Nutrition
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The associations linking endothelial inflammation, endothelial oxidative stress, and atherogenesis and the potential for dietary phytonutrients to decrease the impact of these associations were assessed. A detailed literature review was conducted and summarized. ⋯ A growing body of research indicates that several dietary phytonutrients (astaxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and glabridin) can decrease the risk for atherosclerosis by decreasing endothelial inflammation and oxidative stress. The consumption of foods or dietary supplements that provide astaxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and glabridin can ameliorate endothelial inflammation and oxidative stress, retard atherogenesis, and decrease the risk for atherogenic cardiovascular disease.
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Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious public health problem worldwide. In clinical studies, weight loss has been reported in 11% to 29% of patients treated with pegylated interferon-α-2a/2b. Few reports have tried to explain such a weight loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional status, body composition, and resting energy expenditure (REE) in patients with chronic hepatitis C before and during treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. ⋯ Our study of patients with hepatitis C treatment showed that these patients had significant weight loss and this was not associated with changes in energy expenditure. However, we observed a significant decrease in energy intake, pointing to a possible need for intervention measures to decrease the damage.
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This study investigated the role of L-arginine supplementation to undernourished and Cryptosporidium parvum-infected suckling mice. ⋯ These findings show a protective role of L-arginine during C. parvum infection in undernourished mice, with involvement of arginase I and nitric oxide synthase enzymatic actions.
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Oxidative stress contributes to myonecrosis in the dystrophin-deficient fibers of mdx mice and in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. We examined the effects of ascorbic acid (AA), an antioxidant and free radical scavenger, on the dystrophic diaphragm muscle. ⋯ The present results suggest that AA plays a protective role in dystrophic muscle degeneration, possibly by decreasing reactive oxygen species, and support further investigations of AA as a potential therapy for dystrophinopathies.