Nutrition
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Previous reports have shown that oral arginine (Arg) has immune-enhancing properties in injury. However, the effects of parenterally infused Arg on sepsis are not well understood. We used a septic rat model to study Arg infusion in inflammatory-related cytokines and blood T lymphocyte population in vivo. ⋯ The results showed that, compared with the Gly group, TPN preinfused with Arg reduces the production of inflammatory mediators at the site of injury and that cellular immunity is enhanced at 24 h after CLP. Parenterally administered Arg had no beneficial effect in preventing nitrogen loss and improving survival in septic rats. Whether Gly has specific effects that reduce the effects of Arg require further investigation.
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Total serum homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the general population. Further, homocysteine might be the link between psychological traits (namely anger and hostility) and cardiovascular disease, mediated by stressful events and sympathetic nervous tone. ⋯ In obese persons, psychological traits are not major determinants of total homocysteine. A different response to stressful events, not simply mediated by sympathetic nervous tone, might be present in obesity.
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We investigated the effect of glutamine supplementation on plasma glutamine (Gln), glutamate (Glu), and whole-blood glutathione (GSH) concentrations in human volunteers. ⋯ Oral Gln increases Glu and Gln levels in plasma of healthy subjects but does not increase GSH red cell (whole-blood) levels. Thus, GSH biosynthesis and preservation of GHS stores in red blood cells may involve rate-limiting substrates other than Gln.
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We investigated the amount and sources of vitamin D in the Japanese diet by analyzing diet records collected over a 4-mo period. ⋯ Frequent fish intake appears to be an advisable health practice in terms of preventing vitamin D insufficiency in the elderly.