Mediterranean-style diet reduces metabolic syndrome components in obese children and adolescents with obesity.

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet have been amply proven in adults with cardiovascular risk factors. The effects of this diet have not been extensively assessed in pediatric populations with obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the Mediterranean style diet (MSD) to decrease cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents with obesity. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to a MSD rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, flavonoids and antioxidants (60% of energy from carbohydrate, 25% from fat, and 15% from protein, (n = 24); or a standard diet (55% of carbohydrate, 30% from fat and 15% from protein, (n = 25), the caloric ingest was individualized. At baseline and 16-week of intervention, the glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C were measured as well as the body composition and anthropometric data. The diet compliance was determined by the 24-hour recalls.Paired Student's t and Macnemar's test were used to compare effects in biochemical, body composition, anthropometric, and dietary variables. RESULTS: The MSD group had a significantly decrease in BMI, lean mass, fat mass, glucose, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C. (p < 0.05); the diet compliance increased consumption of omega 9 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin E, selenium, and decreased consumption of saturated fatty acids (p < 0.05). The standard diet group decrease in glucose levels and frequency of glucose >100 mg/dL (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MSD improves the BMI, glucose and lipid profile in children and adolescents with obesity and any MetS component.

[Effect of zinc supplements on the nutritional status of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis]. / Efecto de suplementos de cinc sobre el estado nutricio de pacientes en diálisis peritoneal continua ambulatoria.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of zinc supplementation on the nutritional status of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial. Twenty-five patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on CAPD program, from 16 to 60 years old were studied. Two weeks before the beginning of the study all the drugs with a known effect on zinc absorption were withdrawn. Patients were randomly allocated into one of two groups. The control group consisted of 12 patients receiving placebo, and the intervention group of 13 patients receiving 100 mg/day of elemental zinc for 3 months. The diet was individually adjusted to 35 kcal/kg/day, and 1.5 g/day of proteins. Subjective global assessment (SGA), anthropometric measurements, electric bioimpedanciometry, measurements of albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin, and evaluation of energy, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids consumption were done to classify the nutritional status at the beginning and at the end of the study. Therapeutic compliance was assessed by measuring plasma zinc levels and by capsule counting. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between groups regarding age, gender, time on CAPD, and ESRD causes. The proportion of patients classified as well nourished, or with mild or moderate malnutrition by SGA did not show significant differences between the group receiving Zn supplementation and the group receiving placebo. Anthropometric measurements and body composition assessed by bioelectric impedance were similar in the two groups. In the control group, serum levels of albumin (3,621 +/- 838 vs. 3,068 +/- 842 mg/dL), prealbumin (49 +/- 14 vs. 44 +/- 12 mg/dL), and transferrin (238 +/- 94 vs. 195 +/- 79 mg/dL) decreased significantly at the end of the follow-up period respect to the baseline values (p < 0.05). In the intervention group albumin (3,320 +/- 910 vs. 2,696 +/- 964 mg/dL), prealbumin (43 +/- 9 vs. 38 +/- 8 mg/dL), and transferrin (236 +/- 99 vs. 193 +/- 66 mg/dL) also decreased significantly (p < 0.05). In the control group baseline zinc level was low (60 +/- 5 micrograms/dL) and remained stable along the follow-up period, while in the intervention group it increased from 52 +/- 5 (baseline) to 92 +/- 9 micrograms/dL (end of the follow-up, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation did not improve the nutritional status in patients on CAPD.