Nutrition
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The aim of this study was to assess the roles and importance of phosphatidylserine (PS), an endogenous phospholipid and dietary nutrient, in human brain biochemistry, physiology, and function. ⋯ Phosphatidylserine is required for healthy nerve cell membranes and myelin. Aging of the human brain is associated with biochemical alterations and structural deterioration that impair neurotransmission. Exogenous PS (300-800 mg/d) is absorbed efficiently in humans, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and safely slows, halts, or reverses biochemical alterations and structural deterioration in nerve cells. It supports human cognitive functions, including the formation of short-term memory, the consolidation of long-term memory, the ability to create new memories, the ability to retrieve memories, the ability to learn and recall information, the ability to focus attention and concentrate, the ability to reason and solve problems, language skills, and the ability to communicate. It also supports locomotor functions, especially rapid reactions and reflexes.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Disrupted fatty acid distribution in HDL and LDL according to apolipoprotein E allele.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) metabolism seems to be disrupted in carriers of the epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (E4+). The objective of this study was to investigate whether the ω-3 PUFA distribution in the high and low density lipoproteins is APOE-genotype dependant before and after supplementation with ω-3 PUFAs. ⋯ Contrary to what we anticipated, ω-3 PUFAs content? in HDL and LDL were not APOE isoform-dependant in young participants. However, young E4+ participants already had a tendency toward lower baseline-DHA levels in LDL particles as well as a more atherogenic ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio in LDL pre- and post-supplementation.
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Vitamin D has pleiotropic effects on cardiac, renal, and endocrine diseases like diabetes mellitus and deficiency has been correlated with increased Intensive Care Unit (ICU) morbidity and mortality. We studied the relationship between preoperative Vitamin D levels and several short-term endpoints including cardiovascular events, glucose levels, ICU, and hospital length of stay. ⋯ The low levels in this study truly represent the Vit D status as they were obtained before any intervention, including surgery or fluid administration. Vit D levels decreased rapidly after surgery and hence future studies on Vit D may need to focus on premorbid levels obtained at the time of initial presentation and not those obtained after resuscitation or ICU admission. In contrast to epidemiologic reports, we found no association between low Vit D levels and postoperative cardiovascular events. However, low Vit D levels did affect the ICU and hospital length of stay in patients who were undergoing cardiac surgery. This is an important finding especially when many institutions and regulatory agencies are investigating novel therapies and processes to reduce the length of hospitalization. More studies are required to investigate the effect on hospital length of stay of early preadmission or preoperative Vit D supplementation before elective surgery.
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To evaluate nutrient intake among adult neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients. ⋯ In this study, NF1 patients consumed an unhealthy diet that was rich in fats and sodium and lacking in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of these dietary and nutritional patterns in the severity of the clinical manifestations of NF1.
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The aim of this study was to identify metabolically healthy obese individuals (MHOs) and their characteristics, as well as to estimate cardiovascular risk using the Framingham score. ⋯ MHOs had biochemical and anthropometric characteristics, such as lower body mass index, waist circumference, percent fat mass, glucose, triacylglycerols, and increased high-density lipoprotein, that made them different from those individuals classified as MUO. The latter exhibited increased risk for cardiovascular disease according to the Framingham score, when using the ATP III criterion alone or in conjunction with the HOMA index.