Nutrition
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Recent medical history has largely viewed our bacterial symbionts as pathogens to be eradicated rather than as essential partners in optimal health. However, one of the most exciting scientific advances in recent years has been the realization that commensal microorganisms (our microbiome) play vital roles in human physiology in nutrition, vitamin synthesis, drug metabolism, protection against infection, and recovery from illness. Recent data show that loss of "health-promoting" microbes and overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria (dysbiosis) in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) appears to contribute to nosocomial infections, sepsis, and poor outcomes. ⋯ Overall, growing data for probiotic and symbiotic therapy reveal a need for definitive clinical trials of these therapies, as recently performed in healthy neonates. Future studies should target administration of probiotics and synbiotics with known mechanistic benefits to improve patient outcomes. Optimally, future probiotic and symbiotic studies will be conducted using microbiome signatures to characterize actual ICU dysbiosis and determine, and perhaps even personalize, ideal probiotic and symbiotic therapies.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary l-threonine supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal immune function, mucin synthesis, and goblet cell differentiation in weanling piglets with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). ⋯ Dietary l-threonine supplementation attenuates inflammatory responses, facilitates Muc2 synthesis, and promotes goblet cell differentiation in the ileum of IUGR piglets.
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To our knowledge, there is currently no consensus in the literature on the association between dietary fatty acids and circulating levels in plasma. The aim of this study was to assess the association of the intake of fatty acids with their relative plasma concentrations. ⋯ Plasma and dietary polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids exhibited low correlation and agreement, as well as weak association between each other. No association between intake and plasma concentrations of monounsaturated fat was found. Plasma fatty acids are not good biomarkers of food intake.
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The aim of ths study was to investigate the combined association of overall diet quality and physical activity (PA) on the risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean adults. ⋯ Both diet quality and PA are associated with a lower risk for hypertriglyceridemia in men and abdominal obesity in women. These findings suggest that a sex-specific pattern of association between MetS and lifestyle factors (diet and PA) should be considered in clinical practice.
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Comparative Study
Christian Orthodox fasting in practice: A comparative evaluation between Greek Orthodox general population fasters and Athonian monks.
Christian Orthodox fasting (COF), a periodical vegetarian subset of the Mediterranean diet, has been proven to exert beneficial effects on human health. Athonian fasting is a pescetarian COF variation, where red meat is strictly restricted throughout the year. Previous studies have examined the COF nutritional synthesis and health effects in general population fasters (GF) and Athonian monks (AM), separately. The aim of this study is to comparatively evaluate the characteristics and effects of this nutritional advocacy between the two populations. ⋯ The results of the present study highlight the unique characteristics of Athonian fasting and its value as a health-promoting diet. The effects of limitation of specific vitamins and minerals during fasting warrants further investigation.