Ayuno intermitente: impacto en el descenso de peso y la salud cardiometabólica / Intermittent fasting: impact in weight lost and cardiometabolic health

Resumen Introducción: la obesidad representa una importante problemática a nivel mundial, esto genera la necesidad de encontrar nuevas estrategias terapéuticas que contribuyan a tratar dicha enfermedad. En los últimos años, ha surgido el ayuno intermitente (AI) como una posible alternativa dietoterápica en el descenso de peso y en la mejora de variables cardiometabólicas, aunque la evidencia científica es controvertida. Objetivos: evaluar la evidencia científica disponible respecto a la efectividad del ayuno intermitente en el descenso de peso y en la mejora de las variables cardiometabólicas en comparación con la restricción energética continua. Materiales y Método: se ha llevado a cabo una búsqueda sistemática de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) en las bases de datos PUBMED y Cochrane Library. Se incluyeron 11 ECA, que compararan AI con restricción energética continua (REC) con un rango de duración de 4 a 48 semanas, en mujeres y hombres con un índice de masa corporal (IMC) ≥25 kg/m2 y que hayan evaluado descenso de peso y variables cardiometabólicas. Resultados: el AI presentó una mediana de descenso de peso de 5,5 kg (RIQ: 4,7;6,86 kg), mientras que para la REC fue de 4,8 kg (RIQ: 3,8;6,6 kg). El IMC, la masa grasa, la masa libre de grasa y circunferencia de cintura, se redujeron de manera significativa tanto para la intervención como para el comparador. Asimismo, las variables cardiometabólicas presentaron mejoras respecto a los valores iniciales, sin embargo, evidenciaron resultados heterogéneos. Conclusiones: tanto el AI como la REC resultaron ser efectivas para la mejora de las variables estudiadas. La intervención no demostró ser mejor que el comparador.

Abstract Introduction: obesity represents a major problem worldwide, and this generates the need to find new therapeutic tools that contribute to the treatment of this disease. In recent years, intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a possible dietary alternative in weight loss and improvement of cardiometabolic variables, although the scientific evidence is controversial. Objectives: to evaluate the available scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of intermittent fasting in weight loss and in the improvement of cardiometabolic variables in comparison with continuous energy restriction. Materials and Method: a systematic search of PUBMED and Cochrane Library databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) has been conducted. Eleven RCTs were included, comparing IF with continuous energy restriction (CER) with a duration range of 4 to 48 weeks, in women and men with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 and who assessed weight loss and cardio metabolic variables. Results: the IF presented a median weight loss of 5.5 kg (IQR:4.7; 6.86 kg), while for CER it was 4.8 kg (IQR: 3.8; 6.6 kg). BMI, fat mass, fat-free mass, and waist circumference were significantly reduced for both the intervention and the comparator. Likewise, the cardiometabolic variables presented improvements with respect to the initial values, however, they showed heterogeneous results. Conclusions: both IF and CER proved to be effective in improving the variables studied; the intervention did not prove to be better than the comparator.

Calidad de vida y su relación con la percepción de estrés y el perfil antropométrico en mujeres adultas / Quality of life and its relationship to stress perception and anthropometric profile in adult women

La perimenopausia produce cambios hormonales y emocionales, que podrían influir en la calidad de vida como en la percepción de estrés de las mujeres. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la calidad de vida y su relación con la percepción de estrés y el perfil antropométrico en mujeres adultas. Se efectuó un estudio transversal en mujeres adultas (40-65 años) que concurrieron a la Fundación Hemocentro Buenos Aires (FHBA). El estado nutricional se evaluó con el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y circunferencia de cintura (CC). La calidad de vida se valoró mediante el cuestionario de calidad de vida (CV) de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHOQoL-Bref). La percepción de estrés (PS) se valoró por escala de estrés percibido (PSS-10). Se incluyeron 128 mujeres (52,3% premenopáusicas y 47,7 % posmenopáusicas). El 56,3% refirió tener una CV entre bastante buena y muy buena. La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad fue de 60,2% (IC 95%; 51,5 - 68,2%). La percepción de CV se asoció inversamente al IMC (p= 0,0031) al igual que los dominios físico (p= 0,016) y psicológico de CV (p= 0,001). Asimismo, la PS se asoció de manera inversa a la precepción de CV (p= 0,008) y los cuatro dominios de CV.

