Nutrition
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The purpose of this review is to evaluate the evidence for an association between the Big Five dimensions of personality, dietary intake, and compliance to dietary recommendations. Poor diet is a known risk factor for overweight and obesity and associated chronic lifestyle diseases and it has been proposed that personality may be linked to dietary choices. ⋯ Although no evidence has been found that personality dimensions are associated with adherence to dietary recommendations over time, Conscientiousness is associated with a number of prosocial and health-promoting behaviors that include avoiding alcohol-related harm, binge-drinking, and smoking, and adherence to medication regimens. With emerging evidence of an association between higher Conscientiousness and lower obesity risk, the hypothesis that higher Conscientiousness may predict adoption of healthy dietary and other lifestyle recommendations appears to be supported.
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Improved dietary strategies for weight loss are necessary to decrease metabolic disease risk in overweight or obese adults. Varying meal frequency (MF; i.e., increasing or decreasing eating occasions beyond the traditional pattern of three meals daily) has been thought to have an influence on body weight regulation, hunger control, and blood markers of health. It is common practice for weight management clinicians to recommend increasing MF as a strategy for weight management and to improve metabolic parameters. ⋯ Therefore, the objective of the present review is to survey the literature to assess whether the alteration of MF influences body weight regulation, hunger control, and/or blood markers of health in overweight/obese participants undergoing a controlled hypocaloric diet to induce weight loss. Findings of this review indicate that there is uncertainty in the literature when interpreting the optimal MF for obesity treatment, where reduced MF may even show more favorable lipid profiles in obese individuals compared with increased MF. Furthermore, the simple relationship of comparing MF with body fatness or body mass index should also consider whether eating frequency is associated with other healthy factors (e.g., increased physical activity).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Telomere shortening in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment may be attenuated with ω-3 fatty acid supplementation: a randomized controlled pilot study.
Excessive shortening of the telomeric ends of chromosomes is a marker of accelerated aging. Oxidative stress and nutritional deficiency may influence this process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplementation on telomeric shortening in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). ⋯ Telomeric shortening may be attenuated by ω-3 PUFA supplementation, requiring further investigation in larger samples.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Oligofructose-enriched inulin improves some inflammatory markers and metabolic endotoxemia in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches are considered for the management of type 2 diabetes and for the prevention of its complications. There is limited evidence regarding the effects of prebiotics on inflammation, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes. This trial aims to examine the effects of oligofructose-enriched inulin on glycemic status, inflammation markers, and metabolic endotoxemia in female patients. ⋯ In women with type 2 diabetes and suboptimal daily dietary fiber intake, oligofructose-enriched inulin may help to modulate some inflammatory markers.
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Comparative Study
Leishmania donovani: dynamics of L. donovani evasion of innate immune cell attack due to malnutrition in visceral leishmaniasis.
Malnutrition may be significant in the modulation of immune responses in visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Data on the relationship between malnutrition and innate immune response in VL are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of malnutrition on the profile of innate immune functions of polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMNs) and monocytes through comparison of well-nourished and malnourished Indian patients with VL. ⋯ Malnutrition linked to VL can be a decisive factor in the dynamics of L. donovani evasion of innate immune cell function in VL patients.