Effect of qualitative and quantitative nutritional plan on gene expression in obese patients in secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease

Summary Background & aims: Diet is a modifiable risk factor, which may influence the gene expression and the concentration of inflammatory biomarkers related to obesity and atherosclerosis. In this sub study from Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program, we hypothesized that a nutritional intervention based on the usual Brazilian diet modulates the expression of genes involved with atherosclerosis and inflammatory biomarkers in male patients, in the secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease. Methods: Six male patients, aged 45 years or older, obese, were selected to follow a qualitative-quantitative food plan for 6 months. Glycemia, insulinemia, lipid profile, plasma concentration of inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin (IL) -1b), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein and adiponectin, and expression of 84 atherosclerosis-related genes in total peripheral blood cells, were measured. Results: After nutritional intervention, the participants reduced weight (p<0.04), waist circumference(p<0.04), Homeostasis Model Assessment index for insulin resistance (p»0.046) and overall leukocyte count (p»0.046) and neutrophils (p»0.028). There was no significant modification in the plasma concentration of the inflammatory biomarkers, however, there was a significant increase in the expression of Apo A1 (p»0.011), ELN (p»0.017) and IL4 (p»0.037) genes. Conclusions: The BALANCE Program, the qualitative-quantitative food plan composed of Brazilian usual foods, did not reduce the concentration of inflammatory biomarkers, but increased in total peripheral blood cells the expression of genes involved in reducing the risk of cardiometabolic in obese patients, in secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease. The clinical trial is registered athttps://clinicaltrials.gov/and the unique identifier is NCT01620398.

Quality indicators for enteral and parenteral nutrition therapy: application in critically ill patients «at nutritional risk» / Indicadores de calidad para terapia nutricional enteral y parenteral: aplicación en pacientes críticamente enfermos «con riesgo nutricional»

Introduction: Quality Indicators for Nutritional Therapy (QINT) allow a practical assessment of nutritional therapy (NT) quality. Objective: To apply and monitor QINT for critically ill patients at nutritional risk. Methods: Cross sectional study including critically ill patients > 18 years old, at nutritional risk, on exclusive enteral (ENT) or parenteral nutritional therapy (PNT) for > 72 hours. After three consecutive years, 9 QINT were applied and monitored. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 17.0. Results: A total of 145 patients were included, 93 patients were receiving ENT, among then 65% were male and the mean age was 55.7 years (± 17.4); 52 patients were receiving PNT, 67% were male and the mean age was 58.1 years (± 17.4). All patients (ENT and PNT) were nutritionally screened at admission and their energy and protein needs were individually estimated. Only ENT was early initiated, more than 70% of the prescribed ENT volume was infused and there was a reduced withdrawal of enteral feeding tube. The frequency of diarrhea episodes and digestive fasting were not adequate in ENT patients. The proper supply of energy was contemplated only for PNT patients and there was an expressive rate of oral intake recovery in ENT patients. Conclusion: After three years of research, the percentage of QINT adequacy varied between 55%-77% for ENT and 60%-80% for PNT. The results were only made possible by the efforts of a multidisciplinary team and the continuous re-evaluation of the procedures in order to maintain the nutritional assistance for patients at nutritional risk (AU)

Introducción: los indicadores de calidad en terapia nutricional (ICTN) permiten evaluar la calidad de la terapia nutricional (TN) de forma práctica. Objetivo: implementar y monitorizar los ICTN en pacientes críticos con riesgo nutricional. Métodos: estudio transversal con pacientes críticos > 18 años en riesgo nutricional, en terapia nutricional enteral (TNE) o parenteral (TNP) exclusiva a > 72 horas. Después de 3 años consecutivos, 9 ICTN fueron implementados y monitorizados. El análisis estadístico fue realizado con el software SPSS, versión 17.0. Resultados: fueron incluidos 145 pacientes, siendo 93 en TNE, 65% eran de sexo masculino, con edad promedio de 55,7 años (± 17,4); 52 pacientes que estaban en TNP, 67% eran de sexo masculino, con edad promedio de 58,1 años (± 17,4). Todos los pacientes (TNE y TNP) fueron cribados en la admisión, los cálculos de las necesidades calóricas y proteínicas fueron individualizados. Apenas la TNE fue precoz, > 70% del volumen prescrito fue administrado y fue visto una reducida pérdida de la sonda nasoenteral. Las frecuencias de diarrea y ayuno digestivo no fueron adecuadas en TNE. La administración adecuada de energía fue contemplada apenas en TNP y hubo una significativa tendencia de recuperación en la vía oral en TNE. Conclusión: después de 3 años de estudio, el porcentaje de adecuación de los ICTN varió entre 55%-77% para TNE y 60%-80% para TNP. Los resultados reflejan los esfuerzos del equipo multiprofesional de TN en mantener la calidad de la asistencia nutricional en los pacientes críticos con riesgo nutricional (AU)

Neurobiochemical mechanisms of a ketogenic diet in refractory epilepsy.

A ketogenic diet is an important therapy used in the control of drug-refractory seizures. Many studies have shown that children and adolescents following ketogenic diets exhibit an over 50% reduction in seizure frequency, which is considered to be clinically relevant. These benefits are based on a diet containing high fat (approximately 90% fat) for 24 months. This dietary model was proposed in the 1920s and has produced variable clinical responses. Previous studies have shown that the mechanisms underlying seizure control involve ketone bodies, which are produced by fatty acid oxidation. Although the pathways involved in the ketogenic diet are not entirely clear, the main effects of the production of ketone bodies appear to be neurotransmitter modulation and antioxidant effects on the brain. This review highlights the impacts of the ketogenic diet on the modulation of neurotransmitters, levels of biogenic monoamines and protective antioxidant mechanisms of neurons. In addition, future perspectives are proposed.

