Nutrition
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Proinflammatory cytokines and essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their metabolites are altered in coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and collagen vascular diseases, indicating that these diseases not only are low-grade systemic inflammatory conditions but also have defects in the metabolism of EFAs. EFAs and their metabolites such as eicosanoids, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, maresins, and nitrolipids are biologically active molecules that regulate gene expression and enzyme activity, modulate inflammation, the immune response, and gluconeogenesis by direct and indirect pathways, function directly as agonists of a number of G-protein-coupled receptors, and thus regulate several cellular processes. ⋯ Stem cells are pluripotent and expected to be of benefit in the management of many clinical conditions. Therefore, I propose that the beneficial actions of EFAs and their metabolites seen in coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and collagen vascular diseases could be ascribed to their ability to enhance the proliferation and differentiation of embryonic stem cells in addition to their capacity to suppress inflammation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Magnesium and trace element intake after a lifestyle intervention.
Observational studies suggest that some trace elements and magnesium (Mg) improve glucose metabolism, markers of inflammation, and oxidative stress, but supplementation studies have yielded inconsistent results. Our objective was to evaluate whether a lifestyle intervention trial, aimed at reducing total and saturated fat and increasing fiber intake, can affect also the intake of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and Mg. ⋯ Healthier lifestyle recommendations might improve the pattern of micronutrient and Mg intake, which might play an independent role in ameliorating some metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative markers.
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Clinical Trial
Outcome of a hospital based multidisciplinary weight loss program in obese Filipino children.
Childhood obesity is becoming a problem for Filipino children with an increasing national prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity. A multidisciplinary approach combining behavioral therapy with diet and exercise is often advocated as having the greatest impact in pediatric weight management. ⋯ The use of a multidisciplinary 3-mo staged program resulted in an effective weight loss in obese Filipino children, which was directly related to the frequency of sessions attended.
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In the severely obese, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) reverses diabetes before body weight loss occurs. We determined changes in protein expression of insulin receptor (IR), its substrates (IRS1 and IRS2), and their phosphorylated state (p-IR and p-IRS1/2) in skeletal muscle (SM), liver and adipose tissue (AT), and GLUT4 in SM and AT, 14 and 28 d after RYGB to gaining insight into the time-related dynamics of insulin transduction pathway that may contribute to diabetes resolution. ⋯ Improvement in diabetes occurred after RYGB due to up-regulation in key insulin pathway proteins at several levels, predominantly in SM and liver in association with ongoing caloric restriction, body weight, and fat mass loss.
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To estimate the efficacy of iron supplementation in anemic pregnant women on the basis of occurrence of pregnancy complications and birth outcomes. ⋯ A higher rate of preterm birth was found in anemic pregnant women without iron treatment but this adverse birth outcome was prevented with iron supplementation. There was no higher rate of congenital abnormalities in the offspring of anemic pregnant women supplemented with iron and/or folic acid supplements.