Fish oil supplementation and physical exercise during the development period increase cardiac antioxidant capacity in Wistar rats

Abstract Aim: To investigate if treadmill exercise (Ex) associated with fish oil (FO) supplementation during lactation would influence the biochemical profile as well as the oxidative balance in the hearts of male juvenile rats. Methods: Fifteen days-old rats were submitted to a daily moderate Ex training (based on their maximal running capacity) and FO supplementation for 4 weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last exercise session, blood fasting glucose and lipid profile were assessed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, while the oxidative status of the hearts was evaluated via colorimetric and absorbance-based assays. Results: FO associated with Ex decreased triglycerides (TG-79.27 ± 5.75 to 60.24 ± 6.25 mg/dL) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (VLDL-15.85 ± 1.15 to 12.05 ± 1.25 mg/dL) when compared to sedentary animals. FO, alone, reduced atherogenic index (AI- 1.14 ± 0.03 vs. 1.01 ± 0.04 a.u) while increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-43.90 ± 2.50 vs. 59.43 ± 3.15 mg/dL) of sedentary animals. Additionally, both Ex (67.3 ± 13.5 nmol/mg prot) and FO supplementation (56.6 ± 5.5 nmol/mg prot) decreased the oxidative damage to lipids in non-trained animals (105.8 ± 10.8 nmol/mg prot). The interventions also protected the protein content from oxidative stress (Ex- 5.15 ± 0.46; FO- 4.5 ± 0.5; and vehicle sedentary-7.3 ± 0.6 µmol/mg prot), while increasing the antioxidant defense and oxidative metabolism. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that intervention in juvenile rats can improve cardiac metabolism. These are the first findings to show the positive effects of the association between FO and moderate treadmill Ex during the critical period of development. We believe these results can drive early-life origins of heart disease through different avenues and, possibly, assist the development of a heart disease prevention program as well as an adjunctive therapeutic resource.

Vitamin A and D deficiencies in the prognosis of respiratory tract infections: A systematic review with perspectives for COVID-19 and a critical analysis on supplementation / Vitamin A and D deficiencies: Perspectives for COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: Considering the rapid spread of COVID-19, the scientific community has been looking for ways to recognize factors that may interfere with the outcome of viral infection. Despite the lack of studies with the new coronavirus, it is known that adequate serum levels of micronutrients are essential for the organic response to infectious diseases. Thus, we aim to review the effects of vitamin A, D, iron, zinc, or folate deficiency on the prognosis of patients with respiratory infections with manifestations similar to COVID-19 and discuss about supplementation of the nutrients analyzed in this review. METHODS: The search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Lilacs, and SciELO, including observational studies published between 2010-2020, with results for individuals with respiratory tract infections with manifestations similar to COVID-19. RESULTS: Six articles met the inclusion criteria, all of which were related to deficiencies of vitamins A and D. In general, vitamin A deficiency was associated with cough, fever, and greater total respiratory resistance. Regarding vitamin D, the lack of this nutrient led to higher rates of ICU admission, the need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Evidence linking specific relationships between nutritional deficiencies and COVID-19 remain lacking due to the small number of studies and heterogeneities in population subgroups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, deficiencies of vitamins A and D seem to negatively affect the prognosis of respiratory tract infections. Supplementation of these nutrients for prevention or treatment of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 should respect serum levels, nutritional status and housing conditions (e.g.,endemic location) of individuals.

Fish oil and treadmill exercise have age-dependent effects on episodic memory and oxidative state of the hippocampus.

There is a growing interest to better understand how lifestyle choices can improve memory functions. Treadmill exercise and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish oil are able to stimulate hippocampal antioxidant defenses and improve memory. The aim was to test whether fish oil and exercise can improve rat's performance on memory tasks and optimize hippocampal antioxidant state in an age-dependent manner. Therefore, young and adult rats were exercised and received fish oil during 4 weeks. The exercise was performed for 30 min/day, with the speed gradually increasing from the first to the last week. Afterwards, episodic memory was measured by the recognition of object identity and spatial location. Hippocampal oxidative state was investigated with the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), carbonyls content, antioxidant enzymatic activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)), and antioxidant nonenzymatic activity (reduced glutathione, sulfhydryl content). The adult rats treated with fish oil and exercise (FO&EX) were able to recognize object's shape and placement; however, FO&EX young rats had impaired spatial recognition (p < 0.05). The FO&EX young rats did not have reduced MDA or carbonyl content, though either fish oil or exercise reduced MDA (p < 0.05) and carbonyl levels (p < 0.01). Exercise increased SOD (p < 0.001) and CAT activities (p < 0.05), and fish oil enhanced SOD activity (p < 0.05) in young rats. At adulthood, exercise increased MDA levels (p < 0.05), and FO&EX reduced MDA (p < 0.001). Finally, exercise and fish oil improved nonenzymatic antioxidant defense (p < 0.05) only in adult rats. Results support age-dependent effects of fish oil and exercise on memory and oxidative state of the hippocampus during either neurodevelopment or adulthood.

Excessive weight--muscle depletion paradox and cardiovascular risk factors in outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests a nutritional transition process in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Obesity, which was once an uncommon occurrence in such patients, has grown in this population at the same prevalence rate as that found in the general population, bringing with it an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the nutritional status and occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: A case-series cross-sectional study was conducted involving male and female adult outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease. Data were collected on demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and anthropometric variables as well as the following cardiovascular risk factors: sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, abdominal obesity, medications in use, comorbidities, alcohol intake and smoking habits. The significance level for all statistical tests was set to 5% (P< 0.05). RESULTS: The sample comprised 80 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 56 of whom (70.0%) had ulcerative colitis and 24 of whom (30.0%) had Crohn's disease. Mean age was 40.3±11 years and the female genre accounted for 66.2% of the sample. High frequencies of excess weight (48.8%) and abdominal obesity (52.5%) were identified based on the body mass index and waist circumference, respectively, in both groups, especially among those with ulcerative colitis. Muscle depletion was found in 52.5% of the sample based on arm muscle circumference, with greater depletion among patients with Crohn's disease (P=0.008). The most frequent risk factors for cardiovascular disease were a sedentary lifestyle (83.8%), abdominal obesity (52.5%) and excess weight (48.8%). CONCLUSION: The results of the complete anthropometric evaluation draw one's attention to a nutritional paradox, with high frequencies of both - muscle depletion, as well as excess weight and abdominal obesity.

Excessive weigh – muscle depletion paradx and cardiovascular risk factoors in outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease / Paradoxo excesso de peso – depleção muscular e fatores de risco cardiovascular em pacientes ambulatoriais com doenças inflamatórias intestinais

Background Evidence suggests a nutritional transition process in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Obesity, which was once an uncommon occurrence in such patients, has grown in this population at the same prevalence rate as that found in the general population, bringing with it an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the nutritional status and occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods A case-series cross-sectional study was conducted involving male and female adult outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease. Data were collected on demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and anthropometric variables as well as the following cardiovascular risk factors: sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, abdominal obesity, medications in use, comorbidities, alcohol intake and smoking habits. The significance level for all statistical tests was set to 5% (P< 0.05). Results The sample comprised 80 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 56 of whom (70.0%) had ulcerative colitis and 24 of whom (30.0%) had Crohn's disease. Mean age was 40.3±11 years and the female genre accounted for 66.2% of the sample. High frequencies of excess weight (48.8%) and abdominal obesity (52.5%) were identified based on the body mass index and waist circumference, respectively, in both groups, especially among those with ulcerative colitis. Muscle depletion was found in 52.5% of the sample based on arm muscle circumference, with greater depletion among patients with Crohn’s disease (P=0.008). The most frequent risk factors for cardiovascular disease were a sedentary lifestyle (83.8%), abdominal obesity (52.5%) and excess weight (48.8%). Conclusion The results of the complete anthropometric evaluation draw one’s attention to a nutritional paradox, with high frequencies of both - muscle depletion, as well as excess weight and abdominal obesity. .

Contexto Evidências sugerem um processo de transição nutricional nos pacientes com doenças inflamatórias intestinais. A obesidade, que era um distúrbio incomum nas doenças inflamatórias intestinais, cresce em paralelo com a prevalência da obesidade em toda a população, podendo aumentar o risco de doenças cardiovasculares nesta população. Objetivo Avaliar o estado nutricional e a ocorrência de fatores de risco cardiovascular em pacientes com doenças inflamatórias intestinais. Métodos Métodos – Estudo transversal, série de casos, realizado em pacientes ambulatoriais com doenças inflamatórias intestinais, adultos e de ambos os sexos. Foram obtidas variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas, clínicas, antropométricas e os fatores de risco cardiovascular: sedentarismo, excesso de peso, obesidade abdominal, medicamentos, comorbidades, alcoolismo e tabagismo. O nível de significância foi de 5,0%. Resultados A amostra foi constituída por 80 pacientes com doenças inflamatórias intestinais, 56 (70,0%) com etocolite ulcerativa inespecífica e 24 (30,0%) com doença de Crohn, sendo a idade média 40,3±11 anos e 66,2% do sexo feminino. Elevadas frequências de excesso de peso (48,8%) e obesidade abdominal (52,5%) foram identificadas, segundo o índice de massa corporal e a circunferência da cintura, respectivamente, em ambos os grupos, e de forma mais importante na retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica. A depleção de massa muscular ocorreu em 52,5% dos pacientes segundo a circunferência muscular do braço, sendo mais depletados aqueles com (P=0,008). Dentre os fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares, os mais frequentes foram o sedentarismo (83,8%), o perímetro abdominal elevado (52,5%) e o excesso de peso (48,8%). Conclusão A avaliação antropométrica completa mostrou elevada frequência de déficit proteico somático ao mesmo tempo em que se encontraram elevadas frequências de excesso de peso e obesidade abdominal. .