Neurobiochemical mechanisms of a ketogenic diet in refractory epilepsy

A ketogenic diet is an important therapy used in the control of drug-refractory seizures. Many studies have shown that children and adolescents following ketogenic diets exhibit an over 50% reduction in seizure frequency, which is considered to be clinically relevant. These benefits are based on a diet containing high fat (approximately 90% fat) for 24 months. This dietary model was proposed in the 1920s and has produced variable clinical responses. Previous studies have shown that the mechanisms underlying seizure control involve ketone bodies, which are produced by fatty acid oxidation. Although the pathways involved in the ketogenic diet are not entirely clear, the main effects of the production of ketone bodies appear to be neurotransmitter modulation and antioxidant effects on the brain. This review highlights the impacts of the ketogenic diet on the modulation of neurotransmitters, levels of biogenic monoamines and protective antioxidant mechanisms of neurons. In addition, future perspectives are proposed. .

Estudo de calibração de um questionário quantitativo de freqüência alimentar aplicado à população com diferentes níveis de risco cardiovascular / Calibration study of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire applied to population with different cardiovascular risks

The biggest diffi culty for the study of metabolic syndrome in adolescence is the lack of consolidated cut points for this age group. This study characterizes the risk factors for metabolic syndrome in female adolescents and verifi es the possible existing correlations between the variables analyzed. It was carried out with 60 female adolescents between 14 and 18 years old. The body mass index and its derivatives, the circumferences of the waist (W) and hip (H), the body fat percentage (%BF) and the plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), fractions (LDL and HDL) and fasting glucose were analyzed. Despite the predominance of eutrophic adolescents (90%), important alterations have been found: raised body fat percentage (78.3%), modifi ed fat plasma levels of 23.3% (TC), 15% (LDL) and 5% (HDL), besides impaired fasting glucose (6.7%). Moreover, one of the adolescents was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Signifi cant correlations between HDL and W/H ratio (r =-0.276; p=0.032), LDL and %BF (r = 0.296; p=0.021) and between the number of risk factors observed for the adolescents and the values of %BF (r=0.300, p=0.020), TC (r=0.536, p<0.001) and LDL (r=0.506, p<0.001) have been found. The importance of such alterations in this age group is justifi ed by its clinical meaning, since they will increase the risk of morbidity and mortality due to chronic diseases in adult life.

La mayor difi cultad para el estudio del síndrome metabólico en la adolescencia es la falta de puntos de corte consolidados para esa faja de edad. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los marcadores de riesgo para síndrome metabólico en adolescentes de sexo femenino y verifi car posibles correlaciones existentes entre las variables analizadas. Fue conducido con 60 adolescentes de sexo femenino, entre 14 y 18 años de edad. Se determinaron: el índicede masa corporal (IMC); circunferencias de cintura y cadera; porcentaje de grasa corporal total (%G); niveles sanguíneos de colesterol total (CT) y fracciones (LDL y HDL); glucemia de ayuno. Aunque la eutrofi a predominaba (90%), se detectaron alteraciones importantes: elevado porcentaje de grasa corporal (78.3%); alteraciones de los lípidos sanguíneos, 23.3% (CT), 15% (LDL) y 5% (HDL); glucemia de ayuno alterada (6.7%) y en una adolescente fue diagnosticada diabetes mellitus. Había correlación signifi cativa entre HDL y la relación cintura-cadera (RCQ) (r = -0.276; p=0,032); entre LDL y %G (r = 0.296 p=0,021); entre el número de alteraciones presentes en las adolescentes y %G (r=0,300, p=0,020); entre CT (r=0,536, p<0,001) y LDL (r=0,506, p<0,001). Las alteraciones observadas en esta faja etaria son altamente signifi cativas por su implicancia clínica de elevado riesgo de enfermedades crónicas en la vida adulta.

O maior entrave para o estudo da síndrome metabólica na adolescência consiste na carência de pontos de corte consolidados para tal grupo etário. O presente estudo se propôs a caracterizar os marcadores de risco para a síndrome metabólica em adolescentes do sexo feminino e verificar as possíveis correlações existentes entre variáveis analisadas. Tal estudo foi realizado com 60 adolescentes, do sexo feminino, entre 14 e 18 anos de idade. Foram analisados o índice de massa corporal e seus derivados, as circunferências da cintura (C) e quadril (Q), o percentual de gordura corporal (%G) e as dosagens plasmáticas de colesterol total (CT), frações (LDL e HDL) e glicemia de jejum. Apesar da predominância da eutrofi a (90%), encontraram-se alterações importantes: elevado percentual de gordura corporal (78,3%), níveis alterados de lipídios sangüíneos, 23,3% (CT), 15% (LDL) e 5% (HDL), glicemia de jejum alterada em 6,7%, sendo que em uma das adolescentes foi diagnosticado o diabetes Mellitus. Observaram-se correlações signifi cantes entre HDL e relação C/Q (r = -0,276; p=0,032) e LDL e %G (r = 0,296; p=0,021) e entre o número de alterações apresentadas pelas adolescentes e os valores %G (r=0,300, p=0,020); CT (r=0,536, p<0,001) e LDL (r=0,506, p<0,001). A importância de tais alterações neste grupo etário se justifi ca em função do seu signifi cado clínico, uma vez que irão predispor ao aumento das taxas de morbi-mortalidade por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis na vida adulta.