Perimenopause produces hormonal and emotional changes, which could influence quality of life as well as stress perception in women. The objective of this study was to evaluate quality of life and its relationship with stress perception and anthropometric profile in adult women. A cross-sectional study was carried out in adult women (40-65 years old) who attended the Fundación Hemocentro Buenos Aires. Nutritional status was evaluated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire. Perception of stress was assessed by the perceived stress scale (PSS-10). We included 128 women (52.3% premenopausal and 47.7% postmenopausal). Over half (56.3%) reported having a quality of life between fairly good and very good. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 60.2% (95% CI, 51.5 - 68.2%). The perception of quality of life was inversely associated to the BMI (p= 0.0031) as well as the physical (p= 0.016) and psychological domains of quality of life (p= 0.001). Similarly, perceived stress was associated inversely with the quality of life perception (p= 0.008) and the four quality of life domains.

Association Between Anxiety Level, Eating Behavior, and Nutritional Status in Adult Women.

Objective: During menopause there appear hormonal changes that have an impact on physiological aspects, such as weight gain, and psychological ones, such as the presence of anxiety, which could affect eating behavior. The study objective is to assess the association between anxiety level and eating behavior as well nutritional status in adult woman.Materials and methods: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on women (aged 40-65 years). A sociodemographic and lifestyle survey was performed. Anxiety was determined by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and eating behavior (EB) through the Three Factor Food Questionnaire (TEFQ-R18). Nutritional status was measured considering body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS 19.0.Results: One hundred twenty-eight women were included, 20.3% at the premenopausal stage and 79.7% at the postmenopausal stage. No association was found between biological stage and nutritional status (p = 0.61) or WC (p = 0.57). State anxiety was experienced by 26.6% of the women and trait anxiety by 53.9% of them; there were no significant differences according to biological stage or nutritional status. The median values of emotional eating (EE), uncontrolled eating (UE), and cognitive restraint eating (CRE) were 5.0 (4.0-7.0), 16.0 (13.0-21.0) and 14.0 (10.0-17.0), respectively, being higher in premenopausal women, whereas there were no significant differences on biological stage. Clinically detectable state anxiety was associated with EE (p = 0.035), UE (p = 0.002), and CRE (p = 0.004), and trait anxiety only with UE (p = 0.016) and EE (p = 0.001). However, anxiety and nutritional status were not related.Conclusions: Anxiety was associated to eating behavior, although it was not related to nutritional status.

Helicobacter pylori and corpus gastric pathology are associated with lower serum ghrelin.

AIM: To evaluate the association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), cagA genotype, and type of gastric pathology with ghrelin, leptin and nutritional status. METHODS: Fasted dyspeptic adults (18-70 years) referred for an upper digestive endoscopy were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Height and weight were assessed for body mass index (BMI) calculation. A sociodemographic survey was administered and nutrient intake was evaluated with 24 h dietary recalls. Serum total ghrelin and leptin levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 13C-Urea Breath Test was performed and four gastric biopsies were obtained during endoscopy for histopathology and H. pylori DNA amplification and genotyping. Data analysis was performed using χ2, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman's correlation and linear regression. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-three patients (40.8 ± 14.0 years), 98/65 females/males, were included. Overall, persistent H. pylori prevalence was 53.4% (95%CI: 45.7%-65.8%). Neither nutrient intake nor BMI differed significantly between H. pylori positive and negative groups. Serum ghrelin was significantly lower in infected patients [median 311.0 pg/mL (IQR 230.0-385.5)] than in uninfected ones [median 355.0 pg/mL (IQR 253.8-547.8)] (P = 0.025), even after adjusting for BMI and gender (P = 0.03). Ghrelin levels tended to be lower in patients carrying cagA positive strains both in the antrum and the corpus; however, differences with those carrying cagA negative strains did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.50 and P = 0.49, respectively). In addition, the type and severity of gastric pathology in the corpus was associated with lower serum ghrelin (P = 0.04), independently of H. pylori status. Conversely, leptin levels did not differ significantly between infected and uninfected patients [median 1.84 ng/mL (0.80-4.85) vs 1.84 ng/mL (0.50-5.09), (P = 0.51)]. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection and severity of gastric corpus pathology are associated with lower serum ghrelin. Further studies could confirm a lower ghrelin prevalence in cagA-positive patients.

