Nutrition
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of progressive motor neuron disease and the most devastating neurodegenerative disorder. ALS is characterized by progressive paralysis and respiratory failure leading to death within 3 to 5 years after its onset. Protein-energy malnutrition is a frequent finding in ALS. ⋯ The use of fiber-enriched formulas may help prevent constipation. However, considering the complex metabolic abnormalities of ALS, standard and/or fiber-enriched formulas might not be sufficient to achieve optimal metabolic and nutritional support. Based on the most recent clinical and experimental evidence, it is tempting to hypothesize that personalized nutritional support including specific nutritional substrates could act on disease progression and improve the quality of life and the response to the few and yet scarcely effective, currently available pharmacologic therapies.
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Clinical Trial
Plasma ghrelin isoforms and gastric ghrelin O-acyltransferase expression are influenced by Helicobacter pylori status.
Helicobacter pylori is known to affect the host's nutritional status. This study was performed to elucidate the relationship between H. pylori status and the dynamics of the ghrelin system, in the context of ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) expression. ⋯ H. pylori status might affect the host's nutritional status through changes in the plasma levels of ghrelin isoforms and the gastric expression levels of ghrelin and GOAT mRNA.
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In this study, we examined the relations between the rate of eating and circulating interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 levels in Japanese men not being treated for metabolic diseases. ⋯ These results indicate that a higher rate of eating is positively and independently associated with circulating IL-1β concentrations in Japanese men not being treated for metabolic diseases.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of low-calorie versus low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet in type 2 diabetes.
Effective diabetic management requires reasonable weight control. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown the beneficial effects of a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes after its long term administration. Furthermore, it favorably alters the cardiac risk factors even in hyperlipidemic obese subjects. These studies have indicated that, in addition to decreasing body weight and improving glycemia, LCKD can be effective in decreasing antidiabetic medication dosage. Similar to the LCKD, the conventional low-calorie, high nutritional value diet is also used for weight loss. The purpose of this study was to understand the beneficial effects of LCKD compared with the low-calorie diet (LCD) in improving glycemia. ⋯ This study shows the beneficial effects of a ketogenic diet over the conventional LCD in obese diabetic subjects. The ketogenic diet appears to improve glycemic control. Therefore, diabetic patients on a ketogenic diet should be under strict medical supervision because the LCKD can significantly lower blood glucose levels.
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To evaluate the body composition and inflammatory status in patients on hemodialysis (HD) according to the cutoff of 23 kg/m² for the body mass index (BMI). ⋯ Patients on HD with a BMI lower than 23 kg/m² did not present signs of energy wasting, whereas those with a BMI higher than 23 kg/m² had more inflammation, probably because of a greater adiposity. Thus, the BMI value of 23 kg/m² does not seem to be a reliable marker of protein-energy wasting in patients on HD.