The outcomes of nutritional therapy in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Pitfalls in getting fit from fat.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of nutritional intervention on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease parameters, and to determine the reasons for non-compliance with nutritional therapy. METHODS: The interventional study was conducted from May 2020 to October 2022 at the National Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal diseases, Dow University Hospital, Ojha Campus, Karachi, and comprised patients of either gender aged 18-65 years who had been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on abdominal ultrasound. Anthropometrics, physical activity level, and biochemical markers were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after the intervention that involved nutritional assessment, counselling and guidance related to dietary modification and optimisation of physical activity level. The effect of the intervention was evaluated by improvement in liver enzymes, biochemical parameters, anthropometric indices and any change in the level of physical activity. The reasons for noncompliance were also recorded. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Out of 118 subjects enrolled, 61(51.69%) completed the study. Most patients were females 81(68.6%), married 25(21.2%) and housewives 64(54.2%). There were 16(26.2%) subjects who had 3-10kg weight reduction. The reduction in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels was not significant (p>0.05). Also, no significant change was observed in the level of physical activity compared to the baseline (p>0.05). Overall, 27(44.3%) patients showed compliance with treatment. The main reasons for noncompliance were lack of time 21(34.4) and knee joint pain 5(8.2%). Conclusion: Lifestyle modification can be beneficial for weight-loss in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, awareness of its importance and willingness in initiating real-life practical steps with subsequent adherence to dietary therapy was found lacking in the sample studied.

Ultra Processed Foods: A South Asian culinary perspective.

There is a vast multitude of foodstuffs available, and health care professionals find it challenging to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy offerings. Recent evidence suggests that ultra processed foods should be avoided, as they are associated with harmful effects on health. This communication defines and describes ultra-processed foods, using the internationally accepted NOVA classification. It uses South Asian examples to make the concept easy to understand for South Asian readers.

Fibre and Water, The mega nutrients of metabolic health.

Nutrients are conventionally classified as macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat and protein), and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, electrolytes). This classification is based upon the quantity required to maintain health, and also, perhaps, the caloric value of the concerned nutrient. We support the use of the descriptor meganutrient for fibre and water. The latter is required in significantly larger quantities to maintain health, and manage metabolic disease such as diabetes and obesity. Fibre has a chemical mega-structure, and its description as a meganutrient reinforces its functions, which are different from other carbohydrates.

Cuidado nutricional en el tratamiento de la diabetes gestacional: una revisión sistemática de la literatura / Nutritional care in the treatment of gestational diabetes: a sytematic review of the literature

Fundamentos: La diabetes mellitus gestacional (DMG) es una de las morbilidades más frecuentes de la gestación, un adecuado cuidado nutricional evita las diferentes complicaciones que se puedan dar. El objetivo principal es presentar una revisión sistemática que defina las estrategias nutricionales o dietéticas relacionadas con el cuidado nutricional para el tratamiento de la DMG. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda en bases de datos y literatura gris; limitando la búsqueda a publicaciones en inglés y español realizadas en el periodo 2007-2017, resultados observados en mujeres gestantes adultas y en los que se mostrara la relación entre la patología y el cuidado nutricional. Resultados: Los estudios demuestran que las dietas de bajo índice glicémico o la dieta DASH (Dietary Approaches to StopHypertension) son estrategias que muestran beneficios en el tratamiento de la DMG, pues se observan mejores resultados de glicemia, perfil lipídico, entre otros aspectos. Conclusiones: Un adecuado cuidado nutricional es imprescindible en el tratamiento de la DMG, pues se demostró que existen estrategias nutricionales y dietéticas que mejoran los parámetros metabólicos maternos y los resultados neonatales. Además, es una herramienta que previene el desarrollo de otras complicaciones como la preeclampsia. (AU)

Background: The gestational diabetes mellitus is one ofthe most frequent morbidity in pregnant and it is indispensable to have an adequate nutritional care in order to prevent several complications. The principal object is present asystematic review in which nutritional or dietary strategiesare related to nutritional care to pregnant diabetes mellitustreatment.Methods: For this, a literature review was performed inthe following database and grey literature to complete. Theresearch was limited to English and Spanish publications, ina period between 2007 and 2017, with results observed onpregnant women and in which it had been observed a relationship between pathology and nutritional care.Results: Studies show that low-glycemic diets or theDASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) arestrategies that show benefits in the treatment of GDM, sincebetter results of glycemia, lipid profile, among other aspectsare observed.Conclusions: An adequate nutritional care is essential inthe treatment of GDM, as it was demonstrated that there arenutritional and dietary strategies that improve maternalmetabolic parameters and neonatal outcomes. In addition, itis a tool that prevents the development of other complications such as preeclampsia. (AU)

STUDY OF ORAL NUTRITIOUS LIQUOR FOR CHILDREN-A TRIAL OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL DIETARY THERAPY IN COMBINATION WITH MODERN NUTRITION / 营养学报

Chinese traditional dietary therapy is the result of traditional medicine and cookery in China, and of ancient origin and long development. It hold the function to regulate some physiological activities and improve personal nutritional status. According to it a nutritious liquor, a new type of the concentrated drink filled in ampule commonly used in China, for children was designed and manufactured, which composed of a variety of traditional medical foods. The experimental study confirmed that this liquor improves the food availability, immunological activity, the ability to look for food in perplexity in animals and the nutritional status of zinc in juveniles and children etc. The mechanisms of the functions of this new liquor was discussed and the prospective development of the combination of Chinese traditional dietary therapy with modern nutrition was proposed.