Relación entre estado nutricional, consumo de alimentos no nutritivos y percepción de estrés en mujeres perimenopáusicas / Relationship between nutritional status, consumption of non - nutritive foods and stress perception in perimenopausal women

RESUMEN La perimenopausia puede afectar el peso corporal, la ingesta alimentaria y el estado anímico de las mujeres. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la relación entre estado nutricional, consumo de alimentos no nutritivos y percepción de estrés en mujeres adultas (40-65años) habitantes de Vedia, Provincia de Bs. As (Argentina). Estudio descriptivo transversal, muestra no probabilística a las mujeres, se las clasificó según etapa biológica en pre y postmenopáusicas y se controló el consumo de ansiolíticos. Se evaluó estado nutricional mediante índice de masa corporal (IMC) y riesgo cardio-metabólico (RCM) según circunferencia de cintura (CC). La percepción de estrés (PS) se valoró por escala de estrés percibido (PSS-10). Se estimó el consumo de alimentos no nutritivos, bebidas azucaradas y alimentos ricos en grasas. Se incluyeron 91 mujeres, edad media de 52,1 años (DS= 7,7) (40% premenopáusicas; 60% posmenopáusicas). El 62,6% presentó sobrepeso u obesidad y 70,3% RCM. La media de PS fue 15 puntos (DS= 6,0), siendo mayor en las postmenopáusicas (p= 0,03) y en las que consumían ansiolíticos (p< 0,001). La PS no se asoció al IMC (p= 0,83) ni a la distribución adiposa (p= 0,95). El consumo de alimentos no nutritivos fue similar en ambos grupos, sólo se registró un consumo mayor de chocolates en posmenopáusicas (p= 0,03). Así, el climaterio y la menopausia se deberían abordar por un equipo interdisciplinario, capacitados desde una perspectiva biopsicosocial y no solo desde la óptica clínica.

ABSTRACT Perimenopause is a critical period that can affect body weight, food intake and mood. Our objective was to describe the relationship between nutritional status, nonnutritive food consumption and perception of psychological stress in adult women (40-65 years old) from Vedia, Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina). A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out using a non-probabilistic sample. Women were classified according to the biological stage in pre-and postmenopausal and anxiolytic consumption was controlled. Nutritional status was measured by body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) by waist circumference (WC). The perception of stress (PS) was assessed using the PSS-10 scale. Consumption of non-nutritive foods, sugary drinks and high-fat foods was estimated. Ninety-one women were included with a mean age of 52,1 years (SD= 7,7) (40% premenopausal; 60% postmenopause); 62,6% were overweight or obese" and 70,3% had CMR according to WC. The mean of PS for the sample was 15 points (SD= 6,0), which was higher in postmenopausal women (p= 0,03) and in those who consumed anxiolytics (p<0,001). PS was not associated with BMI (p= 0,83) nor with adipose distribution (p= 0,95). The consumption of non-nutritive foods was similar among women in both biological stages, except the consumption of chocolate that was higher in the postmenopausal (p= 0,03). Thus, the climacteric and menopause should be addressed by an interdisciplinary team, trained from a biopsychosocial perspective and not only from a clinical perspective.

Dietary and anthropometric indicators of nutritional status in relation to Helicobacter pylori infection in a paediatric population.

It has been postulated that Helicobacter pylori infection could affect growth and appetite, consequently influencing body weight. Therefore, the association between H. pylori infection and the dietary and anthropometric indicators of nutritional status of a paediatric population were investigated. A total of 525 children (aged 4-16 years) who were referred to the gastroenterology unit of the Sor Maria Ludovica Children's Hospital from Buenos Aires, Argentina, were enrolled and completed an epidemiological questionnaire. H. pylori infection was diagnosed using the ¹³C-urea breath test (¹³C-UBT). Height and weight were assessed for calculation of anthropometric indicators. Energy and macronutrient intakes were estimated by 24 h dietary recall. Data analysis was performed using a χ² test, a Student's t test, a Mann-Whitney U test and linear and logistic regressions. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 25·1 % (with a mean age of 10·1 (SD 3·1) years). A tendency towards lower energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intakes was observed in infected patients; however, it was not associated with H. pylori infection in any of the evaluated age groups (4-8, 9-13 and 14-16 years). Underweight, stunting, overweight and obesity were also not associated with the infection. Although height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z scores tended to be lower in infected patients, the differences between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative children were not statistically significant. In conclusion, H. pylori infection was not associated with dietary intake or with anthropometric indicators in the present population of children with gastrointestinal symptoms; however, an increased sample size would be needed to confirm the observed tendency towards lower dietary intake and lower anthropometric indicators of nutritional status in H. pylori-infected children.

