Long-term Changes in Body Composition and Exercise Capacity Following Calorie Restriction and Exercise Training in Older Patients with Obesity and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Obesity with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is the dominant form of HF among older persons. In a randomized trial, we previously showed that a 5-month calorie restriction (CR) program, with or without aerobic exercise training (AT), resulted in significant weight and fat loss and improved exercise capacity. However, little is known regarding the long-term effects of these outcomes after a short-term (5-month) intervention of CR with or without AT in older patients with obesity and HFpEF. METHODS: Sixteen participants from either the CR or CR+AT who experienced significant weight loss ≥2 kg were reexamined after a long-term follow-up endpoint (28.0±10.8 months) without intervention. The follow-up assessment included body weight and composition via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and exhaustive cardiopulmonary treadmill exercise testing. RESULTS: Compared to the 5-month time point intervention endpoint, at the long-term follow-up endpoint, mean body weight increased +5.2±4.0 kg (90.7±11.2kg versus 95.9±11.9, p<0.001) due to increased fat mass (38.9± 9.3 versus 43.8 ± 9.8, p<0.001) with no change in lean mass (49.6±7.1 versus 49.9±7.6, p=0.67), resulting in worse body composition (decreased lean-to-fat mass). Change in total mass was strongly and significantly correlated with change in fat mass (r=0.75, p<0.001), whereas there appeared to be a weaker correlation with change in lean mass (r=0.50, p=0.051). Additionally, from the end of the 5-month time point intervention endpoint to the long-term follow-up endpoint, there were large, significant decreases in VO2peak (-2.2± 2.1ml/kg/min, p=0.003) and exercise time (-2.4±2.6min, p=0.006). There appeared to be an inverse correlation between the change in VO2peak and the change in fat mass (r=-0.52, p=0.062). CONCLUSION: Although CR and CR+AT in older patients with obesity and HFpEF can significantly improve body composition and exercise capacity, these positive changes diminish considerably during long-term follow-up endpoint, and regained weight is predominantly adipose, resulting in worsened overall body composition compared to baseline. This suggests a need for long-term adherence strategies to prevent weight regain and maintain improvements in body composition and exercise capacity following CR in older patients with obesity and HFpEF.

Decomposing Socioeconomic Effects on the Consumption of Calories and Macronutrients in Pakistan Between 2006 and 2016.

Background: This study examines the impact of socioeconomic factors on calorie intake and macronutrient composition at the household level in Pakistan from 2006 to 2016, using data from the Household Integrated Income and Consumption Survey (HIICS). By applying a copula-based decomposition method, it identifies key drivers such as urbanization, household size, paternal education, income, and cultivation, highlighting their roles in dietary changes and implications for public health. The findings are crucial for understanding nutritional shifts and addressing non-communicable diseases. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the socioeconomic changes in total calorie intake per capita and calories obtained from macronutrients (fat, protein, and carbohydrates) at the household level in Pakistan. Methods: : Cross-sectional data were taken from 2 national-level surveys published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics: the Household Integrated Economic Survey 2006 (14,948 households) and the Household Integrated Income and Consumption Survey 2016 (7842 households). Participants were from all 4 provinces of Pakistan. A copula-based decomposition method was applied to decompose the 10-y change in the distribution (mean, median, and quartiles) of the total calorie intake per capita and calories obtained from macronutrients. Results: The estimated results of decomposition revealed that total calorie intake per capita has increased on average and in the considered quartiles. The calories obtained from fat and carbohydrates have increased, whereas calories from protein have decreased, according to the distribution of the mean and quartile. The composition effect was negative for all outcome variables, and the main drivers of the composition effect were urbanization, household size, paternal education, income, and cultivation for all outcome variables. Conclusions: Household size and income are the most important covariates in an increase of total calories per capita and consumption of macronutrients, but urbanization, paternal education, and cultivation contribute negatively to the composition effect. Such findings are very important to inform researchers about nutritional change at the national level because the correlation between dietary change and risk factors for noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease and obesity is very strong.

Nutritional Prescription in ICU Patients: Does it Matter?

Background: The nutritional status of the patients before critical illness and nutrition support given during the critical illness play an important role in the recovery. We aimed to evaluate the nutritional prescription and its effect on ICU mortality. Materials and methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted after institutional ethical committee approval (IEC 94/2018, CTRI/2018/06/014625) in a case-mixed (medical and surgical) ICU. Patients admitted to the ICU were enrolled within 24 hours of admission. The amount of calories and proteins prescribed and received by the patients was collected for 7 days. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. Results: A total of 100 patients were included. The mean age was 48.63 (16.25) years, and 62% were males. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and modified Nutric (mNUTRIC) scores were comparable between the two groups. The ICU mortality was 30%. The calorie and protein deficits were comparable between survivors and non-survivors. Among the secondary outcomes, a significant time effect (p = 0.013) and interaction effect (p = 0.004) were noted for maximum glucose levels. The glucose variability calculated by coefficient of variation (CV) was significantly higher in non-survivors than survivors (p = 0.031). Conclusion: The calorie and protein deficits did not affect ICU mortality. The maximum glucose variability and CV were significant parameters associated with ICU mortality. How to cite this article: Havaldar AA, Selvam S. Nutritional Prescription in ICU Patients: Does it Matter? Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(7):657-661.

Metabolic effects of very-low calorie diet, Semaglutide, or combination of the two, in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Very-low calorie diets (VLCD) and the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1RA) Semaglutide induce significant weight loss and improve glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This pilot study was conducted to explore the comparative short-term effects of these interventions individually, and in combination, on weight, body composition and metabolic outcomes. METHODS: Thirty individuals with T2D (age 18-75 years, BMI 27-50  kg m-2) were randomly assigned to receive Semaglutide (SEM), 800 kilocalorie/day VLCD (VLCD), or both in combination (COMB) for 12 weeks. Measurement of weight and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) were performed at baseline and post-intervention. Diet diaries were utilised to assess compliance. Insulin first phase response during IVGTT provided a marker of pancreatic beta-cell function, and insulin sensitivity was estimated using HOMA-IR. RESULTS: Significantly greater reductions in body weight and fat mass were observed in VLCD and COMB, than SEM (p < 0.01 v both). VLCD and COMB resulted in a 5.4 and 7 percentage-point greater weight loss than SEM, respectively. HbA1c and fasting glucose reduced significantly in all groups, however fasting insulin and HOMA-IR improved in VLCD and COMB only. Insulin first phase response during IVGTT increased in SEM and COMB, and this increase was significantly greater in COMB than VLCD (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: VLCD elicited greater short-term losses of weight and fat mass than Semaglutide. Adding VLCD to Semaglutide stimulated further weight loss than Semaglutide alone. The combination did not yield any additive effects on weight and body composition above VLCD alone, but did provoke greater improvements in pancreatic beta-cell function. Thus, combination of Semaglutide and VLCD warrants further exploration as a novel approach to T2D management.

Sweet-bitter taste interactions in binary mixtures of sweeteners: Relationship between taste receptor activities and sensory perception.

This study investigated the effects of various binary sweetener mixtures on sweetness enhancement and their interactions with sweet or bitter taste receptors, focusing on sensory perception and receptor activity. Acesulfame K or saccharin was mixed with allulose, aspartame, erythritol, fructose, glucose, or sucrose to match a target sucrose sweetness. The effects of the mixtures on sweet and bitter taste receptors (in the human embryonic kidney -293 cells) and sensory taste intensities were evaluated. Sweetness enhancement at the sweet taste receptor level was observed in some cases, with several monosaccharides reducing the acesulfame K- or saccharin-induced bitter taste receptor activity. Combining acesulfame K or saccharin with any of the six sweeteners perceptually enhanced sweetness (60% âˆ¼ 100% in 50:50 ratio), correlating with a reduction in inherent bitterness (-35% âˆ¼ -63% in 50:50 ratio). This finding suggests that sweetness perception likely increased because the monosaccharides mitigate the activation of bitter receptors caused by high-potency sweeteners.

Caloric and time restriction diets improve acute kidney injury in experimental menopausal rats: role of silent information regulator 2 homolog 1 and transforming growth factor beta 1.

BACKGROUND: Estrogen has a protective impact on acute kidney injury (AKI); moreover, reducing the daily intake of calories impedes developing diseases. The present study aimed to determine the effects of calorie restriction (CR) and time restriction (TR) diets on the expression of silent information regulator 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1), and other indicators in the presence and absence of ovaries in AKI female rats. METHODS: The female rats were divided into two groups, ovariectomized (OVX) and sham, and were placed on CR and TR diets for eight weeks; afterward, AKI was induced by injecting glycerol, and kidney injury indicators and biochemical parameters were measured before and after AKI. RESULTS: After AKI, the levels of urine albumin excretion rate, urea, and creatinine in serum, and TGF-ß1 increased, while creatinine clearance and SIRT1 decreased in kidney tissue. CR improved kidney indicators and caused a reduction in TGF-ß1 and an increase in SIRT1 in ovary-intact rats. Moreover, CR prevented total antioxidant capacity (TAC) decrease and malondialdehyde (MDA) increase resulting from AKI. Before AKI, an increase in body weight, fasting blood sugar (FBS), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC), and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were observed in OVX rats compared to sham rats, but CR prevented these changes. The effects of TR were similar to those of CR in all indicators except for TGF-ß1, SIRT1, urea, creatinine, and albumin. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that CR is more effective than TR in preventing AKI, probably by increasing SIRT1 and decreasing TGF-ß1 in ovary-intact animals.

A Multi-Omics Approach to Disclose Metabolic Pathways Impacting Intestinal Permeability in Obese Patients Undergoing Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet.

A very low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) impacts host metabolism in people marked by an excess of visceral adiposity, and it affects the microbiota composition in terms of taxa presence and relative abundances. As a matter of fact, there is little available literature dealing with microbiota differences in obese patients marked by altered intestinal permeability. With the aim of inspecting consortium members and their related metabolic pathways, we inspected the microbial community profile, together with the set of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from untargeted fecal and urine metabolomics, in a cohort made of obese patients, stratified based on both normal and altered intestinal permeability, before and after VLCKD administration. Based on the taxa relative abundances, we predicted microbiota-derived metabolic pathways whose variations were explained in light of our cohort symptom picture. A totally different number of statistically significant pathways marked samples with altered permeability, reflecting an important shift in microbiota taxa. A combined analysis of taxa, metabolic pathways, and metabolomic compounds delineates a set of markers that is useful in describing obesity dysfunctions and comorbidities.

Comparative effects of 8-week combined resistance exercise training and alternate-day calorie restriction on soluble epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR) and adipsin in obese men.

This study investigated the combined effects of resistance exercise training (RET) and alternate-day calorie restriction (ADCR) on body composition, insulin resistance (IR), insulin resistance-related biomarkers (adipokine adipsin and hepatokine soluble EFGR), and weight loss in obese men. The findings revealed that RET + ADCR induced the greatest reductions in body weight, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) compared to RET and ADCR alone (p < 0.05). Additionally, RET + ADCR resulted in the most significant improvements in IR, as measured by HOMA-IR, and in circulating levels of adipsin and soluble EFGR (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that combining RET and ADCR may be a more effective strategy for improving metabolic health, including body composition, IR, and metabolic tissues' functions, in obese men than either intervention alone.

Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet: What Effects on Lipid Metabolism?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to critically examine how VLCKD affects plasma lipoprotein, lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Cardiovascular disease is a worldwide health problem affecting millions of people and leading to high rates of mortality and morbidity. There is a well-established association between cardiovascular disease and circulating cholesterol. Various dietary recommendations are currently available for the management of dyslipidemia. RECENT FINDINGS: The very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment option for several pathological conditions, including dyslipidemia. In addition to being low in calories, the VLCKD's main feature is its unique calorie distribution, emphasizing a reduction in carbohydrate consumption in favor of fat as the primary calorie source. Lowering calorie intake through a VLCKD can reduce the endogenous production of cholesterol. However, if the foods consumed are from animal sources, dietary cholesterol intake may increase due to the higher fat content of animal products. When combined, these dietary practices may have opposing effects on plasma cholesterol levels. Studies investigating the impact of VLCKD on plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels report contradictory findings. While some studies found an increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, others showed a decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, along with an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

A Survey on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Students at Jazan University Regarding Calorie Menu Labeling in Restaurants and a Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: The global rise in obesity and related health complications has cast a spotlight on the urgent need for initiatives that promote informed dietary decisions. This cross-sectional study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of university students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, regarding menu calorie labeling. The study examines how these variables may affect dietary decisions, body mass index (BMI), and support for proposed legislative measures requiring calorie disclosure on restaurant menus. METHODS: The study included 581 Saudi university students who were 18 years of age or older as a convenience sample. A three-part questionnaire that asked about demographics, anthropometric measurements, and attitudes and behaviors related to calorie counting was completed by the participants. Using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 25.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) program, chi-square, t-tests, and ANOVA tests were used to evaluate the data. Both informed consent and ethical approval were obtained. RESULTS: The study finds that, even while more than half of the participants knew their recommended daily calorie intake and exhibited curiosity about calorie information on menus, this knowledge did not always result in healthy eating habits. Participants' opinions and behaviors regarding calorie labeling were significantly correlated with their BMI levels, indicating the importance of education in promoting nutritional awareness and healthy eating habits. New calorie labeling regulations received higher approval from people who regularly ate out. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive nutritional education initiatives to raise calorie knowledge and encourage Saudi Arabian university students to make healthier eating choices. It also emphasizes the possible effects of legislative measures requiring calorie information on menus, particularly among regular diners. However, while evaluating the results, it is important to take into account the study's limitations, including self-reported data and convenience sample. To support menu calorie labeling legislation and inform targeted public health interventions for university students' eating behaviors, more research that takes cultural quirks and regional settings into account is necessary.

Low-calorie diets are effective for weight loss in patients undergoing benign upper gastrointestinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity may increase surgical complexity in patients undergoing abdominal surgery by limiting visualization and increasing the risk of peri-operative complications. A preoperative reduction in weight and liver volume may improve surgical outcomes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of a low-calorie diet (LCD) versus a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) in reducing weight and liver volume prior to laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the following inclusion criteria: obese patients undergoing preoperative weight loss using a VLCD or LCD, evaluation of liver volume reduction, and the use of an imaging modality before and after the diet. RESULTS: A total of 814 patients from 21 different studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis, with 544 female patients (66.8%) and a mean age range between 24 and 54 years old. There was a total mean weight loss of 6.42% and mean liver volume reduction of 16.7%. Meta-analysis demonstrated that a preoperative diet (LCD or VLCD) significantly reduced weight [SMD = - 0.68; 95% CI (- 0.93, - 0.42), I2 = 82%, p ≤ 0.01] and liver volume [SMD = - 2.03; 95% CI (- 4.00, - 0.06), I2 = 94%, p ≤ 0.01]. When assessed individually, a VLCD led to significant weight reduction [SMD = - 0.79; CI (- 1.24; - 0.34), p ≤ 0.01, I2 = 90%], as did an LCD [SMD = - 0.60; CI (- 0.90; - 0.29), p ≤ 0.01, I2 = 68%). Similarly, there was a significant reduction in liver volume following a VLCD [SMD = - 1.40; CI (- 2.77, - 0.03), p ≤ 0.01, I2 = 96%], and an LCD [SMD = - 2.66; CI (- 6.13, 0.81), p ≤ 0.01, I2 = 93%]. However, there was no significant difference between the two regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative restrictive calorie diets are effective in reducing weight and liver volume prior to laparoscopic surgery. Whilst a VLCD was better than an LCD at reducing both weight and liver volume, the difference was not significant.

Behaviour of Tunisian Psammomys obesus fed high-calorie diets: biochemical disturbance and histopathological alterations.

This work investigated the biochemical disturbances and histological alteration in Psammomys obesus animal model fed different high calorie diets (HCDs) during three months. Four diets were used: a low-calorie natural diet, Chenopodiaceae halophyte plant used as control (LCD), a high standard carbohydrate diet rich in protein, HCD 0, a high carbohydrate diet rich in two concentrations of fat, HCD 1 and HCD 2. All animals having received HCDs developed dyslipidemia after one month of experiment with distinction of different sub-groups developing or not obesity and diabetes. HCDs induced a remarkable increasing in blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels indicating a fast induction of dyslipidemia and a significant increase of aminotransaminases activities revealing a pronounced hepatotoxicity. Animal developing diabetes showed a severe hepatic injury, a degeneration of the adipose tissue and a significant reduction of retinal thickness. P. obesus seems to be an excellent animal model to investigate nutritional metabolic diseases.

Management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Lifestyle changes.

In this editorial, we commented on a recently released manuscript by Zeng et al in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. We focused specifically on lifestyle changes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, which ultimately leads to advanced hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma and affects more than 25% of the population globally. Existing therapeutic strategies against NAFLD such as pharmacologic therapies focus on liver protection, anti-inflammation, and regulating disease-related metabolic disorder symptoms. Although several drugs are in late-stage development, potent drugs against the diseases are lacking. Additionally, existing surgical approaches such as bariatric surgery are not routinely used to treat NAFLD. Intervening in patients' unhealthy lifestyles, such as weight loss through dietary changes and exercises to ameliorate patient-associated metabolic disorders and metabolic syndrome, is the first-line treatment for patients with NAFLD. With sufficient intrinsic motivation and adherence, the management of unhealthy lifestyles can reduce the severity of the disease, improve the quality of life, and increase the survival expectancy of patients with NAFLD.

Influence of leptin administration to pregnant mice on fetal gene expression and adaptation to sweet and fatty food in adult offspring of different sexes.

Elevated leptin in pregnant mice improves metabolism in offspring fed high-calorie diet and its influence may be sex-specific. Molecular mechanisms mediating leptin programming action are unknown. We aimed to investigate programming actions of maternal leptin on the signaling function of the placenta and fetal liver and on adaptation to high-calorie diet in male and female offspring. Female C57BL/6J mice received leptin injections in mid-pregnancy. Gene expression was assessed in placentas and in the fetal brain and liver at the end of pregnancy. Metabolic parameters and gene expression in the liver, brown fat and hypothalamus were assessed in adult male and female offspring that had consumed sweet and fatty diet (SFD: chow, lard, sweet biscuits) for 2 weeks. Females had lower blood levels of leptin, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol than males. Consuming SFD, females had increased Ucp1 expression in brown fat, while males had accumulated fat, decreased blood triglycerides and liver Fasn expression. Leptin administration to mothers increased Igf1 and Dnmt3b expression in fetal liver, decreased post-weaning growth rate, and increased hypothalamic Crh expression in response to SFD in both sexes. Only in male offspring this administration decreased expression of Fasn and Gck in the mature liver, increased fat mass, blood levels of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol and Dmnt3a expression in the fetal liver. The results suggest that the influence of maternal leptin on the expression of genes encoding growth factors and DNA methyltransferases in the fetal liver may mediate its programming effect on offspring metabolic phenotypes.

Effects of calorie-restricted diet on health state and intestinal flora in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by abnormal elevation in thyroid peroxidase antibody and/or thyroglobulin antibody. In recent decades, HT disease has become more and more widespread. Patients always report multiple symptoms, even though their thyroid hormone levels are kept in normal ranges. However, no treatment exists to effectively reduce the levels of thyroid antibodies. Our study aims to determine whether calorie-restricted diet is helpful in improving health of HT patients. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: This is a 3-month randomized controlled trial. HT patients will be randomized into a calorie-restricted (CR) group or a calorie-unrestricted control group. All the participants will be instructed to consume a diet that includes a combination of 45-55% calories from carbohydrates, 20-30% from fats, and 15-25% from proteins, according to current Chinese Dietary Guidelines. Participants in CR group need to limit their calories intake equal to their basal energy expenditure, which means that their daily caloric intake will be limited by about 20-30%. RESULTS: The study population is planned to be 66 HT patients aged 18 to 65 years. The primary outcome is change of thyroid antibody levels from baseline. Secondary outcomes include the changes of non-hypothyroid symptoms scores, thyroid function indexes, morphology of thyroid, T lymphocyte subpopulations, inflammatory biomarkers and lipids from baseline to 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This trial will have implications for nutrition treatment policy in regard to thyroid antibodies control, immune dysfunction and related non-hypothyroid symptoms improvement among HT patients.

Determination of high-intensity sweeteners in bakery products marketed in Brazil and dietary exposure assessment.

Bakery products, including biscuits, cakes and breads, generally present a high content of simple sugars of rapid absorption, high fat content and low amount of dietary fiber, which make them highly caloric foods. Although sucrose is a very important ingredient in bakery products for its preservation characteristics and a significant source of energy, there is a growing interest in replacing this sugar with alternative substances, such as high-intensity sweeteners (HIS) that provide sweetness with no or low calories. In Brazil, there is no data on the use of HIS in this class of food. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of HIS in baked food commercially available in the country and estimate the dietary exposure to these food additives. For that, an analytical method was established for the simultaneous determination of nine HIS in bakery products using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Sample preparation steps were required based on mechanical kneading for homogenization, hexane extraction of fats, dilution in mobile phase and vortex homogenization, prior to injection into the system. The results obtained during validation showed that coefficients of variation (CV%) for precision were lower than 13.8% and the accuracy was between 91.6% and 109.1%. Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium cyclamate, saccharin, sucralose and steviol glycosides were found in the samples, used alone or in combinations of up five substances. Steviol glycosides were the most found HIS in biscuit samples, while sucralose was the most common sweetener in cake and bread samples. Analysis of product labels revealed only three different claims, .i.e. 'no sugar', 'no added sugar' and 'zero sugar', with the latter being found in 70% of the samples. Exposure to HIS through the consumption of bakery products estimated per eating occasion showed no concerns regarding toxicological risk.

Prediction the changes of anthropometric indices following a weight-loss diet in overweight and obese women by mathematical models.

Estimating the change rates in body size following the weight loss programs is very important in the compliance of those programs. Although, there is enough evidence on the significant association of body weight change with the other anthropometric indices and/ or body composition, there is so limited studies that have depicted this relationship as mathematical formulas. Therefore, the present research designed to use a mathematical model to predict changes of anthropometric indices following a weight-loss diet in the overweight and obese women. In this longitudinal study, 212 overweight/obese women who received an individualized low-calorie diet (LCD) were selected and followed-up for five months. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and body composition (lean mass and fat mass) were performed. Then, body mass index, waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR), a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), and body adiposity index (BAI) were calculated using the related formula. Following the LCD led to the substantial and consistent changes in various anthropometric indices over time. All of these anthropometric variations were significantly related with the percent change (PC) of body weight except than WHR. Moreover, according to the mathematical formulas, weight loss was closely related to the decrease of WC (PC-WC = - 0.120 + 0.703 × PC-WT), HC (PC-HC = - 0.350 + 0.510 × PC-WT), body fat percentage (PC-Body Fat = - 0.019 + 0.915 × PC-WT), WHtR (PC-WHtR = - 0.113 + 0.702 × PC-WT), and improvements in ABSI (PC-ABSI = - 0.112 + 0.034 × PC-WT) and AVI (PC-AVI = - 0.324 + 1.320 × PC-WT). The decreasing rates of WC, HC, body fat percentage, WHtR, ABSI, and AVI in relation to the weight loss were clinically and statistically significant. This means that a healthy weight lowering diet would be accompanied by decreasing the body fat, body size and also the risk of morbidities.

Investigating the Effectiveness of a Carb-Free Oloproteic Diet in Fibromyalgia Treatment.

Fibromyalgia (FM), a chronic disease with a high incidence in women, poses a significant challenge for diagnosis and treatment, especially due to the absence of specific biomarkers and the multifaceted nature of its symptoms, which range from neuromuscular pain to mood disorders and intestinal dysbiosis. While diagnosis currently relies on rheumatological clinical evaluations and treatment options mainly focus on symptom management, FM seems to have possible links with systemic metabolic dysfunctions with a common inflammatory root. In this context, a new therapeutic avenue emerges: could a therapeutic nutritional approach be the missing piece of the puzzle? Indeed, diet therapies employed particularly for metabolic syndromes proved recently to be efficacious for correcting systemic dysmetabolism and a high number of chronic inflammation conditions. In particular, the very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) demonstrated therapeutic benefits in many disorders. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the specific effects of two dietary interventions, namely the oloproteic VLCKD and the low-glycemic insulinemic (LOGI) diet, on two groups of female FM patients (FM1 and FM2) over a 45-day period. Utilizing clinical and laboratory tests, as well as non-invasive NMR metabolomic analysis of serum, urine, and saliva samples, we sought to uncover how these dietary regimens impact the metabolic dysfunctions associated with FM.

Prevalence of menu label use and its association with calorie intake among US adults.

The 2018 Federal Menu Labeling regulations require restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations to provide calorie and other nutrition information for standard menu items. In this study, we describe the sociodemographic correlates of prevalence of menu label use at Food-Away-From-Home (FAFH) establishments and estimate the association between menu label use and calorie intake. We use nationally representative data spanning the years 2007-2018 and multivariable logit regression and ordinary least squares regression models. For FAFH establishments, we find that female respondents have about 26% (95% CI = [1.14, 1.39]) higher odds of using menu labels. Respondents with high school degree have 51 percent higher odds (95% CI = [1.24, 1.85]), respondents with some college education have 107 percent higher odds (95% CI = [1.74, 2.47]) of seeing menu labels. Higher income is associated with 12% (95% CI = [1.08, 1.15]) greater odds of seeing menu labels. Hispanic respondents have 29% (95% CI = [0.62, 0.81]) lower odds of seeing and 79% (95% CI = [1.41, 2.29]) higher odds of using menu labels. Black respondents have 54% (95% CI = [1.35,1.75] higher odds of seeing menu labels at sit-down restaurants. Menu label users at fast-food restaurants reported consuming 202 kcal (95% CI = [-252,-153]) fewer total calories than nonusers and menu label users at sit-down restaurants reported using 181 kcal (95% CI = [-256,-106]) fewer total calories than nonusers. Our findings highlight the sociodemographic disparities in menu label use and provide baseline estimates for future studies evaluating the federal menu labeling regulation.

Benefits of calorie restriction in mice are mediated via energy imbalance, not absolute energy or protein intake.

Caloric restriction (CR) results in reduced energy and protein intake, raising questions about protein restriction's contribution to CR longevity benefits. We kept ad libitum (AL)-fed male C57BL/6J mice at 27°C (AL27) and pair-fed (PF) mice at 22°C (22(PF27)). The 22(PF27) group was fed to match AL27 while restricted for calories due to cold-induced metabolism. The 22(PF27) mice had significantly lower body weight, lean mass, fat mass, leptin, IGF-1, and TNF-α levels than AL27 mice (p<0.001 for all). Manipulations over ~11 weeks resulted in significant differences in body temperature, physical activity, and expression of key genes linked to hunger in the hypothalamus. Survival was significantly greater in 22(PF27) compared to AL27 overall (p<0.001). CR in the context of equivalent energy and protein intake resulted in hormonal, metabolic, and physiological benefits and extended longevity. Hence, energy imbalance, rather than low energy or protein intake per se, mediates the benefits of CR.