in volunteers receiving 30 mg of Zn), which increased proportionally to zinc dose. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that, differently from unhealthy populations, long-term supplementation with two moderate doses of Zn in a healthy elderly population, with an adequate Zn nutritive status and macro and micronutrients intakes in the range of normality, is an inefficient way to increase antioxidant defences.

Effect of zinc supplementation on vitamin status of middle-aged and older European adults: the ZENITH study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of zinc supplementation on vitamin status in middle-aged and older volunteers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-seven healthy middle-aged (55-70 years) and older (70-85 years) men and women, randomly allocated to three groups to receive 15 or 30 mg Zn/day or placebo for 6 months. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a validated 4-day recall record. Fasting blood samples were simultaneously analysed for levels of plasma retinol and alpha-tocopherol by high-performance liquid chromatography. Erythrocyte folates were measured by a competitive immunoassay with direct chemiluminescence detection on an automatized immunoanalyser. Biochemical measurements were performed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of zinc supplementation. RESULTS: Plasma vitamin A levels were significantly increased proportionally with zinc dose and period of treatment, particularly at 6 months (for 15 mg Zn/day, P<0.05; for 30 mg Zn/day, P<0.0001); no significant changes were observed in the placebo group. There was no effect of zinc supplementation on vitamin E/cholesterol ratio and erythrocyte folates. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that a long-term zinc supplementation increases plasma vitamin A levels in middle-aged and older people of similar characteristics to those involved in this study. Moreover, supplementation influences serum zinc levels but does not affect erythrocyte zinc concentration and both plasma vitamin E and erythrocyte folate status.

Descriptive data on lifestyle, anthropometric status and mental health in italian elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to provide descriptive information on anthropometric status, pathological conditions, cognitive impairment and lifestyle in apparently healthy elderly Italian people. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: In order to recruit the volunteers for the ZENITH study, 359 Italian participants (167 men and 192 women), aged between 70 and 85 years, free living in Rome, were selected. Volunteers underwent a full clinical examination, anthropometric measurements (height, weight), a lifestyle questionnaire and mental health assessment (cognitive impairment and depression). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was high (57% and 22% in men; 43% and 27% in women). Obesity was associated with low socio-economic profile in about 40% of participants. Although the sample was selected by family doctors and was apparently healthy, after medical screening the presence of several pathologies, particularly diabetes in 21% of participants was observed. There was a low prevalence of cognitive impairment in 4% of men and 7% of women and possible depression in 9% of men and 19% of women. The lifestyle questionnaire showed that most of their time was spent in light activities such as reading, watching TV or playing cards and significant differences between sex and BMI categories were observed (P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The results confirm the increasingly sedentary lifestyle of modern populations and demonstrate the need for sensitive and individualised strategies to design appropriate health promotion and disease prevention programs for older adults.

Zinc status and taste acuity in older Europeans: the ZENITH study.

BACKGROUND: Age-related decline in taste acuity may be both a cause and an effect of depleted zinc and/or increased zinc requirement. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore associations between zinc status and taste acuity in healthy older European adults aged 55-90 y. SAMPLE: Volunteers were recruited within Italy (n = 108 aged 70-90 y), the United Kingdom (UK) (n = 93 aged 55-70) and two regions of France (n = 186), Grenoble (aged 70-90 y) and Clermont-Ferrand (aged 55-70 y). METHODS: A signal detection theory approach was adopted, employing a three-alternative, forced-choice procedure. The data were converted to R-indices and bivariate correlations were computed to explore relationships between serum zinc, erythrocyte zinc and taste acuity. ANOVA was undertaken to determine regional differences in zinc status. RESULTS: Higher erythrocyte zinc status was associated with better acuity for salt (sodium chloride) taste in the sample as a whole (P = 0.012) (n = 385). Higher serum zinc levels were associated with greater sensitivity to sour taste (citric acid) (P = 0.015) only in the older groups (aged 70-90 y). There were no apparent associations between serum or erythrocyte zinc status and acuity for bitter (quinine) or sweet (sucrose) tastes irrespective of age. CONCLUSION: These results agree with those previously suggesting that age-related detriment in sensitivity for salt taste may be associated with depleted zinc.

Estimation of intake and status of vitamin A, vitamin E and folate in older European adults: the ZENITH.

OBJECTIVE: To report selected dietary intake and vitamin status at baseline of volunteers participating in the ZENITH study and the correlation of vitamin status with zinc. DESIGN: A multicentre prospective intervention study employing a randomised double-blind design. SETTING: Clermont-Ferrand, Theix (France), Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Grenoble (France), Rome (Italy). PARTICIPANTS: In total, 387 healthy middle-aged (55-70 y) and older (70-87 y) men and women participated in the study. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed by means of a validated 4-d recall record. Fasting blood samples were simultaneously analysed for retinol and alpha-tocopherol by the HLPC method. Erythrocyte folates were measured by a competitive immunoassay with direct chemiluminescence detection on an automatised immunoanalyser. RESULTS: In all centres, men had a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher mean nutrient intake than women. Comparison between age-groups showed that older individuals had significantly lower intakes of macro- and selected micronutrients than middle-aged subjects (P < 0.0001). A high fat intake (from 36 to 40% of total energy) was observed in all examined groups. In relation to biochemical measures of vitamin status, all parameters were above their respective cut-off values for normality and, thus, none of the subjects had biochemical evidence of deficiency of these selected vitamins. A moderate correlation was found with plasma vitamin A and serum zinc (r = 0.12, P < 0.05) or red blood cell zinc (r = 0.12, P < 0.01) and with erythrocyte folates and red blood cell zinc (r = 0.11, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There were only moderate differences in the nutrient intake of the ZENITH study volunteers among the four European centres. Their biochemical status for retinol, alpha-tocopherol and folate appeared adequate.