Mediterranean diet and childhood asthma.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of bronchial hyperreactivity has increased to one-third of the population in developed countries, which requires the adoption of preventive and therapeutic measures. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a traditional Mediterranean diet on patients diagnosed with childhood asthma and determine if there is a beneficial effect from this dietary intervention. METHODS: Prospective before-after comparison study of 50 girls and 54 boys aged 1-5 years, who were enrolled in the 1-year programme "Learning to Eat from the Mediterranean", designed to promote the adoption of a traditional Mediterranean diet. We studied the clinical and therapeutic variables and anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: All studied symptomatic indicators (number and intensity of asthmatic attack, infections and hospital admissions) showed a positive and statistically significant evolution of bronchial hyperreactivity from the first weeks of the intervention onwards. Throughout the treatment, 32.2% of patients remained free of crisis, 35.3% of the patients only had one attack throughout the year and 24.9% had two episodes, compared to 4.73 episodes on average in the previous year. The use of inhaled corticosteroids markedly decreased from 3.92 ± 1.61 to 1.11 ± 1.09 times per patient per year (P<0.001) and that of inhaled bronchodilators decreased from 4.14 ± 1.61 to 1.12 ± 1.40 (P<0.001). As a result, the families involved in the programme reported a high level of satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of a traditional Mediterranean diet could contribute significantly to the improvement of patients diagnosed with childhood asthma.

Characterization of green zero-valent iron nanoparticles produced with tree leaf extracts.

In the last decades nanotechnology has become increasingly important because it offers indisputable advantages to almost every area of expertise, including environmental remediation. In this area the synthesis of highly reactive nanomaterials (e.g. zero-valent iron nanoparticles, nZVI) is gaining the attention of the scientific community, service providers and other stakeholders. The synthesis of nZVI by the recently developed green bottom-up method is extremely promising. However, the lack of information about the characteristics of the synthetized particles hinders a wider and more extensive application. This work aims to evaluate the characteristics of nZVI synthesized through the green method using leaves from different trees. Considering the requirements of a product for environmental remediation the following characteristics were studied: size, shape, reactivity and agglomeration tendency. The mulberry and pomegranate leaf extracts produced the smallest nZVIs (5-10 nm), the peach, pear and vine leaf extracts produced the most reactive nZVIs while the ones produced with passion fruit, medlar and cherry extracts did not settle at high nZVI concentrations (931 and 266 ppm). Considering all tests, the nZVIs obtained from medlar and vine leaf extracts are the ones that could present better performances in the environmental remediation. The information gathered in this paper will be useful to choose the most appropriate leaf extracts and operational conditions for the application of the green nZVIs in environmental remediation.

Efectos de una dieta mediterránea tradicional en niños con sobrepeso y obesidad tras un año de intervención / Effects of the Mediterranean traditional diet in overweight and obese children after one year of intervention

Introducción: la estrategia preventiva y terapéutica de la obesidad ofrece un escaso desarrollo en el sistema asistencial. No hay evidencia suficiente para determinar qué dieta es la más eficiente. El objetivo del estudio fue valorar el efecto de una intervención basada en una dieta mediterránea/tradicional. Pacientes y métodos: se realizó en niños de 2 a 14 años con sobrepeso y obesidad a partir de un programa nutricional denominado "Aprendiendo a comer". Se tomaron medidas antropométricas y se utilizaron test de calidad nutricional. No hubo restricción calórica, no se promovió actividad deportiva ni hubo tratamiento cognitivo-conductual. Se promocionó en todo el ámbito familiar. Se dio prioridad a los alimentos naturales, perecederos y de temporada. Resultados: noventa y ocho niños completaron el estudio. El 61,2% presentó normopeso al finalizar la intervención. Dejaron de ser obesos y de tener sobrepeso el 73,1% y el 82,6%, respectivamente. La pérdida de masa grasa fue del 18,7%, la masa magra aumentó adecuadamente y el índice de calidad nutricional KidMed fue óptimo en el 95% al finalizar la intervención. Conclusiones: frente a las dietas hipocalóricas y de bajo índice glucémico, proponemos una dieta basada en la dieta mediterránea/tradicional y desde Atención Primaria. La disminución observada en el percentil del índice de masa corporal es clínicamente relevante, con un descenso importante de niños con sobrepeso y obesidad. El porcentaje de masa grasa corporal disminuyó de forma significativa. La dieta que proponemos es fácil de cumplimentar y, junto con el programa de educación nutricional, consideramos que es el pilar fundamental del estudio(AU)

Introduction: the preventive and therapeutic strategy for obesity offers a poor development in the health care system. There is not enough evidence to determine what diet is the most efficient. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of an intervention based on a Traditional Mediterranean diet. Methods: the study was conducted in overweight and obese children aged 2 to 14 years through the nutrition education program "Learning to eat". Anthropometric measurements and Mediterranean diet tests were used. There was neither calorie restriction nor physical activity promotion nor was cognitive-behavioral therapy. Mediterranean diet was promoted throughout the family environment. Priority was given to natural, perishable and seasonal foods. Results: the study was completed by 98 children; 61.2% showed a normal weight at the end of the intervention. At the end of the study, 73.1% and 82.6% were no longer obese or overweight. The proportion of fat mass decreased 18.66%, lean mass increased properly, and KidMed diet quality index was optimal in 95% after the intervention. Conclusions: opposed to low-calorie and low glycemic index diets, we propose a diet based on the Mediterranean Traditional Diet and from Primary Care. The observed decrease in Body Mass Index is clinically relevant, with a significant decrease in the proportion of overweight and obesity. The percentage of body fat mass decreased significantly. The Traditional Mediterranean Diet is easy to complete and along with the nutritional education program proposed, we consider it as the main pillar of the study(AU)