Mobile Phone Radiation Deflects Brain Energy Homeostasis and Prompts Human Food Ingestion.

Obesity and mobile phone usage have simultaneously spread worldwide. Radio frequency-modulated electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by mobile phones are largely absorbed by the head of the user, influence cerebral glucose metabolism, and modulate neuronal excitability. Body weight adjustment, in turn, is one of the main brain functions as food intake behavior and appetite perception underlie hypothalamic regulation. Against this background, we questioned if mobile phone radiation and food intake may be related. In a single-blind, sham-controlled, randomized crossover comparison, 15 normal-weight young men (23.47 ± 0.68 years) were exposed to 25 min of RF-EMFs emitted by two different mobile phone types vs. sham radiation under fasting conditions. Spontaneous food intake was assessed by an ad libitum standard buffet test and cerebral energy homeostasis was monitored by 31phosphorus-magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements. Exposure to both mobile phones strikingly increased overall caloric intake by 22-27% compared with the sham condition. Differential analyses of macronutrient ingestion revealed that higher calorie consumption was mainly due to enhanced carbohydrate intake. Measurements of the cerebral energy content, i.e., adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine ratios to inorganic phosphate, displayed an increase upon mobile phone radiation. Our results identify RF-EMFs as a potential contributing factor to overeating, which underlies the obesity epidemic. Beyond that, the observed RF-EMFs-induced alterations of the brain energy homeostasis may put our data into a broader context because a balanced brain energy homeostasis is of fundamental importance for all brain functions. Potential disturbances by electromagnetic fields may therefore exert some generalized neurobiological effects, which are not yet foreseeable.

An explorative study on energy balance in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: Involuntary body weight loss in head and neck cancer is common. Fundamental for weight loss is an energy imbalance where total energy expenditure exceeds energy intake.Aim: To map energy intake and parameters of energy expenditure at the start of and after radiotherapy, and their relation to weight change, body mass index, and immune markers in patients with head and neck cancer.Materials and Methods: Data from 20 patients on energy intake (24-hour dietary intake recalls), total energy expenditure (SenseWear Armband Pro3), resting energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry), body weight, body mass index, and immune markers in serum (C-reactive protein and Interleukin-6) were collected at the start of and after radiotherapy (median 8 mo, range 5-13).Results: No statistical significance was shown between the two measurement points for energy intake or for the different parameters of energy expenditure. Median values for energy balance were 0.93 and 0.96 for the start of treatment and follow-up, respectively. Twelve and 13 patients had a negative energy balance at the start of radiotherapy and at follow-up, respectively.Conclusion: A negative energy balance was seen for the majority of patients, which stresses the importance of nutritional treatment at the start of and after radiotherapy.

Toxic Effect of Visible Light on Drosophila Life Span Depending on Diet Protein Content.

We investigated the toxic effect of visible light on Drosophila life span in both sexes. The toxic effect of ultraviolet light on organisms is well known. However, the effects of illumination with visible light remain unclear. Here, we found that visible light could be toxic to Drosophila survival, depending on the protein content in diet. In addition, further analysis revealed significant interaction between light and sex and showed that strong light shortened life span by causing opposite direction changes in mortality rate parameters in females versus males. Our findings suggest that photoaging may be a general phenomenon and support the theory of sexual antagonistic pleiotropy in aging intervention. The results caution that exposure to visible light could be hazardous to life span and suggest that identification of the underlying mechanism would allow better understanding of aging intervention.

Rat fertility and embryo fetal development: influence of exposure to the Wi-Fi signal.

In recent decades, concern has been growing about decreasing fecundity and fertility in the human population. Exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF), especially radiofrequency (RF) fields used in wireless communications has been suggested as a potential risk factor. For the first time, we evaluated the effects of exposure to the 2450MHz Wi-Fi signal (1h/day, 6days/week) on the reproductive system of male and female Wistar rats, pre-exposed to Wi-Fi during sexual maturation. Exposure lasted 3 weeks (males) or 2 weeks (females), then animals were mated and couples exposed for 3 more weeks. On the day before delivery, the fetuses were observed for lethality, abnormalities, and clinical signs. In our experiment, no deleterious effects of Wi-Fi exposure on rat male and female reproductive organs and fertility were observed for 1h per days. No macroscopic abnormalities in fetuses were noted, even at the critical level of 4W/kg.

Low-calorie energy drink improves physiological response to exercise in previously sedentary men: a placebo-controlled efficacy and safety study.

Energy drink use has grown despite limited research to support efficacy or safety and amid concerns when combined with exercise. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 10 weeks of once-daily energy drink consumption or energy drink consumption with exercise on measures of body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, mood, and safety in previously sedentary males. Thirty-eight males were randomly assigned to energy drink + exercise (EX-A), energy drink (NEX-A), placebo + exercise (EX-B), or placebo (NEX-B). All participants consumed 1 drink per day for 10 weeks; EX-A and EX-B participated in 10 weeks of resistance and endurance exercise. Testing was performed before (PRE) and after (POST) the 10-week intervention. No significant (p > 0.05) changes were observed for body composition, fitness, or strength in NEX-A; however, significantly greater decreases in fat mass and percentage body fat and increases in VO2peak were observed in EX-A versus EX-B. Ventilatory threshold (VT), minute ventilation, VO2 at VT, and power output at VT improved significantly PRE to POST in EX-A but not in EX-B or nonexercising groups. Clinical markers for hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, and immune function, as determined by PRE and POST blood work revealed no adverse effects in response to the energy drink. Mood was not affected by energy drink use. Absent energy restriction or other dietary controls, chronic ingestion of a once-daily low-calorie energy drink appears ineffective at improving body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, or strength in sedentary males. However, when combined with exercise, preworkout energy drink consumption may significantly improve some physiological adaptations to combined aerobic and resistance training.

Short day-length increases sucrose consumption and adiposity in rats fed a high-fat diet.

BACKGROUND: Photoperiod, i.e., the relative day-length per 24h, may modulate the metabolic responses to high-fat diet (HFD) and sucrose consumption. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, hormonal changes, fat accretion and sucrose intake were measured in rats exposed to short- or long-day for 4 weeks and fed with a standard high-carbohydrate low-fat pelleted diet (high-carbohydrate diet (HCD)) or a high-fat, medium-carbohydrate pelleted diet (HFD), with or without free access to 10% sucrose solution in addition to water available ad libitum. RESULTS: Plasma leptin and adiposity index, defined as epididymal white fat expressed as percentage of body mass, were markedly increased only in HFD-fed animals drinking sucrose under short, but not long, photoperiods. Voluntary ingestion of sucrose under short days was greater in HFD rats compared with HCD animals over the experiment, while a trend for the opposite effect was visible under long days. Total energy intake was not changed overall, as rats proportionally decreased chow intake when they drank sucrose. A noteworthy exception was the HFD group with sucrose access under short days that significantly increased their total calorie intake. Fasting blood glucose was generally unaltered, except for an increase in HFD-fed animals drinking sucrose under long days compared to control animals, suggesting a decrease in glucose tolerance. Insulin resistance was not yet affected by nutritional or photoperiodic conditions after 4 experimental weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Even if photoperiod cannot be considered as an obesogenic environmental factor per se, the metabolic effects resulting from the combination of high-fat feeding and voluntary intake of sucrose were dependent on day-length. Exposure to short days triggers a larger increase of sucrose ingestion and hyperleptinemia in rats fed with HFD compared to the control diet. Considering that the cardinal symptoms of winter depression include carbohydrate craving and increased adiposity, the present data provide an experimental basis for developing new animal models of seasonal affective disorder.

Nutrition support using the American Dietetic Association medical nutrition therapy protocol for radiation oncology patients improves dietary intake compared with standard practice.

BACKGROUND: A randomized controlled trial previously conducted in radiation oncology patients demonstrated that nutrition intervention had a beneficial impact on body weight, nutritional status, and quality of life compared with standard practice, but it did not report on dietary intake data. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of nutrition intervention compared with standard practice on dietary intake in outpatients receiving radiotherapy. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Sixty consecutive radiation oncology outpatients (51 men and nine women; age 61.9+/-14 years [mean+/-standard deviation]). SETTING: Australian private radiotherapy facility. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either nutrition intervention (n=29) (nutrition counseling following the American Dietetic Association [ADA] medical nutrition therapy [MNT] protocol for radiation oncology) or standard practice (n=31) (general nutrition talk and booklet). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Dietary intake (protein, energy, fiber) assessed at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after starting radiotherapy. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Repeated-measures analysis of variance done on an intention to treat basis. RESULTS: The nutrition intervention group had a higher mean total energy (P=0.029) and protein intake (P<0.001) compared with the standard practice group. Mean intake per kilogram of body weight for the nutrition intervention group ranged from 28 to 31 kcal/kg/day compared with 25 to 29 kcal/kg/day for the standard practice group (P=0.022). The nutrition intervention group had a higher mean protein intake (1.1 to 1.3 g/kg/day) compared with the standard practice group (1.0 to 1.1 g/kg/day) (P=0.001). Although the change in fiber intake between the groups was not significant, there was a trend in the anticipated direction (P=0.083). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive nutrition intervention following the ADA MNT protocol results in improved dietary intake compared with standard practice and seems to beneficially impact nutrition-related outcomes previously observed in oncology outpatients receiving radiotherapy. The ADA MNT protocol for radiation oncology is a useful guide to the level of nutrition support required.

Dietary intake and nutritional indicators are transiently compromised during radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with rectal cancer receive curative radiotherapy towards the pelvis for 5 weeks. Little is known about the impact of radiotherapy on dietary intake and nutritional status. The objective was to examine whether curative radiotherapy for rectal cancer promoted altered intake of energy and nutrients, and change in nutritional indicators. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Oncology in a tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS: A total of 31 consecutive patients receiving radiotherapy for rectal cancer (50 Gray). INTERVENTIONS: A 7-day food intake registration, body weight, upper arm circumference, and analyses of blood samples were performed at the start and the end of radiotherapy, and at follow-up 4-6 weeks and 1 year after the end of radiotherapy. RESULTS: At the end of 5 weeks of radiotherapy, the mean daily energy intake was reduced by 15% from 8.9 to 7.6 MJ as compared with baseline (P = 0.002), and the intake of several nutrients was reduced (P < 0.01). The percentages of energy derived from fat, protein, and carbohydrates did not change, nor did the nutrient density. A transient body weight reduction of < 1 kg was observed (P = 0.009). Serum concentrations of vitamin A and 25-OH vitamin D did not change during radiotherapy. The daily intake of energy and nutrients, and body weight, had increased towards pretreatment values 4-6 weeks after radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy for rectal cancer caused a transient reduction in energy intake and nutritional indicators. The nutritional quality of the diet was unchanged during radiotherapy.

Nutritional consequences of radiotherapy in nasopharynx cancer patients.

Nasopharynx cancer (NPC) occurs frequently in southern China. Radiotherapy (RT) is the standard treatment for this cancer, and weight loss is commonly observed during and for a prolonged period after RT. The determinants of this phenomenon are not well known. The nutritional status of 38 NPC patients was assessed serially before and for a 6-mo period after RT. Body weight, body composition (by dual X-ray absorptiometry), basal metabolic rate (BMR, by indirect calorimetry), and calorie intake (by 3-day dietary record) were documented at pre-RT (T0), end-RT (T1), 2 mo post-end-RT (T2), and 6 mo post-end-RT (T3). The BMI at end-RT was 21.5 +- 3.7 kg/m2 (range = 13.7-27.9 kg/m2) and was significantly lower than that at pre-RT (P < 0.001). Body weight at T1-T3 was significantly lower than that at T0 (P < 0.001). Mean percentage weight loss was 10.8% at end-RT. Fifty-five percent of patients (20 of 30) had 10% weight loss by the end of RT. BMR corrected for body weight did not change significantly among the four time points, but BMRs corrected for lean body mass at T2 and T3 were significantly lower than that at T0 (P < 0.01). Patients' calorie intake generally declined from T0 to T1 (from 1,857 P < 411 kcal to 11,68 +- 549 kcal, P < 0.001) and then increased from T1 to T3. The calorie intakes at T2 and T3 were not significantly different from that at T0 but were significantly higher than that at T1. Patients were in negative energy balance before, during, and up until 6 mo after RT. The recovery in body weight lagged behind the recovery of dietary intake. Eighty-two percent of NPC patients had significant weight loss and was in negative energy balance at the end of RT, which persisted for at least 6 mo. This finding suggests that there is room for improvement in the nutritional status of patients with NPC treated with RT.

Necesidades y recomendaciones dietéticas en el paciente oncológico

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Opposite effects on feeding of suprachiasmatic nucleus neuropeptide Y administration in rats.

The effects of injecting or infusing neuropeptide Y (NPY) into the suprachiasmatic nucleus of rats on patterns of individual macronutrient and water intake were examined during the following 2 h and also across 12 and 24 h light/dark cycles. Increased total energy intake (218 and 170%) and energy intake from the dextrin/sucrose diet (499 and 247%) were observed in the 2 h following injection of 100 pmol NPY at early light and early dark, respectively, and in the following 24 h (total energy: 67%, dextrin/sucrose: 73%). Nocturnal casein energy intake was also increased (258%) following NPY injection. Continuous infusion of 10 pmol/h of NPY suppressed nocturnal total energy (36%) and dextrin/sucrose intake (36%) as well as 24 h energy intake from casein (43%). These results demonstrate divergent effects of NPY subsequent to different mode of administration.

Nutritional status of patients with cancer of the bladder before and during radiation therapy. Influence on survival?

The food intake and the nutritional status was assessed before and during radiotherapy in 30 patients with local bladder tumours. Eighteen patients received preoperative treatment (42 Gy/4 weeks, followed by cystectomy), and 12 patients received potential curative treatment (63 Gy/6 weeks). Fourteen patients had small tumours (category I-II) and 16 patients large tumours (category III-IV). Four weeks radiotherapy did not affect energy or protein intake, but category I-II patients had a higher intake (163% of basal metabolic rate (BMR)) than category III-IV patients (138% of BMR) after 4 weeks radiotherapy (p less than 0.06). The energy intake in patients treated for 6 weeks was decreased from 147% of BMR to 122% (p less than 0.01). The mean energy intake in category III-IV patients was correlated to weight loss (Rs = -0.51, p less than 0.05). After 4 weeks radiotherapy the change in weight was for category III-IV patients greater than for category I-II patients. The other changes in antropometric and biochemical parameters (fat-free body mass (FFM), body fat, arm muscle circumference, serum albumin, serum transferrin) were small and insignificant. If the patients were grouped according to age, tumour category, histologic grade, treatment, weight/height (W/H) index and changes in weight and antropometric parameters, it was found that only W/H index and changes in weight during 4 weeks radiotherapy had significant influence on survival. The significance of W/H index was closely related to tumour classification.