Decreasing trend of Helicobacter pylori infection in children with gastrointestinal symptoms from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is declining in developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate over an 8-year period the rate of H. pylori infection in children with gastrointestinal symptoms from Buenos Aires, Argentina. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of children referred from 2002 to 2009 to the gastroenterology unit of the Children Hospital "Superiora Sor Maria Ludovica" for evaluation of upper gastrointestinal signs and symptoms in which the (13) C-urea breath test was performed to diagnose H. pylori infection and a sociodemographic questionnaire was obtained. RESULTS: Records of a total of 1030 children and adolescents with a mean age of 9.99 years were included in the analysis. We found an H. pylori prevalence of 41.2% (95% CI, 36.9-46.0%) for the triennium 2002-2004, dropping to 26.0% (95% CI, 20.7-31.8%) in the triennium 2007-2009. CONCLUSION: Our results showed a significant decrease in H. pylori infection rates from children referred for upper gastrointestinal symptoms evaluation from 2002 to 2009, following the H. pylori epidemiologic trend reported in other countries.

Iron, zinc, and copper nutritional status in children infected with Helicobacter pylori.

OBJECTIVE: : Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa of about half of the world's population and it has been related to extragastrointestinal diseases. The present study sought to evaluate the association between H pylori infection and iron, zinc, and copper nutritional status in symptomatic children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: : A cross-sectional study was carried out in 395 children (4-16 years) with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, who were tested for H pylori infection by the C-urea breath test. Iron status was determined by hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum transferrin receptors. Copper and zinc serum concentrations were also evaluated. Epidemiological data, dietary assessment, and anthropometric indicators were analyzed as potential confounding factors. RESULTS: : Prevalence of H pylori infection was 24.3%. Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) were found in 12.0% and 14.3% of the H pylori-positive and 8.9% and 11.0% of the H pylori-negative children, respectively. There was no association between H pylori infection and anemia (odds ratio = 1.54 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73%-3.24%]) or ID (odds ratio = 1.35 [95% CI 0.67-2.70]). Crude beta coefficients showed that H pylori has no significant effect on hemoglobin, serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptors, copper, and zinc concentrations. However, adjusted results suggested that H pylori-infected children had an increase of 9.74 microg/dL (95% CI 2.12-17.37 microg/dL) in copper concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: : This study revealed that H pylori infection was not associated with iron deficiency, anemia, or zinc concentrations; however, a positive relation with copper status was found after adjusting for confounding factors. The contribution of H pylori infection to higher copper concentrations needs to be confirmed by additional studies.

Helicobacter pylori is not associated with anaemia in Latin America: results from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and anaemia. DESIGN: Six cross-sectional studies. H. pylori infection was assessed by the [13C]urea breath test using MS or IR analysis. Hb was measured for all countries. Ferritin and transferrin receptors were measured for Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, and Venezuela. SETTING: Health services in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico or public schools in Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela. SUBJECTS: In Argentina, 307 children aged 4-17 years referred to a gastroenterology unit; in Bolivia, 424 randomly selected schoolchildren aged 5-8 years; in Brazil, 1007 adults (157 men, 850 women) aged 18-45 years attending thirty-one primary health-care units; in Cuba, 996 randomly selected schoolchildren aged 6-14 years; in Mexico, seventy-one pregnant women in their first trimester attending public health clinics; in Venezuela, 418 children aged 4-13 years attending public schools. RESULTS: The lowest prevalence of H. pylori found was among children in Argentina (25.1%) and the highest in Bolivia (74.0%). In Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela children showed similar prevalence of H. pylori infection as in Brazilian and Mexican adults (range 47.5% to 81.8%). Overall anaemia prevalence was 11.3% in Argentina, 15.4% in Bolivia, 20.6% in Brazil, 10.5% in Cuba and 8.9% in Venezuela. Adjusted analyses allowing for confounding variables showed no association between H. pylori colonization and anaemia in any study. Hb, ferritin and transferrin receptor levels were also not associated with H. pylori infection in any country. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed no evidence to support the hypothesis that H. pylori contributes to anaemia in children, adolescents, adults or pregnant women in six Latin American countries.

Bioavailability studies of stabilized iron (II) sulfate by means of the prophylactic-preventive method.

The bioavailability of stabilized ferrous sulfate was studied by means of the prophylactic-preventive test in rats. For comparative purposes, ferrous sulfate was used as reference standard. The test was performed in male weaned rats during 3 weeks, which were randomized into three groups of ten animals each. A control group received a basal diet of low iron content while the other groups received the same diet added with iron at a dose of 15 mg/kg as FeSO4 7H2O and stabilized ferrous sulfate, respectively. Individual hemoglobin concentrations and weights were determined at the beginning and at the end of the study, and food intake was daily registered. Iron bioavailability (BioFe) of each source was calculated as the ratio between the amount of iron incorporated into hemoglobin during the treatment and the total iron intake per animal. A relative biological value was obtained as the ratio between the BioFe of stabilized ferrous sulfate and the reference standard given a value of 96%. Stabilized ferrous sulfate showed a high bioavailability, and when it is used to fortify dairy products as cheese and fluid milk in a dose of 15-20 mg of iron per kilogram, it behaved inertly in relation to the sensorial properties of the fortified food. These results suggest that this iron compound is a promising source to be use in food fortification.

Factors associated with H. pylori epidemiology in symptomatic children in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

AIM: To determine prevalence of H pylori infection in symptomatic children in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and to investigate factors associated with H pylori positivity. METHODS: A total of 395 children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms referred to the Gastroenterology Unit of the Children Hospital "Sor Maria Ludovica" were evaluated for the presence of H pylori by the (13)C-Urea Breath Test ((13)C-UBT). A questionnaire was applied to the recruited population. RESULTS: Prevalence of H pylori infection was 40.0% in this population (mean age 9.97 +/- 3.1 years). The factors associated with H pylori positivity were number of siblings (P < 0.001), presence of pet cats (P = 0.03) and birds (P = 0.04) in the household, and antecedents of gastritis among family members (P = 0.01). After multivariate analysis, number of siblings [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.20-1.61] and contact with pet cats (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.00-3.09) remained as variables associated with H pylori infection. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H pylori infection in children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in Argentina was similar to that reported in developed countries. Children from families with a higher crowding index and presence of pet cats have a higher risk of being colonized with H pylori.

Effect of a probiotic food as an adjuvant to triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.

OBJECTIVE: Current recommendations for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection include a proton pump inhibitor in combination with two antibiotics. We evaluated the potential activity of a probiotic food as an adjuvant to antibiotic triple therapy for eradication of H. pylori infection in children from Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS: Sixty-five children who tested positive for H. pylori, as diagnosed by (13)C-urea breath test and endoscopy, were included in this study. Patients were randomized to receive 1-wk triple therapy plus probiotic food (treated group) or milk placebo (control) that was administered for 3 mo. Probiotic food consisted of 250 mL of a commercial yogurt containing Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus casei (10(7) colony-forming units/mL). Post-treatment urea breath test controls were performed 1 and 3 mo after the end of triple therapy. RESULTS: We found no significant differences in H. pylori eradication rates (ERs) at 1 and 3 mo between the treated group (ER = 45.5% and 42.4%) and the control group (ER = 37.5% and 40.6%). Relative risks between groups were 0.87 (95% confidence interval 0.58-1.32, P = 0.345) in the first month and 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.64-1.46, P = 0.542) in the third month. CONCLUSIONS: We could not demonstrate an adjuvant effect of the studied probiotic food to triple therapy in the eradication of H. pylori infection in children in Buenos Aires, Argentina. However, we found lower ERs than those reported for the same therapeutic scheme in developed countries, indicating that bacterial resistance and alternative therapeutic strategies should be studied.

Effect of iron deficiency anemia on the biodistribution of 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals.

The distribution of colloids and labeled cells in organs is influenced by their intrinsic properties and by the state of the investigated subject. Iron deficiency remains an unsolved nutritional problem all over the world; one of its severe consequences is anemia. Because iron metabolism principally takes place in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, skeletal muscle and blood, we studied the effect of iron deficiency anemia on the biodistribution of 99mTc phytate, 99mTc gelatin colloid and 99mTc RBC (red blood cells labeled with 99mTc). Our results show that iron deficiency anemia modifies the pattern of biodistribution of the two colloids assayed. However, this behavior is different for both of them. This work contributes to studies that kinetically and statistically establish that iron deficiency anemia induces a significant inversion in the spleen-liver activity relationship when centellographic studies are performed with colloids such as 99mTc phytate.