Prevalence of Nutritional Anemia and Hyperhomocysteinemia in Urban Elderly.

The data on the prevalence of nutritional anemia among the urban elderly population in India was limited. Hence, the present study was carried out with an aim to assess the prevalence of nutritional anemia and its association with vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and homocystine among the urban elderly population. A community- based cross-sectional study was carried out among 282 urban elderly (≥ 60 years) subjects (186 males and 96 females) in Hyderabad. Fasting blood samples were collected and hemoglobin (Hb) was estimated by cyanmethemoglobin method. Plasma Folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were estimated by RIA and homocysteine and ferritin levels were estimated by ELISA methods. The overall prevalence of anemia (Hb < 12 g/dL for females and < 13 g/dL for males) among the urban elderly was 20.6% and the prevalence was found to be increasing with the age. The prevalence of vitamin B12 (< 203 pg/mL), folic acid (< 4 ng/mL), ferritin (< 15 ng/mL) and hyperhomocysteinemia (≥ 12 µmol/L) in these subjects was 36.0%, 8.2%, 1.1% and 24.3% respectively. The prevalence of anemia due to deficiencies of iron (ferritin < 15 ng/mL), folate and vitamin B12 was 5.45%, 9.1% and 42.3% respectively. A significant association was observed between the prevalence of anemia with ferritin and hyperhomocysteinemia. In conclusion, the prevalence of anemia and nutritional anemia among the urban-based elderly was 20.6% and 56.85% respectively. The association of anemia with hyperhomocysteinemia needs further studies.

Coconut oil consumption improves fat-free mass, plasma HDL-cholesterol and insulin sensitivity in healthy men with normal BMI compared to peanut oil.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The existing scientific evidence on coconut oil consumption and its health effects remains inconclusive due to varied reasons. In this context, we conducted a well-controlled metabolic study, eliminating some of the confounding factors and assessed the effects of the consumption of coconut oil-based diet on various anthropometric, biochemical and inflammatory markers and compared with peanut oil-diet. METHODS: Nine healthy male volunteers with BMI ≤25 kg/m2 were enrolled for this study and given balanced diets prepared with coconut oil (CO; ~35 g) for a period of eight weeks. After a wash-out period of six weeks, the same subjects were provided with diets prepared with peanut oil (~35 g) for eight weeks. Except fat source, the composition of the diets was identical in all aspects. RESULTS: Compared to basal values, there were significant increases in fat-free mass (p ≤ 0.022), plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) (p ≤ 0.047) and insulin sensitivity of the subjects at the end of CO-consumption. Further, compared to peanut oil, increase in plasma HDL-C was significant (p = 0.004) in CO treatment. On the other hand, plasma inflammatory markers-associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), namely soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM1) and matrix metalloproteinase levels were reduced significantly by CO-intake. Further, these subjects displayed elevated levels of myristic acid (14:0) in plasma phospholipids at the end of CO-consumption, which correlated positively with HDL-C and negatively with sVCAM1. However, no such changes were observed after peanut oil diet consumption. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, compared to peanut oil, the consumption of coconut oil in a balanced diet resulted in increased fat-free mass, plasma HDL-C, elicited favourable changes on insulin sensitivity and CVD risk-associated parameters in healthy men with normal BMI.

Development of Low Glycemic Index Foods and Their Glucose Response in Young Healthy Non-Diabetic Subjects.

Development of low glycemic-foods is important in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. In this context, we prepared four test foods (TFs) (two mixed mini-meals and two breakfast items) with low glycemic-components and assessed their glycemic index (GI) in young healthy non-diabetic volunteers with mean age of 29 yr, body mass index of 24 kg/m2, and fasting plasma glucose levels less than 4.62 mmol/L. Volunteers were given 50 g of glucose, as a reference food (RF) on the first day, and TFs, i.e. TF1 (mixed mini meal: roti made of wheat flour and chana dal+ curd), TF2 [mixed mini meal made of wheat, pearl barley, and Bengal gram flour (besan) mix with chana whole (unhusked chana+curd)], TF3 (pearl barley rawa upma), and TF4 (wheat rawa upma) were given 2-day intervals in the same order. Glucose levels at fasting conditions and after the consumption of RF and TFs at different time intervals (15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min) were measured, and the incremental area under curve (IAUC) for glucose and GI of the TFs were calculated. The glucose IAUC values at different time points were highest for TF2 (GI=71.9±7.4), while all other TFs had comparable GI in the range of 53.7~54.9. Among the various TFs, TF1, TF3, and TF4 exerted low to moderate glycemic response, and thus can be classified as low glycemic-foods. Nevertheless, these foods need to be tested for their efficacy in controlling and/or managing hyperglycemia and glucose over-load in diabetic subjects.

Chronic consumption of trans-fat-rich diet increases hepatic cholesterol levels and impairs muscle insulin sensitivity without leading to hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia in female Fischer rats.

BACKGROUND: The impact of industrial trans fatty acids (TFAs) on lipid metabolism and health remains elusive. METHODS: We compared the effect of long-term (52 weeks) ingestion of 10% partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, providing 4.2% of total energy from TFAs, on hepatic lipid metabolism and muscle insulin sensitivity in weanling female Fischer rats with that of palmolein (monounsaturated fatty acid, MUFA), sunflower (n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, PUFA), and a blend of sunflower and fish oil (n-3 PUFA). RESULTS: The proportion of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in total cholesterol and reverse cholesterol transport-associated protein expressions were similar in all the groups. Despite higher lipogenic-pathway protein levels, steatosis or hypertriglyceridemia was not observed in TFA-fed rats. Though TFA ingestion had no effect on fasting plasma glucose, insulin levels or oral glucose tolerance, it significantly decreased muscle insulin-stimulated glucose uptake as compared to PUFAs. Further, TFA ingestion increased adipose tissue retinol-binding protein 4 mRNA as compared to PUFAs (n-6 or n-3). The effects of MUFA (oleic acid) on all these parameters were comparable to those observed for TFAs. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to PUFA-rich diets, chronic consumption of a TFA-rich diet did not lead to steatosis or hypertriglyceridemia; however, it significantly impaired muscle insulin sensitivity, while no changes were found in the oral glucose tolerance test.