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.

Phase Angle and Onodera's Prognostic Nutritional Index in critically ill patients.

INTRODUCTION: Assessing severity and nutritional prognosis in critical patients has become increasingly important in recent years, since these parameters are related to morbidity/mortality and used to guide therapeutic options. OBJECTIVE: Determine nutritional prognosis through the Phase Angle (PA) and Onodera's Prognostic Nutritional Index (OPNI) and its relationship with severity, hospitalization time and mortality of critically ill patients. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study, involving adult patients hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Data were collected from the patients' medical records to calculate severity indicators (APACHE II, SOFA and SAPS 3) and determine the length of hospitalization and outcome. Bioimpedance was conducted to calculate the PA, using resistance and reactance data. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients (26% men and 74% women), with mean age of 55.5 ± 16.7 years, were included. The mortality rate (17%) was similar to that expected by APACHE II and SOFA, but higher than that predicted by SAPS 3. The mean values for the PA (4.2 ± 1.0) and OPNI (38.7 ± 8.3) were lower than the reference values adopted. Individuals with PA < 5.1 exhibited significantly lower reactance and albumin and higher APACHE II and SOFA values, in addition to longer hospitalization time and higher mortality. The PA was inversely correlated with all the severity indicators under study (APACHE II, SOFA and SAPS 3), and the length of hospitalization. By contrast, there was no correlation between OPNI and these parameters, or between PA and OPNI. CONCLUSION: The PA proved to be a good tool in assessing nutritional prognosis in critically ill patients. By contrast, more studies using the OPNI with this type of patients are needed.

Phase Angle and Onodera’s Prognostic Nutritional Index in critically ill patients / Ángulo de fase e índice de Onodera en pacientes críticamente enfermos

Introduction: Assessing severity and nutritional prognosis in critical patients has become increasingly important in recent years, since these parameters are related to morbidity/mortality and used to guide therapeutic options. Objective: Determine nutritional prognosis through the Phase Angle (PA) and Onodera’s Prognostic Nutritional Index (OPNI) and its relationship with severity, hospitalization time and mortality of critically ill patients. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, involving adult patients hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Data were collected from the patients’ medical records to calculate severity indicators (APACHE II, SOFA and SAPS 3) and determine the length of hospitalization and outcome. Bioimpedance was conducted to calculate the PA, using resistance and reactance data. Results: A total of 35 patients (26% men and 74% women), with mean age of 55.5 ± 16.7 years, were included. The mortality rate (17%) was similar to that expected by APACHE II and SOFA, but higher than that predicted by SAPS 3. The mean values for the PA (4.2 ± 1.0) and OPNI (38.7 ± 8.3) were lower than the reference values adopted. Individuals with PA < 5.1 exhibited significantly lower reactance and albumin and higher APACHE II and SOFA values, in addition to longer hospitalization time and higher mortality. The PA was inversely correlated with all the severity indicators under study (APACHE II, SOFA and SAPS 3), and the length of hospitalization. By contrast, there was no correlation between OPNI and these parameters, or between PA and OPNI. Conclusion: The PA proved to be a good tool in assessing nutritional prognosis in critically ill patients. By contrast, more studies using the OPNI with this type of patients are needed (AU)

Introducción: en los últimos años se ha valorado la evaluación de la gravedad y del pronóstico nutricional en pacientes críticos, por ser parámetros relacionados a la morbimortalidad y porteadores de conductas terapéuticas. Objetivo: verificar el pronóstico nutricional mediante el Ángulo de Fase (AF) y el Índice de Pronóstico Nutricional de Onodera (OPNI) y su relación con la gravedad, con el tiempo de internación y con la mortalidad de pacientes críticos. Métodos: estudio transversal descriptivo, incluyendo pacientes adultos, internados en Unidad de Terapia Intensiva (UTI). Fueron recabados datos en la historia clínica de los pacientes para cálculo de los indicadores de gravedad (APACHE II, SOFA y SAPS 3), y verificación del tiempo de internación y desenlace. Fue realizada la bioimpedancia para cálculo del AF, mediante datos de resistencia y reactancia. Resultados: se incluyeron 35 pacientes, con edad promedio de 55,5 ± 16,7 años, siendo 26% del sexo masculino y 74% del femenino. La tasa de mortalidad encontrada en el estudio (17%) fue semejante a aquella esperada por los indicadores de gravedad APACHE II y SOFA, pero superior a aquella esperada por el SAPS 3. Los valores promedios encontrados para el AF (4,2 ± 1,0) y el OPNI (38,7 ± 8,3) fueron inferiores a los valores de referencia adoptados. Aquellos con AF < 5,1 presentaron significativamente menores valores de reactancia y albumina, mayores valores del APACHE II y del SOFA, y tuvieron mayor tiempo de internación y mortalidad. El AF se correlacionó inversamente con todos los indicadores de gravedad, pero lo contrario fue observado con el OPNI, no habiendo correlación entre estos dos indicadores de pronóstico nutricional. Conclusión: el AF es una herramienta confiable para evaluación del pronóstico nutricional en pacientes críticos. Por el contrario, se necesitan más estudios utilizando el OPNI con este tipo de pacientes (AU)

Effect of A One-Week Balanced Diet on Expression of Genes Related to Zinc Metabolism and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

To evaluate the effect of diet on metabolic control and zinc metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One-week balanced diet was provided to 10 Brazilians patients with T2DM. Nutritional assessment, laboratorial parameters and expression of zinc transporter and inflammatory genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were performed. Healthy non-diabetic subjects of the same demographic were recruited to provide baseline data. Diabetic patients had higher body mass index and greater fasting plasma glucose, plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and plasma interleukin 6 (IL6) levels compared with healthy subjects. In addition, the expression of transporters 4 (ZnT4) mRNA was lower and IL6 mRNA was higher in PBMC of these diabetic patients than in healthy subject. One week after a balanced diet was provided, fasting plasma glucose decreased significantly as did TNFα, IL6 and Metallothionein 1 (MT1) mRNAs. No change was observed in zinc transporter expression in PBMC after the dietary intervention. A healthy eating pattern maintained for one week was able to improve metabolic control of diabetic patients by lowering fasting plasma glucose. This metabolic control may be related to down-regulation of zinc-related transcripts from PBMCs, as TNFα, IL6 and MT1 mRNA.