Eating patterns are associated with cognitive function in the elderly at risk of metabolic syndrome from rural areas.

OBJECTIVE: The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) represents a promising approach in the prevention of cognitive decline, but the evidence for such beneficial effect, especially among elderly populations in non-Mediterranean regions, is at present inconsistent. This study investigated the relationship between adherence to MedDiet and cognitive function (CF), along with selected sociodemographic (SD) and clinical indices, in Polish elderly people > 60 years of age, with high risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), living in rural area. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Complete SD and lifestyle information was collected. The dietary outcome was recorded as a MedDiet score with the frequencies of consumption of the main food groups in the a MedDiet pyramid. Parameters identifying MS and body weight status were determined, and 11 psychological test results were examined in four domains: visual memory, executive function, attention, and global cognition. RESULTS: The lower MedDiet score was more often connected with living without children and with CF impairment. The MedDiet score was linked with global cognition; frequency of consumption of vegetable, fish, olive and rapeseed oil with visual memory, attention, executive function respectively. The consumption of full-fat dairy products and red meat and meat products was negatively related to executive and global CF. Also, insufficient physical activity, low educational status, female gender, living without children, and the existence of MS were factors of risk of CF impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Greater adherence to MedDiet and frequency of consumption of some foods were associated with better scores in several CF tests in elderly individuals with high risk of MS living in a rural community. However, lifestyle, clinical, and SD factors should also be considered.

[Evaluation of total energy balance and food habits of obese children]. / Ocena calodobowego bilansu energetycznego i zwyczajów zywieniowych dzieci otylych.

Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and time spent for activities of different intensities (heart rate monitoring method), as well as dietary and food habits (24-hour dietary recall) in two groups of 12-14 year-old boys, including 35 obese (weight 67.0 kg +/- 9.3, height 162 cm +/- 7.6) and 35 control group boys (weight 46.0 kg +/- 6.5, height 160 cm +/- 7.5) were estimated. Obese boys spent more time at rest and less time on physical activities than nonobese (p < 0.001). That resulted in differences of TDEE expressed per unit of body mass (p < 0.001). Time for sleeping and time in school was not statistically different in the two groups. The evaluation of nutritional habits indicated that the obese boys, when compared with controls, had higher energy intake and significantly higher percentage of fat energy in total energy intake, low intake of fruits and vegetables and irregular frequency of meals during the day. Diets of boys were not balanced with respect to calcium and phosphorus.

[Evaluation of nutritional habits, nutritional status and physical performance in selected group of adolescents]. / Ocean sposobu zywienia, stanu odzwyienia oraz wydolnosci fizycznej wybranej grupy mlodziezy.

The purpose of the study was the assessment of nutritional status and nutritional habits as well as physical fitness in a group of 74 adolescents (44 girls and 30 boys) aged 13-19 years, spending their holidays in a recreation centre in Klodzko Valley and the evaluation of correlation coefficients between these parameters. The nutritional status (NS) was evaluated on the basis of body mass index (BMI), skin folds thickness and total body fat (FM). Nutritional habits (NH) were estimated by the method of dietary history with special attention paid to consumption of selected food products and regularity of meals. Physical performance (PhP) of the group was assessed by Harvard's step-test. Evaluation of nutritional habits indicated only a few cases of improper nutrition but about 33% of total examined group followed nutrition guidelines and the scores of NH received by the main part of this group (ca. 66%) were recognised as sufficient. Differences of NS, in adolescents were found, but there was no case of obesity. Significant number of girls (21-55%) showed low values of BMI (<18.4 kg/m2) which could indicate insufficient energy intake. No correlation between NH and NS was however found. Level of physical fitness of the examined group was quite high and strongly correlated with nutritional habits (r = 0.77, p < 0.001). The results proved that the relationship between NH and PhP can be noticed in relatively young persons and that the evaluation of NS of youngsters should include a simple physical performance test.

Changes of energetic value and protein level of rumen content in sheep fed with stuff with livex and blood meal supplementation.

The aim of studies was to determine the influence of Wroclaw product from blood--brown, dried livex (modified by whey) and blood meal, which were added to sheep forage, on energetic value and protein, also volatile fatty acids (VFA) levels in rumen content of these animals. The samples of rumen content for determination of the three parameters mentioned above were taken 2.5 hrs after finished morning feeding. The addition of livex and blood meal to forage was 2%. When two non-conventional diet supplements were used in vivo, there was observed significant inhibitory influence of livex on methane level among rumen gases, amounting to 38.9% in sheep and increase in protein amount of about 25.92% (for blood meal these values were: 5.6% and 7.4%, respectively). In connection with that, energy of rumen content was higher by about 22.22% in group of sheep fed with stuff with livex addition and by about 7.41% in group fed forage with blood meal addition. The using of livex as an addition to fodder caused increase of the rumen fermentation efficiency and also regulation of non-glucogenic ratio of volatile fatty acids.

Opposite effect of cold on energetic efficiency in normal and obese Wistar rats with hypothalamic lesions.

Reduced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) may contribute to increased energetic efficiency and obesity in rats with ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions. Thermogenic activity of BAT is a function of the environmental temperature. If a relationship exists, it follows that the increased energetic efficiency of VMH-lesioned rats likewise should be governed by temperature. We have therefore investigated the energy balance of normal and VMH-lesioned rats housed at 30 degrees C and 10 degrees C. Experiments at differing feeding levels allowed calculation of maintenance energy requirements and the net energetic efficiencies of each group. VMH-lesioned rats at thermoneutrality (30 degrees C) accumulated more body fat at all feeding levels than did normal rats. Maintenance energy requirement was reduced, but the net energetic efficiency did not differ significantly from normal. The reduced maintenance energy requirement of lesioned rats persisted at 10 degrees C. Net energetic efficiency decreased in normal rats acclimated to cold but increased in the lesioned group. The difference was significant (P less than 0.05). The cold-induced increase in interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) oxidative capacity of VMH-lesioned rats was only half that of normal rats. Differences in BAT thermogenesis may be the basis for the differing temperature effects on net energetic efficiency.

[3H]spiperone binding to lymphocyte in extrapyramidal disease and in aging.

[3H]Spiperone binding to lymphocytes in Parkinson's disease (PD), Wilson's disease (WD), and age-matched control groups was studied. In the untreated PD group, [3H]spiperone binding was lower than in young controls, but did not differ from elderly healthy persons. After treatment with levodopa, the number of [3H]spiperone binding sites increased. In WD, lower binding of [3H]spiperone compared with age-matched controls was found. However, the magnitude of the differences in [3H]spiperone binding to lymphocytes in PD was too small to permit its use as a routine indicator of the disease state or the adequacy of pharmacological treatment in individual patients. [3H]Spiperone binding to lymphocytes decreases with age. Changes in [3H]spiperone binding to lymphocytes may be a general phenomenon for all states where dopamine is depleted, including normal aging. The nature of [3H]spiperone binding to lymphocytes remains unclear. The possible influence of dopamine on immune reactivity is discussed.

Energy metabolism in rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions.

Rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions (VMH) have increased ability to accumulate energy. The aim of this investigation was to characterize the main processes responsible for the reduced energy expenditure, using indirect calorimetry, nitrogen, and energy balance techniques. Metabolism was studied during different metabolic conditions created by a strict feeding regimen with concentrated feeding periods. A computerized system for indirect calorimetry enabled continuous study of individual animals for prolonged time periods. We found a mean decrease of 15.5% in total energy expenditure and decreased nitrogen retention in VMH rats. Calculation of respiratory quotient (RQ), energy expenditure, and the metabolic mixture demonstrated fluctuations in metabolism in accordance with the feeding regimen. The same percent reduction in resting postabsorptive energy expenditure was found as in total expenditure. Quantitatively, this main finding means that metabolic processes that occurred both in the resting and postabsorptive state were responsible for two-thirds of the total reduction in energy expenditure, whereas only one-third could be attributed to differences in dietary-induced thermogenesis and/or physical activity. It is concluded that VMH-animals spent as much as 10.3% of their total energy expenditure on liponeogenesis compared with 2.5% in controls.

Effect of residue-rich food on postprandial energy output in rats.

Using the respiration method the values of postprandial energy output were determined in rats kept on four diets, one of which was a no-residue diet and three diets contained pectins, lignin and cellulose respectively as sources of residues. It was found that the postprandial energy output of these animals was at the lowest and practically identical level when they were given the non-residue diet or the diet with pectins. On the other hand, after administration of diets containing lignin or cellulose the energy output of the animals increased in relation to the no-residue diet by 16.0% and 12.8% respectively (p less than 0.05).

The effect of the extent of hydrolysis in casein on its specific dynamic action in the rat.

1. Adult female rats given a diet containing 200 g casein/kg showed an increase in heat production which reached a maximum in 10--20 min after completion of food intake. 2. Replacement of casein in the diet by enzymic hydrolysates of casein of different extents of hydrolysis (pepsin for 1 or 3 h and pancreatin for 6, 12 or 24 h) resulted in a decrease in metabolic rate (stimulation) in the rat, reaching a maximum of 61.8% of the control value (non-hydrolysed casein). 3. The specific dynamic action of casein and casein hydrolysate was inversely proportional to the amount of amino-nitrogen released. 4. On the basis of the experimental findings it may be concluded that the synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes were the main causes of the increase in metabolic rate after protein ingestion.

Studies on the specific dynamic effect of proteins of different nutritional value.

Using the respiratory method the rise of metabolic rate (specific dynamic effect SDE) was determined in laboratory rats after ingestion of gluten, peas, cottage cheese and ham. The SDE was greatest after ham ingestion, which is a product of high nutritional value, while after gluten ingestion which has a low protein value, the SDE was lowest.

Feeding habits and their physiological determinants. Relationships between consumer's preference for sweetness of drinks and certain physiological parameters.

Investigations determining the preferred saccharose concentration in drinks (CP(S)), gustatory threshold values, blood glucose level, basal metabolism rate and body weight index (im) were carried out with 83 cadets, aged 21--23 years. CP(S) was directly proportional to the gustatory threshold for sweet tastee, blood glucose level and basal metabolism and the correlation found in all three cases was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). The accuracy of CP(S) estimation by cadets was strictly related to their threshold difference for sweet tast depending also on smoking.