Nutrition
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Evidence on the relation of saturated fatty acids (SFA) with inflammatory markers and adipokines is scarce and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the intake of total SFA, their subtypes (lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids), and SFA to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio (SFA/PUFA ratio) with serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin, and leptin among Portuguese adults. ⋯ A detrimental role of lauric and myristic acids and of high SFA/PUFA ratio is suggested by their association with elevated hs-CRP concentrations in men. Our findings may be helpful in the planning of dietary modifications aimed at the modulation of inflammatory activity that could be an intermediate step to coronary events.
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The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA), present in vegetable oils against arsenite-induced renal oxidative stress. ⋯ CLnA isomers caused amelioration of renal oxidative stress and the isomers showed synergistic activity.
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Previous studies have associated low serum albumin levels with poor outcome in ischemic stroke. Animal studies also demonstrated neuroprotective effects of serum albumin in focal ischemia. However, there are very limited studies on the association of serum albumin levels with stroke outcome in ischemic stroke divided into subtypes. The present study was carried out to investigate the association of serum albumin levels with outcome in ischemic stroke and its subtypes. ⋯ Relatively high serum albumin levels in acute stroke decrease poor outcome.
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In overweight children, high leptin levels are independently associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease, whereas adiponectin seems to be protective against type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. The study examines the predictive value of leptin for weight loss after a 4- to 6-wk inpatient therapy and again after 1 y; as well as the association among weight loss, leptin, and adiponectin levels and changes in cardiometabolic risk factors after therapy. ⋯ Overweight children maintained a substantial amount of weight loss after participation in a short-term inpatient lifestyle intervention. Baseline BMI was positively associated with weight reduction during the intervention, whereas baseline leptin had only a minor predictive value.
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Serum homocysteine levels show interindividual variation and are determined by nutritional factors, such as B-vitamin intake, and by age and genetic influences, such as the genotype of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. Recently, the relation between one-carbon and lipid metabolism has been shown. Therefore, we hypothesized that folic acid supplementation would not only decrease homocysteine concentrations but also affect lipid metabolism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of short-term folic acid supplementation on homocysteine and lipid metabolism in Polish women older than 60 y with different C677T MTHFR genotypes. ⋯ In elderly women, a short-term, low-dose folic acid supplementation lowered the serum homocysteine level but also increased glucose concentrations. The C677T MTHFR polymorphism affects the waist-to-hip ratio and lipid metabolism.