Impact of curcumin on energy metabolism in HIV infection: A case study.

Prolonged use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been associated with dyslipidemia and impaired energy substrate oxidation (SOxi). Curcumin is a natural bioactive compound, which interacts with molecular targets and holds important metabolic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin supplementation on energetic metabolism of an adult female with HIV/AIDS and under ART. The intervention was performed with 500 mg/day of curcumin for 27 days. Glycemic and lipid profile and SOxi at rest were evaluated before and after intervention. After intervention, improvement of lipid profile and insulin sensibility was observed. Moreover, there was a positive modulation of SOxi at rest. Oral curcumin supplementation can positively modulate the energy metabolism of people living with HIV/AIDS using the ART. However, clinical studies are required in order to confirm our findings in a representative sample.

[Contribution of anthropometric characteristics to pubertal stage prediction in young male individuals]. / Contribuição das características antropométricas na predição dos estádios de maturação puberal de jovens do sexo masculino.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the contribution of anthropometric variables to predict the maturational stage in young males. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that enrolled 190 male subjects aged between eight and 18 years, randomly selected from public and private schools in Natal, Northeast Brazil. Thirty-two anthropometric variables were measured following the recommendations of the International Society for the Advancement of Kineanthropometry (ISAK). The assessment of sexual maturation was based on the observation of two experienced experts, who identified the pubertal development according to Tanner guidelines (1962). RESULTS: The anthropometric variables showed a significant increase of their values during the advancement of pubertal development (p<0.05). The following variables showed the best value for prediction of maturational groups: sitting height, femoral biepicondylar diameter, forearm girth, triceps skinfold, tibiale laterale and acromiale-radiale bone lenghts. These variables were able to estimate the pubertal stages in 76.3% of the sujects. CONCLUSION: The anthropometric characteristics showed significant differences between the moments of maturational stages, being found, representatively, seven variables that best predict the stages of sexual maturation.

Relationship between dietary intake and use of protease inhibitors with anthropometric and biochemical parameters of lipodystrophy in people living with hiv.

The lipodystrophy syndrome is characterized by redistribution of body fat and disorders of glicidic and lipid metabolism. Although its etiology is related to infection and drug therapy, there is little evidence regarding the nutritional disturbances on this association. This study aimed to assess the relationship between dietary intake and use of protease inhibitors (PIs) with anthropometric and biochemical parameters in HIV positive patients. The study included 50 patients. A questionnaire about socioeconomic status, lifestyle and infection history was taken. In addition, it was conducted the evaluation of dietary intake (frequency questionnaire), anthropometric parameters (body mass index, waist circumference, triceps skinfold, corrected arm muscle area) and biochemistry tests (glycemia and lipid profile). Only 37% of the sample was classified as "good food consumption", 54% were overweight or obese and 66% presented high waist circumference. The group with good food consumption had higher HDL-C (p=0.04) levels than the group with poor food consumption. Patients taking PIs presented VLDL-C (p=0.023) and triglycerides (p=0.024) levels significantly higher. These results indicated the necessity for continuous monitoring of HIV-positive patients and non-pharmacological interventions such as nutrition education and practice of physical exercises.

La lipodistrofia se caracteriza por la redistribución de la grasa corporal y los trastornos de la glucosa y el metabolismo de los lípidos. Su etiología está relacionada con la infección y la terapia de drogas, sin embargo, hay poca evidencia sobre el papel de la nutrición en estos cambios . Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la relación entre el consumo alimenticio y el uso de inhibidores de la proteasa con parâmetros antropométricos y bioquímicos en las personas que viven con el VIH. La muestra estuvo constituida por 50 pacientes. Se recogieron Preguntas sobre la situación socioeconómica, el estilo de vida, y antecedentes de infección. Además, se celebró evaluar el consumo de alimentos (cuestionario de frecuencia), antropométricos (índice de masa corporal, circunferencia de la cintura, espesor del pliegue cutáneo del tríceps y el área muscular del brazo corregida) y bioquímicos (niveles de glucosa y lípidos). Sólo el 37 % de la muestra se clasifica como buena consumo de alimentos, 54 % tenían sobrepeso o eran obesos y 66 % tienen alta circunferencia de la cintura. El grupo de consumo de alimentos clasificados como " buenos" presentaram mejores valores de HDLc cuando comparados com el grupo clasidicado del "malo" del los pacientes que usan IP mostró valores de VLDL -C y triglicéridos significativamente más altos. Estos resultados indican la necesidad de un seguimiento continuado de estos pacientes y las intervenciones no farmacológicas, como la educación en nutrición y ejercicio físico.