Nutrition
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The ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease is focused on the effects on fish oil-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids. We speculated that a vegetal oil rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA) might also inhibit colitis. Therefore, we evaluated whether dietary ALA would decrease the expression of adhesion molecules by inducing the protective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in a rat colitis model. ⋯ A vegetal ALA-rich formula decreases the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and VEGFR-2 and independently of HO-1 in rats with TNBS-induced colitis. Further studies are required to evaluate its therapeutic potential in inflammatory bowel disease as an alternative to fish oil.
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To investigate whether gender differences in tooth loss are influenced by caries risk and sources of dietary calcium intake. ⋯ Dietary calcium intake, particularly calcium from dairy products, seems to protect against loss of teeth in adult men and women. The previous gender differences found in the relation between calcium intake and tooth loss may be the result of differences in the caries risk between genders.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Plasma glutathione of HIV⁺ patients responded positively and differently to dietary supplementation with cysteine or glutamine.
Patients with positivity for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV⁺) present low concentrations of antioxidant nutrients, including total glutathione (GSH) and its precursors. We investigated the responses of the sulfur-containing amino acid pathway to cysteine and glutamine (Gln) dietary supplements in patients with HIV⁺ compared with healthy controls. ⋯ An increase in GSH may be attained by NAC or Gln supplementation, with NAC acting by increasing cysteine levels and Gln likely acting by replenishing the glycine pool (trial registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT00910442).
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Comparative Study
Changes in ghrelin concentrations one year after resective and non-resective gastric bypass: associations with weight loss and energy and macronutrient intakes.
Ghrelin is a potent stimulator of appetite and synthesized in the stomach. Its role in weight loss after gastric bypass (GBP) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between weight loss and food intake and between weight loss and changes in serum ghrelin concentrations 1 y after GBP with resection of the bypassed stomach (R-GBP) and without resection (NR-GBP). ⋯ A greater decrease in ghrelin levels was observed only in patients who underwent R-GBP at 12 mo after surgery. This difference was not associated with differences in dietary intakes or weight loss at the same time point. Therefore, the small gastric pouch is probably more important than decreased ghrelin levels in producing long-term weight loss after R-